by Delta James
The setting sun felt good as he climbed out of the water, drying him. Kellan dressed quickly, pulling on his boots, placing his sword in its scabbard at his side and picking up the war ax to use to defend himself if needed. He breathed in the air of his homeland. That alone would have made him joyful to be home, but along the breeze came her scent... she was close. It was getting dark and he needed to make a better assessment of what remained of his home. His drakaina and their people would have to put in some work to raise the castle to its former glory. The mainland wasn’t too far, and a bridge could be constructed in a way that would make it easy to defend.
On the windward side of the island, he found a ring of stone around packed sand and what had once been remnants of a fire more recent than the destruction of Raicleach. Someone had been here recently; footprints not swept away by the weather gave evidence of that. He laid down his ax, removed his clothing, and shifted back to his dragon form. He flew around and over the island, crisscrossing it to ensure that no one remained. He saw a school of fish and dipped into the ocean for his supper. Returning to the fire pit, he dressed, gathered kindling, and made short work of creating warmth and a way to cook his meal. He wolfed down two fish enjoying the clean scent and taste of the ocean. Once he had fed, exhaustion overtook him and he placed himself with his back against one of the higher walls and closed his eyes, smiling. He meant for this to be the last night he slept without the comfort of his mate.
* * *
Míorúilt flew back from having hunted for her people. She spotted the fire on the island but could see it was just a man. She wondered why he was camping on the island, but decided if he moved along in the next day or two and offered no threat to her women, she would let him be. She stood at the edge of the cave and turned to look again at the island as she shifted back to her human form.
“You have returned, milady,” said Layla, the newest of the women to join them.
Layla was small with dark hair and luminous eyes. She was a beauty whom her father had thought to barter off to improve his own lot. She had run away and made it to the closest town, where one of the former members of the village in the cliffs had given her safe harbor and sent for Míorúilt. After meeting with her, the women took a vote and Layla was invited to join them.
“Míorúilt, Layla, not milady. I am no one’s lady. My parents were simple farmers.”
“But you are our provider and champion. Without you this community would not be possible.”
Míorúilt smiled. “If something were to happen to me, the community would survive. Each of us does our part to contribute to the well-being of all. It just so happens that my skill set includes being a dragon.”
“And I thought my ability to work a forge was going to be the most desirable skill,” laughed Brenna.
“Your ability to make high caliber weapons means we can trade for other things we need, but without Fidah to cook for us, we’d probably all starve.”
“That or die of food poisoning.” Brenna followed her line of sight. “Does that worry you?”
Míorúilt shook her head. “Not particularly, but if he doesn’t move on in a day or two, we’ll encourage him to do so.”
“That’s not like you,” said Fidah, joining them.
“I don’t know. But there’s just something about him being there. The village isn’t far from here. Why swim out to the island to camp for the night? I just wish I didn’t need to make that trade for grain with the farmers to the north.”
“We’ll be fine. No one has found the above ground entrance to our village...”
“I know, but let’s post a guard there until he leaves.”
The women all agreed and retreated into the cave. The next morning, before the sun had time to rise, Míorúilt gathered up her clothing in her carryall, shifted to her dragon form, and flew north to trade some of Brenna’s excellent swords and two new plow blades for the grain they would need for the next several months.
* * *
Kellan woke, surprised that the sun was as high in the sky as it was. He stretched and thought one of the first things he needed was a comfortable bed for him and his new mate. He inhaled deeply and could detect her lingering sweet perfume. Kellan ate the remnants of his dinner from the night before. Removing his clothing, he shifted and took flight. He flew up high as he wanted to perform an aerial reconnaissance of the surrounding area and to see if he could pick up her scent.
The village of Raicleach Geog, or Dragon’s Village, had grown while he slept as had the surrounding farmland. He would need to find out if, in his absence, his people had given their allegiance to another. But, if the descendants of those who had served him in the past were of the same ilk, they would welcome their dragon lord’s return. Kellan flew back over the land he once ruled and would rule again. As he turned back toward the sea, he flew along the craggy coastline. In his dreams, he had seen his true heart gliding along these very cliffs and in some, this had been the place where he captured her as she tried to flee.
As he breathed in, he could smell her scent... and something more. He began to search the bluff and saw an opening that seemed to be lit from within. He circled around and came back, flying closer to an entrance he knew had been sealed. He recognized the cavern and roared; someone had defiled the Cave of Tears!
Kellan drew up in front of the opening and bellowed a cry of anguish and rage. He saw evidence of the cave’s occupation. How dare they, whoever they were, desecrate the resting place of the last of the dragon eggs. He would challenge them to battle and kill all those who dared to defy him. They would leave this sacred space and God help them if they had disturbed the shattered remains of the last clutch of eggs. Once he secured their resting place, he would seal the entrance once again.
He flapped his wings in preparation to land on the edge of the precipice to confront them. He could smell the food that had been prepared, the scent of all the humans and shifters who had lived within. And then he detected the unique fragrance that was his true heart, but she would have to wait. He needed to rid the Cave of Tears of these trespassers.
“Intruders,” he bellowed. “Show yourselves.”
It was all Kellan could do to retain his composure as four women came to the entrance of the cave, bearing weapons... most did not look as though they could even hold one for long, much less wield it. Their faces were a mixture of fear, astonishment, and awe. Where were their mates?
“We are not the intruders... you are,” said one.
“Where did you come from?” whispered another.
“We were all raised to believe that your kind was extinct,” said a third.
“Leave now and our lady will let you live. Continue to harass us and you will die,” said the last one, the only woman who even looked like she knew which end of the sword to use.
Kellan laughed. “Are you blind as well as foolish? I am Kellan, Lord of the Seas, you are trespassing in a sacred space. Where are your masters?”
“We have no masters, and this place is our home.”
Kellan had little patience for this nonsense and scanned the cliff for any kind of path that could be used for the intruders to vacate the cavern. He would have to lower each of them and then remain until their men showed up so he could ensure they were safe. He planned to reseal the entrance and then make it clear to the males of this community that the cave was off limits and that they needed to discipline their females for threatening a dragon lord. If they were in need of a place to stay, perhaps he could help them with that.
* * *
Míorúilt was returning from her buying trip laden down with enough grain to last them for the next several months. There was a feud brewing between two fox-shifter brothers and both sides had been keen to get their hands on the weapons. In addition, the farmer who had been contracted to buy the plow blades was so pleased with the workmanship that he gave them a bonus. Míorúilt was feeling very good about both the speed with which she had concluded their business and the outcome.
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br /> She was leisurely flying down the coast when she heard the distinctive sound of a dragon’s roar splitting the air. How could that be? She was the only dragon left in existence. She flew high above the clouds and far out to sea, coming up from behind the island. Míorúilt landed behind the ruins and set her burden down, peeking over the crumbling wall of the keep. There, hovering, suspended at the outside of the cave was an enormous dragon with shimmering scales in an iridescent blue/green color—they covered his body like metallic armor plating. She recognized him as the dragon from her dreams. His wingspan was enormous, and he hung in midair with seemingly no effort whatsoever. She felt disoriented and as though a kind of powerful current washed over her, alighting all of her senses.
Míorúilt had been training for this moment—perhaps not an aerial fight with a dragon, but a battle to protect the Sanctuary—for years. She took off from the island; she considered roaring to issue a challenge, but decided that given his size, stealth might be her best weapon. She increased her momentum as she flew in directly behind him. Gathering speed and power for her flame, she charged.
* * *
“Put down those weapons and I will take each of you down to the beach before...” Kellan started.
There it was again... her scent. She was close. He felt her presence as keenly as he had ever felt anything in his long life. Suddenly he felt the rush of wind at his back that could only come from a dragon in flight. Something told him to lift his wing and bank down and away. As he did, a focused stream of fire hit the cliff where he had been hovering only a moment before. The women cheered.
Kellan rolled around to face her... it was, in fact, the drakaina from his dreams. Not only did she exist, she was here. But more than that, she seemed determined to kill him. No matter, he was gladdened by the knowledge that he would not need to turn a human or other shifter before breeding her. He had no more finished that thought when another burst of flames barely missed him. His fascination with her actual existence had almost cost him his life. Kellan could not help but admire his mate’s ferocity or skill as a warrior. The offspring he sired with her would be fearless and a credit to their kind. He folded his wings and darted beneath her. Kellan watched as she rounded on him. She was quick, but he was more powerful and had more experience in battle.
He soared up above her, flying high over the clouds. She followed, breathing fire as she did, eradicating his cloud cover. She was tenacious. Were it any other foe, he would simply engage her head on, but he had no desire to harm her. In fact, the only desire he had was the arousal that was coursing through his veins. It seemed that his visions of having to spank his mate before bedding her were accurate. His drakaina needed to be subdued before she injured one or both of them.
Kellan flew directly into the sun and then twisted in the air and stormed her from above. He had the advantage of her being blinded by the sun as he flew unswervingly at her. She realized her mistake as she banked away, just out of range, and he used his tail to bat her from her projected flightpath. Momentarily stunned by the force of the blow, she tumbled through the air, spiraling down toward the sea below. Kellan dove after her and took her prisoner in his massive claws before she was injured. As she tried to shoot another blast of fire, he forced her head down so that breathing fire was ineffective for her.
“Enough,” he roared as he circled the island to ensure it was deserted.
A battle between dragons could be deadly, not only to the combatants themselves, but to any onlookers within range. He shook her and when she did not revert to her human form, he repeated the action with a bit more vigor.
“Shift!” he commanded.
He felt her obey and relaxed his hold. He set her down and then landed, releasing her only to shift himself. His brilliant blue eyes swept over her curves, devouring the sight of her. He hadn’t been awake long enough to experience a pronounced need for the comfort of a woman. But the one standing before him, trying to hide the most feminine parts of her anatomy, was not just any woman... she was beautiful and his true heart. He watched as she blushed from head to toe, trying to hide her luscious body from his sight. He felt his staff beginning to rise in response to seeing her and scenting the first hints of her arousal.
He seized her wrists in one of his large hands. “You will not hide yourself from me,” he commanded.
She struggled against him. “Let go of me. Who are you? How do you even exist?”
“I am Kellan, Lord of the Seas.” He smiled, his cock continuing to harden in response to her loveliness. “And you are?”
“No one who wants anything to do with you.”
She was fearless, or at least wanted him to believe she was. What spirit she had. Kellan looked forward to bending her to his will, but more than that, to sinking his staff into her untried sheath... at least, she had been a virgin in his dream. If she was not, he would kill any man who had been intimate with her.
“That is not your choice,” he rumbled. “You are a female of breeding age and I am in need of a mate.”
He inhaled deeply. Her scent carried not only the ocean spray but the earthy, woodsy smell of moss and clover with just a hint of wisteria. It, like everything else about her, was intoxicating. He felt his cock become fully engorged and for the first time, the ridge that twisted around it was hard and pulsed in anticipation. His smile as he caught her eyeing his cock was feral, and no doubt frightened her. She increased her struggles to no avail. He licked his lips as the scent of her arousal began to mingle with her unique perfume and her nipples beaded in response.
If she was a virgin, and her response seemed to indicate that was the case, he thought he might try to allay her fear and encourage her curiosity and desire.
“That’s better,” he crooned, bringing up his finger to trail down the column of her neck to the hollow of her throat, descending along her breastbone and resisting the temptation to fondle her more than generous breast. His sons and daughters would have no need of a wet nurse or supplemental feeding.
“Take your hands off me,” she said, her voice trembling.
“Where did you come from, little one? My brothers and I believed we were the last of our kind. And yet here you are, ripe for the taking.”
She tugged against his strength. “I’m not anything for anyone’s taking.”
He held fast and chuckled, realizing she had uttered those same words in his earlier dream. He wondered briefly if she had ever had the same dream and knew that her capitulation was a foregone conclusion.
Feeling even more confident of the outcome, he smiled and replied, “Ah, but you are, and I will be the one doing the taking.”
Kellan brought his hand up to cradle the back of her neck in his strong grasp, drawing her into his embrace. She seemed to forget her modesty and fear and brought both hands up to push ineffectively at his broad chest.
“Let go,” she said, her voice gaining in determination.
“No,” he said silkily as he gathered her close, his cock pressing against her and seeking the entrance to her core of its own accord.
Kellan’s mouth descended as he caught her parted lips in a fiery kiss that turned brutal as she renewed her struggles. The hand that was not holding her by the neck, swept down her back and cupped her buttocks to pull her more tightly against him. He slipped his tongue past her teeth and swept through her mouth, tasting and exploring. Gods, she was even sweeter than in his dreams.
He reminded himself that in his dream, and in all likelihood, she was a virgin. Reining in his lust, he sought to soothe and reassure her. If she was to be his mate, it would be better if she welcomed his possession. Drakaina had fearsome tempers and long memories. Many a dragon had found himself with scars to attest to that fact. Sweeping his eyes over his mate, he decided if she would not come willingly, he would welcome the wounds from her retaliation. He momentarily and foolishly relaxed his hold. As in his dream, the female dragon brought her head back and then forward forcefully, butting her head in a fierce blow to his n
ose as her knee came up to connect in a less than loving manner with the hard globes dangling between his legs. Kellan staggered back.
She wrenched herself from his grasp and turned to run from him. Before he could react, she had called forth her dragon, shifted, and was beating her wings in order to take flight. But Kellan was far more experienced in both battle and flight. She had barely cleared the edge of the island before he had her in his powerful grasp. He held her by the shoulders with his back claws, soaring into the heavens with her before diving toward the sea. Kellan dragged her through the water, completely submerging her before almost immediately pulling her back up, sputtering and cursing. Banking back toward the island, he returned them to their home and deposited her, none too gently, on the ground.
Surrounding her in a ring of fire, he roared, “Shift!”
He wasn’t sure if it was obedience or merely being surprised by the speed with which he had recaptured and overpowered her that caused her to comply. Advancing on her, Kellan barely avoided the stream of fire she spewed. Rushing her, he collided with her midsection, knocking the wind from her as she hit the ground, his body falling on top of her. It did not escape his notice that she landed on her back with her legs on either side of his. His cock still engorged, and anger fueling his lust, Kellan didn’t fail to recognize that he had his beautiful, naked mate beneath him. He could smell she was aroused and in need of him. She was precisely in the position he would have wanted in order to mount and claim her maidenhead. If only she wasn’t in even greater need to be disciplined for her behavior thus far. He took a deep breath, squelching his desire to take what was his, claiming her as his mate as he shattered her maidenhead and buried himself in her wet heat.
