by Delta James
As he approached the gate, it swung open and a tall, heavily armed and muscled warrior greeted him.
“Welcome, friend. I am Fionn of the Dragon’s Galloglas, the protectors of Raicleach Geog. You are a visitor to our village, what is your business and how may we be of service?”
Kellan’s happiness expanded. He had found his mate and would, this night, take her to his bed and now, it seemed, he had soldiers at his disposal. He would have recognized Fionn anywhere. His resemblance to his last beta, Aloysius, was uncanny. Extending his hand, Kellan closed on him, smiling.
“How like your ancestor you are. I would have known you even if I didn’t find you here in my service.”
“Do we know each other, stranger?” Fionn asked suspiciously.
“No. My apologies. I should have introduced myself. I am Kellan, Lord of the Seas.”
“What proof have you that you are who you say you are. Many have come over the last millennia claiming to be our lord and master. All have had their claims challenged and now sleep in our small cemetery.”
Kellan smiled. “Perhaps, but there is no need for violence.”
“If you think to commit a fraud on our people...”
“They are my people and the reason I do not wish to fight you is because I have no reason to do so.”
Without another word, Kellan removed his weapons, placing them on the ground, and stripped. He chuckled at Fionn’s discomfiture with seeing another warrior now standing naked confronting him. He watched as Fionn’s expression changed from challenging, to confusion, to awe and then acceptance as Kellan shifted from man to dragon.
Rising up on his haunches and towering over the other warrior, Kellan said, “How like your ancestor, Aloysius, you are. His seed must have been virile indeed to have stamped his progeny with his likeness.”
Dropping to his knee, Fionn drew his sword and placed it in front of him, tip in the ground and holding it by the hilt in front of him. “My lord,” he whispered. “You have returned.”
“I have and am gratified to see that my people have been kept safe by those, I assume, that Aloysius charged with their security.”
Kellan returned to his human form and dressed. Fionn looked up but did not rise.
“The prophecy said that one day you would return but until then we of the Dragon’s Galloglas were to provide protection to the village and farmlands.”
Kellan stepped forward and touched Fionn on the shoulder. “Rise, Fionn. We have much to talk about in the days to come, but I have two pressing matters with which I could use your help.”
Standing, Fionn took Kellan’s proffered hand in his. “My life to your heart,” Fionn swore solemnly.
Kellan returned the vow. “My heart to your life.”
“Have you eaten? We were just about to have a meal. It isn’t much...”
“I’m sure it will be fine. Do you have wine?”
“Whiskey.”
“Even better,” Kellan said with a chuckle.
Kellan entered the citadel with Fionn and was introduced to the remaining men who stood as the main guard for his people. As there had appeared to be only four women at the Cave of Tears, he would have enough men to choose their husbands from warriors loyal to him. Fionn led him to their main dining hall and explained their purpose and the way in which they were organized.
“Your last beta, my ancestor Aloysius, established the order and charged us with the safety of your people. The best warriors are chosen to serve until they reach a certain age and a younger, stronger man can take his place.”
“What about your families?” asked Kellan.
“We do not take a wife or sire children while we serve. If we are called to what you deem a true heart, another is found to take our place and we leave your service. Someone from our family has always been called to serve in the order,” explained Fionn.
“We thought you never to return,” managed one of the others, the rest of whom seem tongue-tied in Kellan’s presence.
“I thought so as well when I laid down to take my rest, but sorceresses often hide their own agenda. All we...”
“We? So, the others have awakened?”
“Only Gideon as far as I know. I left Duncan and Seth sleeping. One of the things I will need is for one of you to ride to Cornwall to let Gideon know I have awakened and arrange a meeting,” said Kellan.
“I am surprised, my lord, that you didn’t seek his company first.”
Kellan laughed. “That brings me to the second and third things which require your assistance. I am in desperate need of a soft bed...”
“Were you not comfortable while you slept?” asked Cathal, the youngest of his men at arms.
“My comfort was provided for, but it is for my mate’s comfort that I need a soft bed. She is still yet a maid and I would have her treated as gently as possible when I relieve her of that burden.”
The men around him chuckled.
“Which brings me to the women she protects...”
Fionn shook his head. “Those that defile the Cave of Tears.”
“So you know of their existence,” stated Kellan.
“Aye, milord. Many is the time we have tried to uproot them from their gathering place, but trying to get to them has been the issue. We believe they must have a secret entrance on top of the cliffs, but have never been able to find it. There are those that say that the spirit of Duncan’s mate protects them. She has never been seen in daylight, but once in a great while, her silhouette has been seen against a full moon and her cries have split the night sky,” answered Fionn.
“It is not Neeva’s ghost who lives among the four women, but rather my mate, Míorúilt. Who awaits me back at Raicleach.”
“She awaits your return?” asked one of the other warriors.
Kellan laughed; it felt good to be among men again. “Only because I left her in one of the cells in the dungeon beneath the surface of the island. She has yet to reconcile herself to the fact that she is my true heart, even though she knows that she is. Drakaina are notoriously fractious when first forced to submit to their mates. My Míorúilt is no different. I wish to return to the castle ruins with a bed where I will claim her as mine before another sunrise.”
“Our best wishes for a long and happy pairing with many offspring to be born of your union,” offered Fionn.
“But that brings me to the last two issues I would begin to address. The first is the removal of the women from the Cave of Tears. I can bring them down from the cavern, but they are unmated and will need to be protected until suitable mates can be found for them. Is your fortress large enough to accommodate them?”
“Aye, milord. But women have never been a part of our order...”
“Do you take a vow of celibacy? If so, that must have come after Aloysius’ time. Your ancestor, Fionn, was a notorious womanizer until he met his Fionnuala.” Kellan smiled at the memory. “From the time she broke his nose until I left them, he saw no other. You come from strong stock, Fionn. Your ancestress was ridden hard and often by Aloysius and she often marked his back in her passion. She was fierce and not given to obedience, except when her belly grew large with child... and even then she was a force to be reckoned with.”
Fionn and the others laughed, becoming more at ease with their dragon lord.
“We are not celibate. We make frequent use of the pleasure girls in the village, but do not take a wife while we serve. There is room here at the stronghold.”
“Perhaps some of you will be called to take one of the women to mate, but I won’t have them used or ill-treated while in my care. I will stand as their guardian and arrange for each of them to be placed with a suitable man,” stated Kellan. “I would think that with my return, we might restructure the order using this as a training ground and house the leaders of our armed force at Raicleach... once it is rebuilt.”
“That too will be seen to, my lord.”
Kellan nodded. “I will first make the dungeons more comfortable for my mate an
d me to live in while the castle is rebuilt. Make sure the craftsman and builders know they will be compensated and that if they have farms, we will have others work their land for them. Do we need to recruit more men?”
“Nay, my lord. With your return, the bulk of our young men will remain. The addition of the women of the Sanctuary will be welcome. But if the young men stay, we may have to recruit women to our shores.”
Kellan laughed. “Our people have a long and storied history of recruiting females. Your ancestress, Fionnuala, among them.”
“I would suggest that we send Cathal south to meet with Lord Gideon.”
“I can leave today,” Cathal offered.
“A fine idea. The rest of us can go and fetch the women of the... what did you call it?”
“The Sanctuary, milord. No one other than the women are allowed and it is rumored that all have sought asylum from either an arranged marriage or an abusive situation.”
Kellan pushed back from the table. “While I may place them in a marriage not of their choosing, it will only be if I am convinced the man in question is the right one for her. I will not tolerate any woman under my protection, which includes all of those who dwell within the boundaries of my territory, being abused or mistreated.”
“Might I suggest that we split our efforts; part of us will ride with you and welcome the women of the Sanctuary into our safekeeping. The others will gather and craft a bridal bed for you and your lady. Do you wish it to be below the surface?”
Kellan shook his head. “No, I will have some of you stand witness as my mate and I take our vows and then leave us on the island. I will claim my mate as my own under the star-lit sky. We can move the bed below once I have taken her maidenhead so that I can satisfy my need to rut with her where the dungeon can afford us some protection and privacy.”
“If she is your true heart, will that need ever be completely satisfied?” quipped Fionn.
Kellan laughed again. Knowing the blood of Aloysius flowed through Fionn’s veins, Kellan became serious and left the table, followed by his men.
“Fionn, kneel before me.” The young man complied. “Earlier today, you recited the ancient vow of our people. I would have you do so again.”
Fionn knelt and once again placed his sword in homage to Kellan. “My life to your heart,” Fionn swore solemnly.
Kellan picked up his own sword and dubbed each of Fionn’s shoulders. “My heart to your life. I would ask that as you serve as leader to this faithful order and are a direct descendant of the one who last served me that you stand as my beta. Stand and be recognized.”
The rest of the men cheered and applauded, clearly in agreement with Kellan’s choice.
Fionn stood. “It would be the greatest honor of my life.”
Kellan grinned. “Then it begins... again.”
Chapter Six
The men of the Dragon’s Galloglas took on their various assignments. Cathal gathered the supplies he needed to carry Kellan’s message to Gideon in Cornwall; two of the men split off to gather the materials needed to create Kellan’s bridal bed. The remaining five men of the order saddled their horses plus three others and rode for the beach below the Sanctuary. The plan was to remove the women to the citadel, leaving them locked in their new rooms and under guard of four of the men. Fionn and the two men who created Kellan’s bed would stand witness as he and his mate took their vows. They would then return to the stronghold and begin to gather men and materials to begin restoration of Raicleach.
Kellan would fly first to Raicleach to check on his mate’s safety and to let her know of his plans. He would then leave her in her cell while he removed the women of the Sanctuary and placed them in the care of the warriors of Dragon’s Galloglas. Once his rut had ended, he and his men would set about removing the belongings of those at the Sanctuary before Kellan once again sealed it away from the world.
Knowing that his plans were underway and that this night he would take Míorúilt’s maidenhead and claim her as his own, he stripped, gathered his belongings, and flew toward home. Landing amid the ruins of his once great castle, he felt confident that it would be so again. He dressed and walked to the trap door and descended the staircase. Only silence greeted him. There was no way she could have escaped him, unless she had found a way to end her own life. He hadn’t thought her that desperate; could he have been wrong?
Charging down the corridor, he breathed a sigh of relief to find her curled up in the corner on the floor. He noted the bars, ceiling, floor, and walls had all been scorched by dragon fire.
“Did you not think I would keep you in a place where even dragon fire could not free you?” he rumbled at her, his cock beginning to swell at her closeness.
She looked at him with defiance. “I thought it was worth trying as I wasn’t sure just how bright you were.”
Kellan was taken aback by her arrogant and angry tone. “You, my mate, need to learn to be respectful in how you address me.”
Standing, she seethed, “Or what? You’ll spank me? You’ve already done that. You’ll rape me? Apparently, you’re planning that entertainment for later this evening.”
Kellan recognized that part of her anger was being fueled by fear. Nevertheless, she would learn her proper place and the proper way to address her lord and master.
“Careful, Míorúilt, or you may well get your bottom spanked again before you beg me to mount you and use you in the way all drakaina are intended to be used by their mates. I would prefer that there was less sting in your tail when you take your vows in front of my men...”
“Your men? You have no men!”
“While you have been lying around, resting and daydreaming of the consummation of our joining...” She gave a derisive snort. “I have met with the warriors of the Dragon’s Galloglas, appointed my second in command, dispatched one of the warriors to Gideon with the message that I have awakened and taken you to mate, arranged for the soft bed you requested to be made, and will shortly go to see to the disposition of your women.”
Míorúilt jumped to her feet and rushed the front of the cell. “You do what you want with me, but you leave them alone.”
Kellan shook his head. “That I cannot do. I will see the four of them removed from the Cave of Tears and taken to the stronghold held by my warriors. When I have finished with my rut, I will empty the cave of their things and reseal the entrance to the Cave of Tears. Then the rebuilding of our home here at Raicleach will commence and I will turn my mind to finding suitable mates for your women. I am curious to see if Fionn, my beta, feels called to the woman who looked capable of carrying through on her threat to me with a sword.”
Four? thought Míorúilt. There were five women currently in the Sanctuary, but Kellan would never learn that from her or from the others.
“No,” she cried. “You cannot do this to them. I will not allow it. I swore to keep them safe. Will you have me foresworn?”
“It was never for you to take such a vow. I release you from it. All those who call Raicleach, Raicleach Geog, and the remainder of our territory home are mine to protect. Your only vow will be taken as the sun sets this evening.”
“Never,” she spat.
“Keep in mind, cushla macree, that this night will see you on your back and on your knees when I drive my shaft deep within your sheath. I would think that you would try to avoid another trip over my knee, but you should know the sight of his woman’s backside showing the evidence of his loving correction has the ability to inflame a man’s lust. This is especially so when put on display after he has eased the arousal that naturally occurs between a man and his mate when her bottom is well-colored and her pussy drips with the overfill of his seed.”
Míorúilt backed away. Good, he thought, she needed to learn to be cautious when defying me. The thought of seeing her such caused his staff to grow harder and as it bulged against the front of his breeches, it once again caught her attention. That too was a good sign as was the scent of her arousal.
He continued, “If you refuse to take your vows in front of our men, you will leave me no choice other than to force them from you while you are bent over my knee having your backside blistered with my displeasure. Given the state of your virginity and my need to rut with you, I would avoid another spanking were I you, but that choice, Míorúilt, I will leave to you.”
“What makes you think I won’t kill you the first time you close your eyes?”
Kellan laughed. “What makes you think you will be in any shape to do anything other than sleep in my arms after I am done with you?” he countered.
She blanched. “I will hate you forever,” she whispered.
“No, you won’t. And you will revel in the intensity of your love and lust for me. As I have said, drakaina are often difficult when their mates claim them both in a bonding ceremony and in the bridal bed or when asked to give up their immortality.”
“My immortality? I’m immortal?”
“Were you raised by wolves?” he asked incredulously as he opened the door to her cell.
When she didn’t get to her feet, he sighed, approaching her before fisting her hair and dragging her up against his hard body. No longer able to deny himself, he lowered his head and tasted her lips before deepening the kiss as she responded.
Pushing him away, she wiped her mouth before saying, “No, by two parents who found me right after I was born and kept me for their own.”
Kellan realized that Míorúilt had very little knowledge of their kind. He couldn’t blame her parents; they probably had no idea that she was dragon. Certainly, she was young enough that most likely by the time they died, she had only begun to make the final change from girl to woman. He would see that transformation made complete this night.
He removed her from the cell, closing the door securely behind him as she growled. He crossed her cell to the stone bench, sitting down and beckoning her to sit on his lap. She shook her head.
