by Delta James
Hearing the clamoring of a female tantrum overhead, Kellan remarked, “The women are now of our clan. They will be given the proper structure and support they have been lacking. When they are in need of correction, it will fall to either you or me to supply it. Although given the nature of Míorúilt and your Brenna... she is to be your Brenna, or is she already?”
“I would never presume, my lord Kellan, but if you would see fit to place her in my care as my mate, I will endeavor to correct her behavior and have her be a credit to our clan.”
“You have my blessing to claim the lady as your own. We will inform her father that she has been recovered and placed in your care in matrimony. As I was saying, given both Brenna’s and Míorúilt’s quarrelsome natures, we may well have to appoint one of our men to start to bring the others in line.”
“Cathal would be my recommendation for an omega. His skills as a warrior are only exceeded by those as a diplomat...”
“But we will be fortunate to see him back before week’s end. You need to attend to your Brenna and I do not feel we can simply allow the others to languish without proper supervision...”
“I agree, but I propose we send Donnacha to Raicleach and return Lorcan to the citadel. He can supervise the women while Donnacha remains at Raicleach. I do not like the idea of you being without a guard.”
Kellan laughed. “I am dragon, how much protection do you think I require?”
“To be blunt, my lord, when you are in the throes of the rut with your mate, I would have someone to at least sound an alarm...” Fionn drifted off, seemingly worried that he might have offended Kellan.
“Your point is well conceived and even better said. It would seem already you prove my faith in you as my beta to be justified.”
Fionn nodded. “I will see to Brenna and let Lorcan know if one of the women is in need of a trip over my knee, he is to bring it to my attention and I will see it done. Brenna may as well learn from the beginning that my duties as your beta may take precedence to her needs.”
“I will try never to have that happen. I believe a man must always see to his mate’s needs... lest they become even more fractious and require discipline instead of loving.”
Kellan smiled and his cock stirred as he thought of Míorúilt’s response last evening.
“I take it from the look on your face that your true heart proved to be all you wanted?”
Kellan nodded. “And waited for more than a millennium to find.”
Their talk was interrupted as some kind of altercation broke out above the stairs. Running from the dining hall into the foyer, they could see Brenna, armed with a sword fighting against two warriors. The men were at a distinct disadvantage as they had no desire to hurt her; while she, on the other hand, was intent on doing them great harm. Fionn glanced at Kellan, who smiled and nodded.
“Brenna!” Fionn called. “You put that sword down!”
“Come try and take it from me, you bastard!”
“Back away from her,” Fionn called. “I fear my mate is deadly with that thing, which is my fault as I taught her to wield it. But I warn you, mate, if I have to take it from you, I will use it across your backside to express my displeasure with your behavior.”
“I’ll die before I surrender my sword.”
Having ascended the grand staircase, he rushed the angry woman, who managed to avoid being captured. She gave ground in order to use her sword more effectively. Fionn caught the sword tossed to him by Donnacha.
“You’ll nay die, mate, but I’ll teach you a lesson you won’t soon forget, and your first breaching will be after I’ve welted your bottom.”
The two opponents squared off. Kellan was surprised at the skill with which Brenna fought. Fionn had taught her well; the training of his future army was in good hands. Again, Brenna had a slight advantage as Fionn did not intend to wound her, but she meant to make good on her threat to either kill or be killed.
Their blades clanged and sparks flew as time and again the two opponents crossed swords. Kellan watched as Fionn skillfully tired her out and fooled her into thinking he was dropping his guard. As she charged, Fionn was able to block her sword and grasp her arm. He brought his blade sliding down hers, forcing her to release the sword. Knowing she was bested, Brenna tried to flee, but Fionn caught her easily.
“My apologies, my lord, for my mate’s errant behavior,” Fionn called down to him.
“No need, Fionn. I was just thinking what warriors you will sire between her thighs. If they have even half of their mother’s skills, our enemies will quit the field as soon as they see who they will face in battle. Do you wish to discipline Brenna as her beta or as her mate?”
“Neither,” she cried.
“As her mate, my lord. As beta, I would not be able to see to her need to be mounted after I have disciplined her.”
“Then bring her down here. I will not have any of these women bedded without being properly bonded to the man who wishes to claim her.”
Fionn smiled and grabbed Brenna’s inky mane as he propelled her down the stairs toward Kellan.
“No! You cannot do this to me!” she screamed.
“Why is it,” Kellan said in a perplexed tone, “that the females around me are forever telling me I cannot do what I know I can?” He shook his head. “Fionn, do you take this woman to be your true and lawful wife and mate?”
“Happily, my lord.”
“Then it is done,” Kellan said.
“No! I have not agreed or taken any vow!” argued Brenna.
“And would you have agreed or recited the proper vows?” asked Kellan in a solicitous tone.
“Never!”
“As I suspected. Fionn, I charge you to see to your mate’s needs for both correction and consummation. When we next meet, I will listen to her recite her vows.”
“Yes, my lord,” Fionn said with a grin.
“I suggest that you see to her discipline first. We dragons do not allow our drakaina to come at us with deadly intent.”
“I will, my lord, I made no idle threat. My Brenna will first feel my cock breach her sheath after I have welted her bottom.”
“Donnacha.”
“My lord?”
“Fionn has entrusted my safety and that of my true heart to you, while I am in the throes of the rut. Lorcan will return to stand for Fionn while he brings his mate to heel. While the two of us are occupied in the pleasurable pursuit of taking our mates in hand, Lorcan will speak for me in all matters, except for any needed discipline of the women. It is my hope he will be able to do so without incident. Donnacha, I will take you back with me to the island. I will take Lorcan to town and instruct him to inform our people that the Sanctuary has been abolished and the women are now safely under my protection. I will also have him see Brenna’s father to pay him a generous bride price and inform him of his daughter’s marriage. I will return to Raicleach, stopping at the Cave of Tears to retrieve Míorúilt’s personal belongings before two of our men do the same for the others and then seal the cave.”
Fionn started to protest, but Kellan waved him off before continuing, “I suggest we try to help the ladies adjust to their new reality. If any of you feel called to one of them, tell Lorcan, but it will have to wait until I have finished my rut with my Míorúilt.”
“No,” whispered Brenna.
Kellan turned toward her. “Yes. Your lady is a maid no longer. I relieved her of that burden to the musical cries of her ecstasy last night and wish to return to our bed as soon as possible to revel between her thighs once more. Fionn?”
“Yes, my lord?”
“I wish you and your mate a long and happy pairing.”
With that Kellan left the citadel, swapping Lorcan for Donnacha.
Chapter Ten
Míorúilt paced the floor. Lorcan had come down earlier to introduce himself and check on her, asking if there was anything he could do for her. She had blown a thin line of fire onto the ground in front of him outside her cell. M�
�orúilt found it curious that while the walls, bars, floor, and ceiling that held her prisoner were impervious to dragon fire, everything outside the compartment that imprisoned her was not. Lorcan had jumped back and retreated as she snarled at him. If Kellan and his band of men believed she would fall into the role of a meek and submissive mate, she would prove him wrong.
Conflicting emotions raged within her. On the one hand, the feelings and remembered passion Kellan had invoked made her nipples stiffen, her clit swell and pussy pulse in renewed arousal. That she was hot and bothered was an understatement. Part of the reason she paced relentlessly was to keep from focusing on the memory of the night she had shared with Kellan. If she closed her eyes, she could recall the feel of his hands and lips as he ran them over her body. While she may have initially resisted her physical and emotional response to him, she had easily succumbed to his seduction. When he had possessed her, the rapture she felt had been the single most incredible experience of her life.
Míorúilt shrieked and pounded the bars at the front of her cell in frustration and need. Part of her wanted to break free, fly away, and never see him again. And yet the other wondered when he would return to dominate and possess her. She thought she heard the sound of wings beating in the sky above. Her window limited her view, but her body responded and knew Kellan had returned. When she heard the sounds of approaching footsteps she froze in the middle of the cell. She was torn between rushing to the bars to be near him and trying to hide herself away in the dark corners to avoid him.
“My lady?” inquired a warrior unknown to her, but a bit older than Lorcan. “I am Donnacha. My lord Kellan asked me to check on you and let you know he will return as soon as he gets Lorcan back to the citadel.”
“You can tell your lord and master that I have no interest whatsoever in his activities.”
He smiled and shook his head. “I don’t know that I believe you. Regardless, Kellan has bid me to dissemble your bridal bed...”
“I’m glad to hear he has no further need of it. Perhaps he will leave me in peace.”
“I fear not, my lady, your lord prepares to go into the rut and wishes me to reassemble it down here so that you will have some privacy.”
“He saw no need for it as he stole my virginity and once he was done, discarded me along with it. Donnacha, I beg you, free me from this prison.”
Donnacha seemed puzzled. “I cannot believe that of him. I saw how his eyes come alight and his dark visage is lifted when he speaks of you. You are his one true heart and he would see you happy and fulfilled.”
“He sees me only as the recipient of his seed and nothing more. Do you have a sister?” Míorúilt asked, changing tactics.
He nodded. “I do, my lady. In fact, I have four of them. Three of them are the most loving and biddable girls in the kingdom and my parents are considering which of three suitors to give my last and youngest sister’s hand to.”
“What of the fourth?” she asked.
“She now resides at the citadel and is under the protection of my lord Kellan. Until just recently, she was one of those at the Sanctuary with you.”
“Fidah,” Míorúilt whispered.
“Yes, my lady, Fidah. My family and I have lost many a night’s sleep worrying about her safety and what would become of her in your ragtag community of women. I fear Fionn and his lordship will have their hands full bringing her to heel. Although with her looks and the dowry provided by my lord Kellan, she should have no trouble attracting a husband.”
“Don’t you want her returned home instead?”
“No. As much as I love and respect my parents, they have proven ineffective in dealing with Fidah. They had all but given up and had made plans to place her with a religious order. I am grateful that your mate has taken her under his protection and is committed to finding the right mates for each of your hooligan women. The whole lot of you need to have your bottoms spanked until sitting is unbearable. My lord Kellan has set two of our men with the task of retrieving the belongings of your women and will do so for you. The Cave of Tears will then be sealed again for all eternity.”
“Bastard,” she spat. “I pity the woman who is forced to spread her legs for you in the marriage bed.”
“You have a sharp tongue, my lady, but the woman that I’ve been promised to since we were children and I will be wed when my tour of duty at Dragon Galloglas is complete. Kayleigh is as beautiful as a summer’s day with a temperament just as mild. Although, Fionn seemed to think that our vow of celibacy may be lifted by my lord Kellan. He is a man of strong passion and need and didn’t seem to believe such a vow was needed.”
Míorúilt hid a smile. She didn’t have the heart to tell him that Kayleigh had always been supportive of the Sanctuary and those who dwelled within.
“Does this paragon of virtue know of your ill treatment of my women and myself or your feelings around what’s to be done with us?” she seethed.
“Kayleigh does not concern herself with such things. Instead she works to make our small farmhouse cozy and comfortable and prepares for our wedding and life together.”
Míorúilt hoped he never realized that it was Kayleigh who had acted as a conduit between those in need of asylum at the Sanctuary and Míorúilt herself. She knew Kayleigh fancied herself in love with Donnacha, whatever that meant, but thought she would take a dim view of his involvement with its destruction. If he thought she would be supportive of those who had once been mistresses of their own fate being brought to heel by the one Donnacha now called his liege lord, he was sadly mistaken.
* * *
Tintagel, along the southern coast of Britannia
Gideon lifted Bridget in his strong grip. He’d just finished having to discipline her... again. He stood and bent her over the edge of the bed. He rubbed her bright red bottom and then stroked the narrow furrow between her ass cheeks. Without a word, he unfastened the front of his breeches. Shoving two fingers into her soaked pussy, he stroked her roughly, gathering some of her natural lubricant and slathering it over his cock.
Grinning as Bridget looked back over her shoulder, he knew she was cognizant of the fact that he meant to make use of her once again and that he meant to do so roughly. His cock was enormous and seemed always ready. It was thick and covered with the plating and bulges characteristic to a dragon cock. The distinctive and hard ridge that twisted around his cock was prominent and wrapped around it from the head to the base. Gideon smiled at her when he saw she was looking at him.
He grasped her cheeks as the head of his staff probed between her folds until at last he found the entrance to her core. With a mighty groan, he mounted her, sinking all the way to the end of her sheath. She screamed into the bedclothes and climaxed from his dominant possession. As unrelentingly as he had spanked her, Gideon now fucked her with the same zeal.
“Oh, God,” she cried as another intense orgasm seized her body and her sheath clamped down on the ramrod pistoning in and out of her.
Gideon’s cock stretched her cunt, as over and over he thrust deeply. His hips slammed into her red and welted bottom, reminding her that this too was part of what he meant for her to take for misbehaving. He could be, and often was, a tender lover, but he meant to prove his prowess and strength and settle in her mind that he was dominant and would be the one in charge.
He continued to batter her pussy with his powerful staff. He took harder and longer strokes so that she felt every inch of him as he drove to the very depths of her soul. Had he not been holding her in position, she would have crumpled beneath him. He said nothing but made noises that expressed the pleasure he was getting from her body and her response to him.
Gideon had lost count of how many times he had driven her to the very peak of ecstasy and forced her to fall into the abyss. He knew she was exhausted physically and emotionally, as he began to plunge faster and more forcefully. She was just tipping over into another climax as his cock released a sea of his cum into her. He grasped her more firmly to him and b
utted her derriere with his hips as he pumped his seed—its heat coated and soothed the ravaged walls of her pussy.
When he had emptied his last drop into her, he uncoupled from her, patting her red bottom as he did so. He pulled his breeches back into place, tucked his cock inside them, and fastened them back up.
“It is a continual source of amazement to me that a drakaina as misbehaved as you tend to be could have given birth to a daughter as sweet as ours.”
Bridget ignored his blatant attempt to change the subject.
“Gideon, I want to go. You have no good reason to leave me home when you go to see Kellan and his new mate.”
“I have three very good reasons. First, I would not take Ciara and would ensure one of us was here so her sleep is untroubled by worry that something might happen to you. Second, your belly already begins to swell with our child, and I will keep the two of you safe... if I have to shackle you to our bed whenever I cannot keep an eye on you.”
“For heaven’s sake, Gideon. Women, wolves, and drakaina have been bearing children since the beginning of time. My flying out to speak with our fishermen...”
“Was ill-conceived and in direct defiance of an order I had given you, which leads me to my third reason...”
“And that is?” she snarled.
“Because I said you would remain here, safe at Tintagel.”
“You really are the most annoying dragon.”
Gideon leaned down and kissed her. “Regardless of that, you love me beyond distraction, and I will be obeyed.”
There was a discreet knock on the door. Gideon nodded in answer to her unasked question and she pulled her gown down to cover herself, lifting off the bed and coming to stand next to him. Opening the door, he could not repress his smile.
“Papa? Cadan said Mother was back and that you were angry that she disobeyed you again. Really, Mother,” she said, looking around him at her mother, “you should do what Papa says.”
He grinned and scooped her up in his arms. “You would do well, my drakaina, to listen to our beautiful daughter who is smart and wise beyond her years.”
