by M. K. Eidem
"I'm fine. In fact, I don't think I've ever felt better."
Kirall's gaze searched hers and saw the truth in them. "You are growing stronger thanks to the magic of Mondu and the power of Kruba."
"And because of you," she added, stretching up to kiss his lips.
Sinking one hand into her hair, Kirall deepened the kiss. In moments their passion ignited, and he ripped away the sheet from between them and rolled her onto her back.
The outside world had interrupted them last night, but this morning nothing would interfere with him showing his mate just how much he loved her.
Autumn willingly wrapped her legs around her mate, giving him access to everything he wanted. She'd never get over this feeling of being wanted, needed, and desired. And she was determined to make sure all of Kirall felt the same away. Unsheathing her claws, she lightly dragged them down her mate's back in the way she knew drove him crazy and brought his Beast closer to the surface.
"Aud-um," his growl deepened, and his eyes flashed as his Beast gazed at her.
"I'm yours," she claimed, arching her hips up, taking the head of his Beast-sized cock inside her.
"Mine!" he growled thrusting hilt deep into her.
"Kur, yes!" she cried out, sinking her claws deep into his ass as she matched him thrust for thrust. When her mate's teeth elongated, she turned her head, offering him her vulnerable neck. When his Beast saw her submission, he sunk his teeth deep into her throat. His Beast-powered thrusts stretched even her Dragoon channel to its limits, and the combination of that and his bite sent them both to that place where it was only them.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
"You requested everyone to come here?" Autumn asked as she felt Kirall's family approach Kruba's boundary and granted them access. "Why?"
"While Dacke can now pass over or through any boundary but ours, now that he's a Supreme, his family can't. It would draw a great deal of attention if they were to travel to Vrasal or Vrakar."
"And it won't for your family to travel here." She nodded understandingly.
"It also won't tax Dacke's family as much since tomorrow they will need to fly to Dramman."
Autumn hadn't thought of that. Dacke's family was still and always would be Minors. They didn't have the strength or stamina of a Prime or Supreme.
"How did Nixie sound when you talked to her? Is she struggling the way Dacke is?”
“No, she’s taking to it as if it was where she was always meant to be," he told her as he ran gentle fingers up and down her arm.
“I think she was. And your parents? How are they handling it?”
“Better than I thought," he admitted, "especially since Ravannah and Aisling decided to join her. It seems my father is greatly enjoying having just him and his mate in their Lair. Just as I am.”
"What about Radko?" she asked.
"It seems my youngest brother has empowered his own Lair."
"He has?"
"Yes," he told her, leaning down to capture her lips for another kiss, knowing he would never tire of her taste.
"Where?" Autumn murmured against his lips.
"The peak on the other side of Vrakar," he told her and felt her heavy sigh. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"Dacke and his family are also on their way." She'd felt their approach. "Why is everyone arriving so early?" she demanded, getting out of bed. "The sun is barely up."
"I might have insinuated that we had urgent business to discuss," he told her as he leaned back enjoying the sting from the still healing marks on his back his mate had given him.
"Then I suppose we'd better get ready for a full Lair." Ceasing her pacing she moved toward the bathroom. "I'm going to shower before everyone arrives."
Kirall was immediately up and out of bed. "I'll join you."
Chapter Eight
"Commander Cai contacted me this morning," Kiran said in the way of a greeting as he walked up the steps of Kruba.
"He said he would," Kirall replied. "I didn't mention it to Nixie when I requested she come. Did you?"
"No, I didn't feel that was my place. While Nixie’s now a Supreme, she isn't yet recognized as an Elder. Therefore it’s up to her recognized Elder to inform her."
Kirall should have realized his father would strictly follow protocol even with his own daughter.
"Inform me of what?" Nixie asked, moving quickly up the stairs.
"Let’s wait until Dacke and his family are here then we'll only have to go through this once," Kirall told her as he moved to give his mother a hug and kiss her cheek. "Hello, Mother. Was it a good flight?"
"It was wonderful. It's been a long time since I've flown with the rising sun," Niccele told him then stepped out of her son's arms and ran a critical eye over Autumn. "You are looking better."
"I didn't know I was looking bad." Autumn ran a self-conscious hand over the hair she'd left loose and the gown she'd chosen to wear.
"You could never look bad, Autumn. But I remember going through my first shifts, and I am also a mother who’s seen seven offspring through theirs too. It taxes your power no matter your status or color. Most sleep for hours after each shift. You are also newly mated." Autumn felt her cheeks heat at Niccele's knowing smile. "That you have been able to handle both at the same time speaks to just how strong you are and will be, once your body fully adjusts. It also pleases me that my son is making sure you are getting enough rest."
"He takes excellent care of me," Autumn assured her.
Niccele's eye met her mate's as she gave Autumn a hug. "He's a great deal like his father."
The pair separated and turned when Kirall announced, "Dacke and his family are arriving."
Dacke allowed his family to land, shift, and move out of the way before he did. His landing was flawless, but it had Autumn wondering if he was still struggling with his new size and power.
Once everyone had shifted, Autumn and Kirall led everyone inside, but not to the front room they'd used for all the other meetings. Instead, they led them to where Dacke and Nixie had been transformed.
Autumn and Kirall's chairs were still at one end facing out, while the ones along the walls were now arranged with three in front. Four were arranged behind one with the other six behind the two remaining chairs. Kirall and Autumn walked up to their chairs before turning and facing their family and friends.
"Dacke, if you would sit there," Autumn gestured to the single chair set slightly away from the other two. "Daiki. Femke. Daker. Feng. Would you please sit behind the Keeper of your Lair?" She looked to Kirall's family. "Nixie, please take the chair closest to Dacke. Ravannah. Aisling. Sit behind the Keeper of your Lair." She looked at Kiran. "Kiran next to Nixie, please, with the remainder of your family behind you."
Autumn waited until everyone was settled before speaking again. "The reason I asked for you to sit this way is that it is how you will need to sit tomorrow when the Council reconvenes. What we need to discuss is when you want the Council and the rest of Mondu to know of your change in status and how it affects your families."
"What do you mean?" Nixie questioned.
"We all know that the situation with Tove is already going to be controversial," Kirall took over, "and that's before anyone learns that there are now two more Supremes."
"So what are you suggesting, Son?" Kiran asked.
"I'm not suggesting anything," Kirall told him. "You, Father, will take your place in the Council Chambers just as you normally do, along with Mother, Zeb, Jariath, and Radko. It’s Dacke and Nixie who must decide if they want to reveal themselves before or after the Tove situation is resolved, and reveal those under their protection."
Nixie frowned at her brother. "What difference does it make?"
Autumn spoke before her mate could. "If the Council and people of Mondu don't know there are more Supremes before Tove is convicted," Autumn refused to believe he wouldn't be. "It could be perceived that we didn't believe you would side with us, which might have changed the vote."
"And
if we do?" Dacke asked.
"It could be perceived that we are trying to intimidate the other Elders," Kirall told him.
"So what do you want us to do?" Nixie asked.
"That's not up to us," Autumn told her sister-in-law. "It's up to you and those under your protection. We were serious when we told you that there were no strings connected if you chose to become a Supreme. If you choose to enter the Council Chambers with us, you will be recognized as the Supreme Elder for your color and will sit beside us with those under your protection sitting below you. Then once the evidence against Tove is heard, it will be up to you to vote as you see fit."
"You don't think we'd stand with you?" Nixie didn't try to keep the shock out of her voice.
"Not if you don't believe what you see or hear when the evidence is presented," Autumn told her. "It can't work that way, Nixie. You are now a Supreme, the most powerful Black on the planet. Primes and Minors have to know and believe that you will stand for them against any threat, even if it's another Supreme. They won't believe that if you don't question your own father or us." Autumn could see Nixie hadn't thought of that and was struggling with it.
"It is part of being a Keeper," Kiran turned to look at his oldest female. "Of having ones under your protection and being an Elder. You must always remember that your words and actions will affect more than just you."
Nixie closed her eyes for a moment absorbing her father's words. She'd been so excited to have her own Lair that she hadn't realized the full weight that came with it. The weight her father seemed to carry so effortlessly for centuries. The weight Autumn, someone so young and new to being a Dragoon, readily carried.
Autumn had believed in her, had seen what she was truly meant to be and made her a Supreme. It was time for her to do the same. Taking a deep breath, Nixie shrugged off who she'd always been, Nixie, the daughter of the Black Prime Elder. She accepted the mantle of Nixie, a Black Supreme, Keeper of her own Lair, protector of those in it, and Elder. Opening her eyes, her gaze met Autumn's.
Autumn watched as Nixie seemed to struggle with her father's words. Had she made a mistake? Would this be too much for Nixie to handle? Nixie had been born and raised on Mondu with traditions Autumn had no trouble dismissing, like a female becoming a Keeper. These were things ingrained in Nixie since birth. Autumn was about to voice her concerns to Kirall when a change seemed to come over Nixie. She seemed to collapse in on herself for a moment then swelled, cloaked with a new type of power. When she opened her eyes, Autumn saw acceptance and new confidence in her.
"I can be open-minded, make my own decisions, and go claw-to-claw with anyone I disagree with." Nixie's gaze moved to her right. "Even if it's my own father."
"Then you will be an amazing Keeper and Elder." Kiran reached out to gently caress his female's cheek. "You will also always be my daughter, no matter what."
"And you'll always be my daddy." Leaning over, she kissed his cheek.
Autumn relaxed back in her chair. One crisis averted. She looked at Dacke. "And you?"
"I believe it would be best if the Supremes arrived together," he told her. "Yes, it will cause a disturbance that we'll have to deal with first, but then we can learn what's really going on with Tove."
"And your family?"
Dacke looked at Kirall. "I think it would be best if they arrived with Elder Kiran and his family." Dacke's gaze shifted to Kiran. "If that's acceptable to you, Elder Kiran."
"That would be perfectly fine, Dacke, and please, it's Kiran, when we're not in the Council Chambers. Although I should be the one asking permission to address you so casually as you now outrank me," Kiran told him.
"That's going to take some getting used to," Dacke admitted.
"You'll find it gets easier," Kiran told him with a small smile. "Especially when dealing with those you… take issue with."
Kirall gave him an understanding look. He didn't support what Lando had done to Dacke to make him reveal what he knew about Autumn, all because Tove's daughter was jealous she'd mated Kirall.
"Then we're in agreement?" Autumn asked, her gaze taking in everyone in the room. “Daiki? Femke? Daker? Feng?"
"We will follow our Keeper's wishes," Daiki answered for the rest of his family.
"Ravannah? Aisling?" The sisters looked at each other for a moment, then Ravannah spoke after Aisling nodded.
"We too shall follow our Keeper's wishes."
"Zeb? Jariath? Radko?" Autumn didn't include Niccele because she knew she would follow her mate. "You three might have to deal with the most backlash as your sister was chosen to become a Supreme when you were not."
"We will always support our family," Radko spoke first.
"Whether they are Primes or Supremes," Jariath continued.
"Male," Zeb looked to Kirall, "female," his gaze moved to Nixie who had turned to face her brothers, "or mated addition," Zeb finished bowing his head slightly to Autumn.
"Thank you," Nixie said.
"Then we're all in agreement that tomorrow Dacke's family will arrive with mine and Father, you will have them accompany you into the Elders area. Once Dacke, Nixie, Autumn, and I arrive, everyone will move into the appropriate seating areas."
"I can do that," Kiran told his son.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
"How is it going empowering the jewels Macawi abandoned?" Kirall asked Dacke, who sat across from him later that night. Autumn was curled into his side, sipping wine while Nixie sat in one of the other chairs.
Dacke's family had left earlier with Kirall's as they would all be arriving at Dramman together. It would make it an easier flight for the White Minors while giving the four Supremes time to discuss things privately.
"Well, you were right on it being easier as a Supreme," Dacke told him.
"It is?" Nixie set her glass aside and leaned forward.
"You haven't empowered any jewels since you became a Supreme?" Dacke asked, his eyes widening.
"No, I haven't had to, not with the Hoard Kirall left me."
"You should still infuse some of your power into them," Dacke recommended. "It will imprint them to you while strengthening your Lair."
"I hadn't realized that." Nixie's gaze swung to Kirall. "Why didn't you tell me that?"
"I never thought to. It's just something I thought everyone knew when gifted empowered jewels."
"Apparently it's information only shared between male Dragoons," Nixie spit out giving her brother a disgusted look.
"They do that on Earth too," Autumn added her voice to Nixie's as she pulled away to glare at her mate. "But now there are two female Supremes who are the Keepers of their own Lair and Elders. There will be no more secrets."
"That was never my intention." Kirall pulled her back into his arms.
"Perhaps not, but it is what has occurred." While she settled back into her mate's arms, her gaze went back to Nixie. "There's something else you need to know as a Supreme, Nixie, which we are just learning."
"What's that?" she asked, leaning back in her own chair.
"Once you 'imprint' on your Hoard, as Dacke calls it, your Lair will follow your wishes. You don't have to have the largest territory to be able to properly protect your Lair and those under your protection. In truth, with less territory, your barrier becomes even more impenetrable. It also means that you will be better able to protect your family."
"What do you mean?" Nixie asked.
"You have strong family ties with your parents and brothers. If their Lairs come under attack, you will be able to extend Vrakar's power and protection to them without having to destroy their Hoards first."
Everyone just looked at Autumn in surprise, including Kirall. She just shrugged. "It's no different than Dacke being able to protect his brothers’ and parents’ Lairs that are within his boundaries without absorbing their Hoards. It will be the same for whoever else becomes a Supreme."
Leaning forward, Dacke set his glass down then rose. "I believe I will return to my Lair."
"Why?" Kirall asked, removing his arm from around Autumn and rising. "I thought we decided we would leave together from here?"
"I feel the need to empower more jewels before we leave for Dramman."
"We need you strong tomorrow."
"I will be," Dacke told him. "The more jewels I empower, the stronger I seem to feel, and the more power I can pull from Krapis if needed. I will be ready when you fly over."
"Alright." Kirall walked over and clasped his friend's forearm. "We'll see you tomorrow."
"Safe flying." Autumn walked over and hugged Dacke.
"I will," he said, returning her hug. "Until tomorrow." With that, he walked out onto the balcony, shifted, and flew toward his Lair.
"I think I'll also retire," Nixie said rising. "You've given me a lot to think about. I'll see you in the morning."
Autumn's concerned gaze followed her sister-in-law out of the room before turning to her mate. "Kirall…"
"She'll be fine," he said as he pulled her into his arms. "Nixie has always been like that. She likes to be alone as she thinks things through."
"You're sure?"
"Yes, but I do think Dacke might have the right idea."
"About what?"
"Making sure his Hoard is as empowered as it can be." Pulling her close, he captured her lips for a deep hard kiss leaving her gasping. "So, how do you feel about going down and making sure our Hoard is as empowered as it can be?"
Slowly a seductive smile grew across Autumn's face. "I'll race you."
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
"I think," Autumn paused, gasping for breath as she stared up at the now brightly illuminated ceiling of the cavern, "I think that might have done it."
"I'm not so sure." Kirall's forehead rested on his mate's, his chest heaving and his hands buried wrist-deep in the now blazing jewels as he braced himself over her. "We might need to try a little harder."
"Harder?" After giving him a disbelieving look, she burst out laughing. "Kur, Kirall. If we tried any harder, Kruba might explode."
"Are you sure?" he asked, slowly rocking his hips, so his semi-hard cock began moving inside her again.
