by Ciara Lake
“But he’s a god.”
“Yes, still he was stunned. Before he left with Sarah, he advised me to arrange for our joining ceremony. He’s planning to attend, along with Sarah.”
Krilata had a look of amazement on her face. “He very seldom attends such functions.”
“He said he will be attending. Arianna and I must share our magic, make Arianna immortal. I’ve delayed the ritual to allow her time to grow familiar with me, but we should wait no longer. It’s not safe to wait. I want to be truly one with her. I want to share my full self with her.” Clayne turned to look directly at Arianna. He took both her hands in his. “Will you join with me as is the custom of our people?”
The tenderness in his eyes nearly made her weep some more.
“Will you be forever part of me?” he asked.
“Yes.”Arianna hugged him. “I want to be part of you forever, or at least as long as we both shall have.”
“It’s true even immortals can perish. It seems it is happening more often.” Clayne kissed her lips. “You make me very happy. Let me take you to our room. You can eat and sleep. In the morning, we’ll start anew. We’ll bury this dark hour behind us as best we can.”
“Is there a starting anew?” She looked up into his blue eyes. The blue was shinier than usual, shiny with unshed tears. To see him so emotional surprised her.
“There has to be.” He rubbed her back. “If not we couldn’t continue at all. I’d have never continued to this point. I would have quit a long time ago.” He kissed her forehead. “For now, forget the red-eyed devils who hurt your friends. They’ve been given the promises of their deity.”
“I pray so.”
“Come with me, I’ll hold you in my arms. You’ll be able to sleep safely. Nothing will hurt you here in Ejdeha Dragoni. Vampires no longer access this realm without escort. So don’t fear them coming here. We’ve learned our lesson about trusting them.”
Arianna put her arm behind his back, hugged him. “The people who died weren’t my friends, they were only acquaintances, which makes me feel worse about their deaths.”
“Why?”
“Just their mere contact with me ended them. They died completely innocent, ignorant to your world, our world. To them the vampires were true devils come to take their souls. They died afraid beyond normal comprehension. Afraid for their very immortal souls. There’s no worse fear for humans. I brought this to them out of nowhere. They didn’t deserve what happened.”
“No one deserved that.” He pressed her against him. “I don’t know what to say, but I do understand.”
“Thank you. I need to rest now.” Arianna put her hand to her head. “My head hurts.”
“I’ll have Timka bring some dinner to your room,” Krilata offered. “Go rest. Let your mate ease your nerves. We’ll start fresh tomorrow. We’ll make plans for your joining ceremony. You’re safe here in Ejdeha Dragoni. Thank the God Draconi Sarah’s to be restored.”
When Arianna stepped back from Clayne, they were in his room. “Wow, I’m getting used to your method of travel.” Arianna giggled. “That didn’t bother me this time.”
“Good, I want you to be comfortable with everything about me.” He kissed the back of her hand. “When we join you’ll be able to travel like that without my help.”
“How can we plan a happy event like our joining after what has happened?” Arianna frowned.
“Such is life. Especially among mortals.” Clayne shrugged. “Things end, people die. Everything else goes on. It has to be that way. Especially for those who have shorter lives due to their mortality.”
“Clayne, that seems cold and uncaring.” Arianna huffed, placed her hands on her hips.
“I don’t mean to be uncaring. I’m never cold.” He winked at her. “And I certainly care.” Removing his shirt, he threw it on the bed. “The good with the bad is always a way of life. When you live as long as immortals do, you see this for certain. We experience death less often but it can happen, and sometimes there are things worse than death. It’s important for us, for your safety, that we join as true immortal mates. It’ll make us both stronger. We can wait no longer. Think of how fortunate we are. Sarah has been saved. Draconi is blessing her with immortality. He has told us to join, so we must.”
“He’s making her immortal?” Arianna sat down on the settee. “How do you know?”
“Yes, he is. It’s what he meant when he said she would be changed, yet live.”
“What’s he doing to her?”
“He’s making her a handmaiden to his temple.” Clayne sat next to her. “Unless he fancys her in a different, more intimate way.”
“A different way?” Arianna looked up at him.
“Yes, Draconi looked at her as if he desired her. Sarah’s an attractive female.”
“You mean he liked her…sexually?”
“Exactly.”
“What’s next for her? Will she live with him or in his temple?”
“I don’t know. But Sarah’s been given an opportunity only a handful of mortals have ever been given. Don’t worry, it’s all good.” Clayne ran his hand over her leg. “Here, let me help you remove your dress.” He helped her stand, pushing her dress off to the floor. He picked her up and carried her to the bed. Carefully, he laid her down. “You never changed into the gown my mother sent for you. Poor girl, you looked like a pauper in your torn gown,” Clayne teased, kissing her. “Do you want to eat? Timka will bring us a meal soon.”
“No, I’m too sleepy. My stomach’s upset too. I don’t feel like eating now.”
“It’s fine. I’ll hold you.” He kissed her again. “I love you, Arianna. I’m sorry my love has brought you pain. I wanted to bring you joy.” The tender expression on his face made her heart ache.
“I love you too.” Arianna threw her arms around him. “I love you too,” she repeated with more enthusiasm. “Clayne, I do feel joy with you.” She kissed him with all the emotion she had buried in her soul.
Chapter 10
“Arianna, are you awake?” Clayne softly kissed her shoulder. He trailed his fingers down her back.
A shiver of desire ran to her womb. Arianna wiggled her bottom closer to him.
“My love, I want you.”
She rolled over to look at him. Clayne stroked the side of her face with the back of his hand. His tenderness made her insides ache with need. She kissed him, wrapping her arms around him, pulling him to her. He tasted sweet, warm. He moved over her, his knee in between her legs, he pushed them apart.
“Arianna, I want to love you with my body. I’ve been awake for hours wanting to be inside of you.”
“I want to make love to you too.”
“Good, I want to lose myself inside of you,” he whispered.
She pressed up against him, moaning. “I love how you feel against me. I feel safe in your arms.”
She kissed him. Her tongue entered his mouth. Their tongues dueled harmoniously together. The taste of him fueled her, encouraged her to press against him, to offer herself to him.
Loving the feel of him, she ran her hands through his silky hair. “Your hair’s soft.”
He kissed her neck up to her face. She closed her eyes to the wondrous sensations, his hot mouth traveling down her body.
“Oh, Clayne.” She tried to push him away as he kissed her mound. His tongue delved into her moist core.
“You taste lovely.” He looked up at her. She squirmed as he continued to love her with his mouth. “You’re wet for me.”
She caressed his hair again. Rising up, he kissed her mouth. She could taste herself. Arianna wrapped her arms around him. He pushed his stiff cock inside her with one thrust.
“Arianna, you feel incredible.” He stilled, and then moved slowly as if savoring each stroke.
She wrapped her legs around each of his, pulling him tighter against her.
“Clayne, make me forget everything unhappy. I only want to think of you, the happiness we have and will have together.
” She pushed up against him. She caressed his back as he rolled over with her on top of him.
“Ride me.” His hands ran up to her breasts, cupping them, fondling them tenderly. “Ride me, my love.”
“Would you come already!” A woman cleared her throat from behind them.
He stilled.
“I wish to speak with Arianna. Now!” The woman stomped her foot.
Clayne pulled from Arianna’s body and pushed her back onto the bed, placing himself in front of her. He was in a protective stance.
“What the hell’s this?” Clayne demanded, his tone fierce. “Amuliana, you’re in my bed chamber interrupting a private moment with my mate. Why would you do this? How dare you?”
“I know where I am.” Amuliana rolled her eyes. “And I dare anything I wish. I am a goddess.”
“I know you’re a goddess, but we’re entitled to privacy, or at least the pretense of it.” Heat surged from his body. His face flushed red with intense emotion. “Damn, Amuliana, why must you invade our privacy like this? This isn’t acceptable.”
“I choose to.” She shrugged. “You can fuck your mate later. I wish to talk to her now. I want to know about what took place yesterday at the human dress shop. I’m a goddess, you’re not to tell me what is acceptable. You are my servants. How dare you? Everything I do is acceptable to you because I say it is.”
Clayne’s skin reddened more, his eyes blazed. The room’s temperature jumped at least thirty degrees. Getting up, he carefully covered Arianna beneath the bedding.
“Amuliana, I respect you as a goddess.”
“As well you should.” Her eyes flashed.
“However, I won’t put up with your inconsideration.” Clayne stood facing the goddess, his stance challenging. Resentment etched his handsome face. “This isn’t acceptable.” He clenched his fists at his sides. “I don’t care who you are. We should be allowed certain respect.”
“I’ve had enough of your tantrum.”
Clayne grasped his stomach, doubling over and falling to his knees. His forehead hit the floor. Arianna sprang from the bed to his side, unconcerned with her nakedness.
“Clayne, are you okay?” Arianna looked up at Amuliana who stood over them. “What are you doing to him? You’re hurting him. Stop!” Arianna yelled at the top of her lungs.
Amuliana’s face contorted. She looked as if she was in pain when Arianna shouted.
“Stop this! Please!” Arianna knelt beside him. “Clayne, are you all right? What has she done to you?”
“I’m teaching this disrespectful dragon a lesson. You!” Amuliana pointed at Arianna. “Stop yelling. Do not shriek at me again with that sound you make.” She continued to point at Arianna, shaking her finger. “I don’t like the sound of your voice when you yell. It’s disagreeable in every way to me. It’s excruciating.” She shook her head as if trying to dislodge an unpleasantness. Again, her face contorted, showing ugliness beneath her beautiful façade.
Arianna stared at Amuliana, perplexed by her transformations. “Stop hurting him, and I won’t yell.” She bellowed the last part for good measure.
“Defiance. You two are a perfect pair.” Amuliana shook her head. “That damn annoying tone again.” Her long silver hair floated around her like a silky veil. Amuliana could look like an angel, but in truth, she was the farthest thing from one. “No matter how much I favor Clayne, and I do.” She looked at him as if appraising his attributes. “He shall not speak to me in this way. I am the goddess of immortality. You both shall be obedient and respectful to me at all times. And you!” She pointed at Arianna again. “Best not intervene with his punishment or you shall find yourself on the floor in pain next to your lover. The damage to you could be irreparable,” she threatened in an arrogant tone. “It would be a shame. Now, let’s stop with this ridiculous behavior, I don’t wish to fuss with either of you.” Amuliana turned to walk to the settee. Her hips swayed like a seductress. “I want to discuss what took place yesterday. Frankly, I’m angered I did not know of it immediately. Obviously, the…god of the dragons, Draconi, blocked this knowledge from me. Otherwise I would have known. I’m not sure how Draconi managed it or why, but I will find out. He’s a tricky, scaly reptilian god.” She sat down. “I hear you destroyed two vampires and saved yourself along with your mortal friend. How was this done?” Amuliana crossed her legs as she waited for Arianna’s obedient response.
“Arianna, you don’t need to answer her. The good goddess will release me.” Clayne gritted his teeth. “Release me now. What do you want from us, goddess?” He nodded his head respectfully, but his tone didn’t match his actions. “How can we serve you?”
“Very well, if you are to cooperate, I shall release you. I told you I want to know what happened in the human dress shop.” Amuliana waved her hand, releasing him from the pain holding him.
He stood, grabbing his trousers to put them on.
“If you watch your tongue and attitude, dragon, I won’t be forced to remind you of my power. You may be a powerful immortal warrior, but I am a goddess. Don’t forget that.”
Arianna surged to her feet. “Are you kidding me?”
“Hush, Arianna, or she’ll hurt us.”
“You’ve come into our bedroom, interrupted…us to demand to know something now?” Arianna picked up a blue gown and slipped it over her head.
“I thought we just discussed all of that. I seldom kid. By the way, Clayne’s cock is impressive. I understand your need to have it back inside you.” Amuliana eyed him from head to toe. “Every inch of him is impressive. His cock must feel very good to you, I would definitely enjoy it in my pussy.” She looked at Arianna as she batted her eyelids. “Now, Arianna, you don’t want to make me mad by being stupidly defiant. It would be simply foolish.” Amuliana shook her finger at Arianna as if she were a scolding governess. “I merely want to talk to you about how you dispatched those vampires. Come sit next to me and tell me all about it. You can fuck your mate later. There’ll be plenty of time. Your mate’s always willing. I’m here now, I am most important, unless you would like to include me in your fucking festivities.” Amuliana patted the place next to her on the settee. “Come now, I can imagine you don’t want to share just yet.”
“Do as she says,” Clayne advised. “She just says things to be a bitch when she’s in a mood.”
“No, I don’t want to talk about it now. I’m really too upset to discuss the horrifying event.” Arianna held her head high. “It makes me physically ill.” She makes me physically ill.
Amuliana stood facing Arianna. Clayne stepped in front of Arianna. Amuliana pushed him away with a wave of her hand. She didn’t even touch him, yet he fell into the wall.
“Get out of my way, reptile. Unless you want to fuck me too. Otherwise, I’m not interested in you just now. You are an irritant.” She flashed her eyes at him, then refocused on Arianna. “You’re saying you don’t feel like talking at this moment?” Amuliana’s eyes turned completely black, no whites of her eyes showing.
“Oh, shit. Do what the bitch says,” Clayne nearly pleaded. “She can really hurt you. I won’t be able to stop her.”
“No, I don’t feel like talking. I’m too upset. It was gruesome and scary, a true nightmare. I need to rest with my husband. He was comforting me.”
“If you think you can just send me off, you’re wrong,” Amuliana roared. Her silver hair turned black as tar. She appeared fiendish. “I want you to tell me how you killed those vampires. I want to know now. You are but a mortal.” She motioned to Arianna as if she were a lesser. “A dracvipen descended from a Forsaken cursed to walk in the mortal realm, your powers forsaken to you. You have not yet joined magically with your immortal dragon mate. How could you, a Forsaken one, kill a powerful vampire? I hear you dispatched Cleavan to his final rest. He was a vampire of immense power. He was very old, a great leader of his people.”
“You sound disappointed he’s gone,” Clayne interrupted. “He was evil. Evil suffers such conseque
nces.”
“Shut up, dragon.” She stomped her foot, glaring at Clayne. Then she turned back to Arianna. Her expression somewhat softened when she looked at Arianna.
“Actually...” Clayne leaned forward again. “Just to make the record clear, it was Copeland who took off Cleavan’s head.” He crossed his arms. “Arianna knocked Cleavan down, making him an easy target. We allowed him to live for too long. I should have killed him the night I destroyed over a hundred vampires at your request. I should have never stopped. I should have wiped out all of them.”
“I see.” Amuliana studied them. “You foolish dragon, you could have killed the line which created your mate. Arianna’s ancestor conceived the line on that very night.” She laughed. “Stupid warriors, you are always so full of fury and eagerness to cut down your enemy.” She shook her head. “Clayne, you should know I couldn’t care less that Cleavan is gone.” She softened her voice. There was a lack of sincerity in her tone.
“He escaped your curse of being a Forsaken one. I’ve always found that odd. Why have some escaped your punishment? Many have wondered that. What power did Cleavan and others like him have over you? How did he miss out on the fate you dealt to others?”
“Shut up!” Amuliana yelled. “You’re a foolish, scaly creature.” She stomped her foot. The tables rattled in the room. “Like most reptiles your brain is evidently very small.” She looked at Arianna, her eyes flashing from black to silver to black again. “I want to know how you did it, that’s all I’m asking. Not for a play-by-play necessarily…just how you did what you did,” she said, her voice sickening saccharine. “How could you knock down a vampire of his power? Cleavan was a creature of great strength. You are a puny human.” She gestured toward Arianna. “Look at how frail you are. What a puny female. Mixed with human too. I’m surprised Clayne does not break you when he fucks you.”
“Yes, I am frail. The event was very traumatic for me.” Arianna looked down at her hands, shaking her head. “I can barely remember it all. Perhaps I can discuss it with you later tonight, when I’m more refreshed. My memory will be better. After all, I’m human, as you say. I tire easily. I’ll call to you when I’m feeling better. Then I’ll tell you all you wish to know.”
