by Lisa Daniels
Cyprian leaned over and whispered in Noely’s ear, “Run.”
She gave his hand a squeeze and darted out the door, pulling the blind shifter behind her. Her mind was so focused on the fact that he was holding her hand that the young woman didn’t even realize that her feet were no longer touching the floor.
Chapter 11
A New Beginning
Jaylon was waiting for them at the stairs. “Go, I’ll take care of anyone who threatens to catch up to us.”
“Just be careful, Jaylon. I don’t want to lose you,” Noely said as she flew past him.
“Noely!” Her friend was looking at her and did not see the guard come charging through the door. Jaylon slammed against the wall in the center of the spiral stairs, then tumbled down the stairs. His head slammed against the floor with a sickening thud.
“Jaylon!” Noely yelled and immediately turned around. “I’ll be right back, Cyprian. Just give me a minute t-”
Cyprian was shaking his head, “Absolutely not. You are not a fighter. I will take care of this.”
“But you can’t-” Noely tried to grab him to keep him from going back up the stairs, when her feet suddenly hit the stairs. She fought to keep her balance, and by the time she was steady, she could hear the commotion above her. The young woman began to run back up the stairs, but a hand grabbed hers as she fought back tears.
“Thank you for waiting. I was worried that you were going to do something foolish.” Cyprian pulled her along behind him.
“Where’s Jaylon?” The young woman fought to control her voice.
“I’ve got the little show-off.” Her head whipped around and she saw Hisa running along behind them, Jaylon slung over his shoulder like an animal hide.
“What about your men?”
Hisa gave her a warm smile. “You really are such a sweet dear. If things don't work out with the old man, you know where to find me.”
“What? No, I don’t.” Her voice bounced as they moved down the stairs at an impossible speed.
“Ah, well, we’ll figure something out.”
“But what about your men?”
“Adequate confusion. The mess that your friend made was enough to cause quite the stir. I mean, even I would have said that was excessive force, but he must really know what he’s doing. Anyway, with everything all stirred up, no one will be able to figure out what happened. I’ll come back later and tell them that the prisoner escaped because of the guards, even though we sent down an extra one. Blah, blah, blah, and then I’ll slip off to live my life properly.”
“You are going to leave the military?”
The captain laughed, “If I have to salute to another human in the next 50 years, some heads will be rolling, and it won’t be mine. My problem is solved, so I’m out.”
She gave him a look as Cyprian slammed the wall and a door slid open. “Then why are you helping us?”
“What kind of a monster do you think I am? I was not about to see you do something stupid, or give Cyprian a way to get himself killed with honor.”
“There’s more to it than that.”
The man gave her a look of warning before rolling his eyes, “Yes, alright, I wasn’t about to let the little flirt die. Happy now?”
Noely squeezed Cyprian’s hand as they moved into a long tunnel. “Yes.”
The small group made their way through the tunnel without incident, arriving at the woods outside of the city walls.
“Oh,” Noely said, looking around. “That is convenient. My cave isn’t too far from here.”
“Your what?” Hisa asked.
“Are you really surprised that she keeps a cave?” Cyprian’s expression said everything, even through the bandage.
“No, not really.”
They followed her to her little safe area, and she began to make them something to eat.
“You know that is not necessary, don’t you?” Hisa asked, giving her an incredulous look that she would think about cooking after everything that had happened.
“Well, this is only the second time I’ve had company, so I want to make sure I do it right this time.”
“You did just fine last time, too.” Cyprian gave her a smile.
“Oh, I see, you two have been coming here, getting to know each other, while I was off trying to-”
Noely gave him a wry grin. “I brought him here yesterday evening after your men wounded him.”
“Oh, and the fact that you two did it here so recently is supposed to make me feel better? I don’t think so.”
Noely’s face flushed, but Cyprian remained calm, his hand moving slowly over the furniture as if he did not wish to deny what Hisa had said.
The former captain looked between the two. “Really, Noely, you should have told me. This is just too unfair.”
“Well, you know now, so you can find your next prey and leave my lady alone. Unless you would like to leave here in worse shape than Jaylon.” Cyprian’s voice was calm and steady without any hint of warning to match what he had said.
“I take it Jaylon will be alright?” Noely tried to sound positive because she hoped that the two men being so relaxed meant that her friend would be fine.
“Of course. He’s probably just got a bit of a concussion, maybe a bit of brain damage. Nothing that can’t be fixed by going to Senones.” Hisa waved his hand.
“You know that he is going to fight about that.”
Hisa looked over at Noely. “Then it’s a damn good thing that he’s knocked out and will be halfway there before he comes to.”
Cyprian spoke up, “A quarter of the way.”
“Oh no, I’m not taking him back. You found him, you take him back.”
“You brought him into my jail cell. You told him to use his powers. You saved him from getting run through. You have to talk to Sir Gwavas. You take the boy home.”
Hisa slammed his palm on the table. “Gods, you are just - wait.” His expression clouded over. “Why do I need to talk to Sir Gwavas?”
“Because I will go see him at the year’s end. Let him know what he needs to do to prepare his proposal and I will see it executed.”
“Wait, really?” Hisa looked shocked. “You are done pretending that the whole ‘I’m ready to die,’ ‘I’ve no compelling reason to live,’ or ‘A hero’s death isn’t such a bad way to go’ is actually a good idea?”
“I still believe that a hero’s death is a good way to die, but yes, I think that I can manage to find a reason to continue now. Ahahaha-” He held a finger up at Hisa. “Don’t even.”
The former captain’s eyes shifted to Noely, but he just shook his head. “Well, I guess that settles that. Looks like I have a long trip ahead of me. Good luck, you two crazy love bunnies.”
Noely stepped toward him, “Don’t you want something to eat?”
Hisa looked over at the food. “Well, give me just three for the road?”
“Three whole ones?”
“The boy’s going to wake up sometime, and I'm not big on stopping.”
Noely wrapped up some of the food and handed it to him as she asked, “Are you not going to resign from the military?”
“Resign? Who cares what they think, I'm done. They will promote Mercer or Carrington, and things will go along just fine without me.”
“That seems a little irresponsible,” she frowned as she looked at the man.
“Doesn't it just?” He let out a long satisfied sigh. “It’s so good to be free again. Cyprian, don’t hurt her or I will find a way to beat you, so help me gods, I will beat you like you would not believe.”
“I can believe, I’ve fought you several times before.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t have proper motivation before.”
Cyprian moved over to Noely and put a hand around her shoulder. She leaned her head against him and felt the world shift a little. His voice moved though her body like a current as he replied, “I will never give you that kind of motivation.”
Hisa looked at them with a
sly smile, then turned and walked out into the darkness with Jaylon over one shoulder and the food in his other hand. Noely thought she could hear a strange melody as his silhouette disappeared in the distance.
“Do you really think they will be alright?” Noely asked as soon as she thought Hisa was out of ear shot.
“I am fairly certain of it. So long as he stays clear of our kind over there, there will be no problems.”
“Your kind?” Noely turned her head to look at Cyprian. Staring back at her was a pair of crystal clear eyes with light green and yellow flecks. Her heart skipped.
“Hello, again.” Cyprian smiled at her, but did not wait for her response. He leaned down and gently kissed her. Noely threw her arms around his neck, unable to hide a huge smile.
They kissed for a few minutes before she pulled away from him. “My gods, but they are even more beautiful now.”
“Nothing heals exactly as it was before being broken. I am glad you like them.”
Noely did not say another word. She let her foot run up Cyprian’s calf. His hand gently wrapped around her thigh. Suddenly, the young woman felt herself get lifted off of the floor as two hands pulled her hips against his. She leaned back and moaned in response. Cyprian ran a hand under her dress and stroked the small of her back as he walked toward the bed. His mouth kissed her neck and he gently pulled a little of her skin with his teeth. Noely arched into him and let out a gasp as his hand slid between her thighs.
Suddenly she was on the bed and her clothes had been completely removed. Cyprian was removing his own clothing beside the bed, his eyes taking in her body. The young woman tried to pull a blanket over herself as the color raised to her cheeks.
“I would prefer if you didn’t.” The shifter’s voice was like a soft stream caressing her body. He placed a hand on her shoulder and looked at her, “May I?” When she nodded, he pulled the blanket off of her and his eyes looked over her body. Unsure what to do, Noely put a hand on his knee and began to move it up his inner thigh. She giggled as he closed his eyes and moaned.
“You are right,” he said, sliding a hand onto her thigh. “There will be plenty of time for that later.” He leaned over and kissed her stomach. The further up he moved on her body, the more of his body touched her. Noely ran her hands through his hair and tugged at him. “Please, Cyprian.”
He looked up at her face, then moved up to kiss her. Noely’s mind tried to take in the feel of his body as it pressed against her, the way he became harder as he positioned himself on top of her.
Cyprian’s hand moved to her lower back as he gently thrust inside of her. Noely had expected to feel pain, but her mind registered only the feel of Cyprian’s hand running along her back and the one gently cupping her breast. She moaned and arched up into him, and felt him push a little deeper. Noely let out a little scream at the unexpected pleasure. As soon as she registered the pleasure, Cyprian pushed a little further, until the young woman was shouting his name. Then he covered her mouth with his and started a steady rhythm that caused her to peak repeatedly for she didn’t know how long.
She had no idea how long it lasted, but she was thoroughly tired and happy when Cyprian finally stopped.
He lay down beside her and stroked her hair out of her face. “Are you alright?”
She looked over into his beautiful eyes and kissed him in response. Moving her body against his, Noely closed her eyes.
“I love you, Noely.” She looked up at him and smiled a tired smile. “I’m not doing this as a favor or a debt. I love you.” He stroked her hair and kissed her forehead.
“I love you too, Cyprian. Promise that you will stay with me. That you will continue to find a reason to live, even after I am gone.”
A hand ran down the side of her body. “I promise that I will stay with you. And you have showed me that there is always a reason to live. If my time does not come for a long time, I will accept that.”
“I promise to not be wasteful with my words as long as you are not wasteful with your life.” Her eyes were closed and she could feel her mind starting to drift off into sleep.
“I promise to protect you so that you are not wasteful with your life either, because I know you will not be careful of yourself on your own.”
Noely smiled as she buried her head in his chest.
Several hours later she woke to find Cyprian gone. Rising up on her arm, she immediately began looking around.
Finally, she spotted the shifter over near the supplies, his eyes on her. The young woman looked down and immediately pulled the covers up to hide her bare chest.
“It looks much better down.”
Noely blushed, but released the blanket.
Cyprian let out a sigh and simply stared at her.
After a few moments, Noely stood up and walked over to him. It was only as she drew close that the young woman realized the shifter had not gotten dressed. Suddenly her eyes were trying to see every aspect of him all at once. His figure was truly perfect, no bulges or imperfections. It was so impossibly perfect that she had difficulty believing the state she had found him in not so long ago. Twice.
She crouched down near him and watched as his eyes moved with her body. “Cyprian.” His name seemed to draw his attention to her face, and for a moment she lost the ability to speak as his amazing eyes looked at her expectantly. “I don’t think that I ever told you Augustin’s name.”
“You didn’t have to tell us. He’s one of us, just a different type.”
Noely bit her lip and asked the one question she had always avoided asking a shifter, “And what is that?”
His smile was beatific as he looked at her. “We are dragon shifters.”
Her eyes went wide. “Dragon? There are dragon shifters?”
He nodded, his smile widening as he did. “I did tell you we are very good about hiding who we are. That is the one thing that is universal, no matter what type.”
“And, if it isn’t too personal, what type are you?”
He leaned forward and kissed her on the nose. “It is a very personal question, and exactly the kind I want you to always feel comfortable asking.” He moved so that she could see the left side of his body. There, in a blue sea, was a large dragon.
“A water dragon?” Her eyes went to his. “You are a water dragon?”
He gave her a nod and another kiss on the nose.
“Can I see?” Her voice was timid as she asked, all of her questions about anything else gone.
His eyes moved around the cave as if assessing it. Then he suddenly began to shift and change, his muscles elongating and stretching into elegant blue scales.
Noely covered her mouth as she took in his form, and she could see why people would think that he was a serpent. He was far longer and thinner than any of the dragons she had ever seen, and his movements were like water as he made his way around the cave. His eyes were the same as he stopped to look at her, blinking quietly as if waiting for her approval. The young woman ran forward and began to kiss the dragon on his nose. Suddenly a pair of arms were around her, and Noely’s body responded by pressing into him. She moved in a way that knocked him against the wall, and slid down over him. Noely watched as his eyes closed and the shifter’s head leaned back. Keeping him pinned to the wall, she slowly worked up and down on him, enjoying the way he hardened inside of her. Her movements grew more intense as his breath became shallow. Squeezing with muscles she didn’t know she had, Noely felt Cyprian peaking. Moving faster, she pulsed against him until she was certain he was done.
He opened his eyes and smiled at her. “If that is the reaction my natural form gets, I think I will be spending more time as a dragon. At least when you are around.” He stepped away from the wall and spun so that her back was to the wall. Carefully, he placed her back against the cave wall and grabbed her hands. Noely moaned as one of his hands stretched her arms over her head while the other reached around her thigh and slid inside of her. Noely screamed, “Gods! More. Oh gods, more!”
/> The sun was setting when the pair finally stopped. Noely looked at the fading light. “What happened to the sun?”
Cyprian leaned over the bed and placed his mouth on her nipple as one hand traced the outline. “We have been busy all day. It is setting.”
“All day!” She sat up quickly. “I should have been at work a long time ago.”
Cyprian sat up beside her. “After what happened last night, I doubt anyone expects you to go in today.”
Noely wanted to say something. Looking at her lover, she said, “I don’t want to go back.”
“Is there any reason for you to?”
She nodded, “There are a couple of kids that I wanted to help make well.”
Cyprian gently pushed her down and leaned over her. His hand ran along her face. “If they are sick, you should not go see them now. You can go into the city tomorrow and look after them. Once you are ready, we will leave.”
“Where are we going?”
His hand moved down her face onto her neck and traced her body. “You want to find Augustin.”
“Do you know where he is?’
His hands stopped and Cyprian looked into her eyes. “I do not. He said he had something he needed to do, but he didn’t tell anyone of us what that was. Obviously our assumption that it had something to do with his charge was wrong, and we have not heard from him since. Now that we know he has gone missing and left even you unsure, I think he needs to be found.”
Noely pursed her lips, then asked the one question she would not allow herself to consider over the years. “Do you think he is dead?”
Cyprian gave her a small smile, “No, I can feel when our kind dies, and that has not happened. Finding him will be difficult, but I believe it is necessary. Things have gone all wrong without him.”
“May I ask what kind of dragon he is?” She gave a sheepish smile.
Cyprian laughed and shook his head. “That’s something you will have to ask him. From a safe distance. With me holding on to you.”
