Royal Pride

by Zelda Knight

  “Z!” Her claws raced down his back.

  He roared, his beast rising as evident by his rhythm. His strokes grew more insistent and deeper, reaching for that piece of her only he could meet. A reckless demand beat inside her as Zihao slammed his length into her, over and over again. Her hips rocked hard in reply, their bodies communicating in ways that words never would be able to do. Here. Now. The joining of their beasts and the melding of their souls. For every inch, two dragons became one.

  Her inner muscles squeezed tighter, gripping him. In response, he pounded faster. Just when she thought she couldn’t take it any more for fear she’d die from the rapture, she ignited.

  “Z! Now!” She shrieked and gasped in ecstasy.

  Buried deep inside her, Zihao bent down to her neck, and as the magick swirled, he bit into her flesh. Goodness! Immense pleasure wrought another mind-blowing rending of her world. Sonya’s orgasm quadrupled in intensity. She locked her arms around his waist and raked her claws down his back, feeling the blood trickle in their wake. That pain must’ve pushed him over because Zihao roared, throwing back his head as he shot his seed deep into her. Sonya shut her eyes and another wave of climax ripped through her.

  She felt Zihao move above her, still lodged inside her. With determination, despite her legs’ rubbery feeling, she kept them around his waist, anchoring him to her. They had never been apart, and now they never would be. Exhausted, he crashed to the bed beside her without removing himself from her core. To her surprise, his cock hadn’t diminished. Instead of pulling away, like he often did, he pulled her into his embrace, guiding her to a spooning position. Tucked into his hardened muscles, Sonya could feel his heartbeat against her back.

  Together as one.

  While Zihao slept, she reached up and touched the raised scarring at the base of her neck. The tattoo gave real proof she’d mated. Another small wave of warmth spread through her, as if the branding had been a push button to pleasure. Behind her, Zihao adjusted his position and pulled her back against him, his front to her back. His cock had softened, but only partially. It remained inside her.

  Now, in the cooling down of the mating heat, cold realization returned. How was she going to keep Zihao with her? Or from death? They’d violated clan mandates.

  Somehow she would.

  She had him, and she wasn’t letting him go.

  Chapter Seven

  Zihao woke alert. He heard them before they opened the back door. Grunts, hot whispers, and shuffling. Silently, he untangled himself form Sonya’s arms, and with heavy reluctance, slipped out of the bed, abandoning her warmth.

  The safe houses lacked the fortress defenses of the keep. In theory, a destruction of an entire clan shouldn’t have occurred, but the safe houses had come in handy. The council in all their infinite intelligence and vision lacked the forethought to provide any true security for the safe houses. So it didn’t surprise him that someone had broken in.

  Still, whoever had come made terrible assassins. They were as loud as a dragon in a glass shop, shuffling clumsily through the downstairs rooms. Using the shadows, he vanished and grew still as he made his way down the stairs. Quickly, he jumped behind the wooden staircase, but he could see through the stairs’ slats. His guardian training had required patience and silence for long stretches of time. Stealth. Seen but unseen. The stairs in front of him lead upward to the loft—to Sonya. From this position he could make out the sofa, the fireplace, the side entranceway that led to the kitchen, and the front bank of windows. He and Sonya had left a mess in the living room. Obvious to anyone entering that the cabin had visitors.

  Silly mistake. He cursed internally, but the mating heat had swept him up into its clutches.

  “Augh! Fuck!” growled a masculine voice. “Ow! Damn it, Ryuu! That fucking hurts!”

  Ryuu.

  Moments after he thought the name, the firebreather stumbled into his view. His long, black hair had been scattered about his head, his clothes were ripped and torn. Ryuu supported another man who leaned heavily on him. Almost mirror images, the two men had been in a battle or a fight. Soot, bruises, and blood adorned them. Scents of fire, smears of death, and dried blood stained them. Zihao had deliberately gotten rid of his and Sonya’s battle-stained clothing. The new arrivals carried the scent of death on them.

  Ryuu’s face was unreadable but the other man, with spiky hair, slid out of his grasp and crashed to the sofa with anguish. He screamed as he struggled to get comfortable. Ryuu pushed his hair out of his face and scanned the room as if seeing it for the first time, ignoring the man he’d gingerly helped to the couch. Other voices could be heard coming from the back door.

  So these two weren’t the only ones. Zihao scowled. Damn. He’d been foolish to think he and Sonya would have time to continue to consummate their mating. Normally, dragons had time to secure the bond. Couples would retreat to their mating bed and not reappear from their dens until weeks later. Securing the bond between mates was crucial to establishing an unbreakable connection between the two dragons. That conduit served them well, bolstering their telepathic linkage.

  “Should’ve fucking stayed on the boat,” the other man griped.

  Across from him, no more than fifteen feet away from Zihao, Ryuu held up his hand. “Hush. Someone else is here, too.”

  Zihao smirked. He’d just now figured that out. Slow. The firebreather would’ve been killed if he had been a real assassin. The other man, collapsed onto the sofa, held his thigh and writhed. The makeshift bandage around his injury had a bright spot of scarlet. It seeped through in dark blotches.

  Not good.

  “Shush, Draco!” Ryuu hissed.

  “You move like two overgrown elephants,” Zihao projected his voice “Had I been an assassin, you’d be fodder for the crows.”

  Ryuu’s face became furious as he searched the room. “Step out! Show yourself.”

  Zihao did as instructed. He casually walked out from behind the steps, his hands already fists.

  Ryuu spun around to face him. “What are you doing here?” “The same as you.”

  “Z?” came Sonya’s soft voice from the top of the landing. “What’s going on?”

  She came into view, peering down the staircase, her nudity covered by a blanket draped around her shoulders. With her hair tousled and her new tattoo glowing around her collarbone, Sonya appeared as a vision of beauty. It tugged on his libido, and he instantly longed to climb the steps, sweep her up into his arms, and place her back on the bed, their visitors be damned.

  “Sonya Gou.” Ryuu bowed in greeting. When he stood, his face betrayed his confusion. “I’m glad you escaped. I assume your dilong got you here.”

  “Yes.” Sonya’s voice trembled, and she looked at Zihao. “I’m glad you made it too. Draco, is that you?”

  The man on the sofa gave a half-hearted wave. “Bleeding like a stuck pig.” Ryuu looked at her and then to Zihao. “You’re mated.”

  Draco twisted around to them. With his arms hanging over the sofa back, he shot Zihao a big grin. “Congrats! Welcome to the world of the mated.”

  Ryuu swore and shook his head. “My brother is hurt. Do you have first aid supplies?”

  Sonya shrugged. “Z would know.”

  Ryuu faced him fully. He’d closed the distance between them, standing at the bottom of the stairs where Zihao stood, blocking anyone’s passage up to Sonya.

  “I’m not sure what you’ve done. The first moment alone with her, you mate yourself to the elder’s niece. The penalty for which is death.”

  Zihao didn’t look away. He didn’t bother explaining any of his actions to Ryuu.

  Instead, he smirked through his rising fury. “Tell me something I don’t know.” Shoving past him, Zihao walked toward the kitchen.

  From behind him, Sonya came down the stairs. “Ryuu Sho Jin. Don’t you dare talk to him like that!”

  Draco laughed and winced. “Oh, hell. You’ve got her mad.”

  Zihao ignored Ryuu’s
foul mood and false accusations. He sure as hell wasn’t going to explain how the mating heat had captured him, and how the serum had been

  abandoned in favor of saving her life. The firebreather didn’t know anything, and like all the others, couldn’t see him beyond his status as a dilong. From behind him, he felt Ryuu approach and turned around to face him, keeping the other man in his sight. Zihao nodded in the direction of the cabinet containing medical supplies.

  “Second shelf.”

  Ryuu glared at him. “I don’t like you.” “Feeling’s mutual.”

  “Sonya is a valued member of the keep. You had one job, and you couldn’t do

  it.”

  A stillness draped itself over Zihao. If he was going to die, no harm in beating

  the living shit out of one of the council members. They could only kill him once. So he pushed himself to a full standing position.

  “She’s still breathing. Who did you manage to save, firebreather? I don’t see your mate around…”

  Ryuu put the medical kit down on the counter with a smack, and pounced. Smoke seeped from the corners of his mouth. Zihao had already readied for the attack. He grabbed Ryuu’s shirt and, with all his raging anger, slammed him against the refrigerator with so much force, the wall behind the fridge shook. Ryuu scuffled with him and the two of them crashed to the floor. Zihao punched Ryuu in the mouth and wrapped his hand around his throat, cutting off his ability to breathe fire.

  “No circus tricks, now.” Zihao smirked and squeezed.

  “You won’t be laughing when you’re charred to cinders,” Ryuu managed to choke out.

  Zihao squeezed harder and the words ceased. Ryuu punched at his arms and struggled to dislodge his arms.

  “Stop it!” Sonya shouted from the entrance. Seething, she breathed heavily. “Gods be damned. Ryuu! Our entire clan could be dead, and you’re in here fighting each other!”

  Zihao stilled. Fear laced her words and he got to his feet, releasing Ryuu. Sonya gaped at them.

  She pointed accusingly at Ryuu, who still lay sprawled on the floor. “Your brother is in agony and you’re in here pushing the keep’s agendas. I’d be dead if Zihao hadn’t saved me. Yes. I’m mated to him. Get. Over. It. We have larger concerns, councilman.”

  “And you…” She shifted her index finger to Zihao. “Stop letting him yank your damn chain. I love you. Got it?”

  “Yes…” “Good.”

  She swore at them one more time, snatched the medical kit off the counter, and left.

  “She’s so beautiful when she’s angry.” Zihao had just realized it. Wow.

  Ryuu coughed out what sound like a laugh. He’d sat up and rubbed his throat.

  When he cut his eyes up to Zihao, he stopped. He looked away, but a scowl reappeared on his face.

  Sonya was right. Zihao stepped back from Ryuu. “Spoken like a man in love.” Ryuu shook his head. “I am.”

  Ryuu looked up at him then. “I see.”

  Zihao offered his hand, but only because he knew Sonya wanted them to be civil. Ryuu looked at it. “Ah, what the hell...”

  “There are worse things out there than me.” “Agreed.”

  Ryuu took Zihao’s hand, and he helped Ryuu to his feet. The firebreather searched his face. “I—I don’t like you. A dilong with a Gou. That’s never been done before.”

  “A firebreather mated to a human has never been done before either.” Zihao smirked at the outrage on his face.

  “How did you know about that?”

  “I’m a dilong. There’s little I don’t know.” Zihao headed to the living room.

  He didn’t like not being able to see or hear Sonya. An uneasiness crawled into his stomach when he was too far from her. The mating had made it worse. Anxiety clung to him.

  Ryuu followed closely behind him. They spilled out into the living room and found Draco wasn’t alone. A lovely woman sat on the edge of the sofa, wiping his face with a cloth and singing. As she sang, Draco lay back against the sofa, his eyes closed and a serene expression on his face. Gone were the furrows of pain and agony. Beside the sofa, Sonya stood watching, fingering the symbol at her neck. It no longer glowed.

  “Anika.” Ryuu came around Zihao and to the back of the sofa.

  The woman looked up at him. “Sonya bandaged up the wound. I think if we get him into water, I can help speed up the healing.”

  Ryuu looked at Sonya. “Is there a tub here?” “Upstairs. Come on. I’ll show you.”

  Anika stood and with a sad glance at Draco, followed Sonya upstairs. Ryuu fell in behind them.

  Alone with Draco, Zihao realized he could feel Sonya’s emotions. A sadness filled her and it clawed at him. He sat down in the chair. It seemed completely out of place with the unrefined wooden furniture. Nothing in the room invited comfort, only necessity. It had to be durable and functioning—nothing more.

  Draco grunted and bolted awake. “Shit!”

  Breathing heavily, he gripped the sofa’s back with one hand, his injured thigh with the other. Draco’s wide eyes began to relax when he saw Zihao.

  “Oh, hell, it’s you.” Draco lay back against the pillows propped behind him. His damp hair clung to his forehead. Clenching his teeth, he adjusted his position. He stared up at the ceiling.

  Zihao only sat. Waiting. He heard Sonya’s throaty laugh echoing from the bathroom. Water could be heard roaring into the tub, and it soon drowned out her laughter. He rose, feeling the burning need bubbling inside him.

  Son!

  “Relax, dude. She’s with my brother and my wife.” Draco waved him down. Zihao frowned. “Your point?”

  Z, I’m fine. Just helping with the water for Draco.

  Draco laughed. “You dilongs are seriously committed.”

  “What do you know of it?” Zihao barked, his cheeks warm. His beast rose at the perceived slight. Something about Draco had initially made him think in another life they could’ve been friends. Now, he wasn’t sure.

  Draco raised both hands and patted the air. “Calm down. Dude. Calm down.” Zihao grunted at him.

  Pushing himself to a sitting position, the other dragon nodded. “Seriously. I’m a seadragon. You know how much drama it is to be Ryuu’s little brother?”

  Zihao smirked.

  Draco nodded. “I love him, but he’s something else. I know a little something about expectations. Labels. The clan’s fucking rigid-ass rules. What you’ve done, mating with Sonya, is a good thing. I’ve known her since we were younglings, and I know what bullshit she gets from her family. I’ve never seen her so happy.”

  Zihao snorted at that. She’d been royally angry when she stalked out of the kitchen.

  “I do not remember you.” Draco, he would’ve recalled. He knew most of the keep, but a chunk of his childhood remained locked in dilong warrior trainings.

  Draco laughed again. “I’m not surprised. Your sole focus has always been on her. I think I tried to get you to play with us once, but damn if you didn’t stand there, gawking after Sonya.”

  “I’m a dilong. I do not gawk.” Zihao offered it as an explanation.

  Draco again waved it off with a guffaw. “Titles. Labels. They mean nothing when it involves the heart. My mate is human and siren.”

  “Siren. So it’s true.” Zihao looked up at the loft, where the light from the bathroom’s open door sliced through the dark.

  “Fuck yes, it’s true! I love her with my entire being. I don’t give one iota about the council’s rules, laws, or expectations. Neither should you, Zihao. You love Sonya. I see it. Shit, Ray Charles can see it.”

  “Who is Ray Charles?” Zihao looked at Draco.

  “You’re such a romantic,” Anika teased as she leaned over the loft’s railing.

  The expression on Draco’s face at the sound of her voice hit Zihao like a ton of bricks. Draco’s words burrowed into him. Could he dare think that a time would come when he and Sonya would have that comfortable and incredible love like Draco and Anika? No. Draco’s
family weren’t dilongs. Bucking the system worked for him. It didn’t involve a blood oath.

  Ryuu’s heavy footsteps on the stairs broke his thoughts. “We need to get you to the tub, water dragon.”

  “Don’t call me that,” Draco snapped. He pushed himself to a standing position, but leaned heavily on the sofa’s arm.

  Ryuu chuckled. He took Draco’s arm and draped it over his shoulder. He hoisted Draco from his dependence on the sofa arm and supported him as they walked to the stairs. Ryuu half carried him up to the top of the landing. Once he reached it, Anika raced over, dipped beneath Draco’s other arm, and together they walked him into the bathroom.

  Where are you, Son?

  Here. I’m in the closet, dressing.

  Zihao headed up the stairs. The mating heat erupted across him. Hot all over, he found Sonya in the small closet. The overhead light of the loft poured in and provided some illumination. The blanket pooled at her feet. Nude, she pushed the hangers of

  clothes from one side to the other. She evaluated a shirt, fingered the label before rejecting it outright.

  “I can feel you breathing.” She didn’t turn around, but the heat of her tone further inflamed him.

  “I have something else you can feel.” Zihao shut the door behind him.

  Chapter Eight

  His breath along her neck made her nipples tighten. With the door shut, they were cast into darkness. The call, the instinctual need, pushed him forward. He laid his cheek against hers. Sonya sighed as the warmth of him made her heated. She reached up and placed her fingers in his hair. Those silky strands glided along her fingers, stirring up delight.

  “You smell so good.” He inhaled again. “Mmm…”

  “I wore perfume to get the feeling right.” She laughed and laid her head back against him. The closeness of the closet mimicked a cocoon. Safe. Protected from outside forces. A thread of worry wound its way in. “What if they’re all dead?”