“I’m not threatened by you,” Garrison insisted, but something in his tone seemed to soften, taken aback by Tegan’s declaration. He hesitated for a moment, and then added, “But it’s good to hear that you didn’t come here just to ruin my life.”
“Garrison,” Dageus snapped. “That’s quite enough. This isn’t the time. Now,” he said, turning back to Tegan. “How can I help you, son?”
“I believe that the Alpha of my clan, and his right hand man Prophet, have been in dealings with the Firewalker clan, trading the humans he is sworn to protect, into slavery in exchange for valuables,” Tegan explained. “Grey, the man who took me in, is the human liaison, and when he heard about the troubles in the villages, he sent me out to investigate. I came to Ciara’s village,” he gestured toward Ciara with a warm smile that made her toes tingle, “And found that the whole place had been ransacked and the villagers either taken or killed. Unfortunately, I also ran across Prophet, my Alpha’s second, while rescuing Ciara, the only survivor still left in the village at the time. He told Drake and the council that I was the traitor selling off humans as slaves, and I’ve been banished. The sentries have been ordered to shoot me on sight.”
“Well that’s just outrageous,” Dageus exclaimed. “Clearly your clan Alpha is no longer interested in doing his duties and is only concerned with lining his own pockets.”
Tegan sighed. “Sadly, that appears to be true.”
“Indeed.” Dagues crossed his arms. “So how can we help you?”
“We need reinforcements,” Ciara cut in. “Tegan and I flew north, and found the Firewalker clan’s caravan about twenty miles north of the Sonara Mountains. They’re transporting my villagers somewhere to be traded off like coin.” Her tone grew bitter. “If we don’t catch up to them before they reach their destination, they’ll all be sold off and Tegan and I won’t be able to provide the council with proof of Prophet and Drake’s corruption.”
“They’re likely going to Solara,” Dageus said, scowling. “It’s a large town that’s less than a hundred miles west of here, and is known for its slave trade.” He rose to his feet quickly, then turned to Garrison. “Round up twenty of our finest,” he ordered. “We’re going to have to move fast.”
“So you’re going to help us?” Tegan asked, a combination of hope and disbelief in his voice.
“Of course I am.” Dageus replied. “I’ve got to make amends, don’t I? At least start somewhere.” He smiled at Ciara, then ushered her to a female shifter who had appeared at the entrance of the room. “Go with Ayla and get yourself some proper gear. Those rags won’t suit for a raid, and we’re moving out at first light!”
* * *
They were given comfortable rooms, adjoining one another, with Dageus insisting that they rest up before heading out. The plan was to regroup at first light, and go on to battle the rival dragons, while rescuing the villagers. Then, him and Ciara would return to the Redwater clan, and provide witnesses to explain what Prophet had done. But first, they needed sleep.
The last thing I will be able to do tonight is sleep, Tegan thought to himself. The battle tomorrow, everything that is at risk, and the beautiful women in the next room…all so important, so distracting.
He lay in the wood framed bed, staring up at the high ceiling, thinking about Ciara, and how much she had become such an important part of his life. He barely knew her, yet he would do anything to protect her, to keep her safe.
How did this happen? He wondered quietly. How could I have fallen so quickly, so hard for this woman?
The reasons didn’t really matter to him, though. All that did matter was that for the first time in his life he felt connected to another so deeply. As though their hearts were somehow intertwined, laced together, beating as one.
He was hardly a romantic, yet ever since he found Ciara in the basement of her father’s home, he had the desire to hold her in his arms, and to shield her from anything that may want to harm her.
Was that what love felt like? Did that mean that she was his one true mate, despite the fact she was a human girl?
The sound of light footsteps tore him from his thoughts, and he glanced at the entrance. To his surprise, the knob on the door turned…slowly at first, and then Ciara appeared. She was wearing a beautiful yellow dress, her hair left down to fall loosely at her shoulders.
“Is everything okay?” Tegan asked, quickly sitting up in bed, a look of deep concern sprawled across his face.
“Yes, yes, everything is just fine,” Ciara replied. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to worry you.”
“What is it then?” Tegan asked.
“I just couldn’t sleep,” she replied. She looked down at her bare feet as though she had a secret that threatened to be revealed if she looked up at him. Tegan smiled, turning in his bed, feet now planted on the floor. He stood up and moved toward her, and she threw herself into his arms, sobbing against his chest.
“I’m just so worried,” she cried, her voice muffled against his brawn. “What if we lose tomorrow?”
“We won’t,” Tegan replied smoothly, pulling her in closer. “I promised you that I would deliver your father safely, and I will. Do you trust me?”
Ciara nodded, her body pressed firmly against his. “I do…” Her voice was barely a whisper, tinged dark with lust.
“Shh.” He leaned forward; his lips so close to hers she could feel his breath, smell his masculine scent. His eyes drew her closer, held her enthralled, captive.
When his lips brushed softly against hers, it sent a wave of heat through her body. She shuddered, closing her eyes, letting him claim her lips with his, moaning against the sensual feel of his mouth against hers.
The tip of his tongue traced along her lower lip, and she gave herself over to the kiss, opening her mouth, meeting his tongue with hers. She settled her body against him, arching her back as his hands moved from her arms to slide up her torso.
He lifted her off from the floor, and held her easily, his hands spanning the curves of her body, resting just beneath her breasts, her legs wrapping around his back to support her weight. It felt as if she were weightless, suspended against him. She was aware of his growing erection pressing against her stomach, hard and hot, and she wiggled in his grasp, seeking more contact. Tegan flexed his hips upward, pressing himself against her, moaning against her mouth.
Time seemed to stand still, the kiss deepening, intensifying, and sending frissons of pleasure through her body. It could have been minutes or hours, but when Tegan finally tore his mouth from hers, and her feet gently moved to settle onto the floor, she was weak and breathless.
“Make love to me,” she whispered.
Any thoughts of resisting her, of not taking advantage of her in this vulnerable situation, of not giving in to his own desires, quickly left him. He reached for her, his hands on her torso, pulling her against him once again.
Their lips met, hers soft against his, as lush as the rest of her. He traced his tongue briefly along her lower lip and she opened her mouth to him instantly, her tongue meeting his fully, almost aggressively.
He worked his hands beneath her dress, momentarily surprised to find something satiny and soft. But beneath the shift was skin, delicious and warm, irresistible. His fingers brushed against the weight of her breasts, and something broke loose inside of Tegan… a shiver rushing through his body, his erection straining against his suddenly too-tight pants.
Ciara broke away from their kiss, grabbing the hem of her dress and stripping it over her head, leaving her in a white shift. Once free of the dress, her hair fell around her shoulders in a wavy mass, a mix of burnished copper. Tegan reached for a strand, running it through his fingers, mesmerized by her beauty and innocence. It was softer than anything he’d felt in a long time, and a wave of longing and desire washed over him. He wanted that mane spread across his pillow, wanted to run his fingers through her hair, to tangle his knuckles into it.
He realized she was looking at him, a small
smile playing about her lips.
“There’s more to me than my hair, you know.” She giggled softly.
Her fingers were impatiently tugging his shirt up over his body, and he lifted his arms, as her hands slid beneath the fabric, working the shirt up his chest, letting her pull it over his head. Her hands were back on his body, seemingly everywhere on his skin, fingers eagerly running over his nipples, down the flat plane of his stomach, over the bulging front, beneath the edge of his pants. A low groan escaped his lips as she cupped his cock with her warm hand.
The primal urge to mate was always strong with Tegan, and never more so than now. But more than just wanting to ravish Ciara and make her his, another desperate need began to surface, the need to connect with her on a deeper level, connect to her in a way he’d never wanted to with any woman before. She had opened up a part of him he thought didn’t exist. And it terrified him. To need someone this badly, was to allow that person to control him, and lack of control was a weakness.
And it meant that the person had the power to hurt him, as he’d been hurt so many times in his life.
But he gave in, pulled Ciara hard against him. She grunted softly as their bodies came together, her hands now on his chest, caught between them. He claimed her mouth again, wanting to devour her, his hands winding through her hair as he held her against him.
She wiggled in his embrace, her hands moving down to work the button on his pants. His hands followed the curves of her body, down to the flare of her hips, to the curve of her ass. Gasping against his mouth, she rose up slightly as his palms cupped her ass.
Suddenly frustrated by the clothing between them, Tegan broke the kiss, tipping Ciara onto her back. She squealed in surprise, her eyes dancing with desire as he impatiently pulled off his own trousers.
He looked down at Ciara, lying in his bed, her hair spread out on the pillow, the white satin shift molding sweetly to her body, the outline of her breasts pushing against the fabric, making his blood sing.
“I want you naked,” he growled, reaching for the hem of her shift and tugging at it until it was up over her head. He quickly tossed it to the floor and looked down at her nakedness. Her breasts were perfectly round, with pink nipples that were hard and ready for his mouth.
His body was thrumming with arousal, with the overwhelming need to satisfy the animal desire of his body with hers. But beneath that was the desire to claim her as his mate, make her want him as badly as he needed her.
Tegan climbed onto the bed, Ciara already reaching for him. He was so incredibly hard and she was very ready, her legs parting, her warm thighs sliding up his hips, wrapping around his waist, and pulling him down to her body.
He barely had time to wonder if this was what he should be doing before he was sliding against her, and then pushing into her, into the heat and slickness she offered up to him.
She cried out softly beneath him as he entered her, but met him fully, her hips rolling up beneath him, accepting all of him completely. Her soft cries became louder, sharper, his acute sense of hearing picking up every nuance in her voice as he thrust into her.
Time stood still for Tegan. The movement of their bodies together, the intense feeling of her surrounding him, drawing him further, almost drove him out of control. Every thrust of his cock, every response from her beneath him driving him crazy, pushing him closer to the edge, making him want more of her, even as he took her.
And she demanded as much from him as he took from her, her movements matching his, her passion and arousal just as intense as he felt. Her body was one continuous wave, crashing over him, pulling him deeper into her, pulling him further out of control. He gave in, let her sweep him along, finally letting go of any illusion of restraint he thought he still had.
When she came, it surprised him, both with the suddenness and the intensity. She arched up sharply beneath him, her head thrown back, her nails raking across his shoulders, brief sharp pain that only added to his pleasure. He looked down at her, watching her face in the throes of her release, feeling her twisting beneath him, the contractions of her core so strong around his cock, pulsing waves that fueled his own release.
He was joining her then, his growls mingled with hers, almost before he realized he was coming. The heat that had built inside of him came rushing to the surface, and he pressed Ciara hard into the bed as his hips jerked and flexed, every muscle tensed, far beyond even his control, as he spent himself inside of her.
As the final waves of his orgasm faded, and his body began to relax, Tegan collapsed beside Ciara. Every sense was heightened, attuned to her. He listened to her breathing, heard the beating of her heart, matching the beat of his own heart. The rich fragrance of sex rose up around them and he drew in a deep breath.
But beneath that still was Ciara’s intoxicating scent. It had changed, grown stronger, not just her scent alone now, but mingled with his. The sun-kissed orange was still there, but spiked with something sharper, spicier, spiked with his masculine blend. All of that imprinted itself in his mind, on every cell, branded him.
He pulled her against him, nuzzling her neck, losing himself in the soft tangled mass of her hair. She turned toward him, curling her body against his and they moved in a brief silent dance, fitting his angles against her curves. And when they were still, it was a perfect fit. Ciara was asleep in minutes.
Tegan lay awake, watching the moonlight streaming in through the window, outlining Ciara’s curves, casting deep shadows across her skin. And lying in the moonlight, Tegan had decided. She was the one for him, the mate he’d been searching for. In the moonlight he sighed, knowing all the complications that came with that decision and knowing that he really didn’t care about any of that. He only cared about never being away from Ciara again.
Chapter Eleven
Tegan could hardly believe his good fortune as he stood in the village square with Garrison, and looked out at all the shifters his half-brother had gathered together in such a short amount of time. When he’d decided to travel to his father’s clan, the most he’d hoped for was handful of reinforcements, if he was lucky enough to not be tossed out unceremoniously on his ass.
Instead, he had an entire troop of shifters at his side, willing to fight with him. “This is amazing,” he muttered to Garrison as he scanned the men, who were all dressed in black and purple leather armor with the Blackfire emblem, and armed with knives and spears. “There’s got to be at least two dozen shifters here.”
“I want no chances of us suffering a defeat,” Garrison said, a small smile softening an otherwise stern face. He’d seemed to drop the animosity from earlier once Tegan had publicly announced he intended to lay no claim to the Alpha’s title when their father passed. “And there’s well more than two dozen of us.”
“Thirty-two, if you count Garrison and myself,” Dageus said with a chuckle, and Tegan turned to see him striding toward them, dressed in full battle armor as well.
“Dageus!” Tegan exclaimed. “You… you don’t have to come yourself. These fine men are more than enough. Truly. I appreciate everything you’ve done.”
“Of course I do,” Dageus scoffed. “What kind of father would I be if I weren’t there to lead my son into his first major battle? And besides, someone has to keep an eye on this fine young lady as well.”
Tegan felt his jaw drop as Dageus stepped aside to reveal Ciara, dressed in the same type of battle armor the men wore, though it had clearly been specially crafted for a female’s body. It fit her well, outlining every dip and curve, and he had to bite the inside of his cheek to discourage the instant erection that threatened to rise beneath his own armor. Strapped to her side was a long, sheathed knife, and he could see two other knives protruding from her boots. Her long red hair was plaited and pinned around the top of her head like a crown, making her look less like a village mayor’s daughter, and more like a warrior princess, or maybe even a queen.
Ciara smiled shyly as Tegan gaped at her. “I’m not incredibly adept at usin
g these weapons,” she said, touching the sheath at her side, “But Ayla did show me the basics so that I could defend myself, if need be.”
“Wow,” Tegan finally said, shaking his head. “Wow.” He crossed the space between them in three strides and placed his hands on Ciara’s shoulders, looking her up and down. “Are you sure about this? I don’t know how I feel about putting you in harm’s way.”
Ciara gave him a wry smile. “Tegan, I’ve been in constant danger since this whole thing started. I’ve gotten kind of used to it, and if you leave me back here, you’re going to drive me absolutely mad not knowing what’s happening. I have to be there to help tend to any of the wounded or injured, which I’ve got plenty of supplies for.” She patted the leather pack tied to her back. “I just have to.”
“Well, alright.” Tegan hugged her fiercely, then kissed her. “Just… promise me you won’t do anything reckless, okay?”
“I’ll do my best.” She kissed him on the nose, then tweaked it gently, and stepped out of his arms with a smile.
There was no more time to talk after that – the sun was close to dipping below the horizon. Everyone quickly shifted except Ciara, whom Tegan scooped up into his talons again for the ride, then launched themselves into the air, quickly organizing themselves into a V-formation.
Tegan took point, with his father to his right and his brother to his left, leading their little army towards the last place he and Ciara had seen the caravan. It didn’t take long for Tegan to spot them – he caught sight of three wagons rumbling along a winding trail, with the same two dragons from before flanking them on either side.
They’re over halfway to Solara by now, his father mind-spoke to him. Better we head them off now where they’re too far away to call for reinforcements.
Mere moments after his father finished the thought did the caravan spot them; Tegan knew because the dragons on the ground flexed their wings, and spat long gouts of flame into the air as a warning. Neither Tegan nor the other shifters flinched though, and so the enemy dragons launched themselves in the air to meet them. Several other males ran around the sides of the covered wagons as well, and as they began to shift Tegan wondered just how much of a fight there would be.
Shades Of Dragon (A BBW Dragon-Shifter Paranormal Romance) Page 9
