by G. A. Aiken
Then they took off running.
Ailean walked to the door and opened it. His first thought was, When did I get a headboard?
Shalin heard the door open again, but when she looked over her shoulder, it wasn’t the twins.
“Oh, gods,” she groaned, then again desperately tried to get loose of the leather bonds the twins had tied around her wrists and to the headboard that, according to the twins, had only been put up that afternoon while Ailean was away.
And she thought the North dragons had laid in wait for her.
“Well, well, well,” Ailean said jovially, closing the door behind him. “Look what we have here. A gift for Ailean!”
“I’m going to kill all of you. It will be my mission in life.”
Bad enough they’d tied her up at all, but they’d bound her wrists so close to the wood headboard that she faced the wall. And although they’d tossed a fur over her, she still had her ass sticking out to the world—and to Ailean!
“Now, now, my sweet, innocent Shalin. No need to get so testy.”
Shalin closed her eyes as Ailean slowly pulled the fur off her body.
“I do have the best family,” he groaned.
“Ailean—”
“Do you know why the ancestors began marking each other while human?”
“I—I never really thought…” Ailean’s hand brushed down her back to her thigh. “I have no bloody idea,” she laughed, reveling in his touch. The way his fingers stroked her.
“Damn.” And he laughed with her. “I was hoping one of us would know.”
The bed dipped as Ailean moved in behind her. He brushed his head against her back, his hair trailing along her skin like the finest silk, his lips against her spine.
“Where should I mark you, Shalin?”
He’d already stripped and the heat from his naked body nearly seared hers. His hands landed on either side of her own, his big body braced over hers.
Ailean pressed his hips forward and Shalin groaned at the contact.
“Tell me.”
“I don’t care,” she finally admitted.
“The breast?” One rough fingertip circled her nipple, toying with it. “Or perhaps the neck.” He kissed her on the back of her neck while his hand moved lower. “Perhaps your belly or something lower…”
Shalin pushed back against him. “I don’t care where, Ailean,” she panted out. “Just make me yours.”
Ailean briefly buried his face between Shalin’s shoulder blades and let what she’d said wash over him. She wanted him as her own. She wanted him until their ancestors called them home.
“And Ailean?” she said softly. “I do love you.”
That was more than he could stand. More than he could ever hope to handle.
Rising up, he dug his hand into her hair, turning her head so he could kiss her, plundering her mouth with his own. Their tongues tangled and stroked until Shalin pulled back.
“Don’t make me wait. Not a second longer.”
He didn’t. Kissing his way down her back, Ailean gripped her breasts with both hands. He massaged them and toyed with the nipples, loving how hard they were against his fingers.
Ailean kissed her lower back where her hips met her ass. He released one breast and used that hand to stroke her pussy, already wet and hot and all his.
Then, when he had her writhing, had her begging, he dragged his tongue across her lower back. Shalin gasped and groaned in pain even as her body shook under his, even as her pussy gripped his fingers. He stroked her clit while his tongue continued its journey across her lower back.
“Gods,” she moaned desperately, her body shaking. “Ailean…”
“I love you, Shalin,” he told her as he pushed her over the edge, the mark of his Claiming burned into her flesh. “I’ll always love you.”
“I know,” she sobbed before she came all over his hand.
Then Shalin was his.
Reaching up, he untied her bonds, determined to keep the leather thongs for later. Ailean grabbed Shalin’s hips and flipped her over while pulling her down on the bed and under him. He kissed her and pushed his cock inside her, gasping at how hot and tight she was.
He wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs and rested his forehead against hers. “I love you.”
She smiled, her hands cupping his face. “Finish it, Ailean.”
Ailean started off slow, taking his time so he could enjoy every second. He kissed her as he drove into her, wanting to touch every part of her. Shalin’s legs wrapped around his waist, her grip on him near-painful.
“Gods, Shalin,” he told her, “you feel so good.”
He took her harder, deeper, until Shalin climaxed again. He came with her, his head thrown back, his own body shaking in release.
Gasping, exhausted, Ailean collapsed on top of her. He grinned when he heard her grunt, laughed when she started hitting him.
He rolled onto his back, bringing her with him. “I only needed a moment to relax.”
“You’re as big as an ox,” she growled at him.
“I was recovering,” he said before he pulled her close and started kissing her throat.
Shalin giggled and pushed at his shoulders. “I thought you were recovering!” she squealed desperately.
Grinning, Ailean pushed her to her back, “I recover quickly.”
“I don’t.”
“Guess we’ll have to work on that,” he sighed as he sunk into her again.
Shalin stared up at the ceiling in the dark bedroom and wondered how late it was. She’d lost track of time hours ago. Ailean simply didn’t give her time to think about anything but him.
“Ravenous beast,” she whispered softly, smiling.
“You called?” Ailean asked, reaching for her again.
“No!” she squealed, slapping at his hands. “Rest! I need rest!”
He snuggled in close. “Fine. Another ten minutes.”
“Very generous.”
“Keep that tone and it goes to five.”
Ailean’s arms were wrapped tight around her, keeping her warm and safe.
“Where did you go this morning?” he asked, one hand stroking her forearm.
“To see my father.” She turned her head and looked at Ailean. “He means too much to me not to have talked to him before—”
“There is nothing to explain to me, Shalin. I understand.” And he did. She could see that in his eyes. “You know, Shalin, there’s this nice little cave not far from here, close to my mother’s. If we fixed it up nice, think he’d mind living there?”
“It—it depends,” she stuttered in surprise. “Knowing my father, we could probably move him and all his things without him ever complaining as long as we don’t disturb his current work.”
“We’ll do that, then. I worry about him. He’s older and alone. I know you’d feel better with him closer.”
Letting out a shaky breath, Shalin said, “That would mean much to me, Ailean. Thank you.”
“Nothing to thank.” He kissed her temple, her cheek. “Family is family, luv.”
He stared at her intently and said, “Rest is over, Shalin.”
“That was not ten minutes.”
“Too bad.”
She batted at his hands and slipped out from under him. “Wait. Wait. I want to see.”
She scrambled off the bed and went to the tall mirror in the corner of the room. She had to wipe off all the dust first since it seemed never to have been used and probably belonged to the humans who’d once lived there.
Turning so her back faced the mirror, she looked over her shoulder at what Ailean had burned into her flesh. “Huh,” she said in surprise.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s so small.” It truly was. A lounging dragon burned into her lower back. The point of its tail aimed right above the cheeks. Over the years she’d seen and heard of some very elaborate Claimings. Brands covering an entire arm or leg, sometimes an entire back or chest. One day, she’d mark Ailean as her own
as well, but not right away. It was a male thing and she didn’t bother trying to understand it.
“You don’t like it?” He stood in front of her, his hands on her waist and leaning over her shoulder to take a better look.
“No, no. I do like it. Very much. It’s just so…so…”
“So…what?”
“Subtle.”
He glared down at her. “Your point being?”
“Nothing.”
“You don’t think I’m subtle?”
“I didn’t say that.” But the laughing wasn’t helping, either.
“Your rest is over, dragoness.”
“I’m not done—”
“Later,” Ailean told her, walking her back to the bed until he could push her on it.
But as Ailean moved over her, they both stopped and stared at the window.
“What is that?” she asked.
“You don’t want to know.”
Slipping out from under him again, Shalin walked to the window and pushed out the thick glass encased in a metal frame. In shock, she stared down into the courtyard.
“Told you,” Ailean said, now standing behind her, again looking over her shoulder.
They all stood out there, all the Cadwaladr kin, cousins, aunts, uncles, and brothers of Ailean. Now her kin. Ale in hand, they all stood outside the window—singing.
For the life of her, she’d never be able to tell a soul what they’d been singing—it was unintelligible—but she knew it came from their drunken hearts. And gods, they were so very drunk.
“Congratulations, you two,” Kyna called up.
“We’re so happy,” Kennis added, sobbing for no apparent reason.
“Does this mean we’re royals too?” another cousin asked.
“Let’s fly to Devenallt Mountain and ask the queen!” cried his aunt Briaga. “Who’s with me?” She didn’t get far, though. She fell backward seconds later. Out cold.
Shalin grinned, trying not to laugh instead, until one of Ailean’s uncles called out, “The royal there…she’s got nice tits, eh?”
Ailean kissed Shalin’s cheek and let out a sigh. “Welcome to the family, luv.”
She looked down at her chest and back up into his beautiful face. “Thank you?”
Epilogue
“Oiy, brother!” The bed went up and crashed back down. “It’s time.”
Shaking his head and yawning, Ailean dragged himself out of bed. “Good. I want my mate back where she belongs.” Under him. Over him. As long as he was in her, all was right.
“So selfish,” Arranz chided.
“I’m not the one been complaining about no stories at mealtime, you whiny bastard.”
Ailean tugged on a pair of leather leggings and walked past his brother and out into the hall. At midday, the house was its usual busy self. Servants and young ones under foot, along with kin who’d dropped by for whatever reason. He walked past one of the bedrooms and saw one of his younger sons in human form leaning out the window, flirting with one of the local girls.
Arranz smiled and stepped back as Ailean snuck up behind the young dragon. He stood behind him a good five seconds and the little fool, so busy trying to seduce the blacksmith’s daughter, didn’t even realize he was behind him.
Grinning, he slammed his hands against his son’s back, sending him flipping out the window. So stunned, the little bastard didn’t even shift to dragon and instead landed on the hard, unforgiving ground. Although the girl moved fast enough out of the way. Not too bad for a human.
“You need to learn to pay attention, boy!” Ailean yelled down, earning a snarl and a curse that would have his mate yanking someone’s tail in reprimand.
Brushing his hands together, he walked back into the hallway and to his brother.
“I’m surprised your children haven’t tried to kill you in your sleep, Ailean.”
“They hate me now, but they’ll learn to appreciate me when they go into battle.”
The brothers went down the stairs and across the hall. Ailean took flight as soon as he made it outside, and he arrived at his destination in minutes. He walked into the brightly lit cave, now decorated with torches and tapestries along the walls. Shalin had made the space her own and he was happy to have life in it again as it had when his mother breathed.
And this time, the cave was always protected. Shalin and their offspring were always protected, even when he was leagues away. He never worried for their safety because his kin made sure he never had to.
Ailean walked past a new batch of puppies, direct descendants of Shalin’s first dog—whom she never did get around to naming. A few more steps brought him past the cavern where she kept her favorite horse. Right now that meant direct descendant of Nightmare whom Shalin called Dragon’s Heart but whom everyone else called Insane Bastard.
Ailean found Shalin in the hatching chamber. With gentle flame, she blew on the egg and brushed it with her claw while holding a book with the other. After eight sons and daughters already, the whole process seemed to have lost most of its allure for his Shalin.
“Well?” he asked, walking in.
“Give it time,” she said without raising her head from her book. “You’re too impatient.”
“I miss you,” he growled and Shalin smiled, finally looking up at him.
“And I miss you, you old bear. But only a dragoness can protect her egg properly.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means yelling at your own that they need to get a move on because you’re bored is not how the life-giving process works, my love.”
“That was one time.”
“You’re much better once they’re out of the egg than while they’re in it. But barely.”
The shell cracked and Shalin grinned, motioning him forward. He’d missed the last three because he’d been off in battle against the Northland dragons. But he’d been very glad to be here for this one.
He stood over the egg and watched as a small black fist punched through the shell. He went to remove more of it but Shalin slapped at his claws.
“Leave it be, Ailean. They must do this on their own.”
He sighed impatiently and stared. A few more punches. Several long pauses. And then the top of the shell broke off. Ailean leaned over even farther and looked in. Pitch-black eyes nearly covered by pitch-black hair glared up at him.
“Is he supposed to frown like that?”
Shalin leaned over like her mate. “He’s serious, is all.” She leaned in a bit closer. “And I’m not sure he likes you.”
Ailean smirked. “Thank you.”
The hatchling finally looked away from him and at his mother. The glare faded to a much more neutral frown and Shalin reached for him.
“Let’s see you, little one.” She lifted him up and said, “A male.”
“Another one? We need more daughters.”
“Must you complain? I’ve given you nine all together. Four of them daughters. You’re lucky you got any hatchlings at all.”
His son wrapped around Shalin’s neck, his long black tail looping around her arm.
“Maybe this one will be a scholar, eh?” Ailean said hopefully.
“I don’t think we should hold our breath for that anymore.”
Ailean leaned in close to get a better look at his son. “What will we call him?”
“I don’t know.”
The dragon turned and glared at his father and then unleashed a puff of smoke that, when he was older, would be a deadly ball of flame.
Coughing, Ailean stepped back. “Little bastard.”
Shalin laughed out loud, no longer remotely shy after so many years around his kin. “Ailean,” she chastised. “Be nice. You’re probably scaring him.”
“This one doesn’t look scared of a damn thing.” A good warrior he’d make with his horns already growing in. Although Ailean did hold out hope that at least one of their offspring would be more reader than born killer. At least for Shalin’s sake.
“
I know what we can name him,” he finally said, once he brushed the soot off his snout.
“It better not be ‘little bastard.’”
“No. No. That name your father always liked. What was it?”
Nearly a decade ago, Shalin had lost her father and it had devastated her. And although she’d gotten through it as they all knew she would, Ailean still knew she missed the old brown dragon every day.
Shalin looked at her son. “Bercelak. He always liked the name Bercelak.”
“Aye. That’s the one.” They’d already named their oldest Baudwin, so Ailean thought they could use one her father had liked. “What do you think, little bastard? Bercelak the Black fit you well enough?”
“Stop calling him little bastard.”
“He is a little bastard.”
Glaring at her mate, she pulled her son off her neck and into her arms. “Would you like that, my son? To be Bercelak the Black?”
Still too young to answer, the small dragon instead studied his mother intently. Small black claws petting her cheeks, down her snout. She nuzzled him and Bercelak nuzzled her back.
“Aye,” she finally said. “I think that name fits him well.” She hefted Bercelak in her arms. “He needs to sleep now and, later, he’ll feed.”
She turned to walk toward the pitfire and that’s when the little demon lashed at Ailean with his tail, almost taking out an eye. The glare he gave his father over his mother’s shoulder told Ailean all he needed to know about this one.
“You’ll stay?” Shalin asked as she stretched out by the fire, her son tucked tight into her arms.
“Aye. I will.” Ailean settled in behind her and kissed her neck. “Now tell me what’s wrong. You’re worried. I hear it in your voice.”
“With Adienna on the throne now? Of course I’m worried.” But she still tangled her tail with his own—gods, he loved when she did that. Whether as dragon or human, Shalin made every moment they shared perfect.
“Don’t be. They’ll all be ready when the time comes. Especially this one. Look at that angry face, Shalin. He’ll take care of himself just fine.”
“Aye, Ailean,” Shalin teased, rubbing the frown lines on her son’s forehead, “but besides us, who will ever love him with such an angry frown?”
