The Dragonsong Trilogy Box Set

by H. C. Brown

“No, not really.” Pyro shot Lumos a smile. “You know how we let the dragon take over in battle, or when they hunt? I did much the same. My child-seed belongs to my mate, so I closed that door before Nehebkau bewitched me.” He raised an eyebrow. “Until you contacted my dragon, I slept a lot… It passed the time.”

  Thalia smiled at Pyro. “I am so glad you are free.”

  “I am for now, little witch, although I will have hell to pay from my mate on my return.” Pyro grimaced. “She knew nothing of my plan and will not be too happy.”

  “Do you have to tell her?” Thalia frowned “About the sex with the beast, I mean?”

  “Dragonfae never lie to their mates, our minds are joined and she would know at once.” Pyro chuckled. “She will understand eventually and I will do my best to make it up to her.” He turned to Lumos. “You must tell me about Drakka and all you know about this dark Magus who imprisoned you. Can I assume my son, Pontinal, opened that realm to the Dragonfae after the war?”

  “Aye, by the grace of the goddess Cymbeline, a Gate appeared to an unknown realm before we all perished. Pontinal led the surviving Dragonfae to safety and named the realm Drakka. Cymbeline gave us this realm and bid all Dragonfae who live there guard the Gate to Sky, the city of the gods. We are now her trusted personal guard.” Lumos sighed. “The Magus desires Drakka’s wealth and, I fear, will be Lucifer’s right hand in the gods’ downfall.” He met Pyro’s gaze. “This is why my brother rules Draconia, it is a small lair of Dragonfae, but set in one of the many new realms we have discovered and plan to inhabit to prevent any further threat of annihilation.”

  “And this Kird, is he a considerable threat to the Nightdragon?” Pyro wrinkled his nose in disgust. “Or is he just a puppet of the Magus?”

  “Kird only reached his majority this spring and is untried in battle. He will be a lamb to the slaughter.” Lumos sighed. “I do not want to kill him, Pyro. I have no personal grievance with the fledgling, but I fear the Magus influence made him set the terms of the challenge and as defender, I must agree if I am to save Drakka from dark magyck. ”

  “But if Kird is bewitched, he cannot be called a traitor. He would have no idea what he is doing. To kill one so afflicted would be a sin against Dragonfae beliefs—can you live with that, Lumos?” Pyro grimaced. “Thalia is well versed in making potions and with your mother’s help she may yet be able to brew an antidote for the poison.”

  “All I can do to save him is to ask him to yield, but I will not appear weak in front of my king, my brothers, or my warriors. I will expect him and all that now follow the Magus to kneel before me and give me their fealty.”

  Thalia turned around in the saddle. “You have only mentioned Axim but never mentioned you have other brothers.”

  “Oh, again, I am lax in my openness with you, little one, and I must beg your forgiveness. I have three, Axim, Tor, and Koa. Axim is the Stardragon and volunteered to rule Draconia.”

  “Tell me about the Stardragon. Is he like you?”

  “Aye, but he is my opposite in many ways. Where I am dark, he is light and believes he is the gods’ gift to all females. He will try his charm to lure you from me.” Lumos squeezed Thalia playfully. “He is a favorite of the females and uses this to his advantage. But then a white dragon is quite rare … or so Axim tells everyone within earshot.” He grimaced. “My father, the king, will continue to rule Drakka until the challenge. It is my father’s wish that we follow the gods’ plan to create more Dragonfae realms. Axim is the first to leave Drakka, but my brothers will follow.” He cleared his throat. “None of us has found a mate within our realm. I believe this is the gods’ way to bring in more outside blood. Three in Axim’s army found their mates in Draconia within a year of arriving.”

  You have never mentioned you were a prince before, either. By the stars, Lumos is a Dragonfae prince. “I think there is much for me to learn about you, Lumos.”

  “You know my heart, little one, and that I will protect you… For now, that is all you need to know.” Lumos pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. “When I rule Drakka, I will explain everything about my sad and sorry life in detail. When we are home, my family will be more than just names. They will find you delightful, little butterfly … as I do.”

  She found Lumos’s confidence in his own ability unnerving. He obviously believed he would arrive in Drakka in time to meet Kird’s challenge and the Nightdragon would be victorious. Heavens, they had yet to arrive safely at Drakka within the time limit. Both Dragonfae appeared unconcerned, as if they were going on a picnic or some such. Gods, her heart pounded at the thought of fighting the Shadow Walkers let alone an evil Magus who had already befuddled her brain. She turned to look at him again. “I do not understand. We are in constant danger and yet you both remain so relaxed.”

  “We are seasoned warriors.” Pyro moved Albert closer to Argos. “Worrying about the future is a waste of energy. We cannot change what must come to pass so we greet it head on. You should not worry, Thalia, we have our dragons and their senses tell us if there is danger ahead.” He smiled. “We will be attacked, that is a given, and you will be safe as long as you listen to instructions. Do not hesitate if Lumos gives you an order. You must trust us to protect you.”

  “There between the trees … the Gate.” Lumos pointed toward a gigantic sheet of water hovering upright between two oak trees. “Can you see it, Thalia?”

  She stared in awe at the glistening mass hanging between the trees. “Aye, I see it. Goddess, I suppose this proves I am not a Nomag, after all.”

  “Oh, sweet witch, with your powers, you were never truly a Nomag.” Lumos chuckled.

  The Gate reminded her of a scrying bowl, with images shimmering on the surface. She stared at a scene of mountains frosted by winter snow. A few seconds later, the image changed to a lush green meadow. Another scene emerged with an Elfin village flanked with tall, blue trees set against a pink sky.

  “The Gate is amazing! How does it work? How do we know when to pass through?”

  “We simply wait for an image of the destination we require to appear, or we can cast an image the same as we do for a circle of light. In this case, because I have never traveled through Tusuns, we must wait for the image of that realm to appear. The Gate displays prominent features of each of the realms it serves. For example, we will see the twin suns and the barren sandy landscape.” Lumos smiled. “Once the desired image appears, I will touch the surface and the destination will remain static until we cross through the Gate.”

  They rode closer to the Gate and waited. After some time, an image of a wasteland with two burning red suns flashed onto the Gate. The orange sandscape blended into a horizon of mountainous red rocks. Heat shimmered from a dusty track leading away from the Gate and into a barren wilderness.

  “I guess this is Tusuns.” Lumos lifted his hand and the image froze in the Gate. “We must prepare to fly. The ground is far too unstable for the horses. Gods only know what is waiting for us. Indeed, this is not a realm I think we will enjoy.”

  Thalia’s heart pounded. She could not leave Brew behind again. “What about the horses and Brew?”

  “Have no fear.” Pyro patted Brew’s basket. “We will miniaturize everything and the spell lasts a better part of an hour. The animals will be perfectly safe. You may carry the cat’s basket inside your pocket if you wish.” He grinned. “I must say Brew has told me so many stories about you, I feel I have known you for years.”

  Bile rose up Thalia’s throat. Goddess, he knew of her shame. “Oh, how nice.” She bent her head, unable to look upon the Dragonfae. A strange soft voice filled her head, deep and melodic.

  “He knows nothing. Give him no cause to wonder.”

  Thalia fought for control, she drew in a deep breath. Go away. She tried desperately to reinforce the barriers around her mind.

  “Everything will be all right, little one.” Lumos dismounted and lifted Thalia from Argos. His gaze traveled over her, examining her. “Traveling through the
Gate is harmless, you need not be afraid.”

  “I am fine.” She leaned into Lumos’s heat and buried her face in his chest. This could not be happening. Who are you? What magyck is this? How did you break my barrier?

  “I am the Nightdragon. Last eve, you accepted me as your mate and now, we are together, Thalia, bound by love. No barrier keeps me from you.”

  A shiver ran down her spine. But Lumos has not mated me yet. How can this be so? Tell me, does Lumos know?

  “No, not yet. It was I, and not Lumos who first heard your song. You called to me, the Nightdragon for help. Cymbeline made it so and now as you face doubts and concerns, I am here to protect and guide you. You need not be afraid and may speak to me in confidence. I have the knowledge of the ancients.”

  She lifted her head and frowned. As if she would deceive Lumos, the very thought made her angry. I will have no secrets from Lumos.

  “Then you have passed the first test.”

  She shuddered then caught Lumos’s worried expression and grimaced. “Goddess help me, the Nightdragon… He is in my head.”

  “You must be mistaken, it is impossible for him to contact you before the mating. Use your barriers and I will help you push this intruder from your mind.” Lumos cupped her face and stared into her eyes. “No … wait… Aye, it is my dragon.”

  Fear of sharing her innermost thoughts tangled with her doubts of coping with a being inside her mind. She shook her head. “I do not want him in my head. Tell him to go away.”

  Lumos poured his soothing glamour over Thalia. Her pupils dilated and flames danced in the green rimmed, amber depths. Fighting the desire to kiss her, to bond them together and share her thoughts, he ran his thumb over her bottom lip. How would she react to the knowledge that both he and the dragon would have the ability of mindspeaking with her after the mating? Pyro’s words of wisdom flooded his thoughts. I have no choice. She has the right to know such things.

  “Calm down, little one. This is something you will quickly get used to and will have control over. When we have bonded as mates, I will be able to mindspeak with you, too. It is not as if I will be able to hear your every thought, little one—more like our usual conversation. I cannot alter or influence your thoughts like the Magus.” He rested his forehead on her head. “You will hear me ask you a question, like you heard the dragon speak. I can only hear what you want to tell me. The dragon is the same. If you tell him to go away, he will never bother you unless you call to him, and I will be the same, I promise.”

  “Oh, Lumos, you have kept so many details from me about the Dragonfae.” Thalia pushed hair from her face. “Goddess, what am I to discover next? Will I grow horns?”

  “Thalia.” Pyro dismounted and stood, hands on hips. “Last night Lumos explained to me about the time you lived alone and your innocence about our realms. Do you believe he acted in your best interests by withholding some information about the Dragonfae?” He sighed. “We are a very formidable race and you have no knowledge of our world—or of all the magyck races. Lumos wanted to protect you and has not deceived you.”

  “I am stronger than you believe! I survived alone when most females would have given up and crossed the veil, but I wanted to live.” Thalia pushed away from Lumos. “You have no need to shield me from the truth any longer.” She shot a glance of disgust at both of the Dragonfae males. “Either of you.” She stomped over to Albert and retrieved Brew’s basket. She opened the lid and stroked the black cat’s head. “Come, Brew, stretch your legs. We are leaving soon.”

  Thalia dropped Brew onto the ground. The cat bounded into the bushes, tail held high. Being so close to Lumos on the horse, inhaling his scent, and feeling his hard shaft pressing into her spine had driven her crazy with lust. Her folds throbbed. Damn! She hated needing him so much. Her attention went to Lumos. A faint stream of white smoke poured from his nostrils and he stood head bowed, his hands balled into fists at his waist. He was angry with her again, yet remained in perfect control. She marveled at the shimmer of magyck emanating from his strong, muscular body. Power crackled from his hair in small, blue sparks. She bit her bottom lip. In truth, she would never be compliant like the Dragonfae females.

  Do you expect me to follow you without question? As if Lumos had read her thoughts, he lifted his seductive, green eyes and stared at her. A small smile curled the corners of his full lips. How could any female resist a male who looked at her in that way? Gods, the infuriating man knew how she ached to taste those generous lips, and could not wait for the day she could slip her tongue inside his mouth to gorge on his flavor. Goddess, the mouth-watering Fae made her toes curl. She let her gaze travel from his handsome face across sun-kissed flesh to stop at the prominent bulge in his pants. Heavens, Lumos was in a constant state of arousal and she loved it. She licked her lips. Right now, she wanted to lick him all over and devour his delicious cock in a slow seduction.

  “I will … ah… I will miniaturize the horses and give you two a while to do … whatever.” Pyro grabbed the horses and wandered some distance away.

  “Come here.” Lumos beckoned her with one finger. “We need to talk.” He backed into the dense undergrowth.

  She followed Lumos into a small clearing. The sexy Fae, leaned his huge body against a tree, slowly undid his belt and dropped his sword to the ground then waited for her with a silly grin on his face. She moved closer, the sexual pull of the man and the smell of male arousal sent flames licking around her clit. Her pussy wept and the puffy wet folds rubbed unmercifully against her pants with every step. She paused and raised an eyebrow. “I will not apologize to you, nor will I follow you blindly without question. I am not like a Faerie, Lumos, and refuse to bend to your every whim. I was raised to ask questions and consider my position.”

  “I like a fiery female and I knew you would be stubborn. I have found most with flame hair are much the same in temperament.” Lumos rubbed his erection through his pants. “Yes, sweet butterfly, you are very different from a Dragonfae female and I would not have you any other way.”

  Her face grew hot. Goddess, the man made her so needy. She forced herself to stop drooling and lifted her chin. “Is that all?”

  “You need me again, am I correct, sweetness?” He growled deep in his chest. “I can smell your arousal—you must be so deliciously wet. Come here… I want your soft lips around my shaft.”

  As if in a dream, she moved toward Lumos. Mesmerized, her gaze followed the stroke of his large hand over his erection. Her fingers tingled with the desire to touch his silken flesh. With a moan, she pushed her hands under his tunic to caress his flat belly and bent her head to swirl her tongue in his navel. Gods, his hot peach-fuzz skin sizzled against her mouth. “You taste like the forest. Gods, Lumos, I am addicted to the taste of you.”

  “Then have me, sweetness, for I ache for your hot, wet mouth on me.”

  She dropped slowly to her knees in front of him and took in the hard muscular beauty of her Dragonfae. She ran her hands down his clenched thighs, gave a mew of delight, and licked a slow path up the inside leg of his pants. He twisted his large hands in her hair, tearing at her scalp in delicious torment. The dragon skin encasing his hard muscle slid against her lips like the finest leather. The Fae’s muscles rippled with every swipe of her tongue. She moved higher and used her mouth along the straining length of him. His massive rod reared under her touch. She nibbled, teased, and slid against the ridged erection. With a feral growl, Lumos dragged her mouth away and released his bobbing cock.

  His heavy scent filled her nostrils and she stared at the magnificent shaft with the tightly drawn up, naked sac. With every movement, her oversensitive nipples scraped across the inside of her shirt in a delicious ache. She pressed one hand to her folds in an effort to increase the exquisite pressure building deep in her core. With a long moan, she leaned forward, and kissed the sticky head of Lumos’s cock.

  “Suck me, yes, I beg you. Drain me dry. Devour all of me. Gods, butterfly, I am dying here.” Lumo
s caressed her cheeks with his thumbs. “My seed will calm you for our journey. Take me deep into your honey-sweet mouth.”

  She lapped the weeping slit and his taste spilled over her taste buds. She lifted his heavy erection and bent to torment the man’s tight balls with the tip of her tongue. Like a cat, she licked each golden sac, thoroughly reveling in Lumos’s musky taste. Taking her time, she moved up the length of his thick cock and guided the bulbous head into her mouth. With slow deliberation, she devoured him. Each moan from Lumos sent shivers of ecstasy curling in her folds. Goddess, his delight throbbed through her as if she shared his erotic bliss. She suckled then bobbed her head, letting his hardness glide across her tongue in a velvet caress. Gods, he tasted so good.

  “Oh, sweetness … that is right. Now use your teeth up the shaft. Gods, you are so damn good at this… Oh yeah… Make me come.”

  Closing her teeth around the swollen root, she dragged the sharp edges up to the sensitive rim below the helmet. She, gripped with just the right pressure, and swirled her tongue around the opening. Under her palms, Lumos shuddered, his muscles bunched. Experiencing the Fae’s waves of erotic euphoria, her womb clenched. The air filled with the smell of her arousal, she shuddered with desire. She pressed hard against her clit and suckled the swollen tip of Lumos’s delectable hardness.

  “Let me fuck your mouth. Come now and relax your jaw, little one. Oh yeah … so hot… Your mouth is pure magyck.”

  She gripped his hips and gazed into his eyes. Goddess, the Fae’s pupils had dilated and only a fine line of green remained. He cupped her cheeks with his warm hands and slid deeper into her. The taste of him, the dominant slide of his hot silk across her taste buds drove her to madness. She wanted, needed, to taste his hot seed. She sucked hard and dug her fingers into his thrusting hips. His rock-hard shaft rippled across her tongue and he gasped. Then the delicious taste of his sweet nectar overflowed from him and dribbled from the corners of her mouth. The luscious flavor sent shivery sensations curling deep in her belly. The clearing went out of focus. Deep, pulsating waves of incredible pleasure rolled through her. Trembling, she clung to him and feasted, extending the delight of her climax.