by Leslie Chase
Never. No one will harm her while I live.
She watched the hologram, uncomprehending, as Tollvan's hologram continued to speak.
"The mutineers have this ship, and I am afraid that this is not an isolated mutiny." The hologram winced, pain visible on his dark, expressive face. But he kept talking even as his life ebbed away. "Other ships are dropping off the network, and I don't know what's happening. But I must have faith — the Empire will win out. The Grace of Herendar, at least, will not take part in any rebellion. I served as my mate's engineer, and I have turned off the airmakers. Locked the doors. The ship will descend on autopilot, and land at its destination, but until a dragon lord of Herendar comes, it will stay sealed."
The ghost of a smile spread across Tollvan's lips. "I am good at what I do, and none of the others will be able to override my commands. Not before they die from lack of air. That's my vengeance, and if you are kin to my beloved, I ask that you remember it."
With that and a final, hungry smile, Tollvan's hologram reached out for the controls. As soon as he touched them, the recording ended and the image vanished.
Zardan crouched in front of the dead man, reaching out to touch his forehead. Rest easy, loyal friend, he thought, offering a prayer to his ancestors for the Carnid's soul. You died in my family's service, and you died well. This ship is full of the bodies of our shared enemies, the people who tore down the Dragon Empire.
He promised himself that Tollvan's sacrifice would be remembered.
"What the hell was that all about?" Gillian asked. She spoke quietly, sounding almost awe-struck by the scene, and Zardan turned to look at her.
"I knew him, once," he said, equally quiet. "He even recorded that message for me, or for someone like me. He just expected me to receive it a lot sooner."
She didn't understand, how could she? But Gillian didn't let that stop her. Stepping forward, she pulled off her glove and put it on his shoulder, squeezing gently.
"I don't know what's going on," she said. "But it's plain that it's important to you. Do you want some space? I can wait outside."
"No," he said, decisively. "No, this is your business too. You deserve to know what people are trying to steal from your land. But we shouldn't talk about it here, in front of him. It feels disrespectful."
Gillian nodded. "Where, then?"
"I know a place," Zardan said. Bittersweet memories tugged at his heart. "Follow me."
Straightening up, he led Gillian back into the main corridor that ran the length of the Grace of Herendar. The layout was familiar to him now that his memory had been jogged, and he took them quickly to a side room. The door squealed open as he applied Gillian's prybar again, and then they were inside.
He stopped just beyond the doorway, looking around as Gillian slipped past him. She looked up at him with a small frown.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he told her. "It's just... I was here before, as a child. A family trip, Charida took us to Draconis for Princess Audrig's coming of age ceremony. This was my cabin."
It hit him a lot harder than he thought it would. Since his awakening he'd feared that he would never see any trace of his family again, and now this brought back so many memories. He almost felt like a child again.
"Look here," he said, ducking under the desk beside the door. "I scratched my name into the wood."
"Vandal," Gillian said with an odd little smile, crouching to see. She shook her head. "I wonder if I'll ever leave a mark that'll last this long?"
Zardan looked at her, and couldn't help smiling. Her presence lifted the weight from his soul, lightened his mood, made the pain easier to cope with.
"You'll leave a greater mark than I," he told her, quite certain. "This only lasted so long because the Empire fell. You, the great things you do will last forever. I'll make sure of that."
Gillian snorted, and immediately looked embarrassed. "Don't be stupid, Zardan. I'm never going to do anything amazing. I'm just an ordinary human girl."
"There is nothing ordinary about you, Gillian Willis," Zardan said, reaching out to touch her hair. It felt soft, like silk, and he saw her eyes widen. "I am certain that you will do something that will leave a mark. Perhaps it won't be anything grand, and no one will build statues to you. That doesn't matter — if all you do is hand on your farm to your children, it will be more meaningful than my name scratched into a forgotten desk."
Her cheeks flushed red, and her hand rose to touch his. The contact was electric, and Zardan felt the fires in his soul awaken as she squeezed his hand gently. "Your story isn't over, you know," she told him, softly but firmly. "You can still do something more, yourself."
It was his turn to snort and shake his head. "My world is gone, my family is dead, and there is nothing left for me. I'm a warrior who missed his war, Gillian. I should have saved the Empire, or died in its defense, but instead here I am. A ghost of a world long dead."
Gillian nodded, her eyes serious and sad. Her hand squeezed his, hard.
"No, goddammit," she said, voice surprisingly strong and hard. "It's not your fault you couldn't stop something no one else could, and you're still here. Still alive. You're not a ghost, Zardan, not unless you let yourself fade away."
He opened his mouth to object, but before he could say a word Gillian moved closer, her fingers touching his lips. Now that she was so close to him, Zardan could think of nothing else. The scent of her hair, the feel of her skin, they reached past his conscious mind and worked their magic on some deeper level.
"You believe I'm your mate?" she asked, though it wasn't really a question. "In that case, you're supposed to be here now, where I am, instead of dying a thousand years before I was even born. And I'm glad you lived long enough for me to meet you, Zardan, Lord of wherever-it-was."
15
Gillian
Looking up into Zardan's strange violet eyes, Gillian could see the infinite sadness in them and tried to imagine what it would be like to be in his position. To be surrounded by the death of his family, to be so utterly helpless to do anything about it. It had to be harder than anything she could really imagine.
The words she'd spoken were true, they were logical, and they were also a complete surprise to her. She'd tried to think of something to say, some way to comfort Zardan, and then that had poured out of her. The flush on her cheeks grew hotter as his eyes widened and a small smile touched his lips.
What the hell, Gillian? Where did that come from? She tried to pretend that it didn't mean anything, that it was just comforting nonsense, but it wasn't. At least not all of it. She might not believe in this 'mates' business the dragon talked about, but she was glad that he had lived past the fall of his Empire. That she'd had the chance to meet him, and get to know him.
Brushing her fingers along his lips, she felt the heat of his breath and swallowed nervously. She'd been this close to him before, but this felt different. Very different. Her heart pounded as she stepped closer, and Zardan straightened up slowly, his arms folding around her and lifting her against him.
The pain in his eyes faded, washed away by other feelings. Feelings that she shared, and more. Gillian parted her lips as he brought her closer, and their kiss sent a shock through her. Her body trembled as her desire woke, catching like a wildfire, and she let out a little moan.
That was all the encouragement Zardan needed, it seemed. Powerful hands held her tight against him, and even through the spacesuit she could feel him hardening against her. Answering her moan with a hungry growl, Zardan took two steps and pressed her firmly against the wall. Trapped between him and the hard surface, Gillian shuddered with sudden joy.
Her fingers tugged at his clothes, clumsy with desire, and he fumbled at her suit. Neither of them was willing to break the kiss, but neither understood the fastenings of the other's clothing. After a frustrating and exhilarating minute, they parted, Gillian panting and Zardan's wings beating softly in the air. She didn't need to be told it was a sign of arousal in drago
ns, the look in his eyes was all the clue she needed.
"Maybe I should—?" she started, reaching for her suit's fastenings. Zardan nodded quickly and started to undo his clothing as he watched her.
Seeing him undress was almost too much, and Gillian wanted to look away. Well, part of her did — the larger part of her insisted on staring as the huge man unfastened his tunic and pulled it over his head, baring his muscular chest. Her fingers found the catch on her suit, and she began to unclip the outer covering as she watched Zardan.
Drawing a deep breath, Gillian peeled off the outer layer of her suit. I'm being ridiculous, she told herself. He's seen me in my undersuit before, it's most of what I was wearing back at the farm anyway.
But it wasn't the same, somehow. Taking off the outer layers made it seem more intimate. Or maybe it was the way he watched her with hungry eyes? Gillian couldn't tell, but something had changed. Something made her heart race and a flush spread down her neck as she discarded the suit and reached for her undersuit's zipper.
She paused for a moment, touching it. Looking up at the man who desired her so much, realizing deep down that yes, he really did think she was as hot as he was. The sheer force of his need made her tremble and she slowly slid the zipper down.
Zardan's growl as she bared more skin made her whimper, and almost made her want to hide. Almost. Her heart pounding, Gillian pulled her suit wide, watching Zardan for his reaction.
It was instant and emphatic. The dragon shifter stepped forward, his wings spreading wide behind him, his hands reaching out to grab the undersuit and peel it back from her torso. Gillian gasped, feeling a shudder run through her as he pulled it down her arms and looked at her. Only her bra remained between his gaze and her body.
That was still too much for him. With casual strength, Zardan tore the flimsy covering away, and then his hands were on her. Gillian cried out in shock and pleasure as he grabbed her breasts, his powerful fingers squeezing. Moaning, she brought her hands up to hold his and the fire of his touch consumed her senses. It was unlike anything that she'd felt before.
With a roar that sounded more animal than human, Zardan pressed her back against the wall again, pinning her there with another kiss. Their bare bodies met as his tongue pressed into her mouth, fencing with hers, sending waves of desire washing through her body. And the feeling of his body against her was indescribable, wonderful, all-consuming. Gillian was barely aware of her surroundings as she reached around him, caressing and exploring his firm body.
The texture of his skin was strange and yet somehow felt right at the same time. Zardan's crimson scales were softer than she'd expected, and the scars that marked his back gave him character, made her feel like he had a story engraved on his body. Her fingers traced across him as they kissed, learning the patterns of his skin.
When she brushed the base of his wings, he stiffened against her. For a moment she thought she'd done something wrong, that she'd hurt him or reopened an old wound. But the fierce way he grabbed her and pulled her close when the moment passed taught her better. As did the way the bulge in his pants hardened against her.
Wow, I guess he really likes that. Gillian's thought had a smug edge as she traced a finger along the tender skin where his wing met his back, enjoying driving him crazy. It was only fair, after the way his kisses were affecting her body. After how, if she was honest with herself, just being in the same room with him had affected her. She ached for him, had needed his touch since she first dragged him off the ice, and it was good to know that he needed her as badly.
When he pulled back from the kiss, they were both panting like desperate animals, ready to pounce on each other. Gillian groaned in disappointment as Zardan stepped away to look at her, and she tried to follow him, to keep the contact. But he wasn't having that — in one swift movement, he'd grabbed her wrists and pinned them against the wall above her head.
Gillian squirmed, pulling at his grip, trying to get closer to him again. But he was far too strong, and she knew it. Holding her in place one-handed, Zardan looked into her eyes with a powerful gaze that sent a shock through her nerves.
"Not yet, little one," he growled in a low voice that made Gillian shiver and squirm against his grip.
"Let me go," she said, though she wasn't really sure she wanted him to comply. He shook his head with a grin, reaching out with his free hand to trace a finger down her body. His touch made her tremble, leaving a burning feeling of desire across her skin as he slowly, so slowly, explored her.
Baring his teeth, he carefully brushed her breasts, his fingers circling her nipples. The gentle touch sent a shockwave through her, and she tried again to pull away from the wall. His grip was like iron, though. There was no way she was getting free until he released her, and they both knew it.
Panting and moaning, Gillian couldn't form words. Instead, she pleaded with her eyes, looking up at him. That was futile, too. He was enjoying driving her wild, and she could see from the look in his eyes that the desire she'd woken in him wouldn't be argued with.
His fingers trailed down her body, teasing, and Gillian swallowed as she felt him near her waist. Zardan's touch was slow, gentle, but she could feel the power in his hands.
With a powerful jerk, he tugged her undersuit down over her hips. Gillian whimpered again, squirming her legs free of the confining fabric. She was acutely aware that all she was wearing now were her panties.
Zardan's grin widened, and the burning need in his gaze as he looked her over again was almost too much. Gillian knew that, if her hands were free, she'd be covering herself now. Instead, she was bared before his hungry eyes, vulnerable, and struggling.
And loving every second of it.
With his surprisingly gentle touch, Zardan traced two fingers across the thin fabric of her panties. The pressure was just enough to make her crave more, but pinned to the wall as she was she couldn't press herself to him like she wanted. All she could do was take the teasing caress as he lowered his lips to hers, kissing as he stroked her.
His lips left hers, and he moved down to her neck, kissing and then biting gently. His sharp teeth scraped across Gillian's skin and she let out a little noise of need and desire, her whole body shaking. The chuckle that got from him vibrated through her, and she couldn't take it anymore. It was too much, and anyway, she couldn't let him have it all his own way.
Twisting, Gillian managed to bring her head down to Zardan's neck and bite down. The musky scent of him was so strong it filled her senses as her teeth sank into him and now it was Zardan's turn to cry out in surprise and joy. His body convulsed, wings beating, and his fingers pressed hard against her pussy as he tensed. That contact sent a wave of blinding pleasure through Gillian, shaking her to her core.
A swift tug from his fingers tore her panties away and he pulled her against him, his patience evaporating in the fire of his need for her. Good, Gillian thought, and then there was no more time for words. His fingers parted her pussy lips, sliding into her as he roared, and the sensation was unbelievably powerful.
His other hand released her wrists, coming down to grab her hair and pull her face to his. Gillian reached around him, squeezing his ass and pulling him to her as they both shook with need. But he was still wearing his pants, and that wouldn't do. With quick, fumbling fingers, she managed to pull them down, freeing his cock.
As big as it had felt before, now that it was no longer covered it seemed immense. Her hand gripped him, stroking his length, and Gillian could hardly imagine what something like that would feel like inside her.
But in that moment, she wanted nothing more than to find out.
The texture was strange, and she felt ridges along his shaft as she stroked him. Trying to imagine the sensation of that sliding in and out of her made her wetter than ever. His fingers stroked her, taking his cue from the rhythm she set, rough fingers gentler than she would have believed. But when he found her clit and circled it, the shout his touch wrung from her filled the room.
The head of his cock pressed against her pussy, and Gillian's breath caught. So close! So damnably, teasingly close.
"I need you," she moaned, a tremor running through her at the admission. Biting her lip, she whimpered, refusing to beg. It wasn't easy, but she was determined.
And Zardan seemed determined to test her resolve. His rough tongue danced across her nipple as he made her wait. She could feel his need for her, but his iron self-control was as hard as his cock and she knew he wouldn't give in. He wouldn't break first.
Neither will I, she tried to tell herself. Wrapping her legs around him, she pulled him closer, but he was too strong to control. She felt him throb against her, knew that he was as eager to sheath himself inside her as she was to have him fill her aching void. But still he made her wait.
Panting, shuddering, on the verge of giving in and pleading for him to take her, she reached around him to scratch the sensitive skin beside his wings. That was the last straw, the limit of what he could take, and with a wordless roar he thrust hard into her. One smooth stroke buried him inside her, filling her and making her cry out as well.
It was almost painful, but not quite. Or perhaps the endless pleasure drowned out the pain, because Gillian had never felt anything so wonderful in her life. A wave of pleasure washed over her, setting her nerves on fire with passion and joy as it filled every part of her body.
