“Stay away from her, you sorry excuse of a Fae.”
That got his attention and he spun towards me with fire in his eyes. I couldn’t combat magic, but brunt force would have to be enough.
“Get out Ria.”
She didn’t move. It was then I realized she wasn’t conscious. Everything froze inside of me watching her to ensure he hadn’t already taken her from me. When I saw her chest moved I sighed in relief. The collar unclicked and fell to the ground meaning the specific magic was from someone who was no longer among the living.
Finally.
Just as the Fae went to slam the sword down into my mate’s heart, essentially shattering me, she rolled out of the way. Her eyes flared when she noticed the change in my scent. The Fae part of my dual nature broke free and I threw a ball of fire from my hand to him. It flew faster than the human eye. It slammed into the Fae’s back and he screamed with eyes full of agony. The sound of his pain and suffering echoed through the room but the warriors didn’t pay him any attention.
I wasn’t going to stick around and watch him burn. The part of me that was Fae and Bear relished in the fact that he was suffering.
He was trying to kill our mate.
I knew it was true. If I hadn’t noticed she would have been slaughtered right before my eyes. My body shuddered with an awareness.
We needed to mate.
It was the only way to make sure something like this didn’t happen again. I strode over to the beautiful Vampire in front of me and before she could speak or fight I cradled her face in my hands as if she were the most delicate butterfly and kissed her. She gasped in shock allowing my tongue access to her mouth. I took advantage and caressed her tongue. She shuddered and wrapped her arms around me. As soon as she touched me, it was now or never.
Lifting her into my arms and ignoring the chaos surrounding us I carried her out of the large chambers.
***
Azaria
I could have died. Right then and there, but for the first time in my life, I had a mate, and he didn’t let me down. He was there to save me from the sword that was inches from my heart, and there wouldn’t have been anything I could do about it.
Then to make everything even more apparent was the kiss, and how he pulled me into his arms. He didn’t ask. He just did. My eyes flared as he carried me from the Fae Council chambers.
It was this moment that changed my life. I could see my need reflected in his hazel eyes. There was such a look of longing that I ached. My heart raced when he smiled at me.
“It’s time, Ria.”
I nodded. There was no arguing with Fate. I didn’t know where he was taking me and I didn’t care. My people had caused enough of a distraction we left without hassle. He didn’t speak as he carried me. I wondered where we were going but there were no words to explain how it felt to be in his arms.
It wasn’t long before he stopped and put me down. My feet hit the soft grass in front of a cute cottage.
“Where are we?”
He didn’t answer at first seeming to be deep in thought. “My mother’s home.”
“Why are we here?”
He raised a brow. “I think you know, sweet mate.”
I blushed and the red tinged my cheeks so bright there was no way I could hide it from him. “Completing the bond?”
“Yes,” he replied.
I didn’t say anything else. Instead I held out my hand. He took it with the same ease he did with my body. I was more than ready to mate. My body was on fire for him. And I finally realized that I had been so angry at him. It was because I was worried I would lose him before I had even had the chance to have him. It wouldn’t have been fair. Fate couldn’t mess with me this way. I’d never survive if I had to bond with Julian. Nothing compared to a mate.
“Let’s go inside,” he said and reached for my hand lacing our fingers together.
***
I wanted so badly to become one. My body shook with a need I’d never felt before. It ran deeper than physical. It was emotional and spiritual as well. “I’m ready.”
He looked at me with wide eyes. “I wasn’t sure if this was the best time considering. But your family is the reason we got free.”
“I don’t want to wait.” I licked my lips and slide my shirt over my head revealing my satin bra. I was glad I decided to always wear sexy under garments. It was times like these when they came in handy. And from the look in his eyes, he appreciated it too.
“Perfect. You’re beautiful, Ria.”
I let out a shaky breath wondering how this was going to work. Would he become someone else; hell, would I?
He stalked towards me like the graceful bear he was. I stood still waiting for him to take the lead. He didn’t disappoint. Before I could say anything else my bra was slid from my arms and I dropped it to the floor revealing my breasts. He lowered his head and bent at the knees to suck one a nipple into his mouth grazing it with his fangs. The bear had come out to play.
“Take me, make me yours, Dulex.” My voice had taken on that throaty quality that happened when I was aroused. But this was so much more.
He growled and stood back to his height, nearly towering over me and grinned. “As my lady wishes.”
Then he scooped me back into his arms and carried me across the room to a room that looked like it hadn’t been lived in for ages. I wrapped my arms around his neck letting him take the lead.
When we were in the room he laid me on the bed and I sighed as he stripped down to nothing. He was big and large everywhere. My mouth watered and I licked my lips.
“Pants off.”
I obliged.
Both nude, he crawled onto the bed and hovered over my naked body. His lips met mine in fiery passion. I kept up and nibbled on his bottom lip. “No more waiting, we don’t have time.”
Sadly, our mating was on a time close. When all I wanted to do was let him love me all night. It wouldn’t happen. Not yet. But for now.
I’d be happy for now.
Chapter 8
Azaria
“I don’t think I can wait, Ria.”
“Then don’t. I want this.” I really did. There was no question. The consequences be damned.
Dulex didn’t hesitate. He took me for my word and didn’t question me. There was not any need for foreplay. Just being close to him was enough. My body tightened when his eyes lit.
He slid his cock past the barrier and took each inch in slow succession. I gasped at first realizing it had been far too long since any man had ever made me feel. In fact, I was certain I’d never felt this way before.
I wrapped my legs around his waist pulling him further inside of me.
“Damn woman. You’re hot as hell.”
It was the first time he hadn’t been proper with me. And I found myself relaxing as he thrust into me making our bond complete. Magic ran high in the air. It was the bond. With each moment we were making love, we were one.
I’d never felt anything like it before. The faster he moved the more it felt like being on air. When I finally managed to open my eyes, we weren’t on the mattress. We floated.
We were on air. No, we were on magic.
The magic lingered in the air and when my inner walls tightened and I orgasmed, so did Dulex. He growled and released inside of me, completing the bond that would last for as long as I lived. That’s how it worked for Living Vampires. It was forever. There was no such thing as divorce. Fate deemed who was meant to be with us.
1 week later
Azaria
It was time to show Father that Dulex was the right one for me. Things in the last week had been hectic and with Julian waiting in the wings, tension rose. Mother was thrilled I’d bonded with my true mate, but Father wanted Julian to be my master. I refused to let them win. It didn’t matter that they’d locked up my mate as soon as they’d found us. It was shortly after we completed the bond. I’d barely gotten dressed when Julian and my father, the King himself came into the house. They bot
h weren’t happy with what they’d walked in on, but I didn’t care.
I stood in front of the council. Father hadn’t really talked to me since that night, but now he glared at me as if I were a problem. He was taking it too personally. I found my mate plain and simple. He needed to understand I couldn’t force his political agenda.
After staring me down, my mother smiled.
“It’ll be okay,” she mouthed. No one knew she was talking except me.
It had to be official.
A few moments later Dulex was brought into the room. He smiled at me and I sighed knowing what he was going through. It was the same thing every day. No one let it go and grudge holding was a must within the walls of the castle. Everyone was different. Everything was different.
***
Dulex
Ria and I were doing great with each other. She was worried about her father, but otherwise, Julian had bowed out well enough. He realized nothing could come between a true mate. Fate couldn’t be stopped. It wouldn’t have mattered anyways. I’d never let the bond between them happen. She was mine and I was hers. I’d never been happier.
It had been a week since the bonding and a week since I’d moved into the castle. I walked down the silent hall realizing for the first time I didn’t have guards following me. A smile crossed my face before I could help it. That had to be a sign the king was agreeable to me. He’d had me followed with every step I’d made in the last week, but now I roamed alone.
It felt good. No one had ever accepted me outside of my mother. This had to be a sign that we no longer had to worry.
When I made it outside of the chamber doors I took a deep breath. This was the meeting I’d been waiting for. I’d asked to join the guard staff.
“why do you want to join?” he’d asked several days before.
“I want to protect my family.” It was the only answer. They would be my family. It would be a new type of family bringing together not only the bear shifters but the Fae and Living Vampires as well.
I opened the doors and sucked in a breath seeing my mate dressed in a pale lavender dress. Her long hair was in some sort of intricate hair style and she spun towards me with a smile.
That had to be a good sign, right?
“Come,” the king’s voice boomed, echoing along the stone walls. There were little tea lights on each of the window ledges. The flames danced along the walls creating a romantic atmosphere.
I wasted no time and strode to my mate. She laced her fingers with mine and squeezed.
“This is it,” she whispered keeping her eyes on her father.
I nodded but stayed silent.
“We have decided…”
Her mother rose and in a blur, she was in front of me pulling me into a hug. “Welcome to the family, Dulex the Fae-bear of no clan, you are now our newest warrior and protector. Serve us well.”
And that was it. All I needed to hear. I was too stunned to feel the relief that swept over Ria, but her hand tightened further on mine.
When her mother finally backed away and went back to her throne, Ria looked at me.
“I love you mate,” she whispered.
“I love you too.” I followed up with a brief kiss ignoring her mother’s sob.
It seemed I’d finally found my place in the world. It had only taken me almost dying and being saved by the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on.
THE END
EXCLUSIVE – The Dragon Slave
Galen
I couldn’t believe the crowd this auction had drawn. In all my travels I had never seen one so large, what could possibly be this exciting? Making my way towards the front was no easy task but given my size very few refused to move out of my way. Soon I was close enough to see it was a slave auction. I hated these damn things, and as far as I knew they were illegal. So why was this one so large? It looked like most of the province was here.
The women they marched out on to the stage were of varying sizes and shapes. Some old and some young, but nothing worth the fanfare this had. Just typical human females. My curiosity was killing me so I sought out one of the auction keepers near the side of the stage.
“Hey, what’s so special about these women? You must have the whole town here.”
“These are just the appetizers. The best is always saved for last.” stated the harker.
“Oh yeah, then what’s desert?” playing along with this jackass.
“Master Harlock’s greatest capture yet. Something so rare you won’t believe me till you see her. A female dragon.” said the harker, with a smile so big you could see every rotten tooth in his head.
I rocked back on my heels, with a stunned expression on my face. No way had I just heard this moron correctly. But he just stood there grinning like an idiot so it had to be true.
All these years of searching, I had never had even the barest of a trace of a female and these mongrels find one. Dragons used to be as plentiful as the stars, till one clan got greedy and started the bloodiest war in history. Many were killed and the females with children were sent into hiding. After the war, the slavers had continued the decimation with their damn auctions. Greedy bastards.
I made my way over to the podium the auctioneer was using. If it was true that they had a female dragon, I wanted to make sure I saw her.
As the sun hit noon, they brought out the most stunning creature I had ever seen. The crowd went silent as this goddess was lead across the stage in nothing but delicate gold chains that started at her shoulders and wrapped around her full breasts, then fell in layers to her waist. Now I knew why they had waited till that time of day. The gold highlights in her flaming red hair shimmered as the sun shone down on her, bathing her in radiant light. The chains seemed to make her pale skin glow as they brought her to the middle of the stage where a pedestal was set up and once she was in position the crowd erupted in activity. She never once reacted to the noise, making me think they had her drugged. Guess the keepers feared for their safety after all, seeing as how dragons were known for their tempers.
The auctioneer was having a difficult time trying to keep up with all the bids and the price just kept rising. None of that mattered to me though. Let the bastards spend their money. I didn’t care who won, because they would either give her to me or meet their death. Either way she was mine!
By the time the auction was complete it was late afternoon and the winner was brought up on stage to claim his prize. The pompous fool had made a grand show of lifting the chains and feeling her breasts, much to the excitement of the crowd. It took everything I had not to kill him right then and there. But I did console myself with the fact that he would die by my hand and very soon.
After his little show, he left the stage to pay the auction master and she was taken to the holding area. There her chains were replaced with a thin dress that hung to the ground. I guess ten million deneras wasn’t enough for them to include the gold. She was then escorted to his entourage, were her owner put a thick metal collar around her neck. Even with all this going on she still hadn’t reacted. I’m not sure she was even blinking. I made sure to keep a close eye on her because in that state she would be an easy target for that asswipe. I would never be able to forgive myself if he did anything else to her.
When they left town to make the journey home, I followed as close as I could without being noticed. To them I was just another shadow in the lush forest we were passing through. I was glad to see that she rode in a different transport than her owner. When night fall presented, they stopped to setup camp. When everything was completed an older female servant took my beauty out of the transport and lead her to a tree, where she attached a chain to her new collar. They had her chained like a fucking animal. Everything in me was screaming kill him. NOW! But I had to control it, she was in danger if I went off half-cocked. So, I got comfortable and made my plans for later that evening when most of them would be asleep.
As the camp wound down from their meal to settle in for the night,
that same female servant went to unchain my prize and lead her into his tent. When the servant left is when I made my move. I came up to the back of his tent, thankful that it was close to a bush that would hide most of my movement. I was right against the tent wall when I heard him talking to himself about how much he was going to enjoy her. Yeah right, that was never going to happen. Making a small cut into the fabric, I saw that I had a clear path. One good thing about waiting was that he was so preoccupied with her standing in front of him that he never heard me coming. It was over too soon for my taste but time was a factor. One clean slice across the throat and she was mine!
Aleeka
That little mealy-mouthed bastard got me before I even realized he was there. How had he gotten past the traps and alarms? Damn coward, had to dart me with God only knows what. It felt like my brain was trying to crash through my skull. As soon as I can see straight I’m going to blast that fucker straight to kingdom come.
Why am I so cold, did I die? Maybe that dart wasn’t a tranq but something else. No, if I was dead I wouldn’t be in pain. Come on wake up already. If only everything would stop moving and spinning.
“Come on sweet, wake up.”
That’s not the voice I remember. Too deep and strong.
“Fight it beauty, come on.”
No, definitely different. The other was a high-pitched screech like his nuts were being squeezed or maybe that’s just what I wanted to do to him.
“Ahhh, shit that’s cold!!” I screamed after freezing water hit my body.
“I’m glad that finally worked, you had me worried for a minute.”
When I tried to set up a wave of dizziness hit me and I slumped back to the ground. This time I just tried to open my eyes without moving. At first, everything was still blurry but as my eyes focused the most astounding creature came into view.
Looking up I saw dark emerald eyes staring back at me with a look of concern. His wavy black hair hung to his broad shoulders and a scar ran under his left eye just along the cheek bone. Judging from that scar, he was very lucky it wasn’t a little higher or that eye would have been a goner. The only other male I had ever seen, besides my father, was that greedy little bastard that had captured me. I was so mesmerized by him that it took me a moment to realize he was speaking to me.
Saved by a Bear (Legends of Black Salmon Falls Book 2) Page 118
