by Laurie Roma
Jaden was hardwired to help females in trouble, but he didn’t want Katra going with him into danger. That wouldn’t matter, though. He knew he had as much of a chance talking her into staying behind as he did asking the sun not to rise, so he thought it was best to save his breath. Still, he needed to make her understand who was in charge.
He let out a long, slow sigh. “If we do this, you will listen to me and follow my lead. You’re impulsive, and don’t understand everything that is going on here on Tartarus. I will have your promise, or we go no further.”
Katra studied his serious expression, and wondered if he was talking about saving the females she’d heard, or if he were speaking of their tumultuous relationship. Probably both, she mused. As a dragon shifter and keeper of magic, she had immense power, but none of her considerable gifts could help her figure out the complexities of her mate’s mind or heart.
“Jaden, I only want to help you, and I understand more than you think I do. You and I are not at odds. I will listen, but you need to stop thinking of me as some weak, defenseless female you need to protect.”
He pulled back so he was no longer touching her. “You belong to me now, Katra. I will protect you, whether you want me to or not.”
“And I will protect you as well, mate,” Katra vowed.
She started walking again, but Jaden stopped her once more. “Let me get a torch or something. We can’t go walking around in the dark.”
Katra decided not to tell him that her enhanced eyesight allowed her to see just fine in the dark. Instead, she used her magic to light their way, making the ceiling of the cavern shine with a thousand tiny stars. When Jaden just shook his head and muttered to himself, she silently followed him deeper into the cavern. She’d grown up with enough alpha males to know she’d pushed him far enough for now. Even though she was the one who knew where they were going, she let him lead the way.
Males and their egos…they really should come with some sort of rule book.
The black stone of the mountain shimmered from the reflection of her canopy of stars that followed them on their journey. She only kept the cavern lit above them, so the path in front and behind them was dark. Confident she would hear if someone tried to sneak up on them from the shadows, she didn’t worry about what they couldn’t see. After a few minutes, the silence between them began to grate on her nerves. She knew he was annoyed with her, but she didn’t really understand why.
As if he could read her thoughts, he finally said, “You confuse me.”
She let out a little laugh. “Aye, I know. And you confuse me as well, Jaden. You have been…difficult to understand.”
“I’ve been difficult? My lady, you have been utterly impossible. First, you were there whenever I turned around, watching me with such disappointment in those lovely glowing eyes of yours. Then you disappeared.” Jaden was getting angry again. Coming to a halt, he glared at her. “You left me on the ship!”
She reached out to pat his chest, not minding his anger one bit. “You deserved it.”
“You went to Rego—”
“I did not go to him like that,” Katra chided, glancing up at him with a frown. “I needed you to understand that I will not allow you to keep me on the human outpost just so you do not have to deal with what is between us.”
Jaden’s dark eyes went sober. “What is between us, Katra?”
“You are my mate, Jaden. Destined to be mine, forever. I felt it the moment I met you, but you…”
“I felt it,” he admitted. “I just didn’t understand exactly what it was. Tarins don’t have mates. Not the way Dragon Warriors do. What I felt for you…I wanted you. I wanted to take you, to claim you as mine, but I knew I couldn’t. Not without causing a backlash that could destroy countless lives in the process.”
“Jaden, I sense your apprehension, but there is no need. A mating is sacred. It is a bond that no one can challenge. Not your people or my own. If you choose to mate with me, no one will ever come between us.” Katra turned her head as she heard the faint sounds of voices again, and pointed to a narrow path that lead away from the larger cavern they were in. “We must go that way. They are still far away, but they sound like they are heading further into the mountain. We should be able to meet up with them.”
“Stay behind me.”
Katra fought the urge to roll her eyes, and once again followed behind Jaden. The narrow path opened into another large cavern, this one far different from the first. It was an intricate maze of stalactites and stalagmites, ranging from bright orange to deep red in color. Against the backdrop of the black stone of the mountain, the room was eerily beautiful. There were several pools of dark liquid throughout the cave, and Katra wrinkled her nose at the noxious smell emanating from them as they bubbled and boiled.
“Careful. Don’t step in the puddles. It’s tar, and will burn right through your clothing.”
“Trust me, with the way it smells, I am not going anywhere near them.”
They slowly made their way through the cave, cautious of each step they took. To get her mind off what they were doing, Jaden said, “This mountain divides my land from Lord Chidron’s territory. He is one of the lords that has chosen to remain neutral in the war, claiming that he does not agree with slavery, although, he also isn’t willing to fight for our cause. When questioned, all the females at his palace have stated they are there of their own free will, but there have been rumors he has females hidden away. We’ve just never been able to find proof.”
“That is different than the other lords that flaunt their harems.”
“It is,” Jaden agreed. “Which is why it’s been difficult to remove him from power. Harems have been a show of status for those who have them. To hide them would be against the purpose of having one.”
Katra thought that over as she stepped around a large puddle on the floor. “Could he be connected to this Korsek?” When Jaden paused to look back at her, she waved him forward. “Lord Rego filled us in about Korsek, and his desire to become overlord of your planet.”
“Korsek is a coward, hiding in the shadows while others do his work for him,” Jaden growled, his voice filled with anger.
“Which would make sense if it were a lord that does not want to bring attention to himself by having a harem of slaves that everyone knows about.”
“That’s true. But Lord Chidron is…weak,” Jaden said after careful consideration. “Even if— by some miracle—we were defeated, the other lords would never follow him.”
“Maybe that is the point. They would not follow him, but they might follow an idea, an image he wanted everyone to see. That way he can go about his normal business in public, while doing whatever it is he does in private as Korsek, without notice. That is…if it is him.”
He came to the end of the cave and turned back to lift her over the last puddle, letting her slide against his body as he set her back down. “You are smart, Katra.”
She smiled. “It is good of you to notice.”
Jaden took her hand and led her out of the malodorous cavern. They entered a long, dark passageway that felt like they were heading further underground. It was a smaller space than he would have liked, but they were able to walk through it without having to bend over, so he couldn’t complain too much. Having Katra’s magic light the way made the journey much easier than it would have been if he had been holding a torch. Still, leading her into the unknown was unsettling for him.
They remained silent during the long walk, but it gave him a chance to think. He liked holding Katra’s hand in his, and it occurred to him that he’d never held anyone’s hand in his…not since Skylar had been a child.
Thinking about that brought back memories he’d tried to forget. Memories of a time when he’d almost gone mad from the loss of his child. He’d loved his daughter with everything in him, and losing her had almost destroyed him. He’d recovered slowly, after tearing through his enemies with a path of destruction that made him one of the most feared males on their
planet. Closing himself off to his emotions had been the only way to keep going, to keep leading his people through the dark days that were upon them.
When Skylar had shown up at his palace, he’d felt a new zest for life. Almost like he was being rewarded for the path that he’d chosen—fighting for the freedom of females on his planet, and eradicating males like the one who had taken his child from him.
But now that Katra had come into his life, things had changed. She had woven her way so deeply into his soul, he knew that if something ever happened to her, he wouldn’t survive it. He’d become the dark demon that other races feared the Tarins were, and no one would be safe from his wrath.
Jaden paused before stepping out into a smaller cavern. It was colder, but the clean, chilly air was far more preferable than the last cave they were in. With the starlight overhead, he could see the cave was made up of various rock formations they would have to climb in order to reach the exit. He knew the climb wouldn’t be difficult for either him or Katra, but before they went any further, he needed answers.
“The females have gone quiet. I think they may be sleeping,” Katra announced after listening to the silence for a moment. “I believe we need to head up, then to the left.”
Letting go of her hand, he took a few steps away from her, then turned, leaning back against a boulder. He folded his arms over his chest as he looked at her. Just the sight of her with the stars shimmering above made his cock throb with need. She was beautiful…absolutely breathtaking. He wanted her, and every second being in her presence was tying him to her more fully.
“What did you mean by saying if I chose to become your mate? I thought I was already mated to you.” Jaden saw her stiffen, and her glowing eyes dimmed slightly, making a fissure of alarm race down his spine. “Katra? Answer me.”
“You are my mate,” she repeated after she took a deep breath. “As I said, we are destined, but it is also a choice for you.”
Not understanding, Jaden shook his head. “You are mine, Katra. There is no going back.”
She smiled at that. “Aye, but we are not fully mated yet. I do not want to force you into mating with me before you are ready, but it is very difficult for me not to have the blood bond with you.”
His brows furrowed. “What does that mean?”
“If we are to be truly mated, I would need to create a blood bond with you. It is an exchange so we will be able to communicate in our minds. I will be able to feel what you do, and you will have access to all that I am in return.”
“Is that how you were able to speak to me in my mind?”
She nodded. “I tasted your blood when you kissed me. It allowed me access to your mind, but since then I have tried to keep the bond closed because you seemed so…resistant to being with me.”
Jaden went to her then, reaching up to stroked the back of his hand down her cheek. “Katra, I didn’t find any fault with you. I tried to stay away from you when I thought I couldn’t keep you, but now, you are mine.”
Katra smiled slowly. “You mean, you keep what you claim?”
His eyes narrowed as she whispered the Tarin motto to him. “It’s the Tarin way. We keep what we claim, and I’ve claimed you. Even if we come from different worlds, you belong to me now, Katra.”
“You say that like you expect me to argue with you.”
“I’m just making sure you understand. I have duties here, and my people depend on me. I cannot leave them. You travel the stars, Katra. Tell me honestly, will you be happy here with me?”
“I will be pleased to live in your world with you, my lord. The question is, are you willing to also live in mine?”
Silence filled the cavern. Jaden studied her, then ordered her to, “Explain.”
She looked at him for a long moment, and when she spoke again, her voice was grave. “The blood bond that binds us is something that will only grow stronger over the years to come. It is elemental, a merging unlike anything that could be described in words, and it is something that can never be broken. But in order for us truly to become one, you have to be willing to go through the conversion…and become a Dragon Warrior.”
Katra felt his shock through their bond. She’d been trying to give him his privacy, but his emotions were too strong for her not to feel them with him standing so close to her. What she felt was jumbled, and she realized that even he didn’t know how he felt about her admission.
She knew it was a lot to ask of him. If the roles were reversed, and he’d asked her to give up who and what she was, she didn’t know what her answer would be. Still, she wanted him to choose her, to choose them above all else. It was selfish, but she couldn’t help but want forever with him.
There was a long pause, then Jaden spoke softly, almost hesitating as if trying to gauge her reaction. “Can we have a blood bond without you converting me?”
Katra felt her heart break a little, but she nodded. “Aye, we can.”
When she tried to step away from him, he gripped her head in his hands, forcing her to look him in the eyes. “I am not rejecting you. Damn it, Katra. This is a lot to take in. Being a Tarin is important to me. What you’re asking of me—”
“I understand.” Katra tried smiling, but she was sure he could see how upset she was.
“I don’t think you do. Katra, I am a leader to my people. How can I ask them to follow me if I’m no longer a Tarin?”
She frowned. “I had not thought of that.”
He tilted her chin up. “I want to be with you, and that means I also want to merge with you in the way of my people, just as strongly as you want to form this blood bond with me. But in order to claim you, I would have to push my energy into you to put a piece of me inside you. I know the lightning hurt you. Can you tell me taking my energy into you wouldn’t damage you or mess with your magic?”
“I…I do not know. I have never heard of a Tarin and a Dragon Warrior mating before,” she huffed out, frustrated. “All of this is very new to me. The females of my species usually mate with more than one male and—”
“No,” he growled out. “I will kill any other male who tries to touch you.”
Smiling, she reached up to touch his wrists gently since his grip on her had turned into a vise. “Nay, there will be no other. There is only you for me, Jaden. You are my mate. My one and only. I was just telling you that nothing about our mating has been what I am used to.”
He snorted. “Well, that makes two of us. All of this is pretty fucking confusing. I’m your mate—there is no questioning that—but I think we need to wait until we know more about what will happen if I share my energy with you, or if you convert me before we take those steps.”
“That is fair,” she replied, feeling more hopeful. “I can contact my parents, and see if they have ever heard of a Dragon Warrior and Tarin mating before, except…”
“What?”
She sighed. “I do not think my fathers will be pleased to hear that I am mated to you.”
“Hellfire, now I’m going to have to face multiple fathers and your brothers to keep you?”
“They know better than to come between mates.” Leaning in, she lightly rubbed her lips against his. “Are you willing to blood bond with me?”
“We can do that without you converting me?”
“Aye. The conversion takes more than one blood exchange and a push of my magic. A blood bond can be formed if you taste my blood, just like I tasted yours.”
Something dark flickered in his gaze. “You have these bonds with other people?”
She rubbed her hands up and down his arms, then over his broad shoulders until she wrapped her arms around his neck. “It is easy to form the bond with one’s mate. With others, it is possible, but is more difficult and takes multiple exchanges to make it permanent. I obviously have bonds with my family, Alexis, Thorn and Brydan through my brothers, but besides that, I have never formed a true blood bond with another male.”
“Do it now,” Jaden commanded in a low, harsh voice. “Bond
with me, here and now.”
He didn’t know why the need was pushing at him so hard to complete the blood bond at that moment, but just thinking about some other male having a connection to her that he didn’t have made him furious. It would also be a tactical benefit to be able to speak to Katra in their minds, so others wouldn’t be able to hear them, but that wasn’t the real reason he wanted her to do it.
He needed all of her.
Hearing his thoughts, Katra smiled. “It is the mating pull. It is harder to fight it now that we have been together. Mates are drawn to one another. What you are feeling is natural.”
“For you, maybe, but I have never desired a female like this before. I never even knew that I could. Katra, what I feel for you…it’s making me a little crazy.”
“It is the same for me, Jaden.”
Jaden backed her up, then lifted her onto a low boulder, sitting her on top of it. His body was hard, hot and throbbing with the need to take her again. It was shocking to him. He had more discipline than this. They had things to do, females to rescue, but it felt like if he didn’t have her soon, he would burst into flames.
When Katra magically made their clothing disappear, he let out a harsh laugh, the ominous sound echoing off the cavern walls. “That is a wicked skill you have, my lady.”
“I aim to please,” she purred as she wrapped her long legs around his waist.
“Please me, you shall,” he promised darkly, jerking her hips closer so she was perched at the edge of the rock she was sitting on, their bodies pressed together. “Are you ready for me?”
“I am always ready for you, my lord.”
His cock was rock hard, ready to sink into her, but he forced himself to hold back. Using two fingers, he gently pushed into her tight hole, trying to be careful not to hurt her. When he felt how wet she was for him already, it was almost enough to make him come, right then and there.
He stroked her, filling her tight hole with his fingers, watching the pleasure race across her face as he worked her closer toward the ultimate pleasure. Not wanting to push her over the edge yet, he pulled his fingers out of her and raised his hand to his mouth, licking and sucking her juices from his fingers. The taste of her made him want more, but he needed to be inside her too much to wait any longer.
