by Judith Leger
“So your senses are acuter than mine were? This is
normal for you?”
He nodded.
A low laugh came from her. “I don’t know if I care for
this. It’s so different, weird even.”
Shifting behind her, he helped her sit up. Footsteps
approached from behind. He kept a hand on her back to keep
her steady.
Bask had returned. “I sent word to your ship. They wait
outside the boundaries of the island. In the morning, you
may go. Here, take this, it will help you adjust.”
He handed Seren a twisted torque with two stones on the
front at the opening, one white and one black. Inside them, a
mist swirled and moved as though a torrent wind blew.
Power emanated from the entire piece.
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She glanced at Paladin, her eyes wide, uncertainty vivid
in them. He took the torque from her and guided the open
end over the back of her neck so the stones rested on the
points where her collarbones met at the base of her throat.
Bask touched the stones. He looked into Seren’s eyes.
“Sleep, mother of our new king. Allow the magic of this place
to soak into your body until none you meet will doubt the
powers which hold you dear.”
Eyes drooping, she leaned against Paladin, her body
heavy, relaxed. He moved her into a more comfortable
position so he might settle in for the night to pass. So caught
up in watching each breath Seren took, he never noticed that
Bask had left them.
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Chapter Fifteen
Water crashed over stone, rousing Seren from the depths
of sleep. She came awake in slow degrees until she opened
her eyes, inhaling the salty, moist air. Sunlight glimmered
over the white rocks. The brilliant glow fell on Paladin’s
golden head where it was bent over her. She smiled, and
touched a stray lock, enjoying the fine texture between her
fingers.
She sensed more than saw him open his eyes. When she
looked up, she became lost in the blue irises. He bent to her.
Her tongue slipped over her bottom lip a second before his
covered hers. With tender warmth and sweet attention, he
laved her lips with gentle care, almost like she was a precious
object he meant to cherish. She reveled in the moment, but
soon she wanted more. Much more. She pressed her tongue
into his open mouth, exploring his secrets.
She found heat. Passion battled in their tongues’ dance.
When his slipped past to enter her guarded depths, she
sucked, drawing him deeper. He groaned, grasping her hard
to him. Uncontrolled need flowed in her veins.
Breaking the kiss off, he tugged her arms free of his neck,
forcing a cry from her. “Not here, not now. We will have time
once we’re aboard the ship. I’ll not have any, man nor
dragon, privy to what we do any more than need be.”
She panted and dropped her forehead on his chest, trying
to gain control over her raging desire. Overhead, huge wings
flapped. A moment later, they stilled. Great heaves of breath
echoed around them. The dragons had stayed during the
night.
Soft grunts and mewls reached her. Fire heated her face.
She didn’t care that these giant creatures could sense her
emotions regarding Paladin. They liked the fact that she
wanted him and he wanted her in return. Surprised at these
new realizations, she found Lior sitting on one of the
columns. Was the oversized dragon smiling at her?
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The abrupt halt of their kiss along with the dragons
surveying their movements forced some of her need away.
Slow, with difficulty, she loosened her grip on his shoulders.
Amazed at the intensity of her passion, she couldn’t meet his
gaze. If he didn’t already know the depth of her desire, he
would the moment he looked into her eyes.
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. The simplicity of
this one small gesture released the tension in her body and
helped her relax.
With his hands on her upper arms, he pulled away and
looked into her eyes. “I warn you now, tonight, on board my
ship, there will be no barriers between us. You belong to me
as I to you.”
Her need for him simmered in anticipation. She agreed
with a silent nod. His arms slid from her. She glanced
around, hoping to find a distraction from the throbbing
between her legs.
Through the gaps in the stone pedestals, the glittering
blue-green water met the deep azure sky in the distance.
White sails fluttering in the distance appeared in the corner
of her vision. Facing the gap in the stone, her heart raced at
the sight of the ship hovering just beyond the island.
“How are we going to reach them?” She nodded at the
ship, keeping her attention on the polished vessel.
“I’ll fly, unless you are frightened.”
Astonished he would make such a comment, she shook
her head. “I already know you can fly. I don’t think you can
amaze me much more.”
He grinned at her, cocking a brow. In that grin, she found
the quiet promise of many more stunning abilities he
possessed.
Several of the dragons roared, their mouths pointed
toward the sky. Seren started, her gaze darting from one to
the next, wondering why they did so.
“They too desire to rejoice in the morning.”
“Can we leave? I hate to admit it, but they make me
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nervous. I keep remembering a movie I watched years ago
about a dinosaur eating a man in a bathroom. I’d hate
something similar to happen to us.”
A look of complete bemusement crossed his features. She
shot him a quick smile, no intention of explaining, and
scrambled to her feet. “Come on, let’s go.”
“You go without a farewell.”
Paladin, on his feet, stiffened at Bask’s comment. Seren
bent a little to look around Paladin at the wizard’s magical
glide over the stone slab to reach them. The man awed her
with his strange behavior and capabilities. “You said we
could go.”
The smug half-smile on Bask’s narrow face irritated
Seren. “And you may. Good day to you, my Lady. Also to you,
King of the White Dragon Clan.”
Without a word, Paladin whipped around. He grabbed
the wizard by the front of his robes. “I am not the king. My
brother has taken over the reign of my clan. You will never
refer to me in this manner again.”
Bask inclined his head, eyes shadowed by his lashes. “As
you say...Sire.”
“Wizard or no, I will take your head from your
shoulders.”
Laughter from deep in his chest sprang forth from Bask.
It soon turned to guffaws. The thin man struggled to catch
his breath. “You are a good man, Paladin. Take my
head...your visits are always a pleasurable treat.”
Before Paladin could react, the wizard dissolved in a
sparkling mist. Paladin muttered a low curse that was filled
with suppressed anger. Seren, having never heard him use
foul language, stared at him wide eyed. Deciding she needn’t
add fuel to his anger, she kept her mouth shut, tucking her
lips so she wouldn’t be tempted to comment.
He faced her, his features smoothed over, his anger
seemingly ended. “Ready?”
She nodded, eager to leave the island. A hot bath sounded
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great. When he wrapped his arms around her and lifted, his
wings sprang from his back. They spread wide. Slowly, they
moved back and forth. “Are you frightened?”
“No,” she said, confidence ringing in her voice. She
encircled his neck with her arms. “Not anymore. Not with
you.”
He walked to the edge of the slab and stepped off. They
dropped for a second then lifted to the sky, rising above the
pillars. The dragons, their roars filling the air surrounding
them, took flight. They twirled above them. The wind
whooshed on either side of them.
Seren watched the magnificent beasts for several
minutes, and then raised her gaze to Paladin’s wings. They
were just like the dracs except his were longer and wider.
Thick, wrist sized bones connected the folds of scaled flesh
and muscle. Smaller bones attached to the joints of the larger
ones angled down so each wing was divided into three
separate parts.
A thought occurred to her. “Do I have wings now?”
With a half smile and a shrug, he said. “I cannot say.
Would you like me to drop you and see if they appear?”
He loosened his grip while she tightened her arms about
his neck. “Don’t you dare!”
His chuckle vibrated against her chest. “I would never
drop you on purpose, now loosen your hold before you
strangle me and we both fall.” They drew closer to the ship.
The dragons circled once more above them then separated,
flying in different directions. “They go to their own lands.
For now, their duty is finished.”
She looked at the ship. Leo and Calis paced, each crossing
next to the other, their gazes searching the cliffs. Leo froze,
eyes wide, while Calis, grinning, slapped him on the back.
The second Paladin’s bare feet touched the deck, the tall
black man rushed to meet them.
“Don’t ever do this again. We’ve been worried sick,
wondering what happened to the two of you,” he ranted.
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“You could have let us know you were all right.”
Paladin set Seren on her feet before turning to the frantic
man. “We were tied up.”
“We were.” Seren agreed with a brisk nod. Memories of
the bruises along with the broken bones Paladin had suffered
appeared in her mind. She took Paladin’s hand and gave it a
squeeze, thankful he was whole.
Infuriated, Leo placed his hands on his hips. “Too busy to
let us know you were alive? We’ve been flying around this
island for a week now, and then all those dragons started
arriving. That magical fireworks display last night could have
scared the boogie man.”
Seren glanced at Paladin. “A week? That’s impossible. It
seemed like we were there for a day, maybe two.”
“Oh, no, ma’am. Nothing is done slow when those
dragons do it. They took you nine days ago. We followed
right behind you.” Leo passed his hands over his face. “I was
scared thinking about what might be happening.”
“Leo, my friend, we are tired and filthy. It’d be best to
discuss this later.” Paladin turned to Calis. “Bring a heated
bath to my cabin.”
When the man turned to leave, he added. “And food.”
“Aye, aye, Cap’an,” Calis called over his shoulder. He
pointed to a couple of men near him. “Come on with ye, the
cap’an’s back. He’s placed his order. Step to it, me lads.”
Seren moved to a small cask and sat. She touched the
curve of her belly. A solid mound pooched out. The baby had
started to show. “Leo, there’s seven days in a week, but you
said nine. If we were gone nine days, that’s longer than a
week.”
Leo stepped to her side. He went down on one knee. “Not
on Avaris. The time on this planet is longer than on Earth.
The days have more hours and the weeks two extra days.”
“Wait, I’m lost. Okay, I arrived here four days before we
reached Master Largin’s, right? We stayed there three and
traveled for three more. Now you’re say nine have passed
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since I was taken. So it’s been nineteen days since I first
arrived,” she said. The strangeness of this world continued to
baffle her.
“Sure enough. On Earth, it’d be a longer amount of time.
There’s twenty-four hours in a day, but here there’s thirty.
The planet revolves on its axis at a slower rate.” Leo patted
the back of her hands where she clasped them in her lap.
Paladin, the wind ruffling the hem of his robe and tossing
his hair away from his face, moved to her other side. “Come,
you must bathe, eat, and rest. You will have time to discuss
these differences once we reach Durfalin.”
She brought her gaze up to meet his. He brushed the back
of his fingers over her cheek. She melted under the warmth
of his eyes and touch, unable to draw in a deep breath.
Clearing his throat, Leo said. “You two go on below. I bet
Calis has the tub ready. Paladin’s right, we’ll talk later. I’ll
explain everything to you.”
She nodded while Paladin helped her to her feet. He kept
his hand at the base of her back all the way to his cabin,
adding a layer of comfort. The tempo of her heart almost
doubled the closer they came to his room
He opened the door and allowed her to enter first. She
glanced around for a second, taking in the neutral, soothing
tones of wood on the floor, walls, and furniture before she
moved to the window seat. She reclined against the cushions,
tucking her feet under her. She faced the glass, taking in the
glistening water and cloud-dotted skies.
Seconds merged into minutes. Ears attuned to the sounds
behind her, she heard the exact moment when Calis along
with a couple of sailors finished preparing the bath. Wisps of
heated moisture floated in the air. Warmed sandalwood, rich
and fragrant, rushed through her body with each breath.
The door clicked shut behind the men, leaving Seren and
Paladin alone. Skin tingling, she closed her eyes, waiting for
him to move closer. He had to come. She didn’t believe she
had the strength to turn and rise to meet him. Anticipation of
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what would happen between them grew in her with every
heartbeat.
His footsteps approached the windows. When he stopped
next to
her, a minute of silent peacefulness passed between
them. He touched her shoulder. She turned to look at him.
“Come, I’ll help you bathe.” His gentle offer brought a
smile to her lips.
Allowing him to help her stand, she moved to the tub
which sat on the opposite side of the room from the bed.
Steam rose from the water. The rich aroma of sandalwood
increased. She smiled. The scent would always remind her of
him.
He reached from behind her and loosened the ties on the
robe she wore. He slipped one side over her shoulder. His
lips followed, brushing against her skin. Goosebumps
erupted over her body. Her muscles liquefied. Eyes drifting
shut, she rested the back of her head on his shoulder. She
drew in slow, careful breaths. Heart racing, body throbbing
with a delicious, passionate beat, she anticipated his next
move.
At the feel of his lips gliding over her bare skin to the
curve where her neck joined with her shoulder, she clenched
her hands in the robe’s folds to keep from turning and
grasping him. She wanted to savor his lovemaking. To taste,
feel, and brand the spiraling pleasure he gave into her
memory forever.
His palms slid over the bare skin at her waist. He
stopped. “You carry a dragon mark also.”
Through the haze in her mind, his words registered. She
glanced at the spot near her belly button. Tanned, lean
fingers feathered along the edge of a raised tattoo. Surprised,
she touched the strange mark.
She lifted her gaze to him. “What is this?”
“It is proof you have been blessed by the dragons. I’ve
never seen such like this one nor in this place before.”
Leaning against her shoulder, he studied the way the image
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of a slender dragon circled her waist, its head and tail
disappearing into her belly button. “The colors appear to
meld with each other, changing and rippling with your
movements.”
Heated breath flowed against the top curve of her breast
in short gusts, distracting her amazement from the band
encircling her waist. His mouth was so close to the spot
where she wanted him. She twisted in his arms and arched
her back, offering her body to him. The need inside her grew
stronger, more controlling with each second.
A deep chuckle answered her change of position. He slid
one hand under her butt, and tugged her closer to where his
