“You are aware only bonded mates are supposed to share a bed.”
“It is a tradition…not a law.”
“Are you not the one who has lectured me on draconic tradition? You are being nonsensical.”
“We mustn’t fight over this.”
“You are the one who continues to goad me about this matter.”
Drystan crossed his arms over his naked chest. “I am being denied my right as your mate to hold you in my arms as I rest.”
“When we are mated, we will lie together.”
Conley’s words had the unintended effect of Drystan throwing back the bedcovers and getting up. He yanked his dressing gown over his head and without a word stormed out of the room. His behavior took Conley by surprise. Drystan was boastful and stubborn, but he had proved himself to be reasonable. Leaving the chamber over a small disagreement was uncalled for.
Before Conley could stew over it, the thick wooden door opened and Drystan closed it quietly behind him. From across the room, Conley could see he held an object in his hand but he was given no clue as to what it could be. Without pause, Drystan strode up to where Conley sat on the bed.
“Offer me your hand,” Drystan said.
“Why?”
Drystan cocked his head to the side and lifted his eyebrows. Then he grimaced and with his free hand reached up and pushed his left eyebrow down with his fingers and muttered, “How does Mother manage to lift just one of her brows?”
“Are you well, Drystan?”
Putting his hand in front of Conley, he wiggled his fingers. “Your hand?”
With no small amount of concern, Conley placed his hand atop of Drystan’s. In a move so fast his eyes could barely make sense of it, Drystan raised his other hand and with the object he now recognized as a dagger he sliced a cut open across Conley’s palm.
“Ow!” Conley exclaimed. He looked up at Drystan’s face and saw a look of fierce concentration. He then pulled his hand away from where it was resting beneath Conley’s and opened a wound there as well.
Before the light could dawn in Conley’s troubled mind, Drystan slapped their lightly bleeding palms together and said, “Chosen by Fate and accepted by my heart as true, I accept you as my mate.”
Conley’s eyes fell shut as their souls began to bind. It was not a complete fulfillment of their bond; they required the hormones of their dragons to bite one another to cement it wholly, but there was no turning back and undoing what Drystan had done.
“Say the words back to me,” Drystan demanded as their injuries healed. Conley did nothing. The anger in him warred with the feeling of euphoria of being matched to the other half of his soul. “Conley, you will say the words.”
Lifting his lashes Conley gave his mate a look which would have felled a lesser man. Drystan began to look wary, but he did not waver.
“The words. I will have them,” Drystan insisted.
Knowing the words were useless in extracting himself from what Drystan had begun, he said them back through gritted teeth and then yelled, “Get out of my room!” Snatching his hand away from Drystan, he shoved him back so he could get out of bed. He was fully prepared to throw him out on his ear.
“We can share a bed now. We are mated.”
“You have taken leave of your senses,” Conley retorted with a push against Drystan’s massive frame. “Now. Get. Out.”
“Calm yourself, Con. It might be early, but you have surely already discovered we are well-suited.”
Conley just kept thrusting his mate backward with his palms. Though he was larger, Drystan did not have the rage Conley currently had giving him superdrakeling strength.
“Out!”
“Con—”
They were interrupted by a loud knocking on the door of Conley’s bedchamber.
“Conley? Are you well?” King Aeron asked before he threw the door open with his sword raised and ready for battle.
Drystan jumped in front of Conley. “Father! We are well, just a small disagreement.”
Without a doubt, Conley had reached the height of humiliation. He was standing stark naked in front of Drystan’s father and had drawn the man here with his shouting. Of course, all the guilt could be heaped upon Drystan’s head as he was the fool who had brought forth their matebond without permission.
“Son, you have swapped blood. Delightful,” King Aeron began before sheathing his sword. Then he yelled out into the hall, “Helen, the boys have mated. Come quickly.”
“Put on a dressing gown before all of the castle sees you,” Drystan hissed at him. Conley would have rather grabbed his sword to hack away at the oaf, but he pulled out his bedclothes and dragged them over his head.
“Barely more than a week,” Queen Helen exclaimed as she came to stand in the doorway. Unlike Conley and Drystan, his parents were still in their daytime garments. “We’ve begun quite the tradition in our family, have we not? My felicitations to you both. Tomorrow’s feast shall now have more than one reason for a celebration.”
“Thank you, Mother. We are most pleased. Fate has brought me more joy than I ever could have imagined. Conley is a fine man and will add immeasurable happiness to my life,” Drystan said. Conley decided he was not going to allow the drakeling to sway him with kind words. Drystan had gone beyond the pale by uniting them without gaining his approval first, but he was not going to allow Drystan’s parents to know this had been foisted upon him.
“Yes, thank you. Fate did not offer me a mate I would have chosen, but I do not find him ugly or brutish.”
Queen Helen laughed. “You have learned quickly it is not wise to offer heaps of praise on Drystan’s bloated head.”
“He is too self-assured by far,” Conley agreed with a glare for the man in question.
“They likely wish to be alone now, Helen,” King Aeron said and began to usher her away from the door. Before leaving, he turned back to where Conley and Drystan stood. “Mayhap you could be a bit quieter in your joy, hmm? Others in the castle wish to sleep this night.”
Conley’s cheeks grew warm. King Aeron thought he had been shouting out his bliss instead of the argument that had really transpired. This was infinitely more humiliating than being caught sleeping in the same bed. Once the door was safely closed behind Drystan’s parents, Conley smacked his mate. Hard.
“I shall never forget his night,” he promised in a menacing tone.
“I should think not. We just mated,” Drystan said as he rubbed his arm where Conley had slapped him.
“That is not what I meant. Now get out.”
“You are not thinking clearly. Questions would be asked if we did not share a chamber now.”
“You did this apurpose without my permission. Mayhap you could offer those details to anyone who remarked upon it.”
“You would have led me about forever had I not taken action.”
“You cannot know that.”
“Con, please. I do not wish to see you so upset.”
“Then perhaps you should take care not to anger me.”
“I promise to be more careful in the future.”
“Not good enough. You need to go.”
Drystan hung his head but he slowly began walking toward the door. He gripped the wood in his hand but before leaving turned back and said, “Do not fret. We get along well together. A pleasant future awaits us.”
Conley didn’t bother to offer any kind of reply, and Drystan did not wait for one. He disappeared into the darkness of the hall, and Conley lay down on the bed and stared at the canopy above his head. He was furious at losing his choice in the timing of his matebond. They would have arrived at this point in the not too distant future, but Drystan taking matters into his own hands was inexcusable. Still, he knew he must not let his anger linger. A mate was forever, and he would not wound their new bond by keeping his heart hardened. One thing was for certain; the drakeling wasn’t getting a gift on the occasion of his birthdate celebration.
Chapter 8
Conley
backed away ever so slightly when Drystan tried to gain a kiss after they’d met in the Great Hall to break their fast. It was apparent he was still distraught over the previous night. Drystan had not truly thought out his actions. He was weary of being denied his rightful place in Conley’s bed and with their matebond achieved, the other drakeling would run out of excuses. So he’d gone to his bedchamber and used an old dagger given to him years past to resolve the situation.
It had not been fair to Conley, and now he would have to uncover a way to get back in his good graces. If only he knew where to begin, he thought glumly as he stomped over to the lists after his morning meal. He would have preferred to walk with his mate at his side, but Conley had taken off as soon as he’d had his fill. Once he had arrived at his destination, he saw Conley already engaged in combat with one of his father’s dukes and knew better than to demand the other drakeling attend to him.
Instead, he kept his sword sheathed and returned to the castle. He wound his way up to the parapet at the top of his favorite tower. It was his place to think, and he had plenty plaguing his mind. Drystan didn’t know Conley well enough to determine if he was one to stay broiled in his fury. Quick to anger though he could be at times, up to this point he had not held on to it long, but Drystan understood this was an exceptional situation.
He knew it had been cruel to unite them this way and wished he was able to punch himself for not coming to that realization the previous night. Guilt would do him little good, he decided. The deed was done and now it was imperative he make amends with Conley. Surely with a mind as clever as his, he could think of something.
“You are already not my equal at swordplay. Hiding away up here does not help your cause,” Conley said from behind him. It caused Drystan such a fright he nearly toppled off the wall.
“You scared me near to death!”
Conley laughed. “You must have been thinking quite hard not to hear me arrive.”
“Perhaps you would prefer had I fallen. It would leave you able to find someone more to your liking.”
“Unfair words. I am not the one who forced my hand.”
“My apologies; I did not mean to further anger you. I simply cannot think with my blood still near frozen in my veins from fright.”
“I have decided to forgive you.”
“I had not thought to hear those words so soon.”
“It is likely sooner than you deserve.”
“No doubt.”
“Still, I would not have us begin our lives together in anger despite your lack of judgment and lack of concern for my feelings.”
“Con, I wish you to know I came up here to find a way to secure your good favor.”
“That’s good to hear. It offers me hope that one day you will make a fine mate.”
“I am committed to doing so.”
“What was your plan to return to my good graces?”
“I had not come up with one yet.”
“I see.”
“I did only have but a few minutes to consider the topic.”
“I am fond of your mouth, Drys. I should like to feel it on my rod this eve.”
“You will have to teach me to suck it,” Drystan said as he moved closer to him.
Conley brought their bodies together and kissed his chin. “My limited experience did not offer me much chance to learn about the way of it.”
Unsatisfied with such a chaste peck, Drystan took Conley’s mouth and joined their tongues in battle. His head was swimming before he broke free. “Will you move your things into our bedchamber?”
“I have no choice but to do so, otherwise your parents might think me mad to wish to continue to sleep alone.”
“No one who knows you could believe you cracked.”
“Help me gather my belongings?”
Drystan did not offer a verbal reply. He didn’t want to give Conley any time to rethink his question. He grabbed his hand and led him down to the area of the castle that housed the family quarters and once inside the room his mother had given Conley, he began tossing things into the large trunk he had brought from his parents’ home.
“You are most eager to see the deed done,” Conley remarked with a laugh as he collected items in a less hurried fashion.
Drystan didn’t want Conley to know he thought he might back out so he simply said, “I wished to give us ample time to return to the lists. Mother will demand we hie back to the castle early this eve to prepare for her feast.”
“I had forgotten about the celebration.”
“You are too focused on carnal activities.”
“As you should be; you do not wish to face my displeasure.”
“I daresay I will find a way to make you shout my name before we rest.”
“Yes, but if you do a fine job I would be more willing to use my mouth on you as well.”
Drystan stopped his packing and met Conley’s eyes. “Then I shall not quit until I too can be rewarded.”
“Do stop looking at me like that. It would not be good to get caught making love during the day.”
Laughing, Drystan resumed the business of seeing Conley moved. “You overthink about the feelings of others in regard to what happens between us.”
“I have no wish to find myself in poor favor. I could find myself homeless in such a case.”
Drystan threw the trunk closed and wrapped Conley tightly in his arms. His mate squeaked in an unmanly way and tried to free himself, but Drystan gave him no quarter. “This is your home, Conley. No matter how angry we may find ourselves at one another, you shall never be asked to leave. Make no mistake about the level of your welcome and your standing in this castle. You are no poor relation. You are mated to the son of a king and a Prince-mate now in your own right. When I am a duke, it will be much the same.”
“Perhaps I will be the one who grows into a beast worthy of being called duke.”
“What a sight we will be, Con. Two black dragons high in the sky. My father will be the envy of all kings.”
“I can see it.”
“Good,” Drystan began before releasing him. “Now help me carry this into our bedchamber.”
* * *
Drystan held Conley’s hand as they danced about after finishing the grand feast his mother had spent all day overseeing. Fresh herbs had been strewn about the floor to add a healthy scent to the air, and the two large fireplaces were casting warmth and added to the ambiance of the many lit candles in the spacious chamber. The meal had been exquisite and Drystan had filled both himself and his mate to near overflowing with meats, cheeses, and ale.
When the music stopped, Drystan bowed to Conley and then clapped to show his appreciation for the talented lutist who had played so wonderfully.
“Drystan, Conley, come. We have gifts for you both.”
“I am fond of gifts,” Drystan said to Conley as they began crossing the Great Hall.
“I plan to enjoy the one you give to me later,” Conley replied only loud enough for the pair of them to hear.
“I will see to it that you do.”
“The two of you look so handsome together, don’t they Aeron?”
“I would not imagine an occurrence where I would gainsay you, my dear.”
“Oh hush, you. Why don’t you give them the gift you had designed?”
“Drystan, it was as if Fate had warned me you would be alone no longer when the idea for this came to me,” King Aeron said as he handed him a large package wrapped in a bit of cloth.
Opening it, Drystan withdrew an exquisitely carved set of chess pieces and matching board. “Father, this is as delightful as it is beautiful.”
“I am glad you find it pleasing. I arranged it as a gift for you months ago. Of course, I could not know it was to be a gift for you both then, but I daresay it better serves two than one.”
“Thank you, Aeron; Drystan had it aright. It is magnificent.”
“Enjoy it in good health.”
“My turn,” Queen Helen said before handin
g Conley a small package also draped in cloth. “This one I didn’t think to give you so soon but lucky for me, I set to having it designed as soon as we returned from the fair.”
Hastily Conley tugged open the string around the cloth wrapper and inside two wide silver bands lay. The craftsmanship was elegant, and each ring looked to be made of several thinly twisted rings stacked atop each other. Drystan watched as Conley stared at them and said not a word. Instead, he looked up at Drystan and he could swear there were tears threatening in his yellow-orange eyes.
“You have overwhelmed our boys, Helen,” King Aeron observed.
“I hope you do not think I have overstepped by having them made. I thought to celebrate your matebond, not rob you of the choosing of your own rings.”
“No, no, Helen. Aeron has the way of it. I am overset by their beauty and your thoughtfulness,” Conley said in a thick voice.
“Mother, we are most appreciative. I had not even thought of our mating rings.”
“I daresay you had a great deal to consider other than jewelry,” she remarked as she hugged him. Releasing him, she wrapped Conley in her arms and they hugged so long, Drystan feared his mother would not return his mate to him.
“My thanks,” Conley replied when his mother finally let him go.
“Go on, put them on,” she encouraged as she wrapped her arms around his father.
Conley met his gaze and lifted the larger of the two silver circles from his palm where the pair rested. “Chosen by Fate and accepted by my heart as true I accept you as my mate.”
After Conley slid it on, Drystan took his mate’s ring and gave the words back while slipping his mating band on. Grabbing Conley’s face in his hands, he gave him a swift kiss while his father chuckled and yelled for drink to celebrate.
“Your parents are most kind.”
“You are well deserving of their affection.”
“I intend to ensure they never find fault with me.”
“You need only be yourself.”
“Drys, I am more fond of you than time should have allowed.”
“I am near to irresistible.”
Laughing, Conley wrapped his arms around his waist. “No doubt.”
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