The Shifter Protector's Virgin (Stonybrooke Shifters)

by Ash, Leela

  “The Guardians are still here. I won’t rest until every last one of them are destroyed. They killed everyone I love. My grandfather, aunts, friends, uncles, cousins. Everybody.”

  “But not your parents. Your parents are safe on Kaldernon and they miss you.”

  “I miss them, too, and you can tell them I said so. But I am needed down here. I will not betray the descendants who may fall prey to the Guardians. I won’t rest until every last one of them are as dead as my grandfather.”

  Archer was a large, muscular man with serious, menacing eyes. There was no way that Cherin would be able to take him on and win, probably not even in dragon form. He had no choice but to let him go.

  “If you ever change your mind….”

  “I won’t,” Archer said. “There’s a group of Guardians to the north, I’ve been tracking them for a long time. I think they’ve got people trapped there. I have to help them.”

  “The north?” Cherin asked, suddenly pale.

  Archer nodded.

  “Thank you. I’ll send your love to your parents.”

  And with that, he shifted into his dragon form and sped back the way he came.

  CHAPTER 13

  Leika stomped angrily through the forest, trying to focus only on the energy of the descendants of Kaldernon in the distance. She was getting closer to them; she could feel that much. But why did they have to be so far away? Maybe if she could shift into a dragon like Cherin, but shifter genes were notoriously difficult for women to tap into. Their bodies were more predisposed to Loni abilities and functions.

  “My, my, my,” a voice suddenly hissed from deep in the bushes. Leika stopped cold, her arms prickling in fear. This was not a friendly voice. “Look what we have here.”

  Suddenly, men in robes with disgusting smiles plastered on their faces emerged from all sides, surrounding her. She would have had a fighting chance if there were only a few of them, but there had to be at least fifteen.

  “Let me go!” Leika shrieked, fighting against their strong grips. They just laughed and sneered.

  “She’s wearing Loni robes!” one of the men exclaimed. “I’m touching genuine fabric!”

  “Get her to the truck!” the leader of the group barked. “We have work to do.”

  The men piled into the back of a covered truck bed, holding her still as the leader hopped into the driver’s seat and turned the ignition. The loud rumbling of the engine began vibrating the vehicle and Leika howled in misery, calling for Cherin. But he wouldn’t be able to hear her. He had gone south to save someone she had been too cowardly to take into consideration. She had wanted so badly to look like a hero that she hadn’t been very heroic. Cherin was right to be angry. If she got killed it would be her own fault.

  Leika rode for what felt like an eternity being held down by the men, who were definitely those who called themselves the ‘Guardians’ of the planet Earth. She knew not to say too much. They would assume she was simply a Loni who had gotten away with spending her life under the guise of a human. Probably somebody born on Earth. If they realized that she was truly from Kaldernon, that was when she would really get into serious trouble. Trouble that even Cherin couldn’t help her out of.

  “Look who’s home!” the leader called out.

  “The hell you talkin’ bout Willie?” another man shouted from somewhere outside the truck. Leika was pulled out roughly and led into the light by the wrists. “Ohh, she’s a purdy little thing, isn’t she?”

  “No doubt,” Wille agreed, looking Leika up and down. She shuddered and was pushed forward. They had driven her away from the forest and into an isolated settlement. There was a dirt road that led to the trees where she had come from, and in front of her was a small white house that looked to be in ill repair. Nobody in Kaldernon would be caught dead living in something that needed so much tending to. They would have tended to it or moved on to something better.

  Suddenly, Leika doubled over, searing pain almost knocking her to her feet. A lot of suffering was happening here. Suffering being endured by the descendants of Kaldernon. She had to help them. There was no other option. She would play it smart and do whatever she could to help the others.

  Soon, she was in a dark cell in the basement of the house, surrounded by several other dog kennels. Inside the kennels were other people just like her. They looked hopelessly out of their wired openings, eyes gaunt and miserable. She had to do something.

  Leika closed her eyes, hoping maybe some of the Loni people would be able to pick up on psychic messages. A few of them were having conversations, or playing a game that sounded like madness to anybody else. But maybe it was something they were doing to avoid madness.

  How many are here? Leika asked. I’m here to help.

  Yeah, right.

  Last I knew there were thirteen.

  You make fourteen.

  I’m not a prisoner, Leika stated. I’m from Kaldernon. It’s going to be okay.

  Almost as soon as she was put into her cage, she was dragged out by another Guardian.

  He likes you. Better watch out. Clear your mind and we can play the pain game.

  Leika’s heart thudded in fear as she was dragged up the steps and into a small room full of both sharp and blunt instruments. She started to quiver when the man lifted one and strapped her to a chair, smiling menacingly as he prepared himself to make an incision.

  Before he had the chance to, an earth-shattering roar shook the compound and Cherin’s dragon form was stomping through the house. The Guardians were all shrieking in terror and shouting orders to one another. A few of them stabbed through his scales with specialized weapons that Leika had never seen before, and Cherin cried out in agony. Still, they weren’t fast enough for one of the Dragon Warriors from Kaldernon, and soon most of them were burnt to a crisp and the whole building was on fire. Cherin lashed out at the man who had Leika captive and tore him in half. Finally, when there were no guardians left standing, he reverted back to his nude human form.

  “I’m sorry,” they both said in unison.

  “I love you,” Leika said suddenly.

  “I’ve always loved you,” Cherin replied.

  “I know.”

  Cherin grinned and tried to lead Leika out of the burning building.

  “We can’t go yet,” she cried. “Get out of here! I have the cloak; it will be okay.”

  Cherin stared at her, his eyes distrusting and afraid.

  “Trust me,” she said firmly.

  Finally, he turned and limped out of the flames, waiting for Leika to return.

  After a few moments that seemed like an eternity, she re-emerged, with a crowd of descendants behind her. They looked around suspiciously at each other and the burning building. Many of them couldn’t believe that they were safe and seemed to think this was yet another trick.

  “Get them into the truck,” Leika ordered. Cherin set to work leading them inside and Leika swallowed hard. She could probably intuit how to work the damn thing, and as soon as everybody was loaded, she took off with squealing tires down the dirt path and headed back to the forest.

  CHAPTER 14

  It was late by the time they made it to the same spot they had camped out at together. It had been miraculous that they’d been able to find it after everything that had happened. Cherin set up the tent, though it was obvious he was suffering immensely from his wounds from the battle.

  “You guys can sleep in the tent,” he offered the shaken descendants.

  We prefer the truck.

  Cherin couldn’t hear it, so Leika translated for him. He nodded and climbed inside as soon as it was set up and the fire was lit. Leika followed him inside.

  “You look like you’re in a lot of pain,” she whispered once everybody had fallen asleep.

  “I’ll be all right,” Cherin said. His voice was strained though.

  “Thank you for coming back for me,” Leika said, removing the outfit that Lopu had given her. “Put this on. The regenerative powers wi
ll help you.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked.

  She nodded. Her body was uncovered and she stared sincerely at him until he took it.

  “It’s kind of snug,” he laughed. She grinned and lay down beside him as the outfit began to work its magic. They dozed into a peaceful slumber and were both awakened at the same time by Cherin’s stirring. He was pulling the outfit off, smiling down at Leika.

  “Thank you,” he said, scooping her into a hug against his bare, broad chest. She surrendered into it, her own body fully exposed beside him.

  “Nothing will ever change the way I feel about you,” Cherin said seriously, looking deeply into Leika’s purple eyes.

  “I know,” she whispered.

  They were lost in each other’s gaze for a few moments before finally their lips met. Leika moaned softly as Cherin’s tongue made its way inside her mouth, sending a whirlwind of pleasure coursing through her body. His strong hands roamed her body intimately, until his fingers rested against the mound of her middle. He circled his fingertip experimentally around her clit and sent a jolt of ecstasy through her body. She sighed softly as she felt his cock harden against her thigh. There would be no apologies this time. No mixed feelings. This is what they had both wanted. And now that they were adults, that was perfectly fine.

  Leika took his cock in her hands and gave it a long, firm stroke. Cherin moaned in delight as he shuddered in her grip, the thrill of her touch bringing more blood to his engorged member. She lowered her lips around it carefully, eliciting a cry of pleasure from Cherin. He lifted her and laid back on the ground, positioning her so that her middle, wet with longing, was in the perfect position for him to lick it as she slowly worked her tongue up and down his shaft. They pleasured each other this way until Leika could take no more and whimpered demandingly. Cherin brought her to her back and got on top of her, grinning down at her as his shaft rubbed against her clit, sending waves of ecstasy throughout her entire body.

  They moaned together as he shoved himself wholly inside of her. The heat of his cock ramming inside of hers made Leika grit her teeth as a flood of bliss awakened every nerve in her body. He began thrusting himself inside of her again and again, picking up his pace, every drag of his shaft eliciting a network of explosions all throughout her insides. She had dreamed of his body for so long, so secretly and yet so devoutly. How long had she wanted this? She couldn’t say. But now that she had it, she was never going to let him go.

  He caressed her tenderly as they made love, his body tuned in to her every response. He seemed intuitively to know exactly what each of her sounds and movements meant, and met her with a zest and enthusiasm that left them both panting from exertion. They had never been more in synch than they were in that moment. No inhibitions and no confusion. All they wanted was each other.

  Suddenly, Leika could no longer handle the intensity of Cherin’s smooth, hard member inside of her, and her body shook as he took her to new heights, every pleasure receptor in her body indulging itself in ecstasy. She let out a low moan as she contracted around him, pushing and pulling him until he completed her climax with his own powerful eruption. They closed their eyes in bliss as he shot his load deep inside of her, and they lay still for a moment, panting quietly in the night.

  “Let’s never fight again,” Leika said.

  “That’s not healthy,” Cherin laughed. “Let’s always make up.”

  “That’s more realistic.”

  He kissed her forehead and they lay together in bliss, allowing themselves to finally be taken by the heavy blanket of sleep.

  EPILOGUE

  Leika and Cherin spent their last day leading the descendants of Kaldernon back to the place where the portal was going to open up to allow them to return back to their own planet. The teleportation took a lot of energy, so they tried to speed it up by sending pairs up two at a time like they had during the first rescue mission.

  It was slowly becoming clear to the rescued parties that they were going to be free, and live in a world where there were no Guardians.

  As Cherin and Leika oversaw their departure from Earth, they held hands and chatted, waiting for their turn.

  “I saw the man we almost left behind. He wanted to stay here. He is the son of Clayton.”

  “Really?” Leika asked, her eyes wide.

  “Really.”

  “He will be glad to know his son is okay.”

  “Yes.”

  Soon, they were the last people left standing.

  “Are you ready?” Cherin asked, squeezing Leika’s arm.

  “Are you?” she replied.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be,” he grinned.

  “Everything has changed,” Leika said, positioning herself under the teleportation beam.

  “Here’s to hoping it never goes back to the way it was,” Cherin said. He stooped down to kiss her tenderly on the lips, and together they returned as heroes to the planet Kaldernon.

  THE END

  A Dream of Dragons

  Dragons of Kaldernon Novella 5

  Leela Ash

  Copyright © 2016 by Leela Ash. All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic of mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  CHAPTER ONE

  I’m waiting.

  The fiercely beautiful woman with flashing eyes–Purple? No, blue? He couldn’t tell–stared out at him from behind a wall of fire. Her golden hair was lifted wildly on the wind, lending her the distinct look of a warrior. Archer reached his hand out to her, his fingers wide and strained from the effort. The woman reached her hand out to him, too. It looked deceptively fragile. He knew that behind her eyes there was nothing but ferocity.

  I’m waiting.

  Archer was overwhelmed by an angry feeling of inferiority. He wanted nothing more than to reach out to the woman across from him; to be able to cross the flaming threshold that was keeping them apart. She was waiting for him. And he was failing her. Unable to pass through the curling flames to touch her hand. He was a coward.

  Suddenly, the woman was gone, and in her place was a black silhouette that towered above him; above even the wall of flame. Archer cried out in fear and backed away. He truly was cowardly. He didn’t deserve to bridge the gap between himself and the beautiful woman. Why would she want him anyway?

  The dark beast behind him unleashed a mighty roar and Archer looked up into a pair of glowing red eyes. Dragon’s eyes. He positioned himself to fight, but soon the world around him was disintegrating and he could feel himself being lifted from what he now knew with certainty to be a dream. He struggled to stay within the dream, worried that the giant monster might somehow harm the beautiful woman he had been trying to reach, but there was no use.

  Archer awoke in his bed in a cold sweat. The dimness of the underground tunnels of the former Kersh clan made it difficult for his eyes to adjust, so he stayed in a dazed dream-like trance until he was fully conscious. He growled and got quickly to his feet, throwing his covers aside and walking purposefully toward the mess hall to get a drink of water.

  Ever since the rest of the dragon shifters and their Loni counterparts had returned back to Kaldernon, the once bustling tunnels had been vacant and empty. He was the last of the shifters on the planet Earth, and had chosen to stay behind with a few of his close friends. They believed that Earth, being the place they were born, was their true home. Not only that, but he had unfinished business. The Guardians, a fringe group of fundamentalist assholes, had unleashed untold horrors on the dragon shifters. They were rounded up like cattle and tortured and experimented on so that the Guardians could try to learn more about the worlds beyond. Archer was convinced there were still Guardians walking the Earth, and refused to rest until every last one of them was taken out.

  “Good morning, Archer,” Thom, Archer’s best friend sinc
e childhood, greeted. Archer gave a brief nod and passed him, making his way to the barrel of water in the corner. He ladled some out into his glass and drank deeply, allowing the water to wash away the dark feelings left within him by the dream.

  “Good morning Thom,” Archer replied, once he cleared his throat. “Any news today?”

  “Actually, yes,” Thom said, his reptilian eyes sparkling. Thom had always looked the part of a dragon. Although he was mostly humanoid, he had sharper features and never quite escaped the round, dragon-like eyes. It was part of his charm.

  “Oh? What is it?”

  “Guardians were spotted digging through the ruins of their old camp. It was destroyed, but they were there. We have Tanna trailing them right now.”

  “Well that’s…not good news,” Archer said thoughtfully. As leader of the shifters left on earth, it was his job to keep them safe. But if Tanna was following the Guardians, it could be a trap. Maybe they knew that the old site was under constant surveillance. But maybe not.

  “I thought you would be pleased,” Thom said, crestfallen. He had devoted his life to serving Clayton, Archer’s father and leader of the Kersh clan, and his family. Without Clayton there, he was Archer’s best friend and most loyal companion. But he loved to brawl and fight more than anyone Archer knew.

  “It’s true, I want all the Guardians dead where they stand,” Archer agreed with a nod. “I just worry about putting Tanna in danger.”

  “Tanna can take care of himself.”

  “I’m sure he can,” Archer agreed. Still, it left him with an uneasy feeling.

  There was a small handful of shifters left on Earth. It was surprising how many of them were reluctant to join the flight to Kaldernon. It was something they had all been told to dream about and wish for, their return ‘home’, but once it became a possibility, there were a lot of people who had second thoughts. Archer had been able to articulate them at the last minute, before his parents allowed him to ascend with them. He was standing between them when he said, “I need to stay behind with the others.”