by Salo, C A
Mari smiled softly as she cupped his cheek with her hand, “Yes, love, I hear you. Now tell me, my color hasn’t faded with my age has it?”
“Color?”
Triton chuckled as he sat on the corner of the bed. “No you’re still as vibrant red and beautiful as ever.”
“And my tail?” Mari smiled.
“It still shades wonderfully from red to blue, although, it looked like the very tips are now a royal blue color instead of a midnight blue, but still gorgeous darling. Oh and a nice roar that says, ‘hey I’m back and I’m going to kick some ass’.”
Mari shrugged. “What can I say, I’m territorial, and someone is trying to invade on my territory.” Snuggling up to Rhys, she smiled when his arms went around her waist.
“It makes my heart burst with joy to see you happy, Mariwen.”
Mari smiled softly as Triton’s fingers caressed her cheek before he leaned in to kiss her other one.
“You know I will be here for you, my sister, whenever you need it. I must go now, but I will be back. Take care of her well, Rhys Beven.”
“Be safe my brother,” Mari whispered as he rose and headed for the door.
“I didn’t think you two were family,” Rhys asked.
“Not by blood,” Mari replied as she tilted her head to meet his gaze, smiling as his lips lowered to hers gently. “I need to go to my sanctuary today to gather a few items; would you like to go with me?”
“I’d love to.”
* * * *
“How in the hell am I supposed to get up there?” Rhys asked as he turned to Mari.
Mari chuckled as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Hold on to me, I’m casting a cloak over us so no one can see what we’re doing. Are you ready?” When he nodded, Mari breathed deeply, smiling when his eyes widened as she shifted enough to change her eyes and expand her wings.
“You can fly.”
“I can fly.” She smiled as her wings swooped once, lifting them up. With her enhanced strength she could easily keep a hold of him and flew up the rocky face to the ledge that looked like nothing more than a small crevice, and landed. Once Mari had them firmly on the ground, she kept a hold of his hand when he went to step back. “Don’t let go until we’re inside. I have a cloak surrounding my sanctuary at all times.”
“Didn’t the Kelpie come ashore near here?”
“Yes, that’s why I called Triton in that day,” she said as they walked through the barrier into her cave. “I knew it wasn’t a coincidence.”
“Holy shit!” Rhys exclaimed as he looked around at the opulence.
Mari chuckled as she released his hand. “What? Did you think I’d leave it a dank, dark, wet cave?”
“Well, no, but I never thought—and you’ve hidden this for how long?”
“Quite a few centuries.” Mari grinned as she walked over to an old wooden chest. Opening the heavy lid, she withdrew her battle gear. “I haven’t had to wear these since the last time I fought the darkness.”
“I thought you said you’d been in many battles.”
“I have, but these were made special for me by my father. They’re made from his scales and skin. Very few Other Kin can break through the protection castings he’s placed, never mind the items themselves.”
“Is the darkness one of them?” he asked softly.
“Yes.” Turning, she set her hauberk down as she took his hand, leading him over to the bed to sit on its edge. “Rhys, the darkness is or was an Other Kin soul. His name was Olipisies, and he turned to the dark arts because my mother turned down his advances—way before she met my father or thought of having me, before she became an ancient. Olipisies wouldn’t stop his pursuit of her even when two ancients made it clear to him that he needed to stop. Olipisies killed them…”
“He killed two ancients,” Rhys burst out. “I thought that was impossible.”
“No, you only need to have the knowledge. Ancients, like anyone else, are susceptible to death. Olipisies went into hiding after that and emerged again years later. He’d been gathering dark powers and tried taking my mother as she was out patrolling her quadrant.” Smiling, she recalled the story as it was told. “She was fighting him and had fallen to the ground after a hit. Olipisies started yelling at how she betrayed him and his love, and that he was going to kill her. Mother was hurt badly and the other ancients were making a rush to get to her, but they couldn’t, not in time. As she watched the death blow coming, she lifted her hand to try and stop it with the little power she had left, when a monstrous roar filled the air—her words not mine,” she said grinning. “And then the ground shook as a full grown dragon landed in front of her, stopping the hit meant for her. She said he struck back, sending Olipisies flying and then went after him. His flames scorched the grounds, setting Olipisies blazing. Mother said Olipisies tried fighting father even while his skin was burning off him to the ground, but father was too powerful and they watched as he disappeared.” Meeting Rhys’ gaze, Mari smiled as she leaned forward, her lips gently brushing his before nipping his bottom one. “So now you know how my parents met and how the darkness was born.”
“So, in other words, Olipisies started this shit because he was jilted?”
“Yep. I couldn’t say anything earlier or in the council chambers because I didn’t trust the protection charms and no one needs to know our life history…well, except you, because you’re to be my mate,” she said smiling.
* * * *
Mari chuckled as she lifted the goblet of wine to her lips. They’d decided to stay at her sanctuary and have a night to themselves away from everyone. She’d made Livi go find Drake and tell him where they were so no one would worry.
Rhys lifted his hand, caressing her arm from shoulder to fingers before he lifted her to his lap.
Mari lowered her glass, sighing as his lips met hers. Slowly, sensuously, his hands caressed her back, side, arms, and thighs as he took his time savoring her lips. “Rhys,” she breathed heavily.
Rhys smiled. “Oh no, love, we go slow this night, for I plan on making love to you, not fucking you. I want you exhausted from multiple orgasms by the time I’m finished with you.”
Mari trembled at his words. “Oh, yeah?” No man had ever made her body tremble from his words or from his sex—no man other than Rhys. “So, I’m good to orgasm at will tonight?”
“Most definitely.” Lifting her with him, Rhys rose and strode to the bed. Setting her on her feet, he averted her hands when she went to take her clothes off. “No, Mari, let me.”
Mari shuddered, lips parting on a gasp as he barely kissed her neck, his hands sliding under her t-shirt, fingers gently caressing her naked skin. Mari moaned when his mouth joined his hands, kissing his way up past her breasts. She groaned with want. “My nipples, play with my nipples,” she gasped.
“In good time,” Rhys muttered, taking her hands in his and bringing them behind her back. “Slowly, Mari. I will not let you rush me tonight. I want to love you right.”
“You do love me right, Rhys.” Mari met his gaze. “I love how my body reacts to you, it’s never done that with anyone before. You’re the only one who’s ever been able to make me burn, literally. You are my soul mate, my other half. Never doubt yourself when it comes to you pleasuring me.”
Rhys smiled as he kissed her softly. “I don’t, but we always seem to love each other hard and fast, which is fine, but I like slow sometimes. It helps me show you how much you mean to me, how much I love you.” He whispered the last, letting go of her hands.
“You…”
“Yes, does that frighten you, Mari, to know that I’ve fallen in love with you?”
Mari wrapped her arms around his neck. “No,” she whispered as she gently kissed him. “I’ve fallen for you as well. I was so scared at first, but then I got to know you, to feel your real self. I love you, Rhys.”
“Will you bind yourself to me this night, Mari? Will you let me claim you as mine forever?”
“Yes.” She smiled.
When his hot breath passed over her clit Mari gasped, her hips lifting closer to his mouth. “Don’t tease, Rhys.” His tongue darted out, striking the engorged little nub several times. Her body tensed, a moan escaped, and Mari groaned when finally his lips settled around her clit. Her body trembled as he drew her into his mouth, sucking, nibbling; his ministrations slow as she fought the rising climax. A tremor shook her core as he continued his slow, steady pace. Shards of light scattered behind her closed lids.
Rhys knew she was moments away from an orgasm. “Yes, my love, at your will.” Lowering his mouth to her clit, he sucked, his hands lifting to keep her thighs from crushing his skull as she writhed on the bed; her fingers clutching the covers as she arched up; her body jerking as she cried out with her orgasm. Rhys suckled and licked her as she came down from her pleasure, his movements in rhythm with hers. He finally lifted her head when she lay breathing heavily. His lips pressed to her inner thigh as he worked his way back up, taking a pebbled nipple into his mouth.
Mari’s body twitched as he revived her need for him. Her hands roamed his body, her fingers digging into his back before moving a hand to his erection.
Rhys grasped her hand moving it to the bed. “Not yet,” he breathed. His lips covered her nipple again, as his thumb and forefinger tweaked her other one. Mari groaned and arched her back, lifting her breasts up closer to his caresses. When she went to grab his cock again, he held her hand to the bed as her body arched against him with her desire. Leaving her breast he traveled down, kissing and nipping lightly. Her stomach muscles twitched as his fangs pressed against her slightly, enough to prick, but not pierce her skin. Her moans were louder, her body was heating, and he knew she was close to another release. “I can’t get enough of you, Mari,” he rumbled, his nostrils flaring at her musky scent as he slowly ran his tongue over her pussy and clit. Her pussy was so wet from her earlier orgasm and his continued strokes, that his dick hardened even more—if that was possible.
“Rhys, please, I can’t wait anymore, I want your fat cock in me,” Mari growled.
“Is the beast coming out, love?”
Mari growled as he rolled her onto her stomach, lifting her ass in the air, the cool air hitting her hot pussy. “Rhys!”
Rhys groaned when she arched her back, lifting her pussy higher, offering its sweet heat to him. Lowering, he slowly ran his tongue from her clit backwards, spearing it into her heat as he would his cock. Her taste was sweet and musky, absolutely the best thing he’d ever tasted in his life. Thrusting his tongue in and out of her until she screamed his name, he lifted himself, lowering his hand to her clit as he nipped her ass cheek before licking her puckered anal star.
“Oh my god, Rhys, fuck me, please!”
“I will be, but I want you to come for me, Mari.”
“No, I want you in me!”
Rhys leaned over her shoulder, his harsh breath near her ear as he continued to rub her swollen jewel. “I want you to come for me or I’m going to stick my fat cock up your ass, now come for me damn it, come now!”
Mari exploded, her body arched as thousands of tiny lights flew behind her closed lids. Crying out his name, she vaguely felt his warm body covering her.
Rhys touched, caressed and kissed her body gently, not letting Mari come down off her high from her orgasms. When her body started responding to his caresses again, Rhys grinned as he rose, slowly turning her onto her back. “Spread your thighs for me, Mari.” She did so and his cock jumped. Lowering his hand, he started rubbing on her clit and she started squirming.
“Rhys, I want you in me damn it!”
“Hold it.” Vamping his eyes, he watched as her body turned red with her inner heat.
“I thought I could go at will?” she breathed heavily.
“I want you to hold this one, Mari, only this one, my sweet, alright?”
“Ohhhhh gods yes, but—please hurry, I’m so close again. By the gods you’re going to kill me.” Her eyes squeezed shut, her body hummed, brain tingled, and feet burned as she held her orgasm. She almost sighed when he removed his fingers from her clit. She arched with a deep moan as the head of his thick cock entered her slowly, stretching her, filling her in more ways than just physical. Mari’s eyes opened, meeting his gaze; her arms went around him as he settled to the hilt inside her warmth. A slight sheen of sweat covered her as Rhys slowly thrust in and out, the sensations almost more than she could take.
Rhys smiled when her eyes glowed orange with a mixture of red, the mind-marking telling him she was heating up more than usual during their lovemaking. “You’re so beautiful, Mari,” he whispered, lowering his mouth to hers softly as he quickened his thrusts.
Mari started to tremble, her orgasm on the edge of euphoria.
“Will you be mine forever, Mariwen? Will you let me claim you?”
“Yes, yes, and I claim you!”
“I’m going to come, Mari, are you ready?” he asked through clenched teeth.
“Yes!”
“Come for me, love, now!” he roared, his body tightening as hers arched with her cries of pleasure. Her insides clenched around him, his cock expelling his seed as he thrust into her with vigor. Rhys vaguely noticed the flames surrounding them on the bed, but they weren’t burning him so he gave one last thrust and collapsed on her heaving chest. His hot breath hit the side of her neck. He could feel the flames dying down as her orgasm receded. Rolling to his side, he kept his dick buried within her warmth. “It’s a good thing we were here. I think you might have burned down the manor otherwise. Were you hot for me baby?” he said smiling.
“Smart ass,” Mari grumbled as she cuddled up to his chest.
“Why didn’t the flames bother me?”
“Because you’re mine,” Mari grinned. Lifting her head she kissed him smack on the mouth. “I let you claim me and I claimed you. My fire, my blood, my flames will never harm you now, Rhys.”
“So, I could stand and let you bear down on me with dragons’ fire and I’d walk away unharmed?”
“Yes.”
“Well that’s good to know in case you ever get pissed at me.”
Mari nodded happily. Moving her leg under his, she flipped him so she was straddling his waist. She moved her hips, smiling when his dick twitched inside her. “Round four?” Wiggling her eyebrows, she laughed when he yanked her down to him as he thrust his now hard cock into her warm wetness.
Chapter 5
“Mari, Mari wake up.”
Mari rolled over in her sleep as her father’s image came to her. “What?”
“Call to arms, Mari, call to arms!”
Mari jolted up, breathing heavily, as she slapped Rhys’ arm. “Rhys, wake up,” she said. Jumping out of bed she headed to the cave entrance. They’d spent the last two nights here away from everyone, talking, making love, and just plain fucking.
“Why?” Rhys asked as he rolled.
“My father woke me up.” Standing out on the ledge, she looked over the quiet ocean and the full moon hanging low.
“Why?” he yawned as he stepped up to her side.
“Call to arms.”
“I don’t see anything.”
“Shhh,” Mari whispered. Transforming her eyes to dragon eyes enhanced her vision tremendously. “There.” She pointed as fish jumped like crazy out of the water.
“I don’t see anything,” Rhys said as he squinted.
“Trust me, something’s there.” Turning, she went to her battle gear and started dressing. Sliding the leather pants up, she met his gaze. “Call to arms, Rhys.”
“Let’s go.”
Mari lifted her amour over her head and started strapping it at her waist. “I need to hold
them back from the shore. I can’t let them get on land. You need to go alone.”
Rhys grabbed her arm hauling her to him as she lifted her gaze. “I am not leaving you.”
“I’ll be fine. I haven’t sensed the darkness yet, and I fed two days ago. I can hold them off with no problem until you get back.” Mari could see the fear in his eyes. “If I didn’t think I could handle it I’d let you know. Now, I have to call Triton and head out. Please, trust me.”
His hands tightened for a brief moment before he let her go. “I do trust you.” Leaning down he kissed her hungrily. “I love you, so you better not get hurt damn it.”
Mari smiled as she grabbed her twin swords, swinging them up onto her back into their sheaths. “I promise if I get hurt, I’ll let you spank me.” Heading toward the cave entrance, she turned as he stepped beside her. Smiling, she stepped off, landing with one knee down on the beach sand. Glancing up when he landed next to her, she stood and met his kiss hungrily. “I’ll see you when you get back.” When he quick-stepped away, Mari walked into the ocean ankle deep, lifted her hand and slapped it to the ocean’s surface. “Triton, I call for you!” Having been in dragon mode and fed recently, she was strong enough to make the call and protect Alston from its invaders.
When the reverberation wave went out, her eyes narrowed as the approaching invaders stopped. Breathing deeply she held her breath hoping they’d turn back. Damn asses. She growled as they kept coming, and unfurled her wings; giving one mighty swoop, she was up. The salt water sprayed her face as she charged toward them. She could transform to dragon and go undersea, but it would be harder for her to fight them, and she didn’t like being at a disadvantage. Stopping half a mile from their approach, she lifted her arms and pushed down, creating a barrier of rushing water from the sea surface to its floor and back up. “If you come with the intent to do Alston and its people harm I order you to leave now!” Mari’s gaze narrowed when an Isonade came to the surface. They were a dangerous creature. They used their barbed tail as a weapon to strike sailors off ships or even people off the beach—just to kill.
