Dream of Me

by Magenta Phoenix

  “I wish to claim you as a Garmorian male would his mate,” he whispered darkly, his warm breath fanning against her parted lips.

  “And how would a Garmorian male claim his mate?” she asked, breathless. Dropping his hands from her, he smirked wolfishly down at her. The sound of water sloshing around them was the only sound she heard as he slowly begun circling around her.

  Slowly he continued to stalk around her, moving with grace. The light reflected in the water danced against the hard planes of his chest with ever ripple of movement.

  His eyes stayed locked on hers like a silent predator waiting to strike. “Whenever a Garmorian female is claimed for a mate, it is much different. Once her male has won her, she will flee to the sky and he pursues her. Though she tries to out fly him, a female’s wings are no match for a male’s.”

  Moving toward her, she could feel the heat of his skin against her back a moment before his hands gripped her hips possessively. Jerking her backwards, she gasped in surprise. “Capturing his mate in the sky, he claims her like this. In this way, her wings are useless and she must trust solely on her mate.” His head lowered against the slope of her neck, skimming his mouth along the pulsing vein that danced with excitement beneath her skin.

  “I have no wings,” she pointed out as chills shot up her arms at the feel of his lips against her neck.

  “I do.” Meeting her gaze over her shoulder, his left hand slid upward to loop around her stomach like a steel belt. His right hand slid further down to her thigh before hooking his arm under her knee. Lifting her leg, he extended back against his hip, leaving her open to him. “Trust me…” he whispered against the curve of her ear.

  Her heart thundered in her ears as her need for him built higher. Without thinking, one of her hands rose to wrap around the back of his neck while the other gripped his restraining arm around her middle. Gasping for air, she nodded, “I trust you.”

  The sound of his wings unfurling behind him caused her chest to squeeze with anticipation. Slowly she felt her feet leave the rough floor beneath her as they rose from the glittering water. Resting her head back against his shoulder, she watched as they drew closer to the opening ceiling of the cave. Her stomach clenched tightly at the feeling of her free leg dangled helplessly through the empty air. The only thing preventing her from falling back down to the glittering pool was his hold around her middle and on her curled leg.

  “You are mine: my mate, my sou’tali, my Elena.” Lifting her higher against him, his cock slid teasingly between the lips of her sex. Encountering her slick desire for him he bent to nuzzle his face against her throat. "You are already wet for me?"

  As her desire hummed through her veins for him, she nodded. "Always," she whispered breathlessly.

  "Always," he agreed with a vibrating growl.

  Angling his hips up, he drove up inside her. Gasping at his intrusion, she bowed against his hold. His shaft stretched her to the limit and still she needed more.

  Her channel clenched tightly around his shaft as he slowly withdrew only to return with an equally slow thrust. His breath flowed against her skin with each rough pant that escaped his lips. Again and again he slowly pulled from her silken depths only to drive back in. Harder and more unrelenting than the last, his thrusting hips began to increase in their pace. The sound of her erotic cries echoing off the cave walls around them were music to his ears and pushed him to claim her fully.

  “Kieran… More…” she demanded roughly through desperate gasps for air. Her approaching climax was building higher than ever before. Her breasts ached and her skin began to feel too tight around her. Like an addict she needed more. Ignoring the fact that he held her suspended in the air, she moved against his thrusting member, driving him deeper and harder into her.

  Her clit pulsed painfully as her inner walls rhythmically clenched around his plunging shaft faster. Then like an explosion, she was bathed in liquid fire as her climax erupted through her entire being. Her inner muscles locked around him as he drove one final time into her. Her head fell back against his shoulder as her lips parted in a muted cry. The water beneath them rippled with the force of his explosive snarl as he followed her climax with his own.

  As he struggled to catch his breath, he froze as he felt his heart ache painfully. The Malrai Hin had begun to take hold of him. Ignoring the pain, he pulled her more tightly against him as his seed pumped into her welcoming womb. He didn’t care what came next as long as she was his.

  * ~ * ~ *

  “Why does Zyaid hate your people so much?” she asked as she lounging up against Kieran as they reclined against the sandy shore. The water loving lapped around their chests. Glancing down at her upturned face, sighing deeply, Kieran shrugged his shoulders.

  “No one really knows for sure,” he answered hesitantly.

  “What do you know for sure?”

  “Just a story that is part myth and part history, no one really knows what is the truth. It is a long story.”

  Snuggling more firmly against his side, she lowered her head to rest against his chest, her hand sliding through the surface of the water that lapped at his stomach. “I’m not planning on going anywhere at this moment. Tell me. Since I plan on staying here, I should know all that I can about your history.”

  Kieran lips parted, speechless at her softly spoken words. He didn’t know what to say back nor did he know how to feel. Of course he was overjoyed but at the same time he couldn’t fight this unbearable weight that kept him from shouting to the heavens.

  According to Elena, Sera had told her about the Malrai Hin and that the only way for Elena to return; if she even found a way, would result in his demise. Deep inside himself, he could still feel the burden of their bond tethering them together, in life and death.

  She had claimed him last eve, same as he had just now done. They were one. But it wasn’t enough. To complete the bond, Elena needed to fully accept him and speak the binding words. If she failed to do so by the new moon two nights from now… nothing would matter.

  Squeezing his eyes closed, he pushed his heavy thoughts aside. Whether he overcame the Malrai Hin or not didn’t matter right now. All that mattered was this moment where his mate was held within his arms.

  “Kieran?” Elena’s concerned voice had him opening his eyes.

  Even in the near darkness of the cave he could see every feature of her face as well as the concern swimming within the green pools of her eyes. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her to lie over top of him. He smirked at her as she rested her cheek against her folded arms on his chest, waiting patiently for him to begin speaking.

  “About a century ago, the two ruling housed of this world decided to form an uneasy alliance to stop the senseless bloodshed in hopes of winning the Goddess’s favor once again.”

  “Really?” she asked, as a single red brow rose in skepticism.

  “Believe or not, our mother goddess is very real, as is her wrath upon her children. Because of all the wars between the Garmorians and the Kelithians nothing grew and wild game became fewer and fewer. If something had not been done at the time, thousands would have perished on both sides.”

  She nodded, “Alright, I’ll buy it. So what type of alliance did you guys form?”

  “The same as your own people did during such times. An alliance of houses.”

  “Marriage?”

  “Yes,” he nodded, the corners of his lips curled with a soft smile. “Both Cian’s grandparents and Zyaid’s father agreed to unite their thrones into one, setting aside all difference for the good of all. Zyaid’s father decided to give his daughter — his second born Ria — to Gregor — Cian’s uncle. Zyaid wasn’t pleased that his dream of ruling after his father had been snatched away from him.”

  “I bet Gregor wasn’t thrilled either about marrying someone that wasn’t his sou’tali,” she mumbled.

  “The opposite actually, Gregor was devoted to his kingdom. With so many murdered by the Kelithians or dying from starv
ation, there were hardly any females left for there to be any other chance at a mate. Gregor immediately sought to ease Ria into becoming his mate in the short months to come. Since the ruling families didn’t want Gregor and Ria meeting until the day of their mating, Gregor sent his most trusted guard to deliver letters to Ria in hopes of allowing them to get to know each other. But something happened that no one could have anticipated.”

  “What was that?” she asked, interested.

  “As the weeks went on Ria began to fall in love with someone else — Ryorn, Gregor’s guard. Every time he crossed the border to the Kelithian lands it was whispered that Ryorn was courting Ria for himself.”

  “I sense this story doesn’t end well. Wait; where was Zyaid in all of this?”

  “I am getting there. Rumors say that once Zyaid discovered his sister’s feelings for Ryorn that he flew into a rage. Up to that point he’d begun to covet not just the throne he was denied, but the heart of Ria also.”

  Elena lifted her head as her face crinkled up with disgust, “He was in love with his sister? Eww!”

  Chuckling, Kieran shook his head at her assumption. “I believe it was more of an obsession than a love that he felt. It wasn’t but a few days later that Gregor was found murdered in his chamber with a Garmorian blade.”

  “Zyaid killed him?”

  “To cast blame on the one person at Ria loved more than himself; yes, Zyaid killed him. When Ryorn rushed to Ria to tell her of this, she was fearful. Fearing that Ryorn would be killed for something he didn’t do, she begged for him to run away with her, so that they may be together. Ryorn refused. Instead he vowed to bring Gregor’s killer to justice.”

  “What?!” Elena’s face lit up with outrage. “Why?”

  “Ryorn was no fool. He’d seen Zyaid’s corrupt gaze always following Ria everywhere they went. He knew that the only way they could have a real life together was to expose the evil prince and destroy him. But his search to avenge his friend’s murder became what tore his future from him.”

  “What happened?”

  “Ria feared that the reason that Ryorn wouldn’t run was because of the idea of giving up the Kelithian throne and the hate he held for her brother. Wanting to protect him, she sought to end things. She rushed to her brother at the battlements of the Kelithian palace that night. She promised to give up her claim on the throne if he would save Ryorn from the charges against him. But her pleas only enraged Zyaid, making him more aware that she would never be his because her heart belonged to another. In a fit of rage he threw Ria from the battlements and to her death.

  “For Garmorians; when our mates die we feel it, experience it, and if the mating rites have been completed, we share it. Sadly, Ryorn and Ria had not fully bonded yet. Ryorn found his mate slowly dying in the forest we now call the Greenwood. He got to her too late to heal her as we are able to do with our mates. Her last breath was taken in his arms. Rushing to Kalaya’s temple, covered in his mate’s blood, he fell to his knees and begged the Goddess to return his mate to him. But no matter how much he begged, the goddess remained silent. Just as the last of his hope was slipping away from him as grief overtook him, Kalaya was merciful and made it so he didn’t have to live a life without his mate.”

  “That’s it? She just killed him?” Scoffing softly, Elena rolled her eyes, “It’s so sad, that Ryorn and Ria will never get the chance to have the life they should have. What happened after that? I’m guessing the alliance wasn’t made with Ria and Gregor gone.”

  “You would be right. Many believed that he murdered his father, taking his power and life force into his own body to make himself immortal. According to our history keepers, Zyaid got what he wanted: his throne and power. With both he used his position to double the reign of blood and terror that his ancestors had brought to this world before. Cian’s father was made Gu’an and then Cian after his death. Ever since then we’ve been at war. Mostly we have been able to keep the Kelithians from crossing the Greenwood and preventing bloodshed, but in the last year he has become more dangerous.”

  “Why do your people speak of the Greenwood like it is haunted?” she asked. Stabbing a hand through her hair she shoved the wet mass away from her face. The simple movement caused her back to arch and her breast to push out in invitation. Forcing his lustful gaze back to her face, he cleared his throat.

  “It is. There are not many that enter the Greenwood and live to tell of it. According to Sera, an evil spirit dwells within that dark forest. We call the spirit the gatekeeper. It is fitting that it is the only thing separating us from the Kelithians.”

  “If it’s too dangerous to cross, how were the Kelithians able to come here tonight then and the first night I came here?”

  “That is what worries me. We don’t know. But I must remind you that the Kelithians are not like human nor are they like Garmorians. They possess no honor. The only happiness they find is using their dark magic to destroy everything in their path.”

  At her quiet look, his hand reached out to cup her chin and tilt it toward him. “But that is not something you need to worry about. For now I need to return us back to the stronghold. I need to discover why Zyaid wants you so badly, maybe then we will be able to discover what he really is planning.” Smiling softly back at him, she nodded her head in agreement.

  “Alright.” Moving off his reclined form, she stood. Water slid down her naked form as the moonlight cascaded over her, giving her skin an exotic glow in the dim light. Walking onto shore she bent to pick up her discarded gown as Kieran watched with a hidden smile.

  As he moved his eyes from his dressing mate, Kieran felt his burdening thoughts return. What could Zyaid possibly want with Elena? She was beyond compare, this was true, but she was no use to an enemy king. Perhaps whatever the Kelithians were planning led back to the murder of the Kelithian prisoner from the other night? For a moment he pondered the thought.

  Was it possible that the murder was meant to silence the prisoner from revealing the whole scheme to light? His thoughts echoed through his mind.

  His thoughts were drawn away as waves of fear floated through his mind. Raising his eyes to Elena, he watched as she stared at her hands. Her small teeth bit down against her bottom lip as he continued to feel her fear. Was it because of what happened at the stronghold?

  Wading toward the shore, he moved closer to her. The need to ease her fears became undeniable. As he approached, she turned to face him, attempting to mask her worry with a smile. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

  “You are worried. Do not fear. I will never let anyone take you from me. I promise this with my life," he whispered with a soft smile. Narrowing her eyes, confused at whatever he was talking about, Elena slowly shook her head.

  "What are you talking about? I didn’t say anything."

  “I can feel your emotions just as you can feel mine, it is because of the Malrai Hin.” His smile grew wider with happiness. “Our bond is becoming stronger and soon it will be complete. I know you are fearful over what was said earlier. Do not worry.”

  Disbelief colored her expression. "I know you said you have special gifts, Kieran. But boring humans can’t do what you are saying."

  “You can now.” Reaching out his hand clasped hers, interlocking their fingers together firmly. “It’s our bond. You are coming to accept me.”

  “Of course I accept you, Kieran. I think I made that clear the other night,” she scoffed playfully at him.

  He smiled softly down at her, shaking his head in denial, “This is not the same thing.”

  A chill moved over her damp skin. “What do you mean?” What more could there be that she didn’t know about him and what it meant to be bound to him?

  “You will understand soon enough.” Taking a step forward, he gently tugged on her hand. “Come, we’ve lingered too long already. We need to return to the stronghold. With any luck Li’r and the Gu’an would have discovered what Zyaid is up to.”