by Leela Ash
“Yes, this is it,” Kin agreed, smiling to himself as he watched Norris and the descendent hitting it off at the booth they had chosen. “We have to alert them to the danger now. I have a feeling that the intellectual one is going to step outside for some fresh air before any of the others do. When he does, I want you to send the control group out.”
“Of course, sir.”
“Once they have started causing trouble within sight of the Dragon shifters, they are going to follow them. We already know they have the base mapped out. That’s the first place they’re going to go. After stashing their women in a safe place. And what place is safer for them than where they store all of their ancient technologies?”
Yes, this plan seemed relatively foolproof. He was excited to finally begin to see the efforts he had been making for so many years come to fruition. And on top of it, he was going to be rid of all of his excessive underlings. He really shouldn’t have brought so many to Earth with him. But what can be done about it now? He had learned his lesson. That was really all he could do about it.
“Oh look, you’re right. He’s already out there. He’s looking out at the stars, probably thinking about how obnoxious the music is. Really, did we have to choose this soundtrack? It’s terrible.”
“Silence!” Ken demanded. “I’m not going to tolerate any of your insubordination. Now, go fetch the control group and follow them to the base. Everything is going to happen properly from there. Go on now. You are going to irritate me if you wait around any longer.”
The little minion nodded agreeably and headed outside, prepared to execute the second to last round of his plan.
Kin smirked in satisfaction when he heard the signal though, and there was a startled shriek as one of the underlings began their attack on one of the innocent women standing outside.
Just as predicted, the minor threat was abolished, and soon after Gavin had defeated the first, he rushed inside breathlessly and gathered up the rest of the Dragon shifters.
This is the part where it got truly interesting, as far as Kin was concerned. What was it that they were going to do in response to the attack? Where were they going to go? He knew they were planning a raid. Ken had already overheard them. Now, were they going to execute it early? The little details and variables are fascinating, and Kin sat back in his booth, watching with his dark eyes glowing in amusement.
“We have to go now,” Gavin was saying, his face still flushed from the attack. “They know we are here. There is something strange about this place. I don’t feel right. Nothing about this feels right. We have to go.”
The other Dragon shifters seemed to trust Gavin’s intuition, and soon, they were all piling back into the moving van. The regular humans at the club had been completely oblivious to the threat, as it had been executed in a very private area.
Kin watched, his eyes following the group as they went on their way. He probably shouldn’t have gotten rid of his underling so soon, but that was of no consequence any longer. He had been irritating. Now, the real fun was going to begin, and he wasn’t going to let anything distract him from the final phase. Not even Chaos himself.
14.
“Norris, we have to get the women to safety.”
“I know,” Norris growled. Max and the others had already taken off toward the hideout that Gavin had tracked down. Their attack was going to be underway, and Gavin had stayed behind to help Norris take care of the Loni descendants. It had turned out that Norris had been right, beyond the shadow of a doubt, and his fated mate had absolutely been one of the sacred bloodline. That was why everybody had decided to tag along and welcome her to the clan, despite knowing she wasn’t fully able to embrace her heritage yet. But there would be time to convince her of the inevitable truth.
“Gavin, what happened to the van?”
Norris frowned to himself and looked at his friend in concern.
“Oh, I guess they already took the females to the hideout.”
“They didn’t take Lisa,” Norris pointed out.
“They didn’t,” Gavin said, gazing at Lisa. Norris had not let her out of his sight and she was clinging to his arm in fear.
“When did they take the women? What happened?”
Norris shrugged in confusion. Max had probably rounded everybody up as quickly as he could to make sure that his wife made it safely back to his children. It was a typical move to make and he had probably forgotten all about Lisa.
“Come on,” Norris said urgently. “I will take you to a safe place.”
“Okay…”
Lisa’s voice quivered in concern and fear, and Norris held her close, leading the way quickly to the underground entrance that Gavin had constructed just a few blocks away.
When he was safely concealed, he wasted no time in shapeshifting to his Dragon form. Before the transformation was entirely complete, he looked seriously at his mate.
“Climb onto my back, we will travel more quickly that way. It is important we get you to safety before anything else happens.”
Lisa nodded dumbly and stared at him as he shapeshifted into his Dragon form, her eyes growing spherical as she stared at his body as his clothes were ripped away and his broad human form was replaced by the impressive physique of a silver Dragon.
“Oh my god, you were telling the truth. I knew it…”
There was no time to lose though and he bowed his head, urging her to get on his back so he could carry her to the vault.
She did as he expected of her and soon, they were soaring down the long labyrinths, her small hands gripping him tightly as he flew through them and reached their destination.
“Be careful,” she whispered before Norris turned away from her to return to his friends. He felt confident in his system and trusted her there to remain safe. He wasn’t going to let any harm fall on her. And he was going to go help his brethren out in carrying out the plan of attack. It had ended up happening early, so they likely lost their advantage. But that was okay, it was important that they carry it out regardless and wipe the vermin from Earth as quickly as possible.
“At last we meet, shifter!”
When Norris emerged into the lair that Gavin had been surveying, his eyes widened. Inside, there was a fire raging, and as many of the enemies were wailing as existed in the place. Norris frowned, his eyes scanning the room for his comrades or the source of the voice that had spoken.
But it appeared it was a disembodied voice, and a cold chill swept through Norris’ body. A message?
“It would seem you are too late. In your haste and foolishness, you likely led us straight to your base. Those of us who remain are on the way there now to destroy that which you have so actively sought to protect. You lose, Dragon shifter scum. The universe will soon cease to exist, and you have only yourselves to blame!”
The other shifters suddenly came into view, each of them fighting valiantly against the traps that had been set up in the underground bunker. A sudden realization electrified Norris. If they were heading to the base, that meant that Lisa was no longer safe. He had to find her. He had to save her. He had to go back.
“We’re going to be fine,” Max shouted from across the room as if he could sense Norris’ hesitation to leave his friends behind. “Everything is under control, just go save your mate!”
Norris nodded sharply and turned around to head back in the direction from which he had come.
He had rigged the base with several weapons, traps that would hopefully put a stop to anybody trying to invade the space until he reached it. He had to protect Lisa. She was his primary concern now and forever after. He had to make sure she was safe, no matter what it took.
With an abnormal burst of speed, he launched himself forward, readying his breath weapon far ahead of time just in case he would need it. He heard the alarms blaring long before he reached where the underground bunker was located.
Lisa was forefront in his mind as he approached in his Dragon form, furious and seeking vengeance. Every th
reat to his fated mate caused him extreme rage, and the second he spotted the enemies, he unleashed his weapon upon them.
A piercing cone of frost engulfed them and soon, the area was filled with cries of anguish. Norris didn’t let up in his assault and soon, he was pushing through the bodies of injured Jornels and his eyes locked on the doorway to the bunker where he had stashed Lisa for safekeeping only minutes ago.
Standing in front of the door, breaking through every trap, piece by piece, was a tall, shadowy figure whose eyes glowed orange. The man was crouched in front of the doorway, effortlessly picking through the locks as he sought his way inside.
Norris unleashed a frightening cry of fury, but the man didn’t stop in his task. If anything, he worked more quickly, until the door opened with a shocking little click.
Norris bolted forward, barreling to the door in an effort to block the man from entering. He was suddenly sure that this was the voice he had heard in the message at the other location; it had all been a trap set by this piece of scum, and his intentions were to destroy the descendants and the artifacts that allowed them to thrive on Earth.
How was he going to defeat someone like this on his own? He was clearly born of a warrior species. Although his underlings were taken out easily, fighting this man might not be so easy.
The creature had already made it inside the bunker, where Lisa was scrambling backward to protect herself. Seeing her fear spurred Norris toward another bout of rage, and he turned quickly in the direction of the man, who was darting forward toward the machines and artifacts. No, he wasn’t going to get them.
Once inside, Norris readied another attack, but he knew he would have to get the man out of the delicate chambers before unleashing it. It would do him no good to destroy the artifacts himself. He would have to proceed with caution.
“Norris, look out!”
Norris turned sharply just as the man struck him in the head with a stunning blow. He stumbled forward, dazed and disoriented as the shadowy figure snaked between his legs and lunged for another device from Fiora.
Another low rumble began to resonate in Norris’ throat and he lashed around, grabbing the shadow man in his teeth and clamping down hard.
The man let out a strangled cry and flailed in Norris’ mouth, but he wasn’t going to let him go that easily.
With another low roar, he shook furiously, dropping the man on the ground with a thud. He thought it had been enough to knock the sense out of him, but the man stood tall, the shadows that made him up growing taller and more impressive. Norris gaped at the figure as he contemplated his next move. He had to get the man out of the chamber. It was his only option.
Norris slowly took a step back, bowing his head to ready himself for a charge. The shadow figure was launching himself toward another machine, hell-bent on breaking it, when Norris’ head struck him squarely in the chest. It took him by surprise and the man stumbled out of the room, into the hallway where his minions were sprawled out, still stunned, and many killed, by his first attack.
Without a second thought, he unleashed a second attack; this one far more powerful than the first. An agonized wail reached his ears as Kin was incinerated by the power of his weapon, and Norris sighed in relief, changing back into his human form to rush to Lisa’s side.
She was trembling and gripped him tightly when he reached her, and he did his best to smile reassuringly, his body still surging with adrenaline and power from the fight.
“Come on,” he murmured. “Let’s get you home.”
15.
Lisa had hardly been able to believe her eyes when Norris had changed into his Dragon form right in front of her. The whole ordeal had been terrifying to say the least, and she was both shocked and oddly aroused by the raw power that Norris had displayed.
When he returned to his human form, he was breathing laboriously, his broad chest rising and falling intensely as he approached her. She hadn’t been able to take her eyes off of him; his body was so perfectly beautiful, and she could see it all. He had been left completely naked after the transformation and walked toward her, his handsome face serious and set upon her. After the fight, his eyes were still swimming with those of the Dragon within, wild and intense. Her heart leapt when he took her by the hand and led her out of the wreckage.
“I will keep you safe,” he had said. And she had known his words to be true. All doubt in him was gone. All she had left was wild astonishment.
Now, they were back at her apartment, Norris still and quiet as he observed her. He wouldn’t take his eyes off of her. He had been terrified that she would be injured. She saw that much now in the tenderness of his expression and the fierce protectiveness of his gaze. It was almost as if he couldn’t fight the intensity of his feelings any longer and was quietly waiting for her to return the affection she had been withholding for so long.
“I love you,” he said suddenly, breaking the silence between them. “Please tell me you believe me now.”
Lisa let out an exasperated laugh. She had always believed him, at least on some level. “I do,” she whispered. “I’m sorry to have ever doubted you in any way.”
“I never blamed you for your doubts,” he said gently, taking her into his arms. The sudden nearness of his body brought an abrupt surge of desire to her core, and she allowed him to hold her close. She was overwhelmed by his scent; the incredible comfort of his nearness.
She realized suddenly that he was still naked, and the only thing separating their bodies was her thin layer of clothing. She was electrified by the thought, but overwhelmed by the emotional nature of the situation. She had wanted him so long. Now she knew he was safe. That he truly had her best interest at heart the whole time.
“I know. And I love you all the more for it,” she whispered.
Norris lifted her chin with a single finger and smiled gently down at her.
“Everything is going to be okay now,” he said soothingly. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she replied, their eyes locking intensely. She was shocked by his incredible power, her heart pounding wildly as she tried to fight the tides of desire welling within her.
Norris was still barely coming out of his Dragon mode and his instincts were in high gear. It was impossible to hide her arousal from him, and she knew it. She didn’t even try anymore. It was futile. They were completely connected and there was no reason to fight it.
“I’m sorry,” Lisa said suddenly, ashamed of herself for being so harsh with him for so long.
“No,” Norris growled. “I accept you. I respect you. And I want you. Now.”
His lips were on her suddenly and the deep, overwhelming desire to be taken crashed over her once again. Norris’ strong hands roamed her body as he finally sampled the sweetness of her lips, his approval obvious as he grew more urgently aroused against her thigh. She had been trying so hard to hold back her true feelings for him. She would have pulled away just a day ago. This time though, Lisa was ready.
Norris could feel her letting go of her resistance and a small growl of approval escaped his lips as he removed her clothes eagerly, his own heady rush of longing consuming him. She wanted him with an intensity unlike anything she had ever experienced before, and every slight contact of his body against hers drove her wild. She wanted him. Badly. Her insides ached to be filled; to invite him right where he belonged.
“You belong with me,” he said sternly, almost as if he could read her thoughts. He was gripping her by the waist and whirling her to the bed, and Lisa’s heart fluttered as wild excitement consumed her. She was ready, anticipating him. “And that is how it is going to stay.”
His words resonated within her as his body moved dominantly. Lisa let out a gasp of pleasure as he overwhelmed her senses with his touch, the friction of his body against her middle driving her wild. Every slight movement sent ripples of ecstasy all throughout her body. She shuddered in pleasure as his hips began to work against her and parted her legs slightly; a silent invitation
.
He uttered a low moan of approval and took the invitation, sparing no time to take what it was he truly desired. He began to press himself inside, holding Lisa’s hips to brace her before plunging himself in and enveloping himself fully in the heat of her body.
The sudden immersion of his manhood brought a cry of ecstasy to Lisa’s lips and she gripped his shoulders tightly, unable to let go as the thunderous desires within her brought her to a fervor.
Her fated mate was attentive to her needs and effortlessly carried her to heights she had never even imagined. Every slight thrust of his hips combined with the shower of affection from his lips and hands brought her closer and closer to climax. Never in her life had she been so blissfully overwhelmed, and before she knew it, she was fighting back the desperate desire to surrender to her bliss.
But Norris had plans for her yet, and soon, she was on her stomach, her hips being urged upright by his strong, broad hands. He entered her seamlessly, burying himself deeply within her from behind.
“You are my mate now and forever,” he said, showering her back with tender, electric kisses. He began to speed up his thrusting and a low, guttural growl escaped his throat. Her senses were being overwhelmed and a sharp thrill sent Lisa hurdling toward climax.
Norris sensed her inability to hold out any longer and quickened his pace, unleashing the sheer primal energy of his desires onto her body. Lisa writhed in ecstasy, her body consumed by the sharp pleasures that she had attempted to bury for so long.
Norris saw no reason to hold himself back and gripped her hips tightly, gritting his teeth as he prepared himself for climax. He trembled inside her for a moment, basking as the contracting muscles inside began to coax him toward his peak. He let out a hiss as his body found itself unable to resist any longer and, finally, he filled her.
