The Shifter's Catch

by T. S. Ryder

  He opened the door and stopped in surprise. Zoelle was with Clint, wearing a low-cut, sleeveless cocktail gown. It was far more revealing than what she usually wore and Edan's brows shot straight up.

  "I thought I was just seeing you," he said to his brother.

  Clint shook his head, looking grim. "No. Zoelle will explain . . . " A look of hesitation crossed his face and Zoelle squeezed his hand. Tears glimmered in her eyes. "I'll go then," he said gruffly.

  Zoelle bent down and kissed him. Edan looked away as he saw some tongue and grunted in embarrassment. What was going on here? "I love you," Zoelle whispered to Clint.

  "I love you, too."

  Clint wheeled himself away and Zoelle turned to Edan. She looked unsure and like she might be sick to her stomach but smiled at him.

  "I'm sure you know why I am here by now."

  He shook his head, completely bewildered.

  "Your relationship with Isobel isn't proceeding. And even if it were, there is no time for her to adjust to the demands it would put on her. Clint and I discussed this and it's the next best solution . . . "

  "What is?"

  Zoelle took a deep breath and slid the sleeves from her arms. Edan's eyes grew huge as the dress pooled at her feet, leaving her only in a sheer slip and matching underwear. Edan gave a cry of disgust and spun away, slapping both hands over his eyes.

  "What are you doing?!"

  "I know it's not what either of us wants." Zoelle sounded like her nails were being pulled from her fingers. "But the royal line must be continued. If you cannot convince Isobel to marry you . . . there is an ancient law that states that this is an acceptable alternative. The king's brother may act on the king's behalf to produce an heir."

  "But you're his mate! His wife. Does he know—" He cut himself off. Of course Clint knew about this. Hadn't Zoelle herself said they had discussed it? "I can't."

  "I know it's a shock. And you have to know that I don't want this any more than you do. But I love this kingdom and I will do anything for it. Anything for an heir." She put a hand on his elbow. "You don't have to even look at me."

  Edan shook his head. That was far beyond the point. "You're like my older sister. Almost like a mother to me. It would be wrong on so many levels."

  "Edan—"

  "No. I will do a lot of things for the kingdom, but not this. Please dress." He shook his head. "I can't believe Clint thought I would . . . "

  Zoelle stepped a little closer. "He wants you to be free to choose to be with the one you love. Not to be forced to marry her."

  "And why isn't something like artificial insemination on the table? Why does it have to be all-out sex?"

  "The way the law was worded . . . and to try to keep it a secret. The fewer people involved the better."

  Edan shook his head. "It's not happening."

  "And instead... What? Are you just going to let the kingdom weaken? The human won't lie with you and you don't seem to understand that you have other options."

  "I don't want other options. I want Isobel."

  Zoelle took a deep breath. "I know it's a terrible thing to ask of you, but—"

  The door slammed open. Just when he thought this couldn't get any worse. Edan groaned as Isobel strode in. Her eyes were narrowed, mouth set in a thin line. She didn't even look at Zoelle. How was he supposed to explain this?

  "Leave," Isobel ordered as Zoelle scrambled to redress.

  Edan inhaled deeply. "Isobel—"

  She held up her hand and turned a glare on Zoelle as the queen finished dressing. Zoelle twisted her hands a moment before she left without saying a word. Edan's fires smoked as he stared at the hard expression on Isobel's face. He didn't blame her for her anger. If the tables were turned and he had walked in on her in this state . . .

  "It's not what it looks like," he started.

  "I know. I was listening outside the door."

  "You . . . were? Why?"

  Isobel stepped closer. "Because I came for something."

  Did she mean . . . "And what was that?"

  Her response was to launch herself into the space between them. Her lips locked over his and she thrust her tongue into his mouth. Deeply. Hungrily. Like she hadn't eaten in days and he was a feast laid out before her. Edan's arms wrapped around her and he pulled her closer. Her body pressed flush against his and he moaned as her kisses became more fevered.

  Chapter Eight – Isobel

  Edan pushed Isobel against the door, grinding himself against her. Heat coiled in her center, making Isobel whimper. She had debated wearing something sexier but now that she was here, she realized it didn't matter what she wore because it was all going to end up on the floor anyway. The image of the Queen's near-naked body flashed through her mind, but she pushed aside any jealousy she might have had. After all, Edan had said it himself. She was like a sister to him.

  "Wait." Edan narrowed his eyes at her. "You should be in bed . . . resting."

  "Doctors said I was fine to do what I want. I'm nicely hydrated and this leg's a bit sore, but it’s nothing that a few endorphins won't help."

  "Then we'd better give you those endorphins."

  The dragon grasped both of her wrists and pushed them over her head as he thrust himself against her. Isobel gasped, not only because the way he moved had everything tightening further inside of her, but also in the face of the sheer dominance that radiated from him in that moment. A surprised giggle escaped her as Edan kissed her throat, scraping his teeth against her skin.

  A second later he pulled back, hesitation shining from his face. "Are you sure? This isn't because you feel like you have no choice?"

  "Let's see . . . a dragon prince who will give me what I need most versus going back to conning people . . . " She brushed her mouth on his. "I'm sure this is what I want. You are what I want. It might have been surprising for the both of us, but we're here and I don't want to be anywhere else."

  A female voice spoke from behind them. "Gross."

  Isobel glared over Edan's shoulder. "Get out of here!"

  Azalea scowled at her, then disappeared. Isobel fought the urge to stick her tongue out at the spot where the ghost had been. Ever since her and Edan's heart-to-heart, Azalea had been trying to talk her out of this, listing all the reasons why she shouldn't. Crazy ghost. Going from saying she should and then that she shouldn’t. But there was one reason why she should that outweighed them all.

  She wanted to be with Edan. She wanted to give a real relationship a shot.

  "Get out . . . ?" Edan glanced over his shoulder. "Do we have a ghostly visitor?"

  "Not anymore. She's gone."

  The prince smiled at her and to her surprise, he seemed nervous. "Good. I'm not sure if I could do this with an audience. Are you sure she's gone? And not just, you know, turned off and looking for a quick peep show?"

  Isobel wrinkled her nose and shook her head. "I'm sure she's gone. Positive of it. She's not the kind of ghost that sticks around to watch that sort of thing."

  "Have you had other ghosts that are?"

  "No . . . She's the first one."

  Edan stepped back and Isobel was afraid that the moment was ruined, but he took her hand and led her through the apartment into a bedroom. A king-sized bed sat right in the middle of the room, a rich blue comforter draped over the top of it. Curtains in a similar color hung at either side of a porch. The door was open, letting in a cool breeze. The prince closed it up.

  Isobel unhooked her jeans and slid them off before she laid down on the bed. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach and she had to repress the urge to giggle. It had been a long time since she'd felt so nervous about being with a guy.

  "So, dragons don't do it weird, do they? I mean—" Her cheeks warmed. "Is it the same way as humans? You're not going to, I don't know, grow wings halfway through?"

  Edan laughed as he clasped her hips. "No. I have excellent control, don't worry."

  He winked at her and her breath grew ragged. Excellent contr
ol, huh? The muscles inside her clenched at the thought and she rubbed her hands up his arms. Her mouth actually watered as she considered what he could do with his excellent control.

  Edan's dimple popped out as he grinned at her. With his hands on her hips, he walked her back toward the bed and all but tossed her onto it. She bounced a little as she landed. Everything tightened further as he draped himself over her.

  His hands softly roamed her body, leaving her skin tingling in their wake. The dimple deepened when he got to her breasts. Isobel's eyes twinkled as he kneaded them, sending bolts of pleasure to her core. With a moan, she pulled her shirt off over her head and Edan deftly removed her bra. So he had experience with that as well.

  His head dropped to her breast while one of his hands moved between her legs, his palm pressing against her. Isobel wrapped her legs around his waist, arching herself to him. She stripped off her panties and started on his shirt, struggling not to block his access to her breasts while she undid his buttons. His fingers played about, teasing their target rather than giving into her silent demands.

  "Edan," she growled out finally. "I'm not a patient woman."

  The dragon laughed. He kissed her neck while he moved his fingers into the right spot, then started moving them around in a gentle circle. He soon had her panting and writhing under his touch. She almost couldn't finish undressing him. Maybe he didn't have any practical experience, but there was something to be said for natural ability.

  "How do you like to be touched?" she grunted, rocking her hips upwards as he slipped a finger into her.

  "Well, I—"

  She grasped him and his head lolled back, a throaty groan echoing in the room. Isobel was surprised by the reaction and had to stifle a giggle. She watched him as she moved her hand, noting that he responded more to a firmer touch.

  Edan dropped over her, snarling as he buried his face into her neck. "Ask me a question and don't give me time to answer?"

  "You were taking too long." The heat inside of her was building higher, flames raging just under her skin. She panted, struggling to keep hold of him.

  He gripped her wrists again as he spread her legs with his knees. Isobel's breath caught in her chest with excitement, her eyes glowing as he nudged himself in. He filled her so fully that it took her breath away. When he drew out, she whimpered until he pushed himself back in. He released her and braced himself on either side of her body.

  "You are mine," he growled as he sunk in deep. A pleasured cry tore from her as he began to move. It wasn't slow or hesitant like she expected. His movements were hard, making her whole body shudder every time he landed fully inside her. His eyes glittered as he stared down at her. "You–are–mine!"

  Isobel arched herself to him. Her feet planted into the bed and she thrust upwards, crying out as their bodies came together again and again. "Yes!" she cried. "Yours. All yours."

  "Mine," he snarled once more. His expression twisted and he threw his head back.

  His thrusts became more fevered, the muscles in his neck and chest cording as he fought for control. Isobel couldn’t speak but also couldn’t be silent. She cried out every time he sunk into her, alternatively tearing at the bedclothes and his arms. Once more he pinned her wrists over her head, this time with one hand while the other moved between her legs. All it took were a couple of thrusts before her back was arching and a long howl ripped from her lips.

  In a whirl of pleasure and passion, she could hear him howling with her. He continued to move as she felt him finishing. She moaned and writhed, certain that if this continued much longer she would simply have to black out in order to handle the intensity of the moment.

  He collapsed over her, then rolled so he wasn't crushing her. His grip on her wrists released and her hands gripped his shoulders, pulling him in closer. He continued to move in jerky motions, his hand still between them. Her head fell back as another scream ripped through her, joined by darkness washing over her vision.

  Eventually, it faded and Isobel panted as her breath came back. She held her eyes closed, one of her hands pressed into Edan's chest to make sure he was still with her.

  After a moment, Edan wiped the hair from her eyes. An arrogant smirk grew over his face. "Enjoy yourself?"

  She would have hit him if the faded orgasm hadn't left her so breathless and her brain so scrambled. "I must be dreaming."

  "That good, huh?" Edan nuzzled into her neck.

  "Explosive." She stretched experimentally. "You've ruined me for other men."

  His expression darkened for a moment, then he rolled over her, pinning her in place. "Didn't you hear me before? You're mine now. I've put my brand on you and from this day forward, I own you. There will never be any other men."

  Normally, such a display would have had Isobel kicking the guy out and deleting his number from her cellphone. But in this case, it made her heart beat faster. She wasn't sure why. Maybe it was because Edan might have been saying that he marked her, but she knew from the look in his eyes that it was the opposite. He was hers.

  Forever.

  "Maybe I'm into group sex," she whispered. "Ever consider that? Maybe this was a fluke and it actually takes two guys to please me."

  "Then every time I have you it will be a fluke. I will make you explode a hundred times a day if that is what it takes for you to see I'm all you need."

  She couldn’t help herself. "Prove it."

  With that, he turned her around. His movements weren't rough, but they weren't gentle either. One hand laced through her hair while the other wrapped around her hips, lifting her slightly from the bed. He rubbed against her, breath hot against the back of her neck. Her insides quivered with anticipation and she let out a deep moan as he entered her again.

  Isobel yelped, more from surprise than anything else, as he began to thrust again – hard. "How is this – possible?"

  "I'm a dragon."

  She could almost feel the fire in his breath as he kissed the back of her neck, teeth scraping down her spine. She wanted to give to him what he was giving to her, but found as he moved hard and fast against her, it was all she could do to stay still. She held herself on her knees, hands stretched out to brace herself against the headboard. Edan's arms banded around her, adjusting her position as he saw fit. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she cried out, again and again, until he captured her screams with his mouth.

  Once more, the pleasure overtook her. It flowed through her arms and legs, making them tremble, all but sapping the strength from them. She collapsed and Edan held her fast, one arm around her hips still, the other gripping her shoulder.

  He finished on a roar and fell over her. His teeth pressed into her shoulder only to be replaced by gentle kisses. Turning them both, he gently stroked her stomach and hips while still inside of her.

  "How was that?"

  "Surprising," she gasped back honestly. "I never liked it like that before."

  Edan winced. "I should have asked."

  Isobel shook her head. "With me, you never have to ask. All you have to do is tell me what to do."

  Another kiss and he nuzzled her neck. "Then I will enjoy telling you what to do for many, many years to come."

  Before she could respond to that, there was a shriek from outside. Alarm bells started blaring and Edan jumped to his feet. Isobel cried out as they ripped from each other and he winced as well. Quickly he helped her to her feet and grabbed her clothes.

  "Get dressed. Something's happened."

  "I can tell that!"

  Isobel stuffed herself into her pants and shirt, not bothering with underwear. There was a heavy thump on the balcony and both of them turned towards the sound. Edan reached for her. A bolt of fire burst through the windows, shattering them. A demon, green-skinned with goat horns and a twisted, distorted face, leaped through the ruined wall into the room.

  "Now she dies," it said in a guttural voice, eyes on her. "Kill her."

  Edan threw himself in front of her. He shook h
is head as though the demon would respond to that. "Please. Brant, listen to me. Don't do this. It's not too late."

  The demon snarled. And suddenly it flickered, like bad reception on a TV. In the bursts of static, Isobel saw a dragon. Brown-eyed, with glittering sea-green scales and golden spikes running down its spine. Brant hesitated, a low growl coming from his throat.

  And then the demon was back. With a howl, it threw itself – and Brant's body – forward, clawing at Edan. Isobel screamed as the talons cut through the air.

  Chapter Nine – Edan

  He didn't expect Brant to strike. Despite what had happened, he didn't think his brother would actually attack him. When Brant's claws came at him, all he did was stand there and stare. It wasn't until he was grasped in Brant's hand, being crushed, that he realized what was happening. His flames roared to life, responding instinctively, and he released a stream of them at Brant's face.

  His brother threw him over his shoulder into the abyss that his balcony overlooked. Edan shifted, struggling to beat his wings and right himself. He twisted back with a cry to see Brant lunge deeper into the room.

  Isobel.

  He was after Isobel.

  The cry turned into a roar as Edan lashed out. His claws sunk deep into Brant's flank and he let himself drop. The balcony crumbled as Brant was yanked back. He tried to hold to the stonework, but it wasn't meant to hold two shifted dragons. A burst of flame shot from his mouth as the two of them fell. Brant turned and punched a clawed hand into Edan's face, but Edan only dug his own claws in deeper. He used Brant's body to propel himself forward, biting and tearing at his brother.

  They twisted around one another as they fell, both of their wings beating wildly, unwilling to release the other to stabilize themselves. A look Edan had never seen in his brother before flared to life in Brant's eyes and he dug his teeth into Edan's shoulder. The prince howled, his own grip slipping just enough for Brant to yank him over to his back.