by Renee Carr
He maintained that relaxed attitude until he came upon the caves. Abruptly, fear flooded his system and he had an odd feeling that something was amiss.
He suddenly heard a gunshot and then a thud.
John shot forward, around the corner, as he pulled himself back into human form. He knew that he’d never fit into the caves as a dragon, but he felt completely defenseless as he came into the cave.
His happiness completely flooded away as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. There were Devon and Sarah, both of them lying on the ground in a pool of blood. And standing above them was a man he vaguely recognized as Judd, from Sarah’s school days.
John didn’t even have to think. He pushed his transformation, backing up, and then blasted fire into the cave. He couldn’t step forward, but he would absolutely destroy Judd’s human form.
In dragon form, they weren’t very susceptible to fire. But as humans, they could be burned just the same as anyone.
Judd let out a completely agonizing scream, and then there was the smell of burning flesh. John did not let up on his blast, making sure to keep the flames at face level so as not to burn the two of them on the ground.
As soon as he heard Judd’s body hit the floor, he let up on his fire and transformed back. A brief thought crossed his mind of how he didn’t even consider the effects of such a quick transformation. He took for granted the fact that he could do so.
He hoped he had the chance to apologize to Sarah for the fact that he never considered such a thing as weighing on her.
As soon as he was back in human form, he raced forward, fearing the worst.
“Sarah,” he cried, reaching to lift her in his arms. “Sarah... oh my Creator. Be alright. Please be alright. Please be alright.”
“John.” He was so relieved to hear her voice that he almost dropped her. “Stop, that hurts.”
“Where is your wound?” he asked, frantically looking over her blood-stained body. “Where did he...”
“It’s fine,” she managed. “It’s fine. It’s just in my leg.”
“It’s JUST in your leg?” he asked, horrified.
“It’s fine,” she repeated. “Learn some anatomy, John. It’s the top of my calf, it’s not going to kill me.”
Even in the face of danger, she was completely logical and calm. It blew him away how he got so lucky, to be matched with such a strong woman.
“Devon?” Sarah turned her head, wincing in pain. “Devon, are you alright?”
Devon appeared more wounded than Sarah, clutching at his stomach. One of the guards advanced forward, and John remembered that they all had some sort of battle first-aid training. He remembered Joshua complaining about it when he had to learn it, but now, John was glad they were all trained in it.
There was so much he didn’t know about the world. John used to think that his father had prepared him for everything, but he realized now that he was not an island. He needed a team to operate a successful and well-run kingdom.
“It’ll be alright,” one of the guards said as he examined the wound. “It’s not deep. It’ll require stitches, but it looks like his aim was bad all around.”
“He always was useless when we worked with firearms,” Sarah coughed.
“Did you know he was violent?” John asked, but Sarah shook her head.
“No,” she said. “I had no idea he even... cared so much. It was completely out of the blue. I would have to say, in all my classes, this is one thing that they don’t really teach you.”
“I think we can worry about lessons in class later,” John said. “We need to get you back to the palace. Let me help you.”
“Is there anything else we can do here?” Sarah asked and John actually laughed, despite himself.
“Sarah,” he said. “One would consider a bullet wound enough to bow out of battle.”
“Well,” she said, “most people aren’t me.”
“That’s true,” he murmured, giving her a kiss on the head. “Most people are certainly not you.”
He helped her up carefully, as the guards helped Devon up. One of them radioed for help, and a ship confirmed they would be there soon. John was completely comfortable with Sarah in his arms, and her arms wrapped around his neck.
“What are we going to do when we get back?” she asked casually as if she were not dripping blood.
“I don’t know,” he answered, just as casually. “Perhaps a victory feast.”
“Right,” she said with a smile. “They do teach us about those in class.”
He rolled his eyes, kissing her on the forehead.
“Did you get Stanley to surrender?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said and Devon spoke up.
“Is my father alive?”
“He is,” John said. “And he surrendered on the condition that you would be safe.”
“Oh,” Devon said, looking surprised. “I... didn’t expect he would actually say that.”
“He seemed quite concerned,” John said and Devon looked sad.
“He is a good man,” he said. “He is just a bit... misguided.”
“I understand,” John said. “The burden of the crown is not easy.”
“Is everyone alright on your end?” Devon asked. “Nathan, and the rest of your brothers?”
“Yes,” John said. “They are fine, thank Creator.”
“Ow,” Sarah moaned as he shifted, and John looked to one of the guards.
“How long until the ship gets here?”
“Not long, my lord,” said the guard. “We will be home soon.”
“Home,” Sarah mused as they waited. “I never thought I’d call the palace home.”
“I never thought that my queen would outdo me in battle tactics,” John said and Sarah smiled.
“We’re a good team,” she stated. “And that’s more powerful than any single warlord.”
The ship eventually showed up, and they were loaded on. John gave orders from the air in order to make sure the field was secure. Once Joshua confirmed it was, John instructed that Stanley should be taken back to the palace.
“You won’t... execute him, will you?” Devon asked, and then dropped his eyes. “Of course, you are the Dragon Lord, and if you see fit to do so, then it is not my place to question it.”
“I appreciate the deviation from your father’s attitude,” John said evenly, as he looked at the young prince. “And I appreciate what you did today. I will take your request into consideration.”
Sarah said nothing to Devon’s request, wincing in pain. Her vitals were strong on the ride home, but John didn’t want to burden her with official business. It wasn’t until late that night when the two of them were snuggled up in bed together, that he spoke to her. Their room was dark, and the palace was mostly asleep, exhausted and wounded. The victory feast would wait until tomorrow when the loose ends were tied up and the kingdom could be assured that all was well.
“We should execute him,” John said to Sarah, as she lay her head on his shoulder. “Every book you read must have said that.”
“Yes,” she agreed with him. “Even the newer textbooks would agree. Such a traitorous soul should not be allowed to live, in case he causes trouble again. It can be a ripple effect.”
“Then it’s agreed,” John said, although his voice was hesitant.
“John,” Sarah said quietly. “Our rule does not have to be a textbook. We can create new rules, new laws, and a new way of life.”
He sighed.
“I just can’t stop thinking of Devon’s face when he asked us what we were going to do. It’s true that Stanley could create more mutiny if he is allowed to live.”
“But when he is dead, the only people who will suffer are those left behind,” Sarah pointed out. “What if it was your father in the same position? What would you want? What would you say, if you were Devon?”
“I would...” John took a deep breath. “I would hope that my superiors trusted me enough to let me decide what to do with one of my subj
ects. I would hope that they understood I am loyal, and I am strong enough to keep a rebel under control.”
“Now,” Sarah said, sitting up to kiss him. “Now you sound like the modern-day Alpha that I want to be with.”
They kissed for a long time, long and slow. John tied his fingers into her hair, and then pulled back, kissing her nose, her cheeks, and her forehead.
“You don’t have a choice whether you want to be with me or not, remember?” he teased. “We’re fated.”
“Oh, really?” she challenged him. “You think that I couldn’t make it without you?”
“On the contrary, my dear,” he responded. “You are the strongest, most intelligent person that I know. And I know that you could do anything that you put your mind to.”
“Probably,” she said as she leaned in to kiss him. “But I don’t want to be apart from you.”
“I don’t want to be apart from you either,” he said as he continued to kiss her.
He knew where this was leading, and although his body was throbbing with need, he wanted to make sure she was well.
“Are you sure this is what you want?” he asked. “We’ve had a long day and...”
“John,” she said, as she leaned in to kiss him again. “I want you, always.”
That was all the invitation he needed to take things further. If this was how every day of his life was going to end, he was pretty sure that he could deal with any burden the crown gave him.
“Then you shall have me,” he said as he pulled off her shirt. “Utterly and completely.”
Chapter 23
Before she met John, Sarah had never been ruled by sex. She had thought those who were obsessed with it just didn’t have better things to do with their time. But John had changed her mind about the entire situation. With John, she wanted it all the time, no matter how else she was feeling. She was convinced that sleeping with John was the equivalent to any healing drug that they could give her.
He kissed down her neck and then went lower, covering every inch of her body with his lips. She moaned as he pulled off her sleep pants, arching her perfect body in response to his touch. Her leg was bandaged and remained on the bed, but the rest of her body seemed to be pulled towards him.
“My darling,” he said. “You did so well today and I am going to reward you.”
“I want you,” she panted. “All I want is you, inside me.”
“I know you feel that way,” he said. “But when I am done with you, you will want for nothing.”
His fingers trailed down her body and then found their way between her legs. He put his fingers on her soaking wet folds, and she moaned out loud.
“Sorry,” she said immediately. “I shouldn’t... someone might hear us.”
“That’s true,” he said. “But let them hear. Let them hear that I am making you feel so good.”
“Oh, Creator,” she breathed. “Oh, Creator, that’s so good. Oh, Creator...”
“Mmm,” he breathed as he stroked her folds. “You like that? You want more?” he teased her.
“Yes,” she begged. “Yes, give me more.”
“Like this?” he asked and inserted a finger inside her. Sarah couldn’t resist staying quiet anymore. She cried out loud, and immediately spasmed in response to his fingers. “Oh. I see.”
“More,” she begged, becoming incoherent with need. “More, more, please give me more.”
“Is that what you want?” he asked. “Do you want more like this?” He inserted another finger inside of her and she groaned.
“Faster,” she pleaded with him. “Please, give it to me faster.”
“I can give it to you faster,” he responded. “But I want to hear you. Tell me how much you like it.”
“Oh, Creator, it’s so good,” she gasped. “Make me come, make me come, please.”
He inserted a third finger in her, and she screamed. He increased his thrusting, slamming his hand into her pussy. She cried out, squirming and then panting.
“Oh my Creator, I’m going to cum,” she moaned. “I’m going to come. Oh my Creator, yes, yes, yes!”
Sarah let out a scream and soaked his hand. He felt her spasm around his fingers, and his cock throbbed in need. As her pussy continued to spasm, he pulled his fingers out and freed his rock-hard cock. Sarah’s eyes were heavily lidded, and she looked half out of it as she floated back to focus on his face.
“Oh, did you want something too?” she teased him, her voice husky.
“I want to be inside you,” he said. “I want to come inside you. I want to make you come again.”
“Only if you give it to me hard,” she urged. “I want it hard and fast. I want to feel your cock explode inside of me.”
“That will not be difficult,” he growled as he gave his cock a couple of strokes. Sarah moaned as he angled his cock towards her pussy and then plunged into her. “Oh, Creator.”
“You feel so good,” she cried as she gripped his forearms. “You feel so good. You were made to be inside of me.”
“I’m not going to last very long,” he moaned, his thrusts increasing. “I can’t last very long with you. You are everything I ever wanted. Oh... Creator.”
“Come for me,” Sarah encouraged him. “Come hard for me.”
“Just a little more,” he panted. “Just a little more. Oh Creator... yes, yes, yes.”
He exploded inside of her after another few moments, and Sarah felt her pussy spasm in response to his orgasm. John let out a monstrous cry as his cock spurted, and she felt herself completely filled by his seed. After a few limp thrusts, he fell beside her, panting.
“Well,” he said. “That was as good as ever.” He caressed her cheek and looked at her tenderly.
“Mm, I think it was better than ever,” she purred. “Something about battle inspires me to live life to the fullest.”
“I certainly feel less stressed by life at the moment,” he said to her with a grin. “Perhaps we could do it again, just to get rid of any last traces of stress.”
“Oh, I see,” she teased him. “I think we could manage that in a little bit.”
“Mmm...” he pulled her close. “Now I’m exhausted.”
“Sounds right,” she sighed happily. “We don’t have to worry about the rest of the world tonight. We just have to worry about ourselves right now.”
“Do you feel that we’ve made a decision about Devon and Stanley’s future?” John asked.
“I feel like we have, yes,” Sarah replied. “Although it’ll be considered controversial.”
“Maybe it will be considered controversial now,” John said. “But perhaps in the future, we will start a trend.”
“They’ll write about us in the history books, one way or another,” Sarah predicted as sleep began to overtake her. She yawned, snuggled up on John’s shoulder, and closed her eyes. “I love you.” Her body was warm, and her breathing was even. She was asleep within seconds.
“I love you too,” he whispered as he closed his eyes. For once, John drifted into a peaceful, dreamless sleep. He woke up a few times in the night, expecting that someone would come knocking on his door with another emergency. However, when no one did, he rolled over, cuddling up to Sarah. Tomorrow, they would change the world. Tonight, they just had to be happy.
Chapter 24
“Devon and Stanley are due in about 20 minutes,” Joshua said as he entered the throne room. This was Sarah’s first time sitting on the throne, and she was a little bit nervous about it. She didn’t reveal that her hands were shaking, but John could tell from her eyes that she was taking in every available detail, looking to rise to the occasion.
“Are you sure?” Sarah asked John one more time. “Are you sure you want me to sit on this throne?”
“You are the queen, are you not?” John asked.
“Yes,” she replied. “But in tradition, until I’m coronated, then...”
“But I thought we were the king and queen that weren’t going to follow tradition,” he smi
led at her, reaching for her hand. She felt completely uncomfortable sitting down, but it was only because she realized she was finally going to make a difference in someone’s life. Before, it was straight adrenaline, rushing from moment to moment. Now, this was politics; this was ruling a kingdom.
“Stanley had spent the night in our prisons,” Joshua said. “And Devon has spent a night in our guest suites. I don’t expect that either of them slept well. Stanley was hostile in the prisons and was put in the isolation unit around 4:00 am.”
“Creator,” John swore. “He’s got a lot of fight still left in him, given that he’s lost.”
“Mmm,” Joshua said. “You’re going to have fun with him.”
Within the scheduled timeline, the doors opened and in walked Stanley, in handcuffs, accompanied by several guards. Behind him, looking just as weary, was Devon, a free man.
They approached the throne, and the guards and Devon bowed. Stanley, however, glared.
“Do you gloat often, my lord?” Stanley asked. “Or just when you’ve had an unfair advantage in battle?”
“It is funny that you think about it that way,” John answered. “Because what I see is that you were beaten at a game that you thought you would win. A game you thought that you designed.”
“And you...” Stanley turned to Sarah, but John would have none of it. He already knew what he was going to do, and nothing Stanley said or did would change it, even if he wanted to burn him to the ground.
“You will say nothing to the queen,” John warned. “Nothing.”
“Actually,” Sarah said, “I would like to say something to him.”
“And what is that?” John asked, knowing that whatever Sarah had to say was going to be good. He could already see the light burning in her eyes.
“That you have raised a strong and honest heir to the throne,” Sarah said. “And you can rest easy knowing that he will keep the throne safe. And if you’re lucky, he will make sure that your legacy is positive rather than bitter.”
Stanley’s mouth fell open.
“What are you talking about?” he demanded.
“The only way that Queen Sarah and I will allow you to live,” John said, “is if you relinquish the throne to your son and heir, who will swear allegiance to me and to my queen.”
