Laughing, his beast spoke again. I give you less than a week before you strip her naked and claim her.
Warning bells went off inside his head. She's not our true mate. Tell me she's not.
No, I don't think so. But she'd be nice to claim all the same. She's as tall as us. It'll be nice to have all that female softness pressed up against us.
Stop, dragon. It's not going to happen. And not just because she's a rival.
So you do want to fuck her. But if you're worried about the nightmares, they rarely come anymore.
Rarely being the key word. No, I need to focus on healing myself before anything else.
She can help.
If you say her magical cunt will melt away all our troubles, I will toss you inside a mental cage in the next breath.
His dragon sniffed. You wouldn't dare.
I don't want to, but I will.
Since Asher only caged his beast as a last resort—he was trying to make up for the years they'd lost together—his dragon grunted in acknowledgment. Fine. I won't tease you for the rest of the afternoon. However, don't be afraid. It's Ria, the female who knew us best.
Knew is right. These days, neither of us are the same people.
His mother called out his name, and Asher strode toward the kitchen. Entering, he noticed Honoria sitting with her back to him. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail, exposing the back of her neck. Once upon a time, she'd been ticklish there. He wondered if she still would be. All he had to do was close the distance between them and dance his fingers against her soft skin.
Brushing the thought aside, he went to stand next to his mother at the cooker. "Let me do this, Mum. Sit and chat with Ria."
"Join us, too, Asher, once the biscuits are ready."
"I will."
His mother gave him a skeptical look, but he did his best to look earnest. If the biscuits ended up taking an extraordinarily long time to cool, it would be an odd coincidence.
Coward, his dragon muttered.
His mother sat down and asked, "What have you been up too, Ria? I heard from your aunt how you were in charge of some fancy project back in the States."
From the corner of his eye, he watched the pair. Honoria shrugged. "I merely improved the communication systems between the American Department of Dragon Affairs and several clans on the west coast. I'm not sure why they were so slow to embrace technology in the first place—especially given the tech centers dotting the west coast—but the trial with Clan WildCanyon went well enough. So much so that the same system was rolled out to the entire Western Region."
Since Asher hadn't known Honoria would be one of the clan leader candidates, he hadn't researched her public information and only knew the bits and pieces of gossip floating around the clan. Before he could stop himself, he said, "That's quite impressive."
Honoria met his gaze, but he couldn't gauge her expression. That was a good point in her favor for the leadership trials. "It's one of the many things I hope to try in the UK. I learned a lot from my time in California. When humans stop fearing us so much, I think we should try exchanges between the clans. As it stands now, the dragon clans are too isolated, even with the ever-growing alliance between Stonefire and Lochguard."
Asher noticed her use of "when" and not "if" the humans stopped fearing dragon-shifters. She was more optimistic than he was. Especially given how more than a dozen dead bodies had been buried on Skyhunter's land not that long ago.
Of course, maybe things were different in northern California and her wish wasn't too extreme for clans without Skyhunter's dodgy past.
He raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you're telling me about your plans and ideas, given how we're rivals."
She never broke her gaze. "I think you're an honorable male and won't steal them."
As they stared at one another across the expanse of the kitchen, Asher suddenly wanted to know more about Honoria. She'd always been clever and adventurous, but he sensed she'd turned those traits into a useful set of skills as an adult.
Then he remembered his secrets and his living hell at the hands of the former leader. Asher may want to know more about Honoria, but she certainly wouldn't want to know everything about him. "I'm not the same dragonman you knew before you left, Ria. You'd best remember that."
He quickly turned to take out the biscuit tray, place it down as he turned off the oven, and strode out of the kitchen.
His dragon didn't waste time speaking up. That was the most suspicious way to leave the room. Now Mum will pester us to no end.
I don't care. Ria needs to remember a lot has changed over the years. If I allow her to believe I'm the same easygoing male from over a decade ago, it will only mislead her. Even if she's a rival, I don't want to do that with her.
His beast was silent a few beats before responding, Then if you're not going to try to woo her into bed, can we do flight drills now?
At the mention of flying, some of Asher's stress faded. His dragon had gone too many years without the freedom of the skies. Of course.
As they made their way toward the main landing area, Asher focused on making his dragon happy. Strengthening their bond would only help the both of them.
It was also the perfect distraction. Because images of Honoria's clear blue eyes and golden blonde hair kept filling his head.
And he could never let on to his inner dragon about how he thought the female had only become more beautiful with age. Because if his beast found out, Asher might eventually give in to his dragon's demands to sleep with her.
While he could withstand torture bringing him to the brink of death, it was harder to deny his dragon in certain areas. The top of the list was sex. Denying his beast sex put a strain on them both, and Asher hadn't been with a female since before his imprisonment.
Which meant if he wanted a fighting chance at the leadership trials, he needed to find a willing partner to tame his dragon's need. Only then could he focus harder on Asher's ultimate goal of winning. However, there was only one rule—the female needed to be anyone but Honoria Wakeham
Chapter Three
Even though Honoria had enjoyed sitting with Asher's mother and chatting over a good cuppa, her visit had brought more questions than answers.
Namely, she wondered who Asher King had become over the years.
Her dragon, now free again, spoke up. I think we should talk to him one-on-one if you want to know the truth. Because of course he's going to be close-lipped around his mother when it comes to his recent past. Gossip says his sister was hurt, too, and who knows how badly. Talking of his experience would only increase his mum's sadness.
She was debating how to respond when she spotted a large red dragon diving down and pulling up right before he hit the ground. It was only when he flew upward again that she saw his front and gasped.
A large K was branded into one side of his chest.
Scars in a dragon-shifter's human form usually translated into their dragon one as well. But to have such a scar told another story, namely that someone had rubbed certain toxins or dirt into the wound to keep it from healing. Or, he'd been burned. Badly. Dragon-shifters healed quickly, but not even the fastest healing dragonman or woman in the world could repair intense burns.
The red dragon reached its desired height and barrel-rolled back down to the earth. When he leaned to the side and changed direction at the last minute, Honoria recognized the move.
Asher had liked to show it off when they were younger, to win bets against the other teenage males.
Covering her mouth with her hand, Honoria's stomach rolled. Such a scar and its history was bad on anyone, but the thought of someone she'd once loved suffering such agony made her want to vomit.
Her beast spoke up. We should find him and talk.
About what? To bring up such a memory will only hurt him. Not only that, he'll think we're doing it on purpose to knock him off his game.
Didn't you notice how strained the flight maneuvers were and still are? Something i
s wrong with his dragon.
It could be Asher.
Or, it could be both.
She hesitated. The most common reasons for such strain was a lack of sex or concern about their mate. She'd learned that Asher didn't have a mate from his mother, so it had to be the former.
Her dragon hummed. Yes, and we can help with it.
As much as Honoria admired Asher's tall, muscled body, she was afraid such intimacy would stir something she didn't need. Or want, for that matter.
Her dragon grunted. You're starting to sound like a human. Dragon-shifters need sex, end of story. I wouldn't mind a little release.
Honoria teetered. In her opinion, she and Asher were the best candidates out of the group applying to be leader. Anything she could do to ensure they performed to the best of their abilities would be for the good of the clan.
Nodding, her dragon answered, Exactly.
Crap, she'd been projecting her private thoughts. I'm going to be clear—one time, and that's it. After that, you stop bothering me about sex until after the clan leader trials are finished, and then work on focusing all your energy on winning.
That will be difficult. I suspect Asher will be intense and dominating in bed. I'll want more than once.
The image of Asher above her, pinning her hands over her head as he teased between her legs flashed into her mind.
It'd been far too long since she'd had a male at the same dominance level—or higher—than her.
Her dragon chuckled. You like that image.
Not even Honoria could deny the sudden wetness between her thighs. I'll allow multiple times during the same encounter, but no more. Winning and healing Skyhunter is too important to be distracted by a male.
Her beast sighed. Fine. But hurry up. Because of your naughty visions, all I can think of is Asher taking us from behind, making us moan his name, and squeezing his cock as we come.
The image was clear as day in her mind, down to Asher slapping her arse once or twice as he murmured what he was going to do next. Stop projecting that image into my head.
I didn't. You're doing it yourself.
With a curse, Honoria picked up her pace and headed toward the main landing area. Just be prepared because he may say no.
Not if you kiss him first.
Such a randy dragon.
No more than any other.
Not wanting to argue the point, Honoria ignored her beast and half jogged to the landing area before she could change her mind. Sex would help, after all. She just needed to be smart about it.
~~~
Asher's breath was ragged when, in his dragon form, he touched his hind legs back on solid ground. Even though he was learning to be less self-conscious about the brand on one side of his chest, he preferred covering it than not, and began to shift so he could get dressed quickly.
Imagining his wings melding into his back, his tail retreating into his body, and his snout shrinking into a nose, he soon stood in his naked human form.
There were a few people coming and going, and quite a few were whispering. Whether because of his bloodlines or his brand, he didn't know since he routinely heard both. He reached the side of the landing area where small cubicles were carved out of the rock and took out his T-shirt. Asher had barely tugged it down when a familiar female voice came from behind him. "You've finessed what were once reckless drills into an art form."
Honoria had found him.
His dragon spoke up. Maybe she wants what I want, so don't bother putting your boxers on.
Asher did exactly that. Nudity was part of dragon-shifter life, but it wasn't just any dragon-shifter behind him. The last thing he needed was for his cock to go half- or full-mast and let the bloody female know how much he was still drawn to her.
Careful to keep his expression neutral, Asher turned around. Honoria was mere inches away, and as the wind blew, her delicious female scent invaded his senses.
His cock twitched to life. Yes, it was a good thing he had at least a little protection. He'd just need to make sure his dick didn't extend all the way to say hello.
Ignoring his dragon's cackles, he shrugged and replied, "If we'd had any other leader but the bastard we had, I would've become a Protector. Since I couldn't bring myself to support Marcus, I instead taught the young dragon-shifters how to fly properly."
"Even the moves you just did?"
He nodded. "I believe in fully preparing a child or teenager. A mutiny had been brewing right before I was imprisoned. I wanted to ensure the children could escape if chased, hoping they could make it to safety."
She studied his face. "I never would've pegged you as a teacher."
He shrugged. "Well, much like you, I suspect I found a more positive way to channel my adventurous and sometimes even reckless spirit."
Honoria arched one golden eyebrow. "I wasn't reckless."
The corner of his lips curled up, and Asher nearly blinked. It had been a long time since he'd smiled with anyone outside of his immediate family.
Quickly gathering his wits, he said, "I recall a female planning to fly across the Channel to France for a weekend, without any sort of approval from the DDA in either country."
She shook her head. "I didn't plan it out of nowhere. I only suggested it after we ran into those French dragon-shifters along the coast in Dover, who had done it first and were quite smug about it. Besides, you were helping me figure out how to pull it off. If not for my parents sending me away two weeks before our scheduled date, we would've tried it, too."
Over the years, Asher had had other things to worry about and think upon than his teenage girlfriend's disappearance. But standing in the landing area less than a foot away from Honoria, with the wind sending him her scent, the memory rushed back of when he'd learned how Honoria had been sent away. Before he could think better of it, he blurted, "No one discovered you had left for a week. It was only after I waited at our usual spot for half a day without any word from you that I thought something was wrong."
Asher paused, remembering the dread in his stomach back then. Even if he'd been a cocky teenage male who only thought he understood love, he'd cared about Honoria. And her missing their meeting had happened about the same time Marcus had started to use his policy of fear over diplomacy.
It had been a long few hours of figuring out what had happened to his girlfriend.
He continued, "So I went to your house, only to find two Protectors taking your parents away. Your mother saw me. She had tears in her eyes, and barely managed to say, 'Tell Honoria we love her,' before the Protector covered her mouth and carted her off."
Honoria's eyes looked suspiciously wet. "She said that?"
He nodded. "Yes."
They both knew what had come next. Marcus hadn't wanted anyone else to leave the clan, so he'd made an example out of Honoria's parents. At first they'd been imprisoned. But years later, as more people tried to send their children away, they'd been executed.
That had been the spark which made Asher join the secret faction wanting to overthrow Marcus King.
Honoria's voice was soft as she said, "Thank you for telling me that. I still blame myself to a degree, for not insisting I stay."
The strong, teasing female from earlier had disappeared. His dragon spoke up. She is no different than us. We both have pain in our pasts.
Asher debated what to do. He didn't sweet-talk females anymore, and he was afraid to comfort her with touch. Even something as simple as a hug could be too much for him.
Because as much as he may want to fight it, Asher wanted to hold Honoria in his arms once more. He could lie and say it was because he wanted closure on that chapter of his life. However, he wanted to hold her and see if the world simply felt right with her heat against him, like it had done in the past.
And if it did, that would complicate everything.
After wiping her eyes, Honoria smiled weakly. "Here I am about to cry, which is one of the unsexiest things in the world."
"Why is being s
exy important? You are, of course, sexy. But it shouldn't matter."
Fuck. He definitely shouldn't have said that.
He expected a smile or even a chuckle. What he didn't expect was for Honoria's pupils to flash to slits and back, followed by pink spreading across her cheeks.
His beast spoke up. I want to know why she's blushing. Maybe it's about us.
I doubt it's about us. We just brought up the death of her parents.
Honoria's voice prevented any reply inside his mind. "So you still think I'm sexy. Good, then it's not one-sided and will make my proposition seem reasonable."
He frowned. "What the bloody hell are you talking about?"
"When was the last time you had sex, Ash?"
His dragon growled. Almost six fucking years.
Asher took a step back. "Why does that matter?"
"Are you really going to play this game? You and I are the strongest, most well-rounded candidates for clan leader."
"Yes, but—"
"So it makes sense that we should do everything possible to keep it that way and ensure we stay in the running." She took a step forward, but Asher didn't retreat. He'd barely acknowledged how nice it was not to have to look down at a female to meet her gaze when Honoria continued, "You need sex and so do I. I suggest we use each other to strengthen our chances at the trials."
He blinked. "What?"
"Release will make our dragons behave. Just one time, and then we each walk away and try our hardest to win the top spot."
His beast hummed. Yes, yes, tell her yes.
For a second, panic flared. He'd love nothing more than to slide between Honoria's thighs and fuck her senseless. However, he wasn't sure once would be enough. Even now, standing so close to her and feeling the heat of her body, he wanted to reach out and pull her close.
He'd never even slept with her as a teenager. What if doing so brought back feelings he didn't want, ones that could cost him the clan leadership?
His dragon grunted. Us not fucking her will be more of a distraction. It's not like she's our true mate.
Winning Skyhunter Page 3
