by S. E. Smith
Calo stepped up next to Cree. “You do not like to be with us?” He asked, a slight tone of hurt in his voice.
“I love being with you. I love you both so much,” she told him. “But, I’m also an individual. I’ve never been one to be around someone all the time. Shoot, even Gramps knew I liked to be alone at times. I’d just go for long walks in the woods.”
“He let you go alone?” Calo demanded with a frown. “You could have been hurt.”
“Calo,” Melina chided.
“Well, you could have,” he muttered defensively.
“I was smart,” Melina insisted. “I always think before I do something. It is who I am. I think being this way is what helped keep me from being… It saved my life on more than one occasion.”
A shudder ran through both men. They knew what could have happened to her. The Antrox were a cold blooded species that would use or sell anything for a profit.
“It is difficult. I have never felt this way before and for a Twin Dragon to find his true mate,” Calo said. “You are a miracle to us, Melina.”
Melina raised her hands and tenderly ran her fingers down along Calo and Cree’s cheeks. Each were different, yet so much the same in their vulnerability. Leaning up on her toes, she pressed a kiss to Calo’s lips before turning to Cree.
“There was a poster in one of my classes in high school,” she said. “It said, ‘If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it’s yours.’ I would always come back to you. I will always be yours.”
“I like the idea of just kidnapping you if you didn’t,” Cree muttered under his breath, a sheepish grin curving his mouth. “It worked the last time.”
Melina’s light laughter echoed through their living quarters. Her eyes sparkled with devious delight as she felt the shift in the room. They had overcome yet another hurdle in their relationship. It wouldn’t be easy, but slowly they were learning each other.
She tilted her head and looked at both men with a raised eyebrow. “Now, what were you saying about me being in trouble?”
Both men grinned back at her in delight. “I think we might need some help with her this time, Calo,” Cree exclaimed. He sent a swift image to his symbiot as he scooped Melina up into his arms. “What do you think, brother?”
“I think she needs to know what it feels like to be truly claimed by Twin Dragons,” Calo remarked. “I want her to ride me this time while you take her ass.”
Chapter 31
Melina rose from the seat near the window. They had been on Valdier for several weeks now and she had discovered even more friends than she had ever had back on Earth. The Reykill brothers had each found their true mate with a human and they had welcomed her with open arms.
She had caught a brief glimpse of the other young woman who had been on board the Horizon with them, as well. Emma Watson was so delicate, Melina was afraid a puff of wind would break her. Abby Tanner, the true mate of Zoran Reykill, the Leader of the Valdier, had greeted her, Sara, Emma, and Carmen warmly when they arrived. Personally, Melina thought Zoran Reykill was one of the scariest men she had ever seen. Abby just rolled her eyes whenever he would growl or mutter something under his breath.
She loved the other women as well. Cara and Ariel were hilarious. Cara asked her a million and one questions about her time on the Antrox mine while Ariel assured her once again that Hobbler was doing fine.
“She is getting huge!” Ariel shared with a grin. “Asim has already had to enlarge her stall three times in just a few weeks. You should hear him grumble when she starts nibbling on his shirt when he is trying to work.”
“She liked to do that to mine as well,” Melina replied with a sigh. “She has the sweetest personality.”
Melina still found it hard to believe that Ariel and Carmen were sisters. They each had such different personalities. The other woman she met was Trisha Grove. She was very quiet, but Melina had the feeling nothing escaped her.
The person that Melina had fallen in love with the most was Morian Reykill. Morian reminded Melina of her Nana with her graceful movements, pleasant manners, and love for plants. Her Nana could grow just about anything. From the gardens around the palace, Melina suspected that Morian had the same green thumb.
What had even surprised her more was that Cree and Calo had dug up all of her Nana’s roses and brought them along. They didn’t tell her about them for fear they would die before they got back to Valdier. They’d turned the sad looking plants over to Morian for her expert touch shortly after they landed. Morian had shared what they had done when she was visiting with her a few days before.
“They were terrified they had killed them,” Morian confided. “They just needed a little love.”
“I can’t believe they brought them with us,” Melina said, touching the new leaves. “Nana loved them.”
“Cree and Calo want to plant them around the home they wish to build for you,” Morian explained with a small smile. “I will give them detailed instructions on how to do it.”
“That’s okay,” Melina whispered. “I know how.”
“I am glad they found you, Melina,” Morian said softly. “You are good for them.”
Melina glanced up at Morian and smiled. “They are good for me, too.”
“Yes, I think they are,” Morian replied with a chuckle. “Come, let me show you some other plants that might be nice to have.”
*.*.*
Yes, they were good for her, but they were also a pain in the neck sometimes. Cree and Calo were even more protective of her now that she was on their world if that was possible. They snapped and snarled at any warrior who accidentally glanced her way.
Not that they might not have a good reason to, she thought as she stared at her wrists.
A small, trembling smile curled her lips as she fingered the gold cuffs wrapped around them. She had a feeling they were going to be a permanent fixture on her after what happened earlier. She really couldn’t complain. There was still so much about her new home that she didn’t understand.
A few hours earlier, both men had been called to a meeting. Tired of being cooped up inside, she had wandered out into the lower gardens. She loved how there was the large main garden surrounded by smaller, interior courtyards with fountains and plants. She had found the perfect one to hide away in and settled down on a small seat near the center fountain, Calo’s symbiot curled up at her feet.
Things had been fine until one of the warriors had shown an interest in her. The male, Adalard Ha’darra, had stumbled upon her sitting by the fountain studying the Valdier language. She blushed as she remembered the encounter. She had no idea he was a Curizan Prince and brother to Ha’ven Ha’darra whom she had met at the Antrox mine in what seemed a lifetime ago.
*.*.*
“It would appear that the Goddess is smiling on me today,” Adalard had said smoothly as he stepped into the courtyard. “She has presented me with an image of her beauty to take my mind away from all the ugliness of the Valdier warriors sweating as they train for battle.”
Melina’s head jerked up in surprise when she heard his voice. She looked around, puzzled, as she tried to figure out who he was talking to. It took a few seconds to realize he was looking at her.
“I’m sorry. I think you have the wrong person,” she replied politely.
She had heard some of the guys in high school say corny lines like that to the girls during Physical Education class. It sounded just as dorky now as it did then.
A slight giggle escaped her as she thought about it more. The fact that an alien male would say such a bad pickup line, half a universe away from Clayton, Georgia, was just too humorous to miss.
“Your laughter is like music to my ears. It warms my heart, as I hope you will warm my bed,” Adalard replied with a devilish grin. “There is no mistake that I have found the right person for that.”
“That was so bad, you should be embarrassed to have even thought it,” Melina commented with a shake of her head. “Not even
the boys back home would be caught dead spouting stuff like that.”
Things had been rather fun until Adalard stepped a little too close to her. Calo’s symbiot had surged toward the male in fury, snarling a warning. Personally, she would have been terrified if something that big and powerful approached her. Adalard had just waved his hand at it. Melina’s own temper flared when she saw the symbiot flinch, as it if had been struck.
“You need to leave,” she demanded, standing up and stepping closer to the symbiot. “Now.”
Adalard had grinned and looked at her with an appraising glance that scared her. It was the same look that many of the aliens at the mine had when a new female was delivered. A few had even looked at her that way even though they thought she was a boy. She clenched her trembling fingers around the small tablet and took a step back. She froze when Adalard frowned and stepped closer to her.
“I mean you no harm, my Lady,” Adalard said in a calming voice. “You have no reason to fear me.”
She drew in a deep breath, ready to scream when a dark shadow passed overhead. Another shadow passed swiftly by her, making her swivel with a cry. Calo rose up out of the darkness behind her just as Cree landed between her and Adalard. Cree’s symbiot wove a protective barrier around her as the Twin Dragons snarled menacingly at the Curizan Prince.
“My apologies, Warriors,” Adalard said smoothly, stepping away from where Melina stood in the protective golden circle. “I was but admiring the beauty of the female. I did not mean to frighten her. I did not realize this was the female that had captured your hearts.”
“Adalard,” another deep male voice called out from behind him.
Melina watched as Adalard slightly turned toward the voice. He kept the Twin Dragons in his peripheral vision as the new male stepped out of the shadows. She paled when she recognized the intimidating form of Zoran Reykill.
“Zoran,” Adalard said with a slight incline of his head.
“You are fortunate that Creon has such a high regard for you and your brothers,” Zoran said coldly. “The humans are off limits.”
“For all but the Valdier?” Adalard asked with a raised eyebrow.
The hissing of Cree and Calo as they took a step forward sent chills down her spine. She wanted to reach out and reassure them that she was fine. That nothing had happened, but right now her vocal chords seemed to have gone on total meltdown.
Zoran’s eyes flashed to the two topaz and black dragons. Whatever was in his look was enough to stop them from moving any closer to the Curizan. Zoran refocused his attention on Adalard.
“For now,” Zoran said in a low voice. “It will be more than a knife thrown in fun if you mess with the mate of the Twin Dragons.”
Adalard chuckled as he looked back at the two dragons before his amused eyes landed on Melina. She swallowed the lump in her throat when he suddenly bowed. When he straightened, he released a loud sigh.
“I fear I must apologize for my poor manners, my Lady,” Adalard said with a grin. “In another life, perhaps.”
Melina watched in astonishment as he turned on his heel and walked by Zoran as if he hadn’t just been surrounded by some of the scariest men in the star system. Cree’s symbiot dissolved around her to form the huge Werecat that she was used to seeing. She turned when she felt the breath of one of the dragons against her hair.
Tilting her head back, she looked up into Calo’s blazing gold eyes as Cree circled them, making sure that Adalard had truly left. She didn’t make a sound as Calo rose on his back legs, scooping her up with his fore claws as he did.
With a loud roar, he unfolded his wings and launched upwards with her cradled tightly against his chest. He rotated as he gained altitude until he was flying high over the city. A dark shadow zoomed just below him before circling around to level slightly to the front of his right wing - Cree.
*.*.*
Melina reached up and caressed the smooth scales across Calo’s breast. A low purr sounded at her touch, but he never veered from the path he was flying. She expected them to take her up to their room, but they continued on over the vast walls surrounding the Palace.
She twisted enough so that she could see the city far below as they continued over it. Buildings in a variety of sizes and shapes were separated from each other by a maze of streets. Her eyes widened as she saw other dragons flying and landing on the roof tops before they changed.
“It is like an airport,” she giggled as two more circled around to land. “Only the runways are the rooftops.”
That explained why each building had a tall, flat platform with a set of stairs. She had noticed a few of them in the distance from their room. Watching as the men, or dragons, took off and landed on them with ease was fascinating to watch.
She gasped as Calo suddenly pulled his wings in and dropped down as they neared the thick forest that surrounded the city. She turned her face into him and closed her eyes as he and Cree picked up speed as they moved in and out among the huge trees.
It wasn’t until she felt the slight bump and the arms holding her change that she realized that he had not only landed, but changed back into his two-legged form. She carefully opened her eyes and stared up at his chin before turning her head to see where they were. A loud gasp escaped her and she flung her arms around Calo’s neck when she realized that they were on a large branch hundreds of feet off the ground.
“Calo,” she whimpered. “Perhaps now would be a good time to tell you that I’m scared of heights.”
“You were not when you were flying,” he said gruffly, walking along the branch as if it were the ground.
“I had wings then,” she choked out. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not wearing any right now.”
Calo lowered her to her feet and gripped her wrists, pulling them from around his neck. She cried out when he turned her until she was pressed against his back. She tried to grab him, but it was impossible with the way he was holding her.
Firm hands buried themselves in her hair, tilting her head back until she was staring into Cree’s hot gaze. She blinked unsure of what was happening. A deep rumble escaped him before he leaned forward and sniffed her.
An unexpected giggle escaped as he ran his nose up and down her neck before he inhaled deeply in her ear. She bit her lip when he pulled back to glare down at her before switching his gaze to Calo. A sharp shake of his head had Calo loosening his grip enough that she could slide her hands into his and curl her fingers around his fingers in a death grip.
“Why did you do that?” She asked breathlessly, trying not to glance down, but not being very successful. “Oh shoot! We are really high!”
The fingers in her hair tightened and pulled her head back around. Her fingers squeezed around Calo’s as Cree captured her lips with his. Leaning forward, she opened for him.
“Did he touch you anywhere?” Cree finally breathed as he pulled back. “Did he?”
“No,” Melina replied huskily. “He was just being a flirty pest. He sounded an awful lot like the guys back home when I was in high school.”
“High school?” Calo asked, brushing a kiss along her neck.
“Yeah, you know. When you are a teenager and all you can think of is sweet-talking some girl into giving you a kiss. The girls just like to giggle and stare at the guys’ butts,” she added with a blush.
Sensing the growing heat in her face, both men scowled down at her. “Did you look at their butts?”
“No, but I admit I stared at yours and Calo’s a lot when you came into the repair bay. I thought for sure you could feel it burning,” she admitted with a grin. “You both have really cute ones.”
Silence greeted her statement for several long seconds before the sound of twin masculine laughter filled the air. Melina breathed a sigh as she leaned back into Calo’s arms. Her dark green eyes darkened with desire as she watched Cree’s face relax.
Have fun, her dragon whispered.
How? Melina asked. We are stuck in a tree.
I have wings, her dragon laughed. And a sexy tail.
Melina’s pupils dilated as she called to her dragon. Within seconds, the loud roar of two male dragons echoed as they swept down off the branch after the dark green female who twitched her tail at them. The shapes soon blended together as the males caught up with the female and the roars turned to rumbles of joy.
Chapter 32
She sighed, her body tingling with remembrance at the loving the two men had given her earlier. Staring out of the balcony doors, she glanced back at the bedroom where Cree and Calo were getting ready for the dinner they were supposed to attend. She was nervous about attending it. It had been a long, long time since she had been around a large group of people all at one time.
Melina opened the door and walked out onto the wide balcony. The short time she spent on Earth had made her realize how much she missed being outside. She stepped up to the railing and looked down at the interior courtyard. A soft smile creased her lips as she gazed down at the brilliant dinner-plate size flowers beginning to glow in the fading light.
“Melina?” An urgent voice called from inside the living room.
“Out here,” she said.
“What are you doing outside?” Cree asked in that low voice that always sent shivers up her spine.
“Enjoying the fresh air,” she replied, turning to look back out over the garden. “For so long, all I saw was the darkness of the mines, then the inside of the Horizon. I wasn’t on Earth for very long. Definitely not long enough to make up for all the days I spent without the feel of the sun on my face and the wind in my hair. I missed it so much, Cree,” she whispered in an emotion-filled voice. “There were some days I just wanted to scream and yell because it was almost a physical pain. I wanted... needed to feel the warmth, but all I felt was the cold and darkness suffocating me. I would have given anything to have felt just a brief touch of it against my skin. Gramps never got a chance to feel it again. It was a hard life for someone that was used to spending it outdoors.”
