by Sophie Stern
“That’s right,” Garnet groans. “Pinch her nipples, Chrys. Bite them.”
Chrys listens, teasing me as Garnet instructs, and then he slides his hands over my clit and begins to rub.
“I don’t think I can again,” I whisper, but the men just chuckle.
“You’ll come for each of us, Sapphire,” Garnet whispers. “Come for me now, beautiful girl. Come with me, baby.”
He reaches for me, holding my thighs as I keep grinding on him, and then it hits me: strong and powerful. I thought my first orgasm would be the biggest, but apparently, that was just a warm-up. This one is different, stronger. This one makes me cry out. I open my mouth, and my heart sings as pleasure greater than anything I’ve ever known wraps around me.
I feel Garnet coming, too. He comes inside of me, gripping my hips as he does, and then he sits up, still holding me, and wraps his arms around me.
He can move.
Garnet can move.
I’m not going to get a big head and say that it was my sweet bedroom moves that saved them, but uh, it kind of was, and that’s enough to make a girl feel a little proud.
“All right, princess,” Garnet kisses me sweetly. “I believe you have two more mates who are waiting for you.”
Chapter Ten
Sapphire
“You waited so patiently,” I say to Moon and Emerald. I stand between the tables that hold them. They’re sitting, one on either side of me, facing me. Even in the dim lighting, I can see that a year hasn’t taken away their muscular physiques. They’re both still completely cut, completely gorgeous to look at.
I should probably feel inadequate next to them. In the year they’ve been sleeping, I’ve been running. I’ve been searching far and wide for a way back to them, and I haven’t been taking care of myself. I’m not as curvy as I once was. I haven’t eaten enough. I’m scrawnier now. I’m thinner than I used to be, and sometimes it makes me a little uncomfortable, but they don’t seem to mind the way I look.
They seem to like it, actually.
Maybe even love it.
“We’ve been waiting an eternity for you, beautiful,” Moonstone manages to get out. He looks at me and smiles. There are tears streaming down his cheeks, but he doesn’t seem embarrassed or scared.
“I missed you so fucking much,” I tell him, reaching for him. I kiss his tears, making my way to his lips, and then I kiss him there. “So much.”
I turn to Emerald next. He’s tearing up, too. It’s strange seeing my big, strong dragon men brought to tears by our reunion, but there are so many emotions welling up inside of me that I can’t quite hold back, either. I need to start kissing both of them or I’m going to break down right here.
This is a happy moment.
It’s our mating day.
I don’t want to cry.
I kiss Emerald, keeping a hand firmly on Moon. He slides his tongue into my mouth, deepening the kiss, and I find myself stroking Moonstone’s thighs as Emerald kisses me. Having them both here touching me as I touch them is exciting. Garnet and Chrysoberyl are still watching, too. I never really considered myself to be an exhibitionist, but being watched is such a turn-on. Who knew?
“Rub his cock, darling,” Moon groans. “Touch him there, sweetheart. We’ve been waiting a long time.”
“Oh, like this?” I ask, sweetly reaching for Emerald’s cock. I kiss him again, and I reach for Moon’s own length, as well.
“That’s it,” Moon manages to say, but his body is tense.
“I don’t want you to feel left out,” I murmur, turning my attention to Moon for a minute. I keep rubbing both of them, but I kiss Moon now, exploring his mouth with my tongue, nipping at his lips.
They’re both hard in my hands. I’m not the most coordinated of girls, and I’m sure I’ll get better with time, but they don’t seem to mind that my strokes aren’t completely perfect as I rub them over and over.
Emerald reaches for my nipples and plays with them as I continue to stroke and tease them.
“They need to come inside of you, baby,” Garnet says. “Climb up on Moon now. Be a good girl, Sapphire.”
Ugh, his fucking words just do something for me. These boys and their dirty tongues.
“Are you ready?” I ask Moon.
“Do it,” Emerald answers for him. “Because I’m next, and I’m dying for my turn, baby. I’ve been dreaming about being inside of you for years, Sapphire. I can’t believe this day is finally here.”
“I can’t wait,” I kiss him again, and then I push Moonstone back on his stone slab. I climb up and straddle him, running my hands up and down his chest. He has a little patch of hair there, which I like. The other dragons don’t have one. It sets him apart, in a way, and as I slide down onto his cock, I kiss him there, over and over. Then I kiss his lips, stroke his hair, and tug it a little bit.
“The princess is feisty,” he murmurs.
“Soon I’ll be your queen,” I tell him, nipping at his ear.
“I can’t fucking wait,” he whispers. “But right now, I want you to close your eyes, baby.”
I do it.
I feel, rather than see, him touch my own chest. He runs his hands between my breasts and then over them. He bounces them, and then Moon leans up and kisses them. Then he starts thrusting up into me, over and over, and I hold onto his chest and squeeze his cock with my pussy. He’s deep, and I feel so full. When we come together, it’s like magic and lightning exploding in my heart. I collapse against him, but I’m not done yet. I still have one more mate.
I don’t know if my legs can hold up anymore.
“Come on, princess,” Emerald chuckles, reaching for me. “You can do it.”
I climb from one stone table to the next. I don’t even touch the floor as I move to Emerald. He’s hard and ready for me, and as I sink down onto him, he lets out a groan.
“Watching you was fucking hot, Sapphire.”
“Did you like it?” I ask him, kissing his neck. I grind down on him, rubbing my body against his. My breasts graze his chest, and he smiles up at me.
“It was the best thing I’ve ever seen,” he tells me. “Who knew you were a little showoff?”
“I always suspected,” Moon says with a sly grin. He’s standing now: his strength is fully restored. It worked. Part of me can’t believe it worked. Now he, Garnet, and Chrys surround us, and they start touching me. They stroke my hair and my back, loving on my body as Emerald fucks me. He thrusts his hips upward, and I’m dizzy with pleasure as he pinches and twists my nipples. I’m sure I’ll be sore tomorrow, but right now, I just want more.
I need more.
I need him.
All of him.
“I’m so fucking close, Sapphire,” he murmurs.
“Come for me, dragon,” I tell him. “Come for me, Emerald. I’ve been waiting so fucking long for you, baby. I need it. I need to feel you inside of me. Come,” I bite his neck, nipping at him, and that’s all he needs. He reaches between us and rubs my clit as he comes, forcing me into yet another orgasm. This time, the pleasure is so great I can barely handle it, and for a second, my entire world goes pure white.
And then it’s over, and they’re holding me, and their arms are wrapped around me, and I realize that I’m okay. I’m safe, and I’m cared for, and I’m adored.
And I am loved.
They love me.
“Hello, beautiful,” Emerald whispers when I open my eyes again. “How are you feeling?”
“A little tired,” I tell him honestly.
“What a champ,” Moon smiles, kissing me softly. “Prettiest girl in Draco Patriam, and the sexiest, too.”
“I love you,” I tell him. “All of you,” I whisper, looking at each of my men. “There’s no one I’d rather be mated to.”
“We love you, too, Sapphire.” They kiss me one at a time, each in turn, and whisper sweet nothings in my ear. I’m still terrified of what’s going to happen next. I know this isn’t going to end well. There’s not goi
ng to be a happy ending. Even if I manage to make it to the throne, it will come at a cost, and I’m scared of just how much it will be.
But right now, I’m wrapped in the arms of the four most wonderful mates in the entire damn world, and I am protected. I don’t have to think about anything else right now. Not yet. Not for awhile. For a little bit, I can just be here with them, and everything feels as it should.
For just a little bit, I’m not the girl searching for her mates. I’m not the girl who found them. I’m not the forgotten princess or the future queen. For a little while, I’m just me, and it kind of feels completely perfect.
Chapter Eleven
Sapphire
I don’t want to move.
I don’t to do anything but stay here with the men I love. It’s been too long, too hard. It’s been too much time and I don’t want to go. I don’t want to be separated from them again.
“We need weapons,” Garnet says. Always the practical one.
Chrys, my dreamer, nods. “We can shift, but I don’t really want to play that card until the end. As soon as we shift, they’ll know we’re out of our cages.”
“Then we won’t have any other ways to surprise them,” Moon points out.
Emerald wraps his arms around me from behind and kisses my neck.
“I’ll protect Sapphire,” he says. “I’ll guard her.”
“I can look after myself,” I say, slightly defiant, but the men are serious now.
“He’s right,” Garnet says. “It’s a good idea to have one person assigned to her protection. We’ll all look after her, of course, but Emerald will stay near her at all times. No exceptions.”
“What if-“ I start to ask, but Garnet shoots me a look.
“No exceptions,” he repeats. “Now we need to go.”
“The guards will definitely hear us,” I point out.
“How many are there, love?” Emerald asks gently.
“Two,” I tell them. “They were sitting across from the main door. I’m pretty sure it was just the two. I didn’t see anyone else circling or roaming the perimeter.”
“Moon,” Garnet says.
“I’m on it,” Moon nods and then disappears out the door. I hear him padding up the stairs. Then nothing.
“What’s he doing?”
“He’s going to do a quick check on the state of the tower we’re in,” Emerald explains.
“Then we’ll all go out together,” Chrys agrees.
We wait in silence for a few minutes. It feels like an eternity. If I was sitting down here alone, I’d start counting spider webs or cringing each time a beetle ran by, but I’m with my mates. I feel protected. I feel cared for. Somehow, I just know that everything is going to be okay.
No matter what happens next, we’re going to be fine.
I got to them. I saved them. I gave them back their strength. Now it’s time to go find my sister and her mates and to face them once and for all.
Still, I’m thinking about Emerald’s earlier comment.
How do I know it wasn’t Alexandra who engineered the barrier around Draco Patriam?
Is there a chance I’ve had it wrong this whole time?
Is there a chance that my own sister is also a victim in all of this?
I think about that day so long ago when I felt she betrayed me.
Us.
Draco Patriam.
Her words seemed so carefully chosen, so forced. At the time, I thought she was just hurting and angry. Now I wonder if it was something else. Is there a change my sister was also enchanted? Could Alexandra have cast a spell on Ruby, too? Could she have forced her to do this?
And why?
That’s the part I can’t quite wrap my head around. Why was Alexandra so desperate to have Ruby on the throne? I mean, I get it. She wanted the power. Alexandrite is her son and he’s obviously kind of a puppet. She can basically rule variously through him in his place of power beside Ruby.
Why not just kill all of us, though?
Why not just destroy all of us and have Alexandrite rule as the sole king?
Oh fuck.
I feel sick as the realization sinks in.
That’s it.
That’s the end game.
That’s what this is really all about.
It’s never been about moving Alexandrite to a position of power. It’s been about getting everyone else out of the way. Alexandra is patient as fuck. She could have overthrown the kingdom last year, but this way, Ruby is the one who seems like an evil bitch. Ruby is the one who seems like a bad guy. When – and there’s no doubt in my mind now that it’s definitely a when – Alexandra destroys Ruby, she’ll seem like a hero.
She won’t seem like the evil bitch who murdered my mother or entrapped my mates.
She’ll seem like the hero who saved Draco Patriam from a queen they never wanted.
That’s what this is really all about.
I swallow hard, but don’t say anything. Moon comes back into the room. My head is spinning as he explains he’s found a way out: another door that won’t make much noise. It’s on the opposite side of the tower as the guards. I hadn’t noticed it earlier because it’s really just a trapdoor. It’s small: unused and unnoticed. Chances are the guards have completely forgotten about it.
We move silently as a group up the stairs to the first floor. The enchanted torches still flicker, but they seem to be slightly less bright than they were before. Is it my imagination? Or did the torches actually fade a little?
As we move toward the door, Garnet explains how this is going to go. We’ll go outside and approach the guards. They’ll try to catch them and tie them up, probably to a tree, and not hurt them. I have a little bit of magic. It’s not a lot, but it’s enough that I can cast a very weak sleeping spell. It won’t enchant them for a year, but it will knock them out for half an hour or so: long enough for us to get a good, solid head start.
The door sticks as we try to open it, but eventually, it swings free. We hurry out of the little door, one at a time. The space is so small that we have to crawl out of it. Then we’re free.
The sunshine hits my face and at the same time, my four mates and I all turn toward the brilliant evening sun. It’s setting now. Soon it will be dark. Soon it will be completely dark and we’ll have to find someplace to stay. As much as I want to destroy Alexandrite and, if she truly is guilty, Ruby, we’re going to need to rest.
I need to get my mates out of here. We need to get to a safe place, a secret place, and we need to hide until morning. Then we can make a move.
After a minute that lasts both too long and not long enough, we split. Emerald, Moon, and I go one way. Chrys and Garnet go the other. We scurry around the building quickly. The guards have their backs to us. It’s too easy. We don’t even have to knock them out. The guys motion for me to scurry up behind the guards, which I do, and I whisper the incantation.
Then they simply fall down in place.
They don’t even know who enchanted them.
We all exchange looks. Was it supposed to be that easy? I mean, I was kind of gearing up for a fight. Oh well, I suppose. Chrys and Moon grab the guards and haul them into the tower and down to the dungeon. They find a length of rope, tie the men up, and then we leave.
It seems mean, almost cruel, but it won’t be for too long.
Once this is all over, we’ll send someone to come rescue the men. If it takes longer than tomorrow, I’ll find a village person and have them bring food to the guards. No big deal. I won’t torture them or hurt them further. I know they’re under orders and they just want to feed their families. Chances are, they don’t have these great evil hopes for the world.
That’s Alexandrite’s doing.
It’s all her.
The more I think about it, the more it makes sense.
“The sun is setting,” Moon points out, closing the door to the tower. He locks it using the keys from the guard’s pocket, and then he tosses the keys into the nearby field. �
�We need to go.”
“Where?” I whisper. “We can’t go to the castle. We need someplace to stay tonight. You’re all still weak. You need to eat. I do, too,” I tell them, although I hate to admit that. My stomach rumbles, as if on cue, and the men look at me with sad smiles. I know they feel like they’ve let me down, somehow, by not being there this year, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I don’t think for a minute that they let me down.
I think we’re all in this together.
Everything’s going to be okay.
Then Emerald speaks up.
“I know a place,” he says quietly.
All eyes turn to him, questioning. How could Emerald have a place? A secret place? We can’t go to any of their family homes. Ruby, or Alexandra, depending on who your choice of favorite villain is, will have guards watching those homes. It doesn’t matter that she thinks the dragons are locked away in an enchanted slumber. She’ll want to make sure their families don’t go looking for them or causing trouble. It’s obvious, and it’s a move she probably felt like she had to make.
“Where?” I whisper. “What place do you know? We can’t go to your family’s home, Emerald. They’ll be watching.”
Then Moon places his hand on my shoulder and whispers, “Emerald has connections, love.”
I realize Emerald is a little embarrassed about this. He’s come from a life of privilege and wealth, while Moon was basically pulled from poverty and chosen to be one of my mates. His strength of character and his bravery made him stand out and my fathers adored him.
If Moon trusts Emerald’s choice, though, then I trust him, too.
I trust my mates with my life.
“Let’s go,” I say with a shrug. “Lead the way.”
Chapter Twelve
Ruby
During the day, I sit on the throne, and I repeat the words my mother-in-law whispers in my ear. The things I do to my country, to my people, disgust me, but not as much as what I did to my sister.