by Viiola Grace
Lia took a deep breath and set one hand on each side of the break in the upper thigh. Using her strength and a focus of power, she severed the knitting bones and then swiftly re-aligned them. Focusing all of her magic as her father had taught her when she had broken and re-knit her husband’s collarbone, she began to fuse the two pieces back into their proper alignment. Sweat dripped down her forehead as she worked, a fine mist of perspiration covered her body and time flew around her.
When she finally raised her head, Lia’s back was stiff, her arms were like lead, and her head was pounding, but she had a smile on her face. She turned to face the worried father who had come to stand next to the bed again.
“It’s done. The bone is healed. She should remain on crutches for about two weeks, and then she can resume playing with her friends. Only this time, tell her to stay out of trees.”
“Yes, Lady, thank you, Lady. Lord Marcus is truly fortunate to have one such as you.” His bowing punctuated every word, and she wondered where he had found out about her and Marcus.
She turned to leave the sick room, and saw Rifal standing near the doorway.
“Is it lunch yet? I think I need something to fortify me if I am going to be facing a seamstress this afternoon.” She tried to grin, but knew that since she was so tired, she would be lucky to have achieved a grimace.
“Milady, that appointment was two days ago. My lord has ordered me to bring you to him as soon as you regained your awareness of your surroundings.”
“Two days, oh hell…” and for the first time in her life, Lia fainted.
Chapter 5
Lia awoke to darkness and the murmur of voices. She raised her head to see who was speaking, and promptly fell back into unconsciousness.
When she next awoke, daylight was streaming through the open window. A servant started from her place by the fire when Lia raised her head and tried to speak.
“Oh, Milady, you shouldn’t try to move. Let me get Lord Marcus, he gave everyone orders that he was to be brought immediately when you awoke.” With that, the woman bobbed a curtsy and scurried from the room, anxious to impart her news.
Lia struggled to rise out of the bedding, feeling as though her limbs were made of lead and tied to the bed to boot. With an immense amount of effort she managed to prop herself up against the headboard, and began to take stock of her condition.
What she last remembered was the hospice and the small child with the broken leg. Then disjointed flashes of night and day, servants feeding her and Marcus hovering nearby, scowling like a thundercloud with a worried look in his eyes.
She had obviously been bathed and dressed in a nightgown. She could not imagine Marcus dressing her for bed, it must have been one of the servants, and what puzzled her, was that her hair was now hanging into her eyes. As she kept her hair short to keep it from catching fire in the forge, the length that she now displayed indicated to her a passing of time that she had no record for.
Lost in thought, she started when the door to the chamber burst open, and Marcus came striding through.
“What the hell were you thinking? Do you have no concept of what you risked by healing that girl? What if you hadn’t recovered? Are you a complete idiot?” His verbal attack was belied by the tender way he caressed her face and drew her into his arms. He held her close to his heart as he continued to vent his anxiety.
“How was your meeting with the seamstress? Was she upset that I missed the appointment?” Lia’s voice cracked as she tried to distract him.
“Since you were in a healing trance, and weren’t moving, she measured you where you stood. I hope that you enjoy the fabrics I picked out for you.” His voice was dry. “I had to offer the woman extra pay for the extra effort and the trauma that seeing you like that did to her.”
“You will under no circumstances enter the hospice again while you are pregnant. It has taken you four weeks to recover from the stress to your system, and both you and the baby can’t survive another shock like that.” His voice again became stern and he gave her a sharp squeeze to drive home his orders.
“I didn’t know I could heal like that, and certainly didn’t mean to distress anyone,” a small voice issued from her throat that she didn’t recognize as her own. “It never happened that way before. Wait…I was out for FOUR WEEKS?”
“Yes, you were. With the baby on the way, your body shut down to protect it against any further loss of energy. We have had to feed and bathe you like a doll, and have someone watch you constantly for any sign of waking.”
“No wonder I feel so tired and weak. Four weeks. Wow.” She began to take stock of her body, she was tired and her muscles were weak but otherwise she felt fine. “Can I have a drink of water?” Her voice cracked and Marcus reached over and poured her a goblet of water, then held it to her lips. She drank greedily until there was nothing left and asked for more, he refilled it and held it to her lips once again then refused to fill it again and set it out of her reach.
“No more for now, I want you to get dressed so that we can have dinner in the great hall tonight, and reassure the castle folk that you are alright. After you are ready, I will carry you down to dinner. Your clothes are in that wardrobe over there and a maid will be in to assist you in a moment.” With that, he stood up and gently placed her on the edge of the bed with her legs hanging over it, kissed her on the forehead, lips and throat, then left the room.
As he exited the room, a servant came bustling in, introducing herself as Dora, chattering about the master and how worried he had been. Then went on to say how proud the locals were to have someone with her healing talents mated to their lord. Apparently the story of her healing the child had exploded into a local legend while she was unconscious.
Dora went to the wardrobe and opened the doors. Inside were gowns of every jewel tone imaginable. The woman turned, eyed Lia up and down, and nodded sharply to herself. With brisk movements she selected an emerald gown, and began the task of dressing her lady. Not an easy task when the lady in question had no interest in the beautiful velvet gown, and was unable to rise to assist in her dressing.
After a great deal of effort, she was puffing and sweating by the time she finished, Dora had dressed Lia and sat her down in front of a mirror whilst she fussed with her hair. Realizing after a great deal of combing and teasing that her ladyship’s hair would not cooperate, Dora retreated into a corner of the room, and opened a chest that Lia had not noticed before.
With a twinkle in her eye, she reached into the chest with both hands and withdrew a headpiece studded with emeralds. She closed the chest and returned to her lady, “Lord Marcus has been saving these baubles for the time when he chose a mate, and milady, that time is now here. I believe that this will be beautiful with your gown and your wonderful golden eyes.”
She set the diadem in place, and Lia looked at herself in the glass. She didn’t recognize the reflection of the village smith, in her place was a lady. Golden eyes glowed against pale skin, blonde hair framed the jewelled headpiece, the blue markings around her neck were displayed by the low neckline of her emerald gown, and the gown itself fit like a second skin, following her curves and pooling around her feet.
Bemused by her reflection and the changes that she sensed in herself, she did not notice Marcus enter the room. He waved Dora out and stood watching Lia look at her changed appearance in the mirror. His eyes traveled from the top of her head slowly to her feet stopping occasionally to admire her feminine attributes and his marks around her neck.
“Ahem. Are you ready for dinner? The folk are anxious to see you.” His voice had lowered an octave as arousal began to creep through his system.
“What, oh yes of course, I am rather hungry.” She spoke in a distracted tone, not meeting his eyes.
“Then let’s be on our way.” As he spoke he stepped forward and scooped her up into his arms, gave her a small peck on the cheek, and strode from the room and to the great hall, carrying her as if she weighed no more than a feather.<
br />
When they arrived, the townsfolk rose to their feet and cheered their lord and lady. Obviously her one act in the hospice had gained her fame and popularity amongst the locals. Marcus reached the head table, deposited Lia in a large chair on his right, and sat down, gesturing for the pages to begin serving.
Lia was given small portions of food designed for a convalescent and tucked in with good appetite. She was surprised at how hungry she was, and that no matter how much she ate, she could still eat more. Pacing her rate of consumption, she decided that there was more than one benefit to being of dragon blood besides the mating.
At this last thought a blush came to her cheek and throat as she looked at Marcus from under her lashes. He truly seemed to be meant for her; he withstood her strength and could match her stamina, and had a wonderful sense of humour, not to mention great taste in clothes, not that she would tell him that. His head was swelled enough already.
Now with the thought of things swelling, her heartbeat quickened and her eyes dropped to his lap. His earlier arousal had mostly dissipated, but the trace evidence was still there. She let out a small sigh and placed her hands in her lap, lacing her fingers to keep them from reaching out to touch him, she waited for the banquet to be over.
At her sigh, Marcus looked over and noticed that her gaze was directed towards his lap. Becoming aware of her blush and accelerated breathing he focused his senses on her and realized that she was very aroused. In a moment so was he.
Taking a deep breath he rose to his feet, nodded to Rifal, his steward, that dinner was over, and retrieved his mate from the chair. Without a word of explanation he left the guests looking at his back and smiling over the obvious bond between the lord and his new lady.
Eight months later
After eight months of mood swings, Lia throwing things at Marcus’ head, and endless complaints of back pain, the baby arrived. The labour lasted fourteen hours, the father panicked, the mother cursed, and the castle stood by as they awaited the blessed event. The midwife sent Marcus out of the room because he was smashing the furniture in his helpless rage at the pain his mate was enduring. He went to the ramparts and transformed, flying rings around the castle and roaring for the latter half of the labour. When he landed and transformed, Rifal came running to tell him that it was time. He entered their chamber just in time to catch his child in his hands, tears running down his face at the luck that had sent him in search of his old friend, Antoine, and delivered him into the hands of his beloved mate and lady, Lia.
He quickly had to stifle his tears though, as he was required to catch the other child that made its appearance into the world with a red face and a lusty squall.
Chapter 6
"It’s too big.” Lia eyed Marcus dubiously.
“No it isn’t,” his voice was gently persuasive. “It will fit just fine.”
“It will never fit. No matter what you do. I couldn’t possibly. Even after giving birth, it won’t fit.” Her voice was taking on a slightly hysterical tone.
Marcus merely smiled and approached her. Extending his arms, he held the specially made gown across her body. It had a halter top with a jeweled neckline and a low back, a very low back. The fabric pooled around her feet, obviously made for someone about a foot taller, and based on the amount of fabric at the sides, for someone a foot wider as well.
“Lia, the naming is in three weeks. Given that we have two children to present, we both need to be involved in the ceremony. This means that you need to begin to change your form and practice flying as soon as possible. This gown is meant to fit that form.”
“But, I…” Lia looked miserable.
“I have set aside the time to instruct you, and have Rifal filling in for me in the council sessions, as well as preparing for the ceremony. We will take as much time as you need to get the hang of it, but you will fly at the naming, for the sake of our children and the honour of our guests. All of the local dragonlords will attend, a Dragon Council member will be present to officiate, and my family will be here. You will fly.”
“You do understand that I was never trained for this, and that the thought of deliberately changing my form scares the life out of me.” Lia looked up at her mate with wide eyes reflecting her fear and trepidation.
He held her close and stroked her back, “I know. I also know that if your father had survived he would have taken over the training himself. With those who are not of direct descent, the ability to transform does not always appear. In your case it was trauma that caused the first transformation and the pain of the change is still in your mind.”
“The change is painless and even pleasurable, given the right circumstances. Come now, we will go to the roof and practice.” He leaned away from her, gave her an encouraging smile and led her out of their chamber taking the gown with them.
Marcus instructed Lia to take a deep breath and imagine herself in her warrior form, wings extended, tail lashing, and claws on her fingers and toes. He had her practice until he could see the image she held in her mind as clearly as he could his own form. With a quiet and controlled voice he encouraged her to reach within herself to find the dragon instincts that all of their kind were born with. As she touched the flame within, he gently wove his mind into hers, blending the awareness of her body into the picture of herself transformed.
Slowly the change began to show on her flesh. Her eyes were closed in rapture as she loosed the beast from the hidden depths of her mind and body. Lia’s breathing quickened and her nipples hardened as she began to grow. First, her body grew one foot in height, drawing a gasp of surprise and pleasure from her throat, and then the wings blossomed from her back, causing a moan of lust, followed by a groan of delight as her tail appeared. When her fingers extended into claws, she cried out with joy and dropped to her knees.
When she opened her eyes to the world around her and saw him devouring her new form with his eyes, a sly smile crept upon her face. She stood up and walked towards him, swaying her hips, stretching her wings and swishing her tail.
“So, you like what you see, big boy?” A voice made husky and low by her increased size sent shivers down his spine.
“Very much, now before we get sidetracked let’s have your flying lesson.” With every ounce of self control he possessed he tried to force some blood into his brain and attempted a businesslike manner. Hard to pull off with a raging erection, but he was made of stern stuff.
“Practice extending your wings. Open and close them to the fullest extent. Move your tail for balance and jump off of the roof.” He ended on a challenging note, knowing that jumping off of a one hundred foot drop was more than most could handle on a first flight.
“What if I can’t stay airborne?” The hesitation was clear.
“Extend your wings to the fullest and glide to the ground. It will slow your fall and prevent you from injuring yourself.” He had obviously been prepared to coax her off of the keep and therefore was not expecting what happened next.
Lia gathered herself up, took a deep breath and ran off of the top of the keep. As she began her inevitable meeting with the ground, she spread her wings and began a heavy beat that propelled her upwards. Climbing ever higher she continued her ascent until her nude muscled body was silhouetted by the moon to any viewer who happened to look into the night sky.
Marcus stood back and watched his beloved in her first controlled change. He felt mild arousal when he shifted forms, but her response lit a fire within him and soon he was in his own warrior form, with heat pulsing in his veins.
Marcus took off after her. He could not believe his eyes. She was a natural. The grace that was hers on land had followed her into the air. Effortlessly she cut through the open air, swirling and diving. On the evening breeze he heard her joyous laughter, and smiled in response.
Exerting himself to catch her, she eluded him until he finally resorted to dropping on her from above and tangling her wings with his body.
“Enough. That is quite enough for you
r first flight.” His words were punctuated with heavy beats of his wings, his hands holding her firmly against his chest.
“But…It’s so wonderful; I never knew it would feel like this.” Tears welled up in her eyes as she revelled in her new abilities.
Marcus turned her in his hands, his wings keeping them suspended hundreds of feet above the ground. He looked deeply into her eyes, and saw the regret, the sadness and the hint of excitement that burned within him whenever he took flight.
“You can change form now and fly whenever you need to, provided that you let me know so that I can keep an eye out for you.” His order was punctuated with a kiss.
At the touch of his lips, she melted against him. All resistance to his curtailing of her fun gone. Her tongue thrust inside his mouth to duel with his and her hands searched out his erection, slowly dragging from the root to the tip in a rhythm that soon had him groaning and them plummeting towards the ground as he lost control of his wings.
Panicking, she clung to him and spread her own wings to slow their descent. His wings regained the steady beat and together they climbed back into the sky. As they began to regain altitude, Lia looked at Marcus and laughed. In the moonlight it was hard to make it out, but he felt heat flood to his face.
“I am sorry; I have never lost control like that before. It must be something that you bring out in me.”
“Do you think that you could remain airborne if I did all of the work?” Lia had a distinct twinkle in her eye, and Marcus had to admit that he was curious. Very few times had she initiated intimacy with him, but it was always a rewarding experience when she did.
“Yes, and just to be on the safe side, why don’t we go a bit higher?” His wings changed angle and they began to gain altitude. What he hadn’t mentioned to her was that to be absolutely safe he was going to hover over the ocean, if he did lose control again, it wouldn’t be fatal.