Valonis: The Ancient Blood Awakens: (A War of Blood and Scales Romance)

by Angel Black

  The three of them talked for a few minutes, but then Valonis had to take his leave. With so many people constantly trying to track where he went, the last thing he wanted to do was cause more trouble for Falon and Alexandra.

  “Stay strong brother,” Falon told him, sharing the warrior handshake once more.

  “You as well.” He replied. As he left, he thought about their struggle. It only added more rage to his fire. He knew then that he was willing to do anything it took to save not just Rachel, but all of her kind.

  Chapter 14: Make Me Yours

  Rachel

  Rachel leaned her head back into the water, letting her cascade of curls get drenched. She sighed in relief as the hot water worked to soothe her tension filled muscles. Weeks had passed since the Earl of Dragons found her out and changed her life forever. For the first week she cried the entire time. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t imagine living as a slave, owned by someone who despised not just her, but her entire species. By the middle of the second week however, a vast part of her went numb as she began to accept what was happening in her life.

  After threatening not to receive his visits anymore, she finally got Valonis to tell her fully what was happening. She wouldn’t just be used a slave. No, nothing that was that easy. She would be raped repeatedly in hopes of mothering a dragon child. She didn’t care what species it was, she didn’t want to endure that for anyone. For a moment, she considered joining her father, but couldn’t bring herself to do it.

  Valonis still came to visit her every day. For the first few days she had refused to talk to him, but by the fourth day she craved absolutely anything that was close to comfort. As they began to talk, she discovered that Valonis had been against the trade from the beginning, and that what he had been working on was a way to stop it, while at the same time find a solution for to his people not being able to reproduce. When she had asked, for the hundredth time, why he took her, he finally gave her a full answer.

  “I caught your scent before I saw you,” he explained. “It still drives me crazy. It was—is-- the most wonderful aroma I’ve ever smelled. Then when I found you, cold and bleeding, I wanted nothing more than to protect you. Than to wrap you in my arms and claim you as mine. It’s like you called to me.”

  He went on to explain to her that he hadn’t intended to take her, or anyone, back to his realm. Being truthful about his player ways, he admitted that he had come to the human world to fuck, and then leave. It bothered Rachel that he talked about sex and women so vulgarly, but then she realized that not once did he talk or act that way towards her. He was caring, gentle even.

  Most nights he stayed with her, sleeping close to one another, but not quite ready to touch. It was late in the nights, when they curled towards one another and talked in whispered voices, that they began to daydream of what it would have been like to date in a normal setting. He told her that he’d find her blue lilies, her favorite flower and color, and bring her armloads of them until they filled up her entire house. Then he’d go to a bookstore and buy one of everything, so that she always had something new to read. His answers melted her heart, and though a tiny part of questioned the small fantasy, she still enjoyed imagining being surrounded by some of her favorite things. She liked it even more to fantasize that it was Valonis that gave them to her.

  It was often during their talks that she would slip into sleep and wake up to find Valonis sitting at the edge of the bed, wide awake and staring at the guard; a Sigma named Ajax. Unlike the few other dragons she had seen, Ajax was bald, and his skin was a dark black. He was a summer dragon, Valonis had told her. There were several different shades of dragon; from summer to winter he had said, explaining that the few guards and two nobles that Rachel had seen were of the winter and autumn shades. More so than his skin or even his lack of hair, was Ajax’s size. While Valonis stood over most men and most dragons, Ajax dwarfed even him.

  When she had asked why Valonis watched Ajax so keenly, he told her that he had made mistakes, but that he wasn’t going to make another one by leaving her alone with untrustworthy guards. “He was like a brother to me, and in the end, he chose my father’s money over myself.” He promised her that he would protect her the best he could while he was still able to do something.

  Still, he did disappear for hours at a time every day to find out what was happening. Valonis had been informed that the king of dragons, Supreme Aedan was staying out of the whole ordeal, and word had spread that she was now in the realm. Some of the dragons, especially the females, were furious. Some had even called for her death, and for days, even with Valonis looking after her, she couldn’t sleep. Thinking that someone would come in and take her life kept her awake with fear for nearly three days, and Valonis had to force her to take sleeping tonic just so she could rest.

  When she awoke from her long rest, the first thing she saw was Valonis with his back to her, standing guard between her and the Sigma, Ajax, who refused to leave them alone together. After that, they had begun to talk, and she found herself falling for him again, despite everything. He listened to her stories. To her hopes and dreams and adventures she’d went on with her father. And she had listened to him too.

  Now, as she soaked in the giant bath, waiting for him to return, she thought back to his stories of his childhood. He had a brother once. They were very close, and Valonis looked up to him. When he had died it was out of sheer heartbreak alone. He had found the love of his life, and despite the dwindling ability to reproduce, his wife had gotten pregnant. When the time came for her to deliver however, things had gone horribly wrong. Upon the death of her baby, his brother’s wife drank liquid silver; a poison to dragons. After losing both his soulmate and his child, Valcone quickly followed her, first swallowing the same poison, then throwing himself into the volcano. It would have been a painful, albeit quick death. Since then, Valonis had sworn off taking a bride, despite his father’s avid pushing to carry on the tradition.

  So, when he looked her in the eyes just the day before and confessed his love for her, she knew that without a doubt he was speaking the truth, and that it was extremely hard for him to admit, given the circumstances. Much like his brother, he had found the love of his life, and after such a short amount of time, he would lose her.

  Rachel stayed in the bath for a long time, letting the heat of the bubbling water whirl around and massage her aches and stress. She had gotten into the habit of getting into the bath every day, since she was sure that she’d never be able to indulge in such a luxury ever again. From what the guard and Valonis told her, humans weren’t usually treated with kindness in the dragon realms. To keep herself from spinning into depression again, she forced herself to think about other things, like what it would be like to become a doctor and be able to actually be with Valonis.

  She often thought of the way he’d made her feel when he had put his bare hands on her and it would immediately drive away any sadness. She wished that he would do it again, but the guard forbade them from touching. Still, he couldn’t stop her from fantasizing.

  Hours ticked by and as she stepped out of the bath, she began to worry about Valonis. It had been nearly a full day since he last visited and other than a stack of books that he had brought in for her she had nothing to do but worry. When the evening meal came she was so worried that she didn’t even look at it, but simply pushed it away. Night fell slowly, dragging the day on in an endless ebb of panic and stress. She tossed and turned in the blankets, sitting upright and looking at the door whenever she heard a noise, hoping it was him.

  Relief filled her when he came in through the doors after nearly two days of being gone. Fear replaced it quickly however, when she saw that he was a bloody, bruised mess. Whatever had happened, it couldn’t have been good.

  “What did they do to you?” She whispered in shock. When Valonis fell to his knees in front of her, tears began to roll down her cheeks. She knew that this was the end.

  “I have tried everything that I c
ould,” Valonis rasped, looking up at her. He had a bleeding cut above his left eyebrow, and several more down both his arms. A large, ugly purple bruise was formed on the right side of his ribcage, and he was covered in sweat.

  “Come,” Rachel guided, motioning towards the bath, “Let me help you clean up.”

  “I’m fine,” he promised her, catching her hand to kiss it. “I heal very fast. The only reason these are not healed yet is because of the silver weapons we used.” Immediately she felt the arousing pulses gush through her again. She gasped in surprise. It was the first time he’d touched her, since long ago, and this time there was no Sigma.

  Wait, she thought to herself, Where is the Sigma?

  Taking a steadying breath, Rachel forced herself to continue the conversation.

  “What do you mean?” She asked.

  “I tried everything,” he repeated. “I attempted to reason with my father, and then with the council. When that didn’t work, I went to the King again, pleading for his interference. When that didn’t work, I attempted to place the highest bid on you.” He gave her an apologetic glance.

  “Not to own you, but so that I could take you back to your world. So you could be free,” he promised. “But once my father figured out what I was doing, he shut down my treasury. I was outbid, and the dragon that won is not known for his kindness. So I did the only thing left to do.”

  “Which is what?” Rachel asked, flustered. “Allow yourself to be nearly beaten to death?”

  Valonis gave her a small smile, making her stomach flutter. “Something like that. I exercised my right to battle for my own wishes. I had to fight six of my father’s guards. If I won, I would have the right to spend one more night with you with complete privacy. If I would have lost, I wouldn’t have gotten to say goodbye before they came to get you for the other dragon.” His smile changed, looking more devilish. “I won.”

  A mixture of emotions hit Rachel as she embraced Valonis. She was relieved and happy that he had won, but she was also terrified of what was to come. Valonis had risked his life so she could have one more night of freedom, proving his love to her. She decided then that that was all she would focus on during the little time she had left with him.

  “Please get up,” she implored. Like he had promised, his wounds were already starting to heal. The bleeding had stopped, and the cut above his eyebrow was nearly gone. Still, she wanted to bring him comfort somehow, and cleaning him up seemed like a good place to start.

  When he rose off his knees she flew into his arms, unable to stop herself. He groaned as she did so, and immediately wrapped his arms tightly around her. In that moment in their room, with no Sigma to guard them and no evil to loom above them, she felt small, loved and protected. Closing her eyes, she let herself lean fully into Valonis’ arms, and let everything else about the world around her faded away.

  Picking her up as if she weighed nothing, Valonis carried her to his bed. He laid her down with careful gentleness, and as he sealed his lips over hers, his hand moved to massage her scalp. Warm, relaxing pulses spread from his fingertips into her scalp as his kiss became more possessive, and she couldn’t hold back the moan that slipped from her throat as she felt the hard, thick outline of his erection pressing between her legs.

  “Make love to me,” she moaned, pleading. “Make me yours.”

  Chapter 15: Heart of My Heart

  Valonis

  Valonis’ hands trembled as his fingers slipped around the back of Rachel’s neck.

  What the hell? He thought, pulling her close. I’ve never been this shaky before. But then again, he had never been in love with a woman before either. Rachel’s body slid wantonly against his, giving him unspoken permission to touch and taste and tease as much as he wanted. Yet he found himself thinking of how much he wanted to please her.

  Groaning, he grabbed a handful of Rachel’s curls and tilted her head back just enough so that he could claim her luscious lips with his own. Her soft, willing mouth parted for him obediently, and he felt his entire body tighten as he tasted her tongue. Like the sweetest honeysuckle, it dripped from her mouth to his, and he immediately thirsted for more.

  Pleasure exploded through him as her small tongue darted between his lips to taste him. It was such a normal gesture, and yet, it meant something great to him. She wanted to taste him, to drink him in the way he wanted to drink her. It pleased him endlessly to feel her tongue dart again, and this time he didn’t let her get away. He caught hers with his, and felt her moan into his mouth as they began a kiss that would seal them together forever.

  Guiding her back to the pillows, he only stopped kissing her long enough to pull her robe off and throw it to the floor. The moment he saw her naked he lost his breath, not able to believe that the woman in front of him was actually his. Rachel’s body was that of an hour glass, with perky, rounded breasts, a small waist, and scrumptious hips. The tips of her rose colored nipples were drawn into hard peaks, begging for his attention. After kissing her on the lips one more time, he made his way down her neck, licking and nibbling over her ears and collarbone as he did so. Her soft little moans were urging him on, and between his legs he could feel the hardest erection he’d ever had in his life.

  “Ohh,” Rachel moaned as Valonis drew a sensitive nipple into his mouth. He nibbled on the tiny peak until he could feel her hands go into his hair and hear her moans grow louder, then with excruciating slowness, began to torture the other. He loved the way she arched her back to give him her breasts, as if she were offering herself up for his devouring.

  “Spread your legs for me little one,” he commanded, his voice low and full of sex.

  Again, Rachel obeyed willingly, and as he settled his hips atop of hers, he could feel her wetness even through the fabric of his trousers. It took everything he had to not simply unzip himself and take her right then and there.

  But no, Rachel deserved more than that. She deserved to be worshipped like the goddess she was to him. Their bed was her alter and he was thankful, blessed, to be praying between her knees. He wanted her to know, needed her to know, that this was the type of love making she actually deserved. And, if this was going to be her last night as a free woman, he wanted to be able to give her as much pleasure as possible.

  Furthering his exploration, he moved his head further down, nuzzling and kissing his way down her abdomen until he was finally at the delicious apex of her legs.

  “Spread your legs for me, little one,” he rasped, moaning as he watched her obey so willingly. Beneath him, Rachel was trembling with arousal as soft, low moans of pleasure continually erupted from her lips. Her soft brown eyes were glowing with pure arousal as she looked at him and he knew, even if he never saw her again after that night, that he would remember that look, and cherish it until the rest of his days.

  He wanted to tell her. He wanted to tell her that she was his one. His soulmate. That, if all failed and he could not get her back, he would never take another to his bed. But he knew words like that would ruin such a sacred moment. He wanted to remember her swimming in pleasure and satisfaction, not in a puddle of admittedly justifiable tears. Tearing his mind away from the sadness, he dipped his head, aching to taste her once and for all.

  Yes, he thought, licking his tongue teasingly against her engorged clitoris. Focus on me. Forget everything but me. His tongue licked again, this time faster, with more pressure. It made Rachel gasp and buck her hips deliciously against his chin.

  Valonis nearly went mad with pleasure as he drew in her taste. She was so soft and sweet. Her scent was like honeysuckle, dripping with morning dew from the dawn. If they were ever able to make love again, he was sure he would spend days dining on her sacred flower alone.

  “Oh,” she moaned, “Valonis, I- ohhh,”

  Chuckling, he held her hips down with his hands and began to feast; licking, suckling, and teasing until he could feel her pressure begin to build up and make her tremble with carnal need.

  Her hands were gripp
ed tight in his hair, and he moaned as she began to buck her hips so that he could lap more of her into his mouth. He wanted her to come. He needed it. Knowing she was close, he slid a finger into her hot, wet, tight passage as he flicked over her clitoris, and moaned in pleasure as her screams and wetness flooded around him. He drank from her greedily, loving the way her orgasms tasted. When she was done, he tasted her more, until orgasm after orgasm began rolling through her every few minutes. It wasn’t until Rachel began begging him to make love to her that he even thought about stopping.

  Rising up, he pushed himself off her so that he could get a clear head. He ran a shaky hand through his hair, trying to get his excitement under control. He had known through their talks that she wasn’t a virgin, but he couldn’t help but feel like he was taking innocence from her. Perhaps in some way, he was.

  “Are you sure this is what you want, Rachel?” He rasped, looking directly into her eyes. If she would ask him to stop he was sure that he would weep on the spot, but he wouldn’t pressure her about it. He would be a dragon and do whatever she wanted, even if it meant leaving him to suffer with blue balls the rest of the night.

  She looked right back at him, her eyes full of pleasure and trust.

  “I want you,” she whispered, her soft hands cupping his face. “I’ve wanted you since the first night I met you. Make love to me. Make me yours in a way that no one else will ever be able to do.”

  “I love you, Rachel.” It was out before he could stop it, but as soon as it left his lips he knew that it was the truth. He did love her, and he needed her to know. She smiled sweetly up at him, her hand going to his cock to brush gentle, teasing strokes over him, making him growl.