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

by Angel Black

  “I love you,” she replied, her strokes growing bolder. “Now, make love to me.”

  He thought he would nearly burst when he thrust his heavy cock into her hot, tight sheath. Source of life, he begged silently, settling between her hips, please let me be gentle. He pulled out slowly, steadying his breath before he thrust himself again slowly inside of Rachel, cursing as her hot tightness gripped and milked him, tiny pulses of pleasure beginning to hum around him. He began to rock his hips slowly, letting her adjust to his wide girth and length. Rachel’s moans of pleasure in his ear were driving him insane, and he wasn’t sure how long he was going to last.

  Then suddenly, Rachel pulled his head back, so that she could stare into his eyes. His heart wrenched in his chest as he looked down into her soul and he nearly lost himself.

  “Please,” she whispered, a tear trickling down her cheek. “Don’t make love to me like this is our last time. Make love to me like this is our first time. Like our lives are normal. Like you’re going to be able to make love to me every night.”

  Valonis choked down the ball of tears in his throat, and began to move faster, harder. He began to worship her body with his own and she responded beautifully. Her shapely legs wrapped around his waist as he urged to her give him her body, proving her willingness. Though not long, her fingernails gripped his shoulder blades and made slow, utterly delicious marks with them down his back until she reached his buttocks.

  Her moans increased in both pleasure and confidence as she whispered them into his ear, growing louder as he went deeper into her soul, connecting himself to her in a way that could not be undone.

  As she came a final time, Valonis felt her hot juices spill around his cock, gushing over him and onto the sheets as her kegel muscles sucked him tightly. The pleasure of her orgasm was too much, and minutes later he roared out his own release as he exploded deep inside of her womb. His cock twitched in excitement, shooting jet after thick jet of cum into her womb. Afterwards, they laid locked together for a long time, content in just being with one another once and for all.

  He held her with his entire body. She was small, compared to him, and precious. Though he was spent, he couldn’t help but continue to kiss her lips again and again in a slow, languorous fashion.

  It wasn’t until he felt Rachel struggling to stay awake that he slowly pulled himself out of her and cradled her into a seating position.

  “Stay awake a little longer, little one,” he implored. “There’s something I’d like to do. Do you remember the ritual we found? Of the soulmates?”

  She nodded her head, her eyes full of understanding.

  “Will you do this with me?” He asked. “Will you become a part of me so that I may become a part of you?”

  Rachel’s eyes filled with tears as she nodded her head. He felt a lump of his own form in his throat, but choked them down. Instead of spilling tears, he shifted his right pointer finger into a sharp talon, and spilled his blood. Making a long cut along the palm of his left hand, he began to chant in his language the words of the ancient bonding ritual. When he finished the first part, he held out his hand for Rachel’s, which she readily gave. He placed a similar cut on her right palm, making it as quick and painless as possible, and began to chant the ritual again.

  Heart of my heart,

  Blood of my blood,

  Through our shared life force we now bind,

  A love between us for all time.

  Never will our love for one another fade.

  With our blood, a price has been paid.

  As I am yours and you are mine,

  We are forever connected,

  within our hearts, and minds.

  He pressed their bleeding palms together as he completed the chant, letting each other’s blood flow into one another for a long minute. By the time he pulled his hand away from hers, his cut was nearly healed, so he quickly set about cleaning Rachel’s. When he was finished, he kissed her in the center of her bandaged palm.

  “Now that we are sealed together,” he explained, “We will always be able to communicate with telepathy.”

  Can you hear me? He thought, sending it to Rachel. She gasped, and smiled.

  Yes! She thought towards him. Can you hear me?

  I can, he replied with a chuckle. This way, between now and when I get you back, we can still talk. You will never be alone, Rachel. I will be right there with you sharing everything. Do you understand me? You will never EVER be alone.

  Rachel curled up on his chest, her hot tears making a trail down his pectorals as he held her as close as possible. He knew she was crying out of sadness again. She had every right to. If he was honest with himself, he wanted to cry with her. Although he hadn’t given up faith on getting her back somehow, he hated that he hadn’t been able to protect her to begin with. Still, he hoped that the small form of communication would give her strength.

  You have to survive for me, he thought, his voice full of raw emotion. On my life, this will not be the last time I hold you. Promise me.

  Even in her telepathic voice, he could hear her tears.

  I promise.

  “I love you,” he whispered aloud, stroking her hair. “And I promise you I will get you back, one way or another.”

  Chapter 16: Brothers Past Death

  Rachel

  Rachel awoke the next morning to an old woman barging into the room. As she gathered the blankets to cover herself, she noticed that Valonis was not there. Her stomach ached with sadness as she realized his absence, then suddenly she remembered her new gift.

  Valonis! Where are you? Someone’s here!

  He responded a moment later, sounding out of breath. She could hear a pack of footsteps coming down the hall.

  I’m almost there baby, hang on!

  Feeling a little relieved, she looked up at the woman with clear disdain.

  “Who are you? What do you want?” Rachel snapped at the woman. “Where’s Valonis?”

  “Shut up,” the older woman snapped, shoving Rachel’s shoulders. “Lie down.” Without a pause, she ripped the blankets out of Rachel’s hands and began to forcefully push her hands around her stomach.

  “You’re a pretty one, aren’t you?” The woman asked, continuing her physical. “Don’t worry. We can change that.”

  “Go to hell,” Rachel shot back, struggling to get out of the woman’s grasp. The sheets had tangled around her ankles, making it difficult to move fast. She was nearly free, or as close to free as she would ever get under the dragon woman’s grasp, when another woman’s hands rested between her ovaries, and she gasped. Suddenly, the woman’s eyes ignited to a bright silver, her round pupils shifting to slits. Her face drew into a snarl and Rachel wondered for a second if the woman was going to shift into a dragon right on top of her.

  “Stupid girl,” she hissed, pushing away from Rachel. For a moment Rachel thought she would strike her in the face, but instead, she turned on her heel in the opposite direction.

  She watched in confusion as the older woman walked briskly out of the room, saying nothing more. Before Rachel even had time to cover herself back up the woman came back, along with the Earl Vilhelm and his Sigma Ajax, Valonis, and group of other dragon shifters she hadn’t seen before. Judging by the fanciness of their clothes, they were not guards.

  So this is the Council, she thought towards Valonis. A little on the prim side aren’t they? She heard Valonis’ laughter slide across her brain, surprised that in such a dark time, she had somehow been able to find some humor.

  When Valonis rushed to her side however, all joking was forgotten. Grabbing the blanket, he began covering her immediately.

  “What is the meaning of this?” He roared. “It’s bad enough you are FORCING HER INTO SLAVERY. Now you must humiliate her too?”

  Rachel watched as the Earl drew in a breath to start a shouting match, but the old woman spoke first instead.

  “I knew it,” the old woman bit out, shaking her head. “I knew no good would c
ome of him battling for his rights. You know your son well enough by now to know that he wouldn’t be able to refuse dipping his wick into a woman. Now he has and the bargain is off.”

  The Earl shook his head, a mixture of anger and disappointment written on his face. “No, we never offered virginity. The deal is still good!”

  “The hell it is,” she shot back. “She is already with a dragon child! And look at her hand. She’s been claimed. My husband and I will not accept this.”

  Everyone in the room looked down at Rachel’s bandaged hand, and hope began to bloom inside of her.

  “Impossible,” the Earl argued, his face growing red with anger. He turned to his son, his eyes full of dragon fire. “There hasn’t, I mean you couldn’t…”

  “It is possible, my lord,” the old woman said matter-of-factly, “And accurate. There’s a life in her belly. One that is dragon. Under our laws, she must not be harmed.”

  The woman gave Ajax a quick glance. Something brief passed between the two of them.

  Rachel remembered the fact that Ajax had not been present the night before. She had thought maybe it was part of Valonis’ victory after defeating the guards.

  That’s why Ajax refused to fight me. She heard Valonis voice in her head, thick with something close to tears. He was always a Sigma. Sigmas prize loyalty above all else. He was the one who first suggested trial by combat. I never understood why he didn’t act as my father’s champion.

  Rachel saw Valonis stare hard at Ajax. The large warrior nodded at his noble, “Brothers until death. We both lost our kin to tragedy, and forever we will be kin until the Source calls us back.”

  The Sigma walked out of the room, leaving them as if he had not just saved Rachel’s life from rape and torture.

  Rachel watched as the Earl’s face first paled, then grew bright red as he turned to look at Valonis. Even from the bed, she could see that he was vibrating with rage.

  “You stupid, stupid boy,” the Earl roared, “How did you even know about that? Who told you about the ritual? Do you have any idea how much money you just cost me? Law be damned, I should kill you both!”

  Not waiting for any answers, the Earl roared, turned, and abruptly left the room. His posse quickly followed him, all of them looking more frightened than the next. When the door behind them slammed shut, Rachel and Valonis were left alone, stunned.

  “I’m free,” she said finally, a smile spreading across her face. “I’m actually free.” She began to weep, and soon felt Valonis’ arms around her as he peppered her hair with kisses. Relief and awe spread through as she worked to accept the new information. She would not be sold. If anything, she would be protected now. And she was with child! Valonis’ child. Love for the new life sprang in her heart immediately as she pressed a hand to her abdomen.

  “Did you know?” She asked suddenly. “Was this your plan the entire time?”

  Valonis quickly shook his head. “I swear it wasn’t. If I had known it would have made any impact at all, I would have made love to you long ago.” He let out a laugh in disbelief, his eyes looking over Rachel from the top of her head all the way down to her toes.

  “I love you,” Valonis whispered into her ear, holding her tighter as she cried tears of joy.

  “I love you too,” she sobbed, holding him to her as tightly as she could. They held each for a long time, their moment of freedom suspended in time as their fears for the future slowly turned into excitement and positivity. After several moments, Valonis gently pulled away so he could put his hand to Rachel’s stomach.

  “I can’t believe it,” he laughed.. His face suddenly grew serious, and when he looked back up to Rachel his eyes were dragon gold.

  “I promise you I will protect you and our baby from now on. You will never have to worry like this again. Whatever you want, you’ll have it. Whatever you’ll need for the baby, it’s yours. Even I have to make it myself. You are never going to have a reason to be disappointed in me again.”

  Rachel’s heart began to pound rapidly in her chest as Valonis moved away from the bed to get down on one knee in front of her.

  “What are you doing?” She asked, choking back tears of joy and relief.

  Valonis smiled at her as he reached for her hands. Looking into her eyes, he kissed each palm and then held them clasped together.

  “In the human world and in a normal romantic setting, I believe it is customary that a man would have a ring and a plan. However, I think it’s safe to say that this relationship has yet to be and probably never will be normal, so here it goes.” He paused, his eyes turning dragon once more as tears began to brim in them.

  “Will you marry me?”

  2 Weeks Later

  Rachel giggled as Valonis lifted their hands and kissed the back of hers once more. Holding hands was new for them, and to her surprise, Valonis enjoyed it very much, especially in public. It seemed as if he wanted everyone and anyone to know that she was proudly his. Since she was granted her freedom and accepted Valonis’ proposal, she had been free to explore the Dragon Kingdom. Of course after everything that she had been through though, Valonis refused to leave her side whenever she wanted to explore. Not that she wanted to be without him. She had known she had loved him when he had proposed, but in just the two weeks that they had gotten their freedom back she began to understand just how much she was in love with him.

  Masculine and protective, Valonis was by her side at all times. Whether they were in their private chambers of the palace, at the market, or the volcano gardens, he was always either holding her hand or touching her waist. Yet, despite how protective he was, he encouraged her to explore wherever she wanted.

  “If this is to be your home,” he had told her, “I want you to feel as comfortable as possible.”

  He had stressed over and over again how he regretted taking her without permission, and that he would never take a risk like that again with her safety. There were times when Rachel wanted to comfort him, to tell him it was okay. But it wasn’t. She still had nightmares of the Earl and his men barging into the room. And there were pieces of the human world she missed while awake as well. She missed her classes and her old bed with her quilt on it. It was the only thing she’d had from her mother, and she had no idea whether Druscilla actually kept her stuff safe or just sold it. She even missed Druscilla, which she thought she’d never do.

  Still, being in a couple with Valonis was an experience all in itself, and often kept her mind away from the past and focused on the present. Gone were the days of him being an alleged playboy, although she’d met enough of his past women to understand that at one time that was indeed a fact about him. There were a couple of past lovers in particular that wanted to make their points very clear to her, but Valonis always seemed to appear out of nowhere and warn them that it was best to stay away. Although Valonis had always been polite with her, and now even more protective and kind than ever, it was clear that he was not always such a creature of this particular habit. These women were not used to seeing him in such a light, and she felt sympathy for them, even if it was just a little.

  Yet despite the awkward run-ins, Rachel’s favorite place to go was the public marketplace. To her, it was so much more exciting to her than just going to a departmental or grocery store in the human world. Vendors sold everything in the market place; from food to silks to jewelry. She loved inhaling all of the spices and grilled vegetables and meats as she perused through dragon style dresses, books, and tapestries. Valonis often bought her little treats like zesty kabobs, savory mini meat and cheese pies, and sweet honey cakes. As a matter of fact, anything she looked at for more than a moment, Valonis immediately tried to make the purchase of it which to her happiness and to his chagrin, was funny any time she walked into a book stall.

  She also loved being around people again, to be part of the everyday crowd. Even if some of them cast her dirty looks, no one dared to say or do anything with Valonis by her side. Which, he always was.

  To bo
th her and Valonis’ surprise, there were actually quite a few dragons that approached them to show their support of their relationship. On one occasion a female silk vendor approached her with a red silk scarf, and wished them both a healthy child and a long, loving relationship.

  “Red,” the woman had explained with a beaming smile. “It is the color of love. And of battle. You will endure and conquer both. I am sure of it.”

  The woman’s words had given her strength, and from then on she wore the scarf often.

  “What are you thinking about over there, little one?” Valonis asked her, pulling her out of her thoughts. “Do you need to go back to our chambers?” Despite what she had thought about pet names before her relationship with Valonis, Rachel loved when Valonis spoke to her like that. She wasn’t sure why, but it made her feel precious and protected.

  She smiled at him, letting go of his hand so that she could fit into the space between his shoulder and torso.

  “Just that I really enjoy being in the marketplace.”

  Valonis’ eyebrow went up as he smirked. “Oh? And what do you like about it?”

  “All my new books,” she teased immediately, elbowing him gently in the ribs. They laughed together for a moment, but then Rachel shrugged, looking for her real answer.

  “It just…it feels normal, you know?” She said after a moment. “After everything, it just feels nice to walk around, to interact with others. Plus this place is so big! This is the fifth time you’ve taken me here and we haven’t even gotten through all of it yet.”

  Valonis chuckled, and then bent down to kiss the top of her head. “Well I’m glad,” he replied. “I was actually hoping you would want to come. We are shopping for something specific today.”

  “Oh?” Rachel asked, puzzled.

  “Mhm.” With his arm around her shoulders, Valonis guided her to into an amethyst colored tent. Inside, there were several volcano lamps to illuminate the five long rows of glass containers. In them Rachel saw the glittering of jewelry and she gasped, her heart beating excitedly.