by Jensine Odom
He traces a hand down my spine, the electricity in his fingertips also zapping across my skin. My hands spread across his chest, teasing, and the pleasure tickles across my own. Heat builds, both within and with out. He grows hard again, and I become soft, slick.
Our bodies join, both penetrating and encompassing. Hands press against my lower back, pushing us closer together, and we both gasp. I rock my hips, the double stimulation bringing me to climax faster than anticipated.
Convulsing and clinging to each other, we cry out in unison, the noise of our voices combined not sounding quite human to my newly sensitive ears. Collapsing against each other, our chests rise and fall rapidly, our hearts beating as one.
As our pulses return to normal, I let our minds gently drift apart, but not completely; just enough to differentiate me from him.
Caedryn kisses my temple, cheek, and lips. I love you, Xerxia. He wraps his arms tighter around me.
I love you, Caedryn. I lay my head against his shoulder with a contented sigh.
We sit together in the rapidly warming sun, the grasses swaying in the wind, rippling like waves around us. I close my eyes, enjoying the brush of the cool breeze against my naked body and reveling in the feel of Caedryn’s skin against mine.
A dragonfly darts around above us, its energy frenetic and fast paced. Higher, an eagle soars on the winds, steady and sure. Just inside the trees on the opposite side of the meadow a herd of elk graze lazily yet remain cautious and shy.
My stomach growls suddenly at the thought of elk, and Caedryn’s laugh rumbles in my chest.
“Are you hungry?” he teases
“Famished, actually.” I laugh with him, sitting up. “Who knew transforming could take so much out of you.” Kissing him once more, I slide off his lap, standing to retrieve my clothes.
“We will need to hunt,” Caedryn informs me. “Having left in such a haste, I forgot our provisions and weapons.”
“That’s alright. It just means I get to try hunting as a dragon.” I flash him a little smile, and pull my tunic over my head, tightening the laces a little. “There’s a herd of elk just over there.” I nod in the general direction of the animals I sensed a moment ago, slipping one pantleg on then the other. “One of us can flank, spooking them into the open, and the other can ambush them.” My boots are last, but I’m not happy about how they throw off my modern medieval look.
“How do you know there’s elk over there?” Caedryn asks as I quickly fix the minor style issue.
“I can sense them.” I look at my new boots, made entirely out of leather, and wiggle my toes, then meet his gaze.
“What do you mean you can sense them?” Caedryn asks, curious, looking in the direction I indicated.
“I can sense their life force, and therefor pinpoint their location,” I answer, hoping it helps.
It doesn’t. Caedryn just looks confused. Maybe I can show him? With a thought, I join our minds, hoping he can see through my eyes. Looking at where the elk are, I focus on the energy they give off, their outlines waving through the trees like ghosts.
I release his mind, and judging from the look on his face, my idea worked. He looks between where he now knows the elk are and me with wonder.
“How did you do that?” he asks.
“You’re going to have to be more specific,” I tease, already knowing what he means. “I wanted to show you how I sense things, so I showed you.” I shrug like it’s no big deal.
“What else can you sense?”
“Everything.” I close my eyes and focus on the energy playing around me. “That eagle.” I point up. “That dragonfly.” I point at the insect buzzing over the lake. “You.” I spin abruptly to face Caedryn, knowing he moved behind me while my eyes were shut.
He catches me in his arms, caressing my face. “You’re amazing.”
I open my eyes to meet his, a warm smile spreading across my lips. “Thanks.” My stomach grumbles again, making me laugh, and I bounce out of Caedryn’s embrace. “Let’s go hunting! Since I can sense the elk, I’ll flank. You wait there.” I motion to a stand of trees jutting out into the meadow near where the elk are.
With a proud smile, Caedryn gives me a quick kiss then heads for his post. Wanting to test my new stamina, I jog across the meadow, sticking to the far edge to skirt the trees where the elk hide. I’m not even breathing hard by the time I enter the forest.
Switching to stealth mode, I make my way for the animals, making little noise with my soft boots as I move through the underbrush, keeping an eye on their energy signatures. Quietly coming over the last pile of rocks, I finally have eyes on, and scan the herd.
There’s a large buck standing as wary guard, ears swiveling beneath an impressive rack of antlers. He has to be at least a ten point, and is definitely not our prey.
There’s a few more younger bucks, a handful of does, and several fawns. At the far edge of the herd sits an older buck, one of his antlers broken from a failed attempt at domination, and a limp in his back end. We’ll take him.
Before I can put my plan into motion, a twig snaps to my right. The elk all stand, on high alert as they frantically look around and shift nervously. It’s now that I become aware of a cluster of new energies spreading out around me and my prey. Wolves. It looks like I’m not the only predator looking for a morning meal.
Lines of energy appear in my vision, weaving through the trees, all leading to the elk. Some are brighter than others, and one line in particular glows especially bright, calling to me. That’s the best path to take for both me and the wolves to get what we need. I don’t know how I know that, but I do, without a doubt.
Instinctually, my awareness moves out in search of the weaker minded predators, and I plant my plan in their brains. All the energy paths disappear, save for one; the one I wanted.
The wolves, with their unknown orders, charge the center of the herd, cutting it. The elk bugle in panic, and my target moves where I want, right for the meadow, and Caedryn. Leaping over the boulder before me, I slide down, screaming like a banshee, and push my half of the herd out into the open.
Once in the meadow, though, the larger creatures outpace me and my two legs. Time to see how fast I can shift. One step I think I’m a dragon, the next I am a dragon, the change in verticality barely affecting me; that was easy. Tucking my wings, I run to catch up with my prey.
With the sudden appearance of a new large predator, the elk scatter, making it all too easy to cut in, separating my target from the rest and pushing it towards Caedryn. He steps out from his cover just as the old buck reaches his hiding spot, and I leap to cut off its exit.
The elk’s eyes roll back, and it falls to the ground, legs stiff as it convulses, then goes limp. Caedryn gives it a quizzical look, prodding it with one silver claw, and looks at me, now rolling on the ground laughing, the sound more like a deep chuffing.
“What happened to it?” he asks.
“We literally scared it to death!” I laugh harder, struggling to compose myself. A few deep breaths, interspersed with giggles, and I finally get a grip. “Its heart gave out,” I answer a little more seriously, and reach out, laying a large, draconic hand over its body, releasing its soul. “Now what? You said we don’t have weapons, so we can’t butcher it, and I know I’m a dragon now, but eating intestines and such is still unappealing.”
Caedryn laughs this time, and when I give him a questioning look, he holds up one claw. With a swift motion, he parts the elk’s flesh like a hot knife through butter. A few more cuts, and he’s neatly cleaned the insides out of the carcass, tossing them aside with a triumphant smirk in my direction.
“Alright, smart guy!” I smirk back.
Using one of my razor sharp, golden claws, I cut a few choice chunks out of the rump and ribs, tossing the fresh meat in my mouth. Still warm juices flow down my throat as I chew, savoring the salty taste of elk. I swallow, then give Caedryn a challenging look.
Picking up the gauntlet, Caedryn slices off piece
s of the shoulder and ribs, tossing them up and snatching them out of the air before turning the challenge back on me.
“Show off.” I roll my eyes.
Taking a large chunk off the flank and skewering it with my claw, I hold it up in front of me. I wasn’t there for the lesson in blowing fire, but I think I can figure it out on my own. Focusing on what I want, I let my mind do the rest.
My lungs fill as something rushes through my body and bones. A tickle in the back of my throat makes me cough just as my lungs expel the gas they collected, and voila, I have fire; the short burst just enough to lightly roast the outside of my steaks.
“Impressive,” Caedryn compliments, shock registering on his draconic face.
“Thanks!” I beam at him, tossing the perfectly crispy meats in my mouth.
We take turns cutting up the rest of the elk, throwing what’s left over with the entrails for the coyotes and other scavengers that have gathered to pick at. Completely full and satisfied, I stretch out in the grass, enjoying the warm afternoon sun on my scales despite the fire that already flows through my veins.
“That was a good strategy, using the wolves to your advantage,” Caedryn begins.
“I sense a ‘but’ in there,” I huff, looking up at him.
“You do know what you did, correct?”
“If you’re implying I mind controlled them, I didn’t,” I reply, slightly annoyed. “I simply showed them the best route to take. Wait! How do you know what I did?”
“I saw through your eyes a few times,” he explains. “First it was where the elk were exactly. Then the wolves appearing in your mind. I could feel your thoughts as you touched their minds. The last I saw was of the wolves moving half the herd one way, and you the other. Even now I can tell you’re wondering how this is possible.”
“I don’t wonder, I know,” I correct him. “Baldure and I didn’t share a bond until he shared his soul with me. You and I already had a bond. When you shared your soul with me earlier, it must have burned a permanent link between us.”
Caedryn’s thoughts swirl at the edge of mine, and excitement fills my heart, then sorrow. My mother had said she shared a bond such as this with my father. I dreamed of the day I would share it with Allowyn, but it took a great amount of trust, and she never truly trusted me. I now know why.
I move to lay beside him, nuzzling my head under his. She should have trusted you, though.
Caedryn moves to sit a few yards away, looking off in the distance, and my heart aches with his. She was right not to. Like a fool, I believed fervently in what was right and wrong. He hangs his head. I would have reported her.
You wouldn’t have. I sit beside him. Had she trusted you, things would be different. You would have shared a bond like this; she would have believed you the night you went dormant—
I wouldn’t have you, Caedryn points out, rubbing his head against mine like a huge, scaly lion.
The love he feels for me nearly drowns me. You wouldn’t have me, I agree, nuzzling him back. But you wouldn’t have needed me, either.
No. I still would have needed you, he counters firmly. We all would still need you. Drustana still would have killed the other Royals, but Allowyn wouldn’t be strong enough to do this; to do what needs to be done.
Alright, you got a point there. I give him a draconic smirk. Things change, though; people change. Or in this case, dragons. That gets me a smirk from Caedryn. Allowyn technically changed, because Drustana killed her, thus changing you. Turhion changed, and Baldure. So did all the Honorless who surrendered.
Mary changed, Caedryn adds.
Mary changed, I agree. I’m still not sure how.
She said her name was Meirana. I knew her. I executed her, on Mother’s orders, for conspiring with Drustana, and being an Esper. I don’t know why her soul wasn’t removed from the stone, but it must have reincarnated, just as yours did. You must have awakened her.
I did awaken her, I say quietly, remembering the shock between her and me the same day I was awakened. That’s probably how Drustana found us. If she has a bond with Mary like I do with Baldure, she was able to track us from the beginning.
Don’t forget Alivia. She shares a bond with Baldure as well, and would have thought him your prisoner, willingly leading Drustana to us.
Yes, but Mary planned the attack on me. I didn’t see it before, but there was a dragon that went after her, drawing me back to her. Right before I reached her, it was gone, with no harm done to her. My mind knew there was something weird about that, but I ignored it, because Mary was family. I snort, angered by Mary’s betrayal.
Easy, Caedryn soothes, tucking his neck around mine. What happened has passed. She may have destroyed the soulstone, but she failed to kill you. Our goal remains the same.
We should leave tonight, I offer, freshly determined to finish this.
Caedryn just laughs, getting a cross look from me. We leave in the morning. Drustana thinks you dead. Her guard will be down. Let’s take this day to rest and get a good night’s sleep.
Fine, I huff.
Caedryn chuckles again and stands. Come. I have something to show you. With that, he takes off, heading back for the cave, an unspoken challenge echoing in my mind.
Game on! Stretching my wings out, I take off, surprised at how easy it is. Instead of flying directly after Caedryn, expending energy to try and catch up, I soar out over the meadow, heading into the little valley below the cave.
Caedryn’s confused for a moment, but he grows more confident in him winning, thinking his direct route will get him there faster. I know differently. In soccer, we called this maneuver the coyote run; taking an arcing path instead of straight to reach a destination before the opponent.
So, you can imagine Caedryn’s surprise when he lands, thinking he’s won, and I’m leaning against the mouth of the cave, arms crossed, affecting boredom. Sure, I may have just gotten here a split second before him, but he doesn’t know that.
Shifting as he lands, he looks between me and the sky around him, confused.
“Magic!” I wave my hands in the air, standing straight. “What’s this surprise?”
The corner of Caedryn’s mouth turns up, and he just walks into the cave. My eyes adjust to the dark quickly, and even though the amount of light that reaches inside is minimal, I can make out every detail, like the cluster of petroglyphs on one wall.
Caedryn walks past the main room to a smaller alcove just big enough for a single dragon. This must be where he slept for all those years. At the back of the alcove is a jutting rock formation, and Caedryn walks right for it. Grabbing it firmly, he breaks it from the wall, rolling the boulder to the side and revealing an even smaller room beyond. So small he has to crouch to get inside.
He disappears into the dark hole, reappearing a short moment later with two leather bundles of something large. With a little fenagling, he gets out, laying the packs on the floor while he rolls the rock back into place. Picking them back up, he walks back for the main room, motioning with his head for me to follow.
Caedryn sits, laying the bundles out in front of him, and I sit opposite, watching curiously as he unrolls the first. Metal clanks against something that doesn’t sound like metal, and a moment later two sets of weapons become visible.
“I thought you said we didn’t have weapons?” I tease, drawn to the set of curved black daggers that look like obsidian, but most definitely are not; the energy radiating off them feels foreign. Like not of this world foreign.
“We didn’t have our weapons,” he corrects.
“Then whose are these?”
In answer, Caedryn lifts the daggers I have my eye on. He runs a loving hand over them, nostalgia tugging in my heart, then he offers them to me. Tentatively, I take them, understanding they must have belonged to someone dear to Caedryn.
The moment my hands meet the spiraling handles, it’s like their glued in place. Golden energy shoots across both blades, making spirals just beneath the surface of the ali
en material. Like a gust of wind only I can feel, something passes through me, taking my breath away and leaving a tingling sensation at the base of my neck. Two names, Eltanin and Arrakis, float through my mind, the man’s voice that whispers them unfamiliar.
“Eltanin and Arrakis,” I repeat, and the blades respond, the spiraling energy turning chromatic. “Do those names mean anything?”
Tears well in Caedryn’s eyes, and he slowly blinks them back, smiling warmly at me. “Those are their names. They were my brother’s.”
“Were?” I manage, taking in what just happened and the fact that Caedryn had a brother.
“His name was Eagan. Drustana killed him.” Again, Caedryn blinks away tears, and I set one dagger down to rest a hand on his leg. “Do you feel different?” Caedryn asks cryptically, meeting my eyes with hope.
“No, I—” I break off, suddenly realizing the tingling sensation at the back of my neck never left. It’s softer, but still there, and when I focus on it, new threads of energy snake out, the stronger ones all leading to one place. Home. “I’m a Knight,” I breathe, a smile spreading across my face.
“These were Eagan’s,” Caedryn says again, pointing to my new weapons. “He was a Knight, but also a Royal. I saw it fitting you inherit them.”
Overwhelmed, I throw myself against Caedryn, hugging him tight. “I’m honored.” I press my forehead to his, then return to my seat across from him.
Caedryn smiles lovingly at me, then passes over the ornate leather belt and sheaths for my new weapons. I stand and sling the belt across my hips, sliding Eltanin and Arrakis snugly into their places, crossed on my lower back, then sit back down, my eyes flicking to the other weapon in the pack.
“This is Caliburn,” Caedryn says, laying the claymore out before me, the emerald set in its pommel glittering. Next, he unrolls the other pack, revealing a double headed axe with blue trimmed green blades and a longsword with a golden topaz nestled in the hilt. “These are Nacht-Brekker and Eros.” He points to the axe and longsword respectively.