Drakhana's Claim

by Tara Starr

  I slide down his length slowly, taking him all in. I want to feel every inch of him as he enters me. He places his hands on my hips, helping me as I take him in all the way to the hilt.

  Our moans come in sync with one another. We look into each other’s eyes. I see myself within those depths.

  “You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he says, stroking the nape of my neck.

  “You keep stealing my lines.” I kiss him.

  Only when he pushes his tongue into my mouth do I begin to move. The first slide is always the hardest since we’re both searching for a rhythm that we both can match. But years of training together has honed our instincts for one another.

  Soon, we move together. Giving each other pleasure with out bodies. He moved his hands to the backs of my thighs and lifts me. Then when he brings me down, he pushes his hips up, meeting me thrust for thrust.

  I throw my head back at the new angle in which he enters me. The head of his cock hits me at just the right spot, causing my entire body to tremble on top of him. My fingers dig into his shoulders. The muscles on his neck strain.

  “I’m close,” I say.

  “I’m right there with you,” he growls into my neck.

  I hug him tight against me, bringing my hands to the back of his head. He increases his strokes, blinding me with sensation after sensation. I lose my breath the instant I feel all my muscles tighten around him.

  “Ivy,” he says as if in prayer.

  We come seconds apart. I lick the drop of sweat that goes down his chest as he thrusts into me several more times. We pant against each other as we come down from the high of sharing such an intimate connection with one another.

  Once I’m sure I can move again, I ease off of him. In a swift move that I didn’t think him capable of, he sweeps me off my feet and brings me to his bedroom. He settles me on my feet right at the edge of the bed.

  I turn around and he unzips the dress and lets it fall to the floor. He does the same for his destroyed shirt. We climb into bed and I settle against his side, hooking my leg across his torso.

  “Did I already tell you how amazing you are?” he asks.

  “I don’t mind hearing it again,” I say, snuggling closer.

  He crushes me against him and places a kiss at the top of my head. “Well, it’s true. You are the most amazing being in this world.”

  “Watch the flattery,” I warn. “It might all go to my head.”

  “Wait until I catch my breath,” he returns my warning with one of his own. “I have many plans for you, general.”

  “I will hold you to that promise.”

  We settle into happy silence for a long moment. It’s a blissful state that I wish will never end. I can stay in this comfortable bed in Logan’s arms forever.

  With him, I have found an oasis away from my cares and worries. I can breathe deeply and feel the air entering my lungs. He strengthens me, yet he also keeps me safe in ways I’ve never felt before.

  For years, I had to fend for myself. I had to protect myself and my people. I worried by myself. Planned alone and executed things alone.

  Today, I’ve come to realize that I don’t need to be alone in all this. That with Logan by my side, I can accomplish anything. He was right when he said that we could build empires together. I actually believe him.

  I choose that moment of peace to check in on Basil. I forge the connection and ask, How is everything?

  It takes a moment, but Basil’s frantic voice comes back to me. I’ve been trying to contact you.

  I sit up. What’s wrong?

  The fire clan is on the move.

  Twenty-Four

  Logan

  The instant Ivy bolts upright, I know that something is wrong. Within the times we’re living in, there can only be one thing that can get her this agitated. I sit up as well and wait until she finishes receiving the message from whoever she’s speaking with. Most likely Basil.

  Once the blank look leaves her face, I say, “Is it the fire clan?”

  She scoots off the bed. “They’re on the move.”

  I push back the lust that I feel when I see her pacing my room in all her naked glory. This is not the time to coax her back into bed. At the same time, I don’t think it will win me any points nor will she appreciate it even as a joke.

  “What are you looking for?” I ask when I finally understand that she’s searching for something and not just pacing back and forth.

  “I left my clothes in the bathroom. I’m looking for a shirt to wear. I don’t want to get back into that dress.”

  Another dragon would have felt hurt by her rejection of the gift. But I know Ivy. That’s not what she means. She needs to wear something that makes her feel secure so that she can think properly.

  “The closet is that way.” I point toward the door at another end of my room. “You can pick out anything that you want from there.”

  She stomps to the closet door in ground eating strides, opens the door, and steps inside. While she’s picking out whatever she wants to wear, I get off the bed and head toward my dresser. I pick out black boxer briefs and pull them on.

  Ivy returns wearing one of my gray sweats, complete with hoody. They are too big on her, but she manages to pull them off. I used to wear those when I’d go for a jog in the morning.

  I take a seat on one of the lounge chairs facing my fireplace. Ivy joins me and takes a seat at the one across from mine. Her knee bobs as she rubs her thighs.

  “What are you thinking about?” I ask, allowing her to speak her thoughts gives her a sense of purpose. It connects her to her duty. She sees more clearly when she speaks aloud.

  “The fire clan is on the move,” she says, repeating her earlier statement.

  Okay, she’s still processing. There must be a million things going through her mind. I decide to talk it out and see where she goes with what I say.

  “Fire clan is in possession of a good chunk of our land surrounding Verglas Mountain.”

  “From the looks of things, they are beginning to encroach on the land within the Verglas territory as well. They’re leaving us little room to move,” she says, but I know it’s not to me in particular. It’s more like she’s talking to herself.

  Seeing as my line of thinking is working, I continue with, “They are also moving into our businesses, undercutting our profits and buying up our shares.”

  “The fire clan is taking as much of the ice clan territory as they can without little thought of who they hurt or put down in the process.” She rubs her chin. “They are drunk with the new power that they possess. They are using this moment of weakness from us to their advantage.”

  “Even though they aren’t taking any more ground, they aren’t losing it either,” I add. “They’re maintaining what they have already and making moves to take more.”

  “We can’t allow that to happen. We need to stop them.” She looks me in the eyes. “I don’t appreciate being squeezed on all sides.”

  “I don’t either. If we’re going to act, we need to do it now.”

  “Do you feel strong enough to return to Verglas?” she asks. “Can you control your dragon? Because I want you there as much as possible.”

  Seeing as we’ve already slept together? I’m not allowing Ivy out of my sight. I need to be where she is to protect her back.

  “I’m coming with you,” I say in response to her question. “I’ve got things under control now, and I think my dragon will appreciate a good fight.”

  “But first, we need to make sure that we have a plan in place for all your business partners. This way we don’t get blindsided while on the battle field.”

  I take a moment to appreciate her concern for the business. She’s truly accepted that what I do is part of the great fight. All the more I want to protect her and to ensure that we have something to return to after we save our people and our home.

  “The factories will be their first target,” she says.

  I can see o
n her face that she’s worried about the dragons there. “We’ve already switched to the manufacturing of essential goods. We’ve also made sure that each factory is owned and secured by the ice clan. The fire clan will not have any leverage against us there.”

  “What about winning back the shareholders?”

  “The smear campaign has already begun.” I grin. “A little rumor here, a call to the FCC there and they won’t know what hit them.”

  “What about the cash flow?”

  “That will take a bit more time, but I will make a call to my business managers to see if everything is in place before we fly out to Verglas.”

  We stand at the same time, bodies in sync. I don’t even have to say anything. We both head to my home office.

  I pick up the phone while she picks up my tablet. I give her the password so that she can access it. Once she’s in my home screen, she moves to the other end of the room.

  While speaking to each of my business managers, I make sure that I give half an ear to Ivy. It seems like she’s on a video call with her parents. Only natural since the fire clan has begun mobilizing. I can feel the worry coming from her more than hear it.

  I end my call right about the same time that Ivy ends hers. She approaches my desk. A knot has formed between her eyebrows as she returns my tablet to me. I place it on top of my desk.

  “As I suspected, my parents want us back at Verglas,” she begins without me having to ask her what the call was about. “Everyone’s in a panic now.”

  “That’s understandable. The fire clan has posed a significant threat to us.”

  “For the first time, I’m not ashamed of admitting to being scared, Logan.”

  I’m honored by her admission. She is one tough nut. For her to tell me that she’s scared means she trusts me enough to know I wouldn’t hold that emotion against her.

  “You have done everything you can to keep your people safe,” I tell her.

  She bites her lower lip. “But what if that’s not good enough? What if we fail at this?”

  I round my desk and stand close to her. I want to hold her but from the tension in her posture, I know that she won’t welcome that. I just make sure that she feels my body heat and hope that she derives comfort from my presence.

  “You can’t doubt yourself now. Not when we have everything in place,” I say. “Why don’t you put your fighting leathers on and we’ll fly out to Verglas afterward?”

  She nods and leaves my office.

  Only when I’m alone do I let the worry I’m feeling seep into my expression. I understand where she is coming from. She’s already tasted defeat at the hands of the fire clan. That can do a number on your confidence.

  Hell, I’m liking my own wounds from the business beatings I’ve been taking lately. If it weren’t for Ivy’s help, I don’t think I would have thought of more effective ways to save us. Which is why I’m ready to follow her into battle. She did her part. Now it’s time to do mine.

  I head to my closet and unearth my own fighting leathers. I put each piece on and meet Ivy in the living room. She gives me a head to toe assessment.

  “Still looks good on you,” she says, letting a spark of lust shine through. Then she blinks and wears the mask of the general once more.

  I don’t even have time to revel in her praise. Soon, we’re already outside and calling to our dragons. When we’re in the air, a thought hits me. If we lose both the city and the mountain, our people will have nowhere else to go.

  Twenty-Five

  Ivy

  Logan and I fly back to Verglas as has as we can. I barely breathe until I see the shining peak on the horizon. I’m in constant contact with Basil the entire time.

  We need to be ready no matter what. I only pray that nothing happens before I get there. I cannot allow my troops to feel that I have abandoned them in their time of need.

  The winds seem crazier than when we last arrived together. It’s as if the nature around the mountain is also preparing itself for battle. Our home will protect as much as we will protect it. We all need to work together to win.

  Two of my father’s personal guards meet us as Logan and I land on the same ledge we used to head to the council chamber. One of the guards runs when they see us. I assume he’s there to let the council know of our arrival.

  Not that he needed to. I already contacted my father via our special mental network that Logan and I were close. They must have wanted visual confirmation. I would want the same thing while we were in the shadow of an impending attack.

  Once our claws touch the ledge, we shed our dragons at the same time. It’s eerie how connected we are. Is this what happens when two dragons sleep together? Surely, there has to be more there that I’m not seeing.

  The other soldier gives me a salute before he turns on his heel and leads us to the council chamber. Not that I need the escort. It just shows how uneasy everyone is feeling at the moment.

  I make sure to keep a stone expression. No one will witness uncertainty on my face. No matter how much I feel my doubts creeping in. I’m unsure of what we are facing unlike any time in my life.

  The soldier opens the door for us. My parents and their advisers are already there. It seems they have started the meeting without us. Another sign that they are worried.

  “Ivy, thank the dragon gods,” my mother exclaims in a momentary show of relief.

  When she and my father sit on their thrones, they must remain impartial. Unemotional. They must always wear a calm mask so as not to show bias toward one side or the other.

  I completely understand where they are coming from. I’m the same way with my troops. If I show so much as favoritism for a certain dragon the chain of command will break down. I need them to continue seeing me as an impregnable force that can inspire them to face any enemy.

  “Welcome back, Ivy,” my father says, settling further back into his seat.

  Their advisers and a few other council members in the room quiet down. Good to know that I still have that effect on dragons. I square my shoulders and lift my chin.

  “I’ve heard that the fire dragons are on the move,” I announce, making sure to look straight ahead. I know that they are all listening to me, but I choose to focus on my parents. In this room, their decisions are what matters as monarchs.

  “I see that you’ve brought Logan with you,” my mother points out.

  Logan takes a knee and places his fist against the ice clan emblem on his chest. “It is my duty to serve, Your Majesty.”

  “He will be fighting on the front lines with me,” I confirm, which brings a sense of relief within the room.

  They all know just how powerful Logan is. He continues to be an asset to the army despite his years away. I’m filled with pride at that thought.

  “What about our business interests?” my father asks.

  “Ivy and I have left contingency plans with our business managers in LA, Your Majesty,” he informs my father with gravitas to his tone. “We are prepared on that front. Hence I am here to lend my support in any way that I can.”

  “Then it’s settled.” My father lifts his chin. “Ivy Icensnow, Princess of Verglas Mountain, Mighty General of the Ice Clan Dragons, it is to you I hand over the responsibility of stopping the fire clan in any way you deem appropriate. Protect your people and your homeland. This is my official decree.”

  I snap my heels together and press my fist against my fire clan emblem. “I take this responsibility and will enact your decree to the best of my abilities.”

  After my father nods his approval, I turn on my heel and head for the door. Logan follows closely behind me. He doesn’t question where we are going. I know that he will not leave my side.

  We call on our dragons again when we reach the ledge. Then we fly to the foothills. I’ve informed Basil to set up a meeting of all the generals at the command tent.

  They are already waiting for us when Logan opens the tent flap for me and I enter. Everyone in the room stands and salutes
. I raise my hand in acknowledgement before I take my seat at the head of the table. They all sit while Logan stands with Basil behind me.

  “The king has handed down the decree. I am to take responsibility of protecting our people,” I say, looking at each general and commander in the tent. “We are going to war.”

  They slap the top of the table several times in appreciation. I wait a beat for them to settle down before I start speaking again. I can feel the electricity in the room rise.

  “What’s the word on the mobilization of the fire clan?” I ask.

  Each general that I have assigned to different quadrants of our territory give their report. What I have feared has come to pass. It seems from the numbers of their troops; the fire dragons are about to unleash their full might on us.

  “What about that bitch Kirralee and her bastard consort Rastus? Will they be a problem for us?”

  I wait and the one that gives me the answer is Basil. “Are spies within the fire clan tell us that they will not be at the battle.”

  “And why is that?” I turn to face Basil. “They are the two strongest weapons the fire clan has.”

  “Apparently, Kirralee is pregnant and they will not risk being in battle in her condition.”

  I raise an eyebrow. “So, the fire clan have found a way to reproduce again. That can be a problem we worry about in the future.”

  “I say we still make contingencies.” Logan finally speaks. “We cannot assume that our intel is solid. We must be ready for Kirralee and Rastus to join the fight.”

  “I have to agree,” I say and the other dragons in the room nod. “How do we accomplish that?”

  For what seems like hours, I’m bombarded with suggestions and ideas. I weigh each one and we talk out how we will execute the plans we come up with. By the end of the meeting, I’m still not convinced that we have everything we need to win against the fire clan’s might.

  I ask for some time alone. Logan and Basil make an excuse about checking on the status of the troops. I’m grateful because I need time to think.