by Zoe Chant
By now, some of the larger rocks had been dragged aside. Several of the animals with sensitive noses were all over the mount, sniffing at every opening. Jared had climbed the rocks as well, the phial of dragonsbane still in his hand, and was now carefully crouching down.
A moment later, there was an agonized cry—a human cry, not the roar of a dragon. Still, the dragon inside Gregory’s own heart recognized it straight away.
The fire dragon.
“It’s safe!” Jared shouted a moment later. “I got him with the dragonsbane, he can’t shift now. Sheriff, you got some handcuffs or something?”
“Do I look like I do?” the sheriff, still naked, called back.
Next to Gregory, Naomi snickered.
“Fetch some,” Gregory ordered, “the strongest you got—manacles for hands and feet, just to be safe.”
A moment later, the sheriff had already shifted back into his wolf, running off quickly towards the town. On top of the mount of rock, Jared now shifted as well. His powerful eagle’s wings beat the air. He rose and hovered—and there, in his grip, was the figure of an unfamiliar man.
Slowly, the griffin descended with his prisoner still in his grasp, until the groaning stranger found himself unceremoniously dumped onto the ground in front of Gregory.
“Dragonsbane,” Jared said with a smirk once he had shifted back as well. “Hurts like hell, doesn’t it? Well, you brought it on yourself.”
Protectively, Gregory wrapped an arm around Naomi.
“He can’t shift now,” he explained for her benefit. “Dragonsbane keeps us trapped in whatever form we are in when we touch it. A drop is enough to keep you from shifting for hours.”
“I gave him most of the phial,” Jared said. “He won’t be able to shift for days—probably a week. Enough to get him to Sky Home—and enough to see him judged for his crimes.”
“Anything you want to say?” Gregory demanded of the man.
The stranger gave him an angry look. He had black hair that now looked ragged and tousled, as though it had been singed. He had scrapes and bruises all over his body. He was clad in black jeans and a black leather jacket, a red shirt beneath that showed through the slashes that had ripped the leather. His left arm dangled uselessly by his side.
“Fuck you,” the stranger spat. “You’ll all pay. You’ll all pay, you just wait.”
“I have no idea who you are—or what you are,” Gregory said calmly. “Or what your problem is. Fire dragons have been extinct since the Middle Ages—”
“That’s what you all like to think,” the man hissed. “You abandoned us. You—all of you high and mighty dragons, content to hide from the world like cowards, while knights slaughtered those of us who’d been born with the courage of the fire in our heart!”
“But not all of you,” Jared now pointed out.
The stranger scoffed. “Some of us lived. Some of us remembered how you left us to die. If all of you had risen up against the humans with us back then, the world would be a different place now. We’d no longer cower in fear, hiding in secrecy, letting humans rule lands that should rightfully be ours. We’re dragon! We command the elements! We rule over fire, over air, over earth and ice! This world is ours! But you abandoned us—and for that, you will pay.”
A soft growl escaped Gregory. “You attacked my mate, just because a long time ago, my ancestors didn’t join in with some crazed fire dragon’s attempt to subdue all of humankind? Are you insane?”
The man gave Gregory a cold smile. “We’ve learned patience. Almost completely wiped out, the last of the fire dragons hid away. Wounded and defeated, they waited for the day when they’d have their vengeance on those who abandoned them. That day has come now. I don’t care about your precious humans, your council, or your rules of secrecy. You’ll be wiped out, just as you were content to watch us being slaughtered by knights. And then, at last, we shall rule, as we were always meant to be.”
Next to Gregory, Naomi suddenly straightened.
“Listen to yourself,” she said, outrage in her voice. “It’s not the Middle Ages anymore! And you can damn well look me in the eye when you say things like that. Can you even hear yourself talk? This is the twenty-first century. We’re not just... cattle for you to rule over.”
Taken aback, the fire dragon stared at her. “You’re not supposed to talk like that, human!”
“Ha!” Naomi stood with her hands on her hips. “You don’t tell me what to do. And I have a name. It’s Naomi. The least you could do is learn the name of people you’ve kidnapped and nearly killed. And if you had any manners, you’d apologize as well. But clearly that’s too much to ask from a fire dragon all bent on revenge. I’m sorry you noble fire dragons have less manners than even the most infuriating teenagers I’ve had to tutor.”
Dazed, the fire dragon swayed a little in response.
“But you’re not... You’re not supposed to be like that,” he finally said, his voice weak. “I know all about humans. Are you sure you’re not a dragon?”
“Be grateful you didn’t meet my mom. She would’ve given you a piece of her mind, and by the end, you’d be grateful for a chance to do her dishes and mop the floors. And she’s all human, as am I.” Naomi’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe that’s something worth thinking about. Maybe you don’t, in fact, know all about humans. And maybe you shouldn’t waste a life on revenge when you don’t even know anything about the world you’re living in.”
The fire dragon gaped at her, clearly unsettled and overwhelmed by Naomi’s lecture.
“This isn’t at all what I expected,” he murmured at last. “But how are humans so...”
“Eloquent?” Naomi suggested.
“Brave?” Gregory added lovingly. He gave his mate an admiring look before he focused on the fire dragon once more. “You’ll have some time to think now, and then you can tell all of that to the council. You’ll be given a chance to defend yourself. And afterward, you’ll be judged for your actions.”
Gregory could feel Naomi’s hand coming to rest against his shoulder. In return, he wrapped his arm around her waist once more.
It was a worrying development, to know that there were still fire dragons in the world, and to learn that they had nursed an old grudge for centuries.
And yet, dragonkind had used those same centuries to build firm bonds. These weren’t the Middle Ages anymore. They had lived in harmony with humans for centuries, keeping their existence a secret, but living good, fulfilling lives.
One fire dragon wouldn’t be able to endanger this peace. Not if they all came together to deal with this danger: dragons and griffins and werewolves and cheetahs—and the humans that were part of their communities.
“I’ll let you deal with him,” Gregory told Jared. “As soon as you’ve got him in chains, bring him to Sky Home. I’d come with you, but—”
“You’ve got better things to do. Stay with your mate,” the griffin said fondly. “It’s about time you settled down. And I don’t want to be rude, but—you both really, really need a shower.”
Gregory chuckled tiredly. The rain had washed away the ash and dust from his skin, but the scent of smoke still clung to them. And now, with the adrenaline of the fight leaving his blood, he was starting to feel the ache of sore muscles and scratches.
“Thanks,” Gregory said with quiet gratitude. Then he turned, looking at all of the shifters of Mountain View that had come running at the first sign of attack. “Thanks, all of you. I’ve never been more proud to call this my home.”
One of the cheetahs open its jaw, tongue lolling out as it seemed to laugh at him. Several of the dog shifters started barking happily, and above them, two eagle shifters dipped their wings in a salute while circling above them.
Beneath the scent of rain and earth, Gregory could still make out the acrid smell of smoke. But now, with Naomi safe in his arms and the fire dragon defeated at last, even the ruined tower didn’t matter anymore. Everyone he loved was safe. And his dragon had his treasure r
ight here in his arms.
His family was safe. That was all that was important.
Chapter Fifteen: Naomi
They’d soaked in the whirlpool for what felt like hours. Naomi had picked a bubble bath at random, choosing an old-fashioned glass bottle simply because it was a pretty, sparkling purple. The resulting, luxurious foam had quickly washed the scent of fire from their skin, filling the room with the soothing scent of lavender.
The bathroom was beautiful. It wasn’t the bathroom attached to Gregory’s large suite, but an older room on the ground floor. It went back to right when the mansion had been built, or so Gregory had explained. Now that Naomi could luxuriate in Gregory’s strong arms, safe in the hot water, she had time to admire the mosaics that adorned the walls of the room.
On one wall, there were dragons soaring in the air, carried by the wind. Another showed dragons curling in caverns on a hoard of gold and sparkling gems—gems that looked suspiciously real in the candle light. Further mosaics showed dragons resting in meadows of colorful flowers, and dragons diving in the sea, surrounded by dolphins.
But the mosaic Naomi liked the most showed two young dragons standing on the back of a taller dragon, stretching their tiny wings, their faces showing both excitement and a hint of fear.
Is that what it’s like when a young dragon learns to fly?
Naomi thought again of that incredible sense of freedom when she’d soared through the sky on Gregory’s back, one with the elements, as wild and free as the wind that had tugged on her hair. What would it be like to have children born with that freedom?
She nuzzled silently at Gregory’s shoulder, feeling her heart beat in time with his.
It would be an adventure. And it would be an adventure she couldn’t wait for.
“So,” she murmured, running her hand gently up his side. “You were telling me about the bonding...?”
“It’s already in place, the mate bond,” Gregory rumbled, one of his strong arms coming up to wrap around her waist. “I’m already yours—there’s nothing that could tear me from your side now. But traditionally, when it happens is when a mated pair comes together, declaring themselves to the other with their body and soul—”
“Sex,” Naomi said, feeling a little giddy at the way his wet skin pressed against hers. “I’m understanding that right?”
Gregory laughed softly. “You’re understanding exactly right,” he said with a playful little growl. “My mate, do you have any objections to being carried off into my bedroom to be thoroughly ravished right now?”
“Ooh,” Naomi purred, wrapping her arms around his neck. She could feel him against her thigh, breathtakingly hot and hard. “Can’t say I’ve ever been properly ravished by a dragon. How could I say no to that offer?”
Water splashed everywhere as Gregory promptly rose from the gilded bathtub, lifting her as though she weighed nothing, even though he still bore the scratches and bruises of the fight against the fire dragon.
She ran her hands all over his gleaming chest as she found herself unceremoniously carried from the bathroom in his arms. His muscles were hard as stone, and most of the wounds had already faded to red welts.
Through the bond between them, she could feel his desire—relentless wave after wave of heat, the steady throb of arousal that was enough to drive anyone insane.
She couldn’t even say anymore whether it was her arousal she felt or his. All she knew was that her body was throbbing with it, that she was aware of every single inch of his perfect, chiseled body—and that she wanted to be as thoroughly claimed by her dragon as was possible.
The silk sheets on the bed were deliciously cool against her skin when Gregory finally set her down. The windows of their bedroom were open, and a breeze carried in the scent of flowers. There were flowers on the bedstand as well—flowers they’d picked together this morning, when they’d had breakfast out in the gardens.
But Naomi had no eyes for the flowers or the beauty of her surroundings. If she’d found herself suddenly transported back into her tiny old apartment, she’d still have wanted Gregory just as much.
Gregory transformed every room he inhabited. No matter where, he exuded an aura of calm confidence. It had stirred her body from the first moment she’d seen him, until she found herself kissed breathless in a closet.
And it stirred her even now, when the sexy dragon shifter had already vowed that he would never leave her.
She was wet, her body ready and aching for him. Her nipples were tight. When he leaned over her, still gloriously naked, his damp, tanned skin gleaming in the sunlight, she gasped and arched eagerly against him.
Gregory took his time, covering her breasts with kisses while she squirmed beneath him. Her clit was throbbing in time with the rapid beating of her heart.
She wanted him. She needed him. She needed him right there inside her...
As if he’d heard her thoughts, Gregory moved over her. His own eyes were dark with desire, and his erection brushed her thigh, hard as steel.
“Please,” she gasped as his hands drew up her sides.
Everywhere he touched, fire seemed to spring up. She ran her own hands down those broad shoulders, clutching at him any way she could—and then, at last, he pushed against her.
His shaft was hot as it filled her, throbbing inside her as she clenched around him. His size made her moan—he filled her so perfectly that she didn’t want it to ever end.
Every thrust made the fire inside her burn more brightly as she gasped for breath.
His thumb was still teasing one of her nipples, and in answer, she lightly raked her nails down his back. With a groan, he sucked her nipple into his mouth, his hot tongue rasping against the sensitive nub while she trembled.
She wanted him. She needed him. She needed him so badly.
“Mine,” he groaned hoarsely.
His hand came up, his thumb tenderly brushing against her bottom lip. With another moan of need, she caught it lightly between her lips and he groaned again, his shaft pulsing inside her.
His eyes were wide and dark, his hair tousled, curling damp against his nape.
There was a strange light in his eyes again—a silver gleam, ever changing, like the distant echo of a lightning storm.
“Yours,” she gasped, clinging to his powerful shoulders as he claimed her with thrust after thrust.
Then, suddenly, it was as if she was falling into his eyes—or as if the storm had come to meet her.
The bedroom fell away. She couldn’t see anything but his eyes, couldn’t feel anything but the building ecstasy inside her. The air tasted sharp, like ozone. Desperate, she clung to him, her thighs around his strong hips as his thrusts made her shake with mounting need.
It was like riding the storm, like flying wild and free among the clouds once more. She was one with the elements, an ancient, unbridled power possessing her—and then the storm broke. The wind roared, and Naomi felt as though lightning had struck, right at the center of her.
Wave after wave of pleasure rolled through her, her clit throbbing as she clenched around Gregory. It was the most powerful orgasm she had ever experienced, her entire body trembling as she moaned and arched against him. With her face pressed to his sweaty shoulder, she felt his powerful muscles contract—and then he came as well, groaning her name as the heat of his climax filled her.
Afterwards, for long minutes, they rested in a sweaty tangle on the silken sheets, gasping for breath.
Finally, when Naomi had recovered enough to tiredly allow Gregory to roll them around and cuddle back against his chest, she sighed against his skin.
“That was some good and proper ravishing,” she murmured, pressing a kiss to his chest, right where Gregory’s heart was beating with reassuring steadiness. “But, just to make sure that we really got it right, we should probably try it again tonight. You don’t want any mistakes in your ravishing.”
Gregory chuckled tiredly against her hair. His arms came around her, holding her close,
so that she made a sound of exhausted happiness.
“Anything you want, my mate,” he murmured proudly, nuzzling at her ear. “I promise. We’ll practice every day, if we have to.”
Forever, she thought a little smugly, understanding his dragon’s possessiveness at last.
She might not care all that much about gold or jewels, or even the beautiful mansion—but this was something she wouldn’t give up, not for anything in the world.
Her mate. Her dragon. And soon... Her family.
Chapter Sixteen: Gregory
The alpha ceremony took place only one week later. Gregory had thought about waiting until the council had finished its week of emergency meetings to judge the fate of the enemy dragon—but the people of Mountain View couldn’t be argued out of having the ceremony as quickly as possible. And truth be told, Gregory didn’t want to wait either to show off his beautiful mate.
Fortunately, as the victim of the attack he’d been a witness in the case, and so had no part in the judging. Which meant that except for two days he’d begrudgingly spent telling the council all he knew, he’d been free to spend every single second left with his gorgeous mate.
Naomi nudged his side. “There was a suspicious amount of children’s toys and clothes sitting in boxes in the living room today,” she whispered.
Gregory’s lips twitched. “Aunt Jess claims she’s been cleaning the attic and rearranging the storage rooms, to make place while the repairs in the tower are going on.”
“So she claims.” Naomi bit back a little laugh. “But I don’t think I’m wrong if I read a different intention into it...”
“Not wrong at all,” Gregory replied, his grin widening. “Little does she know that we’re already doing quite well on our own without any encouragement.”
Naomi’s hand slid into his. “It can never hurt to try. We don’t want to get it wrong, after all.”
A laugh escaped Gregory, just before the little procession at last began to move.
“If there’s one thing I’m sure of,” he whispered back, taking the opportunity to steal a final, quick kiss, “then it’s that we’re getting the ravishing part very, very right.”