by H. C. Brown
“The wine is very good, too.” Lumos pushed a goblet towards her. “I have four bottles.” He grinned sheepishly.
Thalia lifted the goblet to her lips, and considered Lumos over the rim. Goddess, he looked good enough to eat. Her stomach gave a familiar flip-flop at the thought of eating him. She had nothing else on her mind of late. She sipped the wine, knowing Lumos wanted her to be relaxed for his lovemaking. The thought of him touching her with his strong fingers, soaked her folds. Anticipating the thrill of his warm lips on her nipples drove her crazy with the need of his attention. She caught her lover’s instant reaction to her arousal, the flare of his nostrils, and the way he moved around in his seat to ease the pressure on his erection. With slow deliberation, Thalia ran her tongue across her bottom lip. She followed his gaze. It moved from her mouth to her straining breasts and back again. She placed the wine on the table and got to her feet.
“I think I’ll soak in the tub.” She peeled off her clothes, bathing in Lumos’ hungry expression.
“I’ll pour some more wine.” Lumos refilled the glass and handed it to her. “Do you want me to wash your hair, sweetness?” He knelt beside the tub and reached for the soap.
Thalia emptied the goblet in three swallows. The rich, aromatic wine spilled across her tongue, down her throat, and warmed her belly. Her head grew delightfully fuzzy.
“Mmm…yes, thank you.”
Resting back in the tub, she allowed Lumos to wash and rinse her hair. Thalia purred, enjoying his touch. Lumos slid his soapy hands down her arms, and across her chest. She arched her back, pressing into his warm palms. He growled deep in his chest, and swirled the suds in small circles over her breasts then he pulled at her tender nipples. She lifted her bottom to allow his hand access to her apex. Lumos chuckled wickedly. He caressed her mound and slid his long fingers delightfully into her pussy to circle her sensitive clit. She moaned, wanting so much more.
“Lumos, I want you, now… Please.”
Lumos flexed his muscles and lifted her from the tub. The sweet man dried her with a spell and lay her down on the bed. Thalia looked up at his face and revelled in the Fae’s passionate expression. Her gaze lingered on his handsome face, his full passionate lips, and on the man’s exquisitely formed body. She moaned at the sight of the heavy cock, pressing hard against the front of his pants. The tight dragon skin did little to hide the thick pulsating rod rearing to be free. Lumos slid onto the bed, and drew her into his strong embrace. He used his hot mouth to tease the bite on her neck. His sharp fangs pierced her flesh, sending lightning bolts of pleasure straight to her folds. He lapped his wet tongue over the tender spot. Throwing her head back, Thalia undulated in a surge of erotic pleasure. She moaned. The Fae kissed a tantalisingly slow path down her chest, circled each breast, then suckled hard on her tender nipples.
“Gods, Lumos, that feels so wonderful.”
“I want to feast on you. Open your legs for me, sweetness.” Lumos slid between Thalia’s legs and lowered his head. “So wet… Gods, you taste like honey.”
Thalia bucked at the swirl of Lumos’ devastating touch. Gods, he knew how to drive her to madness. She cried out, her hips undulating as if with a mind of their own. She gripped handfuls of his hair. The soft, silken strands captured her fingers, arcing with blue magyck at her touch. With a slow slide, he drove his hot fingers inside her. Thalia’s womb clenched. He used his mouth—his sharp teeth closed around her clit, his devastating tongue flicked, circled, suckled.
I am going to explode.
Shimmers of desire curled in her belly and crawled screaming up her spine. Hot, so delightfully hot, he moved his fingers, raking at her nerve endings, driving her closer to the edge. Thalia wanted more—gods she wanted him to take her now, completely. She craved to have him sliding deep in her pussy. Thalia tipped back her head, and fell deliriously into wave after wave of shuddering delight. Sensations ripped through her, destroying her for any other male. The deep guttural snarl that came from her mouth surprised her.
“Lumos…please…I need you inside me. Mate me now, please, I want all of you.”
With a long feral growl, Lumos rose up on his knees. His hooded gaze swept over Thalia. He lifted his wet fingers to his mouth and slowly licked clean each long digit, his dark green orbs locked on her face. Goddess, he was magnificent. The candlelight brushed over his chiselled, muscular body and glistened on the pearl of wetness on the head of his thick cock. She wanted to reach up and push an errant strand of ebony hair from his face. Her mouth watered with the desire to lick the sweat shimmering on his broad chest. She took in every delicious inch of him, imprinting his image in her memory.
“I want you, too, but not here in this run-down tavern.” Lumos trailed his fingers down Thalia’s arms. “You deserve better than this disgusting room and, even if you were fully Fae, it is not safe here for your moonfire.” He tensed and turned to stare at the door. “Damn.” He sprang from the bed and reached for his pants. “Get dressed—now!”
A shiver of fear ran down her back. The sudden change in Lumos’ eyes, from iridescent green lust to hard cold jade, frightened her. She slipped from the bed and went to the saddlebags piled in the corner of the room. Dragging out the small bundle of clean clothes, she dressed swiftly.
“What is it?”
Lumos turned towards her, shaking with anger. He said nothing. The next second, the Nightdragon slid into her mind.
“Pyro sent word—the Shadow Walkers have entered the village. If necessary, Lumos will distract them so you may get to safety. Get your things together and take the back stairs to the stable. There is another village about an hour’s ride north called Longbrook—this is our rendezvous point. Do not go there tonight. Take the road west, and travel about three miles to Hartly. There are farms on the outskirts, with haystacks and barns. You must hide there tonight. You will find the connecting road to take you to Longbrook some three miles west. We will meet you at the tavern in Longbrook at noon tomorrow. Say nothing about this to Lumos. The Magus may be scrying us. Keep up your shields.”
Fear gripped Thalia’s stomach. “I’m not able to ride alone. What am I to do?”
“Take Albert—you know this horse is safe and reliable. You must conquer this fear, Thalia. Lumos does not need to be distracted when he is fighting the Shadow Walkers. We must know you are safe. Do you understand?”
Thalia drew a deep breath to steady her nerves. “Aye, I understand, but what if something happens to Lumos and I miss the rendezvous?”
“Take the Gate beside the Goddess’s shrine in Longbrook. Wait for the image of a cat on top of a pillar and go through to Farrell. This is a safe realm for the Fae. The next Gate is beside the palace of King Bajah. The Gate to Drakka depicts a statue of a dragon in a city square. Don’t wait for us—go straight to Drakka. You will be welcome there—the king is aware that you are Lumos’ mate.”
Pulling her cloak around her trembling body, Thalia smiled hesitantly at Lumos. She must play out this charade.
“I’m going to get some more wine.” She picked up her saddlebag and headed towards the door.
I don’t want to leave Lumos. Thalia bit hard on her bottom lip and reached for the doorknob. The next second, Lumos crushed her against his hard body. He gave a long, feral growl and nuzzled her neck, lapping at the bite marks. Forcing her voice to remain calm, she glanced at him over one shoulder. Goddess, his eyes held a sadness that seeped into her heart. What if the Shadow Walkers killed Lumos? How could she live without him? She touched his face.
“I’ll be back soon.” Thalia opened the door.
“See that you are. Remember, you belong to me, Thalia. I don’t want you to go lifting your skirt for any of the locals.” Lumos gave an attempt at a laugh. “Hurry up, wench, my cock aches for you.” He slapped her on the bottom.
Thalia bit back the fear that had turned her legs to jelly and stepped into the hallway. “Nightdragon, tell Lumos… Tell him I love him.”
“He loves you
, too. Go now, sweet mate… Run.”
Chapter Eighteen
Thalia drew her cloak around her, glancing in every direction and listening for any footfalls in the hall. Heart thundering, she pushed her hair under the hood. Moving swiftly, she headed down the dark, narrow steps. The stairs led to a storage area beside the back door. Light flooded from the busy kitchen, illuminating the small room. Sacks of potatoes lined one wall, filling the air with a damp, earthy smell. She carefully sidestepped a pile of pumpkins and bumped hard into a narrow table. Running her hand along the bench, she felt for and gripped the edge for purchase. Blinking into the gloom, she bit back a scream, shuddering at the sight of a pig’s head sitting on a platter. Keeping her head down to conceal her face under the hood, she dashed across the passageway, and slipped out of the back door.
The stable doors stood open not twenty paces away. By the glow of a single lantern hanging above the entrance, she made out the restless form of Pyro pacing back and forth, his face a mask of worry. Furtively moving between the velvet shadows, she peered ahead into the gloom. Voices echoed from the street. She trembled with fear and shrank against the damp, moss-covered wall to hide from two men, staggering drunkenly from the tavern. The moment the men had vanished into the dark street, Thalia ran across the pool of light spilling from the stables, and entered at full pelt. Without thinking, she reached for the Nightdragon.
“Tell Pyro I know what to do. Tell him to keep Lumos safe.”
No reply came from the dragon. A wave of panic turned her legs to lead. I can do this. I must. I have no choice.
Thalia stood inside the warm stable and inhaled the comforting fragrance of warm horses, hay and leather. Albert stood saddled just inside the door. The large horse raked the ground with his foreleg and whinnied in welcome. She glanced at Pyro. He walked to her side with a serious expression. Without saying a word, he circled her waist with his large hands and lifted her onto Albert. The Dragonfae gave her a small smile and bent to pick up Brew, securing the cat in a large basket tied to Albert’s back. Terrified, Thalia placed her saddlebag across Albert’s neck, and took up the reins. Before she could utter a word, Pyro gave Albert’s rump a resounding slap, and the horse bolted out of the stable. With hooves clattering on the cobblestones, the big horse took off at full speed. The reins slipped from her fingers and fell around Albert’s legs. Thalia glanced around wildly. She hung over the horse’s neck, clutching at Albert’s mane. I must sit up.
Setting her jaw, Thalia gripped the saddle with her knees, and clung on for dear life. The muscles in her arms strained with effort. The wind whipped Albert’s mane into her eyes. Grunting, she pushed into a sitting position. Ahead, the chalk-white pathway stood out in the pale moonlight. As she hurtled along the road, the crossroads loomed out of the twilight marked by a tall, wooden sign. Thalia pulled Albert into a trot, and bounced ungainly in the saddle. Dragging on the reins, she turned the horse west. Elation surged through her. I did it!
Thalia pressed with her heels and Albert changed his stride to a canter—this rolling gait was the same one Lumos used with Argos. She relaxed into the familiar stride. More confidant now, she praised Albert and watched his ears twist backwards to listen to her ramblings. The dark, empty road dipped down into a valley and vanished beneath swirls of ghostly mist. The moonlight turned the countryside into every shade of grey, and the distant rivers into great silver threads. Thalia shivered. The trees lining the road waved in the breeze, their shadows forming an army of marching gargoyles. With each mile she travelled away from Lumos, the overwhelming loneliness had turned her resolve to jelly.
I must be strong. She patted the basket containing Brew. I’m not alone. I’m the mate of a Dragonfae. In the distance, the shadowy images of buildings came into sight. “Come on Albert, we need to find a place to hide.”
* * * *
Lumos cast a spell, turning his tunic and pants to Dragonfae armour. The thin, black, glossy leather skin transformed to a chainmail stronger than steel. He sighed and strapped on his sword. The thought of Thalia travelling the roads alone at night and running the chance of the Boars capturing her curdled his gut.
I should be with her, protecting her. He lifted the remaining saddlebag, drew a circle of light, and stepped directly into the stables. This blatant use of magyck would bring the Shadow Walkers straight to them and leave Thalia the time she required to escape. He leapt onto Argos and nodded to Pyro who waited on Conker at the stable’s entrance. His friend’s expression held a look of determination. A nerve twitched in his cheek. Lumos squeezed his legs, moving Argos to the entrance. The horse quivered against his knees, his entire body tensing for action. This warhorse understood battle very well—this small detail filled Lumos with confidence. He met Pyro’s gaze.
“Do you know how many?”
“No… It was only by chance I picked up the scent of a scouting party.” Pyro shrugged. “We have two choices—run or meet them head-on. I would imagine they’re camping on the edge of town, for they are not social creatures.”
Lumos squared his shoulders. Taking the Shadow Walkers unawares would give them an advantage. He gave Pyro a curt nod in an effort to display confidence, although his stomach knotted with fear. The evil they faced had a brutal reputation. He must survive this battle. His beloved Thalia needed him. The future of Drakka and all his people rested on his shoulders.
“Then we’ll follow the stink. Do you know if they sleep?”
“Yes, I believe they do, and, as far as I know, they usually attack when it is darkest, just before dawn.” Pyro rubbed his chin. “If we leave the horses in the woods, we might be able to dispatch the guards. We could slay a good deal while they sleep and then return for the horses. Mounted, we would stand a better chance… They say one Shadow Walker has the strength of ten men.”
Lumos threw Pyro a smile through gritted teeth. “And a Dragonfae has the strength of twenty.” He unsheathed his sword and raised the lethally sharp weapon high above his head. “To victory.”
Pyro gave a long feral growl and drew his weapon “Aye, to victory.”
* * * *
Thalia reached the outskirts of a farming community. A large farmhouse sat atop a hill surrounded by workers’ cottages, milking sheds and barns. Soft candlelight flowed from many windows, spilling out onto neat gardens. From the moon’s glow, she could make out smoke twirling upwards from the chimneystacks. Slowing Albert to a walk, she moved along a well-trodden path to a barn open on one side to the elements. The breeze brought the smell of fresh hay. In the distance, a dog barked, followed by another, then another as if they were sending a message to announce her arrival.
Thalia rode Albert into the deepest shadows and slipped from his back. She crept towards the wide opening. On one side, a hand pump supplied water to a horse trough, the water rippling like black silk with each drip from the nozzle. Thalia glanced around, peering into the barn’s dark interior. Her night vision had improved to such an extent that she could make out individual bales of hay stacked neatly on one side of the barn. A number of chickens dozed in a line on top of a wooden partition dividing the hay from sacks of grain. One sack had burst, the wheat spilling across the hay-strewn floor. She gave a soft whistle and Albert plodded into the barn, at once sinking his muzzle into the water trough.
Thalia removed the horse’s saddle and stowed it on top of the sacks of grain with her saddlebags and Brew’s basket. She let the cat run free. “Stay close, we may have to leave if we are discovered.”
Exhausted, she glanced around, searching for a safe place to rest. She wrapped her cloak around her and sank onto a nearby pile of hay. How could she sleep? Lumos would be fighting for his life. Gods! He could be dead already. Her heart gave a twist and tears stung the backs of her eyes. She had been awful to Lumos during their night in Nubra, and after he had been so patient with her. The memory of the distress in his eyes stabbed deep in her heart. She had inflicted that hurt on him, had made him sad. Hot tears ran down her cheeks and
she swiped them away, disgusted by her weakness. I am such a fool.
“If he dies, it’s my fault. I lured him to the Singing Forest. Dearest Lumos offered me his friendship. He didn’t care I had been misused, sullied by men—and how did I repay him? By not trusting him. In fact, I threw his friendship—his love—back in his face. Oh goddess, I’m so sorry.”
Brew ran to her side and stuck his cold nose in her face. The cat had always been there for her in the dark days. Albert, too, had offered comfort in his own horsey way. Gods, in the beginning she had had no idea how to care for a horse. Dear, sweet Albert had been so patient, standing very still while she had removed the harness from the wagon, and had tugged at his halter. Often, the horse had nudged her between the shoulders to get her attention. Why had she not noticed the gifts of love surrounding her? Disgusted at her selfishness, she dried her eyes on the hem of her shirt, and decided to stop feeling sorry for herself. In truth, Thalia had faith that Lumos and Pyro would defeat the Shadow Walkers. If she lost her way, Lumos would find her.
I’m Lumos’ mate and I should trust him to protect me. She stared up at the stars and the image of the Nightdragon drifted into her mind. I do trust you to protect me, Lumos, as Cymbeline is my witness. Sighing, she rested her head on her arms, and closed her eyes.
* * * *
Lumos crouched low to the ground, his dagger glistening in the moonlight. A trickle of sweat ran between his shoulder blades. He could hear Pyro’s heavy breathing behind him. They had dispatched the perimeter guards and now moved silently towards the two Shadow Walkers guarding the horses. Lumos wrinkled his nose at the stench of death wafting from the Magus’ soldiers. Keeping close to the ground with Pyro at his heels, he approached the dark figures sitting in the dirt, playing cards. The horses moved restlessly, sensing the dragons’ presence. Lumos reached for his dragon.