Jarok and Ad’har both held out a hand to assist her up onto the dais. Standing in front of Xan, so close to his body she felt his heat surround her and comfort her. His power was still stroking her and comforting her.
Bard continued speaking. “So be it. Anaxandros, Remunada, you must now perform the rituals of mating. All here will bear witness to your love and devotion to each other.” Bard, Ad’har, and Jarok stepped back from the dais.
Remi felt the heat of Xan and his dragon warming her and turning her center to liquid heat. Xan raised a hand and brushed an errant curl from her cheek.
“I will love, honor, cherish and protect you for all my days, little one. I promise that if anything were to happen to you, I would follow you into the next life willingly.” He bent and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
She was lost. His words burrowed into her heart and soul, and she was lost. She had loved him before, but this promise rode into her heart and soul on a wave of his power, sealing her love for him for eternity.
Chapter 25
Xan stepped closer to her. She looked up into his eyes and saw the fires burning even hotter than before. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead, then her nose before settling on her lips.
His lips moved gently across hers, then turned more heated. His hands rose to cup her head, turning it to the right angle as his mouth slanted across hers. His lips became demanding, his tongue sweeping the curve of her lips and seeking entrance. She willingly let him in.
His tongue surged into her mouth, sweeping and licking every surface before tangling with hers. Stroking along her tongue, he coaxed it to follow his back into his mouth, where he began to suckle on it. The pleasure that surged inside her caused the already overheated feeling to burn brighter, hotter. She was so focused on the feelings Xan was creating she never felt his hands at her shoulders loosening the lace that wrapped her.
A gentle breath of air swirled around her body as Xan whipped the lace off her and threw it to the side, never breaking contact with her lips. His huge hands ran over her body from her shoulders, down her back, and around her hips. The friction of his calloused hands rubbing her skin caused a shiver to run down her spine. She lifted her arms and placed them around Xan’s shoulders, burying her hands in his dark hair.
Xan’s lips left hers and ran along her jawline. He paused to nibble her ear lobe before nipping down her neck. Remi felt his teeth nipping at the tender flesh, and she leaned her head back to give him more access. Her mind was clouding with the emotions running through her, with the heat of Xan’s body turning her body into a pliant form to be molded by his hands.
Remi gasped as his hands clenched on her butt cheeks and lifted her up to an equal height to him. Her legs automatically wrapped around his waist in an attempt to secure herself. Xan’s hands continued to support her, even lifting her higher as his lips worked down over her shoulder toward her breasts. His mouth left a damp, red trail where his teeth nipped and his tongue swirled to soothe the sting.
When his mouth began teasing her sensitive breast, licking and nibbling around the outer curve, she tightened her fingers in his hair and pulled him closer. Her whole body ached for him to take her nipple into his mouth. But no matter how she tried to guide his head toward the center of her breast, Xan was refusing to rush. He seemed to take great joy in exploring every inch of her breasts with the exception of her nipples.
He tormented her for what seemed like an eternity. Remi lost all thought except for the feelings Xan was creating inside her. The fire that had been burning inside her felt like it was consuming her, turning her body into a writhing flame of need.
Xan finally took her nipple into his mouth and laved it with his rough tongue. She moaned as her head fell back, the feel of her hair brushing down her back and around her hips felt like a million sets of fingers caressing her. Xan’s teeth tugged at her nipple before he began suckling strongly.
“You are mine, my True One, my mate, my one and only.” Xan’s voice whispered in her mind, causing shivers to trickle down her spine as his mouth moved, trailing kisses and licks to the crown of her other breast, teeth scraping along her areola before he suckled her nipple.
Remi felt as if the whole universe was spinning, but when she felt cool stone beneath her back, she realized Xan had simply laid her on the stone alter. The temperature difference between the cool stone and Xan’s hot mouth made the sensations of his mouth and tongue even more pronounced. She arched her back slightly, trying to get closer to the sensations he was evoking with the heat of his mouth.
Xan’s mouth left her breast, his fingers brushing over both nipples as he moved lower, laving her ribs and belly with his tongue. His hands followed the path of his mouth, then reached around and took each of her ankles from where her legs were still wrapped around him. Xan lowered his torso and pulled her legs over his shoulders.
Remi opened her eyes and, looking into Xan’s, saw his dragon looking back at her. Xan lowered his head and placed his lips above her pussy. Remi twitched as he kissed her feminine curls and grabbed his head when his lips went lower. His tongue slid up and down the outer edges of her folds, gathering her feminine honey where it clung. His lips teased her, flicking and tasting but never quite entering to taste from her well.
Remi moaned as his tongue licked upward and flicked at her clit, causing a lightning bolt of pure sensation to streak through her system. But his tongue slid back down her slit and flicked at her pussy before making a return trip up. This time Xan’s tongue made circles around her clit, making her ache for him, wanting another lick of excitement.
Remi moaned as his tongue finally landed on the button of flesh, licking and swirling around and around, driving her insane with the bolts of electricity rocketing through her body. Her fingers tunneled through his hair and pulled him closer while her thighs tried to clamp down on his head. Remi felt Xan rumble as his hands wrapped around her thighs, holding her open for him.
His lips wrapped around her clit and suckled it as he’d done her nipples, and she was lost. The pleasure that had been building with his teasing peaked and she arched off the platform, her hips held in place by Xan’s body, but she curled up and over him. She had to move, she couldn’t breathe, the pleasure was too much.
She collapsed back onto the rock, Xan’s hands catching her and easing her down. After she caught her breath and the world righted itself, she opened her eyes to see Xan standing between her legs. His hands were running over her body, both soothing and arousing at the same time.
But, technically, Xan wasn’t standing there alone. He had partially transformed into his dragon. His wings and tail were present, and if she wasn’t mistaken, his tail was wrapping around her leg and stroking her as well as his hands.
“Ours,” Xan and his dragon whispered in her mind. Even as she watched, Xan licked his lips, and his eyes switched back and forth between his human and dragon eyes. “Do you accept us both?” Again, the question was whispered in her mind.
“I do.”
As soon as she answered, Xan dragged her hips to the edge of the platform, and she felt his shaft rubbing against her.
“We have waited for you a lifetime, our True One. No one will ever hurt you, insult you, or take you from us.”
Xan hooked her legs over his elbows, wrapped his hands around her thighs, and lowered his gaze.
Remi felt his huge cock rubbing against her and when she looked down, she saw not only his cock rubbing against her, but his tail had wound around her leg as if to anchor her to him. As his cockhead slid upward, it tapped her clit, causing more electricity to zing through her system. She would have sworn she couldn’t take anymore, but her hunger for Xan was building again, stronger than before.
“I claim you as my mate, my True One. Let all stand witness to the bonding,” Xan spoke aloud just as he pushed into her.
She cried out as the head of his cock lodged inside her. He was too big, he’d never fit! Xan stood still, gripping her thighs tightly. A
s the edge of pain receded, Xan pulled out an inch or so, then plunged deeper. The pain remained on the edge of pleasure until Xan stopped at her barrier. When he stilled, she opened her eyes and looked up at him.
“Little one, there will be a small bit of pain when I take your virginity, but trust me, it will be momentary and quickly forgotten.” Xan gritted through his teeth, appearing to be straining to maintain control.
She smiled up at him. “I trust you, my love.” As she looked into his eyes, Xan pushed past the barrier and buried himself deeply in her pussy. Remi gasped and closed her eyes at the momentary pain, but the feelings of pleasure he evoked with that stroke overrode any pain he might have caused. She felt as if she was floating, flying through the air, the stars swirling around in her mind, scattering her thoughts as Xan stood still, hands clenched on her hips.
She forced her eyes open to see Xan standing with his head thrown back, his wings fully extended behind him, a fine quiver running along their upper arches.
“Xan.” Even her breath was trembling from the need for more…more of what, she wasn’t certain. If the orgasm she was about to have rivaled any he had given her prior to this evening, she didn’t know if she could take it. “Xan, please.”
Xan lowered his head and looked into her eyes. “You are ours, little one. We will never let you go.” With that, Xan began to move. Oh, Remi had expected nothing like this! His hips swiveled as he pulled almost out, then plunged straight back into the hilt, grinding his pelvis against her clit. Pulling back and powering back in, he continued pushing her higher and higher on that wave of tension gripping her.
Remi didn’t know if she could stand it. Her whole body was quivering, feeling like a spring about to explode. She wanted more, she wanted to stop, she didn’t know if she could take any more.
Xan shifted his hands down and grabbed the cheeks of her ass, gripping hard and pulling her closer to him. He continued thrusting deep as he pulled her closer. She was breathing heavily, and her heart was racing. Could they be any closer? To Remi, it felt as if he was trying to bury himself inside her.
“We are, little one. We want to be so deep inside you that you will never forget us.”
“Like I would ever forget you.” Remi grabbed hold of his forearms, the only part she could reach, and hung on as best she could. Xan picked up speed as his breathing grew more ragged.
But Remi could barely remember her own name as the tension wound to a breaking point inside her. As she felt herself shuddering, beginning to tip over the edge, she heard Xan’s voice in her head.
“That’s it, Remi. Come for us. Let our mating happen.”
And just like that, she felt her back bowing off the stone as she screamed her release. The stars that had been whirling behind her eyelids became like the meteor showers after the harvests, streaking and leaving colorful trails across her mind.
As she ran out of air, she felt herself brought up hard against Xan’s sweaty chest and a sharp sting around her neck area. An instant of pain turned into such sheer pleasure, it caused another orgasm before the first one ended. She felt herself flying through the stars again, but this time she felt as if she herself was a meteor shooting across the sky. As the ecstasy peaked, her mind blurring to black, she felt a snap deep in her soul as the bond slipped into place.
* * * *
Xan felt his tongue licking the wound on Remi’s shoulder as his mind became clearer. He felt his dragon’s happiness at the bonding, and inside himself, he felt a center of light that he knew instantly was Remi’s light, her soul. Gently withdrawing his teeth from her neck, he licked the wound several times to assure himself the wound was clean and would heal quickly.
An overwhelming urge took him, and he tilted his head back and roared. He clutched Remi tighter to his chest as he did, making certain all present knew she was his.
His roar was answered by the war cry of the Dragon Guard. All present had watched and felt the bond snap into place and knew their future king and queen were True Mates.
Xan brushed the hair back off Remi’s face as he waited for her to recover. He needed to get her to their room and take care of her, between the swiftness of his claiming and the hard stone of the altar, she would need some time in the bath. An amused smile played around his lips as he thought about their fun in the bathing chamber. He felt a presence near him and growled before he saw who it was.
“My lord, your True One’s robe.” Ad’har stood beside him holding the black cape he had ordered for Remi the first day he’d brought her above ground. He nodded and slowly eased from her tight channel, wincing as he observed her virgin’s blood on him. He lifted Remi and indicated Ad’har to lay the cape on the altar. After he had done so, Xan sat her back down and, keeping her secure with one arm, pulled the cape around her to hide her nudity. The ceremony was one thing, but he wouldn’t embarrass her by carrying her through the Keep naked. “My lord…” Again, Ad’har stood there, but this time he was holding out Xan’s own robe, which he assisted Xan in putting on.
Remi was still out as Xan lifted her and cradled her to his chest. As he turned toward the guard and the exit, every guard slammed a fist over their heart and went to one knee.
“We appreciate that you were present to observe our bonding, and I’m sure my mate will agree when she wakes up.” Xan let a smile quirk the corner of his mouth. “We shall see you in three hours for the public wedding ceremony.” Xan strode from the room, followed by Ad’har and his brothers.
Their life was beginning, and the world felt whole and new to Xan.
Epilogue
The Main Hall of the Keep sparkled as if layered in diamonds. Shimmering bunting circled the vast space in shades of blue from the palest cornflower to midnight navy with silver accents. Flowers bloomed across the front and on each table, their gentle fragrance softening the air.
Even the guests seemed to be flowers, all brightly dressed and swirling this way and that as they visited with each other. Remi was almost overcome with all the personalities, well wishes, and toasts. She sat on the raised dais between her husband and her paladin, with her new father the king on her mate’s other side. She watched the room move like a tidal pool, people ebbing and flowing this way and that.
The ceremony had been a hazy memory for her, the Dragon Guard and Ad’har had escorted her down the main chapel aisle until she stood at the front. The king had sat on one side of the podium behind the cleric while Xan and his brothers stood waiting for her. All she remembered was staring into a set of dark eyes and answering the cleric when he asked her something. Before she knew it, Xan had kissed her, and they had all moved off toward the Main Hall for the reception.
She knew security was tight, could see the Dragon Guard both in the balconies watching and mingling with the guests. Ad’har was sitting on her right but wasn’t drinking. He was taking security very seriously.
There were only two things marring her happiness on this day. Her mother and grandmother weren’t here to help her celebrate.
And someone, somewhere in this vast crowd, had ill intentions toward the Royal Family. She could feel it, but with so many people here, she couldn’t pinpoint who or where.
“Xan, Ad’har, do you feel it?”
“I can feel it through our link, little one, but I cannot feel it without you. I cannot pinpoint the location either, but I’ve alerted the Guard, and they are watching.”
Even as the worry of the future tightened the muscles of her neck, Xan lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.
Ad’har remained outwardly silent as he continued to scan the room but mentally whispered, “We will survive, my queen. We always will. The future is ours for the taking.”
THE END
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The Dragon's Soul: Xan (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 20