Dragon Mates: Dragon Knights (The Sea Captain's Daughter Trilogy Book 3)

by Bianca D’Arc

  He did something with his finger inside her, hitting a spot that sent her through the roof with pleasure. She cried out. She couldn’t help it.

  “I’d say you liked that even more,” he observed.

  “Please, Gowan…” Her voice trailed off weakly. She needed him so badly at this point. She didn’t think she’d last much longer under this kind of ultra-pleasurable torture.

  He seemed to consider her plea as he removed his touch from her body. “Since you’ve been such a good girl for me, I think I’ll give you what you want.” He moved, seating himself on the bed, leaning against the headboard. “Come over here, puss, and sit on my cock.”

  The order was spoken in low tones that almost made her come with the wickedness of the words and the daring look in his eyes. He knew how close she was to losing it. And, somehow, he knew she wanted him inside her when she came.

  Watching him all the while, she went to him and situated herself over him. She had to use her hand to guide him into the right position. Gowan didn’t move, didn’t help her in any way. This was her task, and she wanted to do it to the best of her ability…for both their sakes.

  She felt the tip of him touch her outermost lips and slid him along until she found the right spot. Then, she sank down onto him, an inch at a time, drawing out the moment, clutching his shoulder with her free hand while she took him inside her body.

  Hot. Hard. Hers.

  What followed was one of the most memorable encounters of her life. Of course, every time with Gowan—and Seth—and Gowan and Seth—was full of intense and beautiful memories for her. She came hard on Gowan’s cock with almost no provocation, so ready was she for fulfillment.

  Gowan held her, finally raising his arms, holding her to him as he came with her. He hadn’t been as unaffected as he’d pretended.

  He took her twice more before he had to leave, long before dawn. He had to be on duty early, but he left her with a smile on her face. Her passionate lover disappeared in the night, and she slept the sleep of the well satisfied.

  *

  Hrardorr couldn’t see Seth, of course, but he kept his head stretched into the archway to Seth’s room for a long time, just thinking. Seth was asleep, and Hrardorr couldn’t help but ponder the words they had shared. For two such dissimilar beings, they had a great deal in common.

  The dragon knew he shouldn’t get too close. It would be too easy right now to get caught up in the fantasy, too easy to fall into the trap laid out by the wizard. Gryffid had dangled a way to see again in front of Hrardorr like a choice piece of meat, but he knew better than to chomp first and ask questions later.

  He really liked Seth. He knew him better than any other human, especially now that they’d been bonding through this shared experience, but he still didn’t want to. Not really. He didn’t want to open himself up to the kind of pain that caring for another fragile human could cause.

  He’d tried so hard to resist befriending Livia, but she’d broken through his barriers as if they were nothing. Seth, too. Even Gowan, to some extent. Hrardorr had only just gotten used to the idea of having human friends. Getting even closer to any of them was way too much, way too soon.

  Or so he’d thought. The wizard’s meddling had forced the dragon into closer contact with Seth, and despite his best efforts, Hrardorr found himself unable to resist Seth’s understanding, caring spirit. They were beginning to form a deeper bond, despite Hrardorr’s wishes. Oh, it wasn’t the soul-deep bond between knight and dragon, but it was something much more serious than friendship.

  He wouldn’t call it love, exactly. It was more a feeling of deep understanding and respect. Of pain shared between two beings that had seen their share of disappointment in life.

  It was dangerous, as far as the dragon was concerned. It would be too easy to fall into an even deeper bond and start wanting things he couldn’t have. Things it wouldn’t be fair to Seth to try to take.

  He wouldn’t do that to Seth. It wouldn’t be right. But the dragon was still torn. A part of him wanted the impossible, no matter the cost to himself or anyone around him—up to and including Seth. Another part—the stronger part, he hoped—was focused on trying to do the right thing and leave Seth to get on with his life after the spell faded.

  But the temptation was still there…and it was great. Hrardorr had to be strong. Stronger than he’d ever had to be before. And, this time, it might just break him completely.

  *

  If Seth thought their second day back at the Lair would be any easier than the first, he’d been sorely mistaken. He realized that the moment he woke, startled awake by a clamor and rumble coming from outside his unfamiliar chamber. In a flash, Seth remembered where he was. Hrardorr’s suite of rooms. And the dragon himself must be outside in the wallow—blind until Seth went out and saw what all the commotion was about.

  Eschewing clothes for the moment, Seth stumbled to the door and looked out to see the small single-dragon suite filled with two unfamiliar adult dragons—though he could only see one of them clearly from this angle—and a man Seth had never seen before. Hrardorr sat motionless in the middle of his sand wallow, but he had the intent look on his dragonish features that indicated to Seth he was in the middle of a deep conversation. Probably with the two new dragons.

  Seth kept his eyes trained, as much as he could, out into the main chamber while he changed into a fresh set of clothes from his traveling bag. As it happened, the first tunic he put his hands on was something new—a gift from one of Livia’s many forays into the fey marketplace. It was a cream color, of stunning fair folk craftsmanship. Plain by their standards. Dressy for a working Lair. And, as a result, perfect for meeting company.

  Seth knew Hrardorr was aware of him, but he seemed too distracted by the newcomers to spare a moment to speak to him. That was okay. Whoever they were, Hrardorr obviously knew them. From the looks of things, an intense discussion was taking place between the three dragons.

  Putting on a pleasant expression, Seth emerged from the bedchamber and headed toward the sole human among the new arrivals. He walked up to the man and extended the hand of friendship.

  “Greetings of the day. I am Seth.” He didn’t add the usual explanation of being the apprentice healer to the Lair. After the revelations of yesterday, Seth was pretty sure his old occupation was no longer available to him.

  “Greetings. I’m Cole. Hrardorr’s brother.” The man returned Seth’s handshake, and Seth had to try very hard not to stumble. Hrardorr had a human brother?

  “Then…the dragons are…” Seth stuttered a bit, unable to mask his shock. He turned to get his first really good look at the dragon that had been blocked to his sight before and realized there was no question that this dragon was Hrardorr’s mother. She shared the sea dragon coloring and attributes with her son.

  “His parents,” Cole replied. “Mine, too. At least the dragonish side of the family. My human parents are gone.” His tone turned solemn.

  “I am very sorry to hear that. You have my deepest condolences,” Seth answered promptly, his heart going out to the other man. He couldn’t imagine a world without his mother and fathers in it. He didn’t even want to contemplate such a thing.

  “It was long ago now, of course, but you never stop missing them, though the pain grows more bearable.” Cole shrugged. “I’m blessed to still have one set of parents, at least.” He gestured toward the dragons who would probably outlive their human offspring by many years, even as old as these elder dragons appeared to be.

  “That you are. May I offer you refreshment? I’m not completely sure what might be stocked in the kitchen, but we can probably find something.” Seth tried to play the polite host, though the suite of rooms was not his…and never would be if Hrardorr had his way.

  “That would be most welcome. We’ve only just arrived, flying through the night to get here.” Cole followed Seth as he led the way toward the small kitchen that was in another room off the central oval.

  Seth found
tea in the cupboard and a few odd cups and dishes. Enough to serve a brew at least. He got the water started to boil and then checked out whatever else some kind soul might have left for him.

  He was surprised to find a fresh loaf of bread, a selection of preserves and a bowl of fresh fruit, as well. Someone had definitely laid in supplies for him, and Seth would thank whoever it was profusely, if he ever found out who had taken pity on him.

  “Thank you for understanding that they need a bit of time alone to sort things out,” Cole said candidly once they’d sat down to share the small meal. His gesture toward the wallow where the dragons still faced each other in intense silent communication made it obvious to whom he was referring.

  “I come from a Lair family too. I understand. At least as much as I can,” Seth added with a shrug. “I wasn’t aware that Hrardorr’s parents still lived.”

  “You didn’t know…?” Cole looked confused. “But aren’t you…?”

  “Oh.” Seth got the uncomfortable feeling that Cole had jumped to a very big conclusion, and Seth was going to have to set him straight, much as it pained him. “I’m not a knight. I’m not Hrardorr’s knight. Merely his friend. I care for him a great deal, but he’s…” Seth wasn’t sure how to explain it. “You know he’s blind, right?” Seth said in a low voice.

  Cole’s frown deepened. “So we heard only a day or two ago. But the injury is older than that, right?”

  Seth nodded. “Earned in the fighting at the Border Lair some months ago. He came here to recover, and I was assigned to treat him. We didn’t get on at first. He was understandably upset with his new situation and didn’t want to be around anyone. He’d lost Sir Theo in the same battle, and with his injury, you see, he couldn’t really go off alone to grieve.”

  “Poor Hrardorr.” Cole looked out at his dragon brother, his eyes shining with unshed tears.

  “Don’t say that,” Seth corrected him softly. “You have no idea what he’s done, even in as much pain as he’s been in. He single-handedly saved Dragonscove from a pirate horde. Then, he helped save Gryphon Isle from the remainder of the pirates and made contact with a pod of sea dragons, establishing communication between land and sea dragons for the first time in centuries. He’s a hero many times over. And that’s just since he came here. He was blind the whole time. There’s nothing pitiful about that.”

  Seth kept his tone low and proud, not chastising. He loved Hrardorr like his own brother…or maybe better than his brother, since Cole hadn’t been around for any of the trials in Hrardorr’s life recently. Seth felt rather uncharitably superior at that thought, but he quickly quashed it. Cole was here now, and he had a much longer history with Hrardorr than Seth did. Seth should be happy Hrardorr’s family had come to support him. Even late as they were, they could be of great help to Hrardorr when the spell wore off.

  “You certainly sound like his knight,” Cole said, not unkindly. “I can see you care a great deal for him, and that makes me very happy. I’m glad he had you to turn to in his time of need. He apparently didn’t want us to know he’d been injured.”

  “So how did you find out?” Seth had to ask.

  “My dragon mother got a message from an old acquaintance. A dragoness named Alirya.”

  Seth had to laugh. Cole looked at him in question, and Seth explained, “Mama Alirya is my dragon mother.” Seth gazed at the tableau in the wallow. He’d tried to keep looking out there as much as possible so Hrardorr could see what was around him, while still giving the dragons a bit of privacy. “I had no idea Alirya knew Hrardorr’s parents, though.”

  “Apparently, they served in the same Lair briefly a while back. Before my time, I think. Before yours too, obviously.” Cole nodded toward the dragons.

  He was watching them too, clearly concerned for his family. Seth gave him points for that. He hadn’t known the man long, but he seemed like a good sort.

  Hrardorr sent a weary spiral of smoke toward the small vent in the domed ceiling. His voice came to Seth a moment later as the two new dragons looked expectantly toward the kitchen. The female was even tapping her front foot, the claws clicking loudly on the stone of the wallow’s rim, clearly impatient with someone. Her son, most likely.

  “Seth, come meet my parents.” The dragon didn’t sound particularly enthusiastic about the idea.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Seth went out to meet the parents, a knot of dread in his stomach. What if they didn’t approve of him?

  “Seth, this is Lady Belisandre, my mother, and Sir Rudrik, my father. They’ve come to meddle in my affairs.” Hrardorr’s introduction crossed the border right over into rude. His mother harrumphed, sending smoke toward the ceiling in her irritation.

  Seth held his breath and bowed formally to the dragons. He wanted to make a good first impression for his parents’ sake, as well as his own.

  “I’m honored to meet you both.” Seth kept his words straightforward and simple.

  “Thank you for looking after our son.” Sir Rudrik’s voice was calm and deep in Seth’s mind.

  “I think you’ll find that he’s the one who’s been looking after us all, here and on Gryphon Isle, sir.” Seth didn’t want to be uncivil, but he also didn’t want to stomp all over Hrardorr’s pride.

  “We have not heard fully of Hrardorr’s accomplishments since coming here,” Rudrik said.

  “Though Alirya included a bit of what you two have been up to in her message,” Lady Belisandre put in. “I want to meet the sea dragons, son.”

  She seemed to be calming down a bit, and her words felt like she was trying to reach out to her son. Perhaps they’d come on too strong and run into Hrardorr’s famous stubborn streak? Seth figured that was likely.

  “Lady Belisandre.” Seth spoke cautiously, hoping to defuse the situation as much as he could. “I know you and your mate are retired now, but I believe you could impart a great deal of knowledge to the sea dragons. And, judging by those I have met and befriended, I believe they would welcome both of you among them on Gryphon Isle. The wizard Gryffid and his folk have begun building a small Lair on the far side of his island where the sea dragons like to gather.”

  “He has? You’ve spoken with the great wizard?” Rudrik asked Seth.

  “Yes, sir. We both have. Many times,” Seth answered. “Gryffid is a most agreeable being, and it was he who cast the spell that allows your son to see through my eyes for a short time.”

  “What’s this?” Belisandre refocused on her son. “Can you see me, baby?”

  There were tears glistening in the older dragon’s eyes.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Hrardorr said, sounding a bit like an injured child in his mother’s presence. “Though I see what Seth sees now. And only for a few more days. So the wizard said.”

  Hrardorr moved forward tentatively, and his mother closed the gap, opening her wings and enfolding her son within her embrace. Their necks twined, and Seth felt the raw emotion of the moment. Rudrik encircled them from behind Hrardorr, wrapping his family in his love while Seth watched, fighting back the tears that threatened his own vision.

  “Why only for a few more days?” Seth blinked up to find the male dragon peering down at him as he let go of his family after a long moment.

  “Without a bond to power it, the spell will fade,” Seth told him.

  “And you cannot bond to anyone else while you are still grieving poor Theo,” Belisandre said in a commiserating tone to her son. “Oh, sweetheart. This is a rough hand fate has dealt you.” She stroked Hrardorr with her wing before pulling back.

  “It is my burden to carry, and so I must,” Hrardorr said in a sad tone. “Seth has been a good companion and a wonderful friend through all our adventures. And you should meet Livia, too, if we can get her up to the Lair. I know she would enjoy it.”

  “Livia?” Belisandre asked, looking from her son to Seth and back a few times. “Who is she?”

  “A sea captain’s daughter from the town below the Lair,” Seth explained, feeling that
old familiar feeling of being under a mother’s questioning eyes. “We are… She is…” Seth found it hard to explain.

  “Your girlfriend, eh?” Cole put in, coming up behind Seth with a knowing smile.

  “She was my friend first,” Hrardorr put in. “She likes to fish in her little sailboat, and I encountered her on the water one day when I first came here. She can bespeak dragons, and we became friends.”

  “She can bespeak dragons and has not yet found mates here?” Belisandre seemed intrigued.

  “Her father, Captain O’Dare, is rather protective,” Seth tried to explain. “Although, we all suspect she will find a set of knights to marry at some point.” He also tried really hard to hide his feelings on that little matter.

  “Not you?” Rudrik asked. “Have you no hope of becoming a knight?”

  “Sir, I made a choice long ago to apprentice myself to the elderly healer of this Lair and give up knight training. Since then, it has become clear that no dragon in this Lair would choose me. I have resigned myself to serving in other ways.”

  “You will be the Lair’s healer?” Belisandre’s tone implied that seemed improbable to her.

  “I thought perhaps I would, but that path has altered since our time on Gryphon Isle. Princess Arikia recruited more skilled help for our healer while she was here, and it looks like I am no longer needed.” Seth knew his tone had grown somber and couldn’t help it.

  “But Seth has learned swordwork from Sir Gowan and led the defense of the harbor during the first attack. He also helped defend the beaches of Gryphon Isle alongside the fair folk and gryphons. Then, he began showing the fair folk healers how to help dragons. He has many useful skills.” Hrardorr’s defense meant a lot to Seth.

  Belisandre gave them both measuring looks, but said no more on the topic.

  “So, you two need to stick together right now in order to exploit the full extent of the wizard’s spell,” Rudrik summed up.