by Silver Milan
You’re mine. All mine.
She had to be careful not to work him too long, however. It wouldn’t do for him to be spent before she had a chance to have her own fun.
When she decided he had had enough, she forced her mouth down as deep as she was able, until she felt her throat stretching and she couldn’t breathe. Then she slid back, sliding off his member.
“Oh fuuuuuck,” Jett said.
Then she lay back, and reached down to open her own throbbing center. It was swollen with arousal. She spread her legs, inviting Jett in.
When she looked at him, she could see his member pulsing visibly. She knew he wanted to take her right then and there, but instead he knelt, placing his head between her legs.
“My sweet dragon,” Ariel said. “Always putting my pleasure before his own.”
“Least I can do,” Jett said. “You did the same for me. At least tonight.”
“And so I did,” Ariel said. She squirmed as she felt his fingers enter her. He hadn’t even touched her clit yet, but she could already feel jolts of pleasure passing through her body at his touch. Whatever he was doing, it was working.
She slid her hands into his beautiful golden locks and scrunched her fingers. She squeezed her thighs, wrapping them around his head. She pressed them together hard. Really hard.
“Mmm,” Jett said. “I love your taste. And I love how you’re purring.”
She realized that yes, she had started purring once again. She couldn’t help it, not with a man like this.
She looked down at him, and watched his broad shoulders flex as he worked. Such beautiful muscles. She released his hair and slid her fingers down onto his shoulders, squeezing, feeling the striations in the muscles.
She felt so safe, and oh so good, in his hands.
She was getting close to her release, so close...
And then he stopped.
“No!” Ariel said.
Jett smiled wickedly, pulling back. “Hey, you did exactly the same to me.”
“You don’t play fair,” Ariel said.
“Never said I did.”
He slid off the futon and reached into the pockets of his pants to retrieve a condom.
“Maybe we don’t need a condom tonight,” Ariel said.
Jett hesitated.
He must have felt it, too. The worry that he might not be coming back from Midnight. And if he could give her one last gift, it would be his child.
But she couldn’t tell him that. Those words would have to be left unsaid.
He stared into her eyes, and she realized she didn’t have to tell him. He understood.
He seemed about to put the condom aside, but then abruptly put it on.
“Jett—” Ariel said.
“Stop worrying about something that’s not going to happen,” Jett said quietly.
And then he was inside her. He stretched her, filling her with pleasure and pain. His upper body fell down upon her, so that she was gazing into his chest. But then he leaned over, bringing her with him, so that they were side by side. And then he began to repeatedly slam into her, so hard that the entire futon moved. The mattress hit the shipping container, causing it to vibrate loudly. Again. Again.
Ariel hardly noticed through the sheer pleasure she felt.
“Jett Jett Jett,” Ariel said with each thrust. Mine mine mine.
“Ariel Ariel Ariel,” Jett said.
He bent over, kissing her firmly on the lips. His fiery eyes peered into hers, straight into her soul. They were one. One.
She opened and closed her mouth with his own, but their lips were slightly out of sync tonight. It was as if the kiss they shared was almost frantic. Their love making, too, had taken on a slightly desperate tone. Ariel wrapped her arms around him and tried to pull him to her tight, not wanting to let go. And he pounded harder than ever, as if he believed this really was the last time they’d ever be seeing each other.
Ariel told herself that she was imagining it all, but she had trouble shaking the feeling. She concentrated on the electrical sparks of pleasure that Jett ignited inside her with each thrust. She sensed her relief on the horizon...
And then she arched her back and curled her toes, and screamed Jett’s name one last time. Then she slumped.
She felt him convulsing inside her shortly afterward, and then he too went limp.
They lay there in each other’s arms for several moments. She listened to his sweet breathing, and ran a hand down his smooth chest, admiring him.
“I’m not going to lose you,” Ariel said softly. “Don’t go, don’t do this.”
Jett opened his eyes and peered down on her tenderly. He placed a gentle hand on her cheek. “I have to. You know I do. Facing Gabriel is the only way to protect us. We can’t run.”
“Then I’m coming,” Ariel said.
“No, my lioness,” Jett said. “I won’t see you step into harm’s way.”
She shoved his hand away from her cheek. “Silly dragon. You think I’m going to stay here while you go to face death alone? You gave up everything to be with me. Now it’s my turn to give up everything for you. I’m coming with you.”
“Face death... you make it sound like I’m going to die in Midnight,” Jett said. “I won’t.”
“Oh I know,” Ariel said. “That’s because I’ll be there with you to watch your back.”
He released her, and turned away from her to lie on his back, purposely avoiding her gaze. “Ariel, you know I—”
“I couldn’t live with myself if I let you go alone,” Ariel interrupted. She reached across his gorgeous chest and touched his cheek, turning his face toward hers. “If something happened to you, I’d never be able to live with myself, knowing that I could have been there to protect you. Otherwise, what was the point of sparring with you all those times? The point of learning the Strength? Of course it’s so that I can fight by your side when the time comes. I’m not letting you go alone.”
Jett studied her. “Stubborn lioness.”
“Damn right I’m stubborn,” Ariel said. “Especially when it comes to the safety of my dragon.”
He was quiet a moment, then his brow furrowed. “From what you just said, it almost sounds like you’re learning magic for me. I thought you were doing it for yourself.”
She smiled wistfully. “It’s partially for me, yes. But also to protect you.”
“I’m not sure I need your protecting,” Jett said. “But it is sweet of you.”
She lay back. It was her turn not to meet his eye. “You know, I guess a part of me still doesn’t feel worthy of you. Or at least used to feel that way. And I guess I thought that by learning this power inside of me, it would put us on more equal footing.”
Jett swiveled so that he was on top of her, holding his upper body off of hers with his forearms. “Oh my lioness, you’ve always been on equal footing with me.”
He kissed her squarely on the forehead.
“Love you,” Ariel said.
“And I you,” Jett said.
“Say the whole thing,” Ariel insisted.
“I love you,” Jett said.
“Better.” She kissed him on the lips and he returned it passionately.
She pulled away. “Are you going to let me come tomorrow?”
Jett sighed. He slid off of her. “I have a feeling I won’t be able to stop you.”
“No,” Ariel said. “Even if you decide to sneak away before dawn, I’ll hunt you down. Track your scent with my lion skills. Well actually, I won’t even have to do that. I already know where you’ll be going.”
“All right, you can come,” Jett said.
“Thank you!” Ariel told him. It was her turn to swing her body on top off his. She bent over to kiss him passionately on the lips.
“I just hope I don’t regret this,” Jett said, taking a moment to come up for air.
“You won’t,” Ariel said. “I promise you with all my heart.”
5
The next day Ariel, Jett, Gwendoline, Flame an
d Viper joined Ephephany in one of the SUVs, and they headed back toward the woods that led to Midnight. Since Ariel was coming along, Jett couldn’t refuse Mathis, either, so the witch was with them as well. Quite the fiery argument had taken place when Jett refused to allow Mathis to bring Hugh, his Keeper. Jett convinced them both that his White Swords would act as sufficient Keepers for everyone, including Mathis, and in the end the witch agreed to leave behind his friend.
Speaking of the White Swords: Viper was wearing the usual skin-tight gloves, wide-brimmed hat, and mirror shades, plus he had that special black paint smeared across his face to protect his exposed skin from the sun. Flame was driving.
When they reached the familiar woods, Jett had Flame stop the SUV on the gravel road well outside of the Blue Hurricane territory.
“Why are we stopping here?” Ariel asked.
“A precaution,” Jett said, getting out. “We’re going to continue on foot from here to the camp, staying away from the road. Flame, Viper, I want you to scout ahead.”
The two White Swords disappeared into the thick undergrowth that bordered the gravel road and the others proceeded through the trees behind them.
Ariel crinkled her nose when they were nearly there. The camp wasn’t yet in view, but the stink...
“You smell that?” she said.
“I do,” Jett replied.
“Smell what?” Mathis said.
“You’ll see,” Ariel told him.
They reached the camp. As expected, the cabins were burned right to the ground.
“Our cabin,” Ariel said. “Our backyard...”
“We’ll build another,” Jett said.
Flame and Viper stood on the edge of the scorched clearing.
“There’s no one here, Sire,” Flame said. “Tracks lead away through the woods, in the direction of Midnight.”
Jett nodded. “I guess Gabriel or his so-called advisers are trying to leave me a message.” He glanced at Ephephany. “Are you detecting any sign of latent Strength use?”
Ephephany shook her head. “Whoever did this, did so with ordinary flames.”
Ariel felt a little jealous that Jett had asked Ephephany, and not her. Ariel was beginning to develop the ability to sense Strengthworks, and while the skill was still weak and undeveloped, it was useable. Though she supposed Mathis had the same sense, and probably Gwendoline, and neither of them seemed bothered by the exclusion. She doubted Jett had meant anything by it: he was probably just used to consulting with his dragon witch. And maybe still coming to terms with the fact that Ariel was a witch, too. Hell, she herself was still coming to terms with it, not to mention the fact she was a lion shifter.
As if sensing her thoughts, Jett glanced at Ariel. “Do you sense anything?”
“She’s right, there’s nothing,” Ariel said. She felt suddenly all happy inside. How could she have ever doubted her Jett?
Ephephany raised a brow. “You distrust me already, Jeddah?”
“Not at all,” Jett said. “Let’s just say, it never hurts to have a second opinion.”
“He’s just trying to keep me happy,” Ariel told Ephephany.
That only seemed to confuse the witch even further.
Jett turned to his White Swords. “Flame, Viper, scout ahead. I want you fifty feet apart.”
“Understood,” Flame said.
“Wait,” Ephephany said.
Though Ephephany made no motions with any part of her body, Ariel could feel strong Weaves emanating from the dragon witch—however she couldn’t see them of course.
“What are you doing to us?” Ariel asked.
“Placing a Weave on each of you to give you speed,” Ephephany explained. “With it, we’ll reach Midnight by nightfall.”
“At the price of exhaustion,” Mathis said.
“I will place a restorative Weave upon you all when we arrive,” Ephephany said.
“I forgot how good you were with healing Weaves,” Mathis said.
Gwendoline seemed suddenly jealous, because she looped a possessive arm through Mathis’ elbow. He patted her hand and looked at her fondly as if to alleviate any such feelings.
“It’s done,” Ephephany said.
“Go.” Jett nodded toward Flame and Viper. The two scouts vanished into the undergrowth and the rest of the party followed through the trees a moment later.
Ephephany hadn’t been kidding when she said her Weave would bestow a speed boost. Though they merely walked, the group moved with the speed of joggers.
The day seemed to pass slowly. The trees were a never-ending blur, the only real noticeable change in that blur was the shadow cast by the branches and leaves as the sun crawled across the sky.
Midnight had security cameras hidden along all approaches to the mountain range that harbored the subterranean city, with hundreds secreted within the foothills and surrounding woods alone. Jett had the camera locations programmed into his sat-phone, and he used the phone to guide them between the different cameras. Ephephany had also summoned a Weave that allowed her to detect the EM waves produced by the security cameras, and she was able to corroborate the route Jett led them on. It seemed new cameras had been placed since Jett had last updated his phone data, however, because Ephephany prevented them from walking into the paths of unmarked cameras more than a few times. She could sense the devices from quite a ways and was able to warn Flame and Viper in time as well.
“You see?” Jett told Ariel. “How easy it is for a witch to avoid surveillance?”
“I can certainly understand how that vampire witch was able to hide in the woods for so long,” Ariel said. “Right under our noses.”
Near evening, Ariel began to feel the tiredness Mathis had hinted at. It was a weariness that seeped through to her very core, draining her to the bone. But even if she flagged, she pressed on, as did the rest of the party, although they were visibly struggling to maintain their former speed. It must have been hardest for Mathis, the only human among them: without shifter reserves to tap into, he trailed at the rear of the party, breathing hard. Gwendoline remained close to his side, offering the occasional word of encouragement.
They reached the foothills as night fell and proceeded on through the dark. As Ariel’s night vision kicked in, the woods seemed no darker than at twilight.
At eleven p.m., the wilderness fell away, and the shoulder of a large mountain loomed before them.
Ariel searched for the “Here Be Dragons” sign she had encountered when she first reached this mountain in what seemed ages ago, but she couldn’t spot it. For that matter, with her night vision she saw no signs whatsoever of the winding trail that led up the mountain. Apparently Jett was leading them on a different approach.
“We have to climb over the mountain,” Jett said. “And enter the Hooded Dale. All the external approaches are monitored by security cameras, and heavily guarded. But inside the Dale, dragons have carved tunnels leading from their estates to the valley. Most are unmonitored by any cameras. We’ll take one of those to get inside.”
“When you say climb,” Mathis said. “You mean like sheer vertical faces? Because I have no mountain climbing skills.”
“More like walk,” Jett said, studying the mountain before them. “Though there will be some scary sections. And a few sheer faces, yes. But that’s where Gwendoline and I will come in.”
“You’re going to transform?” Mathis asked.
“No,” Jett said. “Just sprout wings.”
“You may as well go ahead and tell Ephephany our collars are fake…” Gwendoline scolded Mathis and Jett.
“She would have found out eventually anyway,” Mathis told her. “When you and your brother sprouted wings, as he says.”
“I already suspected your collars were fake,” Ephephany said. “But I wasn’t going to say anything. As long as you obeyed the law in spirit, restricting your transformations to only the most dire of cases, I was happy to ignore it. Sprouting wings is something I could care less about as well, as
long as no humans are nearby to see it.”
“See?” Mathis told Gwendoline. “Just because she’s a Wayfarer, doesn’t mean she’s a traitor. Her loyalties lie with the dragons.”
“Not the dragons,” Ephephany corrected. “But Jett and the royal family. For the most part.”
Mathis stared up at the long ascent. “How do you expect us to climb that, given our current state? Ephephany, where’s the rejuvenation Weave you promised?”
Ariel sensed invisible Weaves of the Strength moving between them. When those Weaves touched Ariel, she felt a wave of warmth pass through her, and immediately she stood up straighter. The exhaustion seeped away and she felt reinvigorated, jumpy even, like she had the energy to take on the world.
“You’ll have to teach me this Weave someday,” Ariel told Ephephany, imagining all the ways she could put it to use with Jett and herself, mostly during sexy time.
“There is a price,” Ephephany said. “When it wears off, you’ll need to sleep immediately. For longer than you normally would.”
“Flame, Viper, lead the way,” Jett told his White Swords, and the two began hiking up the slope, taking what looked like a deer trail in the dim light.
“You always were loyal in all the years you advised me…” Jett told Ephephany as he began the climb. “I was never quite sure why you didn’t try to usurp the throne, however. Sure, the Wayfarers teach you not to covet power, but there had to be another reason.”
“Of course there was,” Ephephany said. “You won my respect. It’s as simple as that. You were a good man, and an even better king.”
“Were you disappointed when he gave up his crown to Gabriel?” Ariel asked.
“A little,” Ephephany said. “But he had groomed Gabriel to be king in his place. His brother already ruled twice before, while Jeddah Slept. I had no reason to believe his behavior would suddenly change, as it has.”
“Like I said before, it’s not my brother who’s behind any of this,” Jett told her. “You’ll see.”
“I hope you’re right,” Ephephany said. “But if you should discover that it is truly your brother who is doing this, and your brother alone, will you slink away to the dark corners of the world, never to return, or will you have it within yourself to forcibly remove him, reclaiming that which is rightfully yours?”