by Donna Grant
She cocked a brow. “No queen?”
“The Kings were no’ chosen based on popularity. It was the magic inside us that chose who would lead. The strongest with the most magic were given the right.”
“And males are typically stronger than females.”
He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Aye.”
“So you ruled.”
“We ruled.” He rolled to his back and looked at the firelight dancing on the ceiling. “It wasna always peaceful, but that was why we have a King of Kings. One that is more powerful than any of us, with more magic.”
“Is he still around?”
Muscles turned his head to her. “Oh, aye. His name is Constantine.”
“How do we humans fit in?”
Dmitri’s face tightened. “One day, your kind arrived. Con called all the Kings together, and upon seeing your race, we were able to shift into your form in order to communicate.
“No’ all humans had magic, and we knew what was out in the universe. We made room for you in our world, and every King made a vow to protect your race.”
She could only stare at him, she was so shocked at his words. “That was very kind. I doubt we would do the same if the situation were reversed.”
“I know your kind wouldna.”
That statement didn’t bode well for the humans. “How did billions of dragons disappear, then?”
“Mortals reproduced quickly. Their numbers grew exponentially, and we had to keep taking land from dragons to give to the humans. Tensions increased. It was made worse when the occasional dragon would eat a mortal, and in turn, the humans would hunt dragons.”
Faith could see where this story was going, and he’d been right. She didn’t want to know.
“We managed through it all,” he continued. “Some mortals found safety and comfort in the homes of the Kings. There were even females who became our lovers.”
“Did you take one?” She didn’t know why she’d asked that, but she suddenly had to know the answer.
Muscles shook his head. “Nay.”
She found that hard to believe with him looking good enough to lick. “Just how old are you?”
“I’m immortal.” His head turned to her once more. “I’ve been alive for an untold number of eons.”
Holy shit. Her mind literally halted at the thought of that. Scientists claimed that if a human were immortal, they would go insane after about a century, and here a dragon lay beside her, millions of years old. And he looked as sane as they came.
“Does that bother you?” he asked, grinning.
She chuckled. “I’m just taking it all in.”
“There are many differences between dragons and humans. For instance, dragons mate for life.”
“We don’t,” she said, her thoughts immediately going to her father.
He tucked his outer arm beneath his head and once more looked at the ceiling. “Con was closest to a dragon named Ulrik. They were brothers in every way except blood. Ulrik was to be the first of us who mated with a mortal. He didna just want her as his lover. He wanted her as his mate. By doing so, he was condemning his line—the Silvers—to become obsolete.”
“Why?” she asked.
“No matter how many try, a dragon and human can no’ produce offspring. A few mortals get pregnant but quickly miscarry. Even rarer are the females who can carry the baby to term, only to have those children stillborn.”
“That’s horrible.”
“Ulrik didna care. He loved her deeply. During all of this, Con discovered that Ulrik’s woman wasna all she said. Con learned that she planned to kill Ulrik and begin a war.”
Faith was flabbergasted. She knew some people were that horrible, but still, it never failed to surprise her.
Dmitri went on, unaware of her reaction. “Con sent Ulrik away and told all of us his findings. Everyone loved Ulrik. We were outraged on his behalf. So we tracked down the mortal. She refused to answer Con’s questions and ran. To us, that was proof of her guilt.”
“What did you do?”
“We killed her. We did it to save Ulrik the pain of doing it himself.”
There was something in his tone that told her things didn’t go as planned. “Ulrik didn’t see it that way, did he?”
“Nay, he didna. He was consumed with grief and rage against the mortals and us. He wouldna turn on us, so he focused his fury on the humans. Ulrik began a war that day.
“Some Kings set their dragons up to protect the mortals, only the humans didna want them there. They murdered those dragons, slaughtered them because the dragons were under orders no’ to harm the mortals and wouldna fight back.”
Faith covered her mouth with her hand, tears gathering in her eyes.
“The humans exterminated some species of dragons while those of us left either took Ulrik’s side or Con’s.”
“Which did you take?” she asked.
Dmitri was silent for a moment before he said, “Con’s.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Dmitri thought back to that day so very long ago when the Dragon Kings had been divided. It wasn’t so cut and dried for many of them, him included.
“Do you regret your choice?”
Faith’s seductive voice was like music to his ears. And his body reacted in a primal, visceral way that both alarmed and thrilled him.
It was why he had turned away from her. She no longer needed his body heat, but he couldn’t make himself leave. To remain so close to her nude form was a special kind of Hell that he endured because it felt so good.
“Nay,” he replied. Anything to take his mind off the need burning inside him.
It would be so easy to turn to her and take her in his arms. He’d felt her interest, seen her response to him. Yet he didn’t wish to test Fate. Too many Kings had returned to Dreagan with mates. And with his reaction to her, it was best to leave things as they stood.
He swallowed hard as he recalled the feel of her soft body against him, her delightful curves and intoxicating scent. His balls tightened.
“Nay,” he said again. “I followed my King.”
She moved a lock of hair out of her face. “So you didn’t agree with Ulrik at all?”
“I didna say that. Many of us did, but we took an oath. Whether we liked it or not, we would defend the mortals against the rogue dragons.”
“Wow,” she said, looking at him curiously. “Do men like you really exist?”
He glanced at her. “I’m no’ a man. I’m a dragon.”
“Then that definitely explains it,” she murmured. “So the dragons were split. What happened then?”
He didn’t want to talk about it, but in order to tell her the entire story, he had to also share this part. “Con worked hard to bring all of the Kings back to his side except for Ulrik. No one could get through to him, no matter how hard we tried.
“The humans wouldna stop attacking dragons. We attempted to broker a truce, but the mortals wouldna even talk to us. It became obvious that the two races couldna live in the same realm together.”
“Why didn’t you just send the humans away?” she asked. “It’s what they deserved.”
He looked at her, amazed at her thoughts. “Both sides were to blame.”
“This was your home.”
“We were also more powerful and gifted with magic. It would be like you getting rid of ants.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Do you have any idea how many ant species there are?”
“Aye.”
Her eyes widened at the analogy. “Oh. I see.”
“If we wanted our families, friends … the verra dragons we were responsible for to live in peace, we had to send our kith and kin away. We built a dragon bridge with magic and sent them to another realm.”
“Why didn’t all of you go?”
“Our vow,” he reminded her. “However, no’ all the dragons listened to Con’s command. Ulrik and four of his largest Silvers remained. They attacked villages. We then trapped the Silvers and
used a spell to make them sleep.”
Her face went slack. “They’re still here, aren’t they?”
“Aye. But no’ anywhere they can be found.”
“And Ulrik? What about him?”
Dmitri gave a shake of his head. “The worst happened to our friend. Ulrik wouldna listen to reason. He left us no choice but to take drastic measures. We cornered him and united our magic to bind his. That left him in human form. In a fit of anger, Con banished Ulrik from our home.”
Several seconds passed before Faith said, “That’s … horrible. And incredibly cruel to lock Ulrik in the very form of the beings he detested.”
“Ulrik killed thousands of your ancestors. And we couldna allow him to be in his true form when all of us were going into hiding.”
“Hiding?”
“We remaining Kings gathered together in one place and slept away centuries as we waited for mortals to forget about us.”
She nodded slowly. “The story of your species turned to myth.”
“Just as we wanted.”
Her sherry eyes narrowed slightly. “You’re Scottish. Your home is these isles, but you said all of you gathered. That was in Scotland, wasn’t it?”
“It was. It is.”
“Where?” she pressed.
After everything he’d already told her, what harm would there be to tell her more? “In the Highlands. We’ve a large piece of land that gives us room. Or rather, it did.”
“Meaning?”
“We’ve enemies. No’ to mention we are no’ the only magical creatures in this realm.”
Worry shone in her beautiful eyes. He wanted to run his hands down her face and erase the anxiety forever. His gaze lowered, and he saw her breasts—and the tip of one pink nipple.
He clenched his hand into a fist to prevent himself from reaching for her and giving in to the rising tide of desire. His mouth watered at the thought of wrapping his lips around that nipple. He tore his eyes away from such temptation and looked back at her face.
“There’s more than just dragons?” she asked. “Who? What are they?”
Her questions were just what he needed to keep his thoughts from all the different ways he wanted to claim her body. “In your race, there are Druids.”
“My life is based on science. I don’t believe in magic. Or I didn’t … until tonight. You shattered my beliefs into oblivion by showing me your true form. I find it easier to accept you than I do the idea of humans having magic.”
“And yet, it’s true.”
She pressed her lips together briefly. “Hmm. The Romans did write about Druids.”
He raised a brow, grinning as he saw the thoughts running through her mind as she considered what he’d imparted.
“The other species?” she asked.
His smile faded. “The Fae. They discovered this realm and chose to remain because humans are a food source for them.”
“They eat us?” she asked, repulsed enough to scrunch up her face in distaste.
“No’ as you’re imagining. They draw you in because you can no’ resist them. The Fae are stunningly gorgeous, and emit pheromones that a mortal is powerless to ignore. Once in their arms, you experience the most amazing sex of your life.
“If you’re lucky enough to be snared by a Light Fae, they will leave you after that one time. However, you’ll never find fulfillment in the arms of another again.”
She made a sound in the back of her throat. “You call that lucky?”
“I do. For if it’s a Dark Fae, they continue to have sex with you until they drain you of your soul. You die happy, unaware that you were freely giving yourself to your murderer.”
“Oh,” she mumbled.
He turned on his side toward her. “If you feel that kind of attraction to another, do your best to fight it. The Fae have the ability to use glamour to hide their coloring. A Light has black hair and silver eyes, while a Dark will have silver in their black hair and red eyes.”
“Evil.”
“Aye. They’re evil.”
“Tamir said he felt evil.”
Dmitri moved his hand as close to her arm as he could without actually touching her. He wanted to feel her smooth skin against his hand, to have her body against his once more. “It was a Dark who pushed you from the cliff.”
She didn’t become outraged at his words. Instead, she calmly nodded. “Is it here for the skeleton, or you?”
“I think he did it to see if a Dragon King was here.”
“And you showed him you were by saving me.”
He shrugged. “I made sure he forgot about me. For now.”
“He’ll be back, won’t he?”
“Without a doubt.”
Her frown deepened. “Was Roger killed by one of these … Dark?”
Dmitri nodded.
“Why do they want the dragon skeleton?”
“Through all these millennia, Ulrik has walked this Earth with revenge eating away at him. He wants retribution for what Con and the rest of us did to him.”
“It was partly his fault,” she interjected.
“Be that at as it may, he’s set a course. Aligning with the Dark is part of his plan. Ulrik wants to show your kind that we’re here. He’s already taken one step. He had the Dark record us as we fought.”
Realization dawned. “That video of the dragons. That was you?”
“Aye.”
Her mouth went slack. “You’re part of Dreagan.”
“I am.”
She leaned up on her elbow and put her head in her hand, not grasping that the blanket had slipped to further expose her mouth-watering breasts.
And he wasn’t about to tell her either.
“Ulrik wants another battle between humans and dragons,” she guessed.
He pulled his gaze away from her hardened nipples. “That’s part of it. He wants to fight Con and take over as the King of Kings.”
“Then kill all the mortals.”
“Aye.”
“Well, that sucks,” she stated.
It was difficult not to smile at her response. “We are no’ going to let that happen.”
“Perhaps you should force Ulrik’s hand. Make him fight Con now. Don’t play his games.”
She had a point. They were playing Ulrik’s games, allowing him to dictate what happened. If Dmitri could convince Con that this was the way to go, they would no longer be chasing Ulrik. Instead, they would be the ones in charge.
Dmitri liked that idea a lot.
“You spend an awful lot of energy making sure we don’t know of your existence,” she said.
He looked into her eyes and wished the rest of the humans could be as open as she. “We doona have a choice. There can no’ be another war between our species.”
“Not now that we have weapons to kill you.”
He couldn’t help but smile then. The humans always thought their weapons could kill anything. How very wrong they were. “You could try, but we’re no’ just immortal. We’re verra hard to kill.”
“You mean Ulrik’s woman couldn’t have killed him?”
“That’s exactly what I mean, though she didna know it. You see, only a Dragon King can kill a Dragon King.”
She blinked, a smile growing. “You’re indestructible.”
“Pretty much.”
“Even against a nuclear bomb.”
“Aye.”
“Flying, magic, shifting, immortality,” she said in awe. Then sorrow filled her sherry eyes. “All of that, and you hide. It’s not right that you can’t be who you are.”
“Our lives would be so much simpler if every mortal thought as you do.”
“Why would an immortal want to be with a mortal?” she asked breathlessly.
He found it difficult to swallow as his gaze locked on her lips. “When a King takes a mortal as his mate, she becomes immortal. Living as long as he does.”
“Oh.”
He rubbed his thumb on her lower lip. She had an amazing mouth. Her
lips parted as her breathing quickened. Then she took his thumb into her mouth and sucked on it.
Whatever thoughts he might’ve had about keeping his hands from her vanished in a blink. He groaned at the feel of her tongue lapping at his skin.
She grinned and kissed the tip of his finger before she sidled closer to him. “Man or dragon, I want you, Muscles.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
In the next heartbeat, Faith found herself beneath Dmitri. His weight atop her felt amazing—as did his obvious arousal.
“You doona know what you’re doing,” he whispered.
She looked up into his azure eyes, her heart thundering with delight and anticipation. “I do, actually.”
“They’ll be no turning from this.”
“Shut up and kiss me.”
His eyes lowered to her mouth. She found it difficult to breathe through the haze of desire. Her lips were parted, anxiously—and impatiently—waiting.
She lifted her head to take action herself, but he pulled back while tangling his fingers in her hair, holding her head immobile. His blue eyes burned with need, but he held himself in check.
Her fingers dug into his arms, her body tense. Yet still, he held back. She was used to taking what she wanted, and she never apologized for being a sexual creature.
Then again, she’d never been with a dragon before.
Her heart thumped against her ribs the longer he held her gaze. His other hand pulled her arm out to her side, caressing the skin from her shoulder to her wrist.
Then he slid his fingers against hers, intertwining them. That simple act was so tender and sensual that it caused her breath to lock in her chest.
Being with Muscles wasn’t going to be the normal quick “roll in the hay.” Because he was so much more than that. It was in his touch, in the way he held her—in the way he looked at her.
Slowly, his head lowered, inch by agonizing inch. His hand in her hair held her firmly in place as his mouth hovered over hers.
Their breaths mixed, mingled.
Mated.
She saw the pale blue band circling his irises. In his depths, she found herself sinking into an ocean of blue that stretched endlessly before her, behind her, and around her.
Yet she wasn’t afraid. She’d seen the dragon, touched him. Even now, as she looked into his eyes, she welcomed all that she’d learned.