by Ophelia Bell
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Rowan said to Rafe.
His hand squeezed hers a little tighter. “Which part? The part where we’ve been invited to assist the Council in recharging the Verdanith? I’ll give you three guesses how it works. And I think she has just staked her claim on having us to herself during the process.”
Rowan glanced around at the others, trying to gauge their various moods. Erika shared a long look with Geva, but neither of them appeared upset about the prospect of being separated. In fact, if Rowan had to guess, the pair looked excited. Her brother gathered his mate in his arms, and gave her a long, sensuous kiss, then urged her to go. Erika strode the few steps over to Rowan, her cheeks still flushed. The aura of her arousal clung to her brightly. Rowan hadn’t quite gotten used to the awareness of the magic and the eagerness with which all the human mates seemed to embrace the nature of their lovers. Erika might be one of the most enthusiastic women she’d ever met when it came to sex. She quickly reevaluated that assessment when the petite, blonde Camille walked up to them and nudged Trevor’s shoulder.
“Looks like we’ll get the chance to get to know you a little better,” Camille said, not even trying to hide the suggestive tone. She eyed Trevor up and down, then Rafe. “This one’s got a very talented tongue,” she said, patting Rafe on the chest, then glancing at Rowan. “You’re one lucky girl.”
Rowan raised an eyebrow at Rafe. He cleared his throat and gave her a weak smile. “I’ve been blessed with friends who are happy to share when they have a friend in need. She and her mates saved me much the way Trevor and I saved you.”
Erika laughed. “We are nothing if not giving. Come on Trevor. I promise we’ll take good care of you and I have no doubt your efforts will be appreciated. Kris and Issa mean a lot to us.”
“Um, all right, I guess. You’re okay with this, Rowan?”
“I think I have to be, as long as you are. Just make sure you enjoy yourself.” She nudged him toward Camille and Erika.
“I don’t think that’ll be an issue,” Trevor murmured, eyeing both beautiful women who were already leading him away to follow the others down the mountain path and away from the Pavilion.
“Where is this Glade? Do we need to fly there?” Rowan asked.
Without answering, Rafe pulled her toward the center where the others were gathered, linking hands in a circle around the glowing shape of the Verdanith that had embedded itself in the floor of the Pavilion. Around them the shapes of the dragons of the Council shimmered as they exhaled deep breaths. Colorful clouds of smoke coiled and swirled around them, the tendrils of each color twining together until it formed a twisting rope. The column of it arched over their heads and flowed into the center of the floor between them, sinking into the round opening at the core of the Verdanith.
As though a key had thrown the tumblers of a lock, the entire floor of the Pavilion shifted beneath Rowan’s feet. The world around her wavered and flashed, colorful smoke filling the air so thickly that it obscured her vision of everything around her. All she could see was sparkling, colorful fog, but Rafe’s hand still gripped hers tightly on one side and the smooth warmth of the golden dragon’s, Aurik’s, hand gripped tightly around her other hand. The mist seeped through her clothing, though not with the expected sensation of moisture. The ethereal cloud had the texture of silk sliding between her garments and her skin, whispering across every inch of her flesh like a breath. Before she could control herself she let out a soft moan in response, giving herself up to the pleasure. Her mind buzzed with the power of the magic that surrounded her, infused her with every breath. Vaguely she understood for the first time what the humans might have experienced in response to her own breath.
Her eyes fluttered open when the sensation subsided and she found herself and the others in a sun-dappled glade. In the center was a circular pool filled with crystal clear water. The center of the pool had a stone island roughly the size of the center of the Pavilion where Kris had stood when he assembled the Verdanith. The Verdanith itself was visible in the center here, as well, glowing with rhythmic pulses.
A pair of lips pressed against her bare throat. Another pair against her shoulder. Fingertips tugged at the bindings of her clothing and with barely a thought she dispersed the conjured dress she wore. She heard a splash and the sound of ringing laughter. Movement caught her attention at the periphery of her vision. She pulled her attention away from the teasing hands on her body to marvel at the tableau before her. The familiar faces of her friends had been joined by new faces and it took Rowan a moment to register that the Council had shifted. While human in shape, however, they each retained an otherworldly quality that surpassed even the quality she’d noticed in the dragons she’d met the last two days. Both the men and the women were taller, more muscular, the men imposing in their size. The black dragon, Ked, dwarfed the petite naked form of Racha who teased him from the water. He dove in after her, wrestled with her briefly until they came together beneath the water, Racha’s face abruptly transforming from mischievous fun to pure pleasure with the movement of Ked’s hips against hers.
The other Council Dragons seemed to have each chosen one or two of her friends. Kol and her brother flanked the beautiful blue Belah. Geva knelt before Belah, pressing urgent kisses down her torso while Kol cupped the woman’s breasts from behind.
On a smooth stone ledge across the pool, Roka was already tangled with Numa, her full breasts worshiped by his lips and tongue, her long legs wrapped around his waist as he fucked her.
Lovely, golden Aurin lay sprawled on the grass, the tangled crimson curls of the immortal Red, Gavra, moving between her thighs, while on the other side of them, Aurin’s brother was similarly engaged with the white dragon, Aodh, Aurik’s fingers twined in Aodh’s hair while the Council Dragon’s pale tongue and lips worked deftly at Aurik’s cock.
A beautiful face obscured Rowan’s view, golden eyes set deep. Aurum’s sweet breath hit Rowan’s nostrils first, and she inhaled. The power infused her with joy like a drug. She exhaled in response, sending out a red gust of her own power.
Aurum hummed her appreciation. “A game then?” the immortal Gold said. She pressed closer, sliding her hands up over Rowan’s bare breasts. Tender palms cupped both breasts, the pads of her thumbs brushing over Rowan’s nipples before Aurum moved higher, holding Rowan’s chin lightly with both hands. The light contact sent a buzz of pure pleasure through Rowan’s body and it lingered hotly at her core.
Aurum’s lips parted as she leaned closer, still a hair’s breadth from skin on skin. Her warm breath puffed out against Rowan’s mouth and Rowan followed her example, opening her mouth slightly and exhaling.
The warm velvet of Aurum’s lips made contact, her tongue pressing deeper. Rowan’s heartbeat thudded in her ears with every increment of the powerful breath that fused with her own, deep in her lungs. She slung her arm around Aurum’s neck and tilted her mouth against the sweet, soft kiss, opening up and exhaling again. The soft length of Aurum’s body slid against her, thighs brushing together, hands squeezing breasts, hips, and ass.
They traded breath until Rowan lost track of her surroundings, but through it all she remained acutely conscious of the other pair of lips and hands that kissed and caressed her from behind. Aurum finally pulled away a dizzying moment later. She shifted her lithe golden body around Rowan. Rowan turned and watched while she clutched Rafe by the back of the neck and pressed her lips against his.
Swirls of their mixed red-gold breath expelled from Aurum’s mouth, tendrils of it escaping from between their lips. Rafe pulled it into his lungs in a single inhalation, his eyelids fluttering and his lips twitching into a euphoric smile. When they parted, Rowan followed suit, pulling Rafe down to meet her own mouth and sharing with him the lingering combination of her breath mixed with Aurum’s.
Rowan had only a vague idea what needed to be done. Recharging the artifact cou
ld have meant all kinds of things, but the more understanding she acquired about the nature of her race, the more she realized there was really only one way that would happen. They must have been transported into some kind of magical parallel world, or a tiny pocket of one. The Council’s magic swirled thickly around them, arousing her to the point that the other dragons’ power seemed like faint background noise by comparison. When the first pair of orgasmic cries resonated through the air, Rowan looked up from the distracting kisses and caresses Rafe and Aurum were sharing with her and watched, mesmerized, as the bright green light sailed through the air from Numa and Roka and sank into the center of the pedestal. The Verdanith remained brightly lit for a moment, before subsiding back to its low, pulsing glow.
With disconcerting synchronicity, the six immortal dragons disengaged from their activities, leaving behind baffled looks of mild frustration among the others.
“It’s time,” Aurum whispered to Rowan. “Don’t fret, my dear. We will be gentle.” With strength far beyond what Rowan was capable of resisting, Aurum clutched both her wrists, twisted them behind her back, and urged her to walk forward into the water. Steps led down into the cool, waist-deep pool, then up again to the flat, circular island in the center.
“What the hell?” Rowan looked back at Rafe, alarm bordering on fear.
Rafe’s eyes widened briefly, then he seemed to come to some silent understanding. He looked back at her, resigned. “We broke their laws. Therefore they must administer punishment.”
“Punishment? For falling in love? Rafe! I didn’t even know it was a law when I fell for you. And I thought you said my presence would make them change it!”
“Darling, the only thing to do now is to accept it bravely. When it’s over we will be able to make our arguments.”
Belah moved to Rafe’s side and Rafe nodded, holding his hands behind him for her to restrain and drive him forward. They weren’t the only ones, Rowan soon became aware. They were joined in the center by Aurin and Aurik, who both looked as chastened as Rafe.
“What did you guys do?” Rowan asked under her breath.
In a sardonic tone, Aurik murmured, “Fell in love with the same human. Two dragons aren’t allowed to mate and mark a single human at the same time.”
“Well, that’s news to me, too.” She eyed Rafe from across the platform, finding it hard not to be as amused as she was irritated. “Too bad you didn’t give me a legal lesson when we met, baby. Is Trevor going to be alright?”
“He’ll be fine. No doubt he’s enjoying himself more than we are at the moment. Camille is nothing if not attentive.”
The fact that Rafe and the others didn’t seem worried or even afraid let Rowan relax a little. The four were positioned at the four cardinal points of the platform. She and Aurin faced each other, with Rafe and Aurik to either side of them.
The immortal Shadow, Ked, stood just outside their circle where the water lapped at its edges and gestured for Kol to move to the opposite side. Both exhaled deeply, their dark breath quickly fading to nothing as it left their mouths. Air currents that hadn’t existed before moved around Rowan, tickling her skin. A second later, the sensation of invisible silk bindings coiled around Rowan’s wrists and tugged her arms up in front of her and over her head. The others’ movements mirrored her own. Similar sensations coiled around her ankles, tugging her legs apart so she stood spread-eagled. The magic ties held her snugly enough that she could let her weight hang entirely from her wrists without any give, if she chose to.
Rowan had to crane her head around her arm to see Rafe. His dark beauty took her breath away, particularly with the slight shimmer of his scales appearing along the surface of his skin. She recognized it not as a need for power, but the simple response to intense arousal. The presence of his shining horns as well as of his erection were obvious signs as well. The Twins attracted similar swirls of magic. Rowan wondered if they enjoyed misbehaving for the simple sake of enduring the punishment. In spite of her own humiliation at being disarmed so, she found herself growing just as aroused at the prospect of what might happen next.
“It seems like you’re enjoying this, so how the hell does it count as punishment?” she sent to Rafe.
“Most dragons prefer to do the tying rather than be tied. Our pride suffers, and the magic of the dominating dragons will linger like a bad hangover. We will have to submit to the others to satisfy the Council.”
“Even to my brother?”
“That is up to the Council. It’s possible.”
Before she could voice her objection, Ked spoke, his voice so deep it sank into Rowan’s gut, leaving her with a pleasant buzz. “Geva shall secure Aurin’s submission, Racha will secure Rafe’s, Roka will secure Aurik’s, and Kol will secure Rowan’s. When each of you has submitted to your peers, you will submit to one of us.”
“That’s it? I can just say I submit to Kol and it’s done?”
Rafe didn’t answer and before Rowan could turn her head to look at him, a large hand twined in her long hair and yanked her head back severely.
“Ow!” Rowan cried out and jerked her head forward again. The hand slipped around, fingers clasping loosely around her neck. The gesture was only a vague threat, but sufficient enough for Kol to make his point. She was at his mercy now.
Kol’s voice seeped into her mind, a cool, languid suggestion that crept like the dark predator she’d learned a Shadow could be. “I daresay I might enjoy this as much as I enjoyed disciplining your brother, if you are as hot-tempered as he is.”
“What does your mate think of this?” Rowan shot back.
“She would assist me, were she here now. Ask her later—or ask your brother now to confirm the story.”
Rowan trained her eyes across the circle to where her brother stood behind Aurin, his large hands sliding down her sides. He met her gaze, then his gaze shifted past her shoulder to Kol and he grinned. So much for family loyalty.
“It’s your fault we’re in this circle, you know,” Rowan said to Kol. “You should have told me the truth even if Rafe couldn’t bring himself to.”
She tried to turn her head but Kol still held tightly to the back of her neck with one hand. She could only catch a glimmer of movement of his dark head and the free hand that reached around and slid up her stomach. When he finally answered, the words were accompanied by his thumb and fingers spanning both breasts and teasing her nipples into achingly hard peaks. The pleasurable distraction made it nearly impossible to focus.
“I should have bound you like this and showed you the truth that night. Instead I was too lenient and let you leave without truly understanding the stakes. I’ve since learned my lesson.”
“The only thing at stake for me was love and honesty,” Rowan gritted out through her teeth. “You as much as promised Rafe and I could never be together under current Dragon Law. I will not submit until the laws are abolished.” She raised her voice, the words hanging in the air as all the others paused, their attention fully on her.
Kol chuckled and pinched her nipples lightly. He nipped at her neck with his teeth, the light contact causing delicious trickles of pleasure down her spine. “The longer it takes you to give in, the more fun it will be for them when they take you. However, I did not lie to you Rowan. You are crucial to our cause. You couldn’t be doing better if we’d rehearsed beforehand.”
“I could have done better if I’d known this is how things would go.”
“If I had known, I would have prepared you.”
He released her neck and continued his playful nips over her shoulders and neck. With one hand he pushed her hair up, carefully coiling it on top of her head and binding it with a tiny breath that wove itself into her thick locks.
She shivered at the light brush of his lips over her neck at the base of her skull. Heat flushed through her from that point outward, as though he’d found a sleeping ember and fed it
enough fuel to become a blaze. His large bulk of warm muscle and skin pressed against her from behind, his erection searing hot along her spine. Both hands cupped her breasts this time, teasing her nipples relentlessly, the light swirl of his tongue against the top of her spine never letting up.
After a few seconds more of it he paused and whispered in her ear. “Do you submit now, Princess?”
“No.”
“Then you shall get to witness how the others give in and take their own punishment.”
Breath of Fate: Chapter 7
Kol reached up and tugged lightly at Rowan’s wrists. The bindings seemed to give but tightened again when he had her arms repositioned so that her elbows were bent at ninety degree angles. It gave her a better vantage to either side, and allowed circulation back into her arms.
“Thank you,” she sent to him.
“Don’t thank me yet, I’m just taking my time for emphasis. You will submit when I’m ready for you to.” He nipped more deliberately at the back of her neck, the sudden contact causing more wet heat to flood between her thighs. His caresses grew idle, almost comforting as she watched the other three endure their own ordeals.
Rafe’s entire body was taut from strain against his bindings. Racha rested on her knees before him, her mouth wrapped around his cock, sucking with slow, steady motions. The magic churned around him, and the second Rowan was sure Rafe would come hard in Racha’s mouth, the Queen abruptly stopped and stood, leaving Rafe’s wet cock standing like a solitary pillar, his tip weeping.
“Submit,” Racha whispered in his ear.
“No,” Rafe said, the word coming out in a strangled groan.
Racha only nodded and stepped to the side, wrapping one arm around his waist and caressing him in a less arousing fashion but never ceasing contact.
Aurin looked across the space at Rowan with a secretive smile. The pretty blonde shared a glance with her brother as Geva’s large hands teased her. Rowan’s Red brother followed Kol’s example, teasing Aurin’s nipples, then nibbling at her neck. Only he went one further and slid a hand between her thighs, dipping his fingertips deep into Aurin’s glistening, bare pussy.