Dragon Sacrifice

by Rinelle Grey

  She’d changed from the overalls and brightly colour shirt she’d always worn into a tight fitting leather tunic and pants, and though Brad missed the character of her human outfit, he couldn’t complain about how her dragon clothes accentuated her perfect figure and the smooth lines of her curves.

  He wanted to run his hands over her, to feel her leather bound curves. Most of all, he wanted to undo some of those leather lacings. Heat flushed through Brad just thinking about what he knew was underneath them.

  On anyone else, the outfit might have looked serious or regal, but there was no risk of that on Lyrian. Her blue hair, falling in waves around her shoulders made sure of that, adding just the right tone of playfulness to her ensemble.

  And making Brad realise just how perfect she was for him.

  All his life his brother had teased him about being too serious. About always thinking before he acted, always having a backup plan. Nate had tried to convince him that he was missing out on a lot of fun because of his cautious attitude.

  And Brad had always known it was true. But he’d always weighted security higher than fun.

  Now he could feel the scales tipping, and that thought both exhilarated him and terrified him at the same time.

  Lyrian lifted one side of her lips in a lopsided smile, and the expression cut straight to Brad’s heart.

  Somehow, when he was with her, none of it seemed so scary at all.

  Brad couldn’t help himself. Despite his mind screaming that this was a mistake, and that he’d regret it later, he leaned in and kissed her.

  As soon as his lips touched hers, all his doubts vanished.

  She tasted of honey and cotton candy, with an undercurrent of tangy spice. Her lips promised adventure and delight, but also love and loyalty. Brad kissed her with a hunger that he’d only ever felt in her presence.

  And for the first time since he’d returned, she kissed him back just as passionately, her hunger matching his.

  Brad could have drowned in her lips and he would have died a happy man. Everything around them, the dragons, her brothers, the feast, even Nate’s mating, all faded away, and all he could think about was Lyrian, and getting her alone somewhere.

  But after a few moments, laughter invaded his haze.

  Brad pulled back, breathless, staring into Lyrian’s eyes.

  “Should we be having more than one mating here tonight?” Taurian said in amusement.

  Brad felt his face heat, though it was nothing compared to the fire flowing through his body.

  What would it feel like to be standing next to Lyrian, promising to be hers forever? To give himself over to this need coursing through his body. To trust in his feelings for once.

  Before he could even think how to reply, or to figure out if Taurian’s suggestion was serious or just teasing, Lyrian broke eye contact and turned to her brother. “Tonight is Nate and Kyrian’s night,” she said firmly. “Holding more than one mating at once takes the focus off the couple involved. It’s not fair.”

  Brad felt his heart sink a little.

  “It has been done,” Taurian said. He gave his sister what was definitely a teasing smile. “Especially in the case of siblings.”

  Lyrian was not amused. “What are you talking about?” she demanded. Then she realised. “Oh, Nate.”

  “I’d happily share my mating day with my brother,” Nate said promptly. He stared at Brad, his eyes dancing, daring him to accept. Nate wanted to see Brad take that leap as much as he wanted to take his own. He always had.

  Brad had no doubts that the celebration would be all the sweeter for sharing it with his twin brother. But what did Lyrian want?

  She was staring at Taurian, a frown on her face. “I told you, this is between Brad and I. Stay out of it.”

  Taurian held up his hands, taking the warning, but there was a smile on his face.

  Brad put a hand on Lyrian’s arm, no thought in his mind other than to bring the smile back to her face. And bring it back he did, it lit up her face as her eyes met his, and she could see the emotion reflected there.

  “I… do you want…?” Her words hung in the air.

  Brad stared at her, the answer on the tip of his tongue.

  Then his phone rang loudly in the expectant hush.

  The ringtone told him it was the hospital, even without looking at it. Brad’s heart sank. Was it a sign? Was fate trying to remind him that he had other responsibilities? A whole other life?

  With Lyrian’s eyes staring into his, uncertain but filled with longing, he wanted to ignore it, to consign that other life to his past and forget about it.

  But responsibility wouldn’t release him that easily.

  No matter how much he wanted to, he wasn’t the sort to just disappear and walk out on his responsibilities. If he made this choice, he would have to give them leave. Do it right.

  He heaved a small sigh. “I need to get this. I’ll be right back.”

  As he walked out of the main cave, feeling the eyes of Lyrian and everyone else boring into his back, he couldn’t help feeling like he was making a mistake. Trouble was, he wasn’t sure which was the mistake, leaving, or staying.

  “Dr Brad Cotting. What is it?” He kept his back to the cave, not wanting to see if Lyrian was staring at him. If her expression was disappointed.

  His heart was still thudding in his chest at the choice he’d nearly made.

  He wanted to drop the phone, rush back to her, and tell her of course he wanted to be her mate.

  The voice of Natalie Herring, the hospital director, brought him back to reality. “Dr Cotting, I know you said you needed another week to wrap up your affairs, but I wanted to ask if you could make it back earlier. Dr Bartlet has been in an accident and is unable to fill in for you.”

  Brad’s mind went completely blank.

  He opened his mouth to speak, the need to reply automatic, but he had no idea what to say.

  A few moments ago, he’d been ready to mate with Lyrian. To tie himself to her for life, with a magical bond that could never been broken, knowing that she could not leave her clan. He’d been ready to give up everything he had, everything he was, all for the chance to be with her. He’d never felt so certain of anything in his life.

  And now, with his boss’s voice on the other end of the phone, he was suddenly pulled back into the world that had been his entire life up until a few weeks ago. A life that he’d thought mattered more to him than anything else.

  How much had changed. Now that life felt like a dull echo of reality. A grey washed world, with no light or colour.

  “I… uh… I’m not sure,” Brad stammered. “It’s complicated.”

  “Complicated?” Brad could almost imagine Natalie raising an immaculate eyebrow. “What’s up with you, Brad? You’re acting very strangely. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’d been bewitched by a pretty woman. But that’s not like you at all, is it?”

  Brad was embarrassed by the fact that he was at a complete loss for words. Mostly because Natalie’s words were far too close to the truth for comfort.

  There was no other way to describe how he felt about Lyrian. She’d well and truly bewitched him, from the first moment he’d seen her stepping out of the pickup with her blue curls and her bubbly smile.

  He loved the way she grabbed life with both hands, and somehow held on through all the storms, no matter how hard they tried to kick her down.

  Somewhere, deep inside him, he wished he could be like that.

  “Brad? Are you there?” Natalie asked, and Brad realised he’d been staring off into space, not even trying to figure out an answer to her question.

  What had she asked again?

  “What’s going on?” Natalie repeated.

  Brad hesitated, then decided truth was the best option. Part of it at least. “I found out I’m a father. A woman I was with briefly last year has a baby. It’s… well, to be honest, it’s thrown me.”

  There was silence on the other end of the line. B
rad could just imagine Natalie’s stunned face. “Well,” she said eventually. “Take as long as you need. I guess we’ll find a replacement for you. But… you are coming back, right?”

  That was the ten-million-dollar question. Brad bit back a sigh. “I don’t know,” he said honestly.

  He truly was torn. Back in his normal, regulated life, he was under control. He knew what was going to happen. He felt safe. Secure. He couldn’t even say it was boring, there was plenty of challenge.

  But somehow, if he held it up next to the life he knew he could have here with Lyrian, it was dull and grey.

  Natalie was silent on the other end of the line. She was probably as confused as he was. “Well, let me know.” She sounded at a loss for words.

  “Sure. Of course,” Brad agreed.

  He hung up the phone, his stomach still twisted in knots. If the phone call hadn’t come, he might just have agreed to become Lyrian’s mate. Now, thrown back into reality, he wasn’t sure what to do. Both options seemed both right and wrong at the same time.

  How was he supposed to make a choice like this that would affect the rest of his life?

  Life back in America would be safe and predictable. He knew exactly where he was going, and where he’d be in ten, twenty, fifty years’ time. Life here with Lyrian, on the other hand, was random and chaotic and beautiful.

  He wasn’t even sure where he’d be tomorrow, much less in fifty years’ time.

  Except that he knew he’d be with Lyrian. That much was certain.

  “Work calling?”

  The voice from behind startled him. Its knowing, slightly sardonic tone grated on his nerves, even as it was instinctively familiar. Not the voice itself, but the attitude. He’d heard so many like it over the years. Probably he’d even sounded that way himself on more than one occasion.

  Brad turned around slowly, not overly surprised to see Aunt Mary leaning on the entrance to the cave, regarding him thoughtfully. He tried to shrug nonchalantly. “Yeah, they want me back.”

  He winced at how arrogant that sounded as soon as the words were out of his mouth, but the reality was, they were true.

  “Yeah, I was getting calls almost daily. I finally turned my phone off. That’s made it a little easier, but some days I still feel completely stupid for not sucking it up and getting back there.”

  Brad stared at her, aware that his mouth was agape, but unable to help it. He searched his mind, but he couldn’t remember seeing the woman with anyone. Then again, he’d been here less than a day. “Did you fall in love with a dragon too?” he asked sympathetically.

  Aunt Mary gave a rough laugh. “If only it were that easy. No, nothing like that at all. My niece was the one who fell in love with one of these dragons. I’m just along for the ride. There’s no real reason why I can’t just go back to my normal life, except…” she trailed off, and the look in her eyes somehow made Brad feel sad. “I don’t want to,” she said softly.

  She stared at Brad, her expression intent. “Don’t give it all up for work, it’s not worth it.” Her voice was intense. Certain. “If you do, you’ll end up old and bitter, like me. Having plenty of money or a thriving business means nothing when the lights go out and you’re alone and unhappy.”

  There was something about her words that seemed to cut through the haze Brad had been feeling. The turmoil the phone call had raised in his heart settled, then faded away.

  Aunt Mary was right. His job, while important, would not soothe his soul. It would never make up for losing Lyrian. Certainty and safety weren’t worth it.

  He drew in a deep breath, staring across the room towards Lyrian, whose eyes met his as though drawn to him.

  He paused for a moment to turn to Aunt Mary. “Thank you,” he said softly. Something made him add, “And don’t give up, you’re not that old.” He gave her a wink, and she stared at him for a few moments, before her expression lightened a little.

  “Maybe not,” she agreed. “Now go get that girl.”

  Brad nodded, his attention moving away from the woman, back to Lyrian. He squared his shoulders. This was it, his moment.

  If he was going to do this, he wasn’t going to do it half heartedly. He was going to go after Lyrian with the same intent that he pursued everything else in his life. If she’d have him, he’d do the very best he could to make sure she never regretted it.

  He walked across the room, his eyes not leaving hers. He was aware that others around him stopped and turned towards him, that the low hum in the room faded away, but he didn’t care.

  Hope flared on Lyrian’s face as he drew closer. She turned and handed Anarian to Taurian, sitting next to her, then gave him her full attention.

  Brad reached out and took her hands in his. He wasn’t quite sure how dragons did this. Did they have some special ritual? They seemed to for everything else. But he wasn’t going to be put off by that right now. Human customs would have to do.

  “Lyrian… Princess Lyrian, mother of my child, will you do me the honour of becoming my mate?”

  Chapter 8

  Lyrian stared at Brad, her heart thudding in her chest.

  When he’d walked away to answer the phone call, she’d been sure it was someone trying to call him back to his real life, his life in America. She’d expected him to come back and tell her it was time for him to go, especially now his brother’s mating was over. The best she’d hoped for was that he would wait until the morning, or maybe until the police were dealt with.

  But this…

  She searched his face but could only see love and determination. Hope flared, causing her heart to skip a beat. Did he really mean it? Could he really mean it?

  She hardly dared let herself hope. Could he really have changed his mind? “But… what about your job?”

  There wasn’t the slightest hesitation before he replied. “My job is just work. They’ll replace me far more easily than I could choose to leave you. If I don’t do this, I’m going to regret it for the rest of my life.”

  He’d said once before that he was replaceable and she’d refused to believe him. Was it really any different now? She wanted to believe this. Wanted to accept, quickly, before he changed his mind. Once they were bonded, he’d have no doubts, she knew that.

  That was why she wanted to be sure before that happened.

  “Are you sure?” Lyrian asked quietly. “I don’t want you to regret mating me.”

  “I could never regret that,” Brad said firmly.

  His eyes stared into hers, and Lyrian knew his words were true. Excitement began to build up in her chest, sending tingles and heat through her body. This was it. She had known that somehow, love would win. That all she had to do was trust in Brad, and in herself.

  And now the moment had come. They were going to be mated.

  “Then nothing would make me happier,” she said softly.

  Brad smiled then, the expression lighting up his whole face. He turned to Taurian. “Were you serious about including us in this mating?” He glanced over at his brother. “That’s if you don’t mind, Nate?”

  Nate broke off kissing his mate to grin at his brother. “Nothing would give me more pleasure,” he said. “Although I suppose it does mean we’ll have to stay longer.” He glanced at Kyrian and winked. His mate giggled.

  Taurian turned to Lyrian and gave her a cheeky grin. A grin that said, ‘I knew it all along’. “Looks like my big sister is getting mated after all.” He turned around to the group in the cave and made the announcement. “Dragons, we are in for a treat today, a double mating! My sister, Lyrian, and the father of her princess, Brad, have decided to join the celebrations. I hope you’re all as happy for them as I am.”

  There was a quiet cheer from the crowd, and Lyrian scanned it quickly, her princess habits kicking in. She would need to keep an eye on anyone who wasn’t happy. Most of the smiles seemed genuine though. After both Taurian and Verrian mating with a human, it must seem almost commonplace.

  There was one person
she knew wouldn’t be happy for them though. Her eyes sought out Ostrian, the grumpy elder seemed to object to everything.

  But though he was frowning, to Lyrian’s surprise, he didn’t voice any objections. In fact, he turned and said something to someone next to him, the human woman called Aunt Mary, his expression resigned.

  Lyrian frowned. What was going on there?

  But she didn’t really have time to think because Brad was leaning in to kiss her.

  His lips lightly brushed hers, setting up a deep need in Lyrian’s belly. She’d been supressing her feelings for him as best she could up until now, but his agreement to mate with her seemed to have unleashed them all in a sudden rush. She put her hand up behind his neck, and pulled him closer, crushing her lips against his.

  He tasted so good, and as though he were a potent nectar, vital to her survival, Lyrian couldn’t get enough.

  Who cared about formal mating. They could just go back and find a cave and complete the mating the old fashioned way. That was all they required.

  That was what she really needed right now.

  She’d waited over a year for this. Her whole body ached with a deep seated longing she hadn’t even been aware of until this moment. Until she’d let it out. And now it wouldn’t be silenced. It roared through her body like an angry dragon, setting every nerve ending on fire.

  She was dimly aware of Taurian clearing his throat somewhere nearby, but she ignored him.

  It was Brad who pulled back, staring at her, breathless, his eyes deep with desire.

  Why had he stopped? Did he not love her as strongly as she loved him? Did he not want this as much as she did?

  As the distance cooled her desire, just a little, she became aware of all the dragons and humans around them, staring at them. A few giggled. A few called out not to stop.

  Every now and then, a couple became so overwhelmed during the mating ritual, that they forgot where they were. It was always a bit of a thrill for the onlookers, for dragons that is. Humans were a bit more private about things. It was modesty that had enabled Brad to break the spell, not a lack of desire.

  And as a princess, she needed to set a good example for her people and keep things under control.