King of the Dragons: Dragon's Blood M.C. (Dragon's Blood M.C. Book 9)

by B. A. Stretke

  The flight was exhilarating, and Duncan found himself going faster and faster at the realization of his mate waiting for him in this new land. That call from Calum was the most exciting thing to happen to him since taking over as King of the Shetland Dragon Circle. Dragon’s lived very long lives so he had many more years ahead of him that he would spend with his mate and children.

  His dragon was fierce and demanding as he cut through the sky with Grey close behind. He would be in Laramie by morning and that thought brought on another burst of speed. The picture he’d received of his mate was just his lower back and he ached to know what he looked like.

  Lyle Davis was Hunter’s younger brother and he’d received a picture of Hunter with his two mates upon his induction into the Dragon Circle. Duncan wondered how much Lyle took after Hunter. Would he be as blond and fair, or would he be darker? It didn’t matter, Duncan was destined to love the man and he would consider him to be pure perfection regardless. He hoped that his young mate would find him worthy and attractive.

  …

  Lyle stood on the massive stone porch and slowly took in the sheer size of the place. When Hunter had told him it was their Gatehouse in the mountains, he assumed it was a cabin in the woods. At best a getaway large enough for several couples but not the enormous structure that surely covered several acres and rose four levels into the air. It was beyond comprehension and absolutely gorgeous. In Lyle's opinion, the stone and logs were a masterpiece of artistry and construction.

  The interior took his breath away and he prayed that his skills would meet their expectations. He’d never seen such a place and never thought he’d have the opportunity to contribute to a beauty like this.

  "Come and I'll show you the projects Calum had in mind for you." Flynn motioned him forward with Hunter bringing up the rear. He indicated some basic edging around the kitchen cabinets and some hardware installation before taking him out onto the back deck. It was so huge that it made the front porch look tiny. This thing ran the entire expanse of the back of the structure with several points of access. The projects included constructing benches along both ends and at designated points between. This was a big project.

  "Calum said for you to go ahead and design the benches," Flynn told him and Lyle was instantly excited by the possibilities.

  “I can do that.” Immediately ideas began running through his mind. Flynn took him to the large garage that housed the tools and supplies. Everything he needed was there and his excitement increased at the opportunity to use some good tools. Morris was a demanding man, but he never had tools that were worth a shit so Lyle was stuck making do when he knew he could do better with proper equipment.

  They returned to the main house and Flynn showed him around the entire building and indicated several rooms of which he could take his pick. He chose the smaller room at the front of the building on the second floor. It gave a clear view of the entrance road and driveway. Also, the position of the room afforded a straight shot down the hall and out the back stairwell to the exit. It would be easy for him to escape either by the front door or the back. Call it instinct, but Lyle always made sure he knew the exits and how to get there.

  “I can stay if you’d like.” Hunter offered. He seemed edgy about leaving Lyle on his own up in the mountain wilds.

  "I'll be fine. I have the phone you gave me, thanks by the way, so if there's a problem, I'll call." Lyle appreciated his brother's concern, but he'd rather have the night alone in this amazing place. It would give him the freedom to go wherever he pleased.

  “Besides, he’ll only be alone for tonight.” Flynn chimed in. “Duncan Adair and his brother Grey are arriving in the morning and they will be living here.”

  “Are they part of the club?” Lyle wasn’t sure how to phrase it, but he was pretty sure gang was not the right word to use. Based on the money it took to build this place and their cagey descriptions of their group he was pretty sure this was organized crime of some sort. He wasn’t sure what his brother got mixed up in, but they were all nice to him so who was Lyle to judge. Morris looked legit but was actually a total piece of shit.

  "Yes, yes they are," Flynn stated with special emphasis. Lyle heard more than was said and it sounded like these men were important, but for some reason, Flynn was being cagey about it.

  “I’ll be sure and stay out of their way.” Lyle declared.

  "Not necessary, they know you will be here, and they look forward to meeting you. Just be yourself, Lyle." Flynn ended upbeat and patted Lyle's shoulder. The touch caused the pain in his birthmark to flare, but he hid his reaction. The birthmark had never in his life given him a moment of discomfort and now it was itching, aching and sometimes, like now, would flash with a sudden pain.

  They walked together out onto the front porch to say their goodbyes. “Call me tomorrow, if you don’t, I will drive up here to check on you.” Hunter was firm.

  “I’ll call, I promise.” Lyle loved the fact that his brother cared. “And thanks for putting in a good word for me. The money from this job will really help me out.”

  Hunter stared at him for a few moments and then smiled. “Be open to all possibilities, Lyle, as they say, life is a journey.”

  …

  Duncan and Grey arrived a few miles outside of town in an area designated by Clan Keith. They shifted as soon as they landed and were met by two black SUVs. They were quickly and quietly spirited to the Lodge. Calum had not known when they were arriving until King Duncan had gotten close enough to communicate. The King had the power to communicate with all dragons within his Circle.

  When the King entered the Lodge every warrior present dropped to one knee. He acknowledged each and every one of his men as he passed. The presence of the King in their home was powerful and uplifting. They had not been in the presence of their King in over one hundred years. Duncan followed Calum to his office leaving Grey with the warriors in the living room.

  Duncan sat on the loveseat against the far wall and Calum took a chair and sat to his left as was customary for such an audience. “I had your mate taken to the Gatehouse in the mountains that has been remodeled and expanded to your specifications. He is a carpenter so in order to keep him here I hired him to complete a few projects.” Calum explained quick and concise.

  "He is there alone, but I have Ewan and Angus keeping an eye on him from a distance. He is safe, sir. I found it necessary to separate him from us. Our proximity was causing his royal mark to become inflamed." Calum finished.

  "He's going into heat," Duncan stated and Calum nodded. "I need to go to him immediately."

  “Yes, sir. Everything is packed and ready for you and Grey.” Calum stood when Duncan did and he reached back to his desk and took a large envelope off it and handed it to Duncan.

  “This is research on your mate conducted by Bryn’s mate Cameron. It will give you some basic information on him and his brother Hunter also included a letter.” Calum stepped back and away as his King moved quickly towards the door.

  "Thank you, Calum for succeeding in your quest so spectacularly," Duncan announced from the doorway and Calum nodded and basked for a moment in the praise of his King before following him back to the living room.

  …

  Lyle enjoyed checking out the mammoth structure on his own after Hunter and Flynn left. He got a bottle of water from the kitchen and then went room to room and floor to floor taking in the size, detail and pure artistry of the place. In his mind, it harkened back to the palaces of old but with a modern twist. It boasted everything current and hi-tech yet was basically wood and stone. It was fantastic.

  Lyle brought his things up to his room and turned in just after ten. He was still feeling the lingering effects of his previous illness. He was better, but he wasn't at a hundred percent yet. Tomorrow would be a better day, he told himself, as he snuggled down into the soft bed with its lush blankets. Damn, he could get used to this, was his final thought before sleep took him.

  He was up and dressed an
d had finished his breakfast when he heard a car drive up. He quickly dropped his dishes in the dishwasher and gave the island a wipe down before downing the last of his coffee and heading to the front door. It was one of the SUVs owned by the club, so he assumed it was the two people Flynn mentioned last night Duncan Adair and his brother Grey.

  Lyle stepped out onto the porch to greet them and see if they needed help carrying anything in. Flynn had said they would be living at the Gatehouse so naturally, they should have luggage.

  He stopped mid-step and froze unable to drag his eyes away from the first man to exit the vehicle. He was tall and broad like the Keith's but he possessed a commanding and formidable presence that set him apart much like Calum had but more so. This man was the person in charge, dominance radiated from every pore. Lyle knew at that moment that he was looking at the top dog in this organization.

  Lyle shook himself and tried to bring his lustful imaginings under control, but this guy pushed every one of his buttons. His black hair loose and silky and his eyes green as emeralds flashing as they took him in devouring him head to toe.

  It felt almost sensual in the way the man seemed to consume him with just that burning gaze. Lyle had never desired a man before not that he hadn’t found several attractive, but no one ever made him want the way this fine-looking man was making him want.

  Enough, he told himself and stuffed his feelings away while forcing a flat yet friendly expression on his face. This was not the time to humiliate himself in front of these clearly strong and influential men. He had just nicely healed from his last beat down and looking too interested in this guy could put him in a world of hurt all over again.

  Duncan was instantly captivated by the young man standing on the porch. He came out of the house and the breeze brought his scent wafting through the air towards Duncan. The moment it enveloped him his desire heated and peaked. He didn't need an introduction he knew instinctively who this was, and the excitement was palatable. This was Lyle Davis, his mate, and Consort. He rushed from his homeland, flew thousands of miles in a single night for this man and he was worth every effort.

  His build was similar to Hunter's, but that was where the similarities ended. This man, his man, was dark, exotic, and exciting. Calum had given him an envelope containing Lyle's background, but he had not as yet looked at it. He wanted these first few moments of recognition to be pure and without judgment or expectation of any kind. He wanted this moment to be perfect and it was.

  Lyle was stunning with short hair black hair and eyes as dark as the night sky and he was not unaffected by Duncan’s presence. The mark on his back was probably itching like a bitch right now.

  Duncan felt his dragon come forward and observe its mate. As King he had great control over his beast and the meeting would go at Duncan’s pace and not his animal. But if Lyle were threatened or in danger of any kind his dragon would take matters into his own hands as was true to their nature.

  “He is gorgeous, brother.” Grey walked up beside Duncan and spoke softly.

  "I have waited for this day for so long, I can hardly believe that it is real, and this amazing little man belongs to me," Duncan spoke his thoughts.

  “Here take one of the trunks so your new man will marvel at your strength and agility.” Grey teased and Duncan grabbed the trunk and slung it effortlessly over one shoulder. Grey grabbed the other one and they headed towards the porch.

  “Can I help you with anything?” Lyle came to the steps as Duncan and Grey approached.

  Duncan could not stop staring, Lyle was a feast for his heart and soul. "We can handle it," Duncan said with a smile. "But thank you for the offer." He added not wanting to offend. He reached out his hand as he set the trunk on the porch. "I'm Duncan Adair." He said and waited the second it took for Lyle to react and take his hand. The moment was charged, electrifying even as their flesh connected and their bond began.

  “Lyle Davis, pleased to meet you, sir.” He said and his voice was deep and sure with just a touch of hesitation which he buried immediately and unwaveringly looked Duncan in the eyes and held his gaze. Not an easy feat for a human, but he stood firm.

  "I'll take the luggage up," Grey announced and nodded to Lyle. "Nice to meet you, Lyle." He said and quickly moved inside leaving Duncan alone with his mate.

  “My brother, Grey.” Duncan clarified as Grey was walking away. He was delighted by the fact that Lyle’s gaze stayed with him even as he acknowledged Grey, he never looked away from Duncan and did not remove his hand.

  “Have we met before?” Lyle asked. “You seem familiar.” He clarified.

  “I don’t believe so. I’ve never been to this part of the world before.” Duncan told him, his heavy Scottish brogue filling the space between them. Duncan soaked up the warmth and awareness coming from his mate. He could feel Lyle’s entire body reacting to his closeness and it was incredibly satisfying.

  Lyle suddenly realized how stupid and forward his question sounded and abruptly released the poor man’s hand. Why was he acting like a complete idiot? Duncan was stunningly attractive and had a thick Scottish accent, so the chances of them meeting and Lyle not remembering was unlikely.

  "I should get to work," Lyle said for lack of anything intelligent to say and turned towards the door, but Duncan stopped him with a gentle hand on the base of his back. The touch encompassed the mark on Lyle's lower back and unexpectedly the itching and the pain subsided. It had started to escalate the longer he'd stood on the porch waiting and watching the two men, but now with his touch, it had settled down. Must be the warmth of his big hand.

  “Why don’t you show me around, Lyle.” It was a request but not one that could be denied. His tone had a finality to it that could not be ignored. Lyle nodded and they entered together, and Duncan kept his hand on Lyle’s back throughout most of the tour.

  It was strangely comforting, and Lyle found that whenever he moved his hand away, Lyle missed his touch. He was really losing it over this guy, and he needed to get his shit straight, or he might find himself tossed out on his ass.

  Lyle gathered his composure and pulled it up close as he explained the projects that had been assigned to him. Duncan seemed interested, believe it or not. Throughout the tour and explanations, the man listened to everything Lyle had to say and commented thoughtfully.

  "Well, I really need to get to work now," Lyle said as they stood together on the back deck.

  "We'll get settled in and when lunch is prepared, I'll call for you," Duncan stated and let his hand run down the length of Lyle's back settling once again over the mark.

  "You don't have to cook for me," Lyle said quickly. "I'll get something later. I don't want to intrude on you and your brother."

  "Nonsense, when it's ready, I'll come and get you." There was that finality again and all Lyle could do was nod and then head out towards the garage. All the way he was aching to turn around and see if Duncan was still watching him. He could feel him there and he wanted to check, but that would look stupid, so he held his head down and hurried to the garage.

  Grey joined Duncan where he stood on the back deck watching his mate walk away. “Here.” He said and handed Duncan a fresh hot cup of coffee. “So, how’s it going?”

  “He knows who I am, somewhere deep inside he knows.” Duncan raised his mug and took a long sip. “He relaxed every time I touched him, and the mark soothed with the warmth of my hand. He feels it, but he doesn't yet know what it is."

  “How long do you have before he goes into his final heat?” Grey asked.

  "Two days perhaps maybe less. My presence has helped ease his discomfort, but the heat will continue to build." Duncan was not concerned, they'd made a good start and as with all destined couples, their connection would continue to grow. If he did not claim his mate by the time his heat was full blown it could seriously harm the man and Duncan would never let that happen.

  “I’m going to relieve Ewan and Angus and take over guarding the area. I’ll make myself scarce so y
ou and your mate can get to know one another in privacy and comfort.” He smiled knowingly. “I’m very happy for you Duncan, you’ve waited a very long time for this day, and no one deserves it more than you.”

  "Thank you, Grey."

  CHAPTER FOUR

  As soon as Lyle was in the garage, he pulled out his phone and called Hunter. His heart was racing, and his birthmark was pulsating for some ungodly reason. The feeling wasn't painful as it had been before, but the new sensitivity of the area was odd. It was highly sensitized now and every movement brought on a strange burning sensation. He pushed the weirdness aside and hit his brother's number. Hunter picked up immediately as if he'd had his phone in his hand staring at it.

  "Hello, so is Duncan Adair there yet?" His first question not ‘how are you' or ‘did you have a good night,' but had he met Duncan. That was telling, but Lyle wasn't sure what to make of it, yet.

  “Yeah, and that’s why I’m calling.”

  “What is it, what’s wrong?”

  "He's . . . He's. . . So handsome that he takes my breath away every time I look at him. Not to mention what he's doing to me physically if you know what I mean?" Lyle listened as his brother laughed; he was expecting it. Who wouldn't laugh at such a declaration, it sounded absurd, but it was fact.

  "I'm hiding out in the garage, I had to get away before I did something embarrassing, like throw myself at him. I've never had a man affect me like this, it's really upsetting." Lyle poured out his feelings hoping his brother had a few words of wisdom, but he doubted it. Apart from his current twin lovers, Hunter hadn't had much more experience than Lyle and that was very little. He just needed to vent and hear someone say he was not abnormal.

  “Duncan is turning you on?” Hunter said the teasing humor still present in his tone.