Warrior's Destiny (Warriors of Raspharion 1)

by Vivian Venus

  “Oh, Prince Rhys, it’s so wonderful to see you again,” Tana said, taking his arm. “I’ve been told you’ve completed your dragon rite?”

  Heather followed behind them awkwardly, unsure where to go. She saw Tana rub up against Rhys, obviously pushing her breasts so that they touched his arm. She felt a twinge of annoyance.

  “The king and queen must be so proud. But of course, it was expected you would succeed with no problem. I’ve never known a more brave and gallant warrior than you, Prince Rhys.”

  Heather wanted to roll her eyes, but she resisted. Tana paused and turned to Heather. “Oh, you can take my belongings up to my quarters. Are you new here? Do you know where that is?”

  “Um…” Heather had no clue what to say.

  Rhys laughed. “Oh, no. Princess, this is Heather Clemens. She’s… my guest.”

  “Oh?” Tana raised an eyebrow. Heather could feel the girl’s sharp eyes judging her. “And where did you come from?”

  “I’m Rhys’ destined prize,” she said, immediately feeling regretting it. Ugh.

  “Is that so? I didn’t know that a prize could be a…” She stuck her nose up. “A girl.” The way she said it felt like she didn’t quite believe that’s what Heather was. “Well, I apologize for thinking you were a servant.” She turned away, pulling Rhys even closer and completely ignoring Heather’s existence. “Prince Rhys, you must show me your dragon form. Would you please? Tonight?” She giggled.

  “How long will you be staying, Princess?” Rhys asked, ignoring what she had said.

  “As long as you would like me to, my prince.”

  Heather had heard enough. She couldn’t believe that she had even gotten to the state where she could feel this much jealousy. She hated it.

  She stopped and watched as Rhys and Tana kept walking ahead arm in arm, then quietly made her way back to the lift and slipped inside, punching the button for the ground level. The doors hissed shut, and she let out a heavy sigh.

  Back outside, Heather looked back up at the huge spire that was the Royal Tower, and then walked towards the forest. It was a beautiful day, and the sun warmed her skin. If not for the giant yellow face of the Elder Brother hazily sitting up in the sky, she could’ve been on earth. It was nicer here, though. Heather loved how clean and crisp the air felt in her lungs. It was a beautiful place and she wondered how much of it she would get to see.

  She wandered along the garden path until she reached a stone wall separating the manicured gardens from the Royal Forest, the trail continuing up into the trees. She looked around, and decided that she would continue up the trail and explore a little. The walking should help get her mind off of Rhys.

  Rhys.

  She wondered what Rachel would’ve thought about him. Knowing her, she would’ve been nudging her to make a move. Heather sighed. Princes deserved princesses, not random nobodies. Or at least a girl who fit the description of a princess… pretty, petite, perfect. That Tana was more his type, anyway.

  Heather started to run. She didn’t know why, but suddenly she was compelled to, and soon the trees were whipping by her. She ran faster and faster, pushing herself as hard as she used to when she was on the track team in high school. It had been a while since she had ran so hard, but it felt great.

  I’m going to run so hard that I just forget everything. I’m going to run so hard that maybe I’ll have a heart attack and wake up from this dream. And then I’ll be back home…

  Back home, barely making rent, just growing older behind her tarot cards and crystal ball. I’ll just get a bunch of cats. She chuckled and pushed herself harder. Her breath was heavy and her legs burned. To her left she saw the training ground pass by through the trees, the training robots still where they had left them. She continued up the trail, the path reaching a steady incline. Her lungs felt like they were about to burst. Sweat dripped down her cheek, and she unbuttoned her shirt one notch to the let the breeze cool her. She slowed down to a jog as the incline became too great for her to continue her pace. When she turned around, she was surprised to see a glimpse of the city below in the distance through the trees. She had climbed up pretty far.

  She pushed onwards, following the trail up and up. Her body was just carrying her now, pushing her forwards to the end. Then she realize where she was going. The spot that Rhys had taken her in his dragon form. It was the only place it could be.

  The forest receded, and she reached an ancient looking wall made of gathered stones. She sat on it for a moment to catch her breath. The breeze was cool there, and it refreshed her. She stretched her legs, bending over and touching her toes. That felt great.

  After a few moments rest she continued back to the path which was now surrounded by green grass. She could see the huge tree at the top, just barely peeking out.

  Almost there.

  She found herself jogging again, then running. I’ll finish this strong.

  She was at a full run, barreling up the trail. The summit was in sight. Almost there.

  Panting hard, muscles burning, she finally reached the top.

  Her heart nearly stopped.

  There was Rhys.

  He was stretched out beneath the huge tree, looking up into its branches. He looked over when he heard her arrival, and then scrambled to his feet.

  “Heather,” he said, surprised.

  “Rhys? How did… what are you doing here?” She looked around hesitantly. “Where’s Princess Tana?”

  “She’s gone,” he said. “When you disappeared, I told her that I was going to go look for you. She threw a fit, said that if I left she would never come back. You should’ve seen my father’s face when I ran out of there.”

  “You came to find me?” Heather asked. “How did get here before me?”

  “Having wings helps.”

  “Why did you?” Heather said quietly. Sweat dripped down her chin onto her chest, and she wished that she hadn’t ran up the hill.

  Rhys took a deep breath, and stepped forward and took Heather’s hand. Heather looked down in surprise, but didn’t move away. Her heart was thumping, and not just because she had been running. A breeze whistled the trees and blew their hair.

  “From the moment you stepped through that portal, I’ve felt a longing for you that I have never felt towards a woman before,” Rhys said. “For someone I’ve only known two days, I can’t explain it. But I feel it. I know what the connection is that brought us together, Heather.”

  “Why?” Heather said, her voice weak.

  “We’re destined to be mated, husband and wife,” he said. “I love you, Heather. I didn’t want to believe it, but I can’t deny it. I can’t stand to not be with you.”

  Heather’s head felt light. “Oh God, Rhys,” she said. “I’m in love with you too. I can hardly believe it, but I love you too…”

  Rhys slid his hand around her waist, drawing her close to him. She felt herself growing aroused just from his hand making contact with her body. Her body grew warm, and she felt a warmth between her legs, a feeling that she hadn’t experienced from a man in so long.

  “I need you, Heather,” he whispered.

  Heather drew her hand up and rested it on his chest. She felt his warmth, felt the beat of his heart. Her touch was like electricity to Rhys, even through the cloth of his tunic. He pulled her up closer to him and looked down at her face. She was gorgeous, a raw natural beauty that just emanated from her. Rhys could see it easily, even though Heather didn’t even see it herself. Her scent drifted up to him and he felt himself become aroused, his cock pushing firmly against the inside of his pants.

  He moved his hand up to her neck, and slowly pulled her towards him. Their lips met for the first time. They kissed each other slowly at first, then more passionately. Even though she was tall, Heather still had to reach up to kiss him. She pressed up against him, feeling his body heat against hers. She reached up around his neck and pulled him closer. She was so wet down there, so aroused she couldn’t believe it. She could hardly b
elieve what was happening.

  Rhys kissed down her cheek and to her neck, and Heather let out a soft whimper as his lips tasted her. “Wait, Rhys…” she said, “I was running. I’m all sweaty…”

  He licked her, and then kissed further down to her collarbone. “I don’t care,” he said. He grabbed her with his strong hands and twirled her off her feet and onto the soft grass, resting her on her back, and then he came over her on all fours, his knees astride her hips. He kissed her chest and sucked her neck, sending shivers through Heather’s body.

  She wanted to see him. She tugged at his tunic, pulling it up over his head and tossing it to the side. He sat upright and began to undo the buttons of Heather’s shirt, and she took in the sight of Rhys’ muscular form. She traced her fingertips over his battle scars, and let them lightly brush his nipples. He got the last button of her shirt undone and pulled it open, revealing her bra. Heather reached behind and unclipped it, helping him remove it, and threw it aside.

  “Beautiful,” Rhys murmured. He ran his warm, calloused palms over her breasts, caressing them and feeling their shape in his hands. He leaned down and kissed her, then kissed down her chest until he reached her nipples. Heather moaned as Rhys licked them, moving his tongue gently over them.

  God, is this a dream?

  She felt Rhys’s hands exploring down to her thighs, and she shivered as they touched her skin. She found herself moving her hips under his touch, dying for him to explore inside, to the touch her there… And then when he finally did, slipping his hand down into her shorts and curling her fingers into her, she was the wettest she had ever been. She moaned and squeezed his arms as his fingers massaged her, and she reached down and undid her shorts and pushed them and her panties down off her hips. She spread her legs wide for him, and he kissed her as he slowly circled his finger around her clit.

  Rhys tasted her skin, kissing down her breasts and down to her belly button. He wanted to taste all of her. He moved down, pushing her thighs apart and taking in the sight of her lust. She blushed and covered herself with her hand. Rhys took her hand in his and moved it aside, and then moved his face down to her spot. He gave it a quick lick, running his broad tongue from bottom to top. She tasted delicious. She smelled incredible. He placed his hands on her inner thighs and used his thumbs to spread her pussy open, and then ran his tongue up and down her, circling it around her clit. Heather shivered in reaction, moaning and grasping at his hair.

  He savored her taste, putting his whole mouth around her opening and flicking his tongue against her. Her hips bucked and quivered with each movement as she fell further into ecstasy. With a free hand, Rhys undid his belt and pushed down his pants. Heather saw this pushed his head back away from her. She wanted to see him too.

  Rhys stood up. He was fully naked, his body rippling with muscles from all the years of intense training. Heather took in the sight of his erect cock, standing tall and hard. A bead of pre-cum had gathered at the end, and she wasted no time. She got onto her knees, then wrapped her fingers around the base of him and took his girth into her mouth. He tasted amazing, and his strong musk filled her nose, making her even more aroused. She gulped him down, sucking his full length, and Rhys let out a groan of satisfaction.

  He wanted her. He wanted to make love to her, to enter her and feel her around him. He withdrew his cock from her mouth, a silvery strand of saliva drawing from his tip to her lips, and he gently pushed her onto her back. Heather spread her legs open wide for him, and he got to his knees in front of her. “Wait,” she said. “Rhys…I need to tell you something.”

  “Tell me,” he said to her, coming down and kissing her.

  “I’ve never slept with any man before,” she said, slightly embarrassed. “If we do this, it’ll be my first time.”

  Rhys laughed and scratched his neck. “Well, I have something to tell you too,” he said. “It’ll be my first time as well.”

  He kissed her again, and Heather squeezed his arm. They kissed as they joined as one, and Heather cried out from the pain of him entering her. He moved slowly, pushing in until he had reached the hilt.

  As he rocked his hips, the pain eventually gave way to pleasure. Heather felt him inside her, his hot member filling her up entirely. She could feel his energy being channeled through is cock, the raw power of his dragon heart. She moaned and screamed as a pleasure she had never experienced before overtook her, and they when she reached edge he did too, and the came together.

  They lay back on the soft grass and let the cool breeze kiss their crystalline sweat beaded skin, Heather’s head resting on his chest.

  “I can’t believe this is real,” she murmured.

  “It’s hard for me to believe either,” Rhys said. “I could hardly believe that you were real when I first met you. I didn’t to believe it. I didn’t know a girl like you could exist. I’d never met anyone who was strong, so smart.”

  Heather felt warm hearing his words.

  “Just before I left to complete my rite,” he continued, “I had told myself that I would never find anyone worth marrying. That it would be better to renounce the world and live as a monk than to marry out of duty. Then I met you.”

  “Before we met, I also gave up on love,” Heather admitted. “I accepted that I was going to die alone.”

  “Somehow, the universe brought us together.”

  Heather looked up into Rhys’ eyes. “What happens now?”

  He took a deep breath. “I tell my parents that I have chosen a bride.”

  She stroked his chest. “Will they accept me?”

  He thought about it. “I don’t know. But it doesn’t matter. We’ll leave this place if they don’t. Without you, there’s nothing for me here.”

  When they returned, they found the Tower in a quiet uproar. Rhys had shifted to dragon form and flew Heather on his back, and when they landed Kyp rushed up to them.

  “Enjoy each other’s company?” he asked. “You’d better get up to the throne room, mother and father are steaming. They wanted to send a party out to search for you, but I told them that you would be back.” He winked at Heather. “Congratulations, by the way.”

  “What do you mean?” Rhys said as he walked to inside.

  “Don’t be coy with me, brother. Why else do you think I delayed them? I know you two are in love.”

  Both Heather and Rhys flushed red. “I owe you, Kyp,” Rhys said.

  “Think nothing of it. Every time you do something crazy it takes the spotlight off of me…” He waved to them. “Good luck,” he said as he split off.

  Heather tried to stay confident as the lift shot up to the throne room, but her heart was hammering in her chest. God, this is all so sudden… She squeezed Rhys’ hand.

  “Don’t worry, Heather,” Rhys said. “This is my fight.”

  The doors hissed open. The king was pacing back and forth, the queen trying to calm him down. He turned and saw Rhys and Heather walking in, hand in hand.

  “What is the meaning of this?!” he boomed.

  “Father, mother,” Rhys said confidently, “I have chosen a bride. Heather and I are destined to be with each other. That is why I was brought to her.”

  “Impossible,” the king bellowed. “Impossible. She’s…she’s not even from this galaxy!”

  “She’s not a dragon,” the queen said. “Heather is a sweet girl, but I’m afraid that we cannot approve this. A prince must take a woman with dragon’s blood within her.”

  Heather felt small, like she wanted to disappear. She watched helplessly as the Rhys yelled back defiantly, trying to defend their love. I don’t belong here. He’s a prince… Any hope she had begun to crumble away, the whirlwind of their romance already coming to an end. She closed her eyes.

  “Now wait.” A rickety voice cut through the angry shouting. “Wait just a moment…” Heather opened her eyes and saw the Oracle stand up from her seat next to the thrones and hobble over. “It would see that the reasoning for their meeting is clear now,” she
said. “The two are a fated pair.”

  “A prince, fated to a non-dragon?” the queen asked.

  “To a common blood,” grumbled the king.

  The Oracle nodded. “Yes, it might seem that way…at first. However… Heather has already proven that she has the power of foresight. She is a seer, and therefore she comes from an ancient bloodline. A royal bloodline.” She turned to Heather. “And therefore she is also able to complete the rite of passage.”

  Heather clenched her fists and found her voice. “I’ll do it,” she said.