Warrior

by Michelle Magly

She thrust faster, putting more weight behind her hand. She rested her forehead against Alina’s shoulder and kissed and sucked the salty skin. Every moan from Alina pushed her a little farther. More. She needed to do more.

  Alina cried out and arched into her. She felt the smooth muscle spasm around her fingers and slowed her movements, stopping only when Alina did. Pulling away from Alina’s shoulder caused a blush to rise on her cheeks. Red marks dotted Alina’s collarbone. Alina cupped her cheek and pulled her in for another kiss. Their lips met in a tender embrace, nothing as heated or rushed like before. They broke apart and Senri saw the marks once more.

  “What are you looking at?” Alina patted Senri’s cheek and drew her gaze back.

  “I…ah…I may have left a mark,” she said.

  Alina laughed and leaned up to give her a light kiss. “I thought as much.” She eased back into the blankets. Senri still stared and Alina gave a slight tug at her shoulder. She looked back at her. “Stop worrying. In case you couldn’t tell, I rather liked it.”

  Senri raised her brow in surprise. “You did?”

  Alina laughed. “Of course I did. You were incredible.” Senri pressed her face into the sweat-slicked skin of Alina’s neck.

  “I’m afraid I’m not that practiced at it.” Senri breathed in her scent. Alina reminded her of rainfall.

  “Well, you were excellent.” Her fingers drew circles along Senri’s back. “I might need to compose a new stanza for that song.” The comment made Senri chuckle. “Something about you being a heat reader and her Highness’s most accomplished bed-warmer.”

  Senri pulled away, smiling. “Glad to know I’m not all talk.”

  “Of course not.” They kissed again, slowly. Alina pressed their foreheads together. “I love you.” She pressed a kiss against Senri’s cheek.

  “I love you, too.”

  Alina nipped at her neck. “Lay down,” she said. Senri did as she was told and settled against the bed. Alina’s gaze roamed over her body and she leaned in to kiss her neck. “You’re beautiful.”

  Senri gasped as Alina continued to kiss downward. Alina had every intention of paying her back double for taking her time earlier. She groaned as Alina’s lips lingered on her collarbone before trailing down her chest. Alina kissed her way over Senri’s breasts, much like she had done for her, but Alina looked up at her with a grin that made her blood pulse. The touch of her tongue made Senri moan. She arched her back, trying to angle herself better, but Alina pushed her down.

  “Stay put,” she said. Senri whimpered but managed not to squirm as Alina placed a circle of kisses around her breast, avoiding the hardened peak on purpose. Her lips ghosted over it and Senri cried out.

  “Alina,” she groaned. She felt a wet heat envelop her and she bit her lip. Alina’s tongue worked back and forth over the tip and her hips trembled in response. When she pulled away, Senri thought she would finally give her release. Instead, Alina dipped her head over the other breast and Senri released a frustrated cry. Alina’s tongue felt so good, nearly too good. She needed Alina to do something, anything.

  “Alina, please,” she said, remembering how Alina had cried out for her. The princess released her breast.

  “Please what?”

  The question both excited and frustrated her to no end. Alina made it extremely difficult to answer as she kissed down Senri’s chest and along her stomach. “Please touch me,” Senri gasped.

  “But I am.” Alina kissed her hipbone. She cried out and Alina repeated the action.

  “You know what I mean!”

  Alina placed a hand under Senri’s leg and lifted it over her shoulder. Senri glanced down. Alina kissed along her thigh, getting closer and closer to where she needed her. She bucked her hips as Alina kissed her and slid her tongue into the center of her wetness. Her tongue pressed against Senri and sucked hard.

  “Alina!” She threaded a hand into the long tresses of hair, encouraging her lover to continue. Her tongue stroked faster and faster, tightening the knot in Senri’s core. Alina moaned against her, and the knot came undone. Her body shook, and for a moment nothing else existed beyond her and Alina.

  The contractions faded and her body went limp. Alina placed gentle kisses on her thighs before pulling herself up to lay next to Senri. Alina grinned and kissed her, settling against Senri.

  “Why didn’t we do this sooner?” Alina pulled a blanket over them.

  Senri shrugged. “Fear of dismemberment?” She wrapped an arm around Alina and pulled her close. She yawned. “You’re incredible too, by the way. Maybe the song needs a stanza about you.”

  Alina laughed and kissed her cheek. “I don’t think so. Savior of the Queen would have a completely different connotation.”

  “If you say so.” Senri stroked Alina’s shoulder. She yawned again. Usually it took longer for her to drift off to sleep, but she felt so drained that night. “I love you, Alina,” she said once more.

  Alina sighed. “I love you too, Senri.”

  Senri fell asleep with an arm wrapped around Alina’s waist.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  THE FOLLOWING DAY, AN escort came to fetch them to go to the negotiations. They climbed to the top of the mountain where the other dragons waited. The one who had spoken with them before, the large, terrifying one, paced back and forth. When Alina and the others arrived, it stopped and glared down at them. “You are ready, human?”

  Ready for what? The dragon had only spoken briefly of an oath the previous day. From what Alina had observed, the dragons seemed to stand on very little ceremony. “I suppose I must be ready,” she answered.

  “I have spoken with my fellows,” the dragon said. It took two great steps toward her. “We all agree we cannot ignore this threat. We will accompany you to your kingdom and survey it ourselves. If what you say is true, we will arrange a more formal agreement. I give you my name, Grythumak, in binding. Take it as an offer of allegiance.”

  “Grythumak. I offer my name, Alina Alexandria Mura of Osota. May our two kingdoms fight as one.” She could be mistaken, but it looked as though the dragon grinned at her. The razor-sharp fangs made for an unsettling sight.

  “Your predecessors were too craven to offer names, Alina. You are honorable. The dragonfolk will remember that.”

  Alina bowed. “Thank you, Grythumak. You honor my people with your kindness and wisdom.”

  “I would save any praise,” said the dragon. Alina looked up again. “There is still this threat to tend to.”

  ***

  Senri stood on the balcony while the others talked strategy. She had tried sitting in with them when the dragons had first called the meeting, but she did not like the way their new allies eyed her, so she excused herself. She was glad they planned on returning to the heartlands soon, though still felt a little off about having to ride back on dragons. Currently they discussed routes to take, not anything Senri was an expert on, so it shocked her when another dragon joined her on the balcony.

  She waited for the dragon to speak, but it only stood there, talon-like hands clasped behind its back much like how Senri stood. It was a smaller dragon, perhaps only seven feet tall. Its midnight-blue scales showed no sign of wear. “Uh, do they need me inside for anything?” she asked. The dragon shook its head. “All right then.” The two stood there, staring down at the city. Senri liked watching the families and small clutches of children scurry about. They moved differently compared to humans. The children scampered on all fours, occasionally leaping into the air and gaining a few feet before flopping back to earth, their leathery wings not large enough to support their scrawny bodies yet.

  “You confuse me, human.” The dragon’s words came out like slow hisses.

  Senri glanced at the dragon. It still watched the city. “Why is that?”

  “Your heart. It is a dragon’s, as if Sholok gave it to you instead of giving it to one of our own.”

  “And Sholok is...”

  “The all-seeing. Shaper of dragons. Wind
beneath wings. Fire of breath. Beat of heart.” The dragon raised a clawed hand to cover a spot on its chest.

  “Almighty,” said Senri.

  The dragon growled. “Sholok is not your...creator.”

  “So there are two all-powerful, other-worldly beings.” Senri had never been one to closely follow the doctrines, but a temple priest would probably denounce this as blasphemous.

  “And so many more.” The dragon looked over at her. “Do you know what lies beyond your kingdom?”

  Senri shrugged. “More kingdoms?”

  “Hundreds,” said the dragon. “I learned so many tongues, saw creatures I have no words for. Humans that become beasts. Trees that talk. So many creatures...” The dragon looked back toward the city. “Humans see small. They see only within borders. Dragons see the world.”

  Senri smiled. “Well, you certainly have that advantage over us, being able to fly.”

  The dragon made an odd chortling sound. The dragon nodded. “Indeed, human.”

  ***

  The dragons flew them back into the kingdom. They stayed high in the sky, above any clouds they could find. Seven dragons flying overhead would send anyone into a panic. The wind stung Alina’s cheeks, and by their second day of travel, they seemed to be a permanent red. She gripped the dragon around its shoulders as they flew, her legs anchored firmly in place by the wing joints. Her arms hurt from clinging on. Nothing could be worse than flying by dragons, but it was the fastest way home. Within two days, their group touched down in the trees just at the base of the mountain range and farther east from Senri’s village. Grythumak had to lay flat on the ground in order for Alina to dismount safely. She blushed when Senri came over and offered her hand. Alina took it and eased herself into Senri’s embrace.

  After the camp had been set up, the dragons left to hunt. They promised to return by sunrise. The Warriors and Alina ate in silence. The only comfort she took was resting at Senri’s side while the fire burned down. She did not want to speak of plans, or what they would do upon returning to the capital. They had exhausted the conversation so much in the past few days. She merely wanted a few moments of peace, just her and Senri, with no one else around.

  The others turned in early that night. Alina looked up at Senri with a small smile and nudged her. Without needing further prompting, she helped Alina up and led her back into the tent. They sat down, careful to avoid hitting one another in the dark space. Senri’s hand found hers and squeezed. Their lips met gently at first, giving hesitant kisses. Where kissing Senri usually aroused her, that night it stirred up coals, a slow, burning heat covering the visions of ash. Her lips tasted like wood smoke, probably from the campfire. The air between them seemed so dry it could have crackled. Or was that the hitch in Senri’s gasp? She pushed Senri down and straddled her. They said nothing, just kissed in the dark. There, blinded to the countless hardships awaiting her, Alina could escape.

  Senri’s lips glided past hers. She kissed them again, harder. She wanted to stay infused like this, trapped in the moment. When Senri’s hand lowered to the hem of her shirt, she grabbed her wrist. “Not yet,” she whispered into the dark. They kissed again. “Just...let me have this.”

  A warning murmured inside her, something she desperately wanted to ignore. The sickening feeling grew, an approaching vision. She slung her arms around Senri’s shoulders, gripping at the broad, strong muscles as if they were her only connection to the world. Perhaps they were. Perhaps her grip would falter and the ground would open up and swallow them whole.

  She pressed her face into the warmth of Senri’s neck and kissed the heated skin. Every touch brought her a little farther from reality. Every sigh helped erase just a little more of the tension. Still, it was not enough to banish the tightness she felt in her stomach. She bit down on Senri’s neck just to hear her cry out and sucked hard to draw out the moans. Alina did not care if she left a mark. If anything, it would serve to remind her of them, that no matter how many burdens the Almighty piled on her, she had one person to herself.

  Alina leaned forward to kiss Senri once more, but found only emptiness. Her hands sought for a perch, but she could no longer feel Senri. The material of Senri’s shirt dissolved in her fingers and the warmth from their shared body heat disappeared.

  Alina blinked against the darkness, and the world flooded with light. Senri really had disappeared. Alina stood on scorched earth, a wall of flames consuming the grasslands. Ash stuck in her throat when she breathed. Heat seared her skin. The fire spread everywhere, cinders popping and the flames roaring. The scene dissolved in a blur of colors, and she stood in the palace dungeons. Lord Demek smiled wickedly as he tossed someone against a wall. The slumping figure cried out. Blood smeared the floors. The stink of copper filled her nostrils. Another blink and she stood overlooking a wall. Senri lay at the bottom, broken and beaten. She cried out to her, “Alina! Alina!” She tried to breathe, but couldn’t.

  “Alina!”

  Hands gripped her shoulders. She lay on the floor, back in the darkness, back in the embrace of Senri.

  “Alina, come back.” Senri’s hand cupped her cheek. She breathed the cool night air. Her heart beat against her chest. “By the Almighty.” Senri pulled her into a tight hug. “Don’t do that to me.”

  Alina coughed and pushed Senri away. “It wasn’t on purpose.” They were still in the tent. But when she closed her eyes, Senri’s broken body filled her mind. She grabbed hold of Senri and felt her arms. Her hands traveled upward, fingers tracing over the unharmed features of her lover. “Thank the Almighty.”

  Senri covered Alina’s hands with her own and pulled them away. “What did you see? Did a dragon kill us?”

  “No. Of course not.” It was a vision, just an obscure vision. It probably means anything.

  “Alina.” Senri had to direct her gaze back to her. “What did you see?”

  She blinked. There lay Senri again, helpless and weak. “I saw fire,” she said. “I saw us fighting to reclaim the kingdom.”

  “Something happens to me,” said Senri. Alina tried to get up, but she held her in place. “Alina, you can’t keep something like this from me.”

  “What does it matter, anyways?” Alina forced Senri off her and got up. “If I told you to stay away, would it make a difference? Would you stay in your village if I asked?” She smoothed out her clothes, looking anywhere but at her.

  “Of course I’m not going to leave you.” Senri tried grabbing her arm again. “I swore to keep you safe, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

  Alina blinked back tears. Her throat felt tight as she remembered the vision, the blood, the ruin. “Even if it means dying?”

  “Yes, even that!” Alina winced at the volume of Senri’s voice and turned away, pulling a tent flap aside. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “To sit by the fire. I need a moment alone.” Before Senri could counter, she stepped outside and let the flap fall back into place. Yahn sat by the fire, keeping a watchful eye on the surrounding forest. He glanced at Alina and nodded. She crossed her arms and walked over, seating herself beside him.

  She stared into the fire for a long while, probably not wise, considering it only brought back the sensation of ash caught in her throat. She tried looking elsewhere, but the dark forest only whispered at her as the wind rustled its leaves. The camp remained quiet and motionless. After a while, Yahn cleared his throat and shifted his posture. “Onera and I have similar fights.”

  Alina drew her knees up to her chest. “You heard that?”

  He shrugged. “It was hard not to.” Alina thought he had nothing more to say for a moment, but he continued, “She doesn’t like when I take the dangerous assignments voluntarily.”

  “Like this one?” Alina asked. Her chest tightened at the thought of causing a fight.

  Yahn nodded. He took a charred branch and prodded the embers with the tip. “She was not happy about staying behind, but the farmers need her to grow crops more than we neede
d her to protect you.”

  “You made her stay?”

  “No.” Yahn smiled. “I couldn’t make her do anything. She chose to stay because she agreed she could do the most good there.”

  The wind rustled the trees again. Alina thought about what Yahn had said. Onera was a very giving woman to stay behind. She did not know if she would do the same in Onera’s position. Senri certainly wouldn’t. “Is there a lecture in this?”

  He laughed. “Perhaps a little one, considering the two of you made your disagreement so vocal.” Yahn picked up a spare branch and broke it in half. He tossed both pieces into the fire. The dry peeling bark caught quickly in the flame. After tossing one more branch onto the fire, Yahn leaned back and studied his handiwork. “Is your bow nearby?”

  The question came so unexpectedly Alina’s reply caught in her throat. She waited for Yahn to say something, to explain further, but he remained silent and stared at the flames. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I don’t have it. I saw no need.”

  “It’s a shame.” Yahn rested his weight on his palms, hands touching the earth. “We are surrounded,” he said, his tone much lower. “Get a weapon when I say.”

  Alina fought the urge to run and grab Senri, or to do something stupid like look around for the intruders. The seconds thumped by in time with her heart. Yahn took a deep breath and she heard the shifting of stone. Someone cried out and an arrow flew loose into the clearing, thudding into the dirt near Yahn’s feet.

  “Now!”

  The two of them dove for cover. Alina rolled to the left and sprang to her feet. Her bow and quiver lay against her shared tent with Senri. She sprinted for it even as she heard the twang of arrows flying and the shifting of rock. The bow was so close, just a few steps away. She had it in her hands. Senri emerged from the tent looking bewildered. Alina had an arrow set against the string. She turned, took a breath to steady herself.

  And then there was no air. She breathed again, still nothing, just her lungs tightening in her chest. Someone stood by her side, a woman in red armor. Armor made from dragon scales and belonging to none other than the Scaled Vanguard. Alina fell to her knees.