Realm of the Dragon (The Soul Mate Tree Book 1)

by CiCi Cordelia

  Oh, my God.

  With another terrified scream, she rolled across the huge expanse of something hot and rough that pulsed beneath her like a monstrous heartbeat. Unable to process what confronted her, Lily fought to escape whatever fresh hell she’d fallen into as her brain threatened to blank out.

  Big mistake.

  She went airborne, the ground rushing up fast to meet her. Eaten by a lizard or fall to my death. Recalling a glimpse of an impossibly wide, gaping jaw, she chose the latter.

  As if I have a choice.

  Squeezing her eyes shut, she prayed for unconsciousness to overtake her before she broke every bone in her body.

  Instead of gravel and dirt, she landed on something that curled around her body like warm ropes. Her heart thundered jackhammer-fast, her breathing ragged against the terror constricting her throat.

  With a strangled choke, she forced her eyes open.

  Then wished she hadn’t.

  A reptilian monster with burnt-orange scales and huge, golden irises the size of basketballs stared back at her. Its long snout and impressive set of horns, sprouting from its head in rich shades of amber, capped a hallucination straight out of the grimmest of any mythology. The head was attached to a long, powerful neck, thick with rippling scales, the body heavy, muscular, powerful . . . and inconceivable.

  The whoosh, whoosh of prismatic marbled wings folding neatly against the sides of its massive body sent a whispering ripple into the air.

  Dragon.

  Her mouth gaped.

  She lay within the curved tail of a living, breathing dragon.

  I’m hallucinating. How can this be? The moment she’d stumbled across that tree, her world had turned upside-down and inside-out. Maybe I hit my head.

  She blinked slowly, trying to clear the fog obscuring her memories, and muttered under her breath, “This has got to be a dream.”

  The dragon pinned her with a glittering stare. Then freaked her out even more when it spoke in a low, gravelly rumble. “This is no dream, little one.”

  Fresh screams poured from her throat as panic sliced through her. Lily attempted to scramble away. Where she thought she was going, she didn’t know or care, as long as she escaped. The dragon’s tail tightened around her body, effectively imprisoning her. Shivering violently, she stared up at him through her tangled hair.

  Trapped.

  Like an animal. Or a predator’s evening meal.

  About to die. Again.

  The dragon’s face loomed closer, the tip of a slender, red-tinged forked tongue protruded from between wicked fangs, and it actually tilted its head, as if curious.

  If she were not so completely, absolutely terrified beyond her own sanity, she might have reached out and touched the scales covering its face. They were savagely beautiful.

  The creature blinked, heavy lids flickering, and she stared into its slitted golden eyes.

  “I won’t hurt you.” The dragon’s powerful voice held a soothing quality. Then it ruined the moment by leaning down to sniff her. “Mmm. You smell like apples and honey.” To her amazement, that long, forked tongue re-emerged and flicked gently along her neck. Its texture felt incongruously like velvet.

  Lily managed to bite back a hysterical shriek even as her lower lip trembled. She clamped it between her teeth to steady it, before venturing, “A-Are you going to eat me?”

  Every muscle and bone in her body hurt. Her world had upended itself. Beyond exhausted, she longed for this nightmare to end.

  If a dragon could frown, then this dragon was definitely frowning. Its fierce expression sent additional shudders through her, and she fully expected those massive jaws to come for her at any moment.

  As hard as she struggled for calm, tears leaked from her eyes when he raised long, sharp claws and reached for her. Too frightened to move, she turned her head away. The thrumming of her heart pounded through her entire body as she waited for the sharp talons to slash into her. Instead, the dragon carefully nudged her cheek until she was forced to raise her face and meet its magnetic stare.

  “I said I wouldn’t hurt you.” Then slowly and gently the creature unfurled its tail, the very tip pressing against her lower back as if encouraging her to gain her feet, and held her steady until she was standing securely on the ground.

  Before Lily had a chance to run, there was a bright flash of light, then a shimmering of brilliant colors. Her jaw slackened at the sight of a man standing before her.

  An extremely handsome, naked man.

  Jet-black hair waved against his powerful shoulders. Bright amber eyes, flecked with golds and browns, peered at her. Bronzed skin stretched elegantly over his long nose and high cheekbones, giving him an aristocratic appearance. A strong jaw hinted at stubbornness. Like the impressive beast who’d released her, this man exuded masculinity and strength.

  Closing her mouth, she gave her head a sharp shake, unable to take her eyes off him. In stark contrast to his hard edges, his lips were full and soft, almost too feminine for his face. On him it worked somehow, making a woman think of tender moments and sensuous kisses.

  Lily’s eyes dropped lower for an instant, taking in his toned male body, rippling with muscles that could—probably should—be deemed a lethal weapon. Her gaze landed on the extremely generous cock that hung between his strong thighs. As she watched, it thickened and rose.

  Her cheeks heated wildly, but she couldn’t seem to drag her eyes off the magnificent sight.

  His husky chuckle managed to snap her attention back to his face. Biting her lip, Lily wondered if someone could die of embarrassment in a dream. Because she was obviously still sleeping. Or maybe Zane actually caught her and she was dead.

  Does that mean I’m in heaven? Or hell?

  Judging by the landscape behind him, she could tell it wasn’t just the man, or the dragon. Everything here was big, and in colors far removed from nature. What she thought were trees stood like monoliths against the sky, many of them a mind-boggling mix of virulent yellow and burgundy.

  With each breath she took, Lily tasted exotic fragrances on her tongue, different than anything she’d ever experienced. Three suns burned against a sky of deep, deep blue. Purple-tinged clouds dotted its endless expanse.

  The beauty of her surroundings eased her fright somehow. Must be heaven.

  The man stepped over to a boulder a short distance away. Refusing to think about what a fine ass he had, or how broad his shoulders appeared, Lily forced herself to study more of the terrain.

  Maybe I should make a run for it.

  They were in a wide clearing, the ground uneven beneath her feet. More of those towers stood in the distance, along with shorter, gnarled trees that appeared scorched.

  No, she decided. I’d never escape before this man-dragon caught me.

  Retrieving a bundle of clothes, he turned back to her and began dressing. “Where did you come from?”

  “What do you mean?” Hesitantly, she inched back a step, still trying to formulate a plan of escape. It wasn’t looking good.

  Never taking his eyes off her, he tugged a pair of loose dark pants over slim hips, readjusting himself so he could shove his still-hard shaft inside, and fasten them.

  Lily’s eyes widened, and she gulped, noting he went commando. Even though she kept her gaze planted firmly on his face, a tingle of awareness slid through her. Dragon, she reminded herself. As crazy as it sounds.

  His lips quirked as he shook out a plain, collarless black shirt and yanked it over his head, tucking it into the waistband of his pants. “It’s not every day I have a beautiful female fall from the sky.”

  Is that what I did? The killer headache throbbing between her eyes muddled her brain. She rubbed at her temples. Then winced, a low moan of pain escaping her. God, what she wouldn’t giv
e for the chance to sleep off this damned nightmare.

  He stepped closer, brows drawn together. “Are you hurt?”

  Lily hastily retreated, holding out a palm to stop him from getting any closer. She didn’t trust him. “No.”

  He paused, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. “No, you’re not hurt? Or no, stay away?” The amusement in his voice didn’t match the seriousness in those amber eyes.

  Now that the terrifying ride on a dragon’s back was over, her adrenaline crashed. She swayed on her feet. Her ribs ached horribly, her headache a painful drumbeat behind her eyes.

  The breeze kicked up, blowing her hair into her face. His image fuzzed and she blinked. She couldn’t pass out. Not here. Of course, she didn’t have a clue where ‘here’ was.

  “This isn’t Coldstone. Where am I?” She couldn’t seem to force her voice above a whisper. Any emotional and physical reserve she had left quickly depleted. “Who are you?”

  “My name is Kordlith.” He placed his right hand across his broad chest and gave her a formal bow. “You can call me Kord. And who might you be?”

  “Lily.” She hesitated, licking her dry lips. “Lily Kiers. Where am I? Are you . . . really a dragon?”

  His too-intense gaze pinning her, Kord advanced, and she fought the urge to retreat.

  Though she defiantly lifted her chin, Lily’s energy was dwindling fast. The slight movement sent more waves of dizziness rushing through her. Narrowing her eyes, she stood her ground, an impressive feat considering her legs were about to give out beneath her.

  Either I’m dead, on another planet, or I’ve completely lost my mind.

  Reaching her, invading her personal space, Kord cupped her face. His sexy mouth firmed into a hard line as his gaze swept over her. She’d almost swear concern glittered in his unusual golden eyes.

  His wide palm warmed her chilled skin. She inhaled the musky scent of safety and man, barely resisting the undeniable compulsion to draw closer for the comfort she so desperately craved.

  I really must be losing my mind. This dragon-creature is dangerous. No matter how normal he seemed in his human form.

  The fact she just thought in terms of ‘human form’ freaked her out. A lot.

  “I want to know where I am,” she whispered hoarsely, blinking back tears of exhaustion.

  “This is the Dragon Realm.”

  Lily flinched, breaking their contact. “There’s no such thing.”

  “Indeed there is. And you have dropped into the middle of my world, little human.”

  She trembled and backed away. “No way.”

  “Yes, you have,” he stressed, eliminating the short distance between them.

  Kord clasped her by the shoulders, tugging her up against his body and staring intently into her eyes. “I don’t yet know how. Your world does not seek mine. You need to come with me until we figure it out.”

  She shook her head and tried to wrench free, a futile effort.

  Wake up, Lily. Even as she screamed the demand inside her head, only a terrified whimper escaped her throat.

  In a fog, she watched his dark head lower, his gaze brightening, growing hotter, until all she could see were flames, turning amber to orange.

  As the dragon had done, he tilted his head, his face mere inches away. “Something comes,” he whispered, almost to himself.

  She couldn’t move. Couldn’t form a single word of protest, as one of his big hands suddenly encircled her neck.

  His lips touched hers.

  Lingered.

  Burned against her mouth.

  She tasted something feral, smoky, tinged with a spiciness that overwhelmed her senses. Bands of hard muscle latched her tightly to a body that was surely the stuff of a bad girl’s head-to-toe fantasy.

  It was too much. She couldn’t process all of the events of the day—getting run off the road, chased through a forest by a vicious predator . . . caught by a creature her commonsense brain told her only existed in fairytales.

  She’d simply reached her sanity limit.

  As he lifted his mouth and growled, “Mine” against her icy cheek, Lily fainted.

  Chapter 3

  Gazing down at his dainty captive, Kord marveled at her loveliness. Though purplish shadows lingered under Lily’s eyes, from exhaustion, or worse, her beauty still knocked him sideways.

  How can this be? Straight out of his dreams, from her glorious hair, to the eyes he’d seen more times than he could count these past weeks.

  Was it a sign? An omen? What he’d been waiting for? What kept him from committing his body, his soul, to another of Anglican?

  How could the gods have given him a human female as a mate? Yet his dragon’s acceptance confirmed it, as inconceivable as that seemed. Kord felt it too. For a moment, he allowed himself to savor the pure enjoyment of holding her.

  Fair-skinned, with the slightest trace of pink high on her cheeks, her winsome features reminded him of the olden day photographs his mother had saved from her time spent in the human realm, right before she mated with his father.

  A hundred years ago, the human image-catchers were primitive compared to what was currently available. Those fragile tintypes finally crumbled and their wonderful images from yesteryear had blown away in the stiff wind that often swept through the family anteroom.

  Yet Kord remembered.

  The human female even had the features of an Anglican, with their golden hair and eyes that ranged from softest blue to storm-tossed hazel. The lovely bit of delight he currently held had possessed a river-clear, arresting gaze. Her hair glowed like the last descent of the sun, waving in silky cords as it draped over his arm.

  Setting her gently on a thicket of moss, Kord quickly removed his clothing, placed them behind a nearby boulder, and shifted. Gathering her up in his claws, he launched into the sky, heading home.

  Upon arrival, he deposited his precious burden at the cavern entrance before shifting back. A nearby gulley held more clothing. He donned a robe, then collected Lily and strode inside.

  She felt as light as trefoil feathers. He longed for her to open her eyes so he could gaze into them once more. He’d never seen such a pure, deep hazel.

  Except in my dreams.

  Kord paused briefly in the anteroom and indulged in stealing the softest of kisses from her rosy mouth. Lily hadn’t easily withstood the intensity of his first kiss. He’d taken her by surprise, and dragon kisses could be extremely potent. He’d use more care with her next time.

  There’ll definitely be a next time. He still tasted her sweet flavor on his lips.

  “Kordlith, stop skulking about and bring the child in.” His mother’s request might have been issued in soft, dulcet tones, but the iron behind her voice was implacable.

  “How did you know who—? Never mind.” With a resigned sigh, Kord carried Lily into the main chamber and set her gently upon the fur throws his mother loved to collect.

  Lily curled into the warm coverings and slept on.

  His mother approached slowly, her blue-black coronet of braids catching the lantern-light as she observed Lily from her tangled hair to her torn shoes. One brow arching, she reached for him. Kord clasped her hand, bracing himself for her mental probe.

  A perspiring minute later, she released him and he wiped his brow off on the sleeve of his shirt. “I have never liked that, you know.” He gave her a frown.

  A faint smile curved one side of her mouth. “Yes, I know. It’s faster than you trying to stumble over words and tell me. Dragons were not always meant to speak.”

  “Yes, yes. Just as I know you enjoy adapting to some aspects of the human condition.”

  “Well, they do come in handy.” She stroked Lily’s tousled head. “So, she dropped from the human realm. How she
managed that, I would surely like to know.”

  “As would I. So, enlighten me. If you read me, you know I’ve dreamed of this female several times over past weeks. She is human.” He nodded toward one of Lily’s ears, gently rounded and as delicately formed as the rest of her. “I also believe she could be my mate. Ears and all.”

  “You want to know how this could be possible.” His mother cupped Lily’s cheek and traced a thumb over the skin there. “Still cold, poor thing. Fetch my ermine pelt.”

  Kord hastened to obey, gathering the fur from a pile of folded hides near the fire-pit. He brought the supple pelt to his mother and watched approvingly as she laid it over Lily’s shoulders.

  Kneeling next to his mate—for he felt more and more certain of at least that much—Kord feathered his thumb down the side of her cheek. “Now that I’ve found her, I won’t let her go.”

  His mother offered a smile. “If this female is your mate, we’ll know soon enough. In the meantime, we need to protect her from those not accepting of human kind.”

  Kord nodded, thinking the same thing. “Based on her coloring, she could easily pass for Anglican.”

  “Yes, she could.” His mother’s expression turned thoughtful. “I suspect forces beyond our understanding are at work here.” She tilted her head toward the entrance. “Now, your father approaches. Let me speak to him. His knowledge of our realm is better than all three kingdoms combined.”

  Lily awoke to the sound of a crackling fire, along with the smell of burning wood and something strangely fragrant. She kept her eyes shut tight to better collect herself, figure out how much danger she was in. The last thing she remembered was dragon-man kissing her.

  And you liked it, her annoying inner voice reminded her.

  Did not, she denied, ignoring the scoffing laugh echoing in her mind.

  Her eyes flickered as she slowly opened them, allowing herself time to adjust to the fire’s heat. Softness cradled her body.