Kord stepped to her side, slipping an arm around her waist. “My lady.”
At first she stiffened, then relaxed slightly. “Kord.” Though her demeanor was calm, she eased away enough to let him know she wasn’t comfortable with his affectionate gesture.
Reluctantly, Kord dropped his arm. “Are you tired? Hungry?”
She turned to face him. “I would like to ask you a few questions, if you don’t mind.” She waved toward the pasture. “Can we walk a bit?”
He nodded. “Remain close to me. I can vouch for the safety of my kingdom, but not every dragon here is of Draconian.”
His dragon stirred restlessly, frustrated their mate was in danger from an enemy Kord couldn’t find. Not yet, anyway. When he did though, he’d tear him apart, piece by piece, slowly and painfully.
No mercy.
Reining in his own anger, Kord held out his hand, relieved when she accepted it with only a moment of hesitation. Baby steps. He led her off the rocky trail, onto one of the turf paths that bisected the rougher ground-scrub.
Lily seemed content to leave her fingers twined with his, and they meandered in silence for several minutes. Kord concentrated hard on controlling himself. Her presence affected him so strongly. With each step they took over the pasture, ever closer to the sacred trees, he grew more certain she would be his soon.
Claim her, his dragon demanded.
Patience, Kord admonished the beast, even though he desperately wanted to drag her behind the nearest boulder and kiss her.
Before I explode from need.
As if she recognized his desire, Lily tensed and jerked from his loose grip. Regret swamped him at the idea she might fear him.
Pausing, he turned to her and palmed her slender throat. The pulse beneath her delicate skin fluttered rapidly under his thumb. His voice dropped low. “Lily. I would never harm you.”
“That’s not it.”
“Then what is it, little one?”
Kord easily read the struggle on her face. Tamping down his own impatience, he held his tongue and waited for her to confide in him.
Finally, she touched his arm. “You confuse me.” Her palm felt so warm against his sleeve. “I don’t even know who I am, much less understand this world.”
Holding her stare, he cupped the back of her head and slowly drew her close. She didn’t pull away.
Tread carefully.
Mere inches separated them, and Kord wanted her body tight against his. Her shapely curves would fit perfectly. But he wouldn’t demand or coerce.
His voice dropped to a husky whisper. “You can trust me, Lily.” He traced a kiss along the tender lobe of her ear, smiling at her shiver. “I’d never harm you, or push for more than you’re willing to give.”
As she stared up at him, he tried not to read too much in those gorgeous hazel eyes. Instead, he brushed his mouth along her cheek, torturing himself with her nearness, anticipating the moment when their lips would fully meet and cling.
A single kiss, and then I can wait a little while for the next. And the next . . .
Still, he had to ask. Her faith and trust must be given freely. “Lily.” Her name was a groan on his lips. “Can I kiss you?”
Her grip crushed the soft cotton of his shirt as he battled his overwhelming need. Then she melted the slightest bit against him. Not as much as he’d hoped for, but enough.
“One kiss,” she whispered.
Resisting the urge to sweep her off her feet with his passion, Kord stole a kiss from her sweetly parted lips. For long seconds his mouth moved over hers, tasting paradise in the velvety recesses.
She wants you, his dragon purred.
If I’m patient, she’ll soon be ours.
Easing away, allowing his mouth to cling a final moment longer, Kord released her lips. Lily buried her face against his shirt and trembled. Not from fear this time, only desire.
Take her, his dragon growled.
He gave his beast a mental middle finger. Temperance wasn’t one of Kord’s virtues. For Lily, he’d learn. Now wasn’t the time or place to claim her.
Instead he stroked her hair, smoothing the tousled sunset curls. “This is real,” he murmured. “No harm will ever come to you, not while I hold a heartbeat.”
She didn’t speak, only nodded into his shirt. “You think I’m in danger.” It wasn’t a question as much as a statement.
“I do, little one. And until you remember who you are and why you came to this realm, you must let me care for you.” Kord held her tighter, praying she wouldn’t reject his tenderness, thrilled when she nestled willingly.
He lifted her chin to gaze into her eyes. “Together, we’ll discover all you have forgotten. You have my vow. My promise.”
Chapter 6
“So, where are we going?” Lily followed Kord and his parents outside into the bright morning sunlight.
Today she wore a mixture of modern and old, pairing comfortable dark-blue leggings with a white, silky tunic that fell to her knees and left most of her arms bare. She especially liked the delicate sandals Rosamunde had lent her.
A slight breeze sent her hair into her eyes. Smiling, Kord tucked the unruly strands behind her ear. “We are to attend the DufYrn Skulblaka Fustina.”
Her eyebrows knitted. “Which is what, exactly?”
Rosamunde answered her question. “Our annual dragon war festival. Twice a year our clan comes together in celebration to reconnect and strengthen its bonds.”
“You celebrate war?” How barbaric. Why would anyone celebrate war?
The king spoke up, his voice filled with amusement. “We are a battle kingdom. Although we prefer peace, we gather together to remind ourselves what we fight for. Love and family. A good and just society that encourages harmony, where our way of life can thrive.”
Kord nodded, a fierce look covering his handsome face. “It’s in our blood, Lily.” He ran a knuckle down her cheek. “We are dragon. We protect what belongs to us, to the death if necessary.” The steel in his voice matched the determination in his eyes.
At times, Lily almost forgot what he—they—were. And she didn’t doubt him for an instant, remembering his powerful dragon.
He tweaked her nose, and the grin that split his face made her breath catch. “Today’s a day for fun, litil shur’tugal. Each clan holds their own festivals.”
Lily nodded, eager for something to distract her from the overall confusion she felt, dealing with this fantastical world. The terrifying glimpses of threatening danger, hovering at the edges of her mind, weren’t helping matters either. Mixed with the piercing headaches overcoming her at odd times of the day, no wonder she was frustrated. Maybe today would be different.
She scanned the expansive open space surrounding them, with its exotic colors and odd wildlife. A compact, hamster-like creature caught her attention, and she followed its path across the rough ground as it hopped along. When she realized it moved on a single rear leg, she tugged at Kord’s shoulder. “That little animal is wounded. It’s missing a leg.”
“Nems have only one leg to propel them. Don’t feel sorry for them, Lily. They are tough little adversaries. Watch.” He squatted and clapped his hands about two feet from the tiny thing’s head. Instantly it puffed up, easily ten times its size.
Lily gawked in amazement as its underbelly revealed black spikes. Releasing a foul odor that almost knocked her off the path, its jaw unhinged and a shriek blew from its throat. She covered her ears as the nem scampered off into the scrub.
“Wow. I mean— Wow.” Her ears tingled, and not in a good way. “I guess it’s not so helpless after all.”
The king chuckled. “I think you won’t have to worry about the future of the nem.” He paused in a section of scrub that had been well-cleared. “Here we are.”
>
Lily glanced all around, seeing nothing to indicate a mode of travel. Her stomach flip-flopped as a thought struck her. “How are we going to get there?”
The words weren’t even out of her mouth when she figured out the answer.
Her cheeks heated as Kord tugged off his shirt. “We fly, of course.”
“Of course,” she echoed faintly. She kept her eyes locked with his as he continued to undress, then placed his clothes into a drawstring bag, and tied it around his ankle.
Petrified she’d see his parents naked, she refused to look elsewhere. At least that’s what she told herself, although she could have closed her eyes. But then she would have missed the amazing view of a nude Kord . . . something too good to pass up.
His hot gaze remained on her the entire time, then in bright flashes of light, she was surrounded by dragons.
Her heart tripped as she took them in, three amazing mythical creatures. From the slender, elegantly sinuous Queen Rosamunde, to Kord in all his amber and gold glory . . . to King Droc, massive and fiery from head to tail-tip.
Kord’s deep, rumbling voice drew her attention back to him. “Climb on, Lily.” Lowering his neck, he encouraged her to use his snout to step onto his wide, warm back. She perched gingerly, and he urged, “Nestle between my wings and hold on tight.”
“I—I . . .” She gulped. “Isn’t there another way? A car or something?”
All three dragons snorted as they soared into the sky. Lily squealed, squeezed her eyes shut, and grabbed two fistfuls of the dragon scales which flowed down Kord’s upper spine. Her racing pulse throbbed in her veins dizzily.
“Don’t worry,” Kord said. “I’ve got you.”
Lily forced her eyes open. The scene before her made her forget her fear as exhilaration rushed through her. The dragon royals navigated through richly hued skies on silent, graceful wings, the landscape a colorful splash beneath them.
Cradled gently on Kord’s back and surrounded by his stunning, protective wingspan, she blew out a calming breath and took in the magnificent view.
Mesmerized by the odd birds that dotted the sky, she marveled at the differences here, compared to Earth. And it went beyond the presence of three suns hanging in a triangle, their heat mild instead of burning.
This world, more than she could have ever imagined or dreamed of, was rapidly becoming familiar to her, even as its otherworldly strangeness shot anxiety through her body.
The silvery mist curving the horizon over an endless, choppy lake sent a shudder through her, wondering what lurked in its depths.
King Droc flew close and winked an amused, glowing dragon eye, before veering off toward his mate. Lily couldn’t contain her laughter as sudden excitement built within her. What did she need to worry about, after all? She couldn’t be any safer, despite her moments of freaking out.
Somehow, flying seemed natural. It was like being in a really cool dream. Relax and enjoy yourself, her inner voice chimed in. And that quickly, any remaining nervousness vanished.
Off to her left, she spotted a green, orange, and black eel-like creature cutting through the waves, diving under, seconds later bursting upward until its body was nearly out of the water. Then under again. Eerily beautiful, it grinned at her with a mouth full of jagged-edged teeth each time it rose from the water. Gracefully it swam along the same path they flew.
Less than ten minutes later, she spotted more dragons in the sky, coming in from all directions, in varying shapes, sizes, and colors. Some of them looked mean.
Resurgent fear slid through her. She tensed, clutching Kord’s dragon scales tighter.
“Easy, my lady,” he soothed. “They’re either family or friend. You’re completely safe with me.”
“You have more than family in your kingdom?”
“Yes. We embrace diversity. Those who come in peace and prove their loyalty to the kingdom are welcome.”
As Kord swooped lower to land, Lily studied the ground and the bustle of activity already going on. Unusually lovely, chiming music swelled as they drew near. Dragons and people milled together as if it were the most natural thing on Earth. Except you’re not on Earth, Lily, and those people aren’t human. Dragon, remember. That internal pep talk helped calm her nerves as they touched down.
Kord shifted back to human form and quickly dressed, although his parents stayed as dragon, heading off to the festivities. Lily was too busy taking in the scene to pay much attention.
She glanced down at the clothing she’d thought of as daring this morning, with its curve-hugging fit and low-cut bodice. In reality, what she wore was exceedingly tame next to the skin-revealing outfits draping some of the dragons in human form.
Hearing a splash, she turned toward the wide lake and spotted the eel she’d seen earlier erupt from the water a few yards from shore. It shot up into the air as its wings expanded, before gently gliding to the ground. Dragon. She should have known.
It met her gaze and formed a wide, reptilian grin. Somehow the threat of all those teeth made her smile in return. Then the dragon shifted into Kord’s friend, Von from the supper club. As if he wasn’t standing there, completely naked, he sketched a salute. Lily forced her eyes to remain on his face when a pretty female stepped to his side with a bundle of clothes, claiming his attention. Only then did she allow herself a quick peek, before diverting her eyes.
They made their males big here. Her thoughts immediately flew to Kord and how amazing he looked naked. A shiver of desire slid through her.
Kord’s lips teasing her ear sent a tingle to her toes. He chuckled, as if knowing what she was thinking. Which he probably does, damn it. “Von’s a water dragon. A very rare breed.”
Catching her hand, he led her forward. Mouth agape, Lily felt her eyes bugging as she took in the festivities. Colorful creatures and people in unusual clothing abounded. She saw jousting competitions on the backs of dragons instead of horses. Fire-eaters, bell ringers, and even dragon-shifting contests were scattered throughout the grounds. Food vendors hawked various delicacies.
“What’s your pleasure?” Kord’s eyes twinkled down at her.
Lily didn’t know where to start. It was all so overwhelming. The scent of cooking meat and other fragrances filled the air. “How about something to drink? What do you have here?”
“We have anything the human realm has. Well, most anything. The dragon realm and Earth are closely connected. History hints at life beginning on Earth. As man came to power, many beings, including dragons, fled to safety in other realms or dimensions. The pathway is still open to those with the power to cross through it.”
“Who would that be? And why doesn’t Earth know?”
Kord had been pausing periodically to introduce her to extended family and friends who hailed them in passing. Now he curved one brawny arm around her shoulders and brought her closer as he confided, “Only a select few on Earth know. Although most dragons are warriors, there is nothing more dangerous than mankind. It’s best for all other species to remain unknown, or believed to be fairytales.”
“Can you cross into Earth’s realm?”
He nodded. “Royals can, though it’s strictly regulated. Permission must be given by the dragon counsel.” When she frowned in confusion, he clarified, “Similar to Earth’s Supreme Court.”
“Ah.”
Stopping at a vendor cart to buy two cups of tea, they watched as a petite blue-green dragoness danced a few feet away. Almond-shaped eyes closed, the female shook her substantial back end to the beat of musicians who played in both human and dragon form.
Probably one of the oddest things she’d ever seen, at least that Lily could remember. Laughing, she glanced up at Kord. “Who knew dragons danced?”
“You should see my brother. Bakka dances, much to the amusement of his friends and the delight
of the young females who clamor to be his partners. You will meet him later,” Kord promised. “He flew in early this morning to offer his assistance in festival set-up.”
He tugged her up tighter against his body. “Enough about my family. May I kiss you again, Lily?”
Flushed with excitement, Lily nodded, held spellbound by his piercing amber gaze, longing to feel his lips on hers again.
Lowering his head, Kord covered her mouth in a smoldering kiss that went on forever, until the vendor’s throat clearing and deep chuckle broke them apart.
Panting slightly, Lily stared into Kord’s eyes and gripped the front of his shirt, needing the support to stand on her shaky legs. His heated gaze broke her out in shivers.
“My beautiful litil shur’tugal,” he rasped.
Lily licked Kord’s flavor from her lips. “You called me that before. What does it mean?”
His eyes crinkled with his smile. “My little dragon rider.”
The sensual promise in his voice sent a rush of desire straight to her core. Until someone roughly jostled her from his side. If not for Kord’s arm around her shoulders, she might have gone flying from the force of it.
“Whoops. Sorry.” The voice sounded anything but contrite.
Lily stiffened.
Tasha.
Chapter 7
Gods, not now. The last thing Kord wanted to deal with was a spoiled dragoness with attitude. The semi-annual war festival brought out the worst along with the best, and aggression was part of being a dragon shifter. Tasha would go looking for trouble. It was her way.
Raised to be diplomatic, Kord kept his calm, even as his dragon seethed. “Tasha, nice to see you at the festival. You remember Lily.” He tightened his arm around his skittish mate, sensing she’d like nothing better than to hide for the duration of the festivities.
Realm of the Dragon (The Soul Mate Tree Book 1) Page 5