“My apologies, Your Highness,” Conley blurted out before sliding down to his knees. He moved a bit too fast and lurched forward. Throwing out a hand to prevent braining himself by smashing into the wooden floor, Conley managed to right his body. He didn’t wish to look up so he stared at King Aeron’s boots and waited for him to speak.
“Dragons come in many colors. We are taught those of the darkest hues hold the most power and therefore warrant the ranks of nobility. Kings and emperors are chosen by Fate. Silver for a kingdom and gold is reserved for the very highest honor. My eyes are marked with silver rings, and there is but one dragon with rings of gold and to him I owe my fealty. To Emperor Erhard Draconis, we all owe fealty.
“We have a time-honored tradition of selecting the darkest of our kind to serve as dukes. This method has worked well and has given me no cause for complaint. But today I witnessed a sight that near stilled the beating of my heart. A dragon gilded by Fate. As a drakeling Prince-mate Conley was un-bested in swordplay. A man such as this with a dragon as gold as the rings of color Fate bestowed upon our Emperor can be meant for nothing but nobility.”
Conley could scarcely believe it but he looked up to see King Aeron tap first his right shoulder and then his left.
“From this day forward you will serve Court Bera as Duke Conley Beradraconis. Tomorrow you will be fitted with a coronet and armor that befits your new station. Will you swear your fealty to your king?”
Swallowing the saliva that had collected in his mouth and wishing he were sober, Conley replied with the same words as Drystan had used. They’d memorized the proper words of fealty years before.
“Arise, Your Grace,” King Aeron commanded. Conley had to accept Drystan’s help to his feet.
“Accept this ring as a sign of your nobility,” Queen Helen said and Conley looked at her through his blurry eyes and tears began to overflow. She tugged him into her arms and he held on to her tightly. He had no idea if it was proper for him to accept a dukedom with scales the color Fate had given him but he could not deny it was everything he had wanted.
No longer need he fear time away from Drystan or his mate finding him lacking. Drystan’s parents would not find fault with him, and he would not be an embarrassment to any of the people he loved. He shuddered as sobs wracked his body. The world around him shrunk away as his emotions overwhelmed him in a completely unexpected fashion. Hands tugged at him and then he was pressed against a very familiar chest.
“You are fair scaring my parents,” Drystan told him as he hauled him close.
Conley was too busy with his crying to reply. Drystan said something to his parents and Conley concentrated on getting his arms as tightly around him as he could manage. Nothing else mattered but the comfort of the man he loved. The man he never wanted to be separated from—not even for the length of a single day. The stars would fall from the sky before his devotion would fade. All the fear he had of losing Drystan this day swept over him and he gave his appreciation to Fate that they had both survived. Their dreams had surely come true, and their future glowed bright as ever.
Chapter 13
Conley slowly opened his eyes and was surprised to find himself in bed. He had no recollection of leaving the Great Hall after blubbering all over Drystan and his mother. The mattress shifted, and he looked to his right and saw Drystan propped up on his elbow. The sheet was down near his hips, leaving his broad chest bare and as usual, Conley enjoyed the sight of his well-built man.
“How do you fare?”
“I shamed myself in front of the entire court.”
“You remember all of it?”
“I do not recall getting to our bedchamber.”
“I had to carry you. You are not as light as you would appear.”
Face flushed, Conley said, “It is worse than I first thought.”
“We were to cement our matebond last night.”
“If you were trying to raise my spirits, you have missed the mark.”
“I have waited eighty-two years to have you completely as my mate.”
Conley made a move to get up, but Drystan placed his palm on his chest and held him in place. “I wish to rise.”
“You may after you explain why you decided to bury yourself in ale last night. You were supposed to tell me your troubled thoughts.”
“They are disgraceful.”
“I care not. I’m yours, and it is my duty to see to you.”
Gazing into the pair of black fathomless eyes was difficult, but Conley forced himself to face Drystan and tell the truth. “I shall miss the blue of your eyes.”
“Conley.” The word was a warning.
“I thought I was an embarrassment to you. I was supposed to be a black dragon like you. I did not wish you to be a duke if I could not. We would have had separate duties which would have kept us apart during the day. I did not want that.”
“You could never be anything but a gift to me. You often accuse me of being the one who is wrong-headed, but I cannot conceive of any words further from the truth. And you are a duke just like me, so you need not fear us being apart. That day shall never come.”
“Your father made me a duke. I’m not worthy of the title.”
“I daresay if you mention your thoughts to Father, he may hack away at you with his sword. You are being most ridiculous.”
“I’m not a dark dragon.”
“No, you are gold. If such a color is not royalty, I cannot imagine what is.”
Conley had to admit there was sense in Drystan’s words. “I suppose I could become accustomed to a golden duke.”
“I doubt you have much choice.”
“I will apologize to Aeron and Helen.”
“Have you no apology for me? My heart was set on sinking my fangs into your skin.”
“I was deprived of that as well.”
Drystan chuckled. “No one but you is responsible for the amount of ale you imbibed.”
“I sought to drink away my troubles.”
“You are not drunk now.”
“No, but you seem more interested in speech.”
Leaning over, Drystan kissed the corner of his mouth. “I had to ensure all was well with my mate before I ravaged him.”
Conley ran his hand over the fur on Drystan’s belly and tugged the sheet away so he could see all of him. “At your side, I can find little fault in the world.”
“I love you,” Drystan said against his lips before plunging his tongue into Conley’s mouth. Conley wrapped his arms around Drystan’s neck and slid closer to him. Drystan moved over him and caged him between his arms while he continued a barrage of open-mouthed kisses that stole Conley’s breath and caused his heart to beat faster.
With Drystan’s body above him, he knew the moment he began to harden. Attuned to his body as he was, Conley’s penis filled with blood and thickened. A moan escaped him as Drystan lowered the entire length of him so they were touching from their feet up to their chests. The exquisite pleasure of Drystan’s manhood rubbing against his robbed him of coherent thought.
All he could focus on was how to fulfill his sudden raging need to find completion. He drove his hips up against his mate, and Drystan ground his pelvis downward in response. It became apparent to Conley—this would not be a leisurely exploration of their passion but rather, a race to gratification.
He spread his legs and bent his knees to cradle Drystan’s hips between them. Conley continued to thrust against his mate as he sucked on his tongue. Pulling his arms away from Drystan’s neck, he slid them downward to his firm rear and used them to push their bodies even closer.
Sweat broke out all over his skin as he rocked his body against Drystan’s. The other dragon was as intent on finding his joy and met Conley’s assault head on. Their cocks were rigid poles that rubbed against each other. To Conley, there was little in life as potent as the desire he had for Drystan. Time had done nothing but further their passion.
Conley felt a stinging in his gums and then two f
angs popped through. Drystan had pulled his mouth away, likely undergoing the same adjustment to making love as a dragon who needed to mate. Gold met deep black, and for an infinitesimal moment they shared a fanged smile, but it was soon lost to the demands of their desire.
Throwing his head back, Conley dug his fingers into Drystan’s muscled ass and used all the power in his thighs to push up into him. Drystan went on the offensive as well, and soon they were little more than two bodies moving against each other with a common goal in sight. Until Conley sensed his dragon roaring to life inside him. Like him, his beast sought out his mate and wanted to do more than purge his lust.
The living entity inside of him was not to be denied, and Conley would never refuse his dragon the purity of a complete matebond. Before he could make a move to join his life-force, Drystan licked a path up his neck and sunk his teeth into Conley. Heat traveled down his body and with no warning, his rod gave up its seed. The bond that had been so tenuous all these decades snapped nearly in place.
Drystan growled against his throat and pulled his teeth away. With no hesitation, Conley released his mate’s taut cheeks, reached up to grab Drystan’s hair in his fist and tugged his head to the side. Neck exposed, Conley swiped his tongue over it before plunging his fangs in. Unbelievably, a weak orgasm tore through him as their matebond finally became whole. Drystan’s essence was imprinted on his soul and for all of eternity, they were joined.
It was a heady feeling that near overwhelmed him. With what little sanity he had left, he collected himself and gently drew his teeth out of the other dragon and closed the wound with his tongue. Above him, Drystan was panting heavily and Conley could feel the sticky wetness that was sure to glue them together did they not find the energy to separate.
Conley freed his hand from Drystan’s black hair and his mate leaned his head down to press their cheeks together. Ghosting his hands down Drystan’s back, Conley enjoyed the heavy weight of his man. Such moments as these were not to be missed, and he relished them near as much as the ones that preceded them.
“Mine,” Drystan whispered into his ear.
“Mine,” Conley agreed.
Lifting his head and resting his weight upon his elbows Drystan looked down at him and said, “It was my intention to have a bit of romance when I was finally able to make you mine in truth.”
“Mayhap it has been too long of a wait to allow for the softer side of lovemaking.”
“There may be truth to that, but I dreamed often of being inside you when I bit you.”
“My dreams were much the same,” Conley confided after giving Drystan a soft kiss. He brushed aside a thick lock of Drystan’s hair and tucked it behind his ear.
“We must strive to carry out those dreams.”
“Your Grace, we have many new duties. We shall not fall short on any of them as well as seeing our dreams met.”
Drystan pressed their lips together. “I daresay we should get cleaned up and break our fast first.”
“I daresay,” Conley agreed with a grin. With not a small degree of reluctance, they separated to begin their day. With a cloth, Drystan scrubbed both himself and Conley free of the evidence of their lovemaking. Conley stole a kiss and then pulled his clothing from the trunk they shared for that purpose. He dressed in silence and reflected on the morning’s events. Their joining had been delayed by Conley’s foolish decision to soak himself in ale. Drystan would not hold its postponement against him, he knew, and he would not let guilt eat at him either.
His drunkenness had also led to him making an ass of himself, and he would make amends with the king and queen. They had taken Conley into the bosom of their family since his arrival at Castle Bera, and he would not see them disappointed in him. Fully dressed and boots upon his feet, Conley grabbed his sword and shoved it into the scabbard at his waist. Hand in hand with his man, he made his way to the Great Hall.
King Aeron and Queen Helen were already in attendance. With a kiss for Drystan, Conley went straight to his mate’s parents.
“Aeron. Helen. I must beg your forgiveness for my behavior. It was wrong for me to lose myself so deeply in vast quantities of ale. I meant no disrespect, and I am honored in a way I cannot express to be afforded the opportunity to serve you both as a duke.”
“Conley, you know we think of you not only as Drystan’s mate but our son as well. You need not apologize for a bit of overindulgence,” the queen replied gently.
“I know; you have acted as my parents since my father ordered me to pack my things and arrive on your doorstep.”
“Then mayhap you would do us the honor of calling us Mother and Father?” the king asked. Conley was deeply moved by the regard he had for them and the evidence of the depth of affection they held for him. Drystan rubbed his hand over Conley’s back and it soothed as it always did.
“The honor is mine, Father,” he replied. “For you as well, Mother.”
The queen jumped up from her seat and scurried around the table. She took Conley’s face into her hands and kissed his forehead. “I love you, son,” she said before wrapping him in her arms.
Conley embraced her and replied, “I love you too.”
When she finally let him go, the king was at her side and tugged Conley close. They exchanged the same words of fondness and then it was Drystan’s turn to hold him. Without a crumb yet in his belly, Conley marveled at how the day had barely begun and already it had been comprised of much emotion.
“My sons, come and sit. You must be near starving.”
“I am ravenous,” Drystan agreed and pulled an unresisting Conley around the table to sit. As was his habit, he selected the foods to place upon their shared trencher. Stuffing a bit of pastry into his mouth, Conley became conscious of a great weight falling from his shoulders. No more did he have to worry over what would happen on the day of their shift. Fear would no longer strangle him over the thought of losing Drystan. His mate was hale and hearty and though his lovely blue eyes were now the deepest black, he was still the most handsome man he had laid eyes upon. Though he had not shifted into the dark dragon of his dreams, Conley was resolute about making peace with the golden beast he shared his life-force with.
“Con?”
“Yes?”
“I failed to mention my thoughts upon your dragon.”
“You are not shamed I do not share your color.”
“The gold of your dragon could cause shame to no one.”
“You have something to add to your assessment?”
“Indeed,” Drystan replied between bites.
“How long am I to wait?”
“I fear you will not want to hear it.”
Conley’s brow furrowed. He was not sure he was ready to be told unwelcome news. “You may feel free to keep any foul words to yourself.”
“There is nothing foul to be said. It is only your reaction which may be most unreasonable.”
“Drys, my patience wears thin.”
“Very well,” Drystan began. “Fate did well by you. Indeed, you were gifted with a dragon nearly as comely as you.”
Conley glared. “I was misled. Your words were most foul. I am repulsed by the word comely. If I could find a way to be rid of it, I would make that a quest to which I would dedicate my blade and my blood.”
Chuckling, Drystan leaned over and kissed his cheek. “No man has ever been nor will ever be as comely as you.”
“That is because men are not comely, you overgrown oaf.”
“Your golden eyes make your appearance more pleasing.”
“Finish your meal so I may attend to you in the lists,” Conley said and turned his attention back to satisfying his hunger. Once finished, he was going to use his sword to remind Drystan he still had no match in swordplay in Court Bera. Perhaps then Drystan would be too weary to comment upon his face and form. Or Conley would be forced to act like the drakeling he’d been the day before and stick his fingers in his ears to block out the sound of his voice.
Chapter
14
A month after he gained the dukedom, Conley found himself prepared to journey to a neighboring dragon court. Castle Besant had recently lost their king, so King Aeron and Queen Helen were traveling to offer aid in seeing to the needs of the people. Disputes had to be settled and decisions made until Fate designated a new overseer for the inhabitants of Court Besant.
Sticking his boot into his stirrup, Conley swung up onto his horse. Gripping the pommel of the saddle, he leaned forward and patted the animal’s neck.
“Let us be off; I have no wish to arrive so late we are forced to stay the night,” King Aeron said before setting his horse into motion. Conley followed suit as did Drystan, who was at his side.
“It is most odd Fate has not already chosen a new king,” Drystan commented.
“Aye, but it is a small court. Mayhap the choices were too few,” Conley replied.
“I believe there is truth in your words, but it is most unusual that the Emperor has not sent someone to look after the people of Court Besant.”
“Emperor Erhard is an ancient dragon; perhaps he is not well. It has been many years since he hosted a fair or visited any of his kings.”
“A span of some fifty years since the annual fair. I pity the dragons who have missed out on the prospect of meeting their other half as I was fortunate enough to.”
“Father believes a shortage of gold could be responsible for the lack of festivities as well,” Conley said. It had become quite natural to think of Aeron as his father and the word easily tripped from his tongue.
“It is a sad matter to contemplate our Emperor lacking coin. I fear for the fate of all dragons if that is the case.”
“Aye, many small courts rely on provisions from Court Draconis.”
They came to a halt as the guards lowered the portcullis to allow them to leave the lands of Court Bera. Dragons took refuge behind walls as humans considered them unnatural. Once the drawbridge was flattened, their traveling party continued their trek. They had not moved more than a few horse-lengths away from the territory of the Bera dragons before Conley was consumed by horrible pain emanating from his eyes. His lashes fluttered as the intensity of the sensation increased. Beside him, he heard Drystan cry out in pain and knew he was suffering.
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