by Julia Mills
Slowly, the longer they stood together, the more he felt her relax. His hand caressed her back, enjoying the feel of her body under his fingertips, memorizing every dip and curve. His mate was tiny, but she was powerful, and not just because of her magic. Her inner strength shone like a beacon to a ship trying to find the shore. She stirred under his touch and sighed as his fingertips skimmed the side of her breast. Kyra was intoxicating. No matter his disgust for her kind, being this close caused his dragon to push him to claim her as their own. He tried to recall the memory of the day he found his mother, bloody and dying by a witch’s hand, in a last ditch effort to stop the incredible desire he felt for the woman meant to be his, but his want and need would not be denied.
The feel of her breath on his chest through the fabric of his shirt, assured him that she was just as affected by their embrace as he. The rays of the dawn began to peek over the horizon, painting an unforgettable backdrop for their encounter. Warm yellows and deep reds blended together creating a masterpiece against the dark blue and purple of the retreating night. It was the second most beautiful thing he had laid his eyes on in the last few minutes. He carefully turned Kyra in his arms, wanting to share one perfect moment in time with the one he could never truly have. She moved without question or hesitation. He felt even their heart beats coming into sync as the mating call and their combustible chemistry did as Fate had intended. Unable to resist, Royce let himself enjoy what he could never keep.
Kyra relaxed into him and her much smaller, soft hands lay atop his that had closed around her curvy waist. He smiled as her fingers lazily caressed the back of his hands. From the motion he knew she was unaware of her actions, and it meant all the more. To know that she was not swept away in the mating call alone was a comfort. She was soft where he was hard. His mate was short where he was tall. He imagined the picture of them together looked strange to others, but somehow they fit together perfectly, like two pieces of a puzzle, cut to perfection, one to complete the other.
Royce tensed as his mate shifted from one foot to the other, the motion causing her body to brush against his erection. The temptation to take what was rightfully his grew within him and he found himself wanting the woman in his arms more with each passing second. He remembered that she was a witch and knew full well that he couldn’t live his life with the very species that robbed his family of so much, but none of that seemed to matter to his body or his dragon.
The sun had reached the midway point in its rise to christen a new day when Royce gave in to his desires. He spun Kyra around in his arms and lifted her until she had no option but to wrap her shapely legs around his waist. She gasped at the contact and he took the opportunity to latch his lips to hers, sliding his tongue along hers. An electric current radiated throughout his body, driving his desire higher.
His hands roamed her body as she writhed and moaned against him. Needing to taste more of his mate, he tore his mouth from hers, nipping and kissing his way along her delicate jaw line. A taste like no other burst upon his tongue. His cock strained against the zipper of his jeans until he was sure he would find its impression there. Kyra pulled his hair and her well-manicured nails bit at his scalp as she mewled and rode his erection through their clothing. He ate at her neck like a starving man using the last drop of his hard-fought determination to keep from throwing her down on the rocks and taking her as his body and dragon demanded.
She cried out and the increasing scent of her arousal told him she was close. The heated aroma of patchouli and rose petals wrapped around them like a blanket, fueling his passion, creating their own private oasis from reality. Knowing this was the first and last time he would ever have the opportunity to witness the one made for him in the throes of passion, he sucked her earlobe into his mouth, running the tip of his tongue along the edge and meeting her hips thrust for thrust. He drove her higher and higher until her movements became frenzied. At just the right moment, he bit down on her earlobe. Quickly drawing his head back, he watched as Kyra screamed her pleasure to the Heavens. It was the most exquisite sight he had ever seen. With her head thrown back, her long tresses blowing in the sea breeze, her cheeks flushed, and her lips rounded in pleasure, she took his breath away. The image burned itself into his brain, there for all time, to pull up when he needed to remember what perfection it was to hold his mate in his arms.
As her orgasm subsided, she raised her head and her eyes slowly opened. He was mesmerized by the brilliant violet of her eyes and wealth of emotion he saw in their half-lidded satisfaction. The side of her kiss-swollen mouth tipped in a tentative smile and his world shifted on its axis. He was midway down a slippery slope and the beautiful creature in his arms had just pushed his descent into overdrive. Royce knew one thing for certain, if he stayed in her presence one second longer, he would be lost forever and there was no way he could allow that to happen.
He spun to his right, placed her on a flattened boulder and sped away, thanking the Universe for his enhanced abilities. It was a dick move, he knew it was, but there was no way he would ever trust her…she was a witch and capable of untold evil, not to be trusted. As he entered the cave he was inhabiting, he heard the words that simultaneously made him laugh and cringe… Kyra’s voice filled with anger and regret that tore at his soul. Her words were completely accurate and cut to the quick leaving his soul hemorrhaging. That fucking dick! And then came a sob that broke his heart.
He moved as far back in the cave as he could go to keep from hearing anymore, but it was useless. Kyra was magical and they had been around one another far too long, even if they hadn’t just shared the most passionate moment of his very long life, he would still be connected to her, still be able to feel her above all others. He had been delusional to think thousands of miles and an ocean could change fate. Only he could change his fate. Only he could walk away from what the Universe had planned for him.
He spoke to Devon through their unique link, asking him to come and fetch Kyra. Devon was the only one of his brethren besides Rayne with enough discretion to simply get the little witch off the mountain and back to the safety of his Force without commenting or sharing with the others. As his brethren made his way to his mate, he filled Royce in on Kyra’s visions and what was being planned to stop Andrew from hurting anyone. Guilt came at him from every direction, guilt that he had not been there to protect her, guilt that he could not help her through her visions, and guilt that he had been so lost in his own worries that he had completely cut communication with everyone. It was the most self-centered thing he had ever done and all because he couldn’t accept the fact that he was fated to share his life with a witch.
His dragon continued to roar in his head, angry with the man for his inability to put the past behind him. Royce could tell that Devon had reached Kyra and was unable to stop himself from walking towards the mouth of the cave to see if he could hear any of their conversation. What he heard made him respect Kyra more than he already did.
“What are you doing here, Devon?” she asked and he could hear the hurt and resentment in her voice that she tried to hide.
Before his brethren could answer, Kyra spoke again, “Oh, let me guess…the coward sent you to bring me down? What a piece of… Whatever, I can get down by myself. I made it seventy-five years before him and I’ll make it a hell of a lot more after him.”
“Kyra, don’t…” Devon pleaded.
“Don’t what Devon? Get the hell out of the way.”
From the sound and direction of her footsteps, she had already figured out there was a rock formation at the rear of the ridge that worked like steps. The heels of her boots hit the rock with such force he could only imagine the fury that was rolling off of her. To confirm his thoughts, Devon sounded across their unique link, “What the hell did you do to her? She is pissed, my friend, pissed on an extreme level. I’m waiting for the steam to come rolling out of her ears. If I get turned into a toad for something you did, I’m not going to be happy.”
Royce paus
ed, not sure how to answer, and his silence must have been enough for Devon to figure out what happened, at least in theory. “OH! What the fuck man? I can only imagine what happened. You can’t do that shit to her. You need to get your head out of your ass.”
Royce could feel his longtime friend’s anger and knew that he was right. In all the years they had been brethren, he’d never heard Devon as upset and disappointed as he was in that moment. He was right. Royce had to get his shit together and he told him so. “You’re right. I’d like to blame the mating call, and that is part of it, and the fact that she is really a great lady and when I heard she’d had a hard time of it and…. I just…It was…She is…”
“Yeah, I know she’s great, asshole. Who do you think has been watching after her day after day while she puts her ass on the line to help find the fucking traitor? Not you. Not the one that is supposed to be protecting her...me! And she’s also loving and giving and caring, but more than all of that, she is hurting because she has no clue why you are rejecting her. Now, I can only assume that something happened between the two of you and once again you’ve rejected her, and that is wrong on a level I never thought I would see from you. Dude, you are an idiot, and so very, very stupid. I hope she makes you pay dearly, because she does not deserve anything you are putting her through.”
Royce was disgusted with himself. Disgusted at what he had done to a woman that from all accounts did not deserve his messed up shit. But more than that, disgusted at the jealousy he felt…jealousy that he had absolutely no right feeling. He should be thanking the Universe that one of the best men he’d ever known was looking after Kyra, but instead, he and his dragon wanted to run out of the cave they were hiding in, claim what was theirs, and do everything in their considerable power to keep her away from any other men. Instead he thought about all he had lost at the hands of one of her kind and how there was no way he would ever be able to fully trust that she would not turn on him or those he loved. With thoughts of death and betrayal swirling around his mind, he turned around and walked deeper into the dark dankness of his dwelling.
“Tell Rayne and Rian I’ll meet them at the ridge. I’ll take first watch and lead the men in from the other side.”
He knew ignoring everything his good friend had just said was low, but it was also his own form of self-preservation and he was taking the only way out he had.
“I never thought I would say this, but Royce O’Reilly, you are a fucking coward. I’ll tell them, but you better have your head on straight…forever is a long time to be alone.” And with that his friend severed their connection.
~~~~~~~
“Kyra, be careful. You’re gonna fall if you don’t stop stomping around,” Devon sounded as pissed as she felt.
“Whatever, Devon, I’m not stomping. I’m trying to get my big ass off this damn mountain and back to the others. I just want to find that little asshole and go home.” She stumbled onto the final step and would’ve fallen if it hadn’t been for Devon’s quick reflexes.
“Thanks,” was all she could get past the lump in her throat. Embarrassed, but not willing to show it, she pulled her arm from Devon’s grasp and started to take the last step again, but her escort decided it was time to talk.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Devon asked, and the sincerity in his voice was almost her undoing, but then she remembered what a fool Royce had made of her just moments ago and let her anger be her shield.
She squared her shoulders and since Royce wasn’t there, turned on her friend, “Yes, Devon, I’m sure I’m fine.”
The Guardsman looked frustrated, worried, and more than a little pissed off, but for some reason she could tell none of those emotions were pointed at her. She watched as he quickly regained his composure. “Just remember, I am your friend and I’m here if you need to talk.”
Once again a lump formed in her throat. What the hell is wrong with me? she thought. She never cried, never got choked up. Kyra St Croix did not let people get to her. She thought back to many years earlier and remembered the exact moment she had closed the doors on the part of her that allowed others to hurt her, the part of her that trusted in someone other than herself. Then she pictured the exact moment that she knew there was something more for her in her future. The truth that she would have one person that she meant the world to, that she was connected to…body and soul. That would think of her wants and needs instead of just what she could do for them…the day her dragon marking appeared. But today those days seemed like eons ago and proved to be the dreams of a much younger, much more naïve young woman. It was time to kick ass, take names, and put the mushy shit to rest.
She looked Devon in the eyes, showing her strength and her resolve and said, “Really, I’m good. No worries, okay?”
Devon’s eyes said he wasn’t buying it, but at least he had the decency to put on a good show, “Okay, Killer. You ready to kick some traitor ass?” He smiled his crooked smile.
“Hell, yeah. I’m ready. Let’s get this show on the road!” She chuckled as they took the last few steps to the bottom of the mountain and headed back to where the others were planning their defense.
It was obvious Rian had rallied the troops by the sheer number of people milling around the makeshift headquarters he and Rayne had ordered set up. It was positioned at the south side of the lair under the cover of a huge rock formation and hidden by a dense grouping of trees. Devon had explained on their way back that the Blue Thunder Clan was much smaller than theirs and had not had a man find his mate for almost a hundred years. Once again fate had stuck up her middle finger and dared the world to say anything about it. Here was a clan of some of the hottest, most loyal, fierce men she’d ever met and they were without mates. And here she was, tied to the one person in the world that couldn’t stand the sight of her. Yeah, it’s a wonderful life alright, said the little witch in her head.
Before she could sink any lower, Rian was at her side, “Hey there, little witch, long time no see. Have fun while you were gone?”
She could tell from the shit eating grin on his face he had his own ideas about exactly what had occurred between her and his brother, but there was no way she saying a damn thing. Instead she decided to play along. “Yep, sure did. I was out sightseeing. Beautiful country you have here and by the way…I have a name.”
Rian chuckled and pointed towards a small tent nestled in a quiet little corner. “Rayne ordered that set up for you so that you may work your magic in peace. Your bags are ready and waiting.” He began to walk, so she followed, wondering why he thought she needed an escort.
When they reached their destination he simply stood, looking out at the landscape, his eyes seeing much more than the nature before them. Kyra watched a million thoughts fly across his face…a face that looked so much like the one she wanted to punch that she wondered if that was where the similarities ended. Not wanting to disturb him, she stood waiting since he had chosen the entrance to her makeshift workspace as his place to perch. He slowly looked down and she was once again reminded how amazingly tall both he and his brother were, especially when compared to her stature.
His blue eyes were no longer sparkling, but held questions that she feared he was going to ask. Not one to wait for the inevitable she spoke first, “Was there something else you needed before I get to work?”
Rian grinned but it didn’t reach his eyes. “As a matter of fact, there is. I know my brother is being a first rate asshat and I’ve been debating whether I should explain his behavior or not. Since you are here I think it’s my duty as his older brother and the bane of his very existence to explain the source of the burr up his butt.”
She scoffed, “I hate to inform you but I’ve taken the title of ‘Royce’s bane of existence’ from you, Your Highness or Elder or whatever I’m supposed to call you.”
He laughed out loud and she was reminded of the one time she’d heard Royce laugh. It was bold and full and made you want to laugh right along with him. “You’re supposed to call
me Rian and someday, Brother. That’s why I’m going to tell you what it is that keeps my brother from falling at your feet and worshipping the ground you walk on like his heart and dragon are begging him to do.”
She tried to interrupt, but he held up his hand for her to wait and continued, “I know you don’t believe he wants you, but let me assure you, little wi…Kyra, that he most definitely finds you the most beautiful and alluring creature on the planet, and rightfully so. You were made especially for him, just as he was made for you, and had he and our whole family not suffered a terrible loss in our younger years, I have no doubts that the two of you would already be mated and off making babies, or at least practicing. But as Fate would have it, we did suffer a tragedy and of all of us, Royce has been the one that refuses to let the past rest.”
He looked over her head and kept talking, “When we were much younger and still living with our parents, my mother was pregnant with our sister. The baby was thought to be the one our prophecies spoke of, the child that would bring female dragons back to our kin. From the day my mother knew she carried a girl, dragon shifters from all over the world sent their blessings and some even came to visit our humble clan.
“As the time of the birth came closer, my mother and her most trusted friend, the woman that had been part of our family for my entire life and had helped raise all of us boys, Ilsa, were engrossed in making sure everything was perfect for our little Rhianna to enter the world.
“One day very close to the birth, we were all out and about doing whatever, when my mother’s scream ripped through the beautiful fall day.” His last words were barely a whisper and she looked up to see tears filling his eyes. Completely unprepared for any show of emotion from the man she had thought incapable of anything but cracking jokes and issuing orders, Kyra just stood and watched as Rian struggled for control.
When he began again his voice cracked, “Royce was the first to arrive and what he saw, I am afraid scarred him for life.”