BDArc-HiddenDragons

by CSM

  Sweet Mother of All, that felt good.

  Even as their frantic motion stilled, they cared for her. They disengaged carefully, after long moments, taking care not to strain her body in any way. They were both so strong, so caring. And they were hers. All hers.

  Epilogue

  Over the next two weeks, things settled down on the border. It looked like the enemy had been truly routed, and had tucked tail and run away. For now, at least.

  The village of Halley’s Well had been cleared of traitors and Isabelle had even been able to get Bear and Robert to promise to take her back there in a week or two to see what was left of her former home. They warned her she might not like what she found there.

  She knew the skiths had done a great deal of damage, but she wanted to see it for herself, to bring herself some closure. Isabelle planned to make her home at the Lair from now on, but she wanted to see if there was anything of her former life she might still be able to salvage and bring back as a keepsake. A reminder of all that had come before to lead her to this current state of incredible happiness.

  She visited her chickens often and she set up the kitchen in their suite to her liking. They had eggs for breakfast a few times each week thanks to the thoughtful gift Bear had given her all those days ago. Her little flock was doing just fine in their new environment.

  The three of them made love each night, perfecting their moves and trying new ones. And Silla was helping Isabelle learn the dances she would need to perform at the mating ceremony that was being planned for the end of the week.

  The dragons would take to the sky then, in their first mating flight since choosing Bear and Robert as their knights. Every joining they experienced was working toward that one—the big one where the dragons’ passion would influence the knights into something unlike anything that had come before, if rumors and accounts from married knights were to be believed.

  When the day of the mating celebration finally came, Isabelle was more than ready. She was primed and able to perform the required dances—each one more risqué as the night wore on. When the dragons took to the sky, mated trios all around the Lair joined their dragon partners in passion, the dragons’ influence over their bonded partners so great, that the knights had to partake of their mate’s passion, or go mad.

  Isabelle was ready. More than ready, if truth be told. She received her men with enthusiasm and a certain sense of wellbeing that finally—finally—everyone in the extended family was made whole. The dragons’ joy and love flared through the connection with Bear and Robert, and even Isabelle felt the wash of emotion and passion, sensitive as she was to magic and the two dragons involved, in particular.

  She welcomed her mates into her body and the dragons’ influence into her soul, and for a moment during the most incredible pleasure yet, she felt as if she too, was flying.

  A day or two later, when the newlyweds finally felt like venturing out of their suite, they went to the great hall for a late dinner and found a somewhat raucous gathering of knights, their ladies, and even some of the children and workers who lived in the Lair. May of the dragons loitered nearby as well, and a many others filled sections of the great hall that had been cleared of tables and chairs.

  Everyone was watching the small gathering by the hearth on one side of the giant chamber where various stews and beverages were kept ready at all hours for those on late duty. A stunning pale orange-peach dragon lay to one side, a bronze-brown dragon next to her, their sinuous necks entwined. They were clearly a couple.

  But it was the golden-haired knight standing in front of the dragons holding a lute that really captured Isabelle’s attention.

  “Ah, I see the newlyweds have come up for air,” the golden-haired man stated with a smile that lit the room.

  He had a charisma that was familiar to Isabelle as a path opened up between the trio at the door and the gathering by the hearth. Robert and Bear seemed to take the loud cheer that went up from the other knights in stride as they escorted her up to a place made for them right near the bard. To her surprise, the man put down his lute and came over to give both Robert and Bear back-pounding greetings filled with congratulations and good cheer.

  “I’m sorry we had to miss the wedding, but I am thrilled to see you two looking so happy. I saw Tildeth and Growly on the way in and they told me all about your new addition to the family.” Finally the vocal knight turned to greet Isabelle, taking her hand and bowing over it, placing a light kiss on her knuckles. His eyes met hers and she knew instantly she had met him before.

  “I remember you,” she whispered. “You were Jinn.”

  The man smiled as he raised his head and winked. “Indeed I am. We were both very young when our paths last crossed, but you are the image of your mother, and I remember her well. She taught me the lute fingering style of her people, which I still use to this day,” he said, surprising Isabelle greatly. “I was very sad to learn of her passing.” He squeezed the hand he still held, his expression darkening to convey his true regret and heartfelt feelings. Isabelle fought the tears she felt building behind her eyes. “You have my deepest condolences, milady.”

  “Thank you,” she managed to whisper. “Are you the one they call Drake?”

  His expression brightened slightly. “Indeed. I was known as Drake of the Five Lands when I traveled as a bard, but I recently returned to my homeland, and Jenet over there made the horrid mistake of claiming me as her knight. Can you imagine?”

  He finally let go of Isabelle’s hand to gesture toward the gorgeous peach dragon behind him. Her head had risen over his shoulder, untwining with her mate so they could both look over the new arrivals.

  The dragoness’s voice entered Isabelle’s mind. “Would you mind telling me what you know of Drake’s time abroad, sometime? I missed a lot of his life and I enjoy hearing about how he lived while he was away.”

  Isabelle was surprised by the eager request, but glad to comply. “It would be an honor, Lady Jenet, though I’m not sure how much help I’ll be. I was very young and my memories of that time may not be the clearest.”

  “Whatever you remember will be more than I know now,” Jenet assured her. “Drake was right. Your magic feels of the fair folk, though you are not full-blooded,” Jenet observed. “It is an honor to make your acquaintance.”

  Now that was interesting. Dragons were quite formal, but the honor of being acquainted, so to speak, usually went the other way. Something strange was happening here, but Isabelle had no idea what it was.

  “Likewise, milady,” Isabelle replied politely.

  She looked back to Drake and realized he had been watching her closely. He had an odd expression on his face as he drew a tall lady and another knight forward. He introduced his mate, Lady Krysta, and the third member of their trio, Sir Mace, as well as the other dragon in the family unit, Sir Nellin. Isabelle greeted them all as they were introduced, wondering why the entertainment had ground to a halt simply to make introductions.

  She looked around briefly and realized that nobody seemed to mind. Everyone gathered in the great hall was broken into small groups that were sharing food and wine. A general feeling of relaxed celebration filled the place.

  Drake invited Isabelle and her mates to sit at his table, which was on the far side of the hearth. The rest of the small gathering of musicians began to play a quiet tune while Drake took a break and joined his family, escorting Isabelle, Robert and Bear over to sit. The noise level in the hall was a low hum, with the music adding a festive air, but not overpowering the conversation.

  Wine was passed around and toasts made to the newlyweds before Drake pinned Isabelle with his blue gaze once more. She thought she saw flames in the depths of his eyes, but that had to be a flight of fancy. He was very intent though, and she couldn’t really understand why.

  “How much do you remember of your origins, Lady Isabelle?” Drake asked suddenly, surprising her.

  Isabelle stilled and put her wine goblet back on the table before ans
wering. “Not much. Mama never spoke about the past.”

  “She spoke of it at least once,” Drake said with quiet surety. “To the leader of the Black Dragon Clan of the Jinn. And the tale was passed to me because I hold a certain authority, even today, within my adopted Clan.” Isabelle could see that even Sir Mace and Lady Krysta were intrigued by Sir Drake’s words. As was Isabelle herself. What could he know that she didn’t?

  “What did she say?” Isabelle asked, her hands shaking. Robert put a comforting arm around her shoulders, while Bear’s arm went around her waist. They were so good to her. They were her family now.

  “Lady Isabelle, I’m not sure what you’ll think of the tale I have to tell, but I can assure you that every word of it is true. The Jinn have the best network of spies in the world, and the story was checked out after your mother told it. The Jinn know it to be true, which is good enough for me.”

  “Sir Drake, you’re scaring me. What is it that you know?” Isabelle asked.

  “Do not be alarmed, milady. The news is not bad. Your mother was more than a traveling bard when she joined the Jinn. She was a woman of noble—royal—blood, banished for having fallen in love with a human. Your mother was fey. She gave up her family and home to make a life with a human man, your father. But the fair folk are the next best thing to immortal, though as you know, they can die in certain ways. Your mother had only a few short decades with her true love before he began to grow old. You were born just before his reign was challenged. He fought the challenger and died. That’s when Salomar rose to power in the North. And that’s why your mother fled with you and took on a new identity, finally hiding you in obscurity here in Draconia. You are the rightful heir to the Northern throne—only daughter of King Eovar the Just.”

  “You’ve got to be joking,” Isabelle protested, though she did remember her mother speaking of her father, occasionally slipping and calling him by name. On the rare occasional when she did that, she called him Eov. But there was no way…

  “It is no joke, milady—or should I say, my princess,” Drake assured her. “And your mother was of royal blood as well. She was the youngest daughter of a fey leader. Her name was Princess Sania and her father is King Teodorus of the Northern Reach. His lands lie to the north and west, neighboring the lands your father once ruled. As far as I know, he is still alive and still in power.”

  “I knew it!” Tilly’s voice sounded through her mind. “I knew you were fey, Isabelle. Didn’t I say so when we first met?”

  “Give her a moment to breathe, my love,” Growloranth advised his mate openly. “I’m sure this is a lot to take in all at once.”

  Isabelle was trembling and she didn’t know what to think. Or what to say. She looked around, unsurprised to find Tildeth and Growloranth had been given room behind them. The whole Lair, it seemed, humored the newlyweds.

  She caught Growloranth’s eye and nodded her thanks. He nodded back, understanding.

  “I’m…” she began, but faltered. She felt Bear’s hand squeeze her waist in encouragement and support. How she loved him. And Robert. And her new dragon family. She didn’t know what she would do—or where she would be—without them. They gave her strength just by their presence. “I’m overwhelmed,” she finally got out.

  Drake nodded gently. “I understand.” He sat back, watching her. “I just thought it was about time you knew where you came from. I also think that your mates needed this information—as does our king.”

  Isabelle gasped. Why in the world would they have to bother the king with this ridiculous story? What did it matter now, anyway? It was all so long ago. And her father was dead. But her grandfather…

  Realization dawned. Her family connections might somehow help the king. If so, she was honor-bound to use them. She knew what her answer would be even before the question came up. As far as she was concerned, she was Draconian. This country was the one that had taken her in and given her refuge. She was loyal to the country that had protected her and her mother for so very long.

  “If you believe these claims that strongly, then yes, tell the king. I will do whatever he wishes,” Isabelle said in a firm voice, finding her backbone now that her path was clear. “I have no emotional ties to those other lands, but if my existence as a loyal daughter of Draconia can help in some way, I am prepared to do whatever the king asks of me.”

  Everyone gathered around that table—dragon and human alike—seemed to release a collective breath of relief. Isabelle knew she had made the right decision. These people were her family, and this land was her home. She might be interested in meeting her grandfather if he could be convinced to have words with a mere human, but if he rejected her, then so be it. She had her mates now, and they were all she would ever need, from this day forward, to make her truly happy.

  “You had all better start collecting your cold weather gear,” Tilly sent in an amused, eager voice through their minds. “It sounds like sooner or later, we’re all going to be making a trip to the North.”

  ###

  Thanks for reading Hidden Dragons, the latest book in the award winning Dragon Knights series by Bianca D’Arc. If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review.

  If this is your first foray into the world of Dragon Knights, be sure to look for the other books in the series, available now in print and ebook formats. A list of all of Bianca’s books in series order, follows the brief section of covers and blurbs of her most recent releases below. Or you could check out her website – WWW.BIANCADARC.COM. You can also learn how to sign up for her newsletter there, so you can be informed of new releases as they occur.

  Dragon Knights ~ Book 1

  Maiden Flight

  2014 RT Book Reviews Award Nominee

  War is coming for the dragon knights…but love may find them first.

  A chance meeting with a young male dragon seals the fate of one adventurous female poacher. The dragon’s partner, a ruggedly handsome knight named Gareth, takes one look at the shapely woman and decides to do a little poaching of his own.

  Sir Gareth both seduces and falls deeply in love with the girl who is not only unafraid of dragons but also possesses a rare gift—she can hear the beasts’ silent speech. He wants her for his mate, but mating with a knight is no simple thing. To accept a knight, a woman must also accept the dragon, the dragon’s mate…and her knight, Lars, too.

  She is at first shocked, then intrigued by the lusty life in the Lair. But war is in the making and only the knights and dragons have a chance at ending it before it destroys their land and their lives.

  Warning: Contains dragons, their sexy knights and a damsel who is not quite in distress. Sizzling hot m/f/m scenes may leave you breathing fire.

  Tales of the Were: The Others

  Rocky & Slade

  Rocky

  On the run from her husband’s killers, there is only one man who can help her now… her Rock.

  Maggie is on the run from those who killed her husband nine months ago. She knows the only one who can help her is Rocco, a grizzly shifter she knew in her youth. She arrives on his doorstep in labor with twins. Magical, shapeshifting, bear cub twins destined to lead the next generation of werecreatures in North America.

  Rocky is devastated by the news of his Clan brother’s death, but he cannot deny the attraction that has never waned for the small human woman who stole his heart a long time ago. Rocky absented himself from her life when she chose to marry his childhood friend, but the years haven’t changed the way he feels for her.

  And now there are two young lives to protect. Rocky will do everything in his power to end the threat to the small family and claim them for himself. He knows he is the perfect Alpha to teach the cubs as they grow into their power… if their mother will let him love her as he has always longed to do.

  Slade

  The fate of all shifters rests on his broad shoulders, but all he can think of is her.

  Slade is a mystery. A warrior and spy who serves two masters—tho
se in the human world and the Lords of the Were. They’ve sent him to Nevada to track a brutal murderer before the existence of all shifters is revealed to a world not ready to know.

  Kate is a priestess serving the Goddess and the large community of shifters that have gathered around the Redstone cougars. When their matriarch is murdered and the scene polluted by dark magics, she knows she must help the enigmatic man sent to track the killer.

  Together, Slade and Kate find not one but two evil mages that they alone can neutralize. It’s a tricky situation because Slade finds it hard to keep his hands off his sexy new partner, the cougars are out for blood, and the killers have an even more sinister plan in mind.

  Can Kate somehow keep her hands to herself when the most attractive man she’s ever met makes her want to throw caution to the wind? And can Slade do his job and save the situation when he’s finally found a woman who can make him purr?

  Warning: Big cats like to play and there’s a little bit of three-way play in the story that some readers might want to know about beforehand. You have been warned!

  Each story is available as a separate ebook, or together, in this exclusive anthology.

  Tales of the Were ~ Redstone Clan 1-3

  Grif, Red & Magnus

  Grif

  Griffon Redstone is the eldest of five brothers and the leader of one of the most influential shifter Clans in North America. He seeks solace in the mountains, away from the horrific events of the past months, for both himself and his young sister. The deaths of their older sister and mother have hit them both very hard.