by Brenda Trim
She ran her hands over her hips as Finn’s gaze traveled over her tight chocolate dress. His eyes intensified as his gaze followed a path up to her ample cleavage. The dress wasn’t particularly low cut, but it made her average-sized chest appear bigger. Her gown matched her mate’s eye color as was the Cuelebre custom, and she was suddenly very glad she went with the tradition rather than his request.
Heat suffused her core and spread to her limbs. It put a swing in her hips that turned her walk sensual and had his eyes glued to her body. Her arousal was always off the charts with Finn, but when he looked at her like that it was all she could do not to grab his hand and drag him to a bedroom.
“There is no female more perfect than you, Songbird,” he whispered in her ear.
“I love you,” she replied automatically and brought her lips to his.
“We’d better stop before I toss you over my shoulder and take you somewhere private,” Finn declared.
Talysia chuckled. “I was thinking about dragging you to the room upstairs,” she gestured over her shoulder. The smile he gave her melted her heart.
Finn twined their fingers together and turned her to face King Angus. Talysia’s heart swelled with all the love she had for Finn. This moment was perfect. She finally understood her father’s statement about the power of true love. It overwhelmed all else.
Glimpsing over her shoulder, she saw her father and mother holding hands. Their devotion to one another surpassed two realms, and every ounce of negativity thrown their way. While Talysia and her sisters were devastated by their ridicule, her parents were never bothered. They always told them their existence was proof of the love they shared and there was nothing greater.
Angus lifted his hands, and a hush fell over the crowd. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach and her gaze returned to Finn. She wanted to imprint every second of the ceremony in her memory, but her eyes refused to stray from her mate for long.
“In the years since my return to Khoth, the mating ceremony, along with, the Civappu are my favorite privileges as king. I am honored to once again join one of our most valuable Maahes and his chosen,” Angus declared and opened his mouth, exhaling dragon smoke.
A white cloud formed above their heads. It reminded Talysia of the way the Maahes contained the smoke from the explosion on the beach. Then, it made her skin tingle, but now it caused her body to vibrate like a tuning fork.
Finn wrapped her in an embrace, pulling her snug against his side. Her eyes traveled back to her mate and she smiled at the look of joy on his face. Finn leaned in and whispered in her ear. “Angus is drawing the Gods’ rune.”
Turning back to the ceremony, Tals was captivated as Angus used a finger to sketch an elaborate design in his dragon smoke. The moment the symbol was complete, blue light pulsed outward and lit up the night sky.
She heard her parents and sisters gasp. The colorful sight settled any questions she felt. She was exactly where the Gods wanted her. She bounced and laughed as the sprites danced about the sky, mirroring her elation.
“Finn has chosen Talysia, and they are to be united for all of eternity. Family and friends have gathered to join in the celebration of their love and commitment.” Angus recited then traced another rune in his dragon smoke.
“That’s the uniting rune,” Finn said against her ear. His hot breath made her stomach flip and her hormones go crazy.
“With a touch of your hands, you reach each other’s thoughts,” Angus added. Finn grabbed her hips and turned her toward him. His emotions reached her. His arousal matched hers. Her emotions stopped churning the second the sky lit up. “With a gaze, you touch each other’s soul.”
Talysia stared into adoring brown eyes. Her dragon would worship her for all eternity. The thought still stunned her.
“Your gaze fell upon me, and brought me life,” Finn vowed.
“Your kiss touched my lips, and reached my heart,” Talysia murmured as she placed her lips to his. The kiss was meant to be gentle, but quickly turned passionate.
Something in her chest stirred then rose toward her connection to Finn. Her soul, she realized. Her breath left her on a whoosh the second Finn’s soul connected with it then entered her chest. Finn reached every cell in her body, lighting every dark corner.
“I vow to love you as my most precious treasure. To put you in the highest place of honor and respect. To stand as your pillar of support, and shoulder of strength. To cherish and care for you, for all the days of my life,” Finn pledged to her.
“And, I promise from this day forward, I will give you all my love, and you shall not walk alone. As your love is my anchor, and your trust my strength, may my heart be your shelter, and my arms be your home. As the smoke rune bonds our pledge, it has no beginning and no end. And so shall my love for you, until the end of time,” Talysia promised. She worried she wouldn’t recall the words she needed to say, but she shouldn’t have. Her love for Finn guided her.
“The pledge you’ve made in front of these witnesses is everlasting and unbreakable. You will walk together through deep green forests and on shores of white sand. You are the star of each night, the brightness of every morning, and the story of each guest,” Angus interjected. “May your future be blessed. Now, it’s time to seal the bond with Finn’s mating flight.”
Talysia smiled as she watched Finn undress. Dragons had no qualm about nudity. She chanced a look in her parent’s direction, checking to see their reaction. Blaine found his way to Tia’s side and seemed to explain the reason for Finn’s nudity because both her mom and dad seemed anxious and excited.
Talysia kissed Finn then made her way to her sisters, allowing room for his dragon. The moment he shifted, Isis stepped forward and brought the container of water then her mate handed her a bottle.
Pouring the contents of the bottle on the ground, Isis muttered a foreign word then millions of fine sand particles lifted into the air. Finn took a deep breath and tilted his head to the sky. When he opened his mouth dragon fire left his maw in a stream of red-orange flames.
Colorful glass beads fell to the ground and into a container at Finn’s feet. Angus leaned down and lifted the container. Curious about what would happen next, Talysia continued watching Finn. Before he took to the sky, Angus handed him the container of glass.
Suddenly, Finn took off and flew straight toward the purple moon.
“I love you, Songbird,” Finn told her using dragon speech.
“I love you, too, Sentinel,” she answered.
Finn’s dragon trumpeted and then dumped the colorful beads. The glass fell toward the ground, but before it reached the earth, Finn soared after it while once again releasing his fire. Talysia watched in awe as the heat and flames melted the glass pieces.
Using that moment to be part of whatever was happening, Talysia stood with her feet apart and lifted her hands over the water. Using her siren half, she lifted the water into the air and sent it toward the melting glass. Finn flew around the liquid, making it sizzle. Talysia added the water and steam filled the air around Finn.
She moved her finger, following Finn as he flew. Together they sculpted the glass. After several seconds, she called upon her ice demon. Her skin cooled and her breath fogged when she spoke, “Forever sealed together.” Freezing the water with her power, she watched as the glass fused together.
Finn spread his wings and a second later lightning flashed, striking the glass sculpture. Its shape changed fur
ther, making Talysia jump. She wanted to scream when it plummeted to the ground. She wanted to keep this as a symbol of their love and commitment to one another. Before she was able to move a muscle, the fragile sculpture landed in a cushion of smoke provided by the king’s rune.
Talysia gasped when Angus handed it to her. It was a massive flower, like the ones Finn picked for her from the forest when he went on missions. It was a perfect replica, right down to the various colors. A smile crept over her face when she saw a heart in the middle of the petals.
Finn landed and stepped into his pants before he pulled her into his arms. She yelped, worried she would drop the sculpture. Luckily, Tia saved the day and took it from her hold.
“As corny as it sounds, you really do complete me, Songbird. I never imagined finding a mate would be so all-encompassing,” Finn murmured.
“You’re right. It is corny,” she said on a chuckle. “But, seriously. I knew I loved you the moment I felt vulnerable with you and didn’t run for the hills. I needed and wanted you, yet trusted you enough not to hurt me. My dad was right. There is no greater power than true love.”
Finn claimed her mouth in a searing kiss. She lost herself in his embrace and found it easy to ignore the whoops and hollers of her friends and family.
Finn was happier than he’d ever been, but he wanted to sink into his mate’s welcoming body more than anything. Mate. Holy fuck. He was officially mated. As in the sexiest female belonged to him for the rest of their lives.
He’d begun to question his luck with the parasite and then Talysia’s poisoning, but everything they suffered was worth it. It led them to each other, and that was priceless. All he wanted was to love and protect her.
His cock throbbed in his pants, making him groan. “It’s time to leave, Songbird,” he told her mentally.
Mated dragons shared a deeper level of intimacy and could communicate telepathically with each other. To punctuate his need, Finn sent a mental image along with his thoughts.
“I can see someone isn’t paying attention to my dad at all,” Talysia retorted with a smile.
“Gods no. I can’t think about anything but fully claiming you as mine,” Finn admitted.
Talysia moved closer to him and subtly rubbed her ass against his groin. Her lust was evident even before he smelled her arousal. Finn’s erection pulsed against her soft flesh. When Tals started moving more, Finn was forced to grab her hips and stop her.
Leaning forward, Finn kissed behind her ear then nipped the lobe. Talysia gasped and her father’s gaze shot to Finn’s face. Heat filled his cheeks and he was about to apologize when Turner smirked and excused himself to grab some more torc.
Talysia twined her fingers with his and started toward the castle. “Time for you to finish what you started, dragon.”
He chuckled when her words came out breathy and hurried. “I will always finish what I start. I plan to make every part of you mine tonight,” he vowed then placed a kiss on her cheek. His body pressed tight to hers as they walked, and he felt the quiver course through her limbs. It made his cock jerk painfully.
“Hey, sis,” Tia called out.
“Don’t even say it, T. I’ll see you soon,” Talysia called over her shoulder without stopping. Laughter followed them through the door. Inside the atmosphere was completely different. It was calm and quiet.
At the foot of the stairs, Finn lifted Talysia into his arms and carried her up the steps as fast as his feet would carry them. Tals kissed along his jaw and down his neck. Every touch sent his libido through the roof. By the time they made it to the bedroom he was certain his patience was gone.
He was going to fall on his mate like a craven beast. Not that Talysia would object or have a problem if he did, but he wanted to go slow and savor this night with her.
“You are driving me mad, Songbird. That myth about sirens leading males to their deaths is one hundred percent accurate. They tease them and make them so horny they die from pent up need.”
Talysia chuckled and squirmed from his arms. The slit in the side of her dress revealed one creamy thigh and the silk clung to her like a second skin. “You’ll live, I promise. I’m building to an explosive finish.”
He recalled the first time he kissed her in the woods outside Club Toxic. Things heated quickly between them, and never really slowed down. She drew him like a moth to a flame even then. Who would have thought all those weeks ago they’d be here now on the night of their mating?
Twisting the knob, he shoved the door open. The candlelight highlighted her features and made her turquoise eyes shine. “Gods, you’re perfect.”
“This is the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me,” she gushed when she saw all the flowers that he had the room filled with. By chance Finn discovered her love of the native Khoth flower. It was why he selected it for their sculpture.
“You haven’t seen anything yet, love.” Finn turned her around and wrapped her in his arms. He hadn’t put his shirt or jacket on after his mating flight and the silk of her dress rubbed over his chest, arousing him further.
“Promises, promises,” she teased then pressed her lips to his stopping his retort.
Sweet sherulla from the martinis she drank exploded across his tongue when he forced her lips to part. Swallowing Talysia’s moan, he pressed her body against his, wanting her closer. Her soft stomach hit his aching cock, nearly making him rip her dress from her body so he could take her.
“I love you, Sentinel,” she murmured and nibbled his lower lip.
Running his hands from her ass and up her back, he couldn’t wait any longer and tugged the zipper down. Within seconds, the gown pooled at her feet. His siren had on a sexy strapless bra and panties the same silk as her dress. The dark fabric contrasted her milky skin. When she got aroused and lost control like that moment her skin took on the faintest hint of light blue. The little tell was sexy as sin.
Talysia reached behind her and unclasped her bra. Her breasts bounced free and made his mouth water. He kissed a path to her pert breasts then sucked a nipple into his mouth. When she was moaning, he lifted his head and blew hot air against the pebbled flesh before taking the other tip in his mouth. Talysia was so responsive to his dragon steam.
Sucking and nipping her turgid peaks, Finn pushed her panties off her hips and down her legs. When Tals stepped out of the fabric, Finn took a moment to appreciate the view. Her sex glistened with arousal, and her swollen nipples puckered from his attention.
“Someone wants to come out and play,” Talysia whispered almost as if she was in a trance. A sexual trance, he thought. Her tiny fingers brushed over his abdomen, making his cock jump. Glancing down he noticed she was right. The head of his shaft was peeking out of the top of his pants.
Talysia kicked the black heeled sandals she wore aside and was reaching for the button of his pants. He was transfixed by the sight of her hand running up and down his erection. With the zipper down, Tals took the root of his sex in her hand and gripped it firmly.
Cold flames licked his flesh where she touched. The dichotomy made precum leak out the tip, and had his balls drawing up tight. ‘Not yet!’ he scolded himself.
Talysia pushed his pants down his legs and Finn stepped out of them. He hadn’t put anything else on after his flight which was convenient at the moment. He froze then groaned when her mouth trailed over his chest. Closing his eyes, he lost himself in the feel of her mouth and hand.
His eyes flew open when she bit his flat nipple. The sting combined with the feel of her cold mouth against his sens
itive flesh had him close to losing his shit. Grabbing her by the hips, Finn lifted her up and claimed her mouth.
Their tongues tangled and her legs wrapped around his hips. Their kiss escalated quickly as teeth and tongues collided. The urgency heated the air around them. He wouldn’t be surprised if they spontaneously combusted. Finn filled his hands with her firm ass. When her hot core rubbed against his shaft, Finn broke the kiss and tightened his hold so she couldn’t move.
“Fuck you’re wet, Songbird. You make it difficult for a male to show restraint,” he purred as he met her gaze. The connection they shared allowed him to feel what she was experiencing.
Never before had he considered what the female felt. He never gave it more thought than he wanted to make sure she enjoyed the encounter. With Talysia he wanted to make her soar to heights she had yet to reach.
“There’s no reason for restraint, Finn. Not between us. I feel how painful your need is right now. I know you want to fuck me against that wall.”
Finn walked the three steps to the wall and used it as leverage. Talysia leaned back, thrusting her breasts toward his mouth. Finn ran his shaft through her slick folds as he lowered his head and licked her nipples. Talysia’s mewls were like music from the heavens. The sound reached down and grabbed his balls.
“I love the sounds you make,” he confessed. His cock was soaking with her arousal. He could tell by the way her body jerked that she was close. He increased the pressure and friction on her sensitive nub.
Talysia ground against his shaft while he squeezed her ass so hard, he hoped he didn’t leave bruises. There was no soft and gentle at the moment.