To Mate A Dragon (Venys Needs Men)

by Naomi Lucas

  It’s too much to bear, I try to tell him this, but he doesn’t hear me, pounding away. Lifting me, holding me against his chest, thrusting in and out, in and out.

  Water sluices over my skin, followed by cloth. I moan but can’t seem to rise. Settling to the comforting touch of cool water, knowing I might be stunned, I let myself be tended to.

  I feel the shift of movement and soon the scent of herbs, wood, and the ocean hits me, and I know I’m no longer in the caves.

  Does mating stun? I wonder. I’ve never heard of such a thing.

  It hurts, yes. It’s overwhelming. But never once did any of the elder Sand’s Hunters women mentioned falling unconscious… or the amount of male cum…

  Dragon cum. Has to be. It’s inside me still, doing strange things to me. Relaxing me in a way I can’t resist.

  “Well?”

  Zaeyr’s voice. I try to respond but my lips refuse to move.

  “She’s fine. Just needs rest. Aida doesn’t take care of herself as well as she should.”

  Delina.

  More water is poured onto my skin, and the hands and the cloth that follows are clumsy. It’s Delina cleaning me, I note. But then a strand of my hair is pulled behind my ear. The warmth that ignites from it is caused by Zaeyr. I know it.

  “How much longer?” he asks.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Guess!”

  “Let her sleep through the night,” Delina answers hurriedly. I don’t want to sleep. I want to be awake. I’ve been asleep long enough… I should be helping my tribe. I want more time with Zaeyr. I can’t remember a day in my life when I did nothing but lie in the hides. “When she wakes, make sure she rests. She’ll need food too. I can stay and watch over her.”

  I hear a grumble and nothing else. I’d grumble too if I could. Silence descends between them and I hear the crackle of a fire.

  Falling back asleep, I wake up sometime later to Delina’s voice. Swimming through the haziness of my mind, I discover she’s asking Zaeyr questions.

  “…you were a dragon yesterday. I’ve never seen a dragon or heard of them either until lately. Were you frightening?”

  “Mmmm.”

  “I’m sure you were… Your horns and tail are beautiful. I always envied the merfolk for their tails.”

  It feels wrong listening in—or trying to at least—without them knowing, but my curiosity is piqued. I don’t like my sister speaking to Zaeyr like this, not when it should be me or when—I’m assuming—they’re alone. Trying to rise again, I find there’s enough strength to shift my arm a little, but it’s not enough to rouse.

  “Thank you,” Zaeyr mumbles. “What is this used for?”

  Delina chuckles softly. “That’s a headdress. It’s an adornment—” Delina moves “—a female wears during the mating celebration. I wore this not long ago. Here, let me show you.” There’s a rustling sound. “See? Isn’t it beautiful? Those pieces there are the dress and these are the accessories. I could put those on too?”

  My heart hammers. What’s my sister doing?

  “Mating celebration?” Zaeyr asks.

  “You don’t know anything, do you?” Delina teases.

  “Not when it comes to humans,” Zaeyr’s voice is low and gravelly, almost curious. It floods me with renewed warmth, but also mortification. “Dragons do not celebrate mating,” he says. “A femdragon goes into heat, more so during the red comet, and calls out for a male to nest with her. She seeks the best, denies the weakest, and if more than one finds her at the same time, we fight to the death for her attention. It becomes increasingly painful for a male dragon to be in heat from a femdragon’s pheromones without seeding. Oftentimes, those that survive a battle for a femdragon will perish without satisfaction. Or, if they are lucky, find a female drake or wyvern of the lesser species to empty their shafts, so they may live.”

  Oh.

  My… that’s nothing like humans.

  My sister echoes me. “Oh… Males fight over females?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s amazing! I can barely imagine it. To have such a choice…”

  “I would not describe it that way. Why do you?”

  Delina coughs. “Human males are rare, very rare. The elders between tribes fight for them, and when they come of age, they’re given as mates to the most fertile, deserving female of the chosen tribe. We don’t have a choice, like your males, I suppose. It’s why we celebrate such an event.”

  My sister’s words hurt, bringing back bitter memories of all that happened between us in the past month. How the elders picked her over me when I had been chosen and prepared for the honor and responsibility since childhood.

  I don’t want Zaeyr to know.

  My chest tightens.

  But Delina continues, her voice softening. “The elders chose me to be the best mate, the best female. Aida was supposed to be given the honor, but they decided that I’m better able to carry children, perhaps more desirable to a male—the strongest male.”

  Trying with all my might to rise, blood rushes through me, straining. If not to stop Delina, then to run away. I hear her move closer, approaching where Zaeyr breathes. I would know where he is even if he didn’t make a noise. The bond, it’s because of the bond.

  Even bonded, I don’t know if Zaeyr would not take another—perhaps more—if offered. Would he?

  “Backwards,” Zaeyr spits. “Elders should not choose who mates. How can they know what others want?”

  “It’s not about what others want, dragon, but about ensuring our survival,” my sister whispers. “Your survival too. Look at me.”

  A grunt. “Why?”

  There’s a rustle of cloth.

  “What are you doing, human?”

  I want to cry.

  “Unlike Aida, who passes out, I know how to mate. I see your cock—it’s hard, it can’t feel good like that, but I can help. Let me give you relief, and I’ll show you what Sand’s Hunters chosen female can do. The strongest male should be with me. And you are the strongest, are you not?”

  “Is this what you human females do? Battle for the best male instead? Even when your opponent is down?” he snarls. “Do you dare to presume that an alpha dragon does not make his own choices?”

  My hands finally move. I clench my fingers to my palms, finding the movement difficult but manageable. My eyes snap open and I scan Delina’s hut, finding her bare-chested and wearing the mating headdress. She’s sitting right before Zaeyr by the fire.

  “You understand it, don’t you?” Delina hums, reaching up to rub her breasts. “This makes sense.”

  I look away when Delina reaches for Zaeyr. I wish I was still sleeping. I don’t want to see this. Pain constricts my chest.

  If Zaeyr allows my sister to have her way, I won’t recover. I won’t. Not this time.

  And what makes it worse, I know, is that I’ll still want him afterward, against my better judgment, always remembering that moment on the beach. Even now, the sensation of my innocence broken is there between my legs—the stretching, the needy ache building untoward. His smell fills my nostrils with every breath, making everything worse.

  My head falls to the side, pulling my arms instinctively into me when noises I don’t want to hear reach my ears. I realize I’m moving. The feeling of betrayal is helping me rise.

  “Zaeyr, please,” Delina whines as I sit up straight.

  Jumping to my feet, I pivot to them.

  Delina is sprawled on the ground, legs open and on her back, dark eyes wide, and Zaeyr… He’s baring his teeth, his arm on her shoulder over her, eyes wild. They turn to me at once.

  My cheeks redden at the sight. My chest is going to explode from indignation.

  “Aida,” Zaeyr says, dropping his hand from my sister’s shoulder, rising to his full intimidating height. His horns scrap the ceiling, his tail twisting behind him and the sapphire scales on his body twinkling. The sight of him twists my gut.

  Knowing that Delina is scrambling u
p, holding her shirt to her chest, twists me further.

  How dare they?

  And, though paralyzed, I was right here beside them.

  “Don’t!” I snap. “You’ve made your choice. Don’t let me stop you now.”

  The next instant, I’m out the door and running away, my heart unraveling.

  13

  Red Comet Rays

  I run through the village and to my hut, where I hurry to gather my things. I had already been packing for my now-absurd search for a dragon and still have enough to get me safely to Shell Rock, Issa’s tribe down the coast.

  She offered for me to stay there the day she delivered Leith to us, and I didn’t take her up on it. Idiot. I wanted to, but finding a dragon—that horrible hope—had been on my mind. Now, I wish I had left with her days ago.

  I wish it more than anything.

  Pain lances my chest, a cold sting in my veins. I should’ve gone with her when I had the chance. Keeping my tears at bay—Zaeyr and Delina don’t deserve them—I make for the door and through the thick jungle trees.

  Days ago, they were lit up with banana-bee candles for Delina and Leith’s mating celebration.

  There’s branches, broken trees everywhere, some huts are destroyed, the bonfire is in disarray. But my people are all back, cleaning up the mess.

  A twinge of guilt stabs at me, asking me to stay, to deal with my hurt like I always do, to put my tribe first, but my body continues to the lift, hands reaching for the lever that rolls it up.

  Throwing my satchel on it, jumping before it’s even fully to the top, I hear Zaeyr behind me.

  “Aida!” he roars, seeing me. “Do not go down!” He’s a god in fury, like the terrifying dragon he is inside—his long white-blue hair rippling outward—and my hands falter. But the image of him and Delina flashes in my mind and I release the ropes. The last thing I see before the cliff blocks my view is him running toward me. “No!” he yells.

  He’s still at the top when my feet hit the sand. I tie the rope into a knot so he can’t bring it up.

  “Aida!” he screams, his dark voice carrying in the ocean breeze. The lift shakes and rattles as I back up and he tries to make it rise. “You will pay for this!”

  “Aida, stop!” Delina appears on the cliff next to him.

  “To the deep with both of you!” I curse them, picking up my spear and throwing my bag over my shoulder and running down the coast. It’s childish, but it gives me satisfaction. Zaeyr’s voice carries behind me and I tune it out, knowing that if I don’t, I may turn back and allow him to hurt me again.

  Rounding the bend—where the cliff walls that keep the jungle separate from the narrowing beach—I run head first into Leith.

  He falls backward into the grass, dropping a basket of plants. “Oww!”

  “I’m so sorry,” I breathe, flustered, helping him to his feet.

  He eyes me in the dawning cloudy light. “Aida? You’re awake? Delina said you were seriously hurt.”

  My eyes narrow as I catch my breath. “Why are you out here alone?”

  “Delina sent me to get healing supplies to help you,” he says, brushing the sand off his legs. “And I’m not alone. Elae and Jye are with me.” He points to the water where two mermaids watch us. Bright red and yellow tails rise from the water to wave at me.

  “You shouldn’t be alone out here, not even with them. What if something came from the jungle? What if a naga was on the hunt?” All thoughts of Zaeyr and Delina fall from my head for a moment as my mother’s words about duty return.

  “I can take care of myself,” he snaps. “I’m sick of everyone babying me. First Issa, now you? I’m not a child!”

  Startled, my mouth purses. “That’s not—”

  “Treat me like a man.” He shoves the basket of plants at me. “Here, this is for you. Though I don’t think you need it.”

  “Leith, I’m sorry. The tribe—”

  “To waters with the tribes!” he fumes. “I always thought you were better than them, Aida.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  He peers at me, and I remember that, just a month ago, Leith and I were going to be mates. The loss I felt when he was taken away… It blooms with the anger coursing through me now, but instead of envy, love settles instead. Familial love, brotherly love. Leith with his boyish features and wavy shoulder-length hair.

  The way I feel about Leith is nothing like the way I feel about Zaeyr.

  “It’s okay,” he says, forgiving me. “I should get back to Delina anyhow. She’s probably worried about me by now. And you know… you berating me will be nothing in comparison to what I’ll hear if anyone else catches me alone.” He chuckles, but there’s no mirth to it.

  My mouth shuts tight. He doesn’t know. Of course he doesn’t know. Delina betrayed him like Zaeyr betrayed me.

  Waters, I hate my sister more than ever at that moment. Leith doesn’t deserve this.

  “Aida!” My name bellowed on the wind makes me stiffen.

  “What’s that?” Leith startles, pivoting to the voice. “The dragon?”

  I notice the mermaids both look in the direction my name came from. One of them says, “Dragon?” Their gazes narrow, their tails drop back into the water.

  Leith turns to me and gets his answer.

  “Is he the one who hurt you?” he asks, voice darkening, pulling a dagger out from a sheath at his hips.

  “No, he didn’t hurt me,” I tell him. “But I’ve got to go.” I hand the basket back. “Thank you for this, but I won’t need them.” I turn to leave.

  Leith grabs my arm. “Aida, what’s wrong? Where are you going?”

  “What do you mean ‘dragon?’” one of the mermaids calls out to us.

  “Nothing’s wrong. I’m going to Shell Rock for a while.” I tug my arm out of his grip. It’s much easier than I expect, already used to Zaeyr’s strength. Stop thinking of him! My pulse races. Every moment I remain, he gets closer. I back up, prepare to run anew—

  When Leith grabs me by the shoulders and kisses me.

  I drop my satchel.

  His lips move across mine.

  Stunned, again, I do nothing but reel. My body grows cold when his tongue tries to dip between my lips.

  This is wrong. So wrong. I push him away.

  “I always thought you and I would be mated,” he whispers. “I always dreamed it’d be you.”

  I shake my head.

  He continues babbling, but he’s drowned out when my name roars through the air, closer now than ever. “Aida!” Zaeyr yells. But Leith reaches for me again and I step back. The grey morning clouds overhead break and a streak of dappling sunlight hits us.

  “I can protect you from him,” Leith tells me, trying to catch me.

  The blood-red glow of the comet pierces through the sunlight.

  Zaeyr roars, and it sounds like all the thunder in the world booming at once. It shoots straight to my soul. My body floods with heat; my sex gushes. Fear and want rip through me.

  I snatch my bag off the ground and turn away.

  “Aida!” Both Leith and Zaeyr yell as I flee.

  14

  The Chase

  I don’t know how long I’ve been running, but I don’t stop. I only hope the river is close. When the clouds dissipate, the land turns red and gold. The beach becomes rocks, and I’m forced into the jungle. Energized by adrenaline, I keep going, rushing by lounging crocodiles and through barely-formed spiderwebs.

  Every time I consider stopping, I hear feet pounding behind me, the sounds of panting and snarling.

  Zaeyr is close. Nerves zinging, I’m the prey.

  My heart races, my body strains, and I surge forward, and though part of me wants to be caught by him, the hurt inside me prevents me from stopping.

  “Aida!” he shouts my name again and again like a beast. It doesn’t sound human.

  Sweat pours down my flesh.

  And then the jungle river emerges. The brackish estuary appears. Like a beacon, my pa
ce grows faster, seeing my goal.

  If I can just get across it I can lose him. Lose him and think.

  Shell Rock is only several hard hours past the river mouth.

  As I get closer, so does Zaeyr. Keeping my eyes trained on the water, I see Elae and Jye waiting in the river ahead. I don’t have time to question and throw my spear to the side, diving in, ignoring the bestial growl right behind me; the faint touch of fingers slipping through my hair.

  The mermaids grab me and, to my excitement, swim me across the large gape. I’m at the other side within minutes reaching for the shore. But they don’t let me go.

  “Thank you,” I say, trying to pull away. Their hold on me tightens. “What are you doing?”

  “We need the dragon,” Jye hisses.

  “Why?”

  “To pay for his crimes.”

  Crimes?

  Hearing a splash behind us, I twist to see Zaeyr closing the distance. He’s fast. So fast in the water. My mouth falls.

  Makes sense. His tail lashes behind him like a propeller.

  Elae drops her hold on me and lifts a three-pronged weapon, aiming it in Zaeyr’s direction. He stops when he sees it, though his gaze goes straight for me.

  His piercingly light eyes are filled with hunger. A haunting, raw, feverish look that pins me to the spot. His usually pale skin is pink with exertion, blue veins pop from his skin, and everything above water is stiff; his horns are straighter than usual.

  I sense his savagery as fresh heat jolts between us.

  He surges forward despite the weapon, and Elae screams, “Halt dragon! We will give her to you unharmed if you behave!”

  “No,” I stammer, pulling back. Jye holds me firm.

  Zaeyr pauses as the prongs of Elae’s triton stab at his chest. My heart stops.

  “What do you want, fish?” he snaps. He looks crazy and restless.

  If he gets to me, if the mermaids hand me over, I’m doomed.

  “You were once the king of the gulf, the Mermaid’s Gulf,” Elae accuses.

  “What of it?”