Vykor Page 8

  A few minutes later her friend’s mates came over to join them, both males staking very public claims to their women. Jet had his arm across Hanna’s shoulders, and the big redheaded Romaki stood behind Megan with his arms wrapped around her waist. It didn’t take long for her to realize that she wasn’t the only one distracted by the touch of her mate. It made sense—both species underwent a kind of mating fever after finding their matches.

  It still surprised her that they’d all found their mates at the same time, but she was starting to suspect that the Pyrosian and Romaki Gods had a wicked sense of timing, and they seemed more than willing to work together.

  Vykor seemed to sense her thoughts, lowering his head to brush a kiss to her lips. “It’s time, razdi.”

  As if on cue, Hanna blushed and Megan nodded.

  “We should—” Hanna said.

  “I need to go with Vykor,” Lily murmured, embarrassed by the need she heard in her voice.

  Megan nodded in agreement. “Karos and I should go, too.”

  “But we’re coming back, right?” Lily wanted to be alone with Vykor, but not forever. She had no idea what all these changes meant, but she wouldn’t leave her friends. They were too important to her.

  “Of course,” Hanna said, but Lily caught an undertone of uncertainty. Hanna didn’t know what would happen, either.

  Lily blew out a breath and snuggled deeper into Vykor’s arms. She’d worry about that later. Right now, they all needed time alone.

  It only took a few minutes to get things organized. Keth and Eva, the couple who ran the Embassy, promised to take care of Cupcake. They were all given communicators, and Megan retrieved the charm from Cupcake’s collar and put it back on Lily’s bracelet. “I’m not losing you again.”

  “Not ever,” she agreed.

  Karos and Vykor were joking with each other, but when Karos threatened to tie his tail in a knot, Vykor snapped a warning that made everyone glance up in alarm. He sucked in a deep breath and apologized. “Sorry, it’s hard to think straight right now.”

  She knew how he felt, but the outburst of anger still surprised her. He’d told her Karos was a friend. Was this what he’d be like now that his dragon had manifested?

  The two dragons discussed magical training, and Karos promised to teach Vykor what he could on the flight, with more training once they got back – for all the new dragons. It took her a moment to remember that she was one of them.

  Then she caught on to the rest of the conversation and quailed. “We’re flying?” She didn’t have any of her travel pills with her. Throwing up on her new mate didn’t seem like a great way to start what was basically their honeymoon.

  Megan winked and laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m pretty sure dragons don’t get airsick.”

  She really hoped her friend was right.

  She watched in awe as Karos, Megan, and finally Vykor all shifted to their dragon forms. They were beautiful. Karos and Megan were both as big as a city bus and covered with deep crimson scales. They stood side by side, almost identical save for the fact Megan was smaller than her mate and her hide was free of scars.

  Vykor stood nearby. In her mind, he was bigger than Karos, though she might be a little biased. She also thought he was the most awe-inspiring of the three. His scales were the deep purple and blue of storm clouds, his talons were all as big as her forearm, and his teeth looked like they could tear through a tank. Her boyfriend was seriously badass.

  Vykor lowered his head until his muzzle was right in front of her, and she reached out a hand to stroke him. “You’re gorgeous in this form. I know you can’t talk right now, but when you can, you’re going to have to explain to me why you’re purple.”

  Jet laughed. “He doesn’t know either. It was a surprise to us all.”

  “You’ll have to tell me what colour you turn out to be. Stay in touch!” Hanna called.

  She started to answer, but all that came out was a squawk of surprise as a mass of blankets appeared from thin air, swaddling her in fluffy warmth. Before she could react, she went soaring into the air and landed firmly on Vykor’s back, settled between two of the ridges that rose along his spine.

  “Next time, warn me!” She gave the side of his neck a playful slap. “And thank you for the extra blankets.”

  The massive beast rumbled in acknowledgement, sending a low thrum of vibration through her and triggering another tumult of indecent thoughts. She snuggled deeper into her blankets and hoped no one noticed her flaming cheeks. The rux didn’t care what form Vykor was in, he was still her mate, and if she didn’t have him soon, she was going to lose her mind.

  That was the main reason they needed to go so soon after being reunited. The others had consummated their matings, but she and Vykor hadn’t. Karos had suggested their courtship had happened slower because Vykor’s dragon hadn’t been awake at first. It had given them a few precious hours to get to know each other, but their time was up.

  She looked across the rain-dampened ground to where Hanna stood with Jet. She couldn’t imagine how the two of them had managed it. From what’d heard, they hadn’t even been in the same cell.

  “I’m learning far too much about my boss’ sex life this trip,” she muttered to herself, then settled herself more firmly onto Vykor’s back and patted his neck. “Ready when you are.”

  He spread his wings and leapt into the morning air with a bugling cry that echoed off buildings and sent every seagull in the area bolting for cover. It wasn’t until they were airborne that it occurred to her this was his first flight. She closed her eyes, gripped the neck ridge in front of her, and called out “I hope you know what you’re doing. I heard what happened to Megan on her first landing!”

  All three dragons rumbled in amusement, filling the sky around her with a sound like distant thunder.

  Sure, it was funny to them. They had wings.

  Chapter Eight

  Vykor was surprised to discover that flying was harder than using magic. Magic was more instinctive for him, probably because of all the time he’d spent practicing as a child, desperately hoping his dragon would manifest despite what the priests believed.

  Flying, though? There was no way to prepare his mind or his body for that. Not that his body was really his own at the moment. His dragon form was entirely new to him, and while he could have allowed the dragon to take control for this flight, Karos had warned him that wasn’t a good idea. If he let the beast become too dominant, they’d struggle to find a balance later. Especially now, while he was in the thrall of the rux, his dragon, which represented the more primal side of his nature, would be more difficult to control.

  He was angry, too. Enraged at the idea that he’d been lied to all these years. He wanted to scream at the priests and at the Gods themselves for what he’d gone through. The only reason he didn’t give in to his fury was the female who sat on his back. Lily was the touchstone that kept him sane and focused. He wouldn’t risk hurting or scaring her. She might be a Romaki now, but while dragons were hard to harm and even harder to kill, they could still feel pain. He would never do that to her. She was the only good thing the Gods had ever allowed him, and he intended to love and cherish her every day for the rest of his life.

  Karos spoke to him telepathically while they flew, instructing him on flight, magic, and how to control the beast that was now part of him. They talked about what his appearance meant, too, and the fact that Vykor had the magic of both the Snow and Fire clans.

  “I don’t understand why the Gods did this to me.” The telepathic link between Romaki in their dragon form was another element of Romaki life that he’d been denied, but he was grateful to have it now, as well as Karos’ counsel.

  “I’m no priest, but I think it’s a sign of approval of all we’ve done. Prince Radek found his mate here, and now we have, too. More so, you’ve become something our species has never seen. This will change everything, Vykor.”

  “So, you’re suggesting that first the Gods made me su
ffer, and now they’re making up for it?” Vykor huffed and a spurt of flame erupted from his mouth.

  “I did mention I’m not a priest, didn’t I?” Karos said calmly. “I don’t know what the Gods were doing. I do know you’re angry, but now is not the time for it. You’re breathing fire just thinking about this. Let it go and focus on your mate, instead.”

  He went through the breathing technique he’d been taught as a child, and his anger cooled. His dragon wasn’t happy about it, but after a moment’s struggle, the beast stopped resisting.

  “Free now. Free always,” the dragon muttered within his mind.

  “Always.” He had no intention of locking his dragon away ever again. Why would he?

  It was difficult to focus on Karos’ instructions and advice, but he managed. Even after they parted ways, Karos kept in contact until they finally flew out of range of the mind link.

  Vykor continued flying until he found the perfect location - a snow-covered valley deep in the coastal mountains. There was a small, frozen lake and a stretch of open ground surrounded by a thick forest of evergreens, their branches laden with snow.

  “It’s beautiful!” Lily called as he banked and started a slow, careful descent.

  He had to agree with her. The land out here was breathtaking. He’d seen the mountains from a distance, their deep blue peaks capped with snow, but from his new vantage point they were even more amazing. Vast forests rolled across the foothills like a carpet that shifted slowly from deep green to crisp white as they rose above the treeline. The sea was a barely visible line of green and grey at the horizon, vanishing completely as he spiralled toward the ground.

  Lily stayed silent as he lined up his approach, but he could feel her tension, the way her legs clamped tight against his body. He didn’t want to screw this up, so he went against Karos’ advice and allowed his dragon to take control. It was the right decision. They landed with minimal problems, and Lily uttered a victory cry once they were safely on the ground.

  He wasted no time celebrating. He still had a bower to create, and a mate to claim.

  Lily was still taking in the beauty of the spot Vykor had chosen for their temporary home when her mate shifted forms. It was difficult for her to wrap her head around the fact that he was both the man and the dragon, but the rux wouldn’t let her dwell on the point for long. Instead, her attention was caught by the fact he hadn’t bothered conjuring clothing. He simply stood in the thigh-deep snow and started chanting softly, his hands weaving patterns in the air.

  It was her first chance to see him naked, and he looked even better than she’d imagined. He was fit, lean, and Hollywood levels of handsome. Broad shoulders that tapered to a trim waist, strong arms, powerful thighs, and an ass that should probably be declared a national treasure. Not to mention his erection…hard and thick and rising to the sky, just begging for her attention.

  Lust overrode her mind and she walked through the heavy snow to reach him. There were only a few feet between them, but it was too far. She needed to touch him. To taste his mouth and… Whoa. She stopped herself a scant inch before she made contact with him. He needed to focus on what he was doing. Who knew what might happen if she distracted him at the wrong moment during the spell? Magic was something she didn’t understand. Not yet, anyway.

  She tore her gaze away from her soon-to-be lover and watched what he was creating, instead.

  He was facing the lake, drawing up both ice and snow from their surroundings to form a swirling mass that expanded until it was the size of a house. Which, she reminded herself with amusement, was exactly what he was making.

  The structure started to form. The shape familiar even if the materials were like nothing she’d ever seen. The walls came first. Shimmering blue-white blocks shot through with shifting threads of red and gold, like flames captured inside ice.

  The roof came next, an A-frame design steep enough to shed any snow that might fall, those same impossible frozen flames dancing across the surface.

  A door appeared in the front, a single block of ice with a dragon decorating it, the image raised from the surface and tinted the same stormy purple as Vykor’s scales.

  She didn’t speak until Vykor lowered his arms and turned back to take her hand. “This is ours?” she asked.

  “This is for you, sadina. A symbol of my devotion to you, proof of my intent to love, protect, and cherish you for the rest of our lives.” He squeezed her hand and his voice grew thick with emotion. “I never thought I’d be able to do this. Even if I found a mate, I had no magic…not until I found you.”

  He smiled down at her, his expression a mix of wonder and adoration that took her breath away. “You brought magic into my life, Lily Ashton. You are a gift without price.”

  “I feel the same way about you, my sodono. This time yesterday, my life was utterly ordinary. Today, I’ve been rescued from imprisonment, healed from my wounds, seen real magic being cast…” She smiled up at him, setting aside all her worries for now. “And fallen head over heels with a dragon.”

  He uttered a toe-curlingly sexy growl, swept her into his arms, and carried her through the snow to the cabin, and for the first time in her life, she didn’t worry about what would come next. There would be no fear, no flinching, no embarrassment over her scars. She didn’t know what their future would look like, but she did know this: her fate, and her future, lay with him.

  She didn’t get to see much as Vykor carried her inside their bower. The air was warm, what furnishings she saw were draped in thick fabrics much like the clothing she wore, and the entire space was lit by the flames trapped within the walls. There was a table set for two, a rock grotto filled with steaming water that somehow didn’t melt the ice wall behind it, and a bed so large it would have taken up half of her apartment back in Toronto.

  He strode partway to the bed, then stopped, pivoted, and made straight for the bathing grotto instead. “You said you wanted a long, hot shower. How about a bath, instead?”

  “That depends. Are you joining me?”

  “I’m not leaving your side, razdi. Now, or ever again.” The rough tone of his voice sent a thrill down her spine, and heat pooled deep in her womb.

  “Then a bath sounds wonderful.”

  His next kiss was different. There was an urgency to it, a hunger that mirrored her own. Their need was raw, rough, and carnal, and she gave herself over to it without hesitation. He kissed her hard on the mouth and then raised her higher to blaze a path down her throat to the rise of her breasts. He sucked one sensitive nipple into his mouth, using his tongue to flick the hardened nub and send sparks racing through her body, flooding every cell and fibre with need.

  He stepped over the edge of the bath without raising his head, and sank into the steaming water with a low groan of pleasure.

  She knew exactly how he felt. The pleasure of the water was indescribable, the heat chasing the chill from her bones.

  Once he was settled, he drew her into his lap, turning her so she faced him, her legs straddling his. He cupped one of her breasts in his palm, using his thumb to toy with her nipple until she was breathless, her head thrown back, eyes closed as she gave herself over to the pleasure of it all.

  The rux made it easy to let go, to forget the trials and hardships of the day. None of her usual worries affected her, either. She didn’t worry about her scars, didn’t flinch when he touched her, didn’t freeze when the thick head of his cock pressed against the seam of her pussy. She was too far gone to care about anything but him, and it was the most freeing thing in the world.

  She moaned and writhed in delight as his mouth dropped to her breast again. This time, he let one of his fangs graze the tender flesh and it sent a zing of pure pleasure straight to her already throbbing clit. She buried her hands in his hair and pulled him closer, grinding their bodies together as the hot water washed over them like a sensual caress.

  When it was almost too much to bear, she reached between them and wrapped her hand around the
hard length of his cock. Hard ridges lined the shaft, which was so thick her fingers could barely span it. She moved her hand up and down his length with slow, deliberate movements, measuring him inch by inch, learning the feel of him as he continued to feast on her breasts.

  His groans filled the air as he thrust his cock into her hand. Every rock of his hips sent water sloshing against the rocky edge of the pool. He played with her breasts, using his fingers and tongue to bring her to the verge of orgasm without letting her cross over.

  “Vykor. I...I need--” she stammered, unsure how to ask for what she wanted.

  He lifted his head and gave her a wicked smile that made her heart pound even faster. “More?”

  “Yes. God, yes.”

  “Leave the Gods out of this,” he muttered before sealing her mouth with his in a kiss so hot she thought the water around them might start to boil.

  He lifted her again, setting her on a level shelf of rock she swore hadn’t existed a moment ago. She was almost completely out of the water, now, and he moved between her legs, parting them with gentle but insistent pressure.

  “Let me give you what you need.”

  She nodded, suddenly aware of how exposed she was, and for a moment her doubts came back. What did he see when he looked at her? Had he noticed the scars that marked her body, silent reminders of a childhood full of darkness and violence?

  She moved a hand, covering one of the scars on her stomach, but he moved it away gently. Then, he raked his gaze over her, touching the circular scar left by one of her father’s cigarettes, the one she’d tried to hide. “Your scars are a testament to your strength, sadina. They are part of you. And you are beautiful.”

  Her doubts vanished, seared away by the heat in his voice and the fires that burned in his eyes. He moved into the space between her thighs and lowered his head to press an open-mouthed kiss to the soft flesh of her inner thigh. His beard was rough against her skin, an erotic contrast to the gentle touch of his mouth.