Chapter 12 #2
He pauses, his gaze tracing the dark horizon.
“We thrived under their protection, shielded from the unknown dangers of the ubiquitous forest. Peace lasted for ages. My clan cleaned their scales and tended their eggs. They provided food and safety. But a few among us resented the life of servants. Fed up, they left, settling as far away as the Peaked Mountains.”
He shakes his head, the movement casting shadows across his face.
“For over a century, they caused no disturbances. But a life without purpose is not fulfilling. They missed the dragons’ protection, their magic.
Jealousy festered, and in their narrow minds, they devised a plan to recreate the Dragons’ Sanctuary with new dragons and new rules.
Under the cover of darkness, the First Baba Yaga stole an egg from the Hatching Ground. ”
I feel a chill creep down my spine.
“We lost many. My mother died in that war, the macabre,” he says, swallowing hard before continuing. “One of the ruling dragons, red-scaled Melisa, was killed.”
Goosebumps rise on my arms.
“It had never happened before. Dragons can cross the veil. When bored of living on the continent, they pass into the Gods’ Realm.”
His hands tighten into fists. “The impact of Melisa’s death was catastrophic. The ground around her turned to scorching lava, destroying even the bottoms of the mountains and leaving them suspended in mid-air. The lava still burns hot to this day.”
I shiver at the thought.
“Her mate, Perus, lost in grief and rage, cursed the rebellious clan, severing their connection to magic.” He glances away for a moment, eyes dark with memory. “From what I have heard, Perus still rules.”
“The traitors, desperate for power, sought another connection but could not feel the beating heart of nature. Eventually, they found a benefactor who twisted their magic. They remain cursed even now.”
He exhales slowly, as if releasing a century of grief.
“After the war, the dragons decided to leave the continent.
My clan begged to follow, but they were done with us.
They passed beyond the Mystic Forest, through the waters, and made a home there.
As a last gift, they left us a drop of their power. Hence, our wings.
Nulok’s eyes flick to Bane. “Is it true they are super sensitive?”
Bane tilts his head, silver eyes glinting in the moonlight. “Not as you think. We despise any unwelcome touch. Our wings are the source of our power, the only part of us that resembles dragons. Cut the wings and you cut the power.”
Riven leans forward, resting his chin on his hand. “After they left, we swore to guard the borders. To keep others from coming for the dragons and to leave them in peace. But we were few, the border vast, and the other clan vengeful.” His gaze locks on mine, silver eyes sharp and knowing.
“We turned to Gorok for help. He answered, sending Fae from the spirit world and creating the Beriganders to enforce our borders. Gorok promised a Queen who would rule all creation in Rhodria, commanding the trespassers not to cross. In return, my clan protects the Beriganders from all harm.”
He leans back, shoulders heavy with history. “You all know the rest. We pledged ourselves to your family. In return, you keep the western border safe.”
I knew that story, but hearing it from him, my shoulders dip under the weight of the responsibility.
“I will try my best,” I whisper, needing to be deserving of their loyalty, and of him.
“And I will be here to support you,” Riven offers me the smallest of smiles. In that moment, we share an understanding, a mutual goal.
“We all will,” Bane adds, and I freaking melt.
“They are so freaking cool,” Nulok peeks above the magical orb. I won’t be surprised if Samira is listening from the matching one.
I excuse myself to get ready for the night, but before I can even leave the unspoken border of our campfire, a hand on my arm halts me.
“Hey, Sels, can we have a minute?” Nulok asks. His dimpled smile and freckles make him look impossibly charming.
“Yeah… sure.” I step closer, curious.
“Firstly, I really wanted to apologise for how Samira treated you. Me and her were trying for a baby, she was afraid it wouldn’t work out, and she took her frustration out on you,” he says, running a hand through his copper hair. “She really values you as a friend.”
I cross my arms, my brow furrowed. “It didn’t feel like she valued me at all. And… come on? A pup?”
His smile widens. “Yeah, I hope we will find out in a few days if it worked.”
I shake my head. “I understand now why you are so upset with Jestin.”
He chuckles softly. “I am a little overprotective.”
Funny, that creature of books and magic, overprotective.
“Maybe you should head back before we enter the Mystic Forest?” I suggest, trying to steer him away.
“She is safe among two hundred Hermitage Warriors,” he says, holding my gaze with steady certainty. “And you… I believe in you. I believe in my Queen.”
He bows his head, a gesture as reverent as it is raw.
I recoil.
“Stop!” I tug his arm, keeping him from bowing too low.
“I really believe that you can be a wonderful queen,” he says, smiling, his eyes warm. “I always have.”
“Thanks,” I murmur, cheeks warming.
“Samira believes too.”
“Right,” I mutter, feeling awkward.
He chuckles. “You and her, you are the same when it comes to holding grudges.”
I clear my throat, my bladder ready to explode. “Excuse me, I… need to go,” I say, stepping back.
“Of course,” he says, letting me pass with a nod and that same easy, charming smile.
◆◆◆
The forest stands proudly on the horizon, but I venture only far enough to be hidden beneath the cover of bushes, careful not to trip over the uneven terrain.
I find a secluded place and bend to pee.
The relief of emptying my bladder after drinking so much mead is almost a spiritual experience. Then the steady flow shifts to a single splash.
I cringe at the sight of a clot of blood.
Aidon materialises before me, and I am stupid enough to lock eyes with him, while still bending. He is feral. The blazing, unmistakable hunger. I freeze, my mind as empty as my cheeks are red.
“Finally.” His growl is low and predatory. Despite the brute edge to his features, he doesn’t pounce; he moves with his usual grace and smoothness. Eventually, I just stay bent, feeling the weight of his gaze on me, my ass fully exposed, every nerve alert to the dangerous electricity between us.
A cold breeze on my lady parts hurries me to move, but I am stuck between a primal need to be overpowered and a prideful urge to save my face in case he mocks me.
His answering smirk only adds to the fire on my cheeks.
“That pride of yours needs to be shrunk a few sizes, doesn’t it?
Let me move you, so you don’t smear your piss all over yourself.
” He kneels before me, lifting me from the forest floor and laying me a good distance to the side, away from my puddle.
His left hand brushes against my bare skin, and all I can think about is what if I bleed on his arm.
He sighs loudly, his nostrils expand. As if he is on the verge of losing control.
“Oh darling, I am. You smell like mine.”
“Just do it,” I brace myself, locking my muscles. Turned on and embarrassed by the weird act at the same time. Lying on my back in the swamps, my pussy soaked with piss and blood.
“Just do it? Like a chore?” Aidon shakes his head with a serious expression. “No way, darling, you have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for it.”
Indeed, he doesn’t rush, examining me, and I catch myself holding my breath in anticipation. He gets so close that I can feel his warm breath on my cunt.
As soon as that improper word appears in my mind, I burn with shame.
He chuckles, tightening his grip and locking my legs in place. You have a trigger word. Fascinating.
I am just a few inches from your cunt. He savours the word, and my breath catches in response. Your swollen cunt.
Don’t be embarrassed by the primitiveness of it. All the time his mouth is wandering on the verge of my private parts.
You want to be needed. Want to be used. You want me to make you face the emotions you’ve buried. And I will give you everything you truly need. Starting from ripping into that cunt of yours.
I am stunned. If he doesn’t touch me soon, I will explode from the words alone.
I will give you what you need, even if the things I provide won’t be the things you asked for.
Whatever you fucking mean. Stop talking and suck me.
“Say please,” he says, his breath like a warm breeze on my clitoris.
I thrash against him.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE.
“Out loud,” he corrects, parting my inner lips with his fingers, exposing the only button on my body that matters.
“Please!” I thrust my hips, caring nothing that my voice must echo for miles.
He growls, the vibration sending a shiver through my inner lips. But fucking finally, he puts his mouth on my clit and begins to feast, sucking me dry. Before I can stop myself, my legs wrap tightly around his head. He growls again and grips me harder.
My entire world shrinks to that one button.
He slides fingers inside my walls and pauses, giving me a moment to adjust to the stretch.
“You took three fingers like a very good little Queen.” He withdraws them almost all the way, then pushes back, hitting the top of my inner wall, while his blessed mouth feasts on me.
He fans his fingers, coaxing me open. “You need to stretch that inner muscle, darling.”
I moan, throwing my head back.
More…
Aidon chuckles and obliges, changing the rhythm. The blissful release hits, and I scream again and again. When I finally collapse, drained, he pulls his fingers out…
I shrink beneath him, shaking, like I need a century of recovery after that orgasm. Yet he doesn’t give me the mercy of stopping.
I will take the power I bargained for now.
I gasp as I feel something utterly different enters me. Soft. Tongue.
I thrust my hips again, and he grabs my glutes, holding me midair as he literally sucks me dry from the inside out. When I feel him on my cervix, almost entering my womb, my eyes bulge from my head, and my heart feels like it might jump out of my ribcage.
You need to cooperate. Push, he says into my mind, and I do, my body surrendering, wide open. His tongue shapeshifts, drawing my power from me as if through a straw.
Oh my… I’m fucking dead. It was…
It was a pleasure, he murmurs, withdrawing his tongue-straw and pressing the tiniest of kisses to my inner lips. I’m thrashing like a feral unicorn from overstimulation.
“Next time, I want to try that cunt of yours without the refreshment potion.”
I giggle while he carries me to the campsite. My legs are jelly. It is so sweet of him. If he was that good at licking my blood, I don’t want to know how good he is with his… sword.
You are sweet. His expression softens for a moment, then the usual mischief returns. Or maybe not. You weren’t sweet. I’ve never tasted anything so… spectacular.
I burst out laughing. “Stop shitting me!”
Aidon looks at me with something surprisingly like awe and relief, but before I can ask him why, Riven’s formal question breaks the moment as we enter our camp. “Where were you?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Jestin’s voice has a sharp edge to it. Is he mocking me?
“Oh.” Riven’s reply is short but loaded.
I pivot in Aidon’s arms to face him, but he’s nowhere to be seen. Hearing the furious beating of wings, I look up to see his dark figure tearing away from us at unexpected speed.
“What the hell was that?” I glance from Aidon to Jestin. The latter doesn’t say anything; instead, he studies the grip Aidon has on me.
My cheeks burn, but I refuse to be embarrassed. I am a free female.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Aidon parrots Jestin, nudging my head with his chin.
“I was not trained in the male hormones; I always assumed they were purely a female thing.”
Aidon gently lowers me onto the bedroll and takes the spot behind me. I take being a small spoon as a very serious matter and snuggle comfortably into his… length.
A giggle escapes my mouth.
He leans on his elbow and whispers into my ear, while blowing a warm breath. “If you do that again, I will give you what you want, little minx.”
I smile, happy to do so, fighting the heaviness of my eyelids, but before I call it a night and dare Aidon to do what he promised, I take a final assessing look around, and my gaze lands on Jestin, sitting across the fire from us.
His stare is so full of animosity that I instinctively start to rise, but Aidon’s hand holds me down.
“Let her sleep, Sandbox. This is not a competition.” Aidon says from behind me.
“We can make it into a competition if you want. I enjoy being satisfied,” I joke, shooting Jestin a dirty look. Then my mind goes into the specifics of this arrangement.
Aren’t you moving too fast, little minx? We didn’t even plan our first date yet, and you want me and his length to be separated only by that delicious inner wall of yours?
I say and think nothing, as Aidon snuggles me harder and I watch as Jestin’s brow raises and his usual half-smile finally enters his face. The warm feeling comes back to my stomach.
“Is it the vision of being pleasured by us two, or an action between me and the Simon, that makes you blush like a sweet virgin?”
“Both,” I blurt out; more childish than seductive. But when I see his grin in response, I chicken out and quickly add, “I like it when you smile. Goodnight!”
I curl into the covers, faking sleep, until exhaustion drags me into the Dreamworld.