Chapter Twenty-Eight
Jucai and I tried three more times that night, only stopping for dinner and for Jucai to tell the Master of Palace Slaves that four of their slaves had been released from their contracts early and were now Jucai’s guests.
Jucai had returned from that task laughing and described the shocked expression of the Master of Palace Slaves to me in great detail.
The mating magic didn't rise again.
When morning came, I wondered if we had imagined it. But every time doubts rose, the memory of that ecstasy would rise as well—a dark soldier set forth to conquer them. And I would also remember the pain.
In none of the stories I'd heard about Dragon matings had there been mention of pain.
Nor had I ever heard of a mating that stopped after it had barely begun.
Was it because of my reluctance? No, surely not.
Many Dragons had been reluctant to find their mates and had not suffered for it.
And why would the Gods punish Jucai for my rejection of their gift?
I hadn't rejected it either, just asked for some time.
And then there was Jucai. His despair over losing our bond cut at me.
I'd never thought to see the Sea King cry.
I understood, of course. We'd been handed something miraculous only to have it snatched away. I was upset about it too. But his tears had been a consolation for me. We hadn’t mated, but at least I knew how much he wanted to be my mate. The magic would return. It had to.
The Gods could not be so cruel.
“Good morning.” Jucai nestled against my back and wedged his arousal beneath my ass.
“Good morning.” I looked over my shoulder at him. “You’re insatiable.”
“I'm sure I'll be worse when we mate.” He pushed between my ass cheeks, his body knowing the way into mine. Then he made a happy rumble. “You're still slick.”
I moaned as he slid into me. “So are you. That nectar is amazing.”
Jucai curved his body to align with mine and began a slow grind, his hand sliding over my hip to take my cock. “I want to be inside you all day.”
“I'll need to eat at some point.”
As if I had summoned breakfast with my words, a knock came at the suite door.
“Enter!” Jucai called out as he continued to thrust. When the sound of the door opening came, he added, “Put it on the table.”
Footsteps approached, and then a male Sea Dragon entered the bedroom. “Jucai?”
And there I was, facing the door, my body on full display while Jucai pumped into me, his hand stroking my cock. I froze. Jucai, intent on me, didn't notice the man at first.
“Well, well, cousin. I see why you're so obsessed with this one. Quite a specimen indeed. And a big cock too!”
Jucai looked up and went from a tender lover to a wild beast in two seconds.
Yanking his cock out of me as if he were unsheathing his sword, Jucai jerked back and then launched himself over me to tackle the intruder.
Jucai's snarls mingled with yips of shock as I yanked the covers over my hip.
Then I realized I was the only one who could stop Jucai from killing the idiot who walked in on us.
So I let go of the sheet, climbed off the bed, and rushed to them.
The poor man was already bleeding.
“Jucai!” I grabbed his shoulder, yanked, and then pushed myself between the men. “Stop! It was an accident!”
Jucai shuddered and then looked down. “Cover yourself!”
He pushed me behind him. Which I thought was ridiculous, since he was just as naked as I, and the last time we'd been in Kansu, he'd wanted nothing more than to fuck me in front of his entire court. What was this sudden need for my modesty?
When I didn't move to obey him, Jucai bared his teeth at me.
“All right! Fuck!” I turned and grabbed my pants from the floor.
Meanwhile, the intruder eased toward the door. “I'm sorry to interrupt you, Your Majesty.”
As I fastened my pants, I realized that Jucai's behavior was in line with a Dragon during their mating period.
Dragons saw other people as threats to their mate during the mating period and often for weeks beyond that.
It took time for the urge to attack anyone looking at your mate to subside.
But we hadn't mated. Had the magic left residue behind, like we'd found on the ship?
Except this time, the residue was inside us.
But if the residue was affecting Jucai, why wasn't it affecting me?
Perhaps because he had shown interest in me, not Jucai, and had called Jucai “cousin.”
“I just came to tell you that four Kaikeyo men have put the court into a tizzy by dining at a table in the hall,” the man shouted as he ran for the door.
“Wait!” Jucai growled.
“Here.” I handed him his pants. “Maybe put these on if you're going to continue this conversation.”
His expression softened. “Thank you.”
“Holy shit!” the man exclaimed, looking back and forth between us. “Have you mated?”
“Not yet,” Jucai said as he pulled on his pants. “But we will be.” He straightened and met the man's gaze. “So keep your eyes off my diplomat.”
“Your diplomat,” I chuckled. “That's cute.”
Jucai raised an eyebrow at me.
I shrugged and pulled on my tunic. “I like it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the man said.
“Um, are you going to introduce us?” I motioned to the other Sea Dragon.
“Nadar, this is my cousin, Lord Shojan. Cousin, you know our visiting diplomat.”
“Is he?” Lord Shojan drawled as he determinedly kept his eyes on Jucai. “Visiting, I mean.”
Jucai looked at me and smiled. “No longer. Nadar will be joining our court.”
“And our dread?”
Jucai looked back at him. “Yes, once we're mated.”
“How are you so certain that he's your mate?”
“We . . .” Jucai frowned and then looked at me.
“If you want to tell him, it might help,” I said. “Maybe others are having the same issue.”
“You're having issues mating?” Shojan's eyes glittered with mischief.
“Not in the way you're implying.” Jucai glanced at me and then said, “We began to mate and then the magic faded. Painfully.”
Shojan sobered. “What? It left? Can it do that? Just change its mind?”
“It's magic. It doesn't have a mind to change,” I said. “I think something is interfering with it.”
“Interfering,” Jucai murmured. “I hadn't thought of that. Shojan, discreetly ask around and see if any other Sea Dragons are going through this.”
“Yes, sire.” Shojan bowed to Jucai, hesitated, and then bowed to me. “King's Mate.”
“Please don't spread such rumors yet,” I said. “We don't want to explain this to the entire court.”
“Yes, of course. I will be the soul of discretion.”
Jucai grimaced and, in a warning tone, said, “Shojan.”
“I will, Your Majesty. I will not even mention you when I ask about possible failed matings.”
“Thank you, Cousin.” Jucai paused. “I'm sorry I attacked you.”
“I take it as a good sign, sire! I've heard Dragons become volatile during mating. This surely means it will happen again and settle the next time.”
“That is kind of you to say, Shojan. And I'll address the dread in the dining hall about the freed slaves.”
“I will notify them of your imminent arrival, Your Majesty.” With that, Shojan bowed and left.
Jucai spun to face me. “Is that true—about mating Dragons being volatile?”
“It is. I was going to tell you after he left.
All on land know to stay far away from a Dragon couple settling a mating bond.
Couples often confine themselves to their rooms during the mating period.
It's safer for everyone. The violent urges can last for weeks after the mating is complete, but they're usually manageable by then.”
Jucai beamed at me.
“You're not concerned?” I asked.
“Concerned? This is proof that we are mates.”
I went to him and slid my arms around him. “Only yesterday, I vowed to Diaya that we couldn't be mates.”
“Diaya!” Jucai snarled.
Yeah, that wasn't the smartest thing to say.
“Hey, focus!” I cupped his face in my hands. “Nothing happened between Diaya and me, and nothing ever will. I only said that because I wanted you to know how much it was on my mind.”
“But you said you'd never mate me. Why?”
I looked away.
“Nadar, tell me. We need to be honest with each other, especially now.”
“We've already spoken about this. I think your world is beautiful, but I will miss mine greatly. I was born in a hot, sunny climate. The heat is in my blood.”
“As my blood runs cold with saltwater. Yes, it will take time for you to adjust. I would go to the surface with you if I could, but—”
“You're the King,” I finished for him.
“Will it ease your mind if I tell you we may visit the surface as often as you wish? We could even purchase a second home there.”
“Truly?”
“Yes.” He rubbed his hands up and down my upper arms soothingly. “Of course, Nadar. I want you to be happy.”
I chuckled. “This is what I mean—only yesterday I couldn't imagine mating you, and now we're talking about buying a home together.” I went still. “I guess I'll have to give up my job.”
“Will you miss that too?” Jucai watched me warily.
“I will, but life is about change. If I mate you, our dreads will be connected as well. That is the height of diplomacy. So I'll be doing my job.”
He chuckled. “And doing it well.” Looking around the room, he added, “I will have your things moved to my tower.”
“I rather like this room.” I looked over at the glass wall and remembered the fish. I needed to thank Duke Daha when I returned to Zaru—whenever that would be. Maybe I'd send him a letter.
Jucai sighed. “I already know you will twist me to your will. Very well, we will keep this room open for visits, but I want your things with mine.”
“Mingling scents.” Grinning, I slipped back into his arms. “Yet another sign of a mating Dragon.”
“A Sea Dragon mated to a Land Dragon.”
“Yes, the bird can live with the fish after all.”
“Only because the bird and the fish are magical.” Jucai kissed me, and it was magical, even without the mating urge rising.