A Tale Of Two Dragons (10 page)

“Why did you touch me? To be kind?”

“Kind?” He thought about that word for a moment before admitting, “Braith, I’m not kind.”

“You’ve been kind to me.”

“I like you.”

“Me? I thought royals like Lady Katarina were more to your taste, Addolgar.”

They usually were. But there was just something about Braith. . . .

Addolgar took a risk and reached his hand over again, gently pushing stray blue hairs out of her eyes. “The more time I spend with you, Braith, the more I like you.”

“I’m not really likeable.”

“Who told you that?”

She shrugged. “Everyone. But I don’t need anyone to feel sorry for me about that.”

“Braith, no one as strong as you gets anyone’s pity. And you certainly don’t have mine.”

“Then what is it?”

“I’m drawn to you, Braith of the Darkness. You make my scales itch.”

Her eyes grew wide. She no longer had that hard-to-read expression; instead she just looked overwhelmed. “
I
do?”

“There’s just something about you.” He placed his hands on the bed, then pulled them closer so that she wouldn’t feel threatened. “But that’s just how I feel. You don’t have to feel the same way. I know what I am.”

“What you are?”

“A Cadwaladr. For some we’re a challenge. For others, we’re to be avoided like the plague. I understand both sides.”

“I envy you your family, Addolgar. Their loyalty to each other is something to be cherished.”

“I do. But I also understand how we must appear to outsiders.”

“None of that means anything to me,” she said.

“I know. You’re all about honor and loyalty.”

“It’s how my mother taught me. It meant the world to her and it means the world to me.” She ran her hand through her hair and Addolgar had to bury his fingers in the fur covering so that he didn’t do the same. “I keep thinking about what she’d tell me. Right now. She was a direct dragoness. Not like most royals at all.”

“And what would she tell you?”

“I think she’d tell me to remember my bloodline. My
Penarddun
bloodline. She didn’t think much of my father’s.” Her lips suddenly curled into a small smile. “And she’d remind me of the strength in that bloodline. The confidence.”

Her head dropped forward and then Braith was pushing herself away from the bed and easily getting to her feet. She stepped back and, with a deep breath, she used both hands to push her hair off her face and behind her back.

Braith stood there, her gaze on Addolgar’s—and that’s when he understood what this was. What she was risking. For him.

Dragons were never more vulnerable than when they were human, except when they first hatched. Humans had no scales, no claws, no spiked tail, no flame. All they had were their ability to run fast, their interesting human form, and their devious minds. Otherwise, they were as weak and frail as rabbits.

Yet here Braith was, at her most vulnerable, and she was leaving herself open—for him.

Addolgar stood, ready to move to her side, to take her gently in his arms and softly tell her how beautiful she was and—

“Oooof !” he barely managed as Braith suddenly ran over the bed and threw herself into Addolgar’s arms.

“Too eager?” she asked, grimacing as he quickly tightened his arms around her so that she didn’t fall to the floor. Then again, the way she had her legs around his waist and her arms around his shoulders, she could probably just keep herself up there without his help.

“I like eager,” he admitted.

“I just . . . it’s just . . .” She gazed down at him, and Addolgar didn’t know exactly what to make of this current expression.

“Braith, it’s okay if—”

That’s when she kissed him. Hard. Her arms moving to his neck and wrapping tight, her lips against his, her tongue pressing into his mouth.

It startled Addolgar at first. He usually had to work harder than this. Much harder. Unlike his father, he didn’t have females throwing themselves at him. And yet . . . that’s exactly what Braith had done. She’d thrown all the usual centaur shit away, all the promises and lies and ridiculousness, and she’d just . . . given herself to him. Freely. And with hunger.

Making him perhaps the happiest dragon in the land.

Chapter 12

Addolgar walked them over to the bed, turned, and dropped back against it, Braith still wrapped around him like a shameless snake.

But she couldn’t help herself. He was so handsome and charming and a tad goofy that she couldn’t resist him just standing there . . . naked. Wonderfully, wonderfully naked.

She’d never really found human bodies interesting one way or the other—until she’d seen Addolgar as human. Human and naked. He should always be naked. Just running around naked. Naked, naked, naked!

And now she had that perfect human
naked
body beneath her and, in a moment, on top of her as Addolgar flipped her and himself over.

Their kiss seemed to go on forever and she enjoyed every second of it. Every second of his taste, the feel of his tongue, the stroke of his fingers against her human skin.

She heard groaning and she realized it was her!

It was rather hard to believe that Braith of the Darkness, who was fazed by little, was groaning at the touch of . . . anyone. But it felt so good.

Addolgar pulled out of their kiss so he could lick and nibble her neck.

That drove her crazy, made her legs tighten around his waist.

His hands on her sides, he kissed his way down her throat, across her shoulder, down to her breast. His tongue curled around her nipple, tugged. She was grateful Addolgar’s heavy body was on top of her or she would have flipped off the bed. He tugged again and Braith dug her fingers into his shoulders and back. Her human fingers had no long nails, which was good because she would have torn the weak, human flesh from him.

After tormenting her other breast, he began kissing his way farther down. Braith raised her head, briefly wondered where he was go—oh. Oh! He was going there.

She reached up for the headboard as Addolgar’s tongue slipped inside her. Unfortunately, there was no headboard to grab so Braith flattened her hands against the wall and bit down on her lip, barely remembering there were others in the building trying to sleep. But she couldn’t stop the groans or the growls as Addolgar held on to her hips and explored her pussy with what she considered wild abandon.

Braith’s eyes crossed and her toes curled. She didn’t think she could take much more. Then the tip of Addolgar’s tongue circled her clit, taking her higher and higher until he suddenly gripped it between his lips and suckled.

Braith exploded, her body shaking, her hands tearing at the wall behind her. She cried out even though she tried not to, and fell back on the bed, barely able to breathe.

When she finally opened her eyes, Addolgar was above her, his arms braced on either side of her. He studied her for a long minute, his gaze moving over her face, until he asked with all sincerity, “Are you all right?”

She brought her hands up to clasp either side of his face and pressed her forehead against his chin. That’s when she realized her human body was no longer cold; instead she was sweating.

“I’d be much better,” she admitted, “with you inside me.”

Addolgar slid his hands down and behind Braith’s knees. He lifted her legs up and spread them before pressing his cock against her and slowly pushing it inside her.

Braith gasped out, her smile wide. A smile he realized he rarely saw from her. But she was smiling now and nothing felt better.

At least that’s what he thought until he went in deeper and Braith tightened down on his cock. Now he gasped, his entire body shuddering.

“Gods, female,” he laughed. He kissed her. Once. Twice. “You feel incredible, Braith. Amazing.”

She kissed his neck, shoulders. “So do you. So good.”

He pulled out, drove back in. They both groaned, holding on to each other.

“What are you doing to me?” he asked, confused.

“What are you talking about?” Braith arched into him. “I’m not doing anything.”

He drove in again and it felt better than the last time. Gods, he didn’t care what she was doing as long as she didn’t stop doing it. He couldn’t even talk anymore; his body taking over.

Addolgar raised himself up, again bracing his arms on either side of Braith, and then he powered into her. He knew the female’s strength now. Understood she was physically strong. So he didn’t hold back. He just took her as he wanted to and the smile that lit up her face told him it was the right choice.

Thank the gods, because he wasn’t sure he could stop. If nothing else, he knew he didn’t
want
to stop. Between her sweet moans and the way her body easily met him thrust for thrust, Addolgar was in heaven.

Braith suddenly gasped, her hands slapping hard against his shoulders. Her back arched and she came, beautifully, her entire body tightening around him. When her pussy clamped down on his cock, Addolgar came with her, his head thrown back, his hands gripping the fur covering beneath her.

When she’d wrung him dry, he fell off to the side, crashing next to her on the bed. They lay there, staring up at the ceiling and panting until at the same time, they looked at each other. They stared for a long moment, then looked back at the ceiling and continued panting.

 

 

The door opened and Addolgar came in with one hand holding the fur covering around his waist and the other holding a tray of bread, meat, and cheese.

“Thank the gods,” Braith sighed out, reaching for the tray. “I’m starving!”

“Aye. So am I.”

She placed the tray on the bed and Addolgar brought over the water jug and two chalices. He sat down across from her, with the tray between them, and they dove into the food as if they hadn’t eaten for days. They mostly ate in silence—except for the grunts—until they’d finished off everything.

Braith picked up a few remaining crumbs with her finger and sucked them off, sighing in satisfaction.

“Cheese and bread has never tasted so good.”

“Don’t forget the meat,” Addolgar reminded her.

Grinning, Braith teased, “Didn’t get much of that after you got your hands on it.”

“I was hungry . . . and did most of the work.”

Braith laughed outright at that. “If you do say so yourself.”

Addolgar moved the empty tray, water jug, and chalices onto the floor. Then he stretched out on the bed and rested his head in Braith’s lap.

“You don’t smile,” he suddenly stated.

“What?”

“You don’t smile. Not often.” He took hold of her hand and placed it on his head. That’s how she knew he wanted her to stroke his hair. Since he’d taken such good care of her . . . how could she turn him down?

“I guess I don’t,” she admitted while slowly dragging her fingers through his lovely silver hair. “Never thought about it much.”

“You should smile.”

“Why?”

“It makes you look happy. I enjoy seeing you happy.”

Braith could say in all honestly that no one had ever said that to her. Her father could not have cared less if she were happy and had told her as much. Which, coming soon after her mother’s death, had most likely been when she’d stopped smiling.

“What are you missing, Braith?”

She really had no idea where this conversation was going. “Missing? I’m not missing anything.”

“You are. I can tell. We need to find out what that is so you can have it and be happy.” He grinned at her. “I enjoy seeing you happy.”

“You do? Then kiss me,” she ordered, leaning down, her mouth hovering over his, “and I can promise you without a doubt that I’ll be as happy as you want me to be.”

Chapter 13

Braith awoke in Addolgar’s arms. They were facing each other, her forehead pressed against his, her hands resting against his shoulders.

She felt unbelievably comfortable, in a way she normally didn’t feel comfortable unless she was alone in her cave. So much so, she didn’t want to get up. She didn’t want to face the day and the challenge of hunting down her father. But as soon as the suns peeked through the wooden slats of the window shutters, Addolgar’s eyes opened.

A true soldier.

Addolgar saw her eyes on him and he instantly smiled in a smooth, easy way that told her it was genuine. He was glad to see her. Glad to have her here. The realization warmed her more than she could have thought.

“Good morn to you,” he murmured, his low voice rolling seductively down her spine.

“Good morn.”

“We have to get up.”

“I know.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Me either,” she agreed. “But we have to, don’t we?”

“Think of it this way . . . we finish this quickly, and then we can go to my cave and spend as much time rolling around my floor as we like.”

“Your cave?”

“Or we can go to yours. Although mine is surprisingly nice. My brother Rhys decorated it.”

“Rhys? Rhys the
Hammer
decorated your cave?”

“He has a skill. The family tries not to judge.”

“So,” she couldn’t help but ask, “after this is all over, you and I—”

“Will be rolling around my or your cave floor. Was I not clear?”

Braith laughed. “No, no. You were quite clear.”

“You still look happy.”

“I am.” She hugged him. “I’m very happy.”

His arms tightened around her and he whispered into her neck, “Then let’s go track down that bastard father of yours and get this done with.”

 

 

They traveled for nearly three days, pushing their way toward the border. They took only short breaks for food and quick naps. Thankfully, the wind was on their side, helping them move fast.

Addolgar would admit—if he’d been asked—that his reasons for all this were quite selfish. Unlike his brother Bercelak, Addolgar didn’t give his all to the Queen. He gave his all to the battle. So finding a snotty-nosed traitor and returning him for whatever punishment the Queen had planned really didn’t interest him much. He was a warrior, not a pet dog to run errands.

But for Addolgar, this wasn’t about the Queen or her throne or anything but Braith. And he couldn’t help but feel that once her father was captured and handed over, things might change for her. Because right now, it seemed as if something was missing. He couldn’t explain why he felt this way. Couldn’t explain why he knew that whatever was missing had nothing to do
with
her father but what her father was keeping from her. Her true freedom, perhaps? Addolgar didn’t know, but he’d always trusted his instincts. Those instincts kept him alive in battle and relatively unharmed when home with his father. So he wouldn’t doubt them now. Instead, he’d follow them and get this job done, so he could focus on Braith and what she needed.

Addolgar simply couldn’t help himself. He wanted her to be happy. Whether she spent another second with him when this was all done or went off on her merry way without him, he wanted to know that wherever she was, she was happy. And right now, as much as he was sure she enjoyed her time with him, she was far from truly happy.

The suns had set and they’d just passed the border that separated the Southlands from the Outer Plains. He turned and dived, landing outside a mountain that Brigida had told him about. Braith landed beside him and they walked until he found the entrance. A pass that cut right through the heart of the mountain.

Addolgar stopped Braith before she could go farther. “Take this,” he said, handing her his sword.

She turned the weapon over in her claws. “Don’t you need this?”

“I have me ax and hammer. Don’t need much more than that in a fight.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know this weapon, Addolgar.”

“That’s all right.” He took the weapon back from her and proceeded to wrap the leather belt around her waist. The scabbard hung at her side and she smiled up at him. “Feels good, doesn’t it?” he asked.

“It does. Doesn’t make me a soldier, though.”

“We’ll see,” he murmured, nodding. “Ready then?”

“Ready.”

Together, they flew through the mountain passage and the farther they went, the more Braith realized that Brigida was right. Her father had come this way. Recently. Braith could scent him.

When they neared the end of that passage, and the night sky was easy to see in the distance, Braith landed, with Addolgar right behind her. He placed one raised silver claw to his snout and Braith nodded.

Moving silently, they headed down the last of the passage until they reached a natural ledge jutting from the mountain. They both eased to their bellies, drew their wings in tight, and crawled to the end of the ledge. They peeked over the side and that’s when Braith saw her father, along with both of her brothers. Lady Katarina stood next to Emyr and looked upset, busy wringing her claws while Braith’s father talked to a dragon she did not recognize. A purple dragon. A Lightning.

Braith turned her head to see if Addolgar had realized what this situation had just become when a flash of steel from the corner of her eye caught her attention. But before she could scream a word of warning, the tip of the spear rammed into the ankle of Addolgar’s back claw. Blood gushed from the wound and Braith expected to hear a scream of pain from the dragon, but all Addolgar did was grit his fangs and turn murderous, glowering eyes on his attacker.

There were two Lightnings standing behind them with grins on their faces. But those grins faded when they saw Addolgar’s expression, and then watched the silver dragon stand to his full height, the spear still jutting from his back leg.

Addolgar grabbed the one who’d attacked him by the snout and easily shoved him to his knees and held him there. The other Lightning raised his own spear to fight Addolgar, but Braith caught the weapon. The Lightning tried to rip the spear from her grip, but she held on. She wouldn’t let them hurt Addolgar any more than they already had. The Lightning pulled again and, annoyed, Braith tore the weapon from his grasp. She pointed the spear at his face.

“You’re no warrior,” the Lightning snarled at her.

“I know,” Braith replied before she rammed the spear through the Lightning’s eye. Unlike Addolgar, he did scream.

Addolgar, taking her cue, gripped the other Lightning’s jaws and yanked them apart and kept yanking until the bottom part tore away from the Lightning’s face. He dropped the gurgling but dying dragon to the ground, and Braith turned to where she’d last seen her father. He still stood there even as her brothers and the other Lightning dragged Lady Katarina away.

“Treacherous female,” Emyr hissed.

And, in reply, Braith lifted two talons and flicked them at her father.

Braith’s brother Meical returned to grab hold of their father’s forearm and pull him away. They’d hit the skies soon.

“Go,” Addolgar told her. “Go after them.”

Braith shook her head and faced Addolgar. “I’ll not leave you.”

“Braith—”

“I’ll not leave you. In fact”—she crouched down and looked at the spear jutting from his leg—“I need to get you to a healer before you bleed to death. I think an artery was hit, Addolgar.”

“But your father—”

“Can wait to face his death. You’re more important right now.”

Addolgar sighed. “Gods-dammit.”

“What?”

“The old bastard.”

“My father,” she assumed as she put Addolgar’s forearm over her shoulder and helped him step over the bodies of the Lightnings.

“No,” Addolgar corrected. “
Mine!
The old bastard was right. I need to pay attention to what’s going on around me at all times. I
can’t
let a good set of legs and a pretty smile distract me.”

“Yes, yes,” Braith complained. “Katarina has very nice legs.”

“I don’t mean Katarina, brat. I’m talking about
you
.”

“Oh.” Braith worked hard not to smile, considering the current situation they were in. “Well, then . . . we definitely have to get you to a healer so that I can continue to enjoy these sorts of compliments.”

“I don’t know any healers in the Outer Plains, Braith.”

“If I can get you over the border . . . I think I know those who can help us.”

“You don’t look very happy about it.”

“Only because I know they have no desire to see me. But that means nothing to me right now.”

“Uh . . . shouldn’t we take this spear out before we head off?”

“We take that spear out, Addolgar, and you’ll be dead before we get out of this passage.”

“Oh,” he replied softly. “All right. Guess we’ll leave it in then.”