Dragonfae & The Soul Catcher (15 page)

“Why didn’t anyone come here to help you escape?” Thalia met Pyro’s gaze.

“I told no one of my bargain. It was far too dangerous to allow Nehebkau to capture more of us for her demonic friends. I know many thought me dead… It was better that way,” Pyro smiled, “although I’m truly grateful to be free—the smell was intolerable.” He rubbed his chin. “I can see you are afraid of me, Thalia, so I’ll keep my distance until such time as you get to know me better.”

“I don’t have much trust in males—of course, Lumos is an exception.” Thalia met Pyro’s troubled expression. “But I’ve confidence in his judgement so I’ll try hard to trust you, too.”

“Thank you. I give you my word that I’ll never hurt you.” Pyro turned to Lumos. “Now, I’m anxious to hear your tale, Lumos.”

Lumos led the way from the cave, firmly supporting Thalia. He turned to Pyro. “I was imprisoned by the Magus of Fullmount. Thalia freed me but I had to find you to remove the silver. I’m to fight for Drakka, the realm of the Dragonfae, in less than three months.”

“Then you have little time left. I’m afraid, down here, time is different and two months will have passed in the wink of an eye. By my reckoning, I fear you have less than a week to meet your opponent.” Pyro stopped inside the cave. “Has this evil Magus compromised the Dragonfae?”

With a sigh, Lumos stopped inside the passageway. “Aye, he used a potion and now many Dragonfae are under his compulsion.” He rubbed Thalia’s back. “He wants Drakka for its wealth and position. He has no interest in the wellbeing of the Dragonfae.”

“Are you the heir apparent, Lumos?” Pyro cocked an eyebrow.

“Aye… I am the Nightdragon.” Lumos sighed. “There is another problem. As soon as I use magyck in our realms, the Magus will send his army of Shadow Walkers. These are strange beings. They are not beasts a dragon can kill easily, but in Fae form I have a chance, albeit a slim one.”

“There are three of us now, Lumos, so we have a good chance of defeating any who stand in your way of claiming Drakka.” Pyro slapped Lumos on the shoulder. “Didn’t you think I would fight beside you and Thalia?” Pyro chuckled. “Tell me, does your blood go back to the Moondragon and the first mating with the Faerie Isabella?”

Lumos turned his head slowly to study the Fae male beside him—they appeared roughly the same age. To think this male was an ancient warrior humbled him. “Aye. In fact, my direct linage goes back to the first mating, as all the Dragonfae kings.”

“Then, my friend”—Pyro paused to slap him on the back—“I am many times your grandsire.” He threw Lumos a wide grin. “Although Melis, my mate, believing the rumours of my death, has by now taken many others in my stead, I’ll still fight to claim her back.”

Staring at Pyro in disbelief, Lumos shook his head. “I beg to differ. I know the old one, Melis, and she trains the young ones for their first flight and has done for…well, forever.” He smiled. “I had no idea she was your mate, although I do know Melis has never taken another. I do remember, as a young child, Melis’ tale of a great battle where her mate perished. She refused to give your name, always saying the mention of her mate’s name brought pain to her heart and that her heart would belong to you as long as she lived.”

“Melis…my sweet mate. Gods, I yearn to hold her in my arms.” Pyro stared into the gloom. “I can’t wait to bathe in her beauty again. In truth, I thought her lost to me. I am indeed a fortunate man.”

With a grin, Lumos met Pyro’s gaze. “I think I‘ll make sure she is sitting down before I inform her that you are alive and well… You can’t possibly arrive unannounced. The shock might kill her.”

“My appearance will more likely make her angry. After all, I have been missing for centuries, not just a few weeks.” Pyro shrugged. “She may well not accept me… Ah, we shall see. The mating bond is strong if she has never sought another, so, my friend, I’ll live in hope.”

“Can we leave now, Lumos—I f-feel…” Thalia bent over and vomited.

Lumos drew a circle of light. Inside the shimmering depths the green fields of Treluna appeared. “I’m taking you to Treluna, little one.” He lifted Thalia into his arms and turned to Pyro. “We have horses and supplies waiting for us in the realm of the three moons. Bring the saddlebags as we may need them.”

“Then we must leave there at once. The Magus will have already noticed your magyck. The Shadow Walkers will be on their way to capture you.” Pyro followed Lumos through the circle of light. “The Elves will be in danger if we remain here too long.” He squinted at the sunlight. “Gods, it’s good to see the sun again.” He walked towards the clearing.

Unafraid, Thalia looked at Pyro. The Fae’s skin appeared opalescent in the late afternoon sun. His long, black hair hung in a braid to his waist. Pyro’s clothes hugged his muscular body in the same exotically beautiful fabric as Lumos’ garments, yet were the colour of blood. With a shrug, the ancient Dragonfae opened his glorious red wings and stood, absorbing the rays, his handsome face filled with joy. Pyro’s body shimmered with an aura of pure blue magyck. She slid from Lumos’ arms and heard a rush of wind like a flap of silk on the breeze. Turning into Lumos’ hard chest, she stared up at him, and gasped with delight.

“Oh goddess!—Lumos, you are so beautiful.”

With wings as black as the darkest night, Lumos smiled down at Thalia. She reached out to touch the feathered tips blending into his long, raven hair. The brief contact sent a lightning bolt of arousal to her pussy. Her womb clenched. So magnificent, Lumos’ wing tips stood high above his head, the long swallowtails falling to brush the ground. In the centre of each magnificent wing sat a shimmering half-moon, a stark iridescent glow against a velvet midnight.

“Beautiful?” Lumos gave her a slow smile. “Well, I must say that is much better than running from me to hide under a blackberry bush.” He moved towards Thalia and wrapped her in his wings. “Are you better now, sweet butterfly?”

Thalia’s folds creamed at the intensity of Lumos’ green gaze. When his hot hands slid under her tunic to cup her aching breasts, she arched towards him, seeking his touch. Lumos let out a feral rumble from deep in his chest. He scraped his rough thumbs across her sensitive nipples. She melted against him, conscious of the dampness coating her inner thighs. She looked up at him, licking her lips.
Will you kiss me now?

The Dragonfae’s nostrils flared. His silken hair brushed her neck, sending shivers of delight straight to her core. She yearned for his touch, the thrust of his massive cock sliding deep into her waiting channel.

“I am not afraid, Lumos… Please kiss me.”

“I can’t have you yet, not as you wish, although I desire to do so very much.” Lumos bent and grazed his teeth across the side of her neck. “I want to mark you and fuck you until you scream in ecstasy.”

“Then do it, I want you so much.”

“Don’t tempt me, little one.” Lumos groaned. “My cock is bursting to sink into your wet heat. To take you now will plunge you into moonfire. For three or four days, you will be insatiable and my dragon will look on Pyro as a threat. We need him with us to fight.”

Pain seared into Thalia’s heart. Rejection hurt more than a sharp blade. She stepped away and blinked back the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Gods, she had been such a fool. Another excuse—perhaps he had feelings for Lucinda, after all. She trembled with need for this man. His touch inflamed her, his seed, gods, had filled her mouth like the sweetest nectar.

“I see, although I cannot say I understand why my becoming insatiable would matter to a man so experienced with women as you are. Never mind, I wouldn’t want to become a burden to you, Lumos. Perhaps you should send me back to the Singing Forest. After all, I have fulfilled my promise to you. Now you have your magyck and are free to return home.”

“You’re angry.” Lumos touched Thalia’s cheek. “I’ve neglected to explain myself in terms you understand. The desire you feel is because I’ve awakened the first stage of the mating heat. This only happens once in a female’s life. We call this time the moonfire.” He ran his thumb over her bottom lip. “I can satisfy your hunger but if I kiss you my saliva will bond you to me forever. We’ll mate savagely and my child-seed will impregnate you immediately. I can’t risk fucking you, or letting the dragon free, not yet and for your own safety, perhaps not until we return to Drakka. Lady’s blood, Thalia, I’m barely in control now.”

With a shrug, Thalia turned away. “So why wait?”

“I’ve told you, the Nightdragon will not allow another dragon or male close to you during moonfire.” Lumos folded his wings. “How can I be expected to fight Kird and win with a mate in the thrall of moonfire? My mind and that of my dragon will concentrate only on you. Have you any idea how difficult it is to fight with a hard-on? Let alone the overwhelming compulsion to kill every male within a hundred miles?” He spun Thalia around to face him. “If I could take you back to the Singing Forest and mate you, don’t you believe I would in an instant?” He dashed a hand through his hair. “I am the heir apparent and if I don’t meet the deadline and fight, my entire race will be obliterated.” He rested his hands on Thalia’s shoulders. “The sun will be down soon. We must find Mino and shelter for the night.” He pressed a kiss to Thalia’s cheek. “Do you understand now, little one?”

Thalia moaned and pressed against him. “Can you make this stop…this ache?”

“Not for long. My seed will ease the craving but you will need me frequently and the closer to moonfire you get, the worse the cravings will become. I’m sorry, sweetness, the gods decreed we’re to be together and if I had it my way, we’d be secluded somewhere beautiful so I could tend to your needs.” Lumos cupped the rounded cheeks of Thalia’s backside. He lifted her onto her toes, sinking his fingers into the cleft of her ass. “As soon as we are alone I can fuck your sweet, hot mouth or this tight, little ass.”

The way his large hands spread Thalia’s bottom drove her insane. To have him in that forbidden place, goddess, her core pulsed. She swallowed hard.

“My ass—is that possible?”

“Uh-huh… I’ll show you how to pleasure yourself while I slide my shaft deep inside your tight, little hole.” Lumos ran his finger down the seam of her pants, pressing hard against her. “This is not an unusual request as many females desire a male to fill them this way. They enjoy the way a Dragonfae cock fills them so completely. No other male comes close to the pleasure.” He pressed his aching shaft into her belly. “Do you want me deep inside your ass, little one?”

Thalia’s bones turned to liquid. With a moan, she pushed her backside into Lumos’ hand. The sound of horses had her leaping away. She spun around to see Pyro walking beside an Elf. The Elf raised his hand in greeting and gave Thalia a wide smile.

“Gods, is that you, Mino?”

“Aye, it’s me. The King of the Fae gave me my youth back.” Mino gazed up at Lumos. “I have been worried for your safety. Over two months have passed, about half an hour in Rantazmac time.” He turned to Thalia. “You look very flushed. Are you unwell?”

Pyro chuckled, his nostrils flared and he gave Lumos a knowing wink.

Thalia cringed, aware that her heavy scent had announced her lust to the entire realm. Her face burned. “I’m well. How about Brew and the horses?”

“Fine, fine. You’ll be pleased to know that as soon as I told the King of the Fae of your plight, he offered you all his hospitality in Nubra.” Mino smiled at Lumos. “Although he is away, he has left instructions to make you welcome. The king’s magyck will shield you for one night from the Magus. It will give you both the chance to let your dragons hunt.”

“Then we’ll leave here as soon as we have collected the horses and Brew.” Lumos opened his wings and gathered Thalia in his arms. “Lead the way.”

The ground disappeared. Thalia’s stomach dropped and she gasped, clinging to Lumos. Her cheek pressed against his hard chest. “Oh, my gods!—Lumos—we’re flying.”

“Yes, that’s what Fae do.”

Thalia’s heart raced. Far below, the tops of the trees rushed by in a green and golden haze, and in the distance, rivers stood out, winding like blue snakes through the valleys. Beside them, Pyro hovered on an updraft, his magnificent blood red wings billowing out like sails. Wind caught her hair, and whipped the strands around her face. The cry of an eagle brought the magnificent, hooked-beak predator not one arm’s length away before the bird eyed its prey and speared down, disappearing through the canopy of trees. Her fear vanished. Inside Lumos’ strong arms, she revelled in the pure joy of flying.

“Why can’t we fly all the way back to Drakka? Better still, why can’t I fly on your back if you change into a dragon?” Thalia squeezed his arm.

“Ah… I wish we could, but you would freeze to death if I flew high enough to go undetected through the Nomag realms.” Lumos tipped back his wings and started to descend. “It took me about six days to travel to the Singing Forest, although it would have taken me five if the Gate at Virriol had not taken me to the wrong destination. That was the Magus’ doing, no doubt.” He set Thalia down gently on the grass. “We’ll travel through Nomag realms and magyck realms, so we’ll require the horses for transport. I’ll use circles of light to jump from Gate to Gate where possible, but I can’t use magyck in the Nomag realms. This is because I can’t see Nomags through the circle, and we may well land on some of them.”

“I see.”

“I’m looking forward to some privacy tonight, butterfly.” Lumos brushed a kiss on Thalia’s hair.

Thalia leant back against his chest, drinking in his scent and wallowing in the delight of his radiant heat. She sighed.
Oh goddess…so am I.

Chapter Eleven

Fullmount Castle

The Magus of Fullmount pressed the palms of his hands on the table each side of the copper scrying bowl and gazed into the image floating on the surface. Anger shimmered through him. He dashed a hand through the surface of the water and glared at his brother.

“Lucifer’s wings, Boris, do tell how a Nomag had the power to disintegrate my magyck circle?” He straightened. “Apart from dragonic magyck, only one born of our blood could do such a thing.”