The Dragon Stirs (11 page)

He pressed a hard, desperate kiss to her lips. Her mouth fit his perfectly—her whole body fit his perfectly.
She
fit him perfectly.

He pulled back a breath and held her gaze. Her eyes were heavy with passion, her body as slick and heated as his own. She licked her lips, laced her fingers through his hair and made an attempt to pull his lips to hers.

He resisted, but pushed his cock just a bare minimum into her waiting warmth. She groaned then looked at him with begging eyes.

“You,” he said. “This is about you. For you. Because I need you.”

She stilled, her breath short and pressing against his chest. The energy paused, hung, waited. The raven perched and leaned into the  energy, anticipation building.

“You,” she answered. “For you. With you. Because I need you.”

 He groaned and thrust, solid, long and hard until he reached the end. Until his body met hers in a complete meeting of souls. She screamed and arched, her hands fisting in his hair, her head thrown back in ecstasy. Her body quivered around his, the hot pulsing canal clamping down on his cock and welcoming him in a warm grip of belonging.

His control ended, the need driving him into a hard pace of thrusts. She moaned and met each stroke. Her legs rose to wrap tightly around his hips opening her to him, allowing him to go deeper in his need to become a part of her.

The raven screeched and soared, gliding high on the energy to its mate. To the one it hunted and waited for. To the one it needed to live.

Hot searing stokes of burning energy rushed in with each thrust of his hips, with each clench of her muscles. It poured into him and swamped his senses until his world became about nothing but her. 

Mine.

Beneath him, Airiana tightened, tensed and dug her heels into his thighs. Her head tossed back, and her mouth opened in a gasp. He leaned down and clamped his lips over her, his last anchor to reality before the damn broke open and flooded them in a golden rush of pure bliss. Of pure energy.

Together, they rode the crest as the power crashed against the void and returned in a blistering smattering of cosmic force. It slammed against them, forced his body into hers, then cloaked them in a warmth of welcome.

A fierce, violent roar sounded in the distance, the fury carried on the black icy fingers that clawed at the energy in frenzied attempt to rip it apart. To break it, remold it before it could fully form.

But there, around them, the energy pulsed in a heady mix of belonging. Her energy locked with his, tightened around his heart and became a very part of who he was. Of who he would forever be.

Vaguely, he registered the searing pain that laced across the back of his hand, the raven twisting and diving amidst the joy.

Slowly, the peak began to subside, the blinding, all-consuming sensations ebbing away until the room returned to focus and his mind began to function once again. His chest heaved in the aftermath, sweat dripped from his body and blended with Airianas. He rested his head next to hers, his entire body limp. 

After a long moment of heavy breathing, he had the mind function to slide to the side and gather Airiana’s flaccid body against his. He blinked and tried to comprehend what had happened.

Her head rested against his arm, her breath caressing his chest as it began to regulate and return to normal. It was another few minutes before she lifted her head to look at him. Her eyes were still heavy from the storm they’d just survived, but her mouth was turned up in a grin of complete satisfaction.

“What was that?” She bit her lip and watched him from under heavy lids. 

“Sex.”

She smacked him on the chest, a teasing slap of chastisement. “I realize that.” 

He flinched, smiled and pulled her closer, which she didn’t resist. 

“And the rest?” she persisted.

He exhaled and tugged lightly on her chin until she lifted up and met his lips in a soft kiss of unity. He pulled back slightly and looked into her eyes.

“Whatever it is, whatever happens, we’re in this together.”

She gave a slight nod and smiled. “Together.”

He kissed her again and the warmth sank into his heart. The Apocalypse might be coming for the rest of the world, but the veil on his world had already been lifted. 

And what he saw on the other side made him groan in complete contentment.

Epilogue

Airiana sat on the comfortable leather couch, feet curled under her, Louk by her side. The logs in the fireplace snapped and popped, sending small sparks flying upward in a miniature display of fireworks. She leaned into Louk’s warmth and smiled at the instant exchange of energy that flowed uninhibited between them. 

Happiness—pure, clean, simple—warmed her heart and kept her balanced against the overwhelming pressure that was building each day. She gave Louk’s hand a small squeeze. His fingers linked with hers where they rested on her knee. Together. He turned his attention away from their guest and gave her a quick smile of reassurance.

He was there for her. 

“The bond between you two is very strong,” Cronus said.

Louk looked back at Cronus who sat in a matching leather chair beside the couch. “Is this normal?” Louk gave a little laugh and shook his head. “Of course it’s not normal. Nothing between us has been normal.”

Cronus returned the laugh, the crinkles round his blue eyes softening his serious face. “True. The two of you are an anomaly, but a very good one. One we are lucky to have occur.” He smile faded. “The bond of The Two was essential, the first link in a chain that we must complete before Gog is released. Before he rises.”

“Are we to stay locked away in this house until that happens?” Airiana asked. “Because as much as I love this guy, I’m probably going to kill him if he’s the only one I can talk to for the next year. No offense, Louk.”

“None taken.”

“No, Airiana. This will only be temporary.” Cronus tilted his head and studied them for a moment. “Do you know what is next?”

Louk looked at her, then nodded. She met the Ancient’s intent gaze and wondered how much he already knew. “We get glimpses, more like impressions, through the energy, of what is to come. But, nothing is clear. What do you know?”

Cronus’s lips thinned, every year of his long life seeming to appear on his tired face. “I know that each step must happen over the cycle of the next year in rhythm with the earth. That if even one of the steps fails, then we have lost before the battle even begins. But, I do not know where each step will take us. Of who will be needed to see that it succeeds. Only that the energy will guide us just as it guided you.”

“Oh, that was guiding?” Louk joked. “I’d call it more of a gigantic shove.”

Cronus laughed, the lightness returning to his features. “That it was. But, it worked.” He shifted his attention down to their clasped hands. “Very effectively I might add. I’m going to assume that happened when you joined. Correct?”

Airiana reached over with her free hand, the hand that held her mark, to stroke the mark on the back of Louk’s hand. The now matching symbols rumbled low then sighed in unison before they curled up in contentment. The change in the marks had been one of the major shockers after they’d joined.

“Yes. How?” She looked at Cronus. “I didn’t know they could change like this.”

“Neither did I,” Cronus answered. “Some things still amaze even one as old as me. And that, young ones, is what makes each day a joy to live. No matter how long we are on this earth, there are still new things out there to surprise us.”

“So what does it mean?” Louk released his hold and lifted his hand to examine the dark blue-black dragon that now marked the back. “Shit. A dragon? On an Energen’s hand? I didn’t know that was possible. Or even remotely acceptable.”

“A winged dragon is an honor, a sign that they are not extinct. It gives me hope that they are returning. That they will rise to help us once again.” The Ancient leaned back and crossed his legs. “Have you tried to shift?”

Louk’s hand dropped to his lap, his back stiffening as he sat forward. “What? Me shift? Doesn’t that go against being an Energen?”

“Airiana is not an Energen, but she is not filled with negative energy. She can shift to her dragon form and that does not make her evil. Neither will it for you, Louk.”

“
I
haven’t even tried to shift since the mark changed,” Airiana said looking down at her own, now darker colored dragon. “Should we? I always associated shifting with a connection to the negative energy.”

“The winged dragons are special, but you already know that. Shifting into their form only brings you more power. Don’t you see, the winged dragons have the unique ability to control two elements where most of us can control only one.” Cronus paused, the words holding in the room as comprehension slowly settled in. “Shifters can only control the element of fire whether in human or dragon form. Energens are each granted the ability to control one of the elements, air, water, fire, earth or spirit. But winged dragons control both fire and air—in both of their forms.”

Airiana couldn’t think. Couldn’t process yet another major change in her foundation. Louk’s arm circled her shoulders and hugged her close to his side, the connection soothing the rising tension. 

“Now that you are joined, your control over those elements will be even stronger. More powerful, more expansive. The dual energy combining to give you an advantage that no one else has.” Cronus smiled, apparently amused by their stunned expressions. “You now see why the The Two are needed. Why the The Two ignited the change. How The Two will play in the war to come?”

Silence filled the room, broken only by the soft crackle of the flames in the hearth. Airiana pressed into the warmth of Louk’s body and felt his confusion, his doubt, as it flowed over the energy. She had those feelings, too, but she also knew that they would be fine. That they would handle whatever challenges were ahead.

“Together,” she whispered to Louk. 

He turned his head and stared into her eyes, searching deep. He smiled. “Together,” he said before turning to Cronus. “So, what’s next?”

“That, young one, is for your brother to answer.”

“Phelix?”

“Damian.”

Louk’s breath held before he slowly released it. “Will it be good?”

“We can only hope that it is.”

About the Author

Lynda Aicher has always been a sucker for happy ending and has dreamed of being an author since she first read
The Outsiders
at the age of twelve. After years of weekly travel as a consultant implementing computer software, she ended her nomadic lifestyle to raise her two children. Now, her imagination is her only limitation on where she can go and her writing lets her escape from the daily duties of being a mom, wife, chauffer, scheduler, cook, teacher, cleaner and mediator. To learn more about Lynda, please visit her website at: 
www.lyndaaicher.com

Look for these titles by Lynda Aicher

Coming Soon:

Energen: Stone of Ascension

Trust no one…except the one who walks in the dark.

Key of Solomon

© 2011 Cassiel Knight

Relic Defender, Book 1

Anthropology PhD candidate Lexi Harrison never bares it all when she belly dances for a strip club crowd. She doesn’t have to—she’s that good. Every performance earns money toward her degree, and restores the sense of power that her painful childhood ripped away.

Something is different about tonight. A man whose silver gaze seems to touch her skin beneath her veils. When a rowdy customer crosses the line, he comes to her rescue with the speed of a falcon—complete with wings.

Mikos Tyomni has never seen anyone dance the raqs sharqi like Lexi. Trust his tormentor, Archangel Michael, to put him in close contact with the cause of his downfall: a mortal woman. Particularly this mortal woman. The Defender. He has only thirty days to win her trust before Hell’s deadliest demons attempt the mother of all prison breaks.

No matter how sexy the messenger is, Lexi’s career plans don’t include some crazy idea that she’s the last line of defense against the forces of evil. Until her university mentor’s murder leaves her holding the key to Hell. And fighting a losing battle against a passion with the unholy power to bring down Heaven… 

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Key of Solomon: 

Oh, shit! Lexi let out a startled squawk as he closed the protective distance she’d put between them until he was within a foot of her. His fists knotted as if he wanted to grab her, but he held back.

“How do you know Beliel?”

Lexi held up the
sanjiegun
, gesturing out a circle in front of her body Mikos was damn near to breaking. “Whoa, personal zone here.”

“Alexandria, this is important. Answer my question. How do you know Beliel?”

She cringed. Her full name again. “He showed up at my apartment earlier.”

Mikos jerked back. Fascinated, she watched his pupils and iris begin to spark again, the silver pinpoints of light widening. For Pete’s sake, what had she done or said?

“What happened?” he asked.

She shrugged, and looked down. With a sharp snick, she extended her
sanjiegun
, rested the tip on the floor and idly spun it like she was trying to start a fire. Christ. She suddenly had an urge to duck her head and squirm like a child caught doing something wrong.

“He made me an offer,” she said and lifted her head, her gaze sparring with his.

“What kind of offer?”

The phrase
an offer you can’t refuse
flashed into her mind. She didn’t let it out. Probably a smart decision based on the silver sparking in his eyes. Where the hell did he get that unusual ability?

Instead of uttering any number of smartass comments wavering on her tongue, she answered, “A normal life. One with a family.”

“A normal life,” he repeated. His tone sounded as if it had as much emotion as a rock.