VAAN

Gwen wishes to leave right away, but I refuse. She is tired after so much travel and needs a night to rest and recover before we fly into the Salorian's lair.

Myself, I want a night to hold my mate close in case tomorrow goes as badly as I think it will.

So the females talk late into the night, speaking of plans and forts and bellies heavy with child. Gwen likes the others, so I am happy to see her animated and talking with the females. I like her laugh, even if it is not for me. The drakoni are quieter, more content to listen to our mates than converse amongst ourselves. We talked briefly of our homeland, but when it became evident that we have lost more than we remember, it sours the mood and we fall silent once more.

I am luckier than both Dakh and Kael, I think. I am not nearly as crazed as those two, but not as clear as Rast, who remembers a great deal but shares little. It is just as well. The more I remember, the more I think I am lucky to have forgotten.

Eventually the females yawn as they speak, and I gather up my Gwen and take her away to the privacy of a nearby rooftop. She wraps a thin blanket around her shoulders and pats the hard concrete, inviting me to sleep next to her.

I will shift, I tell her as I tuck her close to my scales, but only for a mating. I would rather be in battle form throughout the night to protect you.

We're safe out here, aren't we?

I do not have an answer for that. I do not know if anything is safe with a Salorian so close nearby. So I simply shift to my two-legged form and pull her against me, clawing at her clothes.

Gwen laughs, the sound so achingly sweet that it tears through me. "You're not going to leave me with anything to wear if you keep this up."

My plan is working, I rumble. Soon you will be naked all the time, as it should be.

She snorts, but her hands are moving over my shoulders and down my chest, and it is clear my mate is as eager to touch me as I am to touch her. I kiss her hard and then pull her under me. Her legs go around my waist, and I wonder if we are going to mate face to face again, as we did last night.

Does it bother you? she asks between kisses. Making love like that?

No. I like it. I like gazing into your eyes when I am deep inside you.

Gwen gives a little shiver and her arousal floods the air. I groan at the scent of it and do my best to remove her leg coverings without shredding them. She chuckles at my fumbling and helps me, and then her cunt is exposed to my view, the dark curls musky with her scent. I kneel before her, lured by her beauty.

I bury my face there, hungry to taste her. Gwen gasps. Her hands go to my hair, and she slides to the hard concrete as I move between her legs and dip my head. I drag my tongue over her cunt, lapping up her sweet desire. She has been my mate for almost a week now and every time I touch her, I feel as full of urgency as I did the first time. I want to take my time, to go slow and tender, but my need is too great. I plunge my tongue deep into her cunt, fucking her with it even as my thumb finds her clit. All of my claws are gone now, because it means I can touch her without fear of harming her. Another drakoni male without a human mate might not understand such a thing—loss of claws is a shameful thing—but when I sat atop my perch this night, I saw several of the other drakoni males had removed their claws.

A mate comes first. Her pleasure is greater than honor in a world I have long-since forgotten.

With a cry, Gwen shudders against me, her body wracked with shivers. She trembles the closer she gets to her climax, and next time, I tell myself as I swipe my tongue over her folds, next time we will go slow. Tonight, I must have her. I push her thighs apart and she whimpers encouragement, her arms going around my neck. Yes, she tells me. Please. Now.

With one deep stroke, I pierce her body with mine, and her loud cry of pleasure carries on the wind. Frantic, she digs her tiny claws into my shoulders and pants words of encouragement as I pump into her. There is a desperate edge to our mating, and I take her with ferocity. She claws and bites my shoulder, screaming out her release. When her cunt ripples and tightens around my cock, my own climax tears through me with enough force that both of us collapse, panting, on the makeshift nest.

Next time, I promise her. Next time we will go slow.

As long as you promise me there will be a next time, she tells me breathlessly.

There must be. I refuse to think of any other outcome.

We leave the next morning and the weather is bright and clear. My mate is too nervous to eat a meal and spends her time fussing with the straps on the saddle and the gun she has at her waist. She says the gun isn't for dragons, but for emergencies. I worry what kind of emergency she's envisioning, but most of the mental images I pick from her mind involve her feeding the gun into her own mouth, so that cannot be right.

I nuzzle my mate one last time before she climbs into the saddle.

Be careful, Kael sends to me. If there is danger to you or your mate, turn back. No one would blame you.

My thanks, I tell him gravely. Hopefully this truce will be as he says.

The truce might be, but expect him to have other traps, Zohr adds. That one is sly and constantly thinks of new ways to grow his power.

As every Salorian does, Rast says. It does not matter that he is here instead of our homeland. Treat him as you would any other Salorian threat.

If you can destroy him, do it. Dakh's thoughts are bloodthirsty and full of protective anger. His thoughts are on his mate and the young she carries in her belly. When I search my memories, there is nothing but bitter rage and frustration. Let us start anew in this world, with our mates at our side. Kill him and let us be done with the old ways.

If it comes to that, I shall, I vow. Nothing will threaten Gwen. Nothing.

My mate wraps the reins around her hand and settles into her seat. Her waist and leg straps are on, and she puts a pair of glasses over her eyes to shield them from the wind. "I'm ready."

The other females call out well-wishes and good luck, and then I launch myself from the building and into the air, heading toward the human hive occupied by a Salorian.

Are you frightened? I ask my mate as we arrow toward a distant spot plumed by columns of smoke. It is not hard to find, because they have made no attempt to hide their presence. Claudia and Kael's own nest is but a short flight away.

Oddly enough, no. Gwen's thoughts are calm and relaxed. I'm curious why he was calling for someone, but I can't imagine this is all just one big trap to lure more dragons. If it was, there are plenty without mates he can try to take over. It seems a big reach to try and pull one of us in. I have to think he wants to talk to someone. Either he has a secret he wants to tell, or he wants to bargain.

Bargain? I am impressed by my mate's clever mind.

Trade what he knows for something he thinks we have. Either that or he's scared of something and is looking for assistance. No matter what it is, I don't think we're in immediate danger.

Not enough danger for you to lick the end of your gun, I hope.

Her thoughts are startled. Oh. Vaan, you weren't supposed to hear that.

But I did. I do not like how her thoughts grow sad, either. Licking the gun is a bad thing?

Yes. It's a last resort, for if he does something…bad to you. Claudia and Sasha are pregnant. Amy needs to take care of my fort. They're needed. Emma is protecting Zohr, and I hope I'm not making the wrong choice by both of us going in. Maybe I should go alone—

Never. Fierce anger blisters through my mind. You will not go anywhere unless I am there to protect you.

I figured you'd say that, which is why I didn't suggest it. She reaches forward, touching the scales along the back of my neck ridge. The gun's for me because if he does something to you…I'm not going to live much longer. I'd rather take myself out than let them torture me.

I wheel about in the sky. I am turning around.

Wait! No, Vaan. That's only if it is something bad. It might not be. If I truly thought we were in danger, we wouldn't be going. I promise. Please. Let's go to Fort Dallas and see what these assholes want. It has to be something important if this guy's wanting a truce, and him with so many playing pieces on the board.

I grumble low in my chest. I do not like the thought of you being in danger.

Gwen's thoughts brighten. Well, after this is done you are welcome to try and get me pregnant so we take ourselves out of the running of the next trip.

It is a bargain, I agree swiftly. I tilt my wings, lazily turning in a circle and drifting along air currents until we face the human hive once more. I think of Gwen, her belly full of young like the other females, and the thought fills me with longing and pleasure. Do you truly want that? I ask her, sending a visual of my mate with our child in her arms. I picture a drakoni boy at her breast, small claws curled against her brown skin as he nurses. He would have my scales of course, but would he have her hair? Or would he be a soft brown, as she is? I like the thought.

A baby with you? I would, she tells me shyly. I've always loved the idea of a big family. Maybe it's not smart to bring kids into this world, but it's the only one we've got at the moment. I would love to be a mom…and I'd love to see you as a dad.

Then we shall deal with this Salorian, I tell her, and then we will build ourselves a nest and I will fill you with my seed so often that you cannot help but get fat with young.

Her laughter is torn away by the breeze, but I hear it anyhow.