Kallore
When he awoke the next morning, the first thing Kal became aware of was the warm presence curled up to his side. Elin lay fast asleep, devoid of clothing and snuggled up to him for shared bodily warmth. Her arm draped across his thick chest, and every so often one of her fingers would twitch against his skin as she dreamed.
He willed the image and sensations into his memory, working to preserve it for all time so that whenever he was down or in need of a reminder, he could relive it over and over. There were no windows for sunlight to come streaming in, but he could imagine the warm breeze wafting in through a crack, tickling his nose with the smell of freshness, like clothing right out of the laundry.
Sighing contentedly to himself, he looked up into the darkness at the gray ceiling, uncaring of how much time passed while he waited for her to awake. She could lie there for hours, and it would only continue to make him happier. He finally had his mate, and she was more perfect than he could have ever imagined. Even he’d designed her from the ground up, his construct would pale next to the real thing. Elin was everything he wanted, needed, and more.
The lights in the room slowly rose to full brightness, Elin’s preferred way to wake up. He used the extra light to admire her still form, enjoying the way she looked in the light just as much as in the dark.
“Good morning.”
He twisted his head back up to see her staring up at him, the golden flecks in her eyes particularly bright in the morning. It was entrancing, and Kal lost himself in them until she giggled and squeezed him tight.
“Good morning indeed,” he rumbled happily, kissing the top of her head. “And good evening and good night,” he added, lifting his eyebrows.
“I mean, it was okay.”
Kallore snorted loudly. “You and I remember it very differently then. It’s a shame there’s no video in here to back up my claims.”
She swatted at him, propping herself up on an elbow as she did. “Not for your lack of trying!”
“It’s your fault really.”
“Mine?”
He nodded vigorously. “Yes. You introduced me to the internet. Did you know it’s nearly eighty percent pornography?”
Elin cradled her head in her hands. “Asleep for centuries, and yet he already knows the internet is for porn. I’m a failure as a teacher.”
They both laughed at the joke, and he tugged her closer until she was forced to straddle him.
“Not this morning,” she told him as she felt what he was after poke her. “I’ve got to pack.”
He frowned. “Pack? What do you mean?”
“I’m going to be reassigned today.”
“No.”
One eyebrow lifted questioningly.
“You are staying,” he elaborated. “Nobody else is going to be my liaison. Not if they wish me to fight. It is you, or it is nobody.”
“Kal,” she began. “Think about this. Think about all the people that will die if you don’t fight. We need you.”
He stood his ground. “And Elin Mara, I need you.” He used the exact same tone against her.
“What about your treasure?”
“I want that. Slightly different. I can live without it. You, however, I cannot.”
“Because I’m your mate?”
He could sense the skepticism that lay within her regarding that, but he didn’t fault her. She would understand in time that when he said she was the only woman for him, he meant it. Nobody else would bring his heart to life like she did. His soul was finally feeling complete now that he had her. All that was necessary now was for Elin to believe, and then he could truly make her his mate.
“Yes.”
“I see.”
Kallore smiled, pulling her head down so he could brush his lips against her. “No you don’t, but you will in time. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true.”
She smiled at the kiss but looked away, unsure about it all. He let her go. Now was not the time to force her to stay close. Elin had to find her own way, to learn to open the paths in her heart, and then trust them. After so long being closed off, it was going to take time, and patience on his end. While that wasn’t normally a strong suit of his, when it came to his mate, he felt like he could do anything. Even wait a little longer for her.
“Well, it’s going to be tough when I’m not here,” she said unhappily.
“You aren’t leaving,” he insisted, going against his own thoughts.
“Kal, I’m still in the military for now. I have to do what they tell me.”
He frowned. “For now? Are you leaving it?” His heart soared at the idea. If she left, then they could just go. Leave this place and move to the other side of the planet. Far away from this mess with the Outsiders. Perhaps then he could keep her safe.
“I don’t know.” She sat back onto him, throwing her hands in the air, frustrated.
Flexing his stomach, he sat up and pulled her in tight. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll figure this out.”
She squeezed gently. “Kallore—”
Whatever else she was going to say was interrupted by someone rapping smartly against the door to her quarters.
He pressed a finger to her lips. “Hold that thought.”
Slipping out from under the covers, he pulled on his jeans, forgetting about a shirt for the moment. Halfway to the door he paused as a series of clicks reached his ears. Turning back, he put up a hand to stop Elin from leaving the little closed-off area that was her bedroom. “Go back inside. Close the door.”
In hindsight, he should have known that giving her a command like that would be ignored. Thankfully she must have picked up on some of the worry in his voice and known that he wasn’t just being ultra-protective for no reason. So she simply stayed put at the entrance, neither going nor coming further. He could handle that.
“Who is it?” he asked calmly, moving to the side of the door rather than stand right in front of it.
“Colonel Cutprice. I told you that it wouldn’t last, Kallore. The general wishes to see the two of you immediately.”
He glanced back at Elin. She had gone rigid at the name.
“You know him?”
She nodded. “He was the other aide to my assaulter.”
Kallore stared at her for a long moment, noting the way she reacted, the pain in her voice, and, possibly unbeknownst to her, the fear as well. Whatever this colonel represented to her, it wasn’t something he was willing to put up with. He faced the door once more and then unlatched it and hit the open button.
“Hello again, Kallore,” Cutprice said smugly.
Of course he would sound like that. Any human would with the gang of thugs behind him in the hallway. Kallore stared down the two dozen men, all of them armed to the teeth with a variety of weapons.
“What is the meaning of this?” he asked angrily.
“That depends,” Cutprice replied with an ugly sneer. “If you come peacefully, then they are simply an escort.”
“And if I don’t?”
Twenty-four weapons were simultaneously leveled in his direction.
“Then we’ll put you back to sleep.”
Kallore laughed heartily at the threat. He was awake and fully recharged. At this point there was little that they could do to him that would send him back to sleep. Certainly not the sort of sleep he was in. That was something only dragons could do to themselves; it couldn’t be induced.
As his laugh tapered off he lowered his head. Flames jumped into his eyes as he prepared to summon his weapons and armor. It was time the humans truly understood just who they were dealing with. Obviously they had no respect for his strength, but there was more to him than just that.
His body began to warm. The soldiers outside shuffled slightly as they realized this wasn’t going to end peacefully. Kallore grinned at their nervousness.
“You shouldn’t have come here,” he said, his voice taking on a deeper timbre, rolling and booming out into the corridor beyond Elin’s door. “That was a very, very bad idea.”
Many of the soldiers took a step back this time.
“Enough.”
He jerked as Elin slipped past him. Kallore froze, unsure of what to do. She was now between him and the dozens of automatic weapons, and she lacked his natural defenses. Every instinct within him screamed at him to move. To get out there and put his body between her and harm’s way. Those bullets and whatever other instruments they intended to use should be aimed at him, not his mate! Kallore felt himself leaning forward, preparing to scoop her up and haul her back into the room before they could kill her.
STOP! Kal, don’t do it!
He paused, evaluating the situation. All of the men with guns were nervous to begin with. If he moved toward them, they would open fire, even if he wasn’t actually endangering any of their lives. No matter how fast he was, the bullets were faster. There was no scenario that he could see that let him get to Elin in time.
She’d also never forgive you. Remember, this is her home base. She’s in the military, and she’s been fighting this asshole and his higher-ranking cronies for a decade now. Trust her, she knows what she’s doing.
The dual arguments for letting her continue were cohesive, and so despite the protests from his instincts, Kallore kept himself rooted to the spot. Of course, he kept his powers harnessed and ready to unleash in a moment’s notice. If any of them made the mistake of hurting Elin he would turn them all into ash without hesitation.
“We’ll go along with you.” Elin turned around to look at him. “Peacefully,” she added.
He started to growl in defiance, but it died when she winked at him and mouthed some words to him.
Trust me. I have a plan.
“Fine,” he said, giving Cutprice a gaze before he stepped back inside the room, Elin’s hand on his chest pushing him inside.
“I’ll be right out, Colonel. Just let me put my uniform on.”
Cutprice stepped forward and put his boot in front of the door. “I’ll just stay here,” he announced. “So that you don’t try any funny business.”
Kallore rolled his eyes and followed her into the bedroom, stopping at the doorway to it. He knew Cutprice would enter the room if he disappeared, so instead he stopped in plain sight.
“I have a plan,” she said quietly. “Go along with it. When it’s time to act, you’ll know it. But don’t jump the gun, okay?”
He grinned with excitement and anticipation. There was going to be a fight after all! It had been too long since he’d been able to cut loose. This should be fun.
“You have my word.”
“Good. Now let’s go wipe that smirk off his face.”
Gods he was in love! His mate was feisty and full of fire in her own way. She hated bullies and never liked to back down until she was forced. The spirit of a dragon resided in her, he decided.
***
The walk to the command center didn’t take long. The base was, after all, rather small. The entire thing felt cramped with all the gunmen following them, but Kallore did his best to feel unencumbered by it all.
The door hissed open and Cutprice ushered them inside.
“General, I have Major Mara and the dragon Kallore.”
He politely ignored the hesitation before Cutprice said “dragon.” Clearly he was in the camp that thought the videos had been doctored or even outright faked. Or perhaps he hadn’t seen them at all. That, Kallore decided, would be more like the arrogant asshole. Assuming he knew everything based on a few written reports? Yeah, that fit the bill.
A short figure, barely an inch or so taller than Elin stood up from where he had been bent over a screen.
Beside him Kallore heard Elin hiss. Her hand found his and tightened down harder than anything he’d thought her capable of. It didn’t hurt, but it told him something very bad was going on.
“Ah, excellent. Hello again, Elin.”
“They made you a general?”
“Watch your tone, Major!” Colonel Cutprice barked from off to the side.
Kallore fixed him with a glare, letting the impertinent officer know that if he spoke to Elin like that once more, he would severely regret it. Cutprice didn’t back down, but neither did he say anything further. But his eyes did dart to either side of Kallore before the left side of his mouth twitched upward in a triumphant smile.
It was obvious what he was trying to point out. Kallore had noticed it already. The armed men had spread out around the room around him. Their arrangement gave them all clear firing lines on him if he decided to challenge what was going on between Elin and the general. Kallore had his suspicions, but he didn’t want to speak up to confirm them.
“Brigadier general, yes.”
“I’ll be damned,” his mate said in surprise. “This is more fucked up than I ever believed possible. So, what do you want, Moore?”
Kallore’s eyes swung away from Cutprice and locked on to the general’s with the precision of a targeting system. Moore. He knew that name. It was the name of the former colonel who had tried to take advantage of his mate when she was younger and more junior. The man who had ruined her love of the military.
One command entered his brain above all others. One mission. Kallore was going to kill him.
He stepped forward, extending his left hand down and away in preparation of the fight to come.