Part 11 (1/2)

Thanks a lot, pal! Ariel responded drily. So, what should I do, oh knowledgeable one?

Mandra pushed into his living quarters tiredly. He could not go on much longer like this. His dragon was clawing at him to get to his mate. It needed to claim her. If it didn't claim her soon, he was not sure what he would do. The thought of forcing his mate to do what he wanted was so repulsive Mandra knew he could never do it. Her accusation that he was like the male who hurt her so badly still stung.

He tried to focus on finding his uncle but it did little to distract him. The information they were learning was proving to be graver than he originally thought. In addition, they still had not caught the traitor who poisoned Trelon's little mate. Now, there was information from Ha'ven, the Curizan's leader, that another attempt had been made on one of his younger brother's lives. Ha'ven wanted one of them to meet up with him to defuse a potential up-rising on his home world at the death of Ben'qumain and the rumor the Valdier wanted to go to war again.

Mandra poured himself a drink and took it out onto the balcony. He ignored the light drizzle of rain as it fell slowly soaking his hair and clothes. He leaned forward gripping the stone railing and stared out over the city with unseeing eyes. The nights were torture for him. To hold his little mate in his arms and not claim her was eating at him and his dragon. He glanced down at the amber liquid and wished it would give him some brief respite but he knew there was no amount of liquor that could drown the pain in his heart.

Mandra was so lost in thought he didn't hear the movement behind him. A hot breath of air swirled around him causing him to jerk in surprise. He turned slowly and stood stunned. In the middle of his living quarters was a small, rose and gold colored dragon staring at him. Its dark brown eyes looked soulful and a small cough called to him.

He set the gla.s.s down on the ledge as he moved slowly toward the delicate dragon. His eyes glowed with dark flaming eyes as he stared at his mate. He watched as a slight s.h.i.+ver ran down her body. Her eyes never left him as he moved toward her. She lowered her head and turned it slightly when he stopped in front of her. A soft cough rumbled from her before she rubbed her head gently against his chest.

”Oh mi elila, you are so beautiful. Just as I knew you would be,” Mandra whispered tenderly.

He reached out his hand and ran it along her soft scales marveling at the texture of them. He felt his dragon's roar of triumph at his mate's willingness to come to him on her own. His heart swelled with pride at the courage it must have taken her to do this, to accept him and his dragon, and to fight her fear of all the changes.

Mandra whispered words of love as he stroked Ariel. He wanted her to know how much she meant to him. He vowed to protect her with his life and do everything in his power to make her happy. He would have promised her the moons and stars at that very moment.

He walked slowly around her, touching her gently as he ran his hand along her neck and shoulder. He chuckled when she tried to turn and b.u.mped into one of the small tables, knocking it over. She lifted her right wing and he walked under it, letting his fingers caress the thin membranes as it opened above her. He continued his exploration of her moving toward her tail. She twisted her long neck around trying to follow him as he moved down her body. A series of small coughs and rumbles told him she was enjoying his sensual exploration. Her tail curled at the end swinging up so that it wrapped around his open palm. He rubbed it between his hands before walking around the other side of her and beginning all over again. His hand lingered briefly on the edge of the narrow slit running under her body. A puff of smoke caused him to chuckle again.

”My dragon wants his mate,” Mandra murmured in a deep, husky voice. ”I am not sure how he will be able to accomplish such a thing in this small area but he is determined he will claim you tonight, little warrior.”

Ariel s.h.i.+vered at the dark promise in Mandra's voice. Her dragon was just as determined to be claimed as well. When her dragon suggested letting her take over, Ariel had been afraid at first. It had taken a couple of tries before she finally let go enough so her dragon could complete the full transformation. Ariel was amazed that she was still inside. She felt the same on the inside just different on the outside. A little wilder, freer than she had ever felt before. She wanted to feel the full freedom of her dragon-form. Glancing out the open doors, Ariel decided there was plenty of room for her dragon to fit through it.

Can you fly? Ariel asked mischievously.

Humph! Can I fly? Watch me! Her dragon growled back indignantly.

Ariel utter a small gasp as her dragon used her tail to push Mandra back right before she moved quickly toward the open balcony doors. Ariel felt the cool stone under her claws just as she pushed off the balcony with a swept of her wings. A tiny scream left her as she felt the moment of weightlessness before she realized she was flying through the dark skies. A loud growl and the sound of breaking gla.s.s echoed through the night as she moved away from the palace, heading toward the dense forest.

Chapter 16.

Mandra ran toward the doors of the balcony s.h.i.+fting as he leaped onto the ledge. He growled as he watched his mate soar away from the palace. His dragon's roar echoed as he warned any others to stay clear of his mate. His tail flicked the gla.s.s balanced on the edge sending it to the floor of the balcony where it shattered, much like his control. His dragon would not be denied his claim. Mandra's huge wings fanned out, sweeping through the dark night as he quickly gained on his tiny mate.

Ariel called out for her mate to come to her even as she flew away from him. She was looking for a place where they could be alone but still have room to move without destroying his living quarters again. She flew upward enjoying the cool dampness of the night. The rain had stopped, leaving everything smelling clean and fresh. A light, cool breeze caressed the air and the two moons were visible. One moon was almost full while the other was just a sliver. They were breathtaking from up high. She flew through the clouds that were slowly dissipating. Ariel swept her wings up and down loving the feeling of freedom that it gave her as she soared high above the land. A light nip to her tail let her know her mate had caught up with her. She turned her long delicate neck to look over her shoulder and called out in joy, wanting to share this new experience with him.

”You are beautiful, my little warrior,” Mandra coughed out to his mate.

”I can understand you!” Ariel giggled as she swung back around to look forward. ”Oh Mandra, it is so beautiful. I never dreamed anything could be like this,” Ariel breathed out in awe as she stared down at the s.h.i.+mmering diamonds of light reflected off a small river cutting through a meadow below them.

”Did you ever dream of this, my little mate?” Mandra whispered back right before his larger body covered her smaller one.

Ariel gasped as she felt her tail captured by Mandra's larger one. He twisted his tail around hers causing her to spin in midair until she was upside down. Before she could recover, he pulled her tail to one side at the same time as he used his front and back legs to grab hers. She found herself hanging in midair belly to belly with him. She was about to protest when she felt her mate claim her smaller body with his own sealing them together as one.

”Mandra,” Ariel moaned.

”You are mine, Ariel. You and your dragon belong to me!” Mandra groaned out as his large wings pumped the air keeping them both suspended for a moment.

Mandra gritted his teeth as he felt his dragon claim his mate. His dragon refused to wait any longer. The sight of his mate's tail slas.h.i.+ng through the air was more temptation than the huge male could handle. Now, it was only the strength of his wings holding the two dragons in place as the male took the female in the age-old dance of possession. The huge male grunted as he impaled the smaller dragon, pus.h.i.+ng through the narrow slit and locking them together. Only when he was satisfied would he release her.

The male slowly began a descent to the meadow under them, his huge wings pumping up and down with the skill of centuries of flying. As they neared the ground, he released his mate's back legs but still kept her tail tightly captured in his. He let his huge legs touch the soft gra.s.s covering and pulled his and her tail back to help balance him as he landed. The position drove him deeper into her causing him to roar out. He leaned down and gripped his mate by the neck with his sharp teeth. He tasted the sweet taste of her blood as it flowed over his tongue. Pus.h.i.+ng her back until she lay on her back in the gra.s.s, he began rocking back and forth driving deeper and deeper into her with each thrust.

Ariel tried to move but each time she did a deep growl from the huge male caging her smaller body forced her to remain still. Unable to stand it any longer, she folded her wings up using the claws at the center and tips to grip him and began rocking with him. The position locked the two dragons, one sapphire and silver, one rose and gold, together in a wild dance of mating that was as old as time. Mandra's dragon roar out fiercely as his mate gripped him. Her climax exploded around him, milking his seed into her womb with such greed his cry became hoa.r.s.e from the intensity.

Ariel murmured in her sleep. She was a little chilled and wiggled closer to the warmth of the huge body next to her. Something nudged her again and she mumbled in irritation at whatever was trying to wake her up. The next nudge was a little harder and Ariel did what she normally did when her alarm clocks went off before she was ready to get up... she smacked it.

”Ouch!” The deep voice next to her yelped in pain.

”What?” Ariel said jerking her head up and smacking the chin leaning over her. ”Ouch! That hurt!”

”Yes, my little savage, it did,” Mandra groaned as he rolled over onto his side.

Ariel looked wide-eyed at the huge dragon that was rubbing the tip of his nose with the end of one of his wings. His scales were s.h.i.+mmering and sparkling in the early morning light as it streamed down through the thin cloud covering. Ariel looked around the meadow where they were at in wonder. The knee-high purple gra.s.s swayed back and forth as a cool, gentle breeze blew through it. There was a small river to the far right and huge trees surrounded the meadow acting like a wall.

”Where are we?” Ariel asked swinging her head back around and b.u.mping into Mandra again. ”I'm still a dragon!” She said startled.

Mandra affectionately reached out and ran his tongue along Ariel's jaw. ”Yes, you are. Are you always so difficult... and painful... to wake in the mornings? I have noticed you do not enjoy waking early but this is the first time I woke you before dawn,” Mandra chuckled.

”Be thankful I didn't have my baseball bat next to me. I go through at least two alarm clocks a week,” Ariel responded sheepishly.

”If a 'baseball bat' is a type of club, your tail is sufficient enough,” Mandra laughed with a quick lick to his mate's lips. ”My dragon wants his mate again.”

”Again? He took her... me... her like a hundred times last night!” Ariel whispered sleepily. ”Tell him to go take a cold bath in the river, I want to sleep some more.”

Mandra's dragon growled softly as he nuzzled his mate. She was his and he loved her, grouchy and all. Mandra rose up to look around the meadow. He raised his head, tilting it to one side and listened. A deep, dark menacing growl exploded out of him.

”Get behind me!” Mandra snarled dangerously. ”Now, Ariel! Get behind me and prepare to flee if I tell you to.”

Ariel rolled to her feet unsteadily and moved behind Mandra who stood up on his hind legs and opened his huge wings. He was looking up and back toward the palace. A movement in the sky above her startled a small squeak out of Ariel as a sleek black dragon came in fast. Only when he landed did Mandra sink back down onto his front legs and lower his wings.

”Creon, what is it?” Mandra growled out annoyed.

”Curizan skimmers have been sighted,” Creon growled back. ”I have not been able to contact Trelon. He and his mate are missing.”

Mandra swung around to Ariel. ”We must return to the palace, mi elila. It is too dangerous here for you.”

Ariel nodded looking at Mandra with worried eyes. She felt her dragon's response to her mate's protective tone. Something very bad happened.

Ariel closed her eyes and wept in relief. It had taken over a month for Cara to recover but she was going to be alright. That afternoon, Cara had finally come back to them. Her little friend and surrogate sister had been trapped for three days in a cave before she was found and rescued. For Cara, that was essentially the same as burying her alive considering her fear of enclosed places. Cara had withdrawn so far into her dragon-form that there were doubts that she and Trelon would survive. It had been Morian who was able to finally get through to Cara. Ariel didn't know what Mandra's mom said but she would always be thankful for it.