Part 6 (1/2)

The male didn't even look their way. He either a.s.sumed, incorrectly, that Coal had already claimed the female or, he didn't want the light-haired human. A growl rose up in him.

Coal pretended to be interested in the female. He pretended to be tending to her. Acted as if he had indeed claimed her, thus removing himself as a threat. As the male tried to pa.s.s, he swiped out a leg and tripped up the king. The only remaining male in their group, a lesser warrior, roared as he spotted the female lying on the ground. She whimpered and tried to scramble to her feet but fell back. The weakling was sapped of strength. She closed her eyes and moaned.

”The dark-haired one is mine,” Coal growled.

Torrent shook his head as he leapt to his feet. ”I want her,” he growled.

d.a.m.n!

Coal punched the male in the jaw. Torrent took a step back and avoided the worst of the blow. The lesser male was gaining ground. He was going to claim the light-haired female. If he did that, the water king would be left with no other choice but to go after the human that Coal had earmarked. His human.

Unacceptable.

His first instinct was to kick Torrent, causing him to fly into the lesser male as he approached, giving him the upper hand. The problem was that the female was too close. She was directly behind them and he risked harming her.

”That female is mine,” Torrent snarled. ”You may as well give up now. Take this one.” His eyes stayed on Coal's.

Coal huffed out a breath. ”Fine.” His gaze firmly on the downed female. He slumped his shoulders in mock defeat and closed the distance between himself and the human. Torrent looked up ahead and began to move. The water king so easily a.s.sumed that he had won. These kings were so used to everyone always obeying them. They were equals during the hunt though. Torrent had made a big mistake and forgotten that important little fact.

At the last moment, Coal lashed out, hitting the male on the trachea. He put every ounce of strength he had into the action. He heard the pipe smash. The male gripped his neck. His face turning red, his eyes bugged from his skull. Coal raced to meet the remaining male who threw himself at Coal, a roar on his lips. Coal head-b.u.t.ted him. The male managed to knee Coal in the stomach, winding him for a second. A very short second. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d would be sorry.

The male reeled backwards, clutching his face. His nose had taken the brunt of the a.s.sault. Blood ran down the male's face and between his fingers. Coal punched him again and again. Within seconds, he was a crumpled heap on the floor. The male would not be getting up any time soon. As a lesser, his healing capabilities were not as superior as the royals.

Torrent was down on one knee. His face was pale. His lips were a light shade of blue. They matched the color of his eyes. ”The others are a few minutes behind.” Coal could hear the footfalls. Could hear the grunts and growls. There was a large group approaching at a speed. ”You still have time to claim her.” He glanced at the human who was just a few feet away from Torrent. Her eyes were wide but she was still in the same place they had left her. He didn't particularly want Torrent to claim this female, or any other for that matter. It wouldn't take him overly long to recover fully though, at this stage of the game, the king was his biggest adversary. They both had their sights set on the same female. If he wanted to secure the dark haired human, his best hope was to take Torrent out of the game. He was handing the male this female on a platinum platter. ”Take her.” He kept his eyes on the male who hadn't moved a muscle.

”Don't come near me,” her voice shook.

”Do it.” He growled as he ran downriver. There was no time to see what the male would do. Torrent could claim the light-haired female. He had time to put his scent on her. He might even be well enough to fight if a dispute broke out.

There was no one up ahead. The way the valley was designed, the best route to travel was the one he was taking right now. Coal could taste victory. He could feel it in every pore.

The female he wanted scented of a summer's night. She had dark hair and dark eyes and had proven herself a worthy adversary.

It was dusk by the time he caught her scent and fully dark when he caught up to her. He had managed to put a few more minutes between himself and the rest. The sound of their approach became more distant. Stamina counted more than strength. As a fire prince he could outrun most.

Her scent was interesting. Different from that of a dragon female. It was not entirely unappealing. Lightly floral with citrus undertones. It reminded him of a fresh summer's night. Or a field full of wildflowers. Wild, yes, she had a wildness about her. It intrigued him.

Coal was surprised at the speed at which she was moving. It was his understanding that human females were weak and slow. Although this one was small, she had spirit. He respected that.

Moving quickly and quietly, he closed the distance between them. At one point, she stopped, her whole body tense. The female c.o.c.ked her head to the side. Coal stopped as well. It was a very long few seconds before she continued on the path.

The others were not far behind. He needed to act quickly. He needed to mark her with his scent. A sense of urgency rose up in him and he picked up speed.

Excitement pulsed through him. This female had been a worthy adversary. It did not matter that she was a human. He doubted that a dragon s.h.i.+fter female could have done much better. It was a pity that she was so weak and defenseless though. He hoped that he would be able to muster interest for her in the days and weeks to come, so that the task of mating and impregnating her would be less arduous.

In one quick motion, he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her against him. The female cried out in shock.

”You are mine,” he growled. Although that wasn't quite true. Not yet at least. The tiny female in his arms wriggled and kicked. She reminded him of a little wildcat with her spitting and clawing.

”Easy.” He said, as he wrapped a second arm around her. How the h.e.l.l was he supposed to do this?

He was a prince. Not just a prince but a fire dragon. This female should be thankful that he had chosen her. She should be begging him to take her.

He sucked in a deep breath. Then again, she was just a human and unfamiliar with their ways. He needed to try and have understanding for her disposition. Her way of thinking.

Coal turned her around as they arrived at a large tree. It wasn't easy because she was squirming and kicking. Her small foot connected with his s.h.i.+n a couple of times making her wince. He pushed her up against its ma.s.sive trunk. Her face was a mask of fury. Her eyes burned bright. ”Let me go.” She shoved at his chest with one hand. ”You have no right.” Using the same hand, she balled up her fist and pummeled him. Her attempts at harming him barely registered. Pathetic.

Coal could hear a snap of a twig and the thud of footfalls. The others were close. Too close for comfort. He didn't have long to claim this female for his own or lose her. His brother was relying on him. Coal was not about to let Blaze down, or the rest of the fire kingdom for that matter. He had a duty to perform.

Her hair was matted with twigs and leaves, her skin and clothing covered in mud and grime. She snarled at him, teeth bared as she continued to hit at his chest, this time with an open hand. The female grimaced.

”I'm not going to hurt you.” Coal pushed himself up against her, pinning her against the tree. If she wasn't careful, she was going to hurt herself. He took ahold of the hand that continued to beat at him. Her other hand held firmly onto a stick of some kind. She would probably try and beat him with that next.

His focus moved to her lips. They were surprisingly full and lush. The color of just picked, ripe raspberries.

”Don't you dare!” She yelled. Her voice shrill and high pitched. It made him want to cover his ears. Instead, he killed two birds with one stone, namely, he closed his mouth over hers, swallowing whatever else it was she was about to say.

Her eyes widened in surprise. Her entire body tensed up even more. At first she tried to pull away. To turn her head from him. Then she made a moaning noise that ignited something inside of him. Her body seemed to melt and mold to his. His shaft grew long, hard and ready. What the h.e.l.l was happening to him? How was this even possible? Surely not. His tongue rolled against hers and it was his turn to moan. So decadent, so divine. His c.o.c.k awakened fully. For a second, he was tempted to lift her dress and take her right there.

His free hand curled around her leg and then moved up. His long, deft fingers squeezed her a.s.s, pulling her up and more firmly against him. His... his... c.o.c.k rubbed up against her core and all of her nerve endings came alive and completely against her will. His... part was long and thick.

”Female,” he growled against her lips. ”Mine.” He murmured as he took back her mouth. That one word jolted her back. What the h.e.l.l was she doing? She was letting the savage beast kiss her, rub up against her. This disgusting creature had caught her and therefore decided that she was his possession, to do with as he pleased. Here she was acting like she was enjoying it when it disgusted her. Yes, disgusted her. She tried to clear her m.u.f.fled brain. Her plan. Yes! Lull him into thinking she was a wilting flower. That's why she kissed him back. It was the only reason.

One thing was for sure, she was definitely not a wilting flower. Not at all and he could forget about doing what he wanted to her. Not going to happen d.i.c.khead.

She wasn't done fighting. Not by a long d.a.m.ned shot. Julie repositioned her handmade spear and with a quick jerk of the wrist, she plunged it into his back and bit down on his tongue. That would serve the a.s.shole right for thinking he could rape her and take advantage of her. The huge s.h.i.+fter pulled away on a loud snarl. The sound was mix of confusion, anger and... hurt. Like she'd hurt his feelings somehow. Good. It served him right.

Piece of s.h.i.+t a.s.shole. Julie kicked him in the s.h.i.+n for good measure and slipped out from between the tree and his ma.s.sive body. Without looking back or thinking, she ran just about as fast as her legs would carry her. It didn't matter that her legs hurt, that she couldn't see a d.a.m.n thing. She just ran, praying that the riverbank was free from debris.

There were cras.h.i.+ng, banging and snarling noises coming from behind her. There were also numerous footfalls. Was there more than one of them back there? She prayed not. It wasn't like she could take them all on, but she at least stood somewhat of a chance against one. If there were more of those goons back there, she was done for.

Someone grabbed her by her shoulders and jerked her back. She screamed and elbowed him hard. It almost felt like her elbow cracked from the sheer force of the blow. The guy behind her didn't so much as grunt or make a sound. He secured an arm around her and pulled her up against him.

”I said to let me go.” She squirmed. ”Do you want me to stab you again? Is that it?”

”I thought I smelled blood.” This guy's voice wasn't nearly as deep as the one that had kissed her. The huge one with the dark eyes. Those haunting eyes. The one that held her, pulled her closer. ”I was too focused on your scent to take much note.” He chuckled. ”So you stabbed Coal?” He chuckled even harder. He rubbed himself against her back. There was the telltale bulge poking into her. Dragon s.h.i.+fters wore thin cotton pants and nothing else it seemed.

”Stop that.” She was irritated to find that her voice shook ever so slightly. Julie was more afraid than she'd ever been in her whole life. ”You have no right to touch me like this. Let me go.” She fought hard. Using every ounce of strength she had to try and free herself from his ironclad grip. She kicked and squirmed. Even though her heels hurt, she felt satisfaction when one of her kicks. .h.i.t home.

”I am the water prince and I am claiming you.”

”Let her go.” A deep growl, and a voice she recognized. It was him. ”Do it now.” He snarled, sounding like a lion with a bone to pick.

The guy holding her, secured her more tightly with his hands. ”Your position and rank are null and void out here. It does not matter that you are fire and I water. You cannot tell me what to do during the hunt. This female is mine, by the time you get here my scent will be on her and there is nothing you can do about it.”