Ambushing Ariel (10 page)

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Ariel was giggling softly as the huge gold creature rolled on the ground next to her with its feet in the air. It was letting her scratch it on its belly while little bits of gold changed into tiny little creatures with delicate wings. They reminded Ariel a little of the fairies from the fairy tales she used to read when she was little. She watched them with a delighted smile of wonder lighting up her face. She was so focused on them that when the huge dragon pounced into the small opening of purple grass and growled in a low deep voice it startled her so much she fell backwards onto her back in surprise.

The huge, dark sapphire dragon had slivers of silver tipped at the edge of its scales and swirling through the long ridges over its eyes. It moved over her, trapping her on her back in the soft grass. Ariel’s eyes widened as she stared up into its deep, gold eyes. Tiny flames seemed to be dancing in them making them shimmer with color and warmth. Ariel lay back as the huge head lowered until the snout of the giant beast was pushing against her gently. A low rumble was coming from its broad chest, almost as if it was purring. Ariel gasped when a huge tongue came out of its mouth and flicked along her neck, tickling her.

“Oh my,” Ariel giggled. “I thought the gold kitty cat was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen but I think you are tied with it,” Ariel murmured softly as she reached up to gently outline a scale along the elongated jaw with the tips of her fingers.

“You can bet your ass I’m keeping you! I can’t wait to show Carmen, Trisha, and Cara,” Ariel breathed in awe.

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Mandra pulled back puzzled and stared down at the tiny figure trapped under him. A shiver went through his huge body as he felt her fingers tracing the patterns of his scales. In all his life, every adversary he ever encountered quaked in fear of him in his dragon form. He was large even by Valdier standards in this form. When he first saw the female gently rubbing on his symbiot, he had reservations about scaring her. That was until he clenched his jaw and was reminded of the pain this female had caused him. He expected her to cry out in fear, at the very least, scream in terror. The last thing he expected was her claiming his dragon as her own. This female was confusing him until he didn’t know which end was up and which was down.

Mandra shifted back into his two-legged form with a growl of frustration. He was just about to demand why the female was not afraid of him when spots appeared before his eyes as pain shot through him. His growl of frustration turned to a moan as he fell over onto his side. He let his head drop back as he clutched his throbbing manhood and drew in shuddering breaths.

“Why did you do that?” Mandra gritted out in a hoarse whisper.

“Who the hell are you and what did you do with my dragon?” Ariel demanded rolling over onto her knees and putting her hands on her hips in anger.

Mandra looked up at the female kneeling within touching distance and shuddered. Every time he got within touching distance of her, some type of pain seemed to follow. He laid there breathing deeply and just looked at her instead. Her hair was blowing about her in wild abandon, curling and flying as free as the tiny bits of gold from his symbiot. She had a smudge of dirt across one cheek and her clothes were rumbled with little bits of grass and leaves stuck to them. His eyes widened at the thin threads of gold woven around her neck and wrists. His dragon was right. His symbiot had claimed her! She was his true mate. Now, all he had to do was figure out how to claim her without ending up in medical.

“Why weren’t you frightened?” Mandra asked lying still and watching Ariel closely as the waves of pain began to recede a little.

He let out a sigh of relief when some of the soft golden symbiot that was flying around landed on him. He felt it moving over him, healing him before it moved down his arms to form thick wrist bands. He felt some of it move up to his forearms, where additional bands formed. He assured it that he could handle the pain in his manhood without its help. The last thing he wanted to do was have the damn thing moving around in his pants, if it could even fit considering every time he got near the female his cock seemed to have a mind of its own. The damn thing ignored his pain and began to swell as the scent of his true mate being so close called to him.

Ariel looked down at the huge man lying on the purple grass no more than a couple of feet from her and felt a stirring deep inside her. It was pissing her off! She was through with any kind of stirrings when it came to men. They weren’t to be trusted. The dragon, she could handle. The big gold kitty with all the little thingy’s flying around she could give her heart to. But, the huge male was a different story. She learned her lesson the hard way and she was a fast learner. She didn’t need to go down heartbreak road again.

Now, all the different critters were a different story. She could handle the creatures like the ones on the ship. They needed her to protect them, love them, and they accepted her just the way she was. They didn't try to change someone into something different.

Ariel sat back down on the grass and looked at the man warily. “Why should I be frightened?” Ariel asked confused.

Mandra curled one arm under his head while he thought about how to answer her. “Most warriors who see me in my dragon-form fear me. Why would you not?” He asked enjoying listening to her husky voice.

“I guess I’m not like most warriors,” Ariel said tilting her head to the side. “Who are you?”

“I am called Mandra Reykill, of the Royal House of Valdier,” Mandra said sitting up with a wince. He made sure to keep a safe distance from Ariel as he did. “What are you called and are you always so…painful to be around?” Mandra asked as a twist of amusement curved his lips at her eye-roll and snort.

Ariel couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped as she crossed her legs so she was sitting criss-cross applesauce as her teachers long along used to say. She rested her chin on the palm of her hand while she motioned with the other one for the gold creature to come to her. She sat contemplating Mandra Reykill for a few minutes before she answered him. Ariel let her fingers stroke the gold symbiot absently. Her eyes narrowed as Mandra’s eyelids dropped to a drowsy half-closed position the minute she started doing it.

“I am ‘called’, as you put it, Ariel Hamm. I’m assuming the guy who took off with Cara is your brother?” Ariel asked.

Mandra grimaced. “Yes, he is my younger brother Trelon. You probably met my older brother, Zoran, who has claimed your friend Abby and my other younger brother, Kelan, who has claimed your friend, Trisha,” Mandra said huskily.

Mandra was having a hard time concentrating on anything but the feelings of driving need coursing through him at Ariel’s touch on his symbiot. Every stroke she made seemed to be like having her fingers on him. He could feel the need pulsing through him. He felt a fine sheen of sweat coat his skin as he fought the urge to just pounce her again and to hell with the consequences. His hands curled into tight fists as he fought for control of both himself and his dragon.

“You never answered my question,” Mandra murmured.

Ariel looked up frowning at the change in Mandra’s voice. It was deeper than before, more sensuous. Ariel’s fingers on the symbiot stilled for a moment and she saw Mandra’s eyes flash in frustration. Curious, she stroked gently and watched as the flames flared in his eyes again. Ariel stopped and the flash of irritation happened again. She bit her lower lip trying not to giggle as she gently ran a finger along the golden creature’s back letting her nails scrap it. As soon as she did it, she saw a shiver run through his huge frame in response. Ariel lowered her eyelids peeking at him through her lashes as she continued her systematic attack of stroke, scratch, still, and petting until she thought he was going to burst into flames.

Mandra’s deep growl was the only warning Ariel got before she found herself pinned under his huge frame again. This time, he made sure he kept one leg thrown over both of hers to prevent her from kneeing him again. Ariel’s laughter of delight was cut short as she stared into eyes flaming with desire and need.

“You are playing a very dangerous game, little one,” Mandra breathed out as he pinned Ariel’s arms above her head.

“It’s the sucker sign on my forehead…the answer to your question. Animals have always known I was a sucker for them,” Ariel whispered staring up into the burning gold flames. “I’ve never been afraid of animals and they seem to know I would never hurt them. I could see it in your eyes. I mean your…,” Ariel shook her head as if to clear it. “…in the dragon’s eyes. He would never hurt me.”

Mandra stared down into the deep, dark brown eyes staring up at him in a combination of confusion and something else. He felt a deep growl rumble in his chest in response to her. She was so beautiful lying under him. Her hair was almost white with flakes of gold running through it. It was spread out all around her in wild abandon.

Much like her,
Mandra thought.

She was like the wild creatures he often came across in the forest as he flew. Her features were so delicate and soft. Her nose was long and narrow and her lips were a pale rose color, full and begging for him to taste her. He liked the feel of her full, plump breasts pressed against his chest. He enjoyed the feel of her rounded hips in his hands. He could not wait to taste the sweet buds that were clearly defined against her top. He pressed his hips down to let her know exactly what was about to happen. He would claim her – right here, right now.

Yes! Claim mate,
his dragon roared deep inside him in glee.

Ariel’s eyes widened as she recognized the look in Mandra’s eyes. It was a look of total possession, of triumph, of determination to brand her as his. Ariel could feel the panic welled up inside her; Eric’s mocking voice coming back to her.

Never,
Ariel thought,
never again.

Ariel reacted out of self-preservation and fear when she realized Mandra was going to kiss her and possibly more. She brought her head up sharply into Mandra’s nose as hard as she could. She could hear the bone crunch and felt a moment of disorientation as she saw spots but she didn’t let it slow her down. Using her body and her hands that were suddenly freed as he grabbed his nose, Ariel pushed Mandra off her and scrambled to her feet. She touched her forehead which was throbbing. Her eyes flew to where Mandra was groaning on the ground and a small stream of blood was seeping through his fingers.

Mandra pushed up into a sitting position with one hand while the other still held his quickly swelling nose. A small squeak escaped Ariel when she saw the heated look of reprisal in them. Turning, she bolted back toward the palace determined to hide until she could figure a way to get off this blasted planet and away from the huge male warrior who was confusing her so much.

Mandra slammed into the conference room where three of his brothers were sitting around a huge, rosewood color table with a holovid screen in the center. His nose was back to normal but his temper was not. He couldn’t find the damn female. He was about ready to order every last warrior in the palace to stop what they were doing and search for her. He couldn’t even depend on his symbiot to help him. It seemed the female realized that there was a connection between them. Oh, it was with her. The female had threatened to remove every bit of it from her and not have anything to do with it again if it gave away where she was hiding. His symbiot refused to take a chance until it knew the female would not follow through with her threat.

“What is the matter?” Zoran asked standing up when he saw the murderous expression on his brother’s normally impassive face.

“You!” Mandra growled out moving toward Zoran. He pushed him back until he had him pinned up against the wall. “You are responsible for all this mess!”

Zoran locked arms with his brother in surprise. Both men’s arms strained as they locked into a battle of wills. Zoran grunted and pushed Mandra back a couple of steps. He found his brother must have been working out a lot more or his time in captivity had made him weaker than he thought because Mandra was not moving any further.

“And what, pray to the Gods and Goddesses, did I do?” Zoran asked looking into his brother’s frustrated eyes.

“You brought those females here! I should kick your ass good for that,” Mandra growled out low.

“I second that!” Creon said walking into the room. “I’ll help you, Mandra, with total enjoyment.”

“I’ll third that!” Trelon muttered under his breath.

“I guess it is unanimous,” Kelan called out from where he was sitting at the table rubbing his throbbing brow. “I wanted to do it while we were still on the
V’ager
.”

Zoran frowned as he looked at all his brothers. “What the hell is going on? What is wrong with the females?” Zoran asked.

“I can’t keep up with mine,” Trelon said tiredly. “She keeps disappearing on me.”

“Mine keeps pressing me to take her back to her planet,” Kelan said angrily. “I will not let her return. What if she doesn’t want to come back?”

Zoran looked at Mandra who had released him and turned away to walk over to the small recess where refreshments were served. “What about you two? I thought you were going to find mates for the other two? Surely there are males who will take them,” Zoran said in confusion.

Mandra was shocked as he lost control at the idea of another male claiming Ariel. Zoran barely ducked in time to miss the glass Mandra threw at him. Creon was on his feet growling dangerously at Zoran at the mention of giving Carmen away to another male. Zoran looked back and forth between his brothers who were both fighting for control. It took a moment before he realized what had happened.

“You too?” Zoran asked quietly looking at Creon and Mandra. “Both of you have claimed the females?”

Mandra glanced at Creon who had returned to his seat and was staring moodily out the window with his arms crossed over his chest. He leaned back against the counter and ran a hand through his hair. He looked at his brothers and wondered if they were going through the same confusion, fear, rage, and uncontrollable desire he was.