Captive Fire (11 page)

Drakon’s green eyes swirled. He opened his wings and
soaked in the energy their planet offered them. Ryuu sensed it enfolding them
both like a warm pool of magma, comforting instead of deadly. Drakon flamed into
the sky. Then the heat faded and he shifted back to human. When Ryuu joined
him, he realized they were standing on a huge field of crystal formed from the
sand that had been there before their transformation.

“Aiyana has blessed us,” Drakon whispered, going to
his knees and touching the crystal.

Ryuu nodded, dropping down beside his mate. “Indeed.”

When Ryuu reached for him, Drakon met him halfway.
Their lips touched and the bond flared bright in their minds. The war was now
truly over.

Epilogue

“Sire, your mate is waiting for you in your chambers,”
Svana said, bowing as he tossed the last of the reports onto the rough table.

Ryuu smiled. “Excellent,” he said, glancing around the
room. The new crystal field they’d created swept right up to the Dragon’s Teeth
Mountains, so he and Drakon decided to build a new capital city there for both
of their people.
A new palace to unite their civilization.
They planned to merge the best of both architectures: an underground fortress
with aboveground gardens. However, they’d only started construction a few
months ago and this particular space was still rough around the edges. “Has his
mother left yet?”

“She has. She said something about studying music?”
Svana sounded confused.

Ryuu laughed. “Lady Delinda always wanted to be a
composer, but her duties as General Ozuru’s wife, and later interim leader of
the Soutx, prevented her from following her heart.”

Svana’s face cleared. “Ah.”

“You never wanted to be anything else except a
warrior, did you?” he asked.

Svana shook her head. “No, Sire.”

Ryuu smiled sadly. “I’m glad my father is dead. It was
wrong of him to do what he did to our people.” He sighed. “I’m sorry it took so
long for me to fix things.”

“You abolished his unjust rulings as soon as you
could. You outlawed slavery. Everyone I know is happy,” Zinan said, stepping up
beside his wife. “Stop blaming yourself for the past.”

“He is right, Ryuu,” Svana flashed him a rare smile.
“Zinan and I were finally able to marry. Women are no longer possessions. The
Arethuza have regained their honor.”

“And I was delighted to officiate at your nuptials,”
Ryuu told them, smiling wryly. “And because the two of you know me all too
well, I will attempt to stop feeling guilty.” They laughed as he stood up and
stretched.

“What?”

Zinan grinned. “The day you stop feeling responsible
for everyone and everything is the day you die, old and gray and feeble.”

Ryuu snorted. “In other words, that day is a long way
off.”

Svana nodded.
“Centuries.
I’ve heard that dragons live for a very long time.”

“It’s true,” Drakon said, walking into the chamber.
“Mated dragons live even longer than most.”

Both Svana and Zinan turned and bowed. “Sire,” they
said in unison.

Drakon made a face. “I wish you would stop calling me
that. It’s unnatural.”

“But you are coleader, now. Sire is the correct form
of address,” Svana said, eyes twinkling. “It’s a shame that you are a Soutx, as
well, but we must all bear our burdens.”

Drakon turned to Ryuu. “I give up. They’re going to
call me whatever they want, aren’t they?”

“Of course.”
Ryuu tugged on his arm. “Quick. Let’s make our escape
before they start bowing again.”

Drakon grinned. “Good point. I came here to drag you
away from your dreary life.”

“Speaking of dreary, have you finished convincing the
hidebound elders of the Soutx that you’re not a demon?” Ryuu asked him, walking
toward the door. He nodded to Svana and Zinan on the way out. Predictably, they
bowed.

Drakon rolled his eyes. “They’re still not completely
convinced, but with most of the youngsters on my side, the point is moot. I’m
the Soutx leader whether they like it or not.”

“Maybe you should eat a few of them.” Ryuu began
walking down the corridor to their sleeping chambers. “That might help.”

“No thank you. They’d probably taste terrible,” Drakon
replied seriously. “Like stringy wood. And sand.” He shuddered.

Ryuu laughed. “You’re likely right.”

“They think I’m cursed because of my dragon’s color,
and taking a man for a mate disturbs them greatly. It’s infuriating, especially
after everything I did to free them of your father’s insane war,” Drakon
grumbled.

“That’s because they lack imagination,” Ryuu said
slyly.

Drakon raised his eyebrows.
“Hmm.”

Ryuu’s lips quirked.
“Don’t think about it so hard. You might break
something.” He palmed the security pad for their door and it opened.

Drakon followed him inside. “Do you take anything
seriously anymore?”

Ryuu pretended to think about it as he unbuckled his
weapon harness. He slung it over the rack. “Not if I can help it.”

Drakon grabbed him and spun him onto the bed.
“Dissolute emperor,” he muttered, kissing down his jaw.

Ryuu gasped as Drakon’s muscular torso pressed him
down. His cock stirred. “Debauched dragon,” he replied.

“Mmm.”
Drakon popped the fastenings on his tunic. “Enough.
You’re wearing too many clothes.”

“That’s easily solved,” Ryuu said, reaching up and
ripping open Drakon’s shirt.

Drakon bit him. “You’re undressing the wrong person.”
He rolled his hips, pressing his erection into Ryuu’s.

“I think not.” Ryuu shoved the shirt down and off
Drakon’s arms. He went to work on his mate’s pants.

“At least I don’t wear armor,” Drakon retorted,
laughing as Ryuu cursed at his trouser fastening. “You realize that it’s
pointless to dress like that, yes? You could shift and flame whoever you want
to kill. You don’t need to fling knives at people anymore.”

“Shut up, slave,” Ryuu retorted, finally getting the
button free. He shoved at Drakon’s pants, trying to work them down over his
lover’s hips.

Drakon shook his head and stood up. He hurriedly
stripped, then put his hands on his hips. His full cock bobbed and Ryuu’s
breathing sped up.

“Take off your boots,” Drakon said.

Ryuu toed them off. They fell to the floor with a
thump.

“Tunic,” Drakon commanded, not moving.

Ryuu flushed at the tone in Drakon’s voice. He loved
it when his mate went all demanding on him. He pulled off his tunic,
then
slid his pants down and off. When he lay back on the
bed, Drakon’s cock had turned even duskier.

“Come here,” Ryuu said roughly. He palmed himself,
trying to calm down.

Drakon slowly walked over and lowered himself down.
When their pricks touched, both men hissed.

“Yes,” Ryuu moaned, wrapping his legs around his mate.
“That’s perfect.”

“I’m not going to last,” Drakon said, biting him
again. He bit, then licked over the spot, then did it again.

“You drive me crazy,” Ryuu muttered, hips surging.
There wasn’t quite enough friction and he shifted, lifting a leg up over
Drakon’s waist. “Maybe I should whip you for your misbehavior.”

Drakon chuckled, grabbing Ryuu’s arms and forcing them
down onto the sleeping platform. “I’m no longer your slave, Prince.”

“I’m no longer a prince,” Ryuu gritted out, hips
rotating. Drakon’s cock rubbed up against his and he groaned, throwing back his
head. The heat between them grew and absently he wondered if they might someday
shift in the middle of sex.
That would be interesting,
he thought,
grateful that they’d had this chamber built to accommodate their dragon forms.

“That’s it,” Drakon said, pressing harder into his
wrists. “You can’t get away from me.”

“I don’t want to get away from you,” Ryuu said,
gasping.
“Ever.”
He sucked in air, hips thrusting.
“I’m close, Drakon.”

When his mate leaned down and bit him once more,
Ryuu’s climax suddenly took over. He cried out as his cock jerked and pleasure
spread through him like a wave of fire. He closed his eyes and clenched his
fists, grunting as his seed spurted between them.

Drakon ground his hips down wildly, almost bucking off
of Ryuu. He moaned, too, and more warm wetness spread between them. Ryuu held
him as Drakon slumped down, tucking his face against his neck.

After he caught his breath, Ryuu tugged his hands free
and wrapped them around his mate. “I love you, my black dragon,” he murmured
softly. “You saved me from my father.” He paused, thinking back over the past
half year. “You saved me from myself.”

Drakon went still,
then
lifted his head. His green eyes were wet. “You saved me from my fear, and gave
me back my people, my love. You will always be my mate, Ryuu.
My master.
My beloved.”

Ryuu kissed him softly, enjoying the affection that
pulsed along their bond. “Freedom is a heady thing.”

Drakon stroked his face. “Indeed.”

“Let us savor it, then, for as long as we have life
within us,” Ryuu said, knowing that his mate would understand all the things he
didn’t say. They’d grieved their dead. Now it was time to live for the future.

www.erinmleaf.com

Other Books by Erin M. Leaf:

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