Dragonkin (11 page)

“You taste so damn good.” He sucked her nipple into his mouth and squeezed the other between his fingers.

Kestrel rose from the bed and let out a primal cry. Andrik wrapped her leg around his waist. At that moment, he plunged his cock inside of her. She cried out as she took all of him in. His mouth switched to her other breast. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on to him. She was beyond trying to control their union. Each time he pulled out of her and slid back in, he hit her sweet spot, bringing her higher and higher. Her heart raced along with his. She breathed in exact time with him. This was what their bond had created. A perfect union. His lips claimed hers at the exact moment they both came. He groaned into her mouth. She pressed her head into his shoulder to have an anchor in the real world.

“I love you, Kes,” he whispered.

“I love you, too.”

He moved inside of her for a few more strokes. At the end, he bit into her shoulder. That sent her into another orgasm. She saw blackness and fire before her eyes. Inside her mind, a dragon roared, and she wasn’t sure if it was her or him, only that the world ended for a little while and she was in the arms of her mate.

Chapter Twelve

When she opened her eyes the next morning, her body was her own again. After a deep sleep, she awoke with conviction. Her mind was made up. She was going to face the enemy that had destroyed the Athenaeum and then free the other spellcasters. Once the rogue spellcasters were gone, she would return to the mountain with Andrik. That was all she wanted. She might be the most powerful spellcaster the Athenaeum had ever seen, but she was done with that life. Kestrel had finally found her place in life, and that was by her mate’s side.

She got up. Andrik wasn’t in the room. The sun streamed in through the clouds and warmed her. Taking a moment, she summoned some of her power. The fire flared up from her palm and twirled in a column of flame. It was hard to separate her dragon fire and the magic that she had been born with. She squelched the flame, drew upon her spellcaster power, and the flame appeared again. Gritting her teeth, she focused on the candle by her bed. It rose in the air by the power of her will. It floated above the covers before she beckoned it to her.
Well at least I can still do that. Now something more difficult
. Kestrel concentrated on the clouds burning off from the sun. A spell left her lips. The power surrounded her in a cool bubble. In her mind, she wove the clouds together. They began to darken. A rush of wind blasted through the room. The sky grayed over. Mist sprayed across her face. The energy reached out further along the clouds, pulling them together, further than she had stretched before. Her mind was one with the clouds until a crack of thunder drew her attention back. She opened her eyes and saw it was pouring out. With a small smile, she released the clouds and let the weather return to normal.

“I’m impressed.” Andrik stood in the doorway, dressed for traveling, with a pack slung over one shoulder. A sword was belted at his side.

“I haven’t done that in a long time. I wanted to be sure I could still summon the power.”

“Well, I never doubted you.”

“Going somewhere?” She took her pack and folded the clothes she would need.

“I’m coming with you.”

“I don’t want you to come.”

He chuckled. “You don’t have a choice about that. I’m not going to see my mate get hurt because of some rogue dragon war. Too many of our kind have died over land battles because the spellcasters wish to expand their kingdoms or decide who should rule. It’s time this ended. I spoke with my father this morning. We have lived in this mountain for centuries, keeping ourselves quiet. The other dragons think dragonkin are a legend, like the drakin myth. We have not pressed upon them our will or our laws, but it’s time that changed. Births are down. Soon there might not be any dragons left. Maybe our time is coming to an end.”

She sensed his anger and his sorrow. Kestrel had noticed over the centuries that fewer spellcasters were coming to the Athenaeum with their dragons. “I agree that you should intervene. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

He cupped her face. “I’m not going to die like Castigan. I’m going to be here with you. Always. It’s time we showed them I’m not a legend. By the way, Ralag is coming with us.”

“Why?”

“He says it’s something he has to do. He didn’t get specific on it, only that this meeting was written about years ago. The outcome will determine the change in our race or something. He keeps all the lore. I’ve never paid much attention to it. I’m flying with him.”

“Dathan is going to wonder why you aren’t coming.”

“You can tell him I’m following on horseback. I don’t want him to know who I am. Not yet. It’ll be okay. Are you ready? I know Dathan was already getting set to go. I was coming to rouse you when I sensed you were awake.”

A sly smile played upon her lips. “After last night, I’m surprised you let me sleep this long. I’m ready, but I need to eat something.”

He leaned in and kissed her. “I knew you were going to say that. That’s why I brought you some food. It’s on the table.” He gestured.

A tray filled with fruit and a bowl of steaming porridge awaited her. She trailed her hands down his chest and went to eat. When she was done, they gathered their things and met up with Dathan and Pena. They waited for them on the ledge. Ralag was there as well. She smiled when she saw him. He had stopped giving her lessons after Andrik insisted. She hadn’t objected.

“Ready?” Dathan asked. She saw the relief in his eyes knowing she was there. The scars on his face had receded some. The healer had been able to help him.

Pena lowered her wing so Kestrel could climb onto her back. “Let’s go. Andrik will be following on horseback. Ralag is waiting for his dragon. He’ll follow us shortly.”

“I don’t see why the old man has to come anyway.”

Kestrel poked the spellcaster in the ribs. “Because he knows more about dragon magic than anyone I’ve ever met. So hush, and let’s go.”

She settled her arm around Dathan’s waist, and then Pena dove off the ledge. The air whooshed around them until she opened her wings and began to ascend higher. Kestrel sensed the urgency in the dragon as they flew. She glanced behind her and saw a black dot catching up to them and knew it was Ralag and Andrik.

They flew through the day and into the early evening. When they stopped, they all ate in silence. Kestrel settled near Ralag. She stared up at the sky, contemplating what was going to greet them when they arrived at the encampment at the base of the Northern Mountains. Were events from the past going to repeat themselves? She prayed to the gods that they wouldn’t. Ralag placed a hand on her knee.

“You already seem as if the world is going to end. You have to have faith.”

“I haven’t had faith in a long time. Not until recently.”

Andrik nudged her back until she giggled. She patted him on the nose and then stared back into the fire. The old part of her was returning, the one who had gotten her into so much trouble. She would only use her powers if needed. Hopefully the war would end once her mate revealed who he was. Andrik poked her again until she relaxed some.

“Andrik said you came along to see the outcome of the fight. That it was written about long ago. What did that mean?”

Ralag patted her knee. “If the writings are true, then we will see the birth of a legend. The drakin will rise from its ashes and—”

“So Ralag, Kes tells me you know more about dragon magic than anyone she’s ever met.”

Ralag eyed Dathan. “That’s true, young man. I would say I do.”

“Did you bond with one of the dragons in the mountain? Is that why you know so much? The Athenaeum knows very little about the wild dragons, only that the king rules over all dragons. We caught a small glimpse of him while we were there confirming that legend.”

“It’s true the dragons in Blaze Mountain are somewhat different than the dragons who choose the spellcasters. But their power and fire are the same. Their origin is the same. The dragons are under the jurisdiction of the dragon king. It’s about time they remembered that. You might find none of them want to fight the war.”

“So you’re saying that you’re so powerful that you can break the bond between human and dragon? That you can free them from our slavery?” Dathan snarled.

Kestrel glanced between the both of them. Ralag had a faraway look to his eye. Dathan’s ire was rising. The burn on his face had been healed somewhat. The edges and the swirls of the skin on his face were smoother and had retreated some. The area around his eye had the more remarkable recovery. The skin was back to normal. He was even able to use his arm.
Maybe with a few more healings he could get back to normal.

“Of course I can’t break the connection between you. It’s a fundamental part of the dragon. Don’t you know the old legends about why humans and dragons are bonded together?”

“Enlighten me.”

“Before humans knew magic, the dragons ruled the sky. The king of the dragons had no mate. One day he came upon a maid and was instantly drawn to her. She was frightened, but he told her he would never hurt her. Their fondness grew, and they fell in love. Dragons and humans can’t mate, so the king prayed to the gods so he could be with her. One night he awoke and found he was human. The young woman was frightened by his appearance, but he proved he was the dragon by showing her his fire. He took her for his mate. When he did, he transferred a small part of his essence inside of her so she would have his longevity.

“He found that he could shift back and forth to both forms even though she could not.” Ralag recited the legend of the dragonkin to Dathan.

Dathan snorted. “So you’re saying that all spellcasters are the human reflection of a dragon. The dragon’s drive to bond with us is because they need to find their lost humanity?”

“Yes. That’s exactly it. All fables are based in reality somewhere along the line. I am over three thousand years old. You tell me that doesn’t make me an expert on things.” Ralag winked at Kestrel. She chuckled and then shut her eyes.

The next morning Dathan said they would reach the camp later that day. Her apprehension grew the closer they got. Pena strained to fly faster. When they brought Kestrel to Blaze Mountain, it had been at a leisurely pace. They could have cut the flight down a day if Dathan had truly wanted.

As they circled the camp, Kestrel saw the valley below huddled by mountains on all sides. The only way to get in and out was by air or a few small paths she saw carved into the slopes. Dozens of tents were huddled together, and other dragons flew low, patrolling for the rogues. Pena settled down a little way from the camp. They slid off her.

“Is your husband going to be able to find us? The route into this place is perilous on horseback.” Dathan asked.

“He’ll be here for sure. Not to worry.”

“Humph. Come on. We can get something to eat and find out what’s been going on.”

Dathan walked toward the encampment. Kestrel followed with Ralag behind her. Andrik wound his mind through hers so he could hear everything said. She enjoyed having him close and was glad he had come. His love filled her, and she held her head up. She didn’t know what to expect when she met the other spellcasters who were leading the offensive. All she could think of was the rejection she was going to be met with. After all the years she had lived in the shadows, now was the time she was going to be thrust into the light.

They walked to the largest tent. Inside was a cacophony of voices. All talking ceased when Dathan walked in with Kestrel behind him. Five other spellcasters were inside. Three of them she recognized. The other two she did not. The roar of a dragon filled her ears. One of the spellcasters she didn’t know came over to her and stuck his hand out. He was shorter than her, with a few strands of white hair clinging to his head. His skin was translucent and his pale eyes sparkled with power. He clasped her shoulders with his hands.

“It is good to see you, Kestrel. We were afraid that you wouldn’t wish to return or get here in time. We launch our offensive tomorrow.”

She gave him a small smile. “I almost didn’t. Forgive me, but who are you?”

He backed away and gave her a small bow. “Beg pardon. I’m Tridan. I head the athenaeum in Florac. My companion is my great niece, Shala. She is new among our ranks only having been chosen by a dragon a couple of years ago. But there is speculation that she could rival your power. Before you were given the gift of the dragon fire, of course. The other three you know.”

She looked at the other two men and one middle-aged woman. They all nodded at her. Their animosity was apparent. She had never been to the other athenaeum. If Tridan was the headmaster there, then maybe she could pick his brain after the attack. She studied the young girl. Her look was exotic, with midnight hair and tanned skin. Her blue eyes were spaced far apart. Kestrel sensed something about her.

“Well, I’m happy to be of service. It—”

“Why are we attacking in the morning? I thought we had more time,” Dathan interjected. He threw his gloves down on the table and then poured himself a goblet of wine. He offered it to her, but she shook her head. She never liked to drink after a long flight. It took her stomach a while to catch up to itself.

One of the spellcasters she knew stepped forward. She wracked her memory for a name. Harnish. His blue robes were tattered, and the dark circles under his eyes told of some sleepless nights. “We sent an emissary into their camp with a letter so we could resolve this peacefully. The last thing we want is another war. We lost so many. They sent back the envoy’s head in a sack with a note attached to it saying they didn’t wish any discussions. They want to order a new regime. One where the strongest rules.”

“I had heard talk among the Athenaeum before it was attacked that some thought we should march upon Blaze Mountain to the dragon king and take over his seat of power. I thought it was only talk.” The middle-aged spellcaster met Kestrel’s eyes and then looked away. Her gray hair hung over her shoulder. Her name was Moira. She had also said nasty things behind Kestrel’s back when Moira was around.