Kelly Lucille (4 page)

Ladon hissed at
him, feeling the bonds snap into place.  Eben ignored him, arching back and
thrusting harder into Morgan, reveling in the feel of his mates, his family. 
His to protect. 

Ladon grabbed Eben's
wrist and bit down.  The pull of the blood completed the circle and the flame
burned hotter until they were as one.  They pounded and thrust taking Morgan in
all ways until they felt her final barriers fall.  There would be no more talk
of leaving, ever.  Then, with a roar that could be heard all through the
kingdom, they came.  For Morgan it was too much when the final orgasm hit, she
blacked out.

She came back to
awareness above the hot spring while Eben lowered her down into Ladons waiting
arms.  He cuddled her close as he settled.  The hot water soothed over the
lingering sparks of magic.  Morgan could feel her aura was back where it was
supposed to be but it was changed.  Bits of Eben and Ladon clung to her, just
as she clung to them.  She felt connected to the Dragon magic as she never had
before and memories that were not her own still filtered through her thoughts. 
It was disconcerting to be one person for so long and then wake up as someone
else.  She still loved her family, but she could no more leave her dragon mates
than she could stop breathing.

“We would not have
let you go regardless.”  Ladon pulled her closer into his lap, brushing her
hair back behind her ears tenderly.  Somewhere she had lost her tie and it fell
around them like a soft cape.  She laid her head against his chest because she
was just too tired to do anything else.  Later she would think about how to
make her family safe.

“We will find the
little ones.”  Eben stated drawing her eyes to him.  “They will be safe here
under our protection.”

She stared at him,
searching his face, and feeling his absolute conviction and possession.  She
loved them so they too would be his.  Then she looked up at Ladon, who seemed
so much more daunting as a full adult dragon, and mate.  Let’s not forget
mate.  He nodded, rubbing his finger down her soft cheek as if he could not
stop touching her.

“I was wrong to
think you could just leave them.  I didn’t understand.  I’m sorry little
falcon.  We will find them.”  She hid her face in his neck and clung to him, as
she burst into tears.  For so long it had been her impossible responsibility to
keep everyone safe.  To know that these powerful dragons were declaring their
protection, that they now shared her burden; it was nothing short of
miraculous.  She had been so alone for so long.

“Shh, little
heart.”  She felt Eben rubbing her back.  “You will never be alone again.”  Ladon
met his eyes over their sobbing mate.  Neither of them had any experience with
the softer emotions.  Eben especially was sure he had lost those years ago.  To
go from centuries of loneliness and selfishness to having a family was no small
thing.  He wanted to be worthy of the honor.  On top of that she was everything
a mate should be, not only beautiful and soft on the outside, but on the inside
as well, courageous, loyal, and giving with a fiery passion that ate his
heart.  It was beyond all expectations. 

He felt Ladon's
determination merging with his own.  They would find her missing hatchlings and
bring them home.  No one would harm their new family; any that tried would die
in dragon fire and pain. 

Morgan sat up,
wiping her eyes and sniffing.  “Can we go now?  They have been out there on
their own for days.  I am so afraid we won’t find them before something terrible
happens.”

“We’ll see you to
safety at first light.  We will find them and bring them to you.  You will be
safe in the castle until we return.”  Eben was so used to fearful reverence
from all that he did not expect the argument he got from his new mate, nor her
swift change from soft to fierce.

“You are
completely deranged if you think I am going to stay behind locked in a castle
while you go after my family.”

Ladon held her
tight around the waist, keeping her in place on his lap.  “We will have enough
to carry without one more.”

Morgan fought
against his hold determined to stand.  “Clare and Rhune can fly, you need only
carry Milly and me, and if I can get my wind right, not even me.”

“You will stop
this experimenting at once.  You will go nowhere without one of us
regardless.”  Eben said, his big finger pointing right at her nose, as if she
was some child in need of sense.  “And they would be too slow as birds.  They
would never make the trip at our speed.” 

She smacked his
hand away, utterly shocking Eben.  He could not remember a time when someone
was so unimpressed with the threat he represented.

  “Rhune and Clare
can turn into anything they see, including big nosed dragons.  They won’t be a
burden.”  She finally gave up trying to wiggle out of Ladon's lap when she felt
how much he liked it.  “I’m going.”

“You are not.” 
Eben barked.  “You will stay where it’s safe.”

“You’ll never find
them without me.”

He growled.  “I am
the best hunter alive.  I have been hunting since before your puny species
discovered fire.  Three little hatchlings will not be so difficult.”

“Really?”  She
crossed her arms, ignoring Ladon’s arm still wrapped around her waist.  “And
what will you be tracking?  Which animal or insect for that matter will Rhune and
Clare be?  And Melly is a windtalker.  Do you know what that is?  Not only will
the wind send her messages of pursuit but it will actively hide her.  There
will be no scent to track, even if you knew where to acquire it.  So you cannot
use your nose.  What about your eyes?  Can a dragon’s eyes be fooled by a
clever wind?”  This time she pointed the finger.  “You will never find them
without me!”

Eben looked her
over with frustration then zeroed in on Ladon.  “Why are you not speaking?  You
want her out of danger as much as I do.”

Ladon smirked at
the older dragon.  “I would not waste what is left of this night with talk.” 
He pulled her hair to the side and kissed her neck.  “We are in her heart.  You
know as well as I do that she will just follow if we attempt to leave her. 
Better she be with us than flying through Dracon with a bed sheet as her
wings.”

Morgan smiled,
then turned her head and kissed his chin for the support.  He took advantage by
kissing her fully on the lips.

Eben cursed long
and loud in the old tongue but no one was paying attention.  Morgan wrapped her
arms around Ladon’s neck behind her, while she arched into his hands.  Eben
growled seeing her presented like a feast before him.  He was not used to being
ignored.  

He ducked under
the water and pressed his mouth to her open pussy.  Morgan squeaked and then
moaned when he licked up into her and nipped.  Ladon swallowed both sounds and the
release that followed a short time later.  Then he adjusted her until he could
press into her from behind.  They both groaned at the feel of her hot and
wrapped around his cock.

Eben stood up and
the water fell off him in rivulets.  Both Ladon and Morgan lost their breaths
at the sheer masculine beauty before them.  Morgan licked her suddenly dry
lips, her eyes of the male animal pulsating before her. 

Eben moved forward
until he was pressing his large cock with its bulbous head against her sweet
lips.  Morgan licked him, found the taste addicting, and licked again, until
she was learning him with her tongue and lips.  She could feel Ladon twitching
with each foray of her tongue on Ebens cock.

“Suck it.”  Eben's
voice was dark erotic dominance, and he reinforced it by grabbing her hair and
yanking her into place. 

Ladon shuddered
when she clenched around the pulsating cock buried inside her.

“Oh, she liked
that.”  He said, his teeth nipping at her ear.  “Do it again.”

“Morgan.”  That
voice she thought ought to be outlawed gave her commands showing her what he
liked.  She took as much of him as she could, working her tongue against the
bottom of his shaft until he was jerking in reaction.  She sucked her cheeks
hollow as he withdrew, whimpering in erotic fear as he pushed back in. 

Then Ladon started
moving, his hard rod rubbing a spot inside her that made her lose control.  She
clamped down hard on Eben, swallowing a goodly half of him and milking the cum
from his balls.  He came down her throat with a roar.  When he finally pulled
back, Morgan was gasping but she only got a moment to breathe again before Ladon
was pulling her chin up to his and kissing her.

He lifted and
turned them both until she rested belly down over the rim of the hot springs. 
It gave him the leverage for some serious pounding until she screamed her
orgasm.  Three more strokes and he was roaring his own. 

Sometime later
they were drifting, piled together across the rock seat.  Morgan was laid
across their laps side by side.  Her head on Eben’s shoulder her thighs across Ladon.

Ladon caressed her
legs under the water and Eben had her snuggled up to his chest.  His fingers
were making soothing circles on her back.

“Will it always be
like this?”  She asked dreamily, content momentarily to let tomorrow take care
of itself.

“From what I have
seen of dragon mating, it will only get better.”  Eben’s voice was soft.  She
sighed and burrowed deeper into him.  Eventually they made it back to the bed.

The sun had not
yet fully risen and there was crispness to the air that spoke of coming rain. 
The land was a cool wash of grey until they crossed the North Gate and left
behind the dragon mists and magic.  Entering the frost of the Northern
Mountains was something of a shock after feeling the thermals of power on the
Dragon side of the North Gate.  It felt like being suddenly dropped into an icy
stream after basking in the sun all afternoon.

The magic has
flown from these lands.
  Eben said in her mind. 

Is it because
the dragons don’t come here?

No.  Dragons
stopped coming when the magic left.

Why did it
leave?

Some humans
found magic inside them and it was good.  They were friends of dragon kind and
we all prospered.  Then mages came that craved powers not their own.  They
found ways to drink down the powers of others.

 
The blood
rights.

Yes.  The dark mages
and their blood rights.  They rose in power and the few that could have stopped
them let fear rule.  They hid instead of fighting and the reign of the Dark
Mages began.  The magic flew away because the people fear it. 

Will it ever
return? 
Her words were steeped in sadness and he wished he could give her
a different answer.

Things change. 
One day the Dark Mages will come to their end and the humans will be free of
that tyranny, but they will always fear what magic can do.  They will not want
the magic to return, because they have seen what it can be.  I am afraid that
the choice your people made to hide their magic will always be the way of it.

We’ll always be
hiding. 
She was glad that the wind pulled her tears off her cheeks before
they could fall.

Not you, little
heart, you, and yours are now dragon kin.  You no longer need live in silence. 
You will be free to work your magic without fear of the bonfire and the mob. 
You are safe.

  Yes.
My
family will be safe.  But what about the rest?  Why did the dragons not stop
the dark mages?

He didn’t want to
say but she felt the answer just the same.  Dragon arrogance, the problems of
mere humans were not worthy of their attention. 
We reap what we have sown.

I have never
felt that way.  But it is a common feeling of the council.  S
he felt him
sigh and pull her closer. 
I am sorry little one. 

You forget that
other things have changed as well. 
Ladon mind spoke from behind them.
  Dragons
have found their mates among the human mages.  She will not be the last that
finds sanctuary among our kind.
   

 Eben was
thoughtful as he looked to the future.

Yes. 
He
finally said his voice thoughtful. 
This will change things.

Ladon laughed. 
Too
right.  What do you think the mate-less among us will do when they find out
that their mate could be among the Human mages?  Human mages that are being
wiped from existence?

They will be at
the Councils door, demanding the right to hunt. 
Eben groaned. 
There
will be war with the humans.

Morgans mind voice
was tentative. 
With the Dark Mages maybe.  The humans without power won’t
fight the dragons.  Certainly not over the magic users among them, they have
already shown that.  Once the dark mages are gone, all you’d have to do is ask
for them.  They’d be delivered to your door.
  The last was bitter, but Ladon
did not notice it. 

Brilliant,
little falcon. 
Ladon laughed again. 
We’ll just pick the ones we want
and send the others back.

The ones you
want?  As in the ones you can mate? 
There was no mistaking the anger
behind the question and the wind was suddenly turning cold around them...  
What
if they don’t want to be mate to a dragon?  They have no say in it?  And what
happens to the others? You just send them back to certain death?

His mind voice
came back in a confused sputter.
 
Eben ended the discussion.

Clearly, we
will have to think on this problem.  It is not something that can be decided
between just the three of us.

Will I have a
say in that discussion?
  This time the bitterness was more than apparent. 
Will
any mage?  Or will dragons decide the fate of mage kind?

If you know
nothing else, know that your happiness will always be at the forefront of my
thoughts.

And mine. 
Ladon
seconded.

And that means
what?

Your causes are
our causes.  You will have a voice in any discussion that is vital to you, even
if it is through our lips.

Morgan felt the
truth in his thoughts and could breathe again.  The winds around them warmed
noticeably.  A tendril curled around them like a warm caress across his scales. 
Thank you Eben.

What he said.

She laughed. 
Thank
you too, Ladon.

Eben was sure she had
no idea of what her power was doing.  With their mating, she had grown in power
so much that the elements seemed to be but an extension of her feelings.  When
she mastered her control, she would be a force to be reckoned with.

When they had come
far enough on their journey Morgan lifted her face to the wind and breathed
deep. 
They are to the South.  Far from here.  Farther than they should be.
 
She was worried and it was clear in her voice.  Around them clouds began to
form.

Little heart
you must control your magic or we will soon be drenched.

 She looked at
Eben, clearly surprised.  He felt her confusion and then she took a firmer
grasp on her leaking magic.  It was harder than it should have been.  There was
more contained inside her than ever before.

You are more
than you were.  Sharing blood with dragons is no small thing.  Your powers are
growing and your control must grow with it. 

She concentrated
hard until her magic was once again locked tight away deep inside her.  It did
not sit comfortably as it once had.  Always before she had needed to
concentrate to use her magic, now, it was more like she had to concentrate not
to use it.

What is it you
fear?

The Dark Mages
reside in the Valley of Silence, far to the South.  We all know that direction
is death, but it feels as if that’s where they went.

You sense them? 
Can you speak to them?

No.  I do not
have that power.  I can feel that they’re all in that direction and I can feel
that they still live, but that is the extent of it. 

Ladon sent a wave
of reassuring warmth through her thoughts. 
Whatever we face, we face
together.  We will get them back.

Morgan pulled that
warmth around her like a cloak, even as she pressed her head into Ebens soft
scales. 
Hurry please.  There’s no good reason for them to be where they
are.

Eben pulled her in
tighter, his tail a firm anchor around her middle.  She was cradled safe in his
arms, but he could not protect her heart if something happened to the
hatchlings.  The thought was unacceptable to both Dragons. 

They wasted no
more time on leisurely flight; instead, both unfurled power until their wings rode
magic rather than wind.  They reached the last mountain peak overlooking the
Valley of Silence before the afternoon was half-gone.  Unlike the mountains and
valleys they had passed, all that was before them was flat and barren.  Even
the mountains were a stark skeleton of rocks and dirt.  An eerie shadow of what
should have been.  

They stood
together at the precipice, Morgan, with Eben and Ladon in their man forms,
looking out across the desert that was once green fields.  It rivaled in many
ways Ebens mountain fortress with high walls and grand towers, but where Ebens
was a part of the mountain it was carved from, this castle and its walls was made
of ebony glass that cut the life from the land.  There was one road tattooed
across the sand that led to the first walled city of the blood mage.  None but
the magnull and their soldiers crossed it voluntarily.  All others came in
prison wagons to be presented, sacrifices for the dark mages power.  And this
was only one of four such atrocities that scarred the land. 

Morgans face had
gone white, even the dragons couldn't contain their reaction.  They were
repulsed by the death that surrounded the place like a cloud of evil vapor. 
Such a killing of the land was anathema to their kind.  The Earth was the great
mother from which all life sparked.  This was a clear rape of that life and it
hurt to see it.

“I knew that the
Magic had flown, but this...”  Ebens voice was rough. 

“He has them.” 
Morgan said flatly, her voice breaking only a little.  “He has my family in
that place of nightmares.”

Ladon pulled her
against his side without looking away from the death before them.  “Then we get
them out.  Now.”

It took Eben
another minute to deal with the rage that flowed.  That the dragons in their
arrogance had allowed this to happen was offensive.  That it should continue,
inconceivable.  The council had to be notified, but he could not leave an
innocent within those walls for another minute. 

“We will bring out
your younglings.”  Eben said his voice an angry whip of dragon fire.  “Then we
take this travesty to the council.  One way or another, this time of dark mages
will be ended.”  He pointed to the barren wasteland before them.  “This will
not stand.”  Then he turned back to Morgan.  “You will stay here.” 

There was no room
for argument, or discussion, they could all feel his utter refusal to have his
mate enter such a place, even at his side.  He would let the world burn around
them before he allowed that.  Ladon was in complete agreement.

Morgan wanted to
argue, but she felt their resolve and she would not waste the time.  Instead,
she pulled away from Ladon and stepped back.  “Go.  Hurry please; get them out
of that place.  I'll stay here.  Just bring them back quickly.”  Ladon pulled
her back into his arms for a hard kiss then carried her back so that she was
closer to the rock face and under an overhang, as safe as they could make her. 
He held her face against his briefly.

“Be safe.”  He
whispered against her cheek.  Then he stepped to the ledge.

Eben came next. 
He ran a hand down her neck until his thumb caressed the mark on her neck.  “Be
good.”  His voice was a command that required an answer, so she nodded her
agreement.  Then he too was at the ledge.  She watched them change in a swirl
of magic that fluttered her new dress about her ankles.  Ladon had conjured it
for her that morning to match her eyes.  He had been so pleased by his new
powers, and the thought made her smile.  The happy thought fled even as she
held the skirt in place.  She bit her lip as she watched them arch across the
sky.

If either of
you get hurt I’ll be coming in after you.  Just keep that in mind and don’t
take chances.

The response from
both dragons was immediate:

You step one
foot off that rock and I’ll blister your ass. 
Ladon

The thought
alone is enough to get you punished.  When we reach your new home, we will see
to that. 
Ebens voice went very soft but the feeling behind them were hard
as steel. 
There is no one in these walls I will not sacrifice to see you
safe.  Do not force me to make such a choice.  None of us will be happy with
it.

I would never
put you in that position, I said I will stay here and I will, but I meant what
I said too:  Be careful, because once you both arrive, everything I love will
be in that place, and you understand this, I won’t leave anybody behind here. 
Not any of you.

The first attack
hit them in the air before they could do more than curse her stubbornness.

The dark magic fireballs
reigned through the sky.  From where Morgan stood, she could see the entire
valley.  It looked as if the sky itself had exploded.  She lifted the lid on
her magic thinking to help but Ebens voice roared through her mind.

DO NOT!  The
Mage will be able to follow the magic back to its source!

Then Ladon was
laughing in her head. 
There is nothing here to harm us little Falcon, it is
all just pretty sparkles.

Morgan closed the
lid on her magic, and sealed it tight. 
Then stop playing around and get in
there.

As my lady
commands.

As one, the dragons
turned and dived at the dark mage’s Fortress.  They didn't bother with doors
but crashed through the walls as if it was indeed the black glass it resembled,
instead of rock.  Morgan lost sight of them but she felt Eben and Ladon merge thoroughly
with her until she was in the castle with them.  She could feel her family.  Melisande
was somewhere above, while Clare and Rhune were below.  The dragons split up. 
Ladon headed down, crashing through floors and magic until he came to the
dungeons of the blood mage.

Careful Ladon. 
You don’t want to hurt anyone trapped there.

Ladon shifted in a
swirl of magic until he stood there as a man with armor the color of a burning
sun.  When the dark mage soldiers came, they found him in all his shining glory
with a sword of fire ready in his hands.  Most of them ran as soon as they saw
what they were up against.  The few who fought died.  Each cell he passed
opened with a flick of dragon magic but there were none brave enough to try
escape until he was long past.  That was, no one brave enough until he reached
the last cell anyway. 

He saw Rhune first. 
The child stood before his taller sister as if he was a warrior grown.  He had
Morgan’s fiery green eyes and a mop of dark auburn hair.  Stubborn
determination was in every line of his little face.  The girl behind him had
the same eyes.  She looked like a smaller, skinny version of Morgan up to the
firm set of the lips and stubborn jaw.