Page 18

Asha

Asha’s heart hadn’t stopped singing since the moment Heckle had him in his mouth, tucking him onto his scaled back.

Nothing could have prepared him for the utter pleasure, bordering on sexual, that devoured him like magic.

Ice coated his fingers, frost crawling the tether at Heckle’s neck.

The magic that Envi had worked with him on all day consumed his blood inside of him until Rath swooped in to save him from himself.

Asha didn’t want to be saved. Asha wanted to love the sky, to cry for how happy the cold made him, now that he knew how to hold it.

And Rath was gorgeous, his tawny human skin giving way to scales like midnight.

So much fear consumed him, but Asha couldn’t let him sink into it.

He wanted to fly, wanted to be held and, with a single quip, he launched himself into fate’s hands.

Would he fly, or would Rath catch him? Somehow, Asha knew. No room for anger.

He’d never wanted to kiss anyone as badly as he did then, coursing with lust and despicable ecstasy.

A single touch of Rath’s hands in the right spot could have made Asha spend himself empty.

Their lips touched, and nothing else would do but to have him closer, his tongue deeper and in other places.

And of all the questions he had of sex and the things that a male did with another… Asha knew where he wanted Rath.

“Easy.” Rath breathed over Asha’s lips, eyes traversing the sky before homing in on a target, drawing them in to land. “Damn it to the fiery pits…” Asha followed Rath’s eyes and spotted the shimmering shape of the moon rising in the waning evening light.

Asha laughed as Rath tried to set him on his feet, legs like jelly. He staggered and chuckled, grinning as Heckle came to a rough land nearby him with an affectionate bleat.

“Oh, no you don’t, rascal!” Rath grabbed Heckle’s lead and Asha’s hand, leading him back to the stables. “What was going through your head when you did that?”

“Wee?” Asha shrugged.

Rath opened his mouth to fire back and paused. “Okay. Don’t do that again without me. And be wary of that thing.” Rath pointed up, and Asha followed his finger to stare at the ceiling of the stable.

“The moon.”

“Oh. Yeah, you said something about that.” Asha shrugged. “It’s not a full moon yet. A while yet, I believe.”

“Asha. You have to know what it’ll be like if you see it.

It’s not the moon itself; it’s being in the moonlight or witnessing it.

It triggers your dragon’s response. If it’s close enough to be full, your dragon may say it’s time.

And I’d hate to have to deny you when the time comes because I can’t be sure you’re consenting or in your right mind. ”

“Oh. The thing and the… The egg? Eggs?” Asha stared at the ground and frowned. “How bad is it?” Asha averted his gaze.

“Enough that full moons traumatized my brothers and me when my parents would squirrel away. It’s loud.

” Rath cleared his throat and scales receded from his neck and face, more of the human coming forth again.

It didn’t bother Asha, the dragon, as much as he thought it might.

“And I’d like our first time to not be relegated to desperation. ”

Asha took a deep breath, bidding his thoughts away. Because as tempting as Rath was, he still held shame. “I appreciate that.”

“Oh please. You two should enjoy one another.” Pryd sighed flippantly, and Kensing kicked his ankle. “Ow! Fine. I apologize, Brothers. Next time, I won’t lock Slath in the cellar and steal away with your mate.”

“So that’s why he’s not here… Kensing?” Rath turned and gave the human a pleading look.

Kensing nodded and jogged off while Rath folded his arms and glared. “See, Asha, this is why unmated males need bedservants. Keeps them in toe.”

Pryd showed no sign of concern over the matter but grinned all the same. “Not for much longer. Kensing is heading off. He’s helping me pick my next servant.” Pryd waved his hand dismissively but kept staring strangely at Asha. “But maybe my mate is out there, too.”

“Then wait for their call and don’t scare my mate off, please.” Rath hissed low and Asha patted his arm, the strange burn of cold still in his cheeks. Rath turned his head to stare down at Asha, and his anger faltered.

“He was sweet to me, Rath. I enjoyed him bickering with Slath, and the wyverns are so lovely.” Asha offered his best smile, but concern still simmered in Rath’s dark eyes.

“You could have been hurt. You could be pushed into something you’re not ready for.” Rath placed his hand gingerly over Asha’s, refraining from touching more than Asha would have liked.

“Oh yes, elders forbid we want to see our new brother’s scales.” Pryd rolled his eyes.

“That takes time.” Rath tensed like he wanted to hit Pryd, and Asha glanced over his arms as he lifted his sleeves and tilted his skin. It felt rather like a layer of frost over him, a glimmer of sweat, just a slight sheen that Asha squinted at. He tugged Rath’s sleeve and held up his arm.

“Are you hurt?” Rath took his hand and studied his skin for a moment before his eyes went wide, pupils blowing out. “Oh.”

“Is that scales?” Asha stared at it and as Rath touched, they grew a little more discernible, pale, not like Rath’s dark blue but a powdery sort of reflective white, caught with a glow of fire like dawn.

“Anyway, young one. It was a pleasure to meet you. I’ll go harass my attendants and see you once again at dinner.” Pryd waved his fingers and halted.

“Lapryda!” The fierce shriek of Slath’s voice shot across the courtyard, and Pryd flinched.

Kensing trotted out, arms crossed, smirking.

“Slath! My brother dearest!” Pryd turned just in time to be tackled to the ground, fists flying as Slath did his level best to blacken both of Pryd’s eyes.

“After what happened to Galatan and Circe? You’d put him at risk like that? Fuck you!” Slath struck home and caught Pryd’s nose, hissing sharply, his teeth and reddened scales coming into view, making Pryd toss his hands up in defense.

Asha was no stranger to fights among the stable boys or brawls amid the drinking men and had barely a thought before he dove atop Slath and pulled his arm back, rolling him off Pryd and leaping back to avoid the disoriented swings. “Alright, lads, fun’s over!”

“Stop!” Rath rubbed his palm over his forehead and snatched Asha up before he could even settle on his feet, holding him bridal style and glaring at his brothers.

“It’s over. Asha is fine.” Rath sighed heavily as Asha struggled in his arms.

“I’m fine, Rath. I promise. Fight’s over.” Asha grinned up at Rath, showing as much excitement as he could.

“Fight may be over, but you’re going back to your room for a bath and a lie down before dinner.”

“I’m fine!”

“For the moment.” Rath kept his brow furrowed but walked past his brothers, Pryd in disarray and Slath still blinking up in confusion.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Asha squirmed, but Rath only held him tighter.

“It means that you’ve had contact with too much magic today and are damn near about to crawl out of your skin, literally.” A predatory noise curled in Rath’s throat.

“Is it about that full moon thing? I’m fine, a little sweaty, but fine.”

Rath kept silent until he ascended the stairs to his quarters and absconded him into his bedroom where he hesitated, pivoting on one foot and the other, and part of Asha hoped Rath would take him to the nest, but the other part remained equally fearful.

It all got so much better when Rath went neither and guided him into the bathing chamber and set him onto his unsteady feet, twisting the taps to warm the pool more.

“Rath?” Asha gasped when Rath pursed his lips and glanced back toward him, his eyes dark and predatory but fearful all the same.

“Clothes off. Get in.” Rath stared him down, working the buttons of his own breeches to slide them and his underclothing away to reveal the mystery behind them.

“Rath… I don’t…” Asha stepped back and the fire in Rath’s eyes made him tremble, tugging at his clothes lamely.

“Jeron!” Rath approached Asha, still focused as he wrestled him from his clothes with frustrated noises and swept him up once more, his sharp fingers squeezing his thighs before they descended into the hot water together, Asha’s cheeks on fire.

“Sire?” Jeron appeared in the doorway panting, staring down at the two sinking into the heated waters and swore beneath his breath.

“Rath. I’m—” Asha practically melted once he hit the water. The crawling sensation that dominated his body made him writhe and pant. His cock, raising to full mast, ached fiercely as Rath’s bare body touched his own. “Are we going to share a bed—nest? Will you have at me?”

“I promised, Asha. Now, Jeron. We talked about this. Help.” Rath’s stern tone went soft as Jeron ran off, his footsteps quick.

“Until the world knows I’m yours. Until we are mated before the court and nobles.” Asha repeated the words, and they soured on the tip of his tongue.

“I regret making that promise now.” Rath leaned down and took Asha’s mouth in his own. They’d shared kisses before, but the way Rath’s mouth owned his, how it shot straight to his cock, made his balls ache. Kissing alone was so close to making him spend himself.

“You said sleep . It is not sleeping we will be doing in that nest.” Asha’s body burned with how badly he wanted to touch Rath, to have him closer, against him, bodies rubbing, to have the dragon inside of him.

“How I wish I were fae and that promise could be twisted. Intent matters. But what matters more is that we do not act rashly. Let us calm one another, and if by morning we feel the same—I will set our date.” Rath didn’t move to pull away, to end their affections.

He continued kissing, even as the ache in his balls intensified, overshadowing a growing headache.

“I’m sorry I didn’t listen about the moon.

” Asha squirmed and winced through a fierce stabbing sensation that made his head throb.

A piercing pain shot through his jaw, twisting his gut.

And the very ass he wanted Rath to have his way with hurt, like his spine was being stabbed and pulled, the scars of his back stinging as well.

“I’ll be the one apologizing to you. You’re so ready to be a dragon that I had little chance to restrain you.

You are desperate for your wings.” Rath cradled Asha and kissed along his neck and cheek, breathing hot and heavy over his ear.

“You’re so beautiful, and you’ll be more beautiful when I see your scales. ”

Asha squirmed as the pain in his backside ripped and burned, but he’d had worse lashings before. A fullness in his mouth made him part his lips to wheeze out a sharp cry of pain. “Hurts…”

“It does. I can tell.” Rath pulled Asha in and held him tight, breathing slowly as the pain ravaged him.

Jeron returned soon after, a vial in his hands. Rath waited no time in clawing it from Jerson’s reach and tipping the contents back into his mouth.

A white film pooled at the corner of his lips before he descended on Asha, thrusting his tongue deep.

Bitterness coated his tongue, astringent and hot. Every drop, Asha swallowed. The kiss deepened and his breathing evened. Every ache of his body settled and his cock, ragingly hard, subsided.

A heaviness veiled over him from two fierce anchors of pain atop his head.

“Sleep, new dragon. Breathe fire come morning, and if so, you wish still, we’ll move that date.” Rath sealed his words with a soft kiss.