Page 19

Mezerath

He had limited time before the poppy milk kicked in. Jeron’s trembling gaze met his own before they both took in the bare form of Asha in his arms. “I had thoughts…”

“I would have thought him to be more…colorful.” Jeron frowned and took in Rath’s mate, his newly erupted horns a pearlescent sort of ivory, curved up and out, adorned with a smaller protrusion halfway, a perfect perch for his adornments and chains to come.

Rath ran a finger over them as he sank lower into the water.

Rivulets of blood pooled at the edges of the horns, and from Asha’s back floated two limp wings, as white and studded with an opalescent fire as the scales he’d seen trailing his arms outside.

It was an understated sort of translucence, finely inlaid over his tawny flesh.

The form of scales in dim light was indiscernible until a flicker of candle’s flame, sunlight, or the bright glow of a mage’s crystal caught them.

They’d whiten more overtime, Rath knew, as he’d seen with his sister-in-law—until her accident.

Hers had been a fierce sort of red, a complement to Galatan’s gold.

“He’s beautiful all the same, like an opal. He is like fire,” Rath said, letting his mate’s body slacken and cleanse. Before his eyes, Asha healed, his dragon’s blood more than ready to take form.

“Should I get any ointments or salves?” Jeron wrung his hands and stepped back, procuring towels as Rath rose, climbing from the water with his limp mate.

Dragging the floor beside him was something Rath so desperately wanted to see and hold, his tail.

With hair a few shades fierier than what he was born with adorning the tip, he curled it reflexively.

A whimper caught in his throat, bright lips parting to reveal his new fangs.

Even his ears, once mostly round, had a folded nature to them, as if they were molding into a fine point. It would take a few shifts into his greater form to equalize his static form.

“Will he ever look like himself again?” Jeron peered at Asha with eyes full of concern dancing in their citrine depths.

“He is himself.” Rath stepped onto textured tile and lifted Asha enough for Jeron to wrap a towel about his waist.

“But, he is hum—was human…” Jeron reached out to touch Asha’s forearm and reached for his horn before drawing his hand back. “Apologies, that’s not right.”

“To touch his horns?” Rath blinked in surprise. “But you’re his valet?”

“And he has not given you or I permission. And you are his mate, so your hands should be the first on them, should he agree.” Jeron bowed politely and stepped away, casting his gaze downward as Rath made his way to his, now their, nest.

“You’re right. I’m glad I gave you the opportunity to serve him, Jeron.

Will you part from us when your contract is up?

” Rath rushed to their nest and settled in with him while Jeron fetched them nightclothes.

Asha would have to wear something of Slath’s or Ghreid’s to compensate for his tail until he learned to hide it.

The appendage left no questions as to his mood, and Rath wondered if Asha would be the same. It was so instinctive.

“I’ve actually been asking around a bit. I can postpone my bathhouse for a few years.” A sly expression flitted across his face.

“Asking around about?” Rath fought a yawn as Jeron presented him with undergarments and loose linen trousers to sleep in.

“Well, first of all, I want to be prepared on how to serve a nesting Ashen. I also want education on how to tend hatchlings —which I will assume Asha will need, too. I cannot imagine a world in which you decide to hold off starting your own brood,” Jeron said, something else clearly on his mind.

“And if I hang around a bit longer, I might live to see the fall of the Tippin Valley and procure enough whitestone at a reasonable price to adorn my bathhouse in the capital.”

“I always did appreciate that about you, always cunning and conniving, but honest. Your whitestone will come.” Rath fought into the pants and did his best to cover Asha with a blanket. Getting clothes on him wouldn’t happen, as Rath’s body failed him faster by the minute. “Thank you.”

“It is my absolute pleasure, my liege. I’ll have a late breakfast brought when you rouse.” Jeron stood and bowed before backing his way out with that same sly smile.

Rath couldn’t imagine anyone being able to think of food at a time like that.

As the lamps dimmed and a whisper of voices petered out in his hallway, he snuggled against his Ashen mate, scales as white as snow.

Over his ear, Rath brushed his lips in a whispered promise.

“The only way you could be more beautiful is if you bore my eggs.”

Rath pawed lazily over Asha’s belly and snuggled in, their horns clacking gently. They were so beautiful, gleaming and unmarked. Rath couldn’t wait to have his adornments done, to watch the gentle sway and glimmer of fineries accentuate his being.

***

Rath woke as trembling movements stirred him from his leaden stupor.

The rhythmic shudder of Asha’s body reminded him of crying, but when he stirred and sat up, staring at his mate, it was anything but.

Breathless chuckles. Tears glistened in his eyes, certainly, but the white scaled tail he now possessed curled between his legs and between that and his scaled fingertips leading to almond-shaped claws.

“Asha, are you okay?” Rath took a deep breath, inhaling Asha’s scent. Where before, he’d had a delicate scent that drew Rath in, at that moment, he had a stronger scent, sweet and cloying.

“I really am a dragon. I…” Asha clenched his fingers and released them. “My scales are white.”

“It’s not precisely white.” Rath stared at the sheen on them. It was difficult to tell at first, as opal dragons were difficult to pin on their subcategory, but he was truly a fire opal. “I believe you’re fire opal.”

Rath leaned down and ran his claws over Asha’s scales, relishing their new feel. “Your horns are spectacular.”

Asha glanced up and lifted his body to sit. “I’m scared to look.”

“Don’t be. Why would you?” Rath reached for his horns and hesitated before drawing his hand back. “May I?”

Asha hesitated as he leaned forward, presenting the pearlescent tines to Rath in a show of ultimate submission from one dragon to another.

Unable to stand that sight, Rath tilted his chin up and stroked his fingers over the tines of them, a tremble caught in his throat.

“Do not bow your head to me. You do not submit.”

“Sorry. I—” Asha silenced under the softest kiss Rath could give him.

“Do not apologize. You are my equal. Maybe even my better. Heckle thinks so.” Rath offered what he hoped was his most seductive grin.

Asha hesitated before pushing into Rath’s hold, locking their lips with a hungry breath and wandering hands that halted as Rath grabbed his wrists, pinning his hands between them.

“I swore I wouldn’t fuck you until we were mated before the courts.

Do not tempt me, as my word is binding to my magic. ”

“Then schedule our ceremony as soon as possible.” Asha’s voice held a note of a growl in it. His draconic nature barely contained.

“And that’s where I leave you this morning, my dearest. I have much to prepare for atop my usual duties.

Expect Slath to come by later with Jeron to help you.

” Rath leaned in and tucked a strand of hair behind Asha’s newly transformed ear.

The point of it sent a shiver down his spine that ended in Rath’s.

“Don’t go.” Asha’s wheedling voice made Rath’s gut clench. “I don’t know what to do. And why do you trust Slath with me but none of your other brothers?”

Rath hesitated for a moment and frowned. Slath was different from the others. Slath was… “You understand that Slath does not have a bedservant, yes?”

“Slath said he had no need for the services one provided…” Asha twisted his lips.

“It is not uncommon, but among our family line—Slath is closer to what you are than what I am.” Rath chuckled.

“An Ashen?”

“A bearer. He is the nesting one that will lay eggs as you will. It’s been so long since our family produced a bearer. Oftentimes, it’s not clear who the bearer in a coupling will be. With Slath, it is obvious. He was born with a certain feature only bearers obtain.”

“I thought you said we wouldn’t know until…” Asha swallowed hard as Rath pushed him back and ran a finger down his chest, over his abdomen, and toward his navel, circling it. “What are you…”

Rath inhaled deeply and almost purred. “Opals are always bearers. When Slath shifts, you’ll see the sheen of his own scales. He’s a water opal.”

“What is your color called?” Asha shivered, unsurprised by the discovery.

“Royal sapphire.” Rath grinned. “That is why I will have the throne. It’s very telling of my gifts and personality.”

Asha whined as Rath pulled away and stood.

“Now go spend time with Jeron and Slath. I have invitations to send, a meal to plan, and a tailor to be arranged for you. I also need to embroider your jacket.” Rath grinned, eager to have his magic on Asha.

Asha’s cheeks pinkened, the slight opalescent sheen of his scales dusting the corners of his cheeks like frost. He was too beautiful for words, and Asha would be miserable, waiting for him to be ready for him.

Damn that oath.