It was beyond frustrating to feel the passion in his head and heart, his blood literally burning for her, but his body unable to react. She had writhed for him, and he could do nothing but cuddle her. Though that had been sweet and he could still feel the slight connection he started when he injected her with the mating drug. That was another sign he had found his mate. His body would only produce the enzyme when his mate was near. Now he could feel his body warming from the inside out, and his head was screaming for him to go back. Soon it would be unstoppable. His second molt was upon him, and he would need to breed her. He would be mindless with it. She was mage not dragon and fragile, so little and soft.
He needed answers and someone to help keep her safe when he went through his molt. He would be helpless, and his mage would be alone. Then, even when he was finished with the molt, he would be a danger to her. He needed help and answers, but without knowing who had betrayed him, he would have to move with caution. He could not go home. He could not go to his family or the few dragons he called friend. There was only one he could think of that would be able to keep his small falcon safe and had no reason to want him dead. It was ironic. The only person he could trust was a dragon he had never met, and the one all other dragons feared.
Ladon knew the way up the Forsaken Mountain, on a clear day you could see it anywhere in the kingdom of Dracon. It was the highest peak and some said it housed the oldest, meanest, unmated dragon alive. He could believe it. With the shortage of females, it was no surprise that there were dragons who never found their chosen mate. Most of them died of loneliness and sorrow before they reached their third molt.
Eben Kinkaid was so old even the oldest of them did not know his true age. But while his name meant literally “river of stone” in the old language, no one would dare offer pity. If a dragon broke sacred law, he would see Eben Kinkaid with his last breath because it was the black dragon that was the high council’s assassin. In a race of fierce, nearly immortal fighters, Eben Kinkaid was the nightmare they were all taught to fear from hatchlings. He was also the only one Ladon would trust with the precious life of his mate.
Ladon reached the high peak of Forsaken and landed on the closest turret. Forsaken Mountain was actually a castle carved out of a mountain. Few had ever entered it uninvited and returned to talk about it, but rumors said it was built by dragon dreams, just as many of their grottos and hot springs. The imposing gates were open, so he changed to his man shape to show he came in peace. He had not expected the gates to be open. Dragons were notorious for guarding their treasures behind locked doors and powerful spells. On the other hand, the open doors must mean that Eben Kinkaid was in residence and who would be suicidal enough to try to take anything of his?
“I could smell you coming a hundred leagues out.” The dark voice was rough and dry, like sandpaper rubbed directly across the scales. Ladon turned to face the shadows of the great hall spread out before him. “You could not have taken the time to bathe as a simple courtesy? You smell as if you have been rolling in null swill.”
His first sight of the powerful dragon astounded him. All dragons were beautiful whatever form they wore. But this one, he was spectacular. He was a good foot taller than Ladon. A bit over seven feet and built for strength. He lacked the beefed look the humans could sometimes employ and instead sported ripcord muscles that allowed for both speed and strength.
He wore a loose tunic and trousers tucked into black boots. It was the customary garb of their people when in man form. A medallion hung from his neck with the crest of his house engraved in the ancient gold. The dragon swimming under a sea of stars twinkled despite the patina of age. It was his house amulet and Ladon reached for the one around his own neck before he remembered it was gone. His had shown the river of fire under the dragon star. He was fire, Eben Kinkaid was water. Ladon could see that in the fluid way he moved. His hair was black but with the iridescent sheen, his scales would carry in his other form. His eyes were a permanent dragon gold.
Big, dark, and deadly he would never look any different than he did right now. The only thing that showed his true age was the power that surrounded him and shot forth from his eyes. The heavy weight of it circled Ladon like a living thing.
Ladon had gotten used to being around his tiny mage. Her delicate form and small stature had given him an all-powerful feeling. Now he was getting a dose of the opposite. He did not care for the feeling of vulnerability just looking at the dark dragon produced. He firmed his chin and looked straight into hard dragon gold. Then the insult hit, and he could feel his neck redden showing his first molt age as clearly as if he wore a sign.
“I meant no insult. I could not take the time to bathe. Time is a luxury right now.”
“There is always time for courtesy hatchling.” The dark dragon came closer, waving a hand, and every light in the house blazed on. “And you will find when you have passed a few more cycles that time is rarely a true consideration.”
“When I explain perhaps you will...”
“No, it will not stand.” The bigger dragon waved his hand, and Ladon felt the magic pulse around him. Within seconds, he was clean and his hair fell in a straight curtain to his waist, once more its natural brown with just a beginning of the iridescent sparkle he would have with the next transition. He was also naked. If that was not distressing enough, his body took that moment to remind him he was entering his molt. He could literally feel the fire burning in his veins when the black dragon walked closer for what could only be called an inspection.
Never mind being cleaned like a hatchling with his mother, never mind that he was naked. Now his body decides to enter the first phase of second molt. A hot wave of desire nearly took him to his knees. The blood rushed to his cock and filled it with heat until his erection was nearly purple with bulging veins. He was quite suddenly hard as a rock and standing at attention. Here, a good hour from his little mage and before the narrowed eyes of Eben Kinkaid himself. If he had, any blood left north of his cock he’d be blushing.
The scourge of Dragon kind looked him over like a dealer at the bazaar. “Not bad, hatchling.” He circled again, this time his fingers trailing over Ladon in small brushes that had his nerves jumping. His shoulder, his hip, the swell of his ass. Ladon gasped as the fire speared him at each casual touch.
Eben narrowed his eyes and sniffed. “You are entering your first adult molt.”
“Yes!” Ladon said, pushing the unsettling dragon back. “And my mate is alone even as you waste time.”
There was a dark silence, and Ladon felt the magic build around them. “You have found a mate?”
“That’s why I’m here.” But before he could continue, the magic became so heavy he fell to his knees under the pressure.
“You have a mate, and you left her alone? Unguarded?”
Ladon had to brace himself against the fury pelting him. It was the most power he had felt in one place, and he was floored by the weight behind it. He had no doubt that this dragon was powerful enough to kill him without ever raising a claw.
“She’s mage!” He had to scream it to be heard above the magic funneling around him. Then as if a switch had been thrown, it was gone. Ladon pulled himself shakily to his feet. Did he seriously want this dragon anywhere near his mate? Did he have a choice?
“That’s impossible.”
“Why? Because the famed Eben Kinkaid has never seen it?” He knew his voice was an open challenge, but he was past the point of caring. His body was on fire and all he wanted to do was fuck. He had to get back to his mage. “Look, this is pointless. I have to get back before I change. I came here in hopes you would protect my mate while I'm in transition.” He was proud that his voice sounded so normal, considering his belly was on fire, and his dick was an iron spike.
“Why come here? You must have your own house to call upon.”
“Because someone wants me dead and my mate...” His voice fell away, and he was suddenly on the floor writhing against the pain trying to change his body on the molecular level. He could hear roaring in his head and was too out of it to realize it was him. When the pain eased, he felt a tail and claws wrap him up, and he was pressed to Eben Kinkaids dragon form, apparently he had finally gotten the message.
“Last high spring before the North Gate.” The words were torn from his throat. He was lost in a river of pain and hunger.
