Kindred Read online

“Like what you see?”

  Clearing her throat, she said, “Well, you’ve certainly managed to shock me. This can’t possibly be…” She trailed off once she touched his wings. They were paper thin and a lighter blue than the rest of him. How on Earth—no, on Dragoran—did they manage to carry his weight in the sky?

  “Magic.”

  She glanced back at his face. “Excuse me?”

  “I stay aloft by magic, mostly.”

  “You can hear my thoughts?” Oh Hell, wouldn’t that just friggin’ figure?

  “No,” he answered. “But I’m good at reading people. The way you were looking at my wings was self-explanatory.”

  “Oh.” Alana turned to hide her blush. She took a few steps away to look at him in his entirety again, but his tail herded her close.

  “Climb on. Let’s look at our kingdom.”

  The excitement in his voice had her insides quivering. “I… You want me to ride you?” The moment she said that, she instantly regretted it.

  His eyes narrowed. He was smiling again, insufferable beast. “Yes.”

  Every eye in the courtyard was on them. She didn’t need to look around to know that. Despite what she might think of Rion and his innuendo, she couldn’t disgrace him in front of his people. But she also couldn’t ignore the obvious.

  “But I’ll fall off!”

  “No, you won’t.”

  “What’s going to hold me on?”

  “Do you trust me, Alanacapria?” The birthmark on her shoulder suddenly itched when he said her full name. The closer she moved toward him, the less it itched. Once again, the vision she’d seen of Rion standing over her as a young boy came back to her. His golden hair had swept over his forehead when he’d smiled at her, revealing his straight baby teeth. He had been a beautiful child. She’d been enraptured by him then, even as an infant. Alana had no idea how she knew that, but she knew it nonetheless.

  He was waiting for an answer.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  With her heart in her throat, she grabbed hold of his golden mane and attempted to climb on his back. He helped boost her up with his snout, and she tried hard not to dwell on the fact that he’d just had his nose in her butt.

  “Hang on tight!”

  “What? I thought you said—”

  Rion laughed out loud a moment before his body tensed and he took to the sky. Alana knew he was teasing her, the smartass, but that didn’t stop her from screaming bloody murder as the ground dropped swiftly away.

  Seven

  Alana was too damn scared to close her eyes this time. She had to be hurting Rion with the force she clutched onto his mane, but she didn’t care. His wings beat leisurely behind her, pushing them forward and the wind tugged at her hair. It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once.

  “Are you cold?” he asked. She didn’t know how she could hear him so well above the wind rushing by.

  “No,” she cried through her panting.

  “Relax. Concentrate on the sunlight. It will calm you.”

  Alana was taken aback by his words, remembering the feeling that had come over her earlier in the palace. “How do you know that?”

  “You are from the House of the Sun. Each dragon draws energy from the talisman of their House.”

  “But you—”

  “Are more powerful in winter,” he finished for her. “Yes, that is the downfall of the House of Ice. You have the sun. The black dragons have the night. Greens have the soil and reds have fire. My talisman is harder to come by, which is one reason why the Royal Palace is nestled amongst the mountains. The cooler air helps.”

  Alana eased her hold on him the longer they flew. They swept past hills and valleys dotted with trees. A few rivers flowed here and there, but Rion seemed to have a certain destination in mind.

  “Dragoran is beautiful,” she said, looking behind them. She spied the two green dragons of Rion’s guard following them at a respectful distance.

  “It is even more beautiful today than it was yesterday.”

  “Oh?” she asked, genuinely curious. “Why is that?”

  “Because you are here.”

  His unexpected compliment took her by surprise. Flustered, she bit her lip and tried to think of some kind of appropriate response. “Thank you.”

  “You are most welcome.”

  Her heart palpitated. He infuriated her with his teasing, but when he wanted to be a gentleman, he was downright intoxicating.

  The base of his neck rubbed between her legs, and she hadn’t been more aware of if it than at that very moment. She couldn’t resist rubbing on him, just a little, to ease the flare of heat rising within her.

  Rion suddenly dipped lower with a growl, uncaring for the ground that was fast approaching. Just as Alana was about to squeal once more, he alighted on the ground near a thundering waterfall. The churning waters hit them with droplets of spray, but she barely noticed when his tail curled around her and lifted her gently off his back.

  Once he’d laid her down in the soft grass, he towered over her, abruptly shifting back into his human form.

  “Never, never do that to me while I’m flying!”

  Before she could utter a word, he’d lunged and claimed her mouth, pressing her down with his delicious weight. Again and again he kissed her, angling his head to fully fit his lips against hers. His tongue was hot, and only served to stoke the fire he’d already begun within her.

  She wrapped her legs around his hips and felt his arousal, full and long, demanding to be set free. The onslaught of his passion ignited her own, and soon, she found her hands buried in his hair.

  This was familiar. They’d done this before. Not only on his bed, but in her dreams.

  Her fingers slid down his neck and caressed his shoulders a moment before digging in her fingernails, leaving half-moons on his skin.

  Without warning, Rion pushed off her and stood with a grunt of frustration. Alana remained where she was, gasping for breath on the ground. He turned and walked a few paces away. His fingers scrubbed his scalp almost angrily.

  “Rion?” she asked in a small voice. “Are you all right?”

  “I will not make the same mistake twice.”

  She didn’t understand what the heck he was talking about. He glanced at her, then looked away again. “I cannot take advantage of you, myandriya. Your dreams, what we did before… It should never have happened. I need to control myself around you.”

  Alana sat up, understanding his reasoning a bit more. But hot damn if she didn’t enjoy every single moment he’d lost control. Her body was still shaking.

  “You know,” she said, standing on weak legs. “We never actually did anything. What happened was just a dream. Sure, you might have been calling the shots, but it never truly happened.”

  He didn’t turn when she approached him, but neither did he walk away. He looked as if he was debating whether to stay right where he was or devour her once again.

  “I’m still a virgin.”

  Oh. My. God. I didn’t just say that. Tell me I didn’t just say that!

  Rion pivoted on his heel and gave her one hell of a wicked grin.

  “I made love to your soul last night, Alana. You most certainly are no longer a virgin.”

  His words stole her breath. That was it, she was done for. Rion succeeded. He’d won her heart. Either that, or she was hopelessly infatuated with the man. Which seemed more likely, since she’d only known him for a day. But that wasn’t altogether true. He’d been by her side when she was an infant. He’d watched her grow through his mirror. Perhaps he was the reason she was always drawn to it, not because it was the doorway to Dragoran, but because it led to him.

  Her nipples tightened. The way he looked at her made her think he was waiting for her to do something. Lord, she wanted to touch him. Her hand raised of its own volition and lightly stroked the skin of his chest. Her other hand followed until both palms explored, feeling his heartbeat.

  “If you made love to
my soul, Rion, why are you turning away now?”

  His eyes softened as he took her hands in his. “I did not bring you here to make love to you, I brought you here to teach you.”

  “Teach me?”

  “About magic, and how to use your power.”

  Alana looked down at their entwined fingers, then back up at him. “That’s not the reason why you stopped.”

  He took a deep breath and sighed. “You do not want me to touch you.”

  Well, he was obviously telling the truth about not being able to read her mind.

  “When have I ever said that?”

  “You didn’t have to say it. You have pushed away from me and refused my advances since your arrival.”

  Alana’s mouth worked, but no sound came out. What he’d said was true, but not for the reasons he believed. If she touched him for too long, she was afraid of what might happen, afraid of losing her own control. Now, however, her fear was waning. With each passing moment, being in Dragoran felt right, like she was home. Earth was the unreachable fantasy realm.

  “I need time, that’s all,” she told him, squeezing his hand. “You’re the only…familiar person I have right now. I’m scared, Rion. Of everything.”

  He stroked her cheek and listened as she continued.

  “My grandmother passed away. I didn’t have much time to mourn her before I got sucked to Dragoran through a mirror of all things. Then I meet the most handsome man I’ve ever seen in my life, who’s offering himself to me in much the same way I imagine Satan tempted Eve with that apple. Not only does he give me erotic dreams, but he can shift into a dragon, and he claims I’m the only one who can save his kingdom from an army of red dragons.”

  Alana hadn’t realized there were tears in her eyes until Rion wiped them away with his thumb.

  “I’m just…I’m so…”

  “Confused?” His soft voice made her shiver.

  She nodded and closed her eyes while turning her face deeper into his palm. “I don’t know if I can do this. Any of it. I’m not a warrior. I’m not a queen. I’m just a receptionist from Portland, Oregon. Sure, we’ve got our fair share of weird, but not this weird.”

  Rion was silent for a few moments, but she could hear his heartbeat. “You were born to be a queen. You were born to be powerful. Maybe not a warrior, but a force to be reckoned with.” As he spoke, something warm and soft curled around her. Without being told, she somehow knew it was tendrils of Rion’s magic, comforting her, hugging her.

  “I know you feel as if you’re spinning out of control. I will not push you. I will not force you. If you need time, I will give it to you. In my own eagerness to claim you as my Kindred, I have forgotten your feelings. You do not love me. You barely know me. That alone is enough to rein in my lust. I will not pounce on you again.”

  Alana’s heart leapt inside her. That’s not what she wanted to hear. If anything, being close to Rion seemed to keep her panic at bay. If she lost her one rock in this crazy storm, she’d spiral out of control.

  “No,” she breathed, her voice breaking. “Please don’t stay away from me. I need someone to lean on. I need someone to talk to. I need…you, Rion.”

  Standing on her toes, Alana embraced him and hid her face in his neck. She breathed deep, taking in the male scent of him, and rejoiced when his arms closed around her. He was her fortress; she clung to him with all her might.

  “You are trembling.” His breath ruffled her hair.

  “I’m terrified.”

  “I will never hurt you.” His arms squeezed her, accentuating his words.

  “I know. It’s crazy, but I want you so much. I want to kiss you, I want to lose myself in your arms, yet my logical brain is screaming it’s too soon. But…I already know what you taste like. I’m about ready to tell my logical brain to go to hell.”

  His large body quaked. “By the Spirit, Alanacapria, you are driving me insane. How can I possibly keep my distance when you talk to me so?”

  She took a deep breath, but continued to hold onto him. “You say I was born to be a queen?”

  “Yes.”

  “From the moment of my birth, I was promised to you?”

  He hesitated for just a moment. “Yes.”

  “Then I belong to you. I am yours, aren’t I, Rionshalintaris?”

  “Yes.”

  Alana pulled back just enough to look into his eyes. They pierced her with their intensity. His face was a breath away and she was taken by his beauty. A flash from her dream returned to her, of his mouth feasting on her breasts, and instantly, she was wet for him. Her need flared the moment her feet left the ground. Rion held her completely against him, not straining in the least.

  “Where are your guards?” she whispered, her lips barely touching his.

  “They are close. I will call them if I need their protection. They will not disturb us.”

  Her last reservation came crumbling down. She wanted Rion with every shred of her existence.

  “You say you brought me here to teach me.”

  He nodded and held the back of her head, keeping her from retreating.

  Alana rubbed herself against him. “Then teach me.”

  Without waiting for an answer, she kissed him fully and clung to him with every ounce of her strength.

  Eight

  Rion’s hand had slipped around her back unnoticed until it plunged into the waistband of her shimmering blue breeches. The warmth of his palm thrilled her and made her suck in her breath, stealing the air from Rion’s mouth. He rounded her backside and dipped between her thighs, lightly touching her right where she throbbed.

  Instantly, she circled his waist with her legs and let him explore, opening herself wider for his searching fingers. His other arm held her up as if he was used to holding women in such a way, without a single complaint about her weight.

  When his finger pressed inside her, Alana thought she’d fly apart. Her skin must be the only thing holding her together. She couldn’t help herself, she had to move her hips, again and again, sliding her wetness along his palm. Rion’s thumb stroked her expertly while his fingers thrust, somehow knowing exactly how to touch her, Lord love him.

  “Do you feel the energy swirling throughout you?” he asked, his breath scorching her cheek.

  She whimpered at his voice, but couldn’t deny the buzz of warmth within her, as if a jolt of electricity was trying to find an outlet.

  “Release it. Release it, myandriya.”

  Rion’s tongue sensually licked Alana’s bottom lip and that was all it took for her to cry out her pleasure and grind her hips into his hand. The sensations didn’t stop, they poured out of her, charging her skin with energy so hot she wondered how she didn’t catch on fire. Was she glowing? She had no idea. All she could concentrate on was the man in her arms, coaxing her to pleasure with more caresses of his thumb.

  Alana’s back ignited in a fiery pulse, and she released Rion’s mouth to scream at the arousing pain.

  With tears in her eyes, she gazed at him in hooded wonder. What the hell was that? Not even in her dreams had she come so hard or so swiftly for him. But his pleased smile had her smiling in return.

  “Look, Alana,” he said, gesturing over her shoulder with his chin.

  Confused at his words, she turned her head. What she saw shook the very foundation of her being.

  A pair of shimmering golden wings spread out behind her.

  In her awe, she attempted to flex them. They moved.

  Her eyes wide, she turned back to Rion. “It’s true. It’s all friggin’ true!”

  He laughed at her surprise and pressed deeper within her, reminding Alana that his hand was still very much inside her breeches. A groan of need bubbled within her once more.

  Now that she’d had one orgasm, her body was charged for another. Clutching Rion’s hair, she gazed into his eyes and rode his hand, desperate for another explosion of desire.

  “Concentrate.” Rion’s voice came to her as if through a tun
nel. “My magic is coursing through you. Embrace it with your own and change fully. Claim your birthright from the House of the Sun!”

  Her body shuddered as she climaxed again, this time feeling the fire spread everywhere. With one last buck on Rion’s palm, her body began to morph into another being. Her arms and legs elongated while an unfamiliar tail grew behind her. The features of her face distorted, but her eyesight remained sharp. Within the span of seconds, Alana had changed into the form of a golden dragon, dropping into the grass beside Rion.

  The stirring of her wings ruffled his hair as he beamed at her, obviously pleased she’d figured out how to shift.

  “Oh, Alana,” he breathed in fascination. “And here I thought you were beautiful in your human form…”

  She smiled. At least, she thought she smiled. Staring at her own scales, she could almost see her face in them. When they caught the light of the sun, they acted like mirrors, reflecting the light and giving her an ethereal glow.

  Turning back to Rion, she noticed he’d shifted as well. He rubbed his nose on hers before spreading his wings. “Now,” he said, “let’s try flying.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. “Are you out of your mind?”

  “Your magic will help you fly. Trust it. The way your body hums, tap into that.”

  “I thought it was you that made my body hum.”

  Rion’s draconic mouth lifted in a sly grin. “Oh, I did. But it was your passion that allowed you to feel your magic for the first time.”

  She stared at him, still unsure.

  “Do what I do.”

  He crouched low, then leapt into the sky, beating his wings effortlessly. With each beat, he climbed higher and higher.

  “Come on!” he shouted.

  Alana swallowed hard. She was just getting used to standing on all fours while Rion wanted her to fly.

  Great. If I hurt myself, there’s going to be hell to pay.

  Copying Rion’s moves, Alana vaulted into the air, her wings flapping furiously. She tried to push the buzzing throughout her body once more, making the tingles spread within her wings. Amazingly, she stayed aloft, although a little unsteady.