Scales and Honor: Darkened Skies

  Chapter 9: Silver Rain

  Arcturus could never get tired of flying. The single dominating thought screaming through his mind as Veledar banked around a cloud, grazing the white fluffy ball of gas with his wingtips. The human’s heart pounded happily as he repositioned his weight with the dragon’s joyous movements. The wind battered against his face, trying to bite at his cheeks with their cold but all he could feel was the warmth from his dragon, the sounds of his warbles and the sense of freedom in the air.

  The bond they shared had been more useful than any sword or shield and Arcturus was more than glad to share it now. Flight transformed into something else as they sailed through the sky. For what had been wonderful the first time was even more intimate now. He could feel the wind caressing Veledar’s scales, the excitement rising and falling within his mate’s strong chest. Hell, he could swear he could even feel every cold breath the dragon took. While they were up here, lost among the clouds and frigid air they truly felt as one.

  He leaned forward as he held tight the leather saddle beneath him, fingers brushing over the cord that bound around his waist to prevent his falling. The dragon started to beat faster against the air with his vast wings, climbing rapidly. Higher and higher the great scaled beast soared, as if threatening to break into the heavens themselves. On the red’s snout was a mischievous grin, one that the human had seen many times. It was, a prelude to what he had in store. The human cheered at those pleased eyes, louder than he had before, his cry rippled through the sky for all to hear. He gripped tight and tensed as the dragon suddenly stopped his climb, leaned back, and suddenly flipped over in a loop as they started to fall. They fell together.

  Down they spiraled for an untold time as Veledar trilled his happiness to the wind that violently rustled the human’s cloak. Arcturus’ eyes watered as he hung onto his dragon, his heart beating ever faster with each nerve tingling second. The adrenaline pumping through his veins. Throat coarse from joyous cries.This was what it felt like to be alive. He almost let out a pang of disappointment as Veledar angled his wings and brought them to a gentle glide among the clouds.

  “Never gets old!” Arcturus exclaimed with glee, pumping both fists into the air.

  Veledar curled his neck to peak at the cheerful human. The dragon smiled, showing off his sharp teeth gleaming in the sunlight. Pleasing rumbles radiated from the red’s throat as Veledar set his snout back to the horizon. The dragon’s maw soon parted with another swish of his tail and let out a loud joyous roar that warmed Arcturus’ soul.

  They followed the currents north, far from the roads that the caravan and horses followed. Instead the dragon seemed to be following the winding, dark blue sapphire like river.

  “So where pray tell are we going?” He asked after the fourth time his dragon surveyed the horizon with his snout, tail whipping behind him with a swoosh as they carefully changed position for this unknown destination.

  “It’s a very secret place.” The dragon growled playfully. “ I already told you that human. Are you perhaps suffering from memory loss? And to think you were worried about me at one time.” He bankec a wing with a chuckle. “You also said you would not ask. Need I worry about you breaking your other bonds with me?” He curled his neck, the sun glinting in his eye. “I was lead to believe that paladins spoke only truths.”

  Arcturus laughed, watching the warmth shine in those cerulean spheres. He could tell by the curl of the dragon’s lips that Veledar was loving hiding this beneath his scales. Arcturus placed a hand to his chest, doing his best to impersonate the cheeky red. “I had no idea this was an actual binding contract dragon. I simply thought you were playing around for poor Lyndis’ sake. By all means I’ll hold up my end of the bargain if you so wish. But that would of course would be exceedingly cruel of you. I might begin to wonder if you loved me at all.” He rose a brow and held position, fighting off a chuckle as the red eyed him up and down. Silence lingered in the air, thick enough to cut as Veledar rose a scaly ridge.

  “Was that wretched excuse for an impersonation supposed to be me? Or were you copying some other regal and magnificent dragon? Cause if it was, you need some work. You have to sound even more regal, proud of yourself. Like you are a gift to the very world you inhabit.”

  “Anything else that I have to work on your brightness?”

  “Growing scales wouldn’t hurt, maybe a tail. Perhaps show off your teeth more. Even if they lack the sharpness of my own.”

  “Now you’re just describing a dragon.”

  “But then the impression would be believable! As it is you’re just a puny human puffing out his chest!”

  “Yes, but a magnificent human that strokes his big dragon’s heart.” He ran a hand along the dragon’s neck, giving him a warm smile. “And one that makes him feel weaker than he’s ever felt, and longs for his embrace.

  Veledar snorted, a soft rumbling purr radiating from his throat that tickled the human’s fingers. It only brought affirmation to the man’s words. The dragon seemed to try to form words through Arcturus’ delightful scale rubs, but the pleased sounds only grew in their frequency and intensity.

  “Got something to say dragon? You seem to be all purrs.” It was then he started to feel that sweet, rippling warmth that spread to his very being. It started from his heart and filled every ounce of him, it even made his fingers tremble. It felt like he wanted to purr right now but simply lacked the ability to do so. He knew it came from the bond, and he didn’t mind. He mimicked the purr from his dragon, closing his eyes and enjoying the feeling.

  “I don’t think I need to say anything at all. You seem to know exactly what I am feeling.”

  Of course, he was right. “So, do I get any hints then about this place? This place that you’ve concocted in your mind?” He peered over the dragon’s gleaming scales to watch the ground roll slowly by. He could see for miles in each direction of the rising and falling green hills to the multicolored trees that looked like bushes from their height. Far off mountains capped with snow and rocks reached up like jagged teeth towards the sky. The human sighed, wishing he had his supplies to sketch or even paint this beauty before him. Possibly that the winds were not too bad, and not scatter his things. He exhaled heavily, accepting the fact he would have to commit it to memory and complete it later. He instead would bask in the beauty that only looked better with his dragon right beside him.

  “We’re getting close is all I can say on the subject. Though it does tickle my wings that you’re so inquisitive about it.” Veledar folded his wings, swooping through a low hanging cloud before reextending his tips with a swoosh into a glide.

  Arcturus’ eyes fell to a large body of shimmering water that almost laid hidden from the trees that surrounded it. Though the forest that surrounded the trees was dotted with golden leaves or red, this one lacked that. This section was completely green, as if the very elements had no effect on it what so ever. It sat on a higher raise than all the rest of the land. Below it seemed to be cut off with a low running river and a deep ravine that appeared to be five dragons in depth. “Perhaps It’s the odd part forest among the trees?” Arcturus grinned, especially when Veledar said nothing and kept his snout trained on the forest as he banked his wings for a turn. “That’s what it is isn’t it? Those collection of green trees and rolling fields!

  “Perhaps it is.” Veledar slightly tilted his head to gaze up into his human’s eye. “Would that be so bad? I heard some practically interesting things about this part of the land.”

  “Oh?” He leaned closer, almost resting on the dragon’s neck as they drew closer to the tall grass below the great field right before the line of trees.

  “Well for starters my intrigue filled human. You might have noticed that the trees lack the brilliant golden, orange or red leaves that seemed to have grasped the land by its throat. You’d find that even in winter the snow can’t land there. For within this section of the land dwells a dryad. She has deemed this small slice of nature to remain how it is, almost as if it were frozen in time.”

  “Certainly, sounds like a fantastical story. But where did you ever hear such a tale?” He braced his limbs as the dragon neared the ground, a mighty back-wing soon coming to slow their descent. “Did you perchance hear it from a drunkard wondering Roselake in a stupor?”

  “They weren’t drunk.” Veledar hissed.

  “Then who was it?”

  “It was a group of kobolds if you must know. Said they saw me with you and figured this place would be an excellent detour. Especially for us to be alone together.”

  “Oh.” Surprise found him, his head tingling as he stroked Veledar’s scales. “Thought you said nothing lewd was on the mind?”

  “Its not the primary reason we’re here.” His voice devolved into a loud grumble. “But it would be nice to have you truly to myself. We haven’t had that for quite some time. The last time was..”

  “The estate.” Arcturus winced, recalling their brief separation. “That was nice though. Waking up to you in that cave. With your limbs wrapped around me. Holding me tightly against your chest, your breaths ever calming to the heart.” His cheeks flushed as the phantom warmth covered him., and for a brief moment he was reliving that moment in the cave. “ I never wanted to leave.”

  Veledar’s rumbling only got louder as he flapped his wings to maintain their altitude. “Nor did I want you to, but you were the one who dragonnapped me for this adventure that you went on. One that I might add I’m not being paid for.”

  “If I recall, it was all in fairness.” He crossed his arms, giving the dragon a playful smirk. “I do believe you human-naped me first if I recall correctly.”

  “Yes, I certainly did.” The dragon grinned, “And look how that turned out?”

  “Still makes it fair, regardless of how handsome and charming the red dragon turned out to be.” The coming purrs were like music to his ears as the warmth he was experiencing dominated his being. “Why did these kobolds share this information with you anyway? Did it ever occur to your horned head that they would be leading us into a trap?”

  “Kobolds trap a dragon?” Veledar cackled as if the idea was absurd. “From all I’ve seen of them, they worship dragon’s claws. I’d hardly believe that any of them could in good conscious harm a dragon they so admire.”

  “I suppose that’s one way to look at it. I just hope your correct in your assumptions.” He readied himself as Veledar started to circle a clearing before the forest. It had many black rocks arranged in a circular pattern at the top of the largest hill, further away from the trees than the rest. They were around the size of large gryphon with wings splayed. The human watched as a clear section of the canopy that would fit his red mate passed before the dragon’s eyes, yet he didn’t head for there.

  “And I know for a fact that it wasn’t a trap.”

  “How’s that my wise and cunning dragon that knows all?”

  “You know I shall take your compliments for all the truth they exude.” Veledar flared out his wings, extending his hinds before landing with a bumpy trot into the grassy field. “I know they we’re not leading me into a trap because they told me this particular dryad doesn’t let just anyone into her private gardens. Something about too many rowdy kobolds if I remember his words correctly.

  “Wait…” Arcturus tilted his head, “Why would you have a hard time remembering his words?”

  “Well.” The dragon turned, his tail swishing over the grass. “Because they were slurred of course!”

  The human shook his head with a groan. “I thought you said he wasn’t drunk!”

  “They weren’t.” The dragon gave him a pair of innocent eyes, “I admit they might have been a bit tipsy, but not drunk…Well..Not like Merlia anyway.”

  “That’s not a good comparison! That dwarf can hold her own quite well. Seems to be an almost bottomless hole in that regard!”

  Veledar turned away with a snort, gesturing to the trees with a wing talon. “Says you, but it looks like the kobold’s words proved to be most true. Just look at those trees! They’re practically pristine! They look like that green whelp our half-elf is in love with! Though..” Veledar refolded his wings, shaking his neck with a groan. “I do enjoy the other ones more at times. The multicolored trees of course not the green whelp. Call it a preference as it were…There’s just something about them..”The dragon’s voice trailed off as he glanced to a deep red leaf coated tree. The way the sun’s orange rays hit them and it’s golden counterparts it made the living thing look as though it were aflame.

  “I think it might just be the particular color dragon.” He nudged Veledar softly after he slid himself off his scaled mate, his boots touched the soft grass with a bump. “You tend to have a fascination with it.”

  “Is there something wrong with that?” Veledar strode a few feet away before circling Arcturus with a smile. His paws folded the grass with every step, the dragon lowered his head a low purr radiating from his throat. “You certainly seem to have an obsession with the color as well.” Before he could offer any words Veledar surged forward, nuzzling his nose into Arcturus’ chest. The human would have fallen backwards in surprise, but his hands fell to his mate’s horns.

  “You have to stop nosing me like that. Going to send me sprawling out onto my back.”

  “Perhaps that’s where I want you.” Cerulean eyes shifted up, a flicker of lewdness residing in those pleased slits.

  He ignored the dragon’s words and eyes, giving him a quick kiss on the nose that left him rumbling. “Come now, tell me more about this dryad that you seem to be glossing over. You said she doesn’t let just anyone in. So, what will we do about that?” He sighed, glancing back to the direction they came. “Cause honestly?” He wrapped his hands around the dragon’s snout. The warmth radiating from his scales prickling his fingers. “I’d love the chance to spend the rest of the day with you my narcissistic, lewd, full of himself, arrogant-“

  “These words are not sounding too romantic human, you’re falling flat on your-“

  “Sweet, handsome, brave, and strong.” He tapped Veledar’s nose as he guided the loudly purring dragon’s head so they were looking into each other’s eyes. “Loyal, diligent, and very sexy dragon.” He pushed forward, offering a quick kiss before pulling back with a smile. “Do these words sound better?”

  “Much better my wonderful human. “The dragon’s tail swished playfully behind him, his eyes brimming with wonder. “You have quite the way with words that make my heart beat like a drum.”

  There was a small nag at the base of his skull, urging him forward. So that’s what he did. Arcturus leaned back, kissing his dragon on the snout. Sighing as a red claw found its way to his back and pulled him closer against scaled lips. Passion flowed with each passing breath, the dragon’s scent filling his senses and igniting the fires that burned just for him. His hand rose as he melted, following his love’s cheek until he was brushing the dragon’s sensitive frill tenderly. It was soft and felt as though it had rested in the sun for hours. It was getting hotter by the second as they stood with lips locked against one another. The human smirked as the dragon groaned at the touch, a visible wave of pleasure sending shivers down the beast’s scales.

  “Perhaps…graaah..We can continue this later.” Veledar pulled away with lust filled eyes, and a lewd growl. He gave a departing sloppy lick before he set his sights out to the forest before them. “And your kiss could use some work. It simply lacks the passion that I convey with mine.”

  “is that so?” Arcturus chuckled, crossing his arms as Veledar pretended to look away but clearly had one eye peaking at him. “I’ve never heard you complain b before, what would you suggest I do to remedy this?”

  “Lots of practice.” The dragon stomped his claw against the ground with a snort. “I recommend you see your lord for private sessions daily. He can teach you to be more passionate.” The dragon’s smirk grew as he began to pad away, his tail smacking against Arcturus’ leg before the human bounded off after the growly dragon.

  “So what’s the plan with the dryad?” He had to keep the dragon’s mind to task before this spiraled into oblivion.

  “I suppose we can just wing it and stroll our way in with swaying tails.”

  “But you just said she doesn’t let anyone in!” He laughed, catching up to the dragon who slowed his stride.

  “Oh yes, I know what I said.” Veledar sighed, rolling his eyes. “ I didn’t think I needed to remind you but..” He swelled his chest, placing a claw to his chest. “I am certainly not anyone.”

  Arcturus nearly paused his walk, dumbstruck as they carried through the grass. “That isn’t a plan!”

  “I did say we were going to wing it. You are aware that means we’re going to improvise a plan right?”

  “But all I have is my sword and clothes!” Arcturus plucked at his shirt as the dragon stopped, curling his head around to show off his teeth.

  “That’s why you have me.” Veledar rose his head to its lofty position with a low grumble. “Though I don’t imagine we’ll get into a fight. Dragons are most intimidating.”

  “Especially the ones that love soapy bathes and wrestling with paladins?”

  “Oh, especially those type of dragons.” The red rumbled, “Are you going to hold that against me? If so my human you can go get mounted, preferably by yours truly. Besides.” The dragon stopped to gesture with a wave. “Even if she does want a fight you can flash her those bright green emeralds you got for eyes. That should disarm her, works for me so why not a wooden lady?”

  “pff…If I’m hearing you correctly. Your next idea is to throw her off balance with what…my cuteness?”

  “Well I was going to say seduce her with your paladin charms but you’re right. I would stand a better chance at that.” The red swayed his tail, flexing his wing with a grin.

  Arcturus playfully shoved the dragon, doing nothing but make the beast chuckle. “Here’s an idea.” They came to an abrupt stop before the path, Arcturus held up his hand against his Veledar’s chest. The dragon could have forced his way through such a gesture but stopped.

  “And what is that?” He rose a brow, snaking his head down at a near crawl.

  “That we let me do the talking to this dryad.”

  “Why is that” Veledar rose a brow, “Do you think me incapable of simply talking with this wooden fey?

  “Well…” He rubbed the back of his neck as Veledar fixed him with an intense stare. “Let’s just say that not everyone is such an adoring fan of your…Dragon like charms…It can leave new people with a sense of you kind of being an arse.”

  Veledar gasped, pulling his head back into the shape of an S. “Oh now I’m going to talk to her out of spite.” The dragon snapped his jaws and looked away. “Arse indeed.” He grumbled, resuming his stride towards the trees with a resounding snort.

  Great he didn’t mean for the dragon to take it personally. “Hey!” He ran after his mate, “Why did we fly out here to the field instead of into the forest clearing? And.” He ran around to stop the dragon with himself. “I’m sorry..You’re not an arse.”

  The dragon sighed, eyes lingering on the trees for a moment before lowering his head to nuzzle from Arcturus’ cheek to his chest. “Fine. Your apology is accepted mate. And why Didn’t we fly by the lake?” The dragon chuckled. “The kobolds insisted that you need to walk through the field to get there. That way this dryad creature could get a good look at you. Helps with the not being a surprise thing.

  “That’s…Thoughtful of you.” He crossed his arms and looked to the green expanse before them. “I almost thought you would have flown in there, grazed the water and proclaimed she let you in.”

  “I actually did think of that.” Veledar stuck out his tongue. “Though as you have made it explicitly clear with your un-flattering words of my character. That doing something like this is better for first impressions.”

  He eyed the dragon with suspicion, wondering if he had that actually planned or was simply pulling the answer from his scales. “How noble of you.” He cocked his head as a brow rose almost on its own as his arms fell to his side.

  “Be careful mate” The dragon’s growl radiated through the air as he dropped suddenly in a playful stance with his legs bent and his tail swishing behind him. “I could tackle and pin you for such sarcastic tones you take with me. Apply a copious number of licks until you take them back.” The dragon’s eyes brimmed with excitement, Arcturus could even see how quickened his breath was by the rising and falling of his chest. He knew whatever he said it was coming. He could just see it in the small kneading of his claws, the slow swish, and the glint in his eyes. “Bring it on love.” He grinned, entering a readied stance as Veledar leaped at him. He saw a brief flare of sparks fly around the dragon’s scales, a sign that he had shifted his weight to not hurt him. Still despite that he was more than a match to resist. Like a stampeding bull he tackled the human to the soft ground with a groan as scales wrapped around him in a snuggling embrace.

  Arcturus tried to get a better hold on the dragon to shift him but Veledar anticipated this, grabbing hold of him and moving him around with a snarl. “Damn!” He laughed as they rolled around in the grass, eventually getting pinned beneath the red dragon’s firm foreclaw. He was getting better at this, getting faster and faster at pinning him.

  “Looks like I win yet again.” Veledar lowered his snout, giving the paladin a quick nose at his cheek before licking him with his wet tongue. “I’m starting to think you rather like being pinned beneath me.”

  “Oh, don’t give me that.” He wiggled beneath the dragon’s firm weight. “We both know I like being under you.” He thumped his head back against the ground as Veledar had remained steady. “Oh well.”

  Frills twitched as Veledar dropped his snout lower, the dragon’s scent making the human’s blood rush to his head. Those eyes locked onto his and Arcturus felt himself sighing in content, his half-hearted resistance soon fading away with each pleasing breath that smelled like a summer’s fire.

  “Better take my prize I suppose.”

  “A wha-“ Arcturus was silenced by a maw parting kiss, one were the dragon practically fed him his moist and thick tongue. He closed his eyes, breathing in through his nose as Veledar’s tongue fought with his own, easily pushing into the human’s mouth and dominating it with a snort of victory. He felt Veledar release his hold and press down with his snout, but at this point it hardly mattered. Arcturus didn’t want to escape from this. Not when his skin tingled in such a pleasing fashion. He even forgot about the possibility of the dryad catching them. That was until a voice suddenly came to their senses. Like a whistling through the tree’s branches it swept over them.

  “That’s not something you observe every rotation. A flying serpant and a biped locked maw and mouth, and one not getting eaten? One could assume that they attraction for each other. Males of all things. How odd.”

  Veledar broke the kiss, both looking up from the tall grass to see a figure standing there but three arm’s lengths away. She bore no clothes upon her bark covered body that was adorned in a collection of dull green moss and dotted with little purple flowers that grew from her shoulders. Where her eyes should have been were instead two bright green flowers that glowed with a faint light to an off-rhythm beat. Her head was adorned with twin antlers like a stag and was cocked slightly to the side. Her pointed chin was being held by a three fingered branch.

  Arcturus looked quickly to their left and right, before resting his eyes on the strange woodland creature. He didn’t know where she had come from, as he was certain no one was there when they had started their playful wrestling especially since Veledar was keen at spotting invisible foes.

  Though. Arcturus blushed as he wiggled free from Veledar’s grasp, dusting off his clothes as he righted himself and straightened his back. With the way we were kissing..We could have gotten possibly distracted. He fought off the crawling sensation beneath his skin as he stared right into the creature’s flower like eyes. It made him want to reach for his sword out of pure instinct, but he stayed his hand. If it were really dangerous he had Veledar at his side.

  “So why do you strange couple of warm bloods came to my land and hunt one another?” The thing tilted its head to the other side, and then it occurred to him. The creature didn’t have a mouth to speak. The words must have spawned in the air or been in his mind.

  “Are you the dryad creature?” Veledar asked, cocking his own head to the side as if to mirror the creature.

  “Indeed, that is what some of the creatures that pass through call me.”

  “Splendid. Well if you must know little wooden fey. It was because we heard about this lovely location of yours was not that far from the town we were presently resting at. I’ve heard that if you catch the rain at a certain time which appears to be.” The dragon rose his snout to gaze out to the orange horizon as it spread it’s rays out to the dark clouds, lining them seemingly with fire. “Rather soonish. Yes I know it wasn’t rather planned. It was as you say…A spur of the moment decision.” The dragon tapped his claw against the ground, grinning as his tail slowly curled around Arcturus.

  So that’s why this place. Something about the rain. Arcturus tried to pluck the information from deep inside, some talk or book that he had read about on this exact place over the years. It seemed so familiar, like it was on the tip of his tongue and all he had to do was reach out and grasp it. Sadly, no answer came, and he was left puzzled.

  “And you assumed that I would grant you permission to stay? Especially when this one brings weapons into this peaceful place.” The wooden humanoid snapped its gaze to the scabbard resting at Arcturus’ side. He could almost feel the despise this creature felt for it, almost as if the air was going to burst into flames as the flowers brimmed with a hint of red.

  “Always carry it when I can. See we humans don’t have claws, sharpened teeth, or pointed horns to fend anything off that wishes to do us harm. We have to use spells or weapons such as these to supplement that.”

  “Trust me. He can’t fight his way out of my clutches of all things.” Veledar snickerd, his tail pulling the knight closer against him.

  “Hey!” He smacked the snickering dragon on his scales with a thwack. “That isn’t exactly fair. Look at you! All those scales, the size, and the strength.” He went off about more of Veledar’s stronger qualities, making sure to sweeten his words with praise that he could feel was making Veledar flush.

  “As my mate and I were saying. If you would have us in your place, we promise on our scales.” Veledar dipped his head, extending his wing and using it to press softly down against Arcturus’ neck, guiding him to follow suit. “That this place will remain peaceful as we left it. We would just like an opportunity to enjoy each other’s company while we can.”

  “I second that motion.” Arcturus nodded, leaning up against the dragon with a sigh. “Dragon and I need a chance to relax from this harrowing adventure we’ve been on.”

  A moment passed in silence as the humanoid looked up to Veledar with a soft creak of her neck. The pedals of its eyes shifted slightly as it held it’s gaze. A breeze brushed Arcturus’ hair, sending a chill down his spine that had him shivering and clinging to the dragon for warmth until a tender wing was wrapped around him with a purr. The dryad snapped to Arcturus with a sudden jerk. “This one doesn’t have scales to make such a vow.”

  “Then on my skin then.” He dipped his head. “The word may be different, but the sentiment remains.” He closed his eyes, trying to sound as sincere as his heart could muster. “I don’t want to harm anything here, and only bask the day away with the dragon I love with all me heart.” He giggled as Veledar suddenly nosed him with a pleased rumble. “Yes, I love you!” He blurted out as a tongue worked its attack on his cheek.

  “You think saying the thing that’s’ causing this will cease my attack? You are sadly mistaken paladin. It only increased my enjoyment of it!”

  He tried to push the red’s advances away, but his heart wasn’t really in it. His arms soon found themselves wrapped around the dragon’s head as his playful rumbles traveled through his gambeson.

  “Then I shall take both of yours words for today. I can sense the affection you share for one another. Its thick on the air and reeks of pheromones.” The dryad held up her head, gazing out to the sunset. “Just don’t take anything with you, and you’ll be allowed to stay.” Without another word the wooden creature suddenly blacked before their eyes. The flowers drained of all color as her limbs drooped. Arcturus was going to say something, but she burst into hundreds of charcoal covered butterflies that drifted along in the air to an unheard song.

  “Well, that was certainly one of those things I can say was rather intriguing.” Veledar pulled his head back, shaking his neck with a series of soft clinks. “That does say something for us doesn’t it?” He cast the human a sly grin, his tail frill flexing in and out carefully as a breeze kissed their cheeks.

  Arcturus smiled warmly, resting a hand on his cheerful dragon’s shoulder as they began to pad away through the grass. He felt the muscles move beneath those scales, the power and care that the dragon carried with such simple movements.

  “Now onward to those stones we saw from above. That is where this splendid jaw dropping event is supposed to unfold!”

  “I wouldn’t count your eggs before they hatch o happy dragon. Things have been rather dull if you ask me. Nothing quite has been able to catch my eye.” He tilted his head, chuckling as the dragon curled his head around to give him a brow raised eye.

  “Oh? Is that right? The guard captain has seen teleporting spiders, metal dragons, shadow creatures, and last of all undead monsters before we were thrust together out of fate?” The red gasped as they climbed the hill with a quickened pace. When they came to the top Veledar stopped before him, taking in a long breath as the rocks emerged from the ground before them. Like dark grey islands lost within a sea of green they spread out in this area, arranged as if designed for a group of gryphons to sun bathe together as a flight. Each one seemed to be up to Arcturus’ waist, and smooth as if caressed by a river’s running waters. He ran a hand along the smooth stone, finding it was cool to the touch and nearly pristine on its surface. Not a single scratch or claw mark could be found, nor dent or piece missing. He took a long breath, sighing as the smell of damp earth worked its way into his nostrils and twisted around with the smell of oak. It brought a smile to his face, one that he shared with the dragon when he peaked his head into his vision.

  “And we apparently came to see it rain? Don’t tell me we left the safety of that town for mere rain?” He cast the dragon a coy look as the red led him to a far rock with an outstretched wing.

  “Not just any rain dearest Arcturus, but one that can leave one breathless with it’s beauty.” The dragon sighed as they came to the stone. This one was covered in scratches and bore signs of other visitors. The red circled the blackened stone, lowering his head to sniff every so often but always ending with a snort.

  “So, what else? Perhaps to stay and sniff rocks?”

  “What?” Veledar snout wrinkled. “No!” He pulled his head back into an S, refolding his wings against his back with a grumble. “There was plenty of other reasons for this as well. As we both agreed, things have been ..Less intimate since we started this venture. Always having to sneak away, and never getting to long to enjoy each other’s company without fear of getting attacked or taken advantage of. This was a way to fix that void in our lived.” Veledar pulled him closer with a playful growl. One that brought memories of cuddling against him, kisses that would tease his senses and always left him longing for more to grace his lips.

  Arcturus blushed as Veledar pressed his snout to his head, sniffing his hair with a breath. Like a puppeteer had taken control, Arcturus hand’s rose to caress and stroke at Veledar’s scaled head and getting a series of small whines and groans in response as the red trembled and shook in delight.

  “I may even have a gift for you.” He spoke softly, seemingly struggling to talk through the purrs that were now rumbling down his neck. When the human touched his sensitive frills Veledar gasped, tail twitching softly as he sat down onto his haunches.

  “A gift you say?” Arcturus rose a brow, circling his mate’s membrane with careful digits. “That seems to be a common thing going around.” He glanced to his pack while his left hand caressed smooth scales. Each one a pleasing sensation that tingled his tips. “Is that why you left us to go scamper around Roselake? You kind of made a mess.”

  “Perhaps.” The dragon grumbled. “You seemed to have fun with Lyndis if I recall. You did your lesser version of dancing with her.”

  “You saw that?” He sighed, feeling the dragon’s trembles beneath his hands. It brought a spike of warmth that spread to his hands.

  “I did. Rather hard to not be attracted to that infernal beating of drums. Made me regret my choice to separate from you for the day.” The dragon’s voice brimmed with longing, letting out a long groan as Arcturus’ careful caress began to head southward towards his neck and the underside. “That’s it…” Veledar wined, his tail curling around them with a flicker of movement in his hinds. “How I got so lucky to have you as my treasure I’ll never know.”

  The human blushed harder from the words as his skin began to grow hot. “How sweet of you.” He kissed the dragon’s leathery snout. “No smug words about how beautiful you are, or how humble your soul is. Or how deserving of it you are.”

  “Well when you put it that way…”

  “Oh, don’t you start, and ruin how romantic you’re being.”

  “I am?” The dragon grinned, nuzzling the male across the cheek with closed eyes. It was all it took to not be pushed over by the dragon’s rumbling affections.

  “Yes! Yes! You got me falling for you.”

  “It’s good to hear you say that.”

  “I know.”

  “I may have been a tad jealous as I watched with narrowed eyes and flames brimming around my heart. I remember how my tail swished and my legs begged me to carry myself to you. Change to my humanoid form and pull you away from that half-elven seductress and dance away with you held passionately within my claws.” The dragon pulled his head back, scales leaving Arcturus’ hands that now felt so cold and empty without the dragon’s warmth. Within those cerulean spheres was a flicker of intense longing and regret. One that seemed to fill the air and wrap around Arcturus’ soul like a shroud.

  “Would have rather liked that you to. You horned scaled bastard. Why didn’t you do that?”

  “The gift.” Veledar looked away, his claws kneading the rock as he fidgeted with a tap of his tail. “And it’s best the humans say if your beloved does not see the gift before you give it to them. Course picking out a gift for you was a rather difficult thing to do.”

  “How was that?” He rose a brow, finding the statement a bit odd. “How could it possibly have been hard”

  “Because you’re a human.” Veledar hissed as his snout wrinkled. “I wasn’t sure what exactly constitutes a gift. So, I eventually just went with what came naturally to me. Something to adorn the cave you don’t have.”

  “But I do have a cave!” He grinned, leaning up against the red male with a broad smile. “Your cave is my cave now! Or have you forgotten in all the excitement oh glorious mate?”

  “Hmmmm.” The dragon hummed, cocking his head slightly to the side as he admired the clouds in the distance. “That is indeed true, funny that it comes so easily and has been staring me in the snout.” He saw a smirk tug at the red’s lips, before a foreclaw pulled him closer against that sea of tan scales, and a rumble radiated through the air that tickled Arcturus’ heart. “Don’t worry mate. The thing that I picked out for you is quite valuable. Dragons would have loved to collect this thing.”

  “I swear to the gods above if you say your cock…”

  “It’s not my cock my lewd knight!” Veledar ducked his head, nosing at the human’s hair with a growly chuckle. “It’s that all you think about within that head of yours? What would the others think? That their beloved knight is so obsessed with his lord and master? Think of the scandal that all the peasants will talk in the streets? Will our exploits be told in hushed voices through the lands? Of the dragon and his knight who lusted after him?”

  He smacked the dragon who thought himself oh so clever with his chuckling with a twack. He only got nuzzled around his neck in return. The dragon’s exhaled made him spasm as the hot air teased at his neck and brought trembles to his fingers.

  “So from your words and beating heart I can presume that yo got me something as well?” The dragon slunk back his head, inquisitive eyes inspecting Arcturus up and down. He gasped suddenly his blue slits locking on the bag that was lain down by the rock. “It’s in there isn’t it?” Veledar snaked his serpentine neck down to the leather satchel before Arcturus could grab at him. The insistent dragon sniffing the leather several times with long intakes of breath and mischievous eyes gleaming back at him. “I’m rather intrigued on what you could think I would want to collect in my horde. For I already have gleaming gems that dot every gold coin laden hill. Books on every subject, and magical weapons from ages passed.”

  “Yes, yes.” He waved dismissively as he wiggled free of the red’s foreclaw and over to the bag. “I was there remember? I tripped down the damned coins and got attacked by spiders!”

  “What did you get me?” Veledar showed off his teeth almost ignoring his words as his snout prodded the leather sack. “Your dragon overlord demands that you show me his gift!”

  “Hey!” He laughed, pushing away the cackling dragon, only getting licked in return. “We’re supposed to unveil them. Not let nosing dragons barge their way into things!”

  “But I do ever love barging into things. Including this little thing in front of me.” The dragon grinned lewdly, his tongue slurping at his face and making Arcturus lean away with laughter as the wet appendage painted his face with dragon saliva.”

  “Okay! Okay!” You can see what it is, just stop licking or prodding at my sack! You might rip it to shreds with your claws!”

  The dragon cooed. The sound lingering in the air as his eyes brimmed with anticipation. “Oh, don’t worry human. Your sack is quite safe from me. I would never harm you with my teeth.”

  “Not that sack dragon. The one by your claws!” Arcturus thrust a finger towards his pack, which the dragon had slipped a wing talon through to lift it up while the human had been distracted. “It holds other things for me!”

  “Oh, that I’m, quite certain it does. But don’t worry, even if my ever-careful claws managed to rip said sack. I would be able to stitch it back together with a minor prestigitation spell. So, I hardly see why you’re putting up all the fuss. And that comment about the sack Arcturus.” The dragon rolled his eyes, shifting so that he was now looking down on the knight, sitting on his haunches with his tail curled around them. “Was a joke.” The dragon snapped his maw shut, lowering his neck painfully slow and giving Arcturus wide eyes that pulled the heart. Some might have called them puppy dog eyes, Arcturus called them bribery.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” He pointed to the pleased slits his dragon was staring at him with. “Are you trying to seduce me into opening my backpack with those cute eyes of yours?”

  “Possibly…” The dragon mumbled softly, a sly grin on the edge of his maw. “Is it working if I am?”

  The human sighed with a smile, folding his arms across his chest and fighting the urge to giggle at the tail tapping, sweet eyed dragon before him. “Fine you impatient hatchling! You can have your gift now!

  Veledar trilled into the air, the sweet sound announcing the dragon’s joy for any passerby to hear it. “Course.” He returned his snout with a grin. “Why were you waiting anyway? We’re alone. I was being romantic…” The dragon scooched closer, the human getting another round of nuzzles and licks that left his skin and heart brimming with warmth and joy. “Handsome..Not to mention mine.”

  The dragon’s pleased warbles turned into purrs as Arcturus cut him off, scratching under his chin with a sigh. “Just as you are mine dragon.” He used his other hand to snatch his pack from the delightful dragon’s wing. Unfastened the clasp that held it together and rummaged around inside the container as the red watched with baited breath. He pulled out the red book, and stuffed dragon that he had stashed into the pack from earlier and proudly placed them on the rock before his mate. He swelled up his chest as Veledar’s eyes locked onto them, a deep resonating rumble sounding like the storms summoned forth from the red’s throat.

  “Those..” The dragon lowered his snout closer, inspecting the book with his keen eyes. He tilted his head slightly, frills twitching in and out. “Why a book?” He rose a ridge, curiosity lacing his words.

  “Aye. I figured.” Arcturus felt his cheeks redden as he rose a hand to cup at Veledar’s jaw. “That since I sort of…Cost you one book I could get you a different one.”

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  Veledar’s eyes only glanced back to the book, confusion swirling around those cobalt pools. “I told you way back that you couldn’t just replace-“

  The dragon was cut off as Arcturus kissed him passionately. His skin trembled as his draconic mate closed his eyes and offered a surprised yet pleased snort. When they pulled back their eyes met, gazing long fully back into each other’s spheres.

  “Not to replace. But to build anew.” Arcturus picked up the book, holding the hard cover thing in front of the dragon’s snout. “It’s blank..So that we may fill it with our stories. Of the great red wrym Crimson Sky.”

  Veledar sat speechless at first, his eyes darting from the book held within his knights’ hands to Arcturus’ eyes. His breath started to come quicker as Arcturus felt within his heart the dragon’s begin to pound ever so lovingly against his chest. His frills fluttered on their own, as his tail curled around them even closer. “I…” His words came, struggling to get to the surface. “And his wonderful mate. One that none could equal in his eyes.” Like a snapping cobra Veledar surged forward, wrapping the human in his foreclaws into a tight, affectionate hug that left Arcturus wiggling and at the same time not wanting to be let go. He was pressed tightly against his mates’ scales as Veledar’s heart beat against his ear like a stampeding herd being loosed free. They stayed like that for several moments, Arcturus laying his head against those tan scales and sighing at the closeness that warmed his soul. When he was placed down away from that bed of warmth he sighed but smiled when cerulean eyes locked onto him with pleased slits.

  “That was a most wonderful gift…One..” Veledar wrinkled his snout. “That might put mine to shame.”

  “That’s what your concerned with?” He laughed, guiding that snout back to look at him. “It’s not a contest who does the best at getting gifts dragon. It’s about sharing special moments with the one you care about. Which in this case my scaled lover just so happens to be you.”

  “You mean I didn’t have to spend the afternoon worrying my scales for this gift giving?” The dragon’s snout wrinkled further as if he tasted something vile.

  “No.” He sighed, “For gifts its very much the thought that counts.”

  “Well in a way that’s silly. Clearly one gift can be vastly superior to the other one.” The dragon sighed, settling his head into Arcturus chest with a groan. “and here I thought it was this vastly important mortal tradition and spent the entire day trying to find something.”

  “Dragon’s don’t give each other things often?”

  “Not typically.” Veledar released him fully, his foreclaws returning to the darkened stone. His snout coiled down and kissed the human tenderly. Sparks tickled at his lips as he met that parted maw and felt Veledar’s tongue return to caress and trade spit with his own. It was like all the awkwardness faded away with each snort or wet smack. The human’s hands worked down Veledar’s jaw as they continued to embrace one another. The dragon shifted his body to be around him as Arcturus’ felt like he was drowning in pure bliss as his tongue jousted with his lover’s. The cold breeze that blew to prickle his skin was soon forgotten with his next breath. Veledar moved his wings to shield them. Like some private sanctuary where none could see what the dragon was doing to his human.

  “Gah.” Veledar gasped, pulling away with a snort. “We can do this later. Lest I forget about this gift giving thing.

  “Yes, I suppose.” Arcturus blushed, his mind still being lost within red scales and pleasing scents. Part of him wanted to continue right now. Forget the presents and atmosphere. Forget the rain. The longer he was touching the charming red and pressed to his lips things seemed less important. The skies dulled, sounds faded, and no other scent but the dragon remained. “I know.” He caressed the red’s cheek a final time before Veledar began to open the pouches on his harness. The dragon rifled through the plain looking brown leather, curling his head down to peer into the containers with a lone eye. It took all he had to not kiss this handsome dragon. For each time he caught the red’s eye the dragon would smirk, wink, and continue on with his soft purrs. It was so that the air was a constant sound of dragon bliss, and the human could feel the emotion of love swirling all round him and keeping him enthralled.

  “I got you this!” The dragon pulled out of his pack a palm sized metallic looking orb that was dotted with small gems of red and yellow. He placed it into Arcturus’ waiting palms, the cool metal making the human almost drop the thing out of shock. For it felt like it had been resting on a sheet of ice for hours.

  “Damn!” Arcturus hissed, sucking in a breath through closed teeth as the pain subsided. “Like damned ice.”

  “Was it?” Veledar swooped his head in out of concern.

  “Yes..” Arcturus sighed, holding up the small orb to his eyes. “What is it anyway?” He admired the surface that was adorned with a variety of artistryf between the sparsely spaced games. They were small moving pictures of small humanoids walking around the painting of a swirling brown desert. There was a vast city with towering buildings with gems placed on their roofs, oblivious to the paladin watching them. He even saw a small green dragon fly overhead, letting out a small plume of orange flame above the city line.

  “It’s called a taladrin” They’re from Rothdell if I recall correctly.” The dragon rumbled, his eyes watching on with excitement at the little pictures shuffling back and forth. “Produced from an old artist from days long ago that is supposed to be very rare. I believe the artist was named Ariach. I came across a hardened looking kolbold that had this on his cart just sitting there like no one wanted it. I saw it and instantly know you had to have it.”

  “How did I need to have it?” He chuckled, setting the orb into his lap and lifting his gaze to the dragon’s warmth filled eyes.

  “Well…It’s rare…magical…and valuable. All these things are qualities that dragons would love to adorn their lairs.”

  “Right.” He let the word linger, flashing his dragon a smirk. “But you said that-“

  “I know what I said.” Veledar grumbled, looking away with a maw snapping snort. “But it also caught my eye…Call it a gut feeling if you will. I attributed it to the fact this item reminded me of you.”

  “How so?”

  “It was something I didn’t expect to find in that place. Was pleasing to the eye, rare, and very valuable to me.” His head snuck closer, a soft sigh escaping the dragon’s lips. Arcturus felt his heart melting the longer he dwelled on the red’s features.

  “When you put it that way…It’s very valuable. I will make sure to place it within our lair. Course if I’m to start hording things like a proper dragon I demand I have my own section within the lair.” He stashed the orb in his pack, the villagers cheering as the dragon sailed off into the sunset.

  “Oh, getting full of yourself, are you? Much demands being tossed at your dragon.” He rose a ridge, grinning down to the human.

  “I would think so! I’m not just some thrall you can order around or hump when you please!”He laughed as the dragon just licked him, a lewd glint in his eyes.

  “But I can do that whenever I please. I have never heard you complain about me humping you.”The dragon nuzzled the human’s cheek as Arcturus caressed his scales.

  “Thanks for the lovely gift Veledar. I knew you went through a lot to find it.”

  “MMhmm. You could not believe all the questioning and prodding those people did to me. Even had a dwarf try to sell me a bagpipe of all things. It was utterly annoying to say the least.”

  “Yes..” He rubbed the grumbling dragon’s jaw slowly. Making sure that ever pleasing touch was conveyed. “But you managed it my strong dragon.” He sighed, leaning back onto those crimson scales with a sigh of content as his eyes fell to the milky orange sky, and the sun that was slowly creeping towards the mountains. He spied a few darkened clouds closing in, a light thunder rumbling across the countryside. “So, these hills…I don’t hear no singing…And those rocks…” He tapped the red’s snout that sneaked closer. “Why?

  “There is a storm that passes this place at several times during the day. When you catch them at this hour it is said to sparkle like a diamond. Shining silver against the sky and is truly a sight to behold. I thought it was a rather romantic spot in my mind. Or at least that what the wolven assured me when I asked around about it. What do you think?” The dragon licked him with a chuckle. “How am I doing at this?”

  “Wonderful.” Arcturus warmly smiled, stroking his red’s snout and running a hand along his neck. It was hard to not sigh as his skin tingled in a most comfortable way. He didn’t even resist when Veledar curled his tail around them. ‘So silver rain you said?” His eye rose almost in time with his curiosity.”Never heard of it before. Course there could be tons of those in this land.” He sighed, shifting his weight to get more comfortable as Veledar placed his snout into his lap, rumbling a soft purr that tickled the man’s skin.

  “That is what they said of course.” The dragon’s frills fluttered softly as Arcturus felt his heart beat a tad quicker. “Whatever ends up being there I can say with the morrow of my bones that it pales in comparison to you. Having you here wrapped up in my embrace is one of the most delightful things in my long life.”

  How could he not sigh and swoon within the dragons embrace. “Yea.” He sighed, closing his eyes to the sound of Veledar’s heart. Each soft thump was like a melody that was played just for him and rippled through his soul and spread warmth to his fingertips. How he just wanted to sit here and be held by the handsome dragon and never let go. Though the human paused, a small sliver of cold came licking at the warmth. Not from the chilly air but from the bond they shared. Arcturus opened his eyes softly, to find Veledar was looking up at him, his eyes drifting then to the clouds with a snort. The dragon was obviously trying to hide them. He ran his hand along the dragon’s head, cooing softly to try and calm the small storm building within. He knew what it was that plagued the red’s mind. For he had mentioned it at times during their travel over the few months. Veledar was concerned with his life as it lacked the same length of the dragon’s own. How in one short century he would be lost, and the dragon would be left alone. He watched the usual strong eyes began to tremble as breaths came shallower. He knew that day terrified his dragon, more than the undead, more than monsters, more than anything else this world could throw at them.

  “it’s okay…Veledar..It’s okay.” The words came softly as he stroked the red’s head.

  “I am.” The dragon’s voice sounded softer, a hint of vulnerability lingering within it. “Was just thinking of the future was all.”

  “We discussed this already to a length dragon.” He poked softly, knowing not to push the dragon too far. It was a sore spot within his heart after all. One that needed the man’s touch and embrace to mend. “What did we say then about it?”

  “That we should focus on the here and now.” Veledar sighed, his voice coming off as monotone. “I know what I said Arc but in times like this.” The dragon licked him softly with a low pleased grumble. “With you so close, and my heart beating strongly against my chest. That thought resurfaces with a power that I cannot smash down with my claws. My scales run cold with ice if I dwell too much on it.”

  “Then don’t dwell on it.” He kissed the trembling dragon’s cheek, sighing and pulling him in close against his head. “Just use those big wings of yours and carry yourself away from them.”

  “I don’t-“ The dragon’s snout wrinkled, moments before nuzzling deeper into the human’s embrace. “Thanks…Sorry for ruining the moment.”

  “Oh shush you tail wagging thing. You’re not ruining anything.” He rose a hand to caress the dragon’s cheek. The dragon had closed his eyes and was nuzzled into the soft flesh with a resounding snort.

  “I’m still sorry.”

  “You’re fine Veledar.” He guided the nuzzles closer until the dragon was inches from his face. He kissed the beast gently, trying to convey his tenderness for the dragon through the bond. The red’s eyes opened, glistening pools that shimmered in the light.

  “I love you with all my being Arcturus. May my heart beats ever strongly for you, as my wings carry us into the heavens.”

  How the words seemed so sweet. Warming the cool that was lingering in the air like an unrelenting storm. “As do I my lovely dragon. And let everyone who sees us know it.”

  “Indeed.” The dragon returned to his nuzzling, wrapping the human with a claw and snuggling him up close as he repositioned his body with a scraping of scales and soft purr.

  “We’re going to miss the rain if we’re locked with one another you know.” He whispered with a faint giggle as he rubbed underneath the purring dragon’s jaw. “Now no pressure of course, got me a handsome dragon round me, his soft purrs to tickle at my ears, and his warmth to cast away any cold as though it were a great mighty hearth.”

  “I would not mind it either. But…Would rather be anti-climactic would it not? To come out all the way here and simply not see something because we could not find the time to rip ourselves from each other’s embrace?” The dragon rose his head back with a low groan, his tail tapping the rock to punctuate his displeasure of such an act.

  Arcturus went to shiver as a cool breeze licked at his cheek, only to be done away with when Veledar wrapped him tighter with a foreclaw and pulled him firmly against his strong and soothing chest. He sighed in delight, slowly stroking the dragon’s limb with careful fingers as he stared out to the forest before them bathed in the sun’s orange glow. Silence fell as they pressed up against one another basking in the other’s presence. The clouds drifted ever closer, swelling triple their size. Arcturus wiggled in the dragon’s claws, scratching his mates jaw and setting his sight into those cerulean spheres. When he did he could see the sun reflecting in them. Lighting them aglow as if it were a brilliant blue light that lurked behind them, seemingly like he was standing in a great blue sky. “What now?” He asked softly, admiring the slight shimmer in his lover’s eyes. One that whispered to him that everything was as it should be.

  “Just thoughts returning to the past.” The dragon groaned softly, his eyes squinting as talons kneaded the stone beneath them. “Especially since the delightfull book you decided to give me.”

  “What kind of past. Anything you which to talk about? Whatever ails the great lord Veledar, his human shall be there to listen and sooth his lord’s heart back to his narcissistic charms.” He laughed as Veledar eyed him as if he had three heads before nuzzling him with a soft whine.

  “Often times I wonder just how lucky it was that I met you. Greatest dragon hunter turned into my beloved.”

  “Right place at the right time. Fate has a funny way it seems.” He sighed, enjoying the dragon’s ministrations. “But what exactly about the past. Whenever you seem to remember, its never a pleasing memory. It’s always some dark shadow that chips away at your spirit and leaves your greatness ever so shivering.” He got flashes of a leather-bound tome coming to mind. The dragon’s story book that Veledar had shared with his brother, now just a pile of blackened dust from magical flames.

  “Before I met you..My…Mother.” The word seemed to be forced as Veledar exhaled heavily.

  “Oh.” The knight cupped under that scaled chin, guiding the saddened dragon back to his chest. Veeldar resisted at first with a slight grumbly growl, but after a moment or two his hands-on smooth scales Veledar gave in.

  “She would have adored you, you know.”

  “Who would have? Your mother?”

  “Yes. You represent all that she wanted for me. To have a pleasing relationship with mortal kind. Perhaps not the intimacy we now share as mates. But as good friends. To not let the past destroy who I am.”

  “When you speak of her. She sounds noble, honorable, and has kindness without measure. If I was not mistaken it sounds as though she was a paladin dragon. If anything could ever be such as that. Do you think she would really adore me?”

  “Oh. There would be no doubt about that. “ Veledar mumbled away, chuckling into Arcturus’ gambeson with a playful swish of his tail. “If you ask my draconic opinion on the manner I think she had a thing for that knight carpenter in her lair. The one whose ashes she kept within that urn? Why else would he be in her cave enshrined? If not a lover they were extremely close.”

  He slightly snickered at the prospect of that knight and dragoness being in love. Only because it had seemed that Veledar had followed in his mothers pawprints. “I would have loved to meet her. She sounds like a very nice and strong silver dragoness. One that I would felt great honor in meeting.”

  “Her name…Was Seogheith” Veledar whispered, raising his head to stare into Arcturus’ eyes. “You should not have to address her as her title or as my mother any longer.”

  “Oh that’s nice I-“ Arcturus froze as his nerves tingled. He almost had to do a double take and shake his head. His fingers ceased their stroking of Veledar’s head as his eyes widened. For he had never expected this, not in his wildest dreams did he think this proud red would ever reveal something that near and dear to him. After all, he had explained that you needed to get a name from a dragon. He had just assumed it meant from a live one. “You just…Told me here name!” He blurted out, skin still tingling from that fact.

  “That I did.” The dragon replied, his voice but a whisper as he lowered his snout closer. “if anyone deserves to know her name. It is you. Just like you deserve to know all the names of my family.”

  “I..Thought you said it wasn’t your place to give their names away! That I would need to earn them from the dragon itself to gain it!” His mind grasped at straws as the weight of what the dragon had told him weighed heavily on his heart.

  “Yes..That is normally true but this…Is something special.” Veledar squeezed him firmly against his chest, eyes brimming with joy that threatened to fill Arcturus’ soul. “But you’re my family now. So, you get their names…My little soft scaled dragon.”

  “Still a human.” He teased with a face reddening chuckle. “Last t time I checked I didn’t grow any scales. Unless that happens to be a by product of your white gold.”

  “Don’t go poking fun of me when I open up to you. That’s a sure fast way to get under my sca-“

  He shut the dragon’s jaw with a tender touch. His heart beating firmly against his ribcage. “You know I never thought like that but…” He smiled warmly, the idea still prickling along his skin. “I’m your family.” He giggled, his hands trembled as pleased silence found him. He could feel pride the love practically leaking from his heart. “I thank you…” He whispered, tracing around Veledar’s eye. “I will cherish that name always for the rest of my days.”

  “My sister was named Adalina, had the most wonderful of laughs. Always had a strong head on her shoulders. She is going to get a kick out of you being in love with me.” Veledar wiggled, resting his head into Arcturus’ lap. “And my brother’s name was Covrias”

  “Adalina?” Arcturus asked softly, resting his hands on the dragon’s scales. That name brought a slight memory. One of him running across the fields of his estate home, meeting a strange teenage girl by that name in the woods. He had been there to spend some time with her, ended up lying to his father where he met her. He had claimed she was from another family down the way, and that they had spent the day with one another. His father had crossed his arms, giving him a small smirk. Telling him to not get into too much trouble and giving him a wink. “I…met a girl once by that name. Do you think?”

  “That she came to you before I?” Veledar’s ridge rose, his claws twitching. “I suppose it’s possible, it’s a strange world after all. Perhaps she figured out the connection to your family far sooner than I. She might even have gone to enact her revenge like I had always intended.”

  “And…” He paused, staring into the dark clouds and remembering how strange she had acted. How she had asked him about who he was and what he intended to be. Her face had looked sad when he mentioned being a knight. Like she knew some dark future that was intended for him. She had clasped her hands to his shoulder when they parted that day, telling him to follow his heart and let it be hid guide. “She decided to not kill me.”

  “My sister always had a good head. What did I just say?”

  “I know…Perhaps it was her. When I do meet her one day it will be on my top list of questions to ask her.” He sighed, tracing the scales on top of Veledar’s head, circling his horn. “I really wish I could have met your mother now.”

  “We both live without family. Ones that we wish the other could have met.” Veledar pulled him a tad tighter, not too unpleasant but preventing him from getting away. “What about your own mother?”

  “Gone.” Arcturus sighed, “But she would have adored you just as much. Everyone seems to when they get to know you. When they see passed the shining smugness that you exude in copious amounts. You’re quite the charmer of a dragon.”

  “Graah..” Veledar snapped his jaws several times, “Is that so? He rumbled, wiggling his tail. “Obviously a charmer of human’s as well. Even managed to train a dragon hunter to love me. I bet your father is rolling around in his grave right now with every roll of my hips that makes you moan my name.” Veledar grinned, licking his lips lewdly as Arcturus felt the dragon hump the stone softly. “Or screaming about it as he gazes down on us.

  “I say let him. Him and others like him in my family caused countless pain to your kind.

  “Hmmmm. With my thoughts still on Adalina, she will love to meet you. She’ll be over the moon at having a new addition to the family. Probably ask us when the hatchlings are to come.”

  “I…” Arcturus laughed, his body near convulsing. ‘I don’t think that’s how it works dragon. You can’t fill me with a clutch of eggs.”

  “I can certainly keep trying, can’t I? Perhaps it’s only a matter of time till your belly swells with my spawn?”

  He rubbed the dragon’s neck, sighing at the rumbles. “You can certainly keep doing that. But I will put all my bets onyou can’t. His eyes widened at the thought to little dragons scampering around, nosing at everything they saw. Looking up at him with red snouts plastered with glee. Little perfect reflections of his great scaled mate. “If you ever wanted those you’d have to find a surrogate dragoness. One who would agree to have the eggs for you.”

  “You are aware that they would want to be apart of lives then correct? They might even want to become part of our relationship if that were the case. I seldom know of a dragoness who would simply part with an egg.”

  He paused his movements, a moment of thought passing. Could he really share the dragon with a dragoness? How would it work? The idea intrigued him to say the least. Would they both share a love for him as well? His mind began to wander about being wrapped by two dragons in their warmth.

  “Course it could very well she just wants to linger because of the hatchlings.” Veledar licked his nose, sighing and closing his eyes.

  “When the time comes dragon.” He rest his head on Veledar’s neck. “Lots to see and do before that moment comes.”

  “Agreed, besides you’re too much to handle as it is! Can you imagine my children running around?”

  Arcturus did, and the thought made him smile, laugh, and squeeze his dragon’s neck into a tight hug. “Running around getting into loads of trouble I imagine! Banners beware of their little horns!”

  “Oh, we would never let banners be around them. I shall teach them they are our naturally enemy. That all banners not at a reasonable height should be put to flame and teeth. Veledar snorted his reply, flashing his teeth. “And be careful mocking that Arcturus. Those are my future offspring you’re mocking.”

  “Oh shush.” He smacked the dragon’s snout unafraid of those gleaming whites. “If all goes to planned you silly dragon, then those little devils would be equally be mine. If not in blood, then in spirit.

  “Indeed, they would be.” Veledar pulled away only to lock his maw with Arcturus’ mouth once more. Wet smacks filled the air as they suckled on each other. Time slowed to a crawl as the dragon became Arcturus’ world. His breath became his air, his scent permeated each lungful. Sounds faded away as his dragon carried him away to a realm of bliss that few get to experience. Through it all the pleasing feelings were only magnified by his bond. For he could feel every beat of love through Veledar’s heart. The bond providing him a peek that few received in their lifetimes. When the mind shattering kiss was done, breaths came in shallow forms, his head still spinning.

  “Always…love your kisses.” He gasped, hands trembling as he ran his fingers underneath the dragon’s eyes.

  “Oh yes.” The dragon smiled fondly, his eyes pleased slits. “I do adore watching your skin turn red, your breaths come short, and that slight groan of happiness you loose when I do it.”

  I groaned?

  As if he could read his thoughts the dragon nosed at his chest. “Yes, my shocked human. You groaned. Of did you become so enthralled by me that you simply didn’t know your little sound of bliss?” The dragon chuckled, “Yet another sign that you’re addicted to me. Not surprising to say the least. You certainly have a good taste.”

  “I do, don’t I?” He sighed, settling down with his dragon curled around him and a foreclaw wrapped around his waist. There would be no escape from this, he was happily the dragon’s prisoner as they gazed out to the approaching storm that was almost on top of them. He sighed as the slight rumble had turned into a genuine clap. “Should we be worried? About the rain?”

  “Why should we? I didn’t hear anything particularly harmful about it. Besides…” The dragon extended a wing slowly, as if to show off every glorious detail to the human’s eyes. “I have my wings to shield you from any threat of melting.”

  “Hmmph.” He sighed, leaning back against the warm scales. “The only melting that I am threatening of doing is into your grasp. You’re just so damn comfortable!”

  “It’s because you were made for me Arcturus.” Veledar nosed at his hair with a brief rumble. “Your mind and body are just letting you know that’s all.”

  “Hard to argue that when you got me so bound and offering me such warmth that my body feels all aglow.

  “Indeed.” Veledar rumbled, sounding like a series of stones rumbling down a hill.

  They sat together for a moment longer with held breath as the sky above seemed to open up and douse the countryside in its waters. Rain came down in pellets over the and, a thick storm of angry liquid that raced to crash down to the earth below. He could even hear it from this distance, the loud sounds of it hitting against leaf and ground alike. His mouth fell open, for this was unlike any rain he had ever seen before. The sun’s rays were striking the droplets as they fell, sending waves of light bouncing in all directions. It glimmered like silver, a small metallic treasure before the darkened clouds. It dazzled the eye, sending a spine inducing chill down Arcturus’ neck as he committed this pleasing sight to memory. It begged to be painted, sketched, he had hardly seen something as beautiful except maybe the dragon he was currently snuggled up against.

  It was then that the dragon started humming softly to himself. A near quiet tune to himself. One that had his tail twitching and his eyes misting and wavering. If there were any words the dragon didn’t sing any, but he held the notes as Arcturus’ hands stroked his head with the most tender of care he could muster. The song wrapped around Arcturus’ ears and guided his hands with purpose. The notes contained a sense of happiness about it, but one that had an underlining of sorrow. When Veledar finally finished his mournful tune, silence found them amidst the falling rain, the dragon’s eyes blinking quickly. They looked so hurt in this moment, just like they had been during his mother’s cave.

  “That was beautiful.” Arcturus whispered, leaning close to his mate. “Always learning more about you with each passing day. Like you have new layers to peel away and gander at. What was that song perhaps? The melody was nice, but I can’t place the name.”

  “I don’t know the name.” The dragon replied just as softly. “My mother was the one who would sing it to my egg. The one who laid me.” Veledar’s eyes shifted to Arcturus’ own and the human’s heart squeezed. For within those cerulean eyes contained all the pain that his family had inflicted onto him. The red’s mother being killed by his own family and denying the dragon a chance to know her.

  “She would have been proud of you…and speaking of her.” He pulled Veledar close, shivering as the dragon trembled beneath his grasp. “She helped shape who I am today if that brings any comfort to your sea of troubles.” Arcturus ran his hand along the dragon’s jaw. “Who would have known that it would have led me to her wonderful son?”

  “How did she help you? I saw the illustration you did on the cave near the estate. You perfectly captured her radiance.”

  He nodded, pushing through the awkwardness with a quick intake of breath. “When I saw her in my family’s journals on dragons. I saw her beauty and eyes. It gave my mind pause. The idea you all were monsters seemed false. I soon doubted the stories, started drawing and painting. His voice trailed off as Veledar held him closer, as if his mere presence could fend off whatever cold lapped at his strong heart.

  “Thank you for sharing that human. It does indeed warm my heart to know what.” Veledar’s words were even softer than before. Nearly getting lost to the encroaching pitter patter of torrential rainfall heading in their direction. It crashed over the first of the rocks, water splashing in all directions as the silver rain soaked everything it touched. The dragon extended a wing over them, just moments before the rain enveloped them in it’s wet embrace. Veledar curled his head, nuzzling the human’s chest as his purrs intertwined with the soft sounds of water splattering against the beast’s soft membranes.

  “Thanks for this trip.” He sighed, leaning up to his mate’s scales. “The rain was pleasing to look at, and the company most enjoyable.”

  Veledar snuck his snout down to press jaws to Arcturus with a passionate kiss. “Pleasure as always mate.” The dragon pulled back, giving the human a parting lick and playful growl. “I think we both needed this.”

  “Yes, but of course. Just remember to set our eyes to the future.”

  “Our Future.” The dragon corrected him with a rumble and another teasing lick. “Wherever we set my wings that shall be the direction we head.”

  “Sounds nice.” He closed his eyes, listening to the comforting rain fill the air around them. “Especially the company I’ll keep. Might have to put up with an arse of a dragon though.”

  Veledar smirked, eyes falling to the glinting water that soaked the ground. “Might try to have a go at producing eggs of his own.”

  “Then I would tell that dragon he doesn’t know how breeding works.” He opened his eyes, running a finger along Veledar’s smooth scaled cheek.

  “Arcturus?”

  “Yes?” He whispered, stroking the dragon’s jaw.

  “Thank you for coming into my cave.”

  He smooched the dragon’s snout, getting a pleased rumble for his trouble. The soft sound was music to the human’s ears. “And thank you for kidnapping me from that airship and setting me free.”

  “Free?” Veledar chuckled with a growly tone. “If I recall you fell right into my lap human. And I quickly snatched you up into my claws and made you mine.” Teeth nipped at Arcturus’ skin with a playful snort. One that made the human gasp and tremble at his dragon’s affections.

  “Yes, but you are most sweet about it.” He leaped up against the dragon’s head as they glared out to the dazzling display embracing the land within its moist hug.

  An unknown amount of time passed as they basked in the rain together. The soft sounds of it striking the ground was soothing to the soul. The sweet scent of fresh rain and damp earth was just as relaxing Especially combined with the dragon’s lingering scent. When the sun began to finally vanish from the earth, the rain let up it’s torrential downpour and instead was comfortable with small splattering trickles. The dragon shifted, the comfortable warmth he was providing leaving the human cold and shivering. His mind begged him to run to the red and throw himself against him, if only to bask in his overpowering warmth. “Why’d you go and do that for?” He trembled and shivered at the night air.

  Veledar yawned, a pleased look in his eye before he snapped his jaw happily at the small rain drops. “There is one last place I’d like to visit here. One that I’d prefer we get to while the light still graces us.”

  “You can see in the dark. Why would that trouble you at all?” He stepped closer as Veledar stretched, a groan releasing from the red’s maw.

  “Yes, but I’d rather not have you stumbling in the dark. Best if we head now with what light we have.” The dragon extended a wing, acting as a makeshift shelter as he led Arcturus towards the trees with a trot.

  Arcturus offered his mate a thanks which Veledar bowed his head. As they quickly closed the distance to the trees he could see the dragon’s pace quicken. His breaths had started to come closer together, and small slivers of excitement sneaked their way into Arcturus’ chest. Soon he was forced to jog as the dragon had started bounding with his claws. It was infectious to say the least, even without the bond part giving him a glimmer of his mates’ soul. He found himself starting to mirror the dragon with bouncing steps.

  “What has you ever so glad?” He asked, having to almost run at this point to the now prancing red dragon.

  “Having you here is what’s doing it.” The red smiled, taking a powerful stride before curling his neck down. “I rather enjoyed our time together, if you can so believe that.”

  “Some tales might find it impossible yes.” He laughed, catching up with the dragon. “Course you prove to be much different than any tale I ever heard.”

  “Well there is only one like me.” The dragon kissed his cheek with a pleased grumble. “Just like there is only one of you.”

  They teased at one another as they walked. Eyes locked on one another as human thigh met dragon flank. Veledar’s teeth met his rump and made him groan. Licks turned into kisses as they stumbled along, never long to deny themselves skin against scales. Arcturus had hardly noticed that the forest had given way to a large path made from dark twisted roots, that seemed to slither through the open path. He leaned away from the latest blood quickening kiss to pull out his mana crystal light, the sun having sunk in their excitement. He pressed the smooth surface, bathing the area in a warm orange light, showing off the large flowers that seemed to emerge from the very darkness.

  They were large white pedaled things. Roughly the size of Arcturus; hands and practically lining the forest trail every inch along the way. He eyed them with a slight shimmer of suspicion, looking like the very eyes that had been on the dryad. When he took his next tentative step, it seemed like the flower like eyes were following him, waiting to see what his next move would be. He shook off the sensation with a quick breath, walking closer to his guardian dragon, practically leaning up against his scales. “What is this place?” He chuckled weakly, groaning as Veledar licked his neck with his slippery tongue.

  “You shall see.” He chuckled, “It was here before the dryad called this place home. The kobolds seemed to imply that it was still here after all these years.” His chuckling turned into rumbles before Arcturus found himself nipped at again, his skin flushing.

  “Are you going to keep nipping me?” He laughed, clenching at Veledar’s horns as the dragon rumbled away.

  “Will it keep causing you to make pleasing noises and fall into me? If so, then I dare tell you mate I will keep teasing you.” The dragon snorted, his warm breath prickling against the human’s skin.

  “Damn…fine..” He sighed, pushing himself off, but getting another nip along the back of his neck. One that was ever so careful, but one that made his whole body tremble. It was the type of nip he had heard of dragon’s giving their mates.

  “Like that did you?” The dragon smirked, only doing it again when Arcturus didn’t answer. “I will have to remember you like getting love bit.”

  “Will I need some healing when it’s said in done? I’d rather not be leaking blood everywhere whenever you decide to nip me.”

  “Oh, please Arc, you better than anyone know I can be most tender and careful when the time arises it. Otherwise I do believe you would have been split in two by now.”

  He sighed and followed the pleased with himself dragon who swelled up his chest and guided him with a wing. “It’s not too far now I can imagine, trust me I think you will rather like this place. Especially if you love yours truly.”

  “Mmmhmm.” They slowly advanced through the dripping forest, Veledar’s wings still shielding him from the skies tears from above. Water struck all around them, a cacophony of soothing delight that one could use to fall asleep on a troubled night.

  “Watch out!” Veledar exclaimed, pulling him close with a foreclaw as his horn snapped a misplaced branch. Water spilled out in a great tide right where Arcturus had been about to step. “Someone put a branch in my way.” The dragon’s eyes narrowed as he glared back daggers to the twisted wooden limb.

  “Of course.” He chuckled, giving the dragon a coy grin. “The forest just wanted to make you look foolish to me.”

  “But of course, it did! Everyone loves the opportunity to make me look foolish. Why not add the very forest to that list? Especially if the forest can be bent to the needs of that dryad creature. I bet on my scales that she was taking some sort of wooden vengeance for my mistakes with fire as a wyrmling. It’s not my fault that wood elves were made from wood of all things!”

  “Did you set some helpless elves on fire by chance?”

  “We put them out!”

  “I don’t think that was the point. Perhaps it would be easier if you minded the horns?” He tapped to his head, causing the dragon’s head to snap to him, eyes glimmering in the mana crystal light as he glared at the human.

  “Or did Matilda also change her workshop to make you foolish as well?

  “You can stop that you know. Not being very romantic pointing out my mistakes. Think you might be trying push your dragon away.” Veledar snorted, padding along, his tail sliding against Arcturus as if begging him to follow.

  “But its actually a compliment!” He laughed, running after the dragon who suddenly froze at the word.

  “How is pointing out my mistakes and flaws? Well if that is the game we are going to play then here.” The dragon rolled his eyes. “Your head is so small and lacks horns. You have no wings to fly, and no tail for me to snap or play with. You are a goody too shoes that gets under my scales but oh so makes me want to hold you close.”

  “Hey!” He grabbed the dragon’s snout, kissing him to shut his words off at the source. He pulled back, gazing into those cerulean pools. “For you see. I love each last bit of you. Every scale that adorns your body, every claw, talon, tail. Your eyes captivate me and hold me bound, your wings are vast expanses I love to touch. Your horns make you look regal, your very scent drives me wild! So, I do not care if you’re clumsy or claim to not be resplendent at times. For I look to you and see my beautiful, handsome, and very sexy dragon whom my heart beats ever so strongly for.”

  “Mmmmm.” Veledar purred, his tail swishing behind him as he looked almost surprised. The moment passed before his eyes before red scales met human cheek in a warm nuzzle. “Always know what to say, my thoughtful knight. You do have a way with words that tickles my wings.”

  “One of the paladin’s charms they say.”

  “I would certainly have to agree with that. It seems as though you almost exude as much charisma as me.” The dragon’s head swayed back and forth with a smile as he picked up his pace, wrapping a wing around Arcturus and guiding him along.

  “I can walk on my own you know!”

  “Then why do you feel the need to keep me stopping? Are you hoping to delay something?”

  “Whatever plan you’ve concocted in that head of yours I’m sure.” He picked up the pace, enough so that Veledar’s wing was no longer on his shoulder. “Hey!” He was forced to laugh, sprinting as the dragon entered a gallop, bounding with a trill quickly out of the human’s reach. Water splattered against his face as he followed, catching up to his mate’s swaying tail when they came to a break in the path.

  “So, what do you think?” The dragon asked, extending his wing as if to reveal some grand prize that the human had won. Before him was a short cut clearing of grass that was coated with large droplets of water. Each one a small orb threatening to bend the blades of green beneath its wet weight. From the grass rose a spiraling structure of stone that was cracked and worn away from ages long since passed. Large sections that had been part of some great awning now lay ruined and placed off to the side like trash. Arcturus stepped slowly, the air suddenly taking on a heavy sensation as it entered his lungs, his eyes drawn to the numerous carvings of dragons and humans that were drawn into the stone’s surface. If you asked him, it looked to have been drawn with a claw. He gazed up from the stone to see that it may have once had a domed roof, one to house sheets of glass now broken away like some stone skeleton. His hand reached out to caress the old object when they got close, the smell of mold and damp stone rising forth to caress his nostrils.

  “Used to belong to some old wizard of years past I heard.” Veledar strode next to him, running a foreclaw along the stone. “I don’t remember their names. But I read that they were able to travel to different planes. Even could bend the world to their liking with their magic. Not sure where they all went though.”

  “Probably lost to time.” Arcturus said, peering inside the ruins that were now being consumed by the forest floor. What he saw made him chuckle and glare back at the dragon with an amused look. For inside the clearing was a black stone, with torches that lined around it. They even still smelled like burned wood, as if someone had recently used them. Infact if he looked hard enough with the warm light, he could make out small tendrils of smoke rising forth from the torch head. “Mischievous dragon?” He laughed, thinking back to the rope comment. “What was this place “Really” used for?” He gestured to the carving clad stone slap with a wave of his hand.

  “I said what it was!” Veledar chuckled, slinking over to the stone with an innocent smile. “It’s not my fault that future peoples decided to use this altar for sacrifices for dragons!”

  “Wait- what?” He went to spin around but his dragon was already there to catch him with a foreclaw like lightning.

  “Now before you go shouting or leaping to conclusions. No, it was not that kind of sacrifice that I speak of…but more along the lines of a …” The dragon licked his lips, nosing at Arcturus with a rumble. “Pleasurable sacrifice.” His eyes lingered on Arcturus, his breaths coming out hotter than usual, and his frills practically burning at the mere touch of the human’s fingers. “I thought that you might like to be my sacrifice.” The dragon licked his face, making him step back as Veledar pressed forward.

  “Your sacrifice?” The human soon found himself sighing, kissing the dragon that was slowly pushing him back towards the altar.

  “indeed.” The dragon broke the kiss, eyes brimming with an inner light of intense longing. One that was only accompanied with a swaying tail, and an emerging maleness from between his tan scales.

  “That’s..why the rope?” He groaned as Veledar’s tongue soon attacked his neck, the slippery organ lapping at the male’s skin and sending ripples of pleasure over his body. His heat skipped a beat as his fingers trembled weakly, a pleasurable noise escaping his throat as, yet another powerful lick and stride of the dragon pushed him to the stone. A quick pull of the dragon’s teeth relieved him of his shirt. The rain tickled at his skin like little ice daggers, but he didn’t mind. Not when Veledar laid him down on the stone slap, his tongue licking his chest. Arcturus gasped as his quaked as the red traced his abs, mind numbing delight bringing forth gasps as his limbs quivered and breaths came faster. It was like Veledar’s tongue was made to tease him with how he squirmed and voiced his approval through lewd moans. Each one only accompanied with a growly chuckle as the dragon worked the paladin to a writhing, moaning mess beneath his dominating presence.

  “Grah…” Arcturus’ voice came out a lingering moan, his hand’s reaching to caress the red’s cheek. “What are you doing to me?” Claws found his skin, they slightly nicked t him but it was soon forgotten with another kiss, the dragon working off the human’s boots and pants as he pressed down on the human’s chest firmly. Not enough to hurt him, but enough to let him know he wasn’t going anywhere. The dragon’s maw parted, tongue sinking into Arcturus’ mouth. His eyes fluttered as all sense was lost. His world narrowed to that of his dragon’s tongue, his scent wrapping around him, and the arousing sensation of having his foreclaw pressed down on his chest.

  “Veledar.” He groaned weakly, a sound he thought he would never make. But as the dragon lowered his kisses to around his neck, slathering every inch with his tongue he made only more pleased sounds. The stone lost it’s cold as blood ran hot within him. The dragon had him delightfully as his mercy. He could feel the need to beg the dragon to take him as that tongue worked up the heat to a near irresistible force.

  “That’s it my little sacrifice…Moan for your dragon. Let him know how much he pleases you.” Veledar growled, a claw grabbing Arcturus’ thigh and spreading the man’s legs in an inviting fashion. “I want to hear you beg mate. Beg for your dragon to take you.”

  His cheeks flushed, eyes lingering on those handsome cerulean spheres that were dead-locked onto him. A hunger glimmering in them, one that burned for him. “What…..if…Ahhhhhh.” He squirmed anew as Veledar’s tongue traced his inner thigh.

  “What was that human? I could not hear you.” The dragon’s tail swished playfully behind him, a brief glance to his mate’s maleness getting him ready for what was in store.

  “What about the rope?” He groaned, clutching at the air as he squirmed beneath his dragon’s claws. “Isn’t that not what you wanted?”

  “Indeed, that was what the intended purpose was my little sacrifice. To have you bound with your arms behind you while I took you as my own. But I think.” The dragon’s tongue teased at Arcturus’ coin purse, a weak groan escaping the man’s throat as pleasure bucked his hips. “You’re rather eager as I am at this point.”

  He could only nod as the flames within him glew brighter as Veledar released him and started to move over him with a low rumble. Soon he was faced with the firm under scaled stomach of his mate rippling with power. His eyes found the dragon’s arousal. Memories came to mind how it had reached into him, the ridges delightfully popping into him. Each one making a new song sing the dragon’s name.

  He’s going to break you in half. His mind reminded him as the dragon gazed at to him hungrily, his eyes glinting in the moonlight. “As much as I’d love partake with you.” He chuckled, his skin warming with anticipation as his mate grinded over him. His claws groping at his sides. “You’re going to hurt me if we try that…Possibly even kill me. Can’t let passion over ride our heads.”

  “Mmmm.Indeed at the moment that would be true.” Veledar sighed, curling his head with a smirk. “One day you will be able to, alas it shall not be this night however.” The dragon rolled his hips softly, his body preparing the paladin for what was to come. Before his eyes the problem began to shrink to it was a more manageable size.

  “Well…isn’t that strange. You’re going to keep the rest of you big? Seems rather disproportionate. Looks like you’re rather small down there. Like you a lion or cat from the west.”

  “Is that so?” Veledar growled, grinding his hips and summoning a groan from his human’s mouth. “Yes, but my little sacrifice, You would not get the full experience otherwise. What it’s like to be truly beneath a dragon.” His claw moved out, grabbing Arcturus around the shoulder and flipping him over to all fours. With a snort the dragon pressed against him, a soft whine escaping from his maw.

  The scent of his musk soon rose up to wrap around his nose, teasing at the man’s lust and bringing warmth to spread through the human’s skin. “Ready to be *sacrificed* my dragon.” He giggled at the words. He squirmed as Veledar licked the back of his neck, brief teases of what was to come.

  “Love seeing you act so needy and eager my mate.” The dragon growled softly, his anticipation flowing through the air. Hand’s rose out of instinct to grab at the dragon’s teasing snout.

  The human groaned, it was like the dragon knew how to torture him, his body longing, needing this handsome dragon to take him. Passionate to take him like a dragoness, express their closeness and love for all to hear.

  “Now say it.” Veledar growled, playfully teasing with his tongue along the human’s torso. He positioned himself with swaying tail until his was in the familiar position Arcturus found himself. An imposing battering ram waiting to break down the gates.

  “Please.” Arcturus gasped, his muscles almost pressing him back onto the glorious red. His inner flames of need burning hot, but Veledar held him down, purring loudly as he slowly started to move forward. “Grah..” His eyes fluttered as he gasped his approval.

  “Yesss…Arcturus….submit to your dragon.” The dragon’s eyes closed, a loud hiss of pleasure coming like a steaming pot. Arcturus joined him in pleasure with a groan. Like an irresistible force Veledar pressed onward with a frill twitching grunt. Letting out a pleased sigh as he conquered the knight in a most pleasing way.

  Arcturus held his ground, insides stretching wonderfully slow as his voice had become nothing but lewd cries or songs. Each pulse of the dragon was like a rising storm, slowly begging his body to take more. It was an imposing force to be sure, but one he was determined to take. He hardened like steel as his body obliged his lover, the first ridge making him shutter with a lip quivering pop. Shivers went up his spine, cooing for the dominating red.

  “How are you doing?” The dragon lowering his head to lick at Arcturus’ face. He stopped his advance as Arcturus’ body clenched at him. A soft love letter to his mate to continue.

  “Fine.” His cheeks burned, the beast throbbing powerfully inside of him. His inner walls hugged the red lovingly as his eyelids fluttered, his fingers trembling in bliss. “Gah…” His body trembled as the dragon rolled his hips, more ridges finding purchase inside him. Each one igniting a delightful wave of fireworks that left his lower half tingling in pleasure. Like the dragon was made exactly for him. “Just…tight.” His eyes clenched as he tried to relax, let more of his dragon in. He was thankful for Veledar’s tender licks, each one soothed the heat as more of that pulsating dragon sank into him.

  “You’re doing well mate.” The dragon rumbled, pulling back softly and returning with a hiss as each ridge made Arcturus moan like a dragoness. “You can take me well.” Another lick, another hump of the beast’s hips, another weak noise from the knight that announced to the heavens who was giving him such hand trembling pleasure.

  “G-gods.” His body accepted every soft thrust, helping his mate burry each wonderful inch inside of him. Veledar was patient, letting him adjust to every bit as Arcturus was claimed as his own, training the human to accept him with ease. “How..Is it for you?” He gasped as another ridge slipped into him, feeling as though an arm was pressed up his backside. However, with the discomfort came mind numbing pleasure, each ridge, each throb. They made Arcturus groan for more, beg for all that his dragon could give.

  “Wonderfully tight.” Scaled head went over the alter, letting out a pleased growl that lingered the air. “Such a wonderful little sacrifice. I think I shall take you little knight to my lair…And you’ll never leave. How does that sound?” Veledar pulled back until he was left gasping and Arcturus’ pleasure drugged mind begged for more.

  “Now say it mate.” Came the low growl, brimming with lust. The need to burry that dominating length into him. The dragon slightly bucked his haunches, teasing the human and bringing forth an eye clenching cry of bliss.

  “Mate me Veledar!” He shouted his cheeks flushing. Each gyration of the dragon’s hips was like a love song. One that he wanted to take in every way. “Breed me! Take this human and knot him. I want to feel you claim my backside!” His cheeks burned at the words, but he knew he’d say anything in this moment to give his mate pleasure. He smiled warmly as the dragon’s caring eyes stared into his own. Like two glimmering sapphires.

  “Now…What self-respecting dragon could resist a request such as that?” Veledar grinned, giving the human a last lick. “Ready?” He rumbled, a lustful prelude to what was going to be unleashed.

  “Yes.” He grinned. “Take me Veledar…make me yours.”

  “Oh, you are human. From the moment I set my eyes on you.” The dragon pressed forward, pushing into him with a growl. “Just be sure…To scream my name into the night hunter. I want all to know who has tamed you. Who your heart throbs for.”

  Words failed Arcturus with the next firm thrust of his lover as the red sunk in almost all the way. Wet smacks filled the air as skin smacked against wet scales. He trembled, skin red hot as Veledar started up a smooth rhythm with a snarl. One that kept in mind he was taking a human instead of releasing his full fury. Each press of their bodies they groaned together, voices mixing together in a cacophony of pleasure. He cried out till his voice was hoarse. He felt every pulse, every mind-numbing ridge making him sing. He hardly remembered crying out for more, begging his mate to take him harder to the dragon’s growling approval.

  With a tail thrash Veledar repositioned himself, getting a better angle before thrusting swiftly inside with a pleasurable hiss and lewd smack. “Take it all Arc.”

  “Yes..”He clenched his teeth as the dragon found his prostate. Each hammering of those scaled hips brought a waterfall of pleasure. One that left his mind spinning, drowning in wet smacks and growls. He unleashed sounds of pleasure as he struggled to not be pushed off the altar as Veledar picked up the pace. His world narrowed to that of his dragon. Every groan or sigh lingering in the air and dominating Arcturus’ world. It was not long before his body trembled, and he was screaming Veledar’s name.

  “Yesssss.” The dragon quaked, his body shaking as the nature of his body demanded to lock the two together with each smack of his hips.

  “Veledar…” He felt his climax swiftly approaching as Veledar’s humps started to lose their steady rhythm. The dragon snorted his reply, frills glowing red hot as breath escaped him in small steam tendrils. The beast eager to reach the pleasure filled end.

  The dragon’s tail twitched as his talons dug into the altar. “I’m close mate.” He grunted with thrashing tail. “Going to fill you.”

  “Knot me!” He cried out, screaming his delight as Veledar growled his approval and humped with all his might, clenching eyes. One hump, two, three, that’s all it took before Veledar’s frame trembled, threw his head into the air and let out an ear splintering roar of intense pleasure.

  They collapsed together on the altar, the sound of the rain on rock mixed with pleased pants of a job well done. Veledar snuck his head down and licked at the human’s red face, the pleased rumbles radiating from his neck making the human smile and think how lucky he was to have this dragon right here with him.

  “Good for a sacrifice no?” He gasped, body still tingling as warmth filled him from the afterglow.

  Veledar warbled, his eyes closing at the sensitivity. “ Gah…Gah..A most wonderful one. Which I would like to breed each night.” Wings spread wide to shield them from the rain still teasing at their hot hides. “My heart beats for you Arc.”

  “As does mine.” He sighed, rubbing the dragon’s scales with a sigh. No doubt in his mind this is where he belonged. Not just tied to the dragon, but here up close against his scales. “We might be stuck here for a while.” He laughed, “Course…Not like I’d want to leave.” He kissed wet scales as Veledar began to purr and shift his body so that they were laying down together on their sides.

  “Good. Because I intend for you to be this close many more times.”

  He nodded, resting his cheek on his lover’s scales as the pleasing fatigue started to set in. His eye lids threatened to close, as sleep tugged at his senses. He couldn’t even fight it, not with how full of dragon seed he was, or how twitchy his legs felt. He imagined he wouldn’t be able to stand. “Promise me to never let go.”

  “I never shall.” Veledar curled around him, scaled limbs wrapping around Arcturus’ chest. They stayed like that till the dragon’s body separated the two. Veledar soon was cleaning every inch, making sure that his human was cleaned from head to toe and Arcturus loved each gasping second. With that completed they found shelter beneath a tree, looking to the rain as Veledar laid down, raising a wing and guiding the human back to be snug against his chest. “Love being in my arms my human?” He licked across Arcturus’ face, tail wiggling.

  “Of course, I do, my wonderful overlord.” He chuckled, rubbing the dragon’s snout as licks turned back into kissing and small soft snorts. The series of affectionate kisses eventually turned into another round of carnal love making. When they finally finished again they collapsed into a tired heap. Wings wrapped around them both. and together their eyes closed. Arcturus drifted off to sleep, guided there by his mate’s soothing heart, and rise and fall of his strong breaths.