Stealing the Dragon’s Heart by Kiersten Fay

49

The heavy fog of unconsciousness lifted slowly. Onnika felt herself breathing and for some reason was surprised by the sensation. The air around her was a little humid, subtly perfumed with a complex bouquet of sweet spring blossoms, fresh rain, and a hint of damp soil. Stronger was the scent of clean bed linens and a familiar musky aroma that sent bolts of desire through her system. Her body had been trained to respond to that scent by passion and ecstasy and love...and it always made her greedy for more.

Aidan was in bed with her, his arm wrapped protectively around her. The pressure and heat of him felt luxurious. Just five more minutes of sleep, and she was going to ride him like a bronco.

Somewhere beyond where she slept, zealous birds chirped with mellifluous enthusiasm, singing songs to one another. A breeze wafted over her skin, sending fresh flavors of nature through the room.

Tendrils of confusion weaved through her mind. Had they landed on a planet? Weren’t they in the middle of a race? Last she recalled, they’d all been in danger and…Caryn was dying!

She shot upright with a gasp, her suddenly pounding pulse crashing in her ears like stormy ocean waves. With every gulping breath, despair clutched her heart tighter in its cold, gnarled grip. Where was she? Where was Caryn?

Her surroundings were a shocking contrast to the endless dimly lit, ramshackle bunks and space station accommodations that she was used to. The remarkably spacious room was brightly lit by way of a set of wide-open doors that allowed warm natural sunlight to pour in and was bracketed by gossamer white drapes that played cheerfully in the breeze. Even from where she sat, the view was breathtaking and indicated they were on a high floor. Beyond a coral stone balcony and marbled balustrade lay endless rows of rolling green hills splashed with colors of spring. The room was painted in warm, soft hues: silky peaches, pale corals, delicate whites. An opulent marbled hearth sat dormant in front of an inviting seating area decorated by a set of plush off-white sofas and matching chairs. The lightly tanned tile floor gleamed from a fresh polish, reflecting the high coffered ceiling. The massive bed was unreasonably soft, enveloped a by a feather-light comforter and smooth satiny sheets that wrapped her like a velvety creature looking to slowly suffocate her in a luxurious constriction.

With growing panic, she fought to free herself.

Aidan stirred, roused by her movement. Looking drowsy at first, he blinked his eyes open, and then the lids shot wide. Levering himself into a sitting position, he cupped her face between his hands, his gaze intense, searching. She’d never seen him so disheveled. His hair was wild, as though it had been pulled and tugged so much that it was now in permanent disarray. Untended whiskers discolored his strong jaw. Shadows braced his eyes.

“Thank the gods,” he choked, then pulled her into his lap and buried his face in her neck. Strong emotions rolled off him in palpable waves, his body shaking with it.

She reached up to cup the back of his neck, letting her nails softly caress the skin there, but before she could offer more comfort, she needed to know…

“Did we make it?” The whispered words fused by despair and hope.

He nodded, not lifting his head. “She’s fine,” he muttered into her skin, warming her with his breath. “Caryn is fine. We made it.”

Unimaginable relief poured over her, and she nearly went boneless. After a moment, she felt the tip of his nose graze her shoulder, followed by his lips. Her feminine intuition notified her of his fragility. He, too, needed tenderness and reassurance.

She moved to straddle his lap. His brawny arms folded around her waist, gripping her in a vise, with their torsos pressed so tightly together her knees barely touched the mattress. She realized she must have been unconscious for some time, and he, as he had once warned, had slipped perilously close to madness, fearing he would lose her.

His head cradled against her breasts as she petted his hair. “That’s a bit tight, love.”

He instantly loosened his grip but didn’t release her, his body still shuddering slightly.

She kissed the top of his head, murmuring soft, comforting words. “It’s okay. I’m here now. I love you. I’m with you.” Part of her worried this was a dream, that she was about to slip into another nightmare and that Aidan, her sister, and her very life would be ripped from her at any moment, replaced by yet another horrid reality, but she wrapped that part up and put it away somewhere in the recesses of her brain, because right now Aidan needed help climbing out of his own horrid reality and firmly reinstalled into this one.

Settling more comfortably on his lap, she brushed his lips with hers. “We’re okay now. It’s over. I’m not going anywhere.”

He seemed a bit dazed at first, then he pulled her closer and set her on fire with the fierce kiss of a man coming back to life. He put everything he wasn’t saying into that kiss: his love, his panic, his desperation, his piercing confirmation that she sure as shit wasn’t going anywhere and if she tried, he was going to drag her back and show her with his body how thoroughly she belonged to him. Her returning kiss mirrored the sentiment.

The crucial urgency with which they discarded their clothes was tame compared to the savage frenzy of their lovemaking. He was a wild thing, taking her as if he felt he could stamp his name on her soul with the might and power of his physical form. She forgot the race, her past, the world. Aidan transported her to a place of pure ecstasy and perfection, a place where only the two of them existed, dining on passion and feeding it back to one another. The tighter he held her, the more ravenous she became, wanting more. Harder, tighter, rougher. It was as if they were no longer sophisticated beings, but creatures of primitive origin, wanting to mark the other as claimed territory.

Onnika didn’t know how long the frenzy lasted, only that she came several times before they collapsed onto the bed, still holding one another.

And yet, she was not tired. Lying partially atop his body, she said, “Tell me what happened. How long was I out?”

“Three days,” he replied through heaving breaths.

“Is that all?”

He gave her a warning glance filled with hellfire. “Is that all? No, no. Don’t you smile. Do you know how scared I was?”

Unable to temper her grin—undiluted happiness plus several orgasms will do that to a girl—she cupped his face. “I’m sorry. I can’t help it. I’m alive, you’re alive, Caryn’s alive. I never believed I could hold so much joy. Tell me what happened. How did we escape?”

“We didn’t,” he replied. Before she could ask what he meant, he said, “There was no need. Whatever you did…they just stopped.”

“They stopped attacking us?”

“They stopped everything. The attack, their ship. They were like a dead fish in water.”

“For how long?”

“They started moving again yesterday.”

She blinked at him. “Their ship was stopped for two days?

He nodded grimly. “They came in fifteenth place.”

A clipped laugh escaped her. “You’re kidding.”

“What did you do to them?” he asked.

“I have no idea.” With a gasp, she sat up and planted her palms on his torso. “Wait…does that mean we won?”

His lips twisted into a wry grin. “Not that it matters, but yes.”

She pouted. “And I missed all the excitement.”

“You missed all the panic,” he corrected. “The race is still underway with stragglers simply fighting to finish. A ceremony is going to be held to announce the winners, but we won’t be attending.”

Her mouth dropped open in outrage. “Whyever not?”

“Because I dread the idea of even letting you out of this room,” he replied, but she saw humor in his eyes. “Keeping you alive, I fear, will be my full-time occupation.”

She laughed. “I’ll try to make it as easy on you as possible. Tell me more. Tell me everything that I missed.”

She learned that the finish line had been only twenty minutes away when she’d been rendered unconscious by that unholy power. Whatever she had done had made The Condemned instantly cease their barrage, allowing Dragoon to proceed with only a few scrapes and bruises. Ash had taken over as pilot so Aidan could tend to her. She felt sorry that he hadn’t been the one to take them over that last leg, but he didn’t seem to care.

Once they’d arrived on a little planet called Shihana, it was a mad dash to find the Serakian healer they’d been hoping for; Lear carrying Caryn, Aidan carrying her, and the others rushing around like headless birds bullying officials for information.

When they found the Serakian’s tent, Aidan admitted it was the hardest thing he’d ever done in his life to allow Caryn to be tended to first. “I knew what your wishes would have been,” he said. “And you would have murdered me if my concern for you cost Caryn her life.”

She remained silent, wondering how truly close she’d come to losing Caryn.

“Not to mention it would have started a brawl between me, Asher, and Lear,” he added.

“Do you think they both love her?”

“I don’t know,” he replied honestly. “They’re certainly treating each other as rivals.” He shrugged, then continued his story. “Once Caryn was healed, the Serakian looked you over for a very long time. Too long for my comfort. I’d begun to worry it was too late. And so, finally, when she declared there was nothing she could do for you, I…well, I’m ashamed to say I may have lost my mind. I remember being restrained, and I’m sure it was either Asher or Lear who knocked me unconscious. Probably Lear, the bastard. I woke soon after, but the Serakian was gone. I found myself alone in a tent with Zeek watching over me, and he relayed the Serakian’s words.”

According to the Serakian, Onnika had drawn from a forbidden well of magic that few even believed existed, even among her own kind, and as with most unnatural magic, a price must be paid. The Serakian had been unsure what that cost would be, but had suggested it could be as little as a few days of her life…or as hefty as the whole of it. No wonder Aidan had looked nearly broken when she’d awakened.

She saw a shadow cross his features and kissed him until it went away. “I feel perfectly well,” she assured. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

He snorted out a laugh, his eyes crinkling with the first hint of real humor. Then he turned serious. “Promise?”

“With all my heart.”

A vulnerable tenderness crept over him. “I love you.”

She leaned over him to plant another swift kiss on his lips, then blithely flipped her hair. “Of course you do. I’m amazing.”

He attacked then, tickling her until she cried out for mercy and wailed that she loved him, too, and promised him forever.

Once their amusement died down, a warm breeze drew her attention to the balcony and beyond. “Where are we, anyway?

His lips spread in a mischievous grin. When he revealed the answer, she was robbed of breath, suspended in astonishment for several moments. She couldn’t believe it. It couldn’t be real.

Bursting with wonder, and uncaring of her nudity, Onnika shuffled out of bed and raced to the balcony overlooking the land that had for so long felt like the memory of a fading dream…Evlon.

Two blessed suns warmed her exposed flesh, one to the east and one overhead. In the distance, hills rolled like cresting waves, covered by thick forests as far as the eye could see. The air was fresh and tinged with scents that pulled at her recollection: blooming flowers, evaporating dewdrops, the promise of coming rain, all mixed into a heady fragrance.

She felt Aidan ease up behind her and wrap his arm around her midsection.

“Am I truly…home?”

He placed his lips on the top of her head so she could feel him nod.

She’d never seen her world from this height before. There was something foreign and, if she was being honest, frightening about finally laying eyes on her home world again, but she also felt a soul-deep connection to the planet that had eluded her for so long. A connection she didn’t realize she’d desperately longed for until now. She was home. Her journey, the endless searching, was finally at an end. Not only because she was here, but because she had brought everything—everyone—she loved with her.

Tears in her eyes, she whirled to face Aidan and threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you. Thank you for bringing us home.”

He gently kissed the top of her head, his lips lingering against her crown. “Would you like to see your sister now?”

Pulling back, she wiped her eyes and replied, “Don’t you think I should get dressed first?” which drew a hearty laugh from him.

It was in a great opulent hall with high ceilings and ancient artwork hanging on the walls that she first caught sight of her sister. With a mixture of squeals and sobs, Onnika and Caryn crashed into each other like two boulders meeting at the base of a valley for a fierce embrace. Whatever the Serakian had done, Caryn appeared healthier than ever. Her coloring was warm, her eyes bright, and her cheeks were flush, as though she’d just returned from a walk.

Asher, Lear, and Zeek were there, too, and as soon as she and Caryn released each other, Onnika was swooped up by Asher in a crushing hug before she was passed to Lear and Zeek, who both gushed with pleasure at seeing her looking so well. Goodhearted jibes and jeers were shot at Aidan for being so worried, who took it with reserve and mildly disgruntled grace. For a long while, the reunion was a jumble of enthusiastic reminiscing over all their trials, their near misses, and then astonishment over their uncanny accomplishments. Then Caryn asked Onnika what she’d done to the crew of The Condemned. “I heard you did some kind of new magic,” she said with eagerness.

“Yeah,” Onnika replied with equal fervor, “I think I almost died. It was amazing.” There wasn’t much more she could tell them that they didn’t already know. Lear told her she must have a little witch in her, and even though he hated witches, he wouldn’t hold it against her. Ruffling her hair, Asher affectionately called her a devious little thief and told Aidan to hold on to her.

“No problem there,” Aidan replied, then muttered close to her ear so that no one else could hear, “because you’ve stolen my heart and I don’t want it back.”

“Then we’re even,” she said, “because somehow, you’ve stolen mine as well.” That earned her a roguish grin that did funny things to her lower belly.

An unfamiliar group of people joined them in the hall, and Onnika was immediately drawn to a familiar face. “Uncle Ethanule?”

Her uncle’s hair was the same shimmering white shade as hers and hung nearly to his wide shoulders. The changes in him were stark. He’d filled out quite a lot compared to his younger self, his body having shed the lanky carriage of youth, though he still appeared quite young by Faieara standards. Like her and Caryn, he was older now, with a lifetime of experiences etched into the subtle lines around his eyes. The trio of small, beaded braids hanging down one side of his face gave him somewhat of a piratical appearance, but his smile was warm and inviting.

Next to him stood a gorgeous woman with midnight hair and a darkly formidable aura. At first Onnika thought the two little spikes poking out of her hair were dainty accessories, but quickly realized they were horns. Could she be a demon? What a rare species, even more surprising to find one associating with Faieara.

Ethanule came forward and pulled her into a cautious embrace, then set her at arm’s length to meet her gaze. “I’m so glad you found your way home. We are all so proud of you.”

“Is my mother with you?”

His expression fell slightly. “We’re still looking for her. Many of us are still lost, even on our own word, unaware that the royal family has returned and reclaimed the kingdom.” Then he offered an abridged version of everything that had happened after the Great Exodus and the eventual return of the royals, which had prompted a tremendous battle that finally drove the Kayadon from the palace. “They’re still out there,” he cautioned. “The Kayadon are hiding on our world somewhere, preparing, we assume, for retaliation, but they have been greatly weakened, and now we have strong allies to call upon if needed.” He glanced at Lear and Aidan with a look of familiarity and respect. Then he gestured to introduce the woman at his side. “This is Sonya. My mate.”

Onnika regarded the woman with open shock for a moment, then shook her astonishment away. “It’s wonderful to meet you…Aunt Sonya.”

Now it was Sonya’s turn to be astonished. “Aunt,” she choked out. “I’m not sure I’m ready for that kind of commitment. Although, if I’m to have a pair of nieces thrust upon me, it seems only right they be notorious. We’ve been watching your progress through Phase Nine. Ethanule recognized the two of you nearly instantly, though we had no way of contacting you.”

Ethanule added proudly, “The entire kingdom has been cheering you on.”

“Truly?”

Ethanule nodded. “Sonya and I would love to accompany you when you attend the closing ceremonies.”

She glanced hopefully at Aidan.

He returned a glum expression. “I’ll consider it.”

She hopped up and down with excitement and informed the others, “That means yes.”

Aidan struggled to conceal a wry grin while everyone else laughed.

Later that evening, when she was once more alone with Aidan on the balcony of their room, she asked, “What shall we do for excitement now that the race is over?”

“I’ve had enough excitement to last a lifetime,” he replied, pulling her into his arms as they gazed at the stars, her back to his chest.

Onnika marveled at the sky she’d only known as a child, simultaneously familiar and strange. Never had she imagined her entry into Phase Nine would have truly led her home, let alone that she’d have found her soulmate along the way. She leaned back against Aidan’s heat, wondering how she could have gotten so lucky. Then she reminded herself of all she’d endured to get here and decided she had paid a hefty wage indeed. But it was worth it.

“Are you worried you’ll grow bored with me?” he asked in a teasing tone, though she thought she felt some tension in his muscles against her back.

“Oh, I’m sure there will always be some sort of trouble for us to get into to keep ourselves entertained.”

“I’m sure there will be some sort of trouble you will get into, and I shudder at the thought.”

“Look at the bright side,” she said cheerfully. “It just means you’re going to have to stick around for a very long time and protect me from myself.”

“You know very well that you are extraordinarily capable of both getting yourself into and out of trouble, but I do fear you will need me on occasion.”

She twisted around in his grip and gazed up at him. “I’ll need you always.”

Oh, he liked that. He took her lips in a tender kiss that made her lose track of time. When he broke the kiss, he shot her a sly grin. “Do you want to go for a ride?”

Moments later she was soaring through the air on the back of his magnificent dragon form, chortling with excitement and nearly convinced she could touch the stars.

Continue this sizzling series with TAKEN BY THE DRAGON PRINCE