I pressed the heel of my palm to my clit and plunged two fingers into my pussy, barely stifling a groan as I did so. I licked my finger and thumb of my other hand and lightly pinched my nipple, adding that sensation to the growing mix. My mind drifted deeper into the fantasy, images playing behind my eyes.
Nyfain’s fingers took over for mine, plunging into me, stroking me just right. The tip of his cock dragged through my slick folds and paused at the entrance. Pleasure whispered across my flesh.
Heat turned to fire. Desire turned to desperate, aching need.
His big body lay over mine, all strength and muscle, and I ran my fingers down his broad back. This faux-reality had restored his gorgeous golden scales, two lines down the sides of his back. I stroked my fingers down them, causing him to buck into me wildly. I arched, cutting off my moan just in case it bled into reality, and wrapped my legs around his trim hips. I dragged my fingers down those scales again as his lips trailed along my jaw and then settled on my lips, opening my mouth so he could swipe his tongue through.
Fuck me, Nyfain, I thought, rocking my hips up. His slammed down, his cock driving down deep, filling me up in a way that felt like home.
He thrust on top of me, his perfect ass moving within my constricted legs. His kiss deepened, consuming, sweeping me away. His hard chest rubbed my nipples.
Pleasure surged through my body as he pounded into me, his hips slapping against my flesh. His kisses desperate. His love filling me up and flowing over, fusing with mine.
As though he were speaking them in my ear, I felt his words. I felt his possession. His drive to protect what was his.
Mine, I knew he thought, his cock branding me, his teeth moving over my mark and biting down, claiming me again. And again. Mine!
I came so hard that I lost my senses for a moment, confusing reality with this waking dream, losing myself to the pleasure of the moment. As I floated, not wanting to drift back to my body, I swore I could hear, I love you, my little dragon.
“Here we go again,” Vemar called out the next afternoon, sitting where he always did, idling the time away. “Party time.”
Everyone pushed to standing and, sure enough, the sound of boots drifted into the space. Those boots appeared a moment later, followed by the bodies they belonged to, appearing beyond the lip of the low-hanging ceiling. Govam was in the lead, like always, with Denski right behind him. He walked down the center of the cells, eyes on me for a long moment before they found Micah. Denski kept going, coming for me. Apparently they hadn’t named another new captain yet.
“Captain,” Denski said, slowing by Hannon’s cell.
“Stop,” Govam said. The guards who’d been filing in slowed and then did as instructed, studying the cells to see what might have triggered Govam. By now they all knew that his word was law. To ignore it would be to die like all the others.
He joined Denski outside of Hannon’s cell, and I pushed closer to the bars.
“Who’s this?” Govam asked, his voice raised so everyone could hear. “I don’t know him.”
“Losing your faculties, Govam?” Vemar said in a bored voice. “He’s always been there. Ol’ fire crotch, we call him.”
“Ew,” Lucille said. “It’s not cute when you know there’s a dick hiding in that fire crotch. Kinda taints the palette.”
“Speaking of taint…” Vemar started laughing.
Govam glanced back at Micah, then to me, his eyes boring into mine, and turned to face me.
“Who is this?” he demanded. “Why wasn’t I alerted to his presence?”
“Are you under the impression I run this place or something?” I quirked an eyebrow at him.
His eyes narrowed.
“He’s in rough shape,” Denski said. “Should we get him up anyway?”
“No.” The words were out of my mouth before I knew I’d thought them. “As you said, he’s in no position to go. Leave him here.”
Govam tilted his head a little. He didn’t smile, his eyes didn’t twinkle, but I knew I’d revealed my hand.
“Get him up,” he said, still eying me. “He’s handsome—he’ll fetch a good price.”
The power within me coiled to the point of pain as the rest of the guards burst into action, lining up in front of the cells of the shifters they’d be escorting to the baths. I heard someone bark for me to back up to the bars, and I did. Then I followed the guard’s direction to step around so I could be let out. I didn’t flinch when they unlocked the cell and rushed in to grab me. Didn’t resist when they led me past Hannon, his expression screwed up in intense pain as he allowed them to manhandle him, ripping open his wounds so that they bled down his back.
I didn’t act out, because I was waiting…
Waiting for when Micah slowed things down, as he always did.
Waiting for him to taunt Govam, as he always did.
Waiting for when he burst into movement, jamming the rest of them up behind him…
When it happened, the power within me exploded, white hot. Strength bled through my limbs in a way that was new and fucking amazing. Searing agony ripped down my back, my dragon wanting to come out, but I was in complete control of the situation this time. I had to be. Hannon depended on it.
I flexed and yanked my hands apart, breaking out of Denski’s hold and the metal cuffs that couldn’t contain me. In a flash, I grabbed Govam from behind and threw him to the right, against the bars of the nearest cell. Taller than him, stronger, fucking angrier, I grabbed his throat with one hand and shoved everyone else away, creating a bubble of power around us with the sheer force of my will. Nyfain flooded me with magic, fortifying me in this space with Govam, where no one could reach us.
Where no one could save him.
“If you force that man upstairs,” I ground out, “I will do what no other dragon has ever done. I will fucking end you.”
His eyes widened and a glimmer of fear sparkled within their slate-gray depths.
“You asked who he is?” I went on, my tone deathly quiet. The guards beat at my will, no more effective than a cloud of gnats. “He’s my flesh and blood. I will burn this whole place to the ground, starting with you, if he is taken up to those parasites.” I spat the last word, pausing for a moment to let that sink in. “Do you want to live or die, Govam? Decide right now.”
I tightened my hold on his throat, but we both knew that wasn’t how I would kill him. His hands were at his sides, pinned with my magic.
“You won’t burn this place to the ground,” he replied. “You don’t have the people. You have a lot of power, but not enough. They’d kill you eventually. And him with you.”
“Fine. But you’ll die first. And I have the power to make it slow. Right here, in front of all your guards.”
He licked his lips. His eyes changed—the intensity, not the color—and something new appeared in them. I didn’t know if I should be scared or wary or worried for my future. But then, I’d decided not to think about the future just now.
“Can they hear me outside of this…bubble?” he asked.
“Yes. I’m not a faerie. I don’t have that kind of magic.”
There was an edge to Govam’s voice as he raised it and said, “Leave him. Even if he was presentable, which he isn’t, we don’t have the guards. He’s trouble.”