Christmas: Dragon Style (The Sanguenna Chronicles Book 1) Read online

  “Really?” she asked, astonished by how losing a scale could lame them and for so damn long.

  He nodded. “It’s like breaking your legs, not being able to fly. Especially considering where we live.”

  “True.” She pursed her lips. “You think he’ll come?”

  “Yea, I do.” His thumb began to dig into her calf, and she groaned at the nice little massage.

  “That feels good.”

  “Means you’re getting sensation back. At least partway. Can you feel your toes yet?”

  She shook her head then moaned when he carried on, shoving the blanket away and using both hands to start caressing and massaging the still useless muscles.

  She let out a shuddery breath. “Why does the mate bond cause such a reaction?”

  His thumbs stilled their treatment, and he looked down at her feet rather than her face.

  “Remy?”

  Silence didn’t bode well.

  He grimaced. “The longer the lack of motion, the stronger the bond.”

  “That’s good, isn’t it?”

  His sigh confused her. “One of the strongest bonds took weeks for the leman to regain sensation.”

  “Are you shitting me?”

  “No. I didn’t want to scare you.”

  “Too late.” She thought of the prospect of lying on this fucking chaise longue for the next couple of weeks and knew she’d go insane before then. “When do you start flying normally?”

  He hunched his shoulders. “Shortly.”

  “How shortly is shortly?”

  “A few days.”

  “So, we can return to the other realm?”

  He nodded, but she knew he wasn’t pleased at the notion.

  Well, tough shit.

  “Why does this happen though?” she demanded, still perplexed by it. She’d never heard of another shifter bond that triggered such a reaction in the non-shifter partner.

  Hell, it was pretty unique.

  Then, she realized, it was as unique as dragons were. There were none rarer, and maybe the reason for that was the fucked-up way they mated.

  Before she could huff out a breath, his thumbs started up again. “It’s twofold. Firstly, it creates co-dependency between a newly mated pair. Secondly, until the bond is fully manifested, no actual mating can occur, so the intimacy between dragon and leman can blossom.”

  She blinked at the flowery terms and had to hide a smile. “Only a man would come up with bullshit like that. But it’s cute, I’ll give you that.”

  His eyes were loaded with hope at her tone. “You’re not angry?”

  “Of course, but it’s not your fault, is it?” She blew out a long breath. “You sure there’s nothing else you’re not telling me about this shit? I won’t get mad if you tell me now.”

  He pulled a face, which had her mentally preparing herself. “Some lemans lose use of their arms, others like yourself, their legs. It’s where your mark will manifest.”

  The way he said that had her stuttering out, “We regain use though, right? Your phrasing leaves a lot to be desired, Remy.”

  He frowned at her chiding. “Yea, you regain movement. I simply meant that whichever part of you that takes longer to recover, is the part where the mark manifests.”

  “And what mark’s this.”

  “Dr-asff sc—ahsl.”

  She blinked at his mumbling. “What?” she demanded, glowering at him. “Enunciate.”

  “A manifestation of dragon scales.”

  Her eyes widened, and she disregarded the word ‘manifestation’ to focus on the more terrifying aspect of his statement. “Dragon scales?”

  “Yeah.”

  She gulped. “All over?”

  “No. Just a patch.”

  “A patch on my legs?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What kind of patch?”

  “It’s not unseemly,” he chided her, his fingers digging into the limp muscles and making her groan with delight. His touch had half of her singing, and then, the part with brain function wanting to smack him. The contrast was most perplexing. “It’s actually a very potent mark,” he confessed.

  “For you, you mean.” Not for her. Manifestation or not, she did not want to replicate her favorite alligator purse. That was so not a good look.

  His grin was wolfish. “Yea.”

  “So, I’m gonna look like a lizard. Great.”

  He snorted. “Nay. It’s like a tattoo. But it matches my pattern, that’s all.”

  “You had a pattern?”

  His pout had her hiding a smile. “You did not notice?”

  “I was too busy freaking out about the mate bond then terrified about you potentially dropping me.” She snorted at his glower of outrage.

  “You thought I’d drop you?”

  “I didn’t know if dragons sneeze.”

  His eyes widened at that. “Sneeze?”

  As he looked set to splutter, she turned it around. “So, no sex, then?”

  His already flared eyes grew larger at her change of topic. “Nay,” he said huskily.

  “That’s a shame. If my legs were working, I’d climb you like a tree.”

  “When your legs are working, you can climb me any time.”

  She chuckled. “That’s good to know.”

  He smirked at her and patted her leg. “It will be good for us.”

  “If you say so,” she groused, letting the tension flood from her shoulders as she sank back against the chaise longue for support. “I can’t believe this is all about codependency. I’m relying on you, how is it you’re relying on me?”

  “Dragons are selfish creatures,” he confessed softly, his fingers now wandering down to her toes, and he was working on her arch with an intensity that felt beyond sexual. Hell, he would undoubtedly be able to smell her arousal.

  She knew she could.

  “You are?” Her voice was a low rasp from the need coursing through her. A woman could only take so much teasing, dammit!

  He nodded, seemingly unaware of her lusting over him. “A dragon and his leman rear only a single dragonling. We’re spoiled for, what humans would deem, an eternity. ’Lings are considered young until their second century. That’s a long time to be in the nest. But,” he said with a shrug, “’tis the way of it.”

  “You’re considered kids for two hundred years?” she squeaked. “I’m two hundred. No way am I a kid!”

  He laughed at her outrage. “Our physiology is different. It takes a long time for us to mature, and then, when we’re fully grown, we cease aging until many centuries have passed.”

  “How many?” she asked, curiosity biting her tone. She knew next to nothing about the species, and not for want of trying either.

  Dragons were notoriously close mouthed when it came to their personal histories. Saying that, so was every other creature who lived in this realm.

  He grimaced. “The Mother works in mysterious ways. She gave us long lives but limited our numbers for sustainability.”

  She wafted a hand. “That means what?”

  “It means we can live for thousands of years.”

  “Seriously?” Her mouth dropped open. “That’s too cool.”

  “It can be,” he granted with a nod. “It can also be incredibly lonely. Some reach a millennium without finding their leman. Imagine how cool they find that?”

  She whistled out a breath. “Jesus. I never thought of that.”

  “You wouldn’t. The oldest nightwalkers barely live past half a millennium without seeing the sun.”

  “Will I do that?” she asked softly, her eyes catching his with a somberness that wasn’t feigned.

  “Nay. You are mine now.” The corner of his mouth twitched up in a smile. “You should live as long as I do. But, as I was saying, living alone for such a length of time has its problems. We become set in our ways and accustomed to our own personality. Though we want our lemans desperately, the adjustment can be hard.

  “The Mother works in mysterio
us ways. She knew this, and this is why you are currently incapacitated.”

  “It’s a learning curve,” she said on a laugh. “I just wish she’d figured out a way to do all that without it meaning I have to sit on my ass all the time.”

  He snorted. “When I can fly, you can sit on your ass and still see this realm. I will have Eirik source a saddle for when your legs work. You shall see this new world of yours.”

  “Until then, I want to go home,” she warned him.

  “Soon. I have to deal with Georgios, first, as well as other House matters.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “You’d better not stonewall me on this, Remy,” she warned.

  He held up his hands. “I’m not.”

  “What is a House anyway?”

  “It’s akin to a human family without the shared surnames. We are House Dreconis. Though Eirik and Alexa do not share a family name, we share blood.”

  “You’re the head of your House, aren’t you?”

  “My father rescinded it to me a few centuries ago.” He grimaced. “The kin are now my problem, unfortunately.”

  “Georgios is part of the House too?”

  He nodded.

  “How many Houses are there?”

  He fell quiet, and she moaned when he dug his thumb into the space between the heel and the ball of her toe.

  “Don’t think you can side-track me,” she gritted out, feeling close to orgasm that felt so damn good.

  “I’m not,” he denied sheepishly.

  “Guess again, buddy. I wasn’t raised yesterday.”

  He rolled his eyes. “There are six Houses. We all answer to the Queen on our House’s behalf.”

  “Six?” She gawked at him. “Wow. You’re pretty powerful.”

  “We are,” he told her inclusively.

  Warmed to the core by his simple concession, she smiled at him and sat forward, reaching to put her hand on his knee. “I’m grateful to be your leman. Not because you’re the head of one of the Houses but because you’ve already shown me, by word and deed, how kind you are.”

  His deep, dark eyes flashed. Lightning bolts striating through the orbs. “You are my leman. No one else means more to me than you.”

  “I know. I feel that.” She blew out a breath. “It’s pretty heady stuff.”

  His lips twitched. “It gets headier.”

  At his promise, she sank back against the chair once more. Lazily, she smiled at him. “I can’t wait.”

  Chapter Six

  After he’d finished massaging her feet and legs, he retreated to the hot springs to wash up.

  While he was in the silky, fizzy depths, she watched him and took great pleasure out of seeing him shift into his other form.

  When he trumpeted out a noise, she blinked in astonishment as it rang around the cavern again.

  More Elven magic?

  He did it again. Then three times more. After which, he shifted.

  Rushing from the water, she got a quick glance at his junk before he toweled off the moisture licking at his skin—how she wished she could lick him—and started to pull on a pair of simple linen pants.

  “What was that all about?” she demanded, sitting up, his feeling of urgency making her nervous.

  “Georgios is on his way.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I heard his call,” he told her simply as he started to rub his hair dry. “Why?”

  She blinked at him. “Because this is all new to me, and I don’t have a clue what’s going on?”

  He grinned. “You’ll learn. My hearing is sensitive in my other form. I heard him trumpeting from afar. I replied.”

  “What the hell is this Elven magic that helps amplify your voice?”

  He tapped his nose and winked at her. “For me to know and you to find out.”

  “Funny,” she grumbled. Before she could complain again, someone hollered from the tunnel.

  “Tis I, Georgios,” came the bellow.

  “Get your arse down here, troublemaker,” Remy called back.

  She heard grumbling, as the shifter stepped down the hall into the cavern. A handsome beast appeared at the mouth. Long blond hair, eyes as brown and silky as dark chocolate, and skin so golden he looked like he’d been dipped in the stuff. He wore matching linen type trousers that covered all the good stuff, but he was shirtless as was her mate.

  Said mate didn’t seem to notice her gawking, because he strode over to Georgios and pulled him into a hug.

  The sight of two incredibly delicious males hugging like they hadn’t seen each other in a lifetime was too sexy to believe, but it was also touching.

  They pressed their foreheads together, and then, Georgios swept down onto one knee.

  “I came as soon as you called, Sire.”

  Remy huffed. “Less of the Sire. It’s always Remy to you. You know that.”

  Georgios grinned up at him, and with a grace that spoke of way too many yoga sessions, was on his feet again. “I had to make sure you didn’t have a stick up your arse now you have a leman.”

  Remy chuckled. “If I did, she’s already yanked it free. Come, meet her. She’s curious to know you.”

  She sat up a little straighter and wished like hell she’d asked to get changed when Eirik and Alexa had left. Somehow, she’d thought it would take days for a meeting with Georgios to occur. She guessed that was the beauty of flying, though.

  Smiling at the man who walked toward her with a delicate grace her heavier mate lacked, he bowed low over the hand she held out to him.

  “Leman of my dearest friend and House head, I pledge my loyalty to you. Your protection and your safekeeping are my highest priority.”

  When he stood up, Remy clapped him on the back. “I appreciate that, old friend.”

  Georgios shrugged. “’Tis a pleasure. I’m glad that one of us has our leman at long last.”

  “Take a seat,” Mia prompted, waving a hand at the armchair opposite her. When he complied, she smiled. “I’m Mia. I’ve heard plenty about you.”

  She spoke to him like the naughty boy she sensed he was. Some men were just incorrigible and through charm and boyishness managed to get away with it.

  Georgios had that same cheeky chappy air about him.

  She liked him on sight.

  “All bad, I hope,” he immediately teased, sitting back and stacking one ankle atop the opposite knee. His effortless elegance would astonish and undoubtedly overwhelm his leman.

  “Most of it,” Remy replied for her, his tone a low grumble.

  That alone told her he had a soft spot for his friend.

  Georgios wafted a dismissive hand. “Eirik and Alexa have been tattling tales again. I warned them about that afore.”

  “Yes, and caused a cavern drop so that they were trapped for a good week.”

  “That was a long time ago,” Georgios retorted. “And they deserved it.”

  Remy huffed out a breath.

  “He can’t say he agrees with my tactics,” Georgios retorted companionably. “That would be against the House Head’s rules. But at the time, he laughed when he found out.”

  She shot her mate a look and saw the laughter in the depths of his eyes. “Alexa and Eirik can be overzealous,” was all he said though, and he directed it at her.

  “Who are they to you?” she asked curiously.

  “My secretaries.”

  “Your Enforcers, more like.” Georgios’s eyes flashed a warning. “Don’t think I don’t know it was you who slipped me that draught.”

  “If you know that, then, you know why you woke up.”

  Remy’s voice was free from contrition, but Mia had seen the flash of fire in Georgios’s eyes and knew that he was offended. As anyone would be by the betrayal of a close friend.

  She sighed. “Boys, let’s be proactive, huh?”

  “Boys?”

  They both spoke at the same time and huffed out aggrieved laughs.

  “Don’t act like ten-year-olds, and I’ll call you
guys instead.” She grinned at them both, glad to have cut through the tension, which had steadily been creeping up between them just from a handful of remarks.

  Georgios pulled a face. “Was it really necessary to put me to sleep?”

  “Yes. You’re not the only one who was growing frail, Georgios.”

  He frowned. “What does that mean?”

  “It means I was as desperate for my leman as you. I needed to sleep. I couldn’t if you were out and about causing havoc and rampaging among the other kind.”

  Georgios’s jaw flexed. “Why didn’t you say something?”

  “Because it wouldn’t have helped.” Remy sighed. “There is only one reason why you should have awoken. Your leman.”

  “Why haven’t you gone to her?” Mia asked softly, desperately curious now she heard how her mate had had to sleep for want of her.

  And Jesus, didn’t that just make her heart fucking melt?

  Georgios studied her a second, batting chocolate brown eyes like he was used to getting everything he wanted with just that one gesture.

  She snorted, pointed at Remy. “Won’t work on me, hun. I’ve got him to contend with.”

  Next came a pout. “I deal with my business in my own way.”

  “Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like that’s the case, does it? Not if you’re causing havoc,” she pointed out. “I have every intention of spending time in the other realm. Remy isn’t the only one with adult-brats to corral. If you’re dicking around because either you can’t be bothered to find your leman or there’s some reason why you’re holding back, then, that’s going to interfere with how much time I get to spend back home. Which pisses me off. So, what the hell’s going on?”

  From batting his lashes to narrowing his gaze at her. Finally, they were getting to the real Georgios. Not the brat, nor the hunk who undoubtedly used his pretty face to get away with murder.

  “It isn’t as simple as you think.”

  “Isn’t it?” She chuckled. “Doesn’t seem simple at all to me. Not considering what Remy had to do to find me. There’s one less Sanguenna in the world, at least. You can go and find yours using his list. Plus, he’s already done the explaining. They won’t be shocked to get a visit from you.” A thought occurred to her. “How old was the eldest Sanguenna on your list?”

  Remy frowned. “Why?”