Dragons of Preor: Taulan (10 page)

Finally—
finally
—he slumped over her, giving her his weight. She accepted it with a soft sigh, enjoying the heavy feel of him pinning her to the mattress. Anyone else would have scared her until she begged to be released but with Taulan… she wanted to stay captured.

Forever.

T
aulan should not regret
his actions. How could a fortunate male ever regret claiming his mate?

Yet he did. Many times and in many ways. His mate was passionate and eager in bed and they had spent hours exploring each other’s bodies. An exploration he wished to continue… at a later date. At a time when life did not pull them in many directions.

Today… today could possibly be a dead end.

He almost chuckled. He believed that thought was a human
pun
. But he did not have time for
puns
. Not when he must head to the training facility to face his opponents.

“Lana.” He brushed hair from her face. “
Shaa kouva
, you must wake.”

She moaned and lifted her arms, stretching with a twist of her body. The movement had the silken sheet lowering, exposing the tip of one puckered breast. The nipple was hard and seemingly begging for his lips, his tongue and teeth.

If only they had the time.

“Taulan?” she questioned and then relaxed back into the mattress with a deep moan.

“You must wake,” he murmured and fought to dispel his arousal. Her bare skin called to him like a human siren, demanding his sensuous touch.

“Can’t we sleep in?” Her tone neared a whine and she reached for him. She snatched his fingers and tugged him closer. “Come back.”

He gave her a rueful grin. “Not today, unfortunately.”

Perhaps tomorrow if he made it through the coming challenges.

“Taulan?” She frowned and rose to her elbows, brushing hair from her eyes and then she met his stare. “What’s going on?”

He hated that even in their short time together, she’d learned to read him. He took a deep breath and released it slowly. He could face down any number of males in battle, but he could not speak to his small mate. He slowly lowered himself to sit beside her on the bed and stroked her arm. Her skin was smooth and soft beneath his palm and all he wished to do was kiss every inch of her body.

Instead, he had to speak with her, keeping his passion capped while they discussed what was to come.

“It is time,
shaa kouva
.”

Confusion puckered her brow for a moment before it cleared and her eyes widened. “No.” She shook her head. “It’s stupid and barbaric.”

“It is tradition. It is an honorable challenge.”

She shook her head again. “No, it’s not. You don’t have wings and they do and it’s not fair.”

He winced when she put voice to the truth. He
didn’t
have wings. But that didn’t make him a lesser warrior. It didn’t diminish his accomplishments or his hard work.

“Fair will not lead males into battle.” Fair would not fight with his males side by side to ensure victory.

“Your race doesn’t even ‘battle’ anymore. Not in the skies, anyway,” she countered and he could not deny her truth. They now remained firmly in their ships when violence erupted. Claws and wings were only used in instances such as this.

“But we must honor the old ways,
shaa kouva
.” He traced her jaw with a single finger. “We have lost much through the centuries—females—but we can still honor the foundation of our kind.”

“It’s stupid,” she whispered and he regretted the tears swimming in her eyes.

He gave her a small smile and recognized the truth in her words. “I cannot deny it, but that will not stop the challenges.”

She placed her hand over his, giving him a gentle squeeze. “Then resign. Don’t do it. We can…”

“We can remain on the ship, close to your home planet and possibly rekindle your relationship with your family, or we can return to Preor. You would never see them again.”

Space on ships coming to this planet of blue and green was too precious to allow a non-warrior male and female passage.

“We could live on Earth.” Her lower lip quivered and he knew the prospect frightened her despite his strength and ability to protect her. Yet he could not force her to endure the constant fear of living on Earth.

Fear her previous mate would find her—hurt her.

“We discussed this, bay-bee.” The human endearment tasted odd on his tongue yet it was a familiar word to his mate and it earned him a small smile. “If I do not accept this position, I must leave the ship.”

And in the secret parts of him, he
wanted
the position. He
wanted
to fight for his right to lead the Third Fleet, to be War Master, to attain the status he’d trained for. Perhaps it was why he selfishly presented their options with a grim tone. Perhaps he attempted to manipulate her without forethought.

That realization pushed the words past his lips. “I am a selfish bezor,” he rasped and shook his head. “No, I shall not do this—to you, to us. I will find another way. I will—“

Taulan suddenly found himself with an armful of small human female, her arms wrapped around him. “No,” she whispered against his neck. “I’m just being selfish.”

“No. It is I who is selfish. I desire this—“

“Taulan, stop.” She lifted her head and pressed a finger to his lips. “We’re tripping over each other with apologies and regrets. I don’t want you to get hurt. That’s all. But…” Sparkling eyes met his. “But you
have
trained for this. This isn’t about staying here for me or returning to Preor, which means I’ll never come back. And it’s not about Steven and living on Earth. It’s about you spending over two hundred years to get here.”

Two hundred-fifty-three years out of his two hundred seventy-seven.

She took a deep breath and released it slowly. Straightening, she squared her shoulders, a new resolve filling her expression, and removed her fingers. “So we’re going to get dressed, go down there, and you’re going to show them that you’re the baddest mother fucker around.”

Taulan did not understand the end of her statement, but the pride in her gaze was unmistakable. As was the pure belief that he would be victorious. Her resolve bolstered his own bravado and confidence suffused him. He would meet each male, go against them claw to claw, and come out the victor.

There was no other acceptable alternative.

“Then dress,
shaa kouva
. I would like to breakfast with you before we face the day.”

Lana withdrew her arms and nudged him. He rose quickly, holding out his hand while he waited for her to rise. A jolt of pride filled him when she climbed from the bed. The silk sheet fell away from her curved form, exposing her ripe body to his gaze. He’d traced every inch of her with his tongue and hands, exploring from head to toes. Her skin was soft and a pale cream—such a stark contrast to his coppery skin. The moment she gained her feet, he tugged her close, aligning their bodies. They fit like human puzzle pieces, her body molding to his, and he relished their closeness. Not because he believed it was the last time they’d touch but because they had to be separated while he fought the challengers.

Fought them and won. There was no other acceptable outcome.

He lowered his head, intent on stealing a kiss from his mate, when a soft chime announcing a visitor interrupted them. Taulan cursed and snarled, his fangs tingling within his gums, and the urge to tear into the male who’d dared intrude on this time nearly overwhelmed him.

With a deep breath that did nothing to calm him, he stepped away from Lana. “Give me a moment. Dress and order breakfast. I will dismiss whoever dared bother us this morning.”

She gave him a rueful smile and a nod, and he turned on his heel, intent on tearing the male’s head from his shoulders. To interrupt them…

No, he needed to calm. As humans said, it was not wise to kill the messenger. The moment he stepped into the central common area, he barked at the ship. “Enter.”

Then he wished he had left the visitor—
visitors
—to rot in the walkway. They must have burned through a half-dozen engines to make it to Earth from Preor so quickly.

“Councilman,” he tipped his head to Luuvak’s sire. “Sir.” He repeated the action to Droze’s and glanced behind the two males. A half-dozen unfamiliar guards formed a half circle behind the Preors. This was not good. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“Taulan sen—“

“War Master Taulan joi Lana Coburn.” The correction was immediate and determined. He did not care why they’d traveled so far, but he
would
be addressed appropriately.

Luuvak’s sire sneered. “That is up for discussion. You have not been confirmed.”

“A formality that will be settled shortly.” Perhaps these two would like to challenge him for War Master. The thought had his dragon rumbling with pleasure.

And quickly.

“You are placed under guard by order of the counsssil.” The Councilman hissed and Taulan had no doubt the council had been manipulated into issuing the order.

“The council cannot interfere with honorable challenges.” And once the challenges were complete—challenges Taulan would win—they would be forced to file a formal inquiry. War Masters could not simply be jailed on a whim.

“We shall not interfere.” The smile he received was wide and tinged with malice. “We shall simply keep you under guard—much like you restrained our sons—until it is time to face your death.”

The gleam in their eyes told Taulan he would enter confinement but he might not leave.

The warriors surged forward, hands reaching for him, capturing his arms, and encircling him before shoving him through the open portal. The last thing he saw before being shoved was his mate’s stricken face, the fear and anger covering her features, and his name on her lips. “Taulan…”

Taulan would live—through capture and the challenges—to return to her side.

There could be no other outcome.

T
he only reason
Lana hadn’t stormed the holding cells was because Jarek held her back. Within moments of Taulan’s departure, Jarek and Melissa strode into their suite, only to be followed by Evuklar and Nalan, as well as Tave and Rina.

Apparently she had new allies in the Ujal royal couple once Rina had explained the circumstances behind Lana’s lies. Now Tave wanted to hunt Steven and drown him in the seas on Lana’s behalf.

Skala soon added to their numbers and the living room grew more cramped by the moment.

“Taulan…” Taulan was taken and she ached to race after him, to make sure that he wasn’t harmed while in captivity.

“Is being watched over by his Primary Warrior,” Jarek snarled and Lana jerked with his tone, a hint of fear pushing forward.

Then Melissa elbowed him. “You can be angry, but don’t take it out on Lana.”

Which made Jarek take a deep breath and release it slowly. “Apologies. I am simply furious on Taulan’s behalf. All who know him are secure in the knowledge that it was not he who ended Droze’s and Luuvak’s lives.”

“Do we know who it was?” Her mind hadn’t touched on those two since she’d woken. She’d been too intent on her mate.

“Suspicions only, War Mistress,” Skala spoke up, his eyes kind even while rage filled his body. His wings trembled with the banked anger and muscles were tense with restrained fury.

“What does that mean for Taulan? Will they…?” Kill her mate just like their young died?

“Warriors loyal to the War Master line the corridors and stand guard outside the holding cells. Should he make a suspicious sound, they will force entry. None will harm him further.”

None will harm him further. Which didn’t mean he hadn’t been harmed before they all arrived on the ship. She fought the urge to cry, to rant and rave over the unfairness of all this Preor bullshit, but held herself in check. She could go off on everyone later. After Taulan was freed and the challenges were done.

Then it was on.

“So what’s our next step? What are we doing now?”

“Now.” All gazes swung to Jarek and she pushed down the tendril of fear that threatened to take over. He looked fierce and deadly—his shoulders broader and now taller than he’d been before. “Now we go to the aerie.”

Lana furrowed her brow. “But the challenges are in the training…”

Her voice trailed off with the firm shake of Jarek’s head. “No. The aerie. Taulan will prove himself like any other Preor.”

“But he can’t fly.”

Evuklar shrugged. “But that does not mean he will not win.”

“We talked about…” About the fight being in the training room and on the ground.

“I do not wish to say a Preor warrior lied, but…” Tave hedged.

“But he lied,” Rina finished for her mate.

He’d lied.

He’d
lied
.

To spare her worry, sure, but that didn’t negate the lie. She was so gonna kick his ass.

As soon as he healed from others kicking his ass.

“Fine,” she snapped. “Let’s get this over with.”

So she could get on with the aforementioned ass kicking. She clutched her anger, holding it close so it could drive away the worry and fear. She didn’t have room for those emotions. Not now. She could fall apart later.

Jarek led their small procession, Evuklar and Tave at his side while their mates stood at hers. Skala took up the rear, his large wings spread behind him and blocking any who might try to sneak up on them.

But the males shouldn’t have worried. Yes, the halls were lined with other Preors, but each one bowed their heads, catching her eyes a brief moment before their gazes turned to the floor… and then they prayed.

Strength to the War Mistress.

Joy to the War Mistress.

Pride to the War Mistress.

Over and again, variations of those themes followed her from the rooms she shared with Taulan and to the aerie. Tave and Rina must have entered the aerie at one point because no explanations about the gravity shift were given. Soon they found themselves in a crowd.

A crowd that gradually parted for them, creating a path to the center of the large, grass-lined space.

That was when she saw him, saw her mate with a blackened eye and swollen lip. A hiss crawled up her throat and escaped her mouth, anger overriding sense. She should have stayed behind Jarek. Should have remained in place instead of racing forward to face the gloating males that bracketed her mate.

“You fucking assholes.” She ducked Jarek’s reach and ran to her mate. “I’m going to—“

A thick arm caught her around the middle just as a half-dozen warriors stepped into her path, blades bared.

Jarek’s voice filled her ear. “Hold, Lana joi Taulan. Bottle your rage. Now is not the time.”

She jerked against his grip, unwilling to be restrained. She glared at the men in her path, meeting their stares with the fury burning in her blood. She fought her instincts, the need to cower beneath such anger. Days ago, she would have shrunk back and hidden behind Jarek, but today… Today she was Taulan’s mate and War Mistress of the Third Fleet. She wouldn’t shame him by cowering and hiding. She’d kick their asses as hard as she could, dammit.

“I’m going to—“

Jarek tightened his hold. “After the challenge.”

“Do you see him, Jarek?” She snarled and raised her voice. “Do you all see him? See what these honorable males did to the fleet’s War Master?”

“He is no War Master of mine!” The bellow cut through the crowd, so loud it almost seemed as if the male had shouted directly into her ear. Once more, the gathered males parted, granting a newcomer entrance. She had only a moment to wonder at this male’s identity before Jarek supplied the answer. “Nathor sen Pavon.”

“Taulan’s…?”

“Distant cousin.”

Nathor strode forward, soon coming to stand in the middle of the rough circle. “
He is no War Master of mine
.”

“State your challenge,” the Councilman stepped forward, a smirk on his lips.

“Nathor sen Pavon, Primary Communications Warrior, challenges Taulan sen Pavon—“

Lana couldn’t help but break into the declaration. “When are you assholes going to get it through your heads?” Frustration, anger and fear had her shouting. “He is my mate. Mine. If you won’t use his new name, I’ll damn well beat it into you!”

Surprise suffused her, but she wouldn’t back down. Not when she felt something else consume her blood. Dragon’s fire. Nalan and Melissa had whispered about it—about the hints of dragon characteristics that she’d pick up once she mated Taulan. Apparently a temper was one of those things.

Nathor spoke as if she hadn’t said a word. “—for the position of War Master of the Third Fleet.”

“Acknowledged,” the Councilman spoke first and his statement was immediately followed by Droze’s father.

“Acknowledged.”

Both men nodded at each other and then their lips parted into wide smiles before the Councilman said the few words she’d hate for the rest of her life. “Let the challenge begin.”

Lana could do nothing while she was dragged away by Jarek. When the guards surrounding Taulan released her mate, he wiped away the droplet of blood sneaking from his split lip and a grin teased the corners until he nearly smiled. The rest of the crowd eased away as well, widening the circle until Nathor and Taulan were left at its center.

“You should back down, Nathor.” Taulan looked fierce despite the bruises marring his face.

Nathor shook his head and bared his lengthening fangs. “Never.”

“So be it.”