Fae- Beginnings Page 15

  “Why are the others not following?” Her voice echoed softly in the hall as they walked.

  “Bondings are a private affair. Typically, only the pair to be bonded and the holy person is there. In this case, your other mates are joining to be part of the ceremony.”

  “Oh.” Arthur had led them to a small door at the end of the hall. When they stepped out into a courtyard, they were in a grove of oak trees. They walked a little way in and it felt like they were somewhere outside of the castle walls.

  “What is this place?” Mor’s voice was soft.

  “This is our holiest place. The castle was actually built around it. This is where we hold our most sacred ceremonies, although only the royal family is allowed to hold their bonding ceremonies here.” He led them to the center of the grove, where Morgana was waiting for them.

  “Morgana? I thought there would be a priest.”

  “She is the head of our religion.”

  “Oh fuck.”

  Arthur threw his head back and laughed. “Come, my rose. It’s time.”

  They walked to stand in front of Morgana, her other mates following. When they were standing in front of Morgana, she pulled Mor forward and turned her to face all five of her mates. “Tonight, we complete the bond between Mor and her mates. While the Fae bonding has been completed, tonight we add Arthur to the bond. Traditional dragon bondings are completed by an exchange of blood vows between two dragons. However, in this case I feel it would be best to include all the mates in this ceremony.” She reached behind her and pulled a silver knife out.

  Taking Mor’s arm in her hand, she gently sliced across her forearm. “Come forward, Ben.” She repeated the process with him and then pressed their wrists together. Mor felt a burn shoot through her arm. “Sebastian.” Again, she cut his arm and pressed their wrists together. “Max.” Again. “Atreyu.” Again.

  “Arthur.” He came forward and Morgana slid the knife across his held out arm. She pressed his arm against Mor’s cut. This time, the pain that flared through her caused her to gasp and look down at her arm. A mark was appearing on her arm as her mates grunted in pain as well. She watched as a dragon appeared on her arm, wrapping itself around a crescent moon.

  “What’s happening?” Ben said through gritted teeth.

  “The bond is forming between Fae and Dragon.” Morgana’s voice was filled with satisfaction.

  “The dragon, I understand, but the moon?”

  “It’s the traditional symbol of the Fae Royal House.”

  “Oh, why did I not know that?” Mor’s voice was tight with pain as she watched the mark finish on her arm. The dragon was in full color, a deep cobalt blue wrapped around a crescent moon that almost seemed to glow.

  “Mostly because we were focused on teaching you how to fight. In the castle, your royal seal is a crescent moon with a star above it.” Atreyu smiled at her.

  “That makes sense.” She gently rubbed her marked arm, barely noticing that the cut healed was before she felt a flare through her body. Heat soaked into her with a little moan escaping her. “Is it hot in here?” Mor tugged at the neckline of her dress. Another shot of heat went through her, seeming to center between her legs. “I need out of this dress. It’s so hot.” She heard a low growl come from in front of her. Arthur was staring at her with glowing eyes.

  “That is our cue to leave.” Morgana gestured for the Fae to leave.

  “What, we don’t get to stay and help?” Sebastian smirked at Mor and Arthur. Arthur turned and growled at him. “I will take that as a no,” Sebastian said.

  Morgana urged them out again. “He may be willing to share in the future, but tonight will be his alone.”

  Mor heard the words, but couldn’t take her eyes off of Arthur. He had turned back to her and she felt snared by his eyes. They were growing brighter by the moment as he slowly walked toward her. He reached out and brushed his hand against her cheek. Arthur leaned down and claimed her lips and Mor was lost.

  Chapter 16

  Arthur

  Arthur claimed Mor’s lips in a searing kiss. One hand slipped behind her neck while the other wrapped around her waist and pulled her tight against him. When she moaned against his mouth, his grip around her neck tightened. His tongue danced with hers. Arthur dropped his hand from her neck and allowed one of his claws to extend from a finger. He ran it down the back of her dress, cutting through the fabric like it was nothing.

  Without hesitating, Arthur pulled the dress from Mor. He felt her hands tighten around him just before he felt her magic dance across him and his clothes fell from him. “Almost as convenient as my claws, my rose,” he murmured against her neck as he kissed his way down.

  She gasped as he latched on to a nipple. “Why do you call me that?” His teeth tugged on her nipple and she moaned louder.

  He came off of her nipple with a pop. “I call you that because you are beautiful. But you have thorns hidden, ready to strike those who need it.”

  Mor’s giggle turned into a moan as he latched back on to her before kissing his way down. His hands gripped her hips and held her still. “Spread your legs for me.” Mor gripped his hair and stepped her legs apart. “I can’t wait to taste you.” His voice was rough with desire. She tugged Arthur’s head toward her and he didn’t hesitate to take a long lick. “So delicious.” He didn’t wait anymore, taking long, slow licks as Mor ground her hips against him.

  He slung one of her legs over his shoulder and pulled her in tight against him. When her legs started to shake, he laid her down on the soft grass. He didn’t stop until she was screaming his name. “Arthur, oh gods! Don’t stop, Arthur!” He grinned against her and slipped first one finger, then two into her, pumping them faster and faster until she came with a gasp. He continued to lap at her until she came down.

  Arthur crawled up her body, kissing as he went. Mor tried to pull him up faster, but he took his time, wanting to savor his mate. Her skin tasted like sweet cream and smelled even better. He licked and nipped his way up, making her moan and writhe beneath him. Arthur reveled in the sounds she was making. When he reached her neck, he bit down where her neck met her shoulder, making her moan louder.

  “I need you, Arthur. Please, I need you!” she gasped beneath him.

  “Are you ready for me, my rose?” Arthur’s voice was tight as he hovered above her.

  “Yes, please, now, Arthur!”

  His hand wrapped around her neck, holding her still as he kissed her deep and hard. As he deepened the kiss, he slipped inside Mor. She moaned against him as he buried himself deep inside her. Arthur broke the kiss and put his forehead against Mor’s. “My rose, Mor, I love you.” He began to move in her, his body moving faster as her cries grew louder. “Come for me, my love.”

  Mor screamed as she came and Arthur groaned as her body clenched around him. He thrust a few more times as he came. When they had both come down, he rolled on to his back, pulling Mor on to him. She nestled into him and whispered, “I love you too.”

  Arthur lifted her arm, kissing the mark on her forearm. “The gods have blessed us, my rose. This is my dragon wrapped around your moon.”

  “I noticed that before I got…distracted by you.”

  “Distracted, hmmm? What do you say I distract you again, my rose?”

  “I think that’s wonderful idea,” Mor purred before kissing him hard.

  * * *

  They had spent the rest of the night wrapped in each other’s arms, finally falling asleep in the early morning hours. Eventually, Arthur woke to Mor wrapped around him. Her head was resting on his chest and she’d thrown a leg over his. He didn’t move to get up, just rubbed his hand in slow circles across Mor’s back, enjoying the calm before the storm that would hit today. Today he would begin gathering his army, readying them to leave within the week. The dragons on their council had already started preparing. He would bet his favorite sword Ben had joined them. He had a sharp mind for military matters despite his youth.

  Mor yawne
d against his chest and stretched against him. Arthur suppressed a groan at the feeling of her body pressing against his. He had to keep focused. They’d already spent too much time away. But then she lifted her head and looked at him with hooded eyes and he couldn’t help but kiss her. And then the kiss led to rolling her on to her back. Arthur kissed down her neck until he got to her breasts. Taking one in his hand, pinching and rolling her nipple, he latched his mouth on to the other and tugged gently with his teeth before flicking it with his tongue.

  “Arthur!”

  His name on Mor’s lips was a moan and he growled in response. He let go of her breast and slipped his hand down between her legs. He dragged his fingers through her folds and groaned, “Already so wet for me, my rose.” He pumped his fingers inside her a few times before pulling them out and hooking his hand behind her leg. With a smooth stroke, Arthur plunged inside her, making her shudder with the pleasure of it. He just held still, loving the way her pussy wrapped around his cock.

  “Move, Arthur, I need more!” Mor’s fingers dug into him as she tried to force him to move.

  “Whatever you need, rose.” He began to move, slowly at first but picking up the pace as Mor demanded it. When he had her begging, he reached between them and flicked her clit, sending her flying into orgasm. Arthur yelled as he felt her pussy pulse around him, sending him into his own orgasm.

  When they were finished, he hovered over her, resting his weight on his forearms. “Good morning, rose.”

  “Good morning.” Her smile was shy as she looked up at him.

  “I don’t want to leave this place today.” His voice was soft.

  “Then let’s stay here.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his forehead to hers.

  “I wish we could, but we need to start gathering my army. It’s time to take your lands back.”

  Mor groaned and closed her eyes. “I don’t want to think about the real world.”

  “Neither do I, but your people need us.”

  “Us, huh?”

  “Always us, my rose.” Arthur kissed her softly once more before standing and pulling Mor up with him.

  “Well, we can’t leave without clothes.”

  Mor frowned up at him and he couldn’t help stealing another kiss. “Morgana left us some.”

  “How did she know to do that?”

  “Traditionally, royal bondings are completed in the grove. It’s why the rest of the party didn’t follow.”

  “Oh. A little heads up would have been nice.”

  Arthur paused for a moment. “You’re right. I should have told you what would happen during the ceremony. I thought Morgana would, but I shouldn’t have assumed that.”

  “It’s okay, I rather liked the surprise.”

  Mor grinned up at him and Arthur felt his heart stutter. He’d do anything to keep that smile on her face. They got dressed quickly and he led them out of the grove and into the castle. He took them to the council chamber. There was a side board filled with all the makings of breakfast and the members of the dragon side of the council were there, but Mor’s other mates weren’t just yet. “Can you call my brothers?”

  Mor nodded and closed her eyes briefly before opening with another one of her breathtaking smiles. “They’re on the way.”

  “Good, lets get some food in you. We can start planning as soon as they get here.”

  Arthur led her over to the side board and handed her a plate. Just as they had finished filling them, the Fae walked in. They grinned at Arthur and Mor as they headed over to get food themselves. Once everyone was settled at the table, Arthur opened the meeting. “Lance, have you started gathering our troops?”

  “Yes, Your Majesty. My concern is that we leave enough to protect the kingdom.” Lance hesitated before continuing, “I am also concerned the conspiracy that appears to be rooted in. We don’t know how deep Selina’s betrayal goes.”

  Arthur nodded slowly, but before he could say anything, Mor spoke up, “We should leave your people here to guard your kingdom, Arthur. I can’t risk your people getting hurt.”

  He smiled softly down at her as Tristan chuckled, “My queen, your kingdom is now part of our kingdom. Your people are our people.”

  Mor’s jaw dropped. Arthur smiled as Sebastian reached over and tapped under her chin. “Close that mouth, darling, you’ll catch flies.”

  “So!” Arthur clapped his hands. “Now that Mor understands, how many do you recommend we keep here?”

  Guinevere looked thoughtfully around the room. “What if we call in some of the retired soldiers? I’m betting if we offer them a bonus they’ll be happy to stay as part of the home guard.”

  Tristan grinned. “Some of them may want to go campaigning again. It’s been rather dull around here.”

  He gave a bloodthirsty grin and Arthur felt Mor shrink back into him. “Yes, peace is just so awful,” Arthur said dryly. Chuckles sounded around the room. “I like the idea. Galahad, send out the word to all retired soldiers. As for the rest, make sure we have trusted soldiers scattered throughout each rank.” Looking over at Ben and the other Fae, he said, “How many are we up against?”

  “Adair said that their army stood at about a few thousand strong. That included conscripted Fae, humans, shifters, and maybe some giants.”

  Sebastian spoke up, “Most of them will be conscripts who don’t really know what they are doing. Adair - our scout - said that they mostly looked like they had taken every able-bodied Fae from the Fire and Water realms. The addition of the humans and shifters is troubling, though.”

  “Yes.” Lancelot stood and began pacing. “How did humans get brought into this? I know some of the shifter clans have been wanting to expand their territories, but humans don’t make sense.”

  Morgana huffed in annoyance, “It’s obvious. There will be human mages and people that they have abducted to be cannon fodder. We know that none of them will care about the humans without magic - I guarantee that we’ll have to wade through a sea of them to get to the real fighters.” She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Although some of them may be paid mercenaries.”

  Mor leaned forward. Arthur watched in fascination as her face fell into a formal mode. “Regardless of where they came from, our objective should be to prevent loss of life as much as possible.”

  “I thought the objective was to get you your kingdom back?” Tristan raised an eyebrow at her, brushing his golden hair back from his face.

  “That is the primary objective, but I refuse to do so by mowing down my people - our people - and risking the lives of those Boris has conscripted.” Her formal facade cracked as she spoke. Arthur felt a chill run through him. “Boris. I just can’t get over that fucking name. Who picks Boris Thornheart as their evil sorcerer name?” She laughed as the dragons stared at her incredulously and the Fae cackled with her.

  Guinevere wrinkled her nose. “Boris Thornheart? I’ve heard that name before somewhere…” Her brow scrunched as she looked at Morgana. “Morgana, do you - what’s wrong?”

  Morgana’s face had lost all color and she stared at Arthur, unblinking. “Arthur, do you remember?”

  “No, but I feel like I should. Something about that name.”

  “He’s the sorcerer who killed our mother and drove father mad. You were very young when it happened.”

  “What are you talking about?” Mor frowned, looking back and forth between Arthur and Morgana.

  “When Arthur was just a wee boy, maybe about fifteen, a sorcerer attacked our lands with an army cloaked in darkness. During the battle, he killed our mother and then somehow managed to gain control of our father’s mind, driving him mad in the process. Unfortunately, we didn’t realize he had taken control of him for several weeks.”

  Arthur wrapped his arm around Mor, needing to feel the closeness of his mate as old memories rushed through him. “At first, we thought his behavior was because he was just grieving our mother. But then he turned on our people and began killing them. They wouldn’t tru
ly fight back because he was the king.”

  Max’s voice was soft as he said, “So you fought the Mad King when you were fifteen?”

  “I did. It was either that, or let him continue killing our people until the sorcerer got what he wanted.”

  The room was silent. With the exception of Morgana, the dragons had all been very young during the days of the Mad King - and the Fae hadn’t even been born. “What did he want?” Atreyu finally asked.

  “We never really figured it out. Although in hindsight, knowing what he was after with Mor, he most likely was after my sister and her power.”

  “I don’t think he’s human, then,” Mor whispered.

  “No, he’s not.” Morgana’s face was still as white as a sheet, but her voice was firm. “We think he comes from another plane. Not human, or the magic realm, but some place else. It doesn’t particularly matter where he is from, however. What you need to know is that he holds powers you cannot comprehend.”

  Ben scoffed, “Mor was able to best him when she was untrained.”

  Galahad leaned toward the Fae. “Do not let overconfidence shroud your thinking. Mor bested him because she surprised him just as Arthur surprised him while he possessed King Uther. Boris underestimated Arthur because he was a child and so he was able to get inside his guard. Mor was able to best him likely because he didn’t expect that a young Fae raised by humans could possibly hurt him. He’ll be prepared this time.”

  Mor laid her hand on Ben’s arm. “He’s right. If this is the same - man? thing? - then we cannot assume we can over-power him. He’s seen what I can do now, and we will not have the element of surprise.”

  “Strategy, cunning, and being unpredictable will help us win this fight.” Guinevere said firmly. “And the first step is calling in the army and sending out word to the retired soldiers. The more of them we can get to guard the home land, the more we can send to reclaim our queen’s throne.”