The Dragon's Consort

Chapter 22

ZARA

Warning! Chapters will start to include spice from here on out. Read at your own peril.

Everything hurt. Her bones remembered their pain, along with her torn muscles. But the edge was gone. That deep, overwhelming need to shift had completely disappeared.

Curse the gods. She wasn't planning on shifting anytime soon, and now her plans were utterly ruined; if anyone could call those half-baked thoughts actual plans.

But the gods had done one better; had her shift directly beside Zuri. Now every single one of the brothers would know. She was screwed. Thoroughly screwed.

The sun blinded her eyes as she fought to push them open. She blinked slowly, a splitting headache already crushing her skull. She let out a hiss as a pain shot through her entire body, following the curve of her spine.

"Are you okay?" she heard Armos' voice. She started to comprehend that he was currently holding her. She wanted to command him to set her down, but she feared her limbs were made of straw.

She gave a small nod, "what exactly happened?"

"You decided to shift halfway through a fight," Armos said, "very unsportsmanlike, your majesty."

"Gods damn it," she muttered, hoping this was all some horrible nightmare after all.

Realization dawned in her. She looked over to see the entire brotherhood staring; looking equal parts shocked and pissed. That second emotion seemed directed at Armos.

"Fuck me..." she growled under her breath, averting her eyes so she wouldn't have to see them.

"Not at the moment your highness, but perhaps later?" he joked.

She snarled at him, and he offered a friendly smile in return. Her hands wandered to check her bindings, to see if they'd been magicked away in the shift or not. She quickly noticed that they weren't there, and neither was her jacket. She was dressed in Armos' thin, white, linen shirt. Nothing was left to the imagination.

"Armos... Why am I wearing your shirt?" she questioned.

"Would you rather have stayed naked?" he smirked.

"Good point," she went to try and stand. Her legs wobbled under her own weight, but Armos helped her stay upright until her rapid healing kicked in and she could stand on her own. Armos took a few steps back to give her some space.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Zuri, crumpled on his knees in defeat, eyes down cast, and hands gripping his head. She could barely see his face underneath his hands, but it was a twitching grimace, like he was in pain.

"Is Zurden ok-" she started to say, when all of a sudden he surged forward. He lunged towards her like a feral predator. In a split second he was pressed against her. One hand gripped the nape of her neck, and the other hand was clasped tightly on the small of her back.

She gasped. She'd never been this close to a male before, nor been held like this by one. Her breath caught in throat, and despite wanting to protest, she couldn't manage to form words.

"Mine..." he whispered, his voice was entirely not his own, and panting with need.

His gaze scanned over her features, as if he was starved and she was a delicacy. His pupils were dilated, and his eyes glowed, bright even in the blaring sunlight. He was not in control, his dragon was.

He tilted her head up. He leaned in closer, lips caressing the side of her neck. His teeth scaping against the column of her throat, as he planted dozen of hungry kisses across her neck.