The Spare Dragon

7. Desires

***Vanessa***

“Lachlan,” I whisper, Lachlan bending over in a low bow.

“Ladies,” he says, taking my hand and kissing it. “You look lovely today.”

“Thanks,” Naomi mutters, clenching her jaw and crossing her arms over her chest.

“How are you?” I ask, realizing I hadn’t seen him since yesterday evening. “I never got the chance to check in and thank you for helping me last night. I hope you’re feeling better.”

“T’was no trouble at all,” he replies. “It’s always an honor to save a damsel in distress.” A grin spreads across his lips as he looks at me.

It would be a lie to say Lachlan wasn’t handsome, and easier to be around than Remus, but Paloma despises his presence. Naomi also seems uncomfortable, her lips twisting with annoyance at the dragon.

“Well, we better get on with it,” Naomi says, tugging on my arm to pull me away. “We’re going to be late.”

“Allow me to escort you,” Lachlan insists, taking my arm in his. “A lady should never enter on her own.”

“Well, she’s not alone. She has me,” Naomi grumbles. “We’re fine on our own.”

“How silly of me,” Lachlan replies, holding out his arm for the little girl. “Well perhaps, you can accompany me then? I’m all alone today, I’m afraid. Shall we?”

Naomi is not at all pleased by his offer and neither is Paloma, but Lachlan doesn’t seem to notice, guiding us both to the dining room and handing our slips to the herald before we can protest. The doors to the dining room swing open, revealing a room full of elegantly dressed nobles standing around the long, rectangular table..

“Presenting Lord Lachlan of Ceraun Manor, Lady Naomi of Alderon, and Lady Vanessa of the Ivory Phoenix Kingdom.”

I do my best to smile at all the guests, and am greeted with a lot of curious faces. Several noblemen look excited to see me, but a lot of the women seem almost disgusted to be sharing the same space with me. A few turn to their neighbors and begin whispering their distaste amongst themselves, but my wolf ears can hear all the gossip.

“Is that the wolf His Majesty brought here?”

“Why is Lord Lachlan escorting her?”

“I smell an affair.”

“She’s not as pretty as I expected. I wonder what His Majesty sees in her?

“Maybe he likes fur.”

“She won’t last.”

“She should leave while she still has some dignity left.”

I feel like a slug the more I hear them discuss me so openly, but I pretend to hear nothing. I learned long ago that people take advantage of you when they know how much their words matter to you. It’s best to keep your feelings to yourself.

“Don’t worry about these uptight prudes,” Lachlan whispers in my ear. “They’re just jealous you upstaged them.”

“Upstaged them?”

“Oh yes. Before you came, all eyes were on the nobles competing for the crown. Now all eyes are on you.” He smiles. “You’re the most exciting thing to happen to Alderon since Remus stormed the castle and won.”

“But I only just got here—”

“Word spreads like wildfire here,” he explains. “Besides, your grand entrance didn’t help. And there is, of course, the fact that you are by far the most beautiful woman here.”

I’ve heard those words a hundred times by now that it never feels sincere, but there’s something in the way he looks at me that almost makes me believe he means it. Almost.

Naomi and I find our places at the table, Lachlan standing beside me, and we all remain on our feet until a herald makes the announcement we’ve all been waiting for.

“Announcing the arrival of His Majesty King Remus of Alderon and Her Majesty Queen Evelyn The Queen Mother of Alderon.”

My mate enters the room with an expressionless face, power exuding from his exterior as he approaches the table. He wears a blue satin cloak with a gold crest, draped over one shoulder, and a black and blue satin suit with gold embellishments. There are several military ribbons on his right breast and he wears a blue and gold sash across his body that distinguishes him as a royal. His mother wears a simple yet elegant champagne colored gown and the same blue and gold sash across her body, her hand resting on Remus’ arm as he guides her to the table.

“Don’t sit until he does,” Naomi whispers, the entire table waiting for Remus to take his place.

He lowers himself into his seat, the rest of the courtiers following suit. Chatter begins almost immediately as the servants bring out plates of food to distribute.

“Queen Evelyn says we’re supposed to talk to the people next to us but never across from us,” Naomi hisses to me. “So we can talk to each other.”

I smile at her and open my lips to speak with her when Lachlan’s voice interrupts.

“I guess that means we can also speak,” he says. “Lady Vanessa, I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced yet. Lord Lachlan,” he says, gesturing to himself. “I manage an estate back in Gandora… It’s the largest province in Alderon besides the capital,” he explains when I stare blankly at him.

“Oh I see,” I reply. “I’m umm… Lady Vanessa of the Phoenix— er, Ivory Phoenix Kingdom,” I reply. “No estate.”

Lachlan smiles with amusement.

“Umm, shouldn’t you be sitting farther up?” I ask, wondering if perhaps I’ve confused the rankings. “You are the king’s brother, right? Doesn’t that make you a prince?”

“It would if I were Queen Evelyn’s son,” he replies. “But I am an ‘illegitimate son’ as they say.”

I stare at him in confusion and Lachlan laughs.

“My father, if you can call him that, is the former King of Alderon, King Zion.” He smiles. “My mother was one of his concubines — Sun shine upon her — she died in childbirth.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I reply, suddenly missing my own mother.

“Don’t be,” Lachlan replies. “It’s been a few centuries and I never knew her. Can’t miss someone you know nothing about.” He shrugs.

I nod in agreement only to realize what he just said. “Centuries?”

Lachlan laughs. “I look good, don’t I?” he chuckles. “But I am 391 years old.”

My eyes nearly pop out of my skull as I stare at him in shock.

“Dragons age slowly,” he explains, “...thousand-year life span. I’m older than His Majesty.”

“And how old is he?” I dare to ask.

“Ancient,” Naomi mutters.

“He turns 350 in a few weeks,” Lachlan chuckles, my shock only growing.

I’m falling in love with a man who was born before Benjamin Franklin flew his damn kite! I panic internally.

“But anyway, I’m no prince. Bastards don’t get royal titles so I have no claim to the throne, even if I am the oldest son King Zion has.” He smiles bitterly. “I’m just a pauper with a very wealthy father,” he says, taking a sip of tea. “So how about you? What’s your family tree like? I’m sure wolves are equally as complicated as us.”

Dread settles into the pit of my stomach as I try to come up with a backstory for my title and draw a blank. I notice several people near us lower their voices to listen in on our conversation, making me even more nervous than before.

Don’t tell him what we are, Paloma warns.

“Not complicated at all,” I reply. “I have a younger sister, Natalia, and we come from the same parents,” I add, Lachlan bursting into laughter.

“No bastard children or concubines?” Lachlan asks playfully.

“I’m afraid not, and if there are, I would have no way of knowing.” I shrug. “My parents died in a car accident a few years ago.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Lachlan replies, a look of sincerity in his eyes.

“It is what it is.” I shrug, turning away to swallow the lump forming in my throat.

We eat in silence for a moment, my mind drifting off to the day I got news of the crash. It was an awful day.

“My parents are dead too,” Naomi whispers, my heart breaking for the little girl. “But it’s okay. I have Remus now, and he’s the best lizard in the whole wide world. He’s strong and he’s brave, and he’s loyal and he’s very good,” she adds, side-eyeing Lachlan who only smirks to himself.

“Sounds more like a pet, if you ask me,” Lachlan chuckles, earning himself a growl from Naomi. “So... shall I introduce you to the rest of the table?” he says, discreetly nodding his head towards the rest of the table and leaning in close to me. “Every person at this table right now is an Alderonian. The rest of the contestants arrive later this afternoon. Alderon has six provinces in addition to the capital, which counts as its own province— the Province of Alderon. Then you have Gandora, Luceador, Yocan, Valluryn, Kratis, and Nayevia. There was another, but they seceded so they don’t count anymore,” he says, nodding in Remus’ direction.

"So up front is the royal family, King Remus and Queen Evelyn, The Queen Mother. King Zion The King Emeritus is not here. He prefers to eat in the privacy of his office. Now the noble to the right of Remus is Duke Kuvro Tuskell of Luceador. He is the Speaker of Parliament and lead advisor on all matters pertaining to the kingdom. Then you have the Marchioness of Alderon, Emeritus King Zion’s half-sister, Alyssa. She is also the child of a concubine. Now, the woman who looks like she’s dressed for a funeral beside her is Marchioness Raven Baramond of Nayevia. She is a widow now and former wife to Marquess Igro Baramond of Nayevia. That’s her father on her left. Opposite them is Lady Sparrow Baramond, also of Nayevia and her mother. She was Igro’s little sister. They were quite close before his death but between you and me, she and Raven never got along well, but I never said that. Then across is Lady Emelise Gaires of Gandora, one of the favorites to win. She has a lot of public support and is quite popular among the noble circles. There’s also Lady Juliana Polidras of Valluryn, who is amongst the most beautiful women in all of Alderon. Though if I’m honest— I think she got dethroned today,” he chuckles, his eyes flicking down to my lips, then back up to my eyes.

I turn away to hide my blush, which only amuses the dragon even more.

“And then, across from us is Lady Aroha Henare, the black sheep of the group. She’s from the Yocan Province, made up of mostly earth dragons,” Lachlan continues. “She’s pretty insignificant and likely won’t last long in the games.”

“What makes you say that?” I ask, looking across the table to the very beautiful yet fierce looking woman in front of me. She didn’t seem insignificant to me at all.

“Well, she’s an earth dragon,” Lachlan explains. “They’re the lowest type of dragon. They can’t even fly.”

“So?”

“So what good is a dragon who can’t fly?” Lachlan retorts.

I don’t know why, but I dislike the way he describes this woman. Perhaps it's because I too am completely out of my element here, or perhaps it's because I too, cannot fly, but regardless, I now want her as a friend.

Despite Lachlan and the other’s obvious distaste for Lady Aroha, she is quite beautiful in her own right. She has thick onyx hair with a slight curl to it and has a black ink tattoo etched into her chin and lips. Unlike the rest of the nobles, she does not wear a gown but a gorgeous one-shoulder tribal top with feathers and fringes, the tattoos on her arms on full display. She speaks to no one, concentrating on her food while the two people beside her ignore her completely.

I myself hate being ignored, so I muster up some courage and wave at her, the woman minding her own business and pretending not to see me.

“Hey!” I blurt out, the woman ignoring me. “I like your tattoo,” I say a bit louder so people stop and look at me. The woman looks at me with a warning glare, and she even snarls at me.

Still, I’m determined to speak to her. Afterall, it seems we’re the outcasts at the table.

“It’s very beautiful. Does it have a meaning?” I pry, hoping my curiosity sounds genuine.

“It’s called a moko ka… umm I forgot,” Naomi says, the woman looking at the child curiously.

“Moko kauae,” the woman says, a small smile curling on her lips. “How did you know that?”

“The girl at the bakery near the orphanage had one,” Naomi shrugs, chewing on a mouthful of eggs. “I thought she was wearing black lipstick,” she giggles. “I liked it.”

“So it’s a traditional tattoo?” I ask, Lady Aroha nodding.

“It is a symbol of who I am,” she replies. “My connection to my ancestors, my tribe, and my gods. Not just anyone can get one. ”

“I see. I can’t imagine the pride you must feel with it. To have your life etched on your skin. That’s pretty powerful if you ask me,” I smile. “I’m Vanessa, by the way.”

“Aroha,” she replies.

“That’s a beautiful name.”

“It means love,” Aroha says, relaxing a little bit into her seat.

“Love?” I hear someone say with a mocking tone, Aroha tightening her grip on her fork in rage. “Worm would have been a better name.”

I can’t distinguish who said that, but regardless, it was rude and unnecessary. I know what it’s like to have power over people and I admit, I was not the kindest person as a Luna myself. It was so easy to abuse the little power I had, especially since — for once in my life — I was the center of attention. For a short time, I was the one everyone envied and it felt so good to put everyone else in their place. I was not invisible. I was not unimportant anymore, but the fear of losing that type of power made me cruel.

Now that I’m powerless again, I see how stupid I was to believe power meant greatness. I can’t go back and undo my mistakes, but I can at least make sure I never make anyone else feel what I have always felt about myself.

“I think your name is fitting,” I say loudly for all to hear. “Love takes many forms. Sure it can be pretty, and delicate, but it can also be strong, fierce, and determined. You were named well. I wish my name meant something as special and powerful as love.”

Aroha eyes me carefully before picking at her yogurt. “Look, I don’t need your pity. I’m here to compete, not make friends,” she says.

I know she’s right and that every woman here is competing for a chance to be Remus’ queen, but I refuse to let another competition ruin my life.

“You don’t need my pity,” I retort, Aroha raising an eyebrow at me. “So I’m not giving it to you. I’m giving you my respect. I see nothing wrong with me wanting to treat people the same way I want to be treated, no matter who they are.”

I take a sip of my tea, and turn to Naomi as she watches with amusement.

“I like you,” she whispers to me, stuffing her face with strawberries.

There’s something rather satisfying about her liking me, I smile inwardly.

“You’re not at all what I expected.” Lachlan hums to himself.

“What did you expect?” I ask, the dragon smiling in return.

“I dunno, but I think everyone here should fear you,” he says, looking further up the table. I follow his gaze and see that both Remus and his mother have been watching carefully. “Your chances at winning the Ludus Electia tournament just skyrocketed.” Lachlan smiles, a few of the nobles turning to listen.

I open my mouth to clarify that I have not agreed to compete in the games when I hear someone burst into laughter.

“Ah yes, because the opinion of a bastard holds a lot of value,” Lady Juliana says, Lachlan holding his smile. The woman takes a sip of her tea and smiles at me. “No offense, my dear, but I’m just stating a fact. A wolf is no match for a dragon. Ludus Electia is not a game. It’s a commitment to a kingdom and unless you’re willing to sacrifice everything for it, don’t bother showing up. Let the real women handle it.”

Paloma is the first to react with a snarl, but Naomi also seems offended on my behalf.

“You dumb duck!” Naomi shouts, standing on her chair to shout some more. “Vanessa is ten times the dragon you are!”

The nobles gasp at the rebellious child and I quickly grab her off the chair before she hurts herself, forcing her to sit on her seat.

“Thank you so much for defending me, m’lady,” I whisper in her ear, “but I think I can take it from here. You just behave yourself and make Remus proud. I don’t want you getting in trouble for me.”

Naomi tries to protest but I shake my head at her to let it go. Muttering under her breath, she begrudgingly climbs off of her chair, storming away while a few maids chase after her.

I turn back to the table of nobles, having made up my mind about the games. They want to see me fail, but I can be a vindictive b***h when I want to be, and right now, I crave to see the look on their faces when I take my victory.

“I guess we’ll soon find out who is stronger,” I say, looking at the head of the table at my mate.

Remus remains stoic as he chews his food, but I see the faint hint of a smile on his lips, butterflies dancing in my belly to know I made him happy. The warm tingling in my tummy, however, very quickly turns painful, rippling down to my core so that my p***y aches. My muscles contract and my chest tightens, every inch of me craving my mate.

A sharp gasp leaves my lips as my senses intensify, Remus’ scent overpowering my nose. When our eyes meet, his blue eyes visibly darken to near black color, his fingers curling into fists as he tries to resist Paloma’s call to him.

I’ve never experienced a heat before, but I’ve been around enough she-wolves to know the signs. I don’t know if a heat works on male dragons but I’d rather not find out. Tears fill my eyes as the agony grows and I push my chair back to stand up, my knees shaking as I wobble to my feet. All eyes turn to me but I dare not even look back at them, eager to get the f**k out of here.

“Are you alright?” Lachlan asks, rising to his feet to help me up.

“No, don’t touch me!” I snap as Lachlan grabs my bare wrist, his touch igniting a burst of pleasure within me. I cover my mouth with my hand to stifle the moan that ripples up my throat.

“Oh f**k,” Lachlan moans quietly, my heart leaping to my throat as I pull away from him.

From where I stand, I hear Remus’ heavy breathing, my body tingling as I imagine him panting in my ear while he f***s me.

“I’m not feeling well,” I whimper, stumbling my way to the door.

“Vanessa!” I hear Remus call out to me, but I ignore his call and shuffle out of the room, wincing in pain as I walk alongside the wall.

I don’t remember the way back to my room, but I honestly don’t care as long as I’m alone. An insufferable wave of agony laced with desire ripples down my spine to my hips, a soft moan leaving my lips as footsteps thunder after me.

.

.

.

***Remus***

“Vanessa!” I call out, every part of my being screaming for her.

I need her. I need her so badly— I can’t think of anything else. Just her. Her eyes, her lips, her skin. All of her. I’ve known lust before, but this sensation surging through me is something beyond lust. Something more pure and intense than I’ve ever felt.

“Vanessa!” I call out, my blood running cold as I round the corner and find her leaning against the wall as she cries in pain. “Vanessa!”

“Remus,” she replies, her body molding perfectly against mine as I push her up against the wall, pressing my growing bulge between her legs as I kiss her.

She moans and whimpers in pain, my body burning up with ravenous desire wherever she touches me. I need her now!

Unable to bear this desire any longer, I carry her up to her room, shouting at my staff to get out of my way. When we reach the bedroom, I slam the door shut after us and toss her on the bed, climbing on top of her and spreading her legs apart for me to fit between them.

“What’s happening?” I gasp between kisses, knowing this desire can’t possibly be natural.

“H-Heat,” she stammers, grinding her hips against the hardening c**k in my pants. “I-I’m in heat. Oh Goddess! Please make it stop!”

“Heat? Are you hot?” I ask, burying my nose in her neck as she moans.

“Remus!” I hear my mother cry as she storms into the room. “What the hell do you think you’re doing with that girl?!”

Oh s**t, I mutter internally, unsure how to explain our present circumstances as Vanessa continues to grind against me.

“I can’t stop,” I whisper, trying to find some restraint to pull away.

With great effort, I manage to peel myself off my mate, my c**k straining against my pants as I back away against the wall. Vanessa falls to the ground, pulling her knees to her chest to cope with the pain.

“Remus!” Vanessa begs as she bursts into tears. “Please help me! It hurts!”

“How?” I ask through gritted teeth, balling up my hands into fists at my sides to stop myself from crawling to her side.

She shakes her head and sobs, “I don’t know!”

She writhes and cries in agony, my helplessness gnawing at me from the inside. Every part of me screams to hold her but I know if I touch her again, I won’t be able to stop.

“You have to mark her,” a familiar voice calls out from the doorway.

I turn and find my friend, Queen Maria, waltzing in and closing the door behind her. Maria is one of my oldest friends from the Earth Realm. She is a vampire suffering from Letum, a deadly vampiric disease, and I’ve allowed her to stay here in my castle for what remains of her life, along with her care team. It’s the least I can do for all she did for me while in exile.

Her red eyes flicker between Vanessa and me, and she smiles so that her fangs are on full display. I give her a warning glare to not get any closer to Vanessa, because while I trust she is well enough to be here, I’m not taking any chances with my mate. She needs to keep her distance.

“She-wolves go into heat once they find their mates,” she explains as she backs off. “It’s a hormonal response. Their wolves want to mark and mate their other half, to produce a pup.”

My mother turns to look at me. “What does she mean by mate, Remus? Did you mark this woman already? Is that why you brought her here?” she asks, her face paling when I don’t respond. “Oh for the love of Sun God, Remus! Are you an i***t?”

“I haven’t marked her,” I snap. “And I tried to stop the games!”

“Remus!” Vanessa interrupts with a sob, sliding her hands between her legs and clenching her thighs together.

“How do I stop her heat?” I demand, Maria shaking her head.

“You can’t,” she sighs, walking over to Vanessa and crouching down beside her. I glare at her again and she sighs with annoyance. “I am perfectly fine, Remus. I won’t hurt her. Tamerlaine fed me this morning so there's no need to worry. Now back to this poor creature,” she says, petting Vanessa’s hair. “The purpose of a heat is to create the perfect environment to complete the mate bond, so until that purpose is met, you can’t stop it.”

“Surely there’s another answer,” I insist. “I can’t mark her yet.”

“Well, unless you mark her, she’ll be in heat for the next three days.” Maria shrugs. “And during that time, not only will she be in excruciating pain, you will be too. That pull and need you’re feeling right now will only intensify the longer you resist. But…” she says, pausing for effect. “I do believe a certain witch can help you.”

“What?”

“I’ve been alive for about half a millenia now,” she chuckles. “I’ve lived among many creatures enough to know there’s always exceptions. There is an herb… a flower, I think. My memory is not the best at the moment, but I digress. There’s a flower that is said to calm a werewolf in heat. If both you and Vanessa take it, it should help ease some of the symptoms of heat. It’s not a cure, per se, but it’ll make the pain go away until you finally do mark each other.”

“What flower?” I ask with bated breath.

“You’ll need to ask Guinevere,” Maria sighs. “I’m afraid I simply can’t remember. But it should help you until Vanessa’s next heat.”

“Next heat?” I gasp, my c**k throbbing as Vanessa cups her breasts and squeezes them. “You mean it doesn’t end here?”

“Heat is a very normal part of a she-wolf’s life cycle,” Maria elucidates. “They go through heat every three or four months.”

“But you said if I mark her—”

“That only works the first time, but for the remainder of her life, the only cure for heat is to give in to your most carnal desires for three days. Why else do you think she-wolves have pups so young?” she says with a smirk. “They f**k like bunnies! I envy them.”

I groan at the idea of calling Guinevere, but know I’ll have to suck it up if I want to help Vanessa. It takes several attempts before I finally find the strength to leave Vanessa alone and storm out of the room, only to find Lachlan lingering outside in the hall.

“Go back to the dining hall,” I snap. “This doesn’t concern you.”

Lachlan only smirks as he leans against the wall. “I’ll leave if she asks me to.”

I slam him up against the wall before he can even bat an eye.

“You touch her and I’ll kill you,” I warn, forming an icicle in my hand and pressing it against his throat. “...Without a single ounce of remorse. Stay away from her!”

“Quite the reaction for a wolf you just met, Your Majesty,” Lachlan coughs as I release him and I walk away. “But as you wish,” he chuckles.

I rush into my office, grabbing my enchanted phone to call the Earth Realm. Dread fills the pit of my stomach as I dial a number and listen as it rings on the other end.

“Hello?” a deep voice answers.

“Salvador,” I sigh, mentally preparing for his response. “I need your help.”