The Dragon king's Second Mate

An unexpected temptress

~Rylan's pov~

I'm always learning something new about myself. And returning back to my kingdom after a three year hibernation has taught me that some of those new things are bad. I've had to fire some of the elders for stealing, and other s**t they couldn't handle without me. The incompetence is strong but it's partly my fault. I have gone into hibernation since I became king. Why I chose to let a heartache do this to me, I'll never understand.

Hibernation should only be allowed for a king when he has a queen to handle the Kingdom. But I don't have that. In Fact the reason for my hibernation was a woman I wanted to make my queen.

She definitely wanted to be queen, no matter the cause.

Another thing I learned, and I learnt it just now, is that I'm attracted to the way a woman walks.

Well, just one woman. Aspen walks with her shoulders high, even as she's nervous, she's casually swaying her hips without noticing.

I caught my guards giving her looks. My people aren't against other species. Even though we're conquerors. It's not unusual for a dragon to date some from a different demographic.

I'm not sure the dragons of Wyndora will want a non dragon shifter as a queen though. Because that's different from dating.

She's in the testing phase so I won't be bringing it up anytime soon.

Back to the way she walks, it's eye grabbing. Especially now that I can't see her ribs, and she looks like she was made to be royal.

Well she is a demigod.

Right, does she even know? Descendants of the moon goddess are all demigods.

I think the werewolves have tried to bury that knowledge but as dragons, we know everything.

It's how we sneak into places, or raid them. Looting, and claiming their land as ours.

Aspen pushed her dress to the side, and she took the seat across from me. Her eyes still marveled at the sight of the massive living room.

She can't believe this is hers. I chuckle.

She was no doubt poor before, or at least not rich enough to have this.

I wonder what her story is. Why would a man abandon her and her child?

Xavier squirms in my arms, I peek at him. His big eyes are staring back at me. That smile….. I can't talk to her with him here.

"Olive."

The hollow entered the room upon hearing her name. She paused an inch from me, bowing her head and reaching for Xavier.

He allowed her to hold him. Even though he kept giving me looks.

"Olive, show him his room. He might be small, but I think he'll love the colors."

"Yes, King Rylan."

"Um-"

"Don't worry about him for now. Olive is a hollow."

"A what?"

"An empty shelled dragon. They're created to follow orders. She has no thoughts of her own. Other than to serve. And I've had her programmed to work as your nanny."

Aspen looks unsure, but she nods. "She won't be doing everything all the time right?"

"Of course. Only when we need to f**k, or be alone."

Her cheeks glowed as they turned pink. But forget that. Blushing is officially overrated. Aspen's unique rainbow colored eyes turn to the shade of pink, then they curve into a heart.

My eyebrows shoot up. Is that what happens when she blushes? Wait, no. She blushed for Zane and that did not happen.

Now that I can truly observe her, and I hope I'm not getting ahead of herself, this reaction seems to be for me.

I gulped, be strong Rylan.

My first mate was not this enthralling.

"We should discuss our rules."

"Yes yes of course." The heart fades back to the rainbow. Gods, her eyes are ….. I'm not a very kinky man. Or someone has too much s*x, but if I'm f*****g this woman and I'm not looking into her eyes…. I don't think I'd be able to feel satisfaction.

I wonder what they'll do when she comes.

Focus, Rylan!

The hungry beast within me wants to burst. In just three years, I've heard two mates. I can't tell if the universe is desperate to make me fall in love, or if this is some sick joke.

"The rules aren't something you should worry about. I don't mind disobedience if it's for the right reason. But you're here to be my consort, I'm going to f**k you well and truly. Whenever I want. I'll have a guard bring you to the palace or, I'll come here."

She nods stiffly.

"I demand honesty. If you can't answer a question, say so. And prepare a good reason. I'm not unreasonable."

Another nod.

"You'll accompany me to every event, and you'll act like you're a precious stone."

"Why? If you don't mind me asking."

I leaned back, and she dropped her eyes to my bare chest. I noted the lingering look, and the slight flash of pink.

Interesting.

"It's simple really. You're not exactly a wolf-'' no I will not be telling her she's a demigod. I don't know if I trust her enough to tell her that she can likely shatter my kingdom if she has unlocked her ability. I'm not an i***t. "You're technically not something you kind wants to associate with, so people with a similar attitude to my younger brother, will try to crush you. You need to remind them that you're Rylan Valtero's woman. They better respect you. Know I will only defend you if I feel the need too. You need to be able to put them in their place first. I'm going to have people ask me why I'm f*****g a soft woman."

She nods, but I can see that the thought of defending herself makes her uncomfortable.

Which is another weird thing that I note down.

"Is there another rule?"

"Nothing for now. I'll inform you. But I would like to add, appearance is everything for a consort."

"Yes, Starlavia said so."

"Good. What I'm trying to say is that the dress you're wearing is for Emberhelm. They like all these fancy, over extravagant outfits for even the simplest of occasions." Because Malek, although I love my brother, is a psycho perfectionist.

You know that tale of vampires killing people for taking their gold, even just a little, my brother is the reason for that. He can tell if something goes missing.

If something is uneven, if something is imperfect, Malek tends to hate it.

Unless it's me or Zane. Only for the two of us, is he even tolerable.

"You only get to wear these types of dresses when it calls for such an event. Other than that, I've had Olive and the other servants pick out dresses I think you'll like."

"Other servants?"

"Yes. They won't show their faces to you. But they'll be cleaning, and keeping the house on its feet. You can do everything else. Cook, feed your son. By the way, Malek says your health results were good, and Xavier is surprisingly healthy."

She exhales. "Oh thank goddess. I thought…." She swallowed.

"If you don't mind me asking, have you had any other s****l experience prior to having Xavier?"

I want to know what she likes. The type of dragon I happen to be forces me to be a pleasure dominant.

That means I like being in charge, I like having control but I can only gain pleasure from pleasing my partner. The partners I've had have satisfied that but they always left me bored so I rarely f****d

Even my first mate. Gods, she was the worst to f**k.

I only f****d her twice to realize I'd rather stick my d**k in a wood chipper.

Aspen shocks me by shaking her head.

"You're lying."

The shaking of her head increases. "I'm not. My first, and only time led to Xavier. I have no experience."

I got up. "You mean to tell me the man who took your virginity is Xavier's father?"

"Yes." She didn't look proud of it. First and only time?

What the f**k-

I'm going to have to ask her about it-

"May I make a request?"

"Go ahead."

She stood, and my beast growled as she started to walk. Seriously, am I mad? Have I slept so much that my brain finds a woman walking sexy?

"Please don't ask me about it. I would like to put the past where it is. I'm not ready to…" she was trying to find the words, but I could understand. I guess I can agree to that for now. "I may not have experience, King Rylan, but I'm a quick learner. All you need to do is show me what you like. I'm sure I'll be able to do it just fine."

My eyebrows c****d up. I ran my gaze down from her eyes to her covered feet then back up.

"I'm not certain you won't be able to take me on the first try. But we'll work on that. Tomorrow, my people are throwing me a welcome party. You're going to be there with only one request in your mind, to seduce me."

Her lashes flutter and I can't resist running my knuckles up the side of her cheek. The color of arousal is red. Cherry red, and it's the most magnificent thing I've witnessed.

"Seduce you?"

I tip her chin, and her tongue comes out to swipe over her lips. Plump pink lips that I would like to kiss until they're numb. I'm not a kisser. I'm not a touchy person.

I don't need, nor do I give, emotional contact. But something tells me that's about to change.

She seems like a woman who needs to be told that she's doing something good, that she's wanted. She needs to hear it, feel it, and that I can do.

"Yes, Aspen. Seduce me. I want that desire to be unbearable."

"I don't-"

"That's an order."

She gulped. My eyes dropped to her throat. I can already see the spot where I'll leave my mark. Depending on how this turns out.

I might want her physically, but trusting her is another thing.

Who knows, maybe we'll f**k once and I won't want too again.

"I've never seduced anyone." I let a groan out as my response.

"There's a first time for everything. Dance if you must. Just do it."

"Dance? In front of those people?"

I grin. Dragons, we're proud people. Possessive, dominant creatures. We have more alphas than any other race. Which leads to problems. But we've slowly fixed that in Wyndora.

For this woman, if she danced in front of those people, and they watched with envy. They'd watch her putting on a show for me.

I like that.

I like that a little bit too much. But perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself.

"Yes. Dance, just seduce me."

"And how would I know if it worked?" She worried her bottom lip between her teeth. My thumb pried the soft flesh free. I swear I could have passed out from how quickly the blood shot to my c**k.

Soft.

Fuck, kiss her.

I slammed my eyes shut. A soft, wet appendage touched my thumb. I parted my eyelids, seeing her blush. Those eyes.

"Trust me, Aspen." I cup her face, and she shudders. f**k! "You're going to know if you've succeeded."

I mean, you're not doing anything now and I feel like I'm about to lose my control.

That thought snaps me out of it, and I step back. Reluctantly.

My first mate had me convinced of love, and romantic happiness, but it was fake. I was blindsided by it.

I let her bad sides slip past my radar.

Aspen is worse than that.

She's not doing anything, and I'm prepared to-

I can't even complete that thought.

She holds my gaze, before dropping it and stepping farther away from me. Her scent is all over my nose.

She smells like a god-damn peach, and I love it.

"I understand, I'll do my best to seduce you tomorrow."

I tilted my head to observe her. "Good girl."

And that- that shudder that shakes her body, makes her eyes flare with desire is what tells me this woman needs to be praised.

I'm not sure why that information makes me hard, but I guess I'll find out.

I have her for two years. Let's see if I can do this relationship thing right for the second time.

Malek's words entered my head.

Dear gods…. No.

Mother in the skies amongst the angels, bless your children.

Help protect me from another error.

Aspen watched as the mark on the inside of my palm glowed.

This is my birthmark as a Valtero.

I clenched it, thoughts of why I'm a barbarian float into my head.

"Well then, I'll be taking my leave."

I exited before she could say another word.

The carriage was gone, just as I'd ordered. The guards stood in attention. I gave them one order to protect her, and I meant that. Her and Xavier.

My wings appeared, and I flew myself back to the palace.

My birthmark still glowed. A sign my mother will always be watching over me.