The Succubus and her two Mates

22| All about Brand

Brand and Ronnie had lunch in a beautiful solarium. Their conversation was easy and light. He was explaining how the city and palace were situated, and what surrounded it on the world of Therien. The planet was sixty percent land- a connected content, with the dragon kingdom taking up a quarter of the land. The lived spread out, but the city they lived in was densely populated. The outside day in the center of the speaking metropolis. Brand spoke reverently about the city- obviously caring for it greatly. The palace was like a small city on its own, this one of a few communal eateries.

There were others in the space enjoying a meal - it felt to Ronnie like a cafeteria for those that worked in the palace. There was a large table with big burly men, Brand pointed them out as the guards on duty overnight- they would have their meal here before retiring for the day.

"You guys eat here often?"

Brand responded after taking a sip of his drink, "Sometimes. Though we usually eat in the office. Dragon bureaucracy is busy business."

She smiled at that. This was so wild. "This what you dreamed of being when you were a kid?"

Brand laughed, "Yeah, kind of. We were brought up to lead. I can't compare to the level of what Brock will inherit one day, but yeah, on a bigger scale than I thought I'd be involved, this is kinda what I was aiming for."

She thought about that. She hadn't really known many that had this kind of higher calling birthright. "So you guys kinda work perfectly then?"

Brand c****d an eyebrow, "Sort of. I mean it has been working… for the business side of things. We get along really well now. Have a pretty solid… friendship."

"Friendship, huh?"

He gave a sad smile, "So far. But we are mates for a reason…"

"Y'all believe in destiny and s**t, don't you?"

Her words amused him. "It is the basis of our religion."

"So everything is predetermined? I don't get a say."

He sobered at that, "I wouldn't say that. There are infinite possibilities and the choices you make light your path. There are some absolutes," he flashed a smile at that, "like mates."

"Right," she nodded. "And everyone always just lives happily ever after?"

Brand sighed, "No, it's not always a good match - there have been times when mates have been treated terribly, they seem to be few and far between though." He further added, "Usually incompatible mates reject each other or choose another."

"Reject? All the stories I ever heard of the woman weren't too sure, they'd just kidnap her until she accepted it."

Brand laughed and Ronnie felt herself get angry. "Hey. It's not funny."

"You heard that from wolves?" He tried to stifle his laughter, he had his hands up in a defensive gesture.

"Yeah, so?"

He cleared his throat to shake the last of the laugh he felt there. "They are known for their, erm, style of courting. I can assure you it's not quite what you think - the she-wolves get to play a bigger part in that than you'd think."

She looked at him dubiously.

"I promise. The game they play is consensual."

She took a sip of her drink, still giving him a side eye. "I'll believe it when I get to speak with one of these non-brainwashed she-wolves then."

"I'm sure you will. We have a lot of dealing with wolves. They bridge the gap between the dragons and the human realm, they have the most dealings there, having crossed between the two realms for time immemorial. Apart from the pocket we come and go from, the wolves occupy the territory from here to the seam into North America."

"I've known a few wolves- rogues of course." She added cheekily, "They can be a wild time."

He regarded her. He guessed she wasn't just being cute - he was happy to share, "I spent most of my teen years there- a lot more liberal than here."

Ronnie grinned. She could see he was getting as hot as she was. She wanted him to tell her the details. f**k. She wanted him so badly. Cool it, she thought to herself.

He glanced up, obviously thinking about something. She c****d her head.

"What?"

"I was actually thinking about…" he looked at her, gauging what he could say. He hasn't had anyone to talk to about- well anything. He wasn't going to talk to his sister about this.

She motioned for him to continue, leaning in. They were a ways away from anyone else, but these were all super beings. She kept a figurative ear out for anyone emotionally responding to what they were talking about.

He spoke lower. "I was pretty," he made a face, "active in my teens. Pretty open - you know, free and easy. Pretty common for us mammal shifters."

Ronnie nodded as she listened, interesting to note.

"We don't have quite the same hang up as dragons. I always knew I liked all genders. There were some dalliances early on for both of us, even attempts at sharing someone in our bed…" He gave her a can-you-imagine look which made her smile come back. "You know, it's happened more than once that a guy wanted a threesome with me and a woman, so he'd have an excuse, but it didn't work that way with Brock."

Ronnie couldn't help but stare at him. She could feel his trepidation to be sharing but also how much he wanted to- needed to get it off his chest.

"So, like… never ever?" She spoke out the side of her mouth.

Brand laughed again, shaking his head as it died down. He took her breath away. Hot damn, she thought. His face lit up when he smiled and damn near exploded when he laughed.

"A couple of kisses, a grope or two. Until we met you." He shrugged. "Goddess knows why she chose the two of us…" he looked at her and the way he held her direct eye contact had her itching to climb into his lap. "Though now…"

She was sure he was about to kiss her here out in public- even she could guess in the short time she'd been here what a taboo that'd be. He stopped himself in time. "Wanna get out of here?"

She smiled, standing quickly. She hesitated with her dishes, but he told her to leave it and drew her away from the table by placing his hand on the small of her back.

As they briskly walked towards her room she asked, "How long until you have to get back to work?"

He paused, "I don't think I have anything that can't wait until tomorrow."

~*~

Brock glanced up from his work. He had a bunch of reports to read and acquisition requests to sign. It was mainly aid and support requests from communities across Therien, within and outside of their Kingdom. He was still waiting to hear what involvement his father wanted from him on the warlock and wolf issue ongoing since he failed at the task.

It was close to 4pm and Brand hadn't come back from lunch. Brock sighed and stood, stretching and taking a moment to make himself a coffee. He concentrated on his mate bond. He'd always been able to feel inklings from Brand, even without marking. He could feel the thrum between them, and he could feel Ronnie there too. They were enjoying themselves, that was for sure.

He hesitated, he had a lot more work to get done but he felt the pull to be with his mates. Would he be imposing if he just arrived where they were?

He sat back down, feeling uncertain and worried about not being welcome. He'd get some more work done and meet up as planned for dinner.

~*~