Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

Lake

Walking along the stone floors, I'm surprised the stones aren't chilled, they're surprisingly warm. I always imagined floors like this would be cold. Maybe ice cold to the touch.

Even the walls are warm, with torch scones along the walls every so many feet. I follow the torches, hearing the sound of voices as I thank whoever thought to warm the place against the chill in the air. If not for the warmth of the place, I'd be cold and looking for something to change into rather than the black silk nightgown. It's soft and feels amazing against my skin.

The sounds of voices grow louder as I move in closer. It's not until I'm in the doorway that I hear what they're saying.

"Her powers are awakening," a strange voice announces. "She's found her mate, my king."

"Incompetence."

I glance to the side to see the man who spoke. The size of him alone is enough to draw fear from me. Standing nearly as tall, if not the same as Tucker, his chest wide, hair long down his back. He's not wearing a shirt, so there's no missing the scars lining the muscles on display. The one speaking to him called him King, but what is he king of?

"Kill the mate and bring her to me," the King orders, nostrils flaring, smoke blowing from them.

Whoa. This has to be the Drakon King.

"It won't be so simple, my King," the other man states, bowing his head. Taking a good look at him, I see that he's just a bit shorter than the King but has the same mass size and just as many scars. Where the King's hair is jet black, this man's is red, like blood red.

"Explain."

The King straightens farther, eyes narrowing and heat radiating off him that even I could feel it. It's the power coming off him, commanding the room.

"Her mate is a tiger." Lifting his head to the King, the other man says, "I sent Xoghudy out to search for her. He found her scent, but it was already mixed with that of the tiger."

"Then the tiger must be killed, Barrydi," the King declares. "I will not have my plans faltered. The woman is to be mine. Just as her mother was supposed to be until that bastard, Nyx Iceclove, captured her, stealing her away into the night."

"Yes, my King, but if not for Nyx taking the woman's mother, this woman would not exist. She's far more worthy than that of her mother. Once her powers fully awaken and she's at your side, she'll make a good queen."

"You're right, Barrydi, she will be, and I've got the perfect bait to lore her in. I just need the mate out of the way."

I swallow, my nerves getting the best of me. My heart is thumping so loudly, I'm surprised no one else can hear it.

"Take Metu. Take care of the tiger and anyone else who dares get in the way." the King commands.

"I'll see to it, my King." Turning on his heel, Barrydi stalks away from the King.

I take a step back myself as the King's gaze turns in my direction. "See you soon, my beautiful Lake. Let me introduce myself. I'm Zurri, Bringer of Death, and as I'm sure you see, the Drakon King. You're meant to be my queen and stand at my side. Soon enough, you will be. Don't think you can change the outcome, you cannot."

I jerk upright, breathing raggedly, hand clutching at my chest. I glance around realizing it was just a dream.

Just a dream.

But it felt so, so real.

"Lake?" Tucker asks, coming up off the bed next to me, his arm curling around me, pulling me into him. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"It was just a dream," I tell him, shaking my head. Though, that's not the only thing shaking. My whole body felt like it was shaking. "Was a nightmare. A really, really bad nightmare." I release a shuddered breath. "It felt so real though."

"Tell me what happened," Tucker demands and kisses the top of my head.

I tell him everything I remember about the dream, how the Drakon King turned right to me at the end, and what he said. How he'd even given me his name.

"I don't get what they meant by my power being awakened."

"Because your power was awakened last night when I claimed you as mine," Tucker answers, twisting me until I'm in his lap, my legs on either side of his thighs. My naked body presses into his.

Another kind of feeling begins to consume me, starting between my legs.

Even more, something feels different. It's like the two of us are connected in a way we weren't before. As if I can feel him inside me.

"You're feeling the mating bond," Tucker states.

"How did you know . . ."

"We're mates, little Fae. Last night, we completed the mating. Now I can read you. You can read me. When we're not close, we can still communicate. It's a mind-link.

Wowzah. Remind me never to think dirty around him.

Tucker smirks and glides his hands down my spine to curl under my bottom. "Think all the dirty thoughts you want, little Fae."

Groaning, I plant my face on his chest.

"Back to the subject at hand," Tucker states, squeezing my rear. "Remember what Karsyn told us about your powers? They will awaken only when you've been with your mate. You accepted me last night, not just into your body, but into your soul."

"How do you know that?" I blurt, jerking my head off his chest and staring at him with wide eyes.

"I felt what you did. Saw what you saw. Gotta say, Lake, in time, your powers are going to be stronger than you realize. If what I saw is any indication, the lines will be easy to blur. A cross between good and evil."

"You think I could become evil? That the Drakon King is right in my dream?"

"I'm willing to bet it wasn't an actual dream," Tucker announces, brows drawing together.

"What do you mean?"

It couldn't be possible that I wasn't dreaming. It was a dream. I woke up from it.

"I mean, it could've been your subconscious took you there. Wanted you to see what the threat was that's against you," Tucker explains. "That would be why the Drakon King was able to sense you but not see you."

I nod, not really agreeing but trying to come to terms with him most likely being right, which makes it all the scarier. If I'm to have all this power and walk the lines between good and evil, I could easily fall into the evil category.

"This is all a lot to take in right now," I finally croak out.

"It is," Tucker agrees. "For the record, little Fae. Those who live within the supernatural world all live on the same lines. They choose between good and evil. Which life they decide to have. What they want in life. This club, my brothers, me, we all walk that same line you're now on. The difference for us is we live by our own rules. We decide our own fates. If you wrong us, we'll make you pay. You fuck with what's ours, we will come at you. But when it comes to those who belong to us, we've cared for them all the ways imaginable." He dips his head down to nuzzle my cheek, and whispers, "All the good ways that you could imagine."

My breathing picks up as he shifts us. Grinding me against his hardened cock. I part my lips with a gasp when he twists us until I'm beneath him, his body between my legs, cock pressing at my entrance.

"I'll show you just how good I can be, little Fae," he growls and slides in an inch at a time. "Fuckin' love that you're already drenched for me. Your pussy just sucks me right in. Go ahead and let that pussy squeeze my cock."

Oh my.

I arch up, back bowing, my body welcoming him inside. The deeper he thrusts, the more intense it becomes, and I want more. Crave it. Need it. It's as if I don't get it, I'll starve until he gives me what I have to have.

As if hearing me, which he probably did, he gives me what I need, slams inside, and starts hammering inside me. It feels wonderful, amazing, in fact. The orgasm rushes through my body, drawing a scream from my lips. It's fantastic. It's beautiful. It's torture. Everything all in one, and I don't ever want it to stop.

"Tucker," I pant, wanting to feel him over. His mouth on me. Feel his teeth at my throat again.

"Fuck," Tucker snarls, comes over me and gives me just what I need. What I crave.

The instant his teeth lock on my neck, I feel his cock do that thing again and it hurls me right into another release. I sink my nails into his shoulders, holding onto him like he's the only one keeping me grounded on this earth. If I didn't, I might float away and never find my way back.

Tucker growls against my skin, and I whimper in pleasure that ripples from the very sound.

If only everything else could be as simple as it is with him in a moment like this.