Bonds of a Dragon (Book 3 of the Northern Territories Series)

Chapter 5

Bonds of a Dragon

Chapter 5

Ilayda’s POV

If Donovan's scent lingers here, Apep hasn’t given me any indication. I go to the kitchen to make tea. I plan to enjoy it in a nice hot bath. Apep is drawn to the far wall of my living area that holds antique weapons. I watch him as he studies them. I’m sure he knows what they all are and probably where they’re from.

He smiles at an Elven battle axe. I only have one, no one was ever able to locate its match, my father tried for years to find it. “Do you like that one in particular?”, I ask him.

He turns to me, “It is missing its match, little one.”, he states.

I nod, “The owner only left the one in my father’s thigh, to which I’m certain he was grateful.”, I reply.

Apep chuckles, “I imagine that is one way to collect weaponry, though not the way I would suggest.”

I smile at him. His muscles flex as he moves, his gorgeous smile makes my heart race, his deep voice is both calming and enticing. Everything about him screams danger, yet I’ve never been more attracted to any man in my life. “Do you know how to use any of them?”, I ask.

He smiles, “All of them.”

“Maybe you can show me some time.”

He tilts his head, his smirk sends a wave of lust through me, “I will perform for you, Aziza.”

I sip my tea and turn, attempting to cover my reaction to him and control my arousal. “Ormr took me back to my home. I was able to save a few things from the fire. One being that axe.”

“What did you hope to find?”, he asks softly.

I didn’t mean for this to take this turn, I just wanted to move away from him performing because that brought all kinds of lusty thoughts to my mind. Now I feel vulnerable again. “Does it matter?”

He tilts his head, “Very much, Aziza. Did you find it?”, he asks.

“I did, but they were ruined… my mother had rings made for each of us with our family crest.”

“May I see them?”, he asks.

Apep’s POV

I can feel the hurt in her. I’ve felt what she does right now. She turns and walks away from me. I let her go. Her family is not something she is willing to share with me yet. I turn and study the other weapons on her wall.

I hear her coming back down the hall and I turn to face her. She fidgets with a small wooden box before handing it to me. She brought me the rings.

I open the box and study each of the rings. “Would you like these restored, Aziza?”, I ask, placing that gently back into the little velvet slots she has for them.

She purses her lips and goes back to the counter for her tea. “I’ve asked. They’re too badly damaged to restore without replacing portions. I had hoped they could be. Ormr offered to conjure replicas from my memory, but…”, she shrugs her shoulders and sits on the couch.

“It isn’t the same.”, I finish for her, sitting across from her. I study the rings and disagree. It would be quite difficult, but these could be restored.

“Aziza, I know someone that could fix these. The stones can be completely restored. Gold is soft and can be shaped at the right temperatures. He could clean them up and fix them for you. They may have slight imperfections, but they would remain all original.”

She looks up at me, “Your word it would be the originals returned. That I would get those exact rings back?”, she asks.

“You have my word, Ilayda. These exact rings, nothing added and only the damage taken, will be returned to you.”

She nods, “I would appreciate that very much, Apep.”

I can see she is near tears now, but I do need to see their original state. “It can be done without it, but seeing their original state would help ensure they were more exact. Would you be willing to show me?”, I ask her softly.

She furrows her brows slightly before nodding and standing from her seat. She sets her tea down and moves to stand in front of me. I push her short hair back from her temple and place my hand there. I feel her panic when I connect with her. I release her immediately, I’m not in the correct position to feed into her and moving to be might make this worse. “It’s okay, Aziza. I won’t ever take from you; you have my word. Do you want to use your power to show me instead?”, I ask her.

She bites her lip nervously then nods. I lean back against the book cabinet so she can reach me better, “When you’re ready, little one.”, I wait patiently for her to come to me.

She shakes it off quickly, but I can tell she is just very adept at pushing her pain down. She moves to stand with her outer thigh against mine, placing her hand against my temple. The tingles from our bond course through me and I open my mind to her, letting her show me whatever she wishes.

Ilayda studies her own on her hand, then looks at Zurvan’s. I study both closely. This must be the day they received them. He grins at her and teases. She rolls her eyes, pushing him away from her. She moves us to a different memory. Her mom is kneading biscuit dough and her rings are on the counter. Ilayda hops up on a bar stool and picks the crest up, rolling it around between her fingers as she looks at it. The next memory is of her father shaving. She sits giggling at Zurvan while he mimics their father, learning to shave himself. Zurvan and her father hand her their rings to hold while they rinse their faces. Ilayda compares the size differences. She drops her hand from me and wipes the tears from her eyes. “That is the best I can remember them.”, she says, but she doesn’t move away from me. We are almost eye level with me partially sitting.

“That is perfect, Aziza. They can each be seen clearly in your memory.”, I assure her.

Her eyes wander from my face, down my chest and abdomen. My body immediately reacts to her scrutiny, but I remain still. Her gaze returns to my face and I can scent her arousal, though she tries to control it. Her eyes fall on my mouth and she leans toward me. My heart races, she is going to kiss me this time.

Her lips lightly brush mine when she suddenly pulls back. “I’m going to bed, stalker. Goodnight.”, she says hurriedly before turning and grabbing her tea.

Ilayda’s POV

He chuckles as I rush to move away from him. “Goodnight, Aziza.”, he replies as I move toward the hallway. I feel his eyes on me as I enter my room. I run my bath and try to shake off the effect Apep has on me. I almost kissed him! I climb in the hot bath, enjoying the rose scent of the bubbles. I reach to the shelf and grab my phone, calling Donovan.

Ring ring ring

“Ilayda! I tried to come earlier this evening but Jayce told me I couldn’t right now. Is everything alright? Are you okay?”, Donovan asks.

“I’m fine. I just didn’t want to put you in a bad position and needed to talk to you before you came here.”, I reply. Is there a wrong way to have this conversation?

“What’s wrong, babe?”, he asks concerned

“My mate found me in Brecken Forest, Donovan. He has followed me here to Black Hearthstone.”, I tell him as straight forward as I can.

“You say that like you don’t have any choice, Ilayda. You do not have to accept your mate. Do you wish to accept him?”, he asks me.

“It does not matter whether or not I wish to accept him, Donovan. Ormr was right, he is dragonian. I do not know his true name and he gave me the options of being taken to his shield and locked away or allowing him to follow me here, where no one can touch me. He says he will tolerate your presence, but if you touch me he will kill you. I didn’t want to risk your safety and felt you should have a choice in this as well.”, I tell him.

“I love you, Ilayda. I will try to make this work if that is your wish. A dragonian will not ever give up their mate though, only death can separate them.”, Donovan says, but I feel like he is hinting at killing Apep.

“Donovan, you cannot fight him. You will lose. He is someone even Ormr will not move against and considers his equal.”, I warn him.

“Ormr knows him and allows him to imprison you?”, Donovan asks angrily.

“Apep said that Ormr cannot move to take me from him without offering Anavrin.”, I tell him.

Donovan sighs heavily. “That correlates with all the studies I’ve read. A mate for a mate, circumstances are irrelevant. He’d only risk it if he didn’t feel threatened by Apep.”

“Ormr also owes Apep a favor. The medallion.”, I tell him.

“HE IS THE DRAGON?”, Donovan asks, recalling the story.

“Yes, but I couldn’t ask Ormr to do anything even if he weren’t. Ormr warned us before we even started dating that my mate would be dragonian and that our relationship would be a problem. He told me he wouldn’t allow the dragon to hurt me, because I’m bound to him. He won’t protect you if you choose to challenge Apep.”, I remind Donovan.

“I remember. Do you think he will hurt you if you anger him, Ilayda?”, he asks.

“No, I’ve made him angry on several occasions. I’m pretty confident he won’t physically hurt me, but don’t think for a second that he cares whether or not I’d be upset with him. You cannot touch me, he will kill you.”, I warn him again.

“I want to see you, babe. I won’t touch you. It is going to be difficult, but we can figure it out if you still want to.”, he says.

I know he is asking if I even want to attempt to continue seeing him. I do, but I don’t want Apep to hurt him. “I don’t want you to be hurt, Donovan.”, I tell him.

“I will not offend him. I understand their customs.”, he assures me. “Do you want him, Ilayda? You can answer honestly. I won’t be upset with you.”, he asks.

“I don’t know, Donovan. I’m attracted to him. He has this… aura that draws me to him. He’s powerful and dangerous, it…”, I’m not sure how, or even if I should, tell Donovan how my body reacts to Apep’s presence, “feels exciting.”

“Would he accept you wanting to be with me?”, Donovan asks.

“He said I can be with you as long as you don’t touch me. 'My feelings on the matter cease to be relevant when he has clearly laid out my options and I chose to get you killed.' I’m allowed to speak with you whenever I choose and see you in his presence.”, I tell him mockingly. Donovan chuckles.

“You can touch yourself while I talk to you. Where are you”, Donovan asks.

“In the bath.”, I reply seductively, still stirred up by my bossy dragon stalker.

“Where is he?”

“Somewhere in the house.”

“You’ll have to be quiet, babe, he can hear you. I can hear from your bedroom to the living room easily, his hearing is better than mine.”, Donovan warns. I can’t help but laugh. We sound like kids trying not to get caught by their parents. While amusing, it kills the mood.

“Next time, I’ll turn on music or something to drown out my voice.”, I say softly. Donovan laughs.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, my queen. I love you.”

“I love you too.”, I say before disconnecting the call and setting the phone back on the shelf. I soak for a while, finish my tea, and wash before getting out and brushing my teeth. I put on pajama pants and a tank top, then quietly return to the kitchen to clean my cup.

I feel him here, but I’m not sure where he is. I feel adrenaline course through me knowing he could appear anywhere. I turn to dry my hands and he is there, curiously scanning the room before studying me.

He tilts his head. I’m blushing as I try to keep from smiling. “What excites you, little one?”, he asks, his voice flowing through me like a wave, enhancing my excitement.

My first thought is to run, but I quickly dismiss it. That will excite him. “I’m going to bed. Goodnight, stalker.”, I tell him as I walk around the counter and pass him to go back to my room.

He knowingly smirks, “Goodnight, Aziza.”, he replies, remaining perfectly still. I close my door and quickly climb in my bed. I am in so much trouble. I love Donovan and I don’t want to want Apep, but I do. I want that man so badly.

I wake up in the morning and search for my phone, finding it in the bathroom. It is 7am, I brush my teeth and choose jeans shorts and a t-shirt for today. I slide on sandals and walk into the kitchen messaging Rayne.

Ilayda- I talked to Donovan. He understands, you can let him in again. I appreciate your help.

Rayne- Not a problem. I’ll let the gate know.

I put my phone in my pocket as I round the corner. Apep is sitting at the counter drinking coffee. There is a plate in the dish rack, suggesting he has already eaten. He tracks my movement as I grab a fruit bowl from the refrigerator and set it at the stool one over from him. I go to heat water for my tea and find it is ready. I smile at him when I fill my cup and pick my tea, then move to sit at the counter, one stool between us.

“Good morning, stalker.”, I say before eating my fruit.

He smiles, “Good morning, Aziza.”

I take a sip of my tea, looking over at him. “I want to train this evening. Since you do not wish for anyone to touch me, that makes you my new sparring partner.”, I inform him.

He chuckles, “Very well.” I finish my fruit and he takes the bowl and his cup to the sink, washing them both and putting them on the rack, then turning to me.

“What do you wish to do now?”, he asks.

“I’m supposed to meet with Anavrin this morning. I’m helping her harvest and dry herbs from her greenhouse. Donovan will be here later.”, I answer.

I can sense his irritation briefly before he masks it. “Very well. Lead the way, Ilayda.”, he tells me.

I empty the tea bag in the trash and wash my cup before walking outside. Apep walks alongside me down the trail, back to the ‘y' and taking the opposite route to Ormr and Anavrin’s home. Ormr has conjured a large beautiful greenhouse for Anavrin. It takes hours to harvest from the plants inside. She doesn’t let Ormr help because she says he takes too much from them. We walk around the side of the cabin to the greenhouse, I can hear them back there talking.

Ormr opens the greenhouse door for me when I reach it. Apep and I enter. Ormr immediately begins talking to Apep in Draconic. Whatever he said makes Apep laugh and they sit on the stools by the drying table and rack. Anavrin and I start working through the plants with pruners.

“Did you talk to Donovan?”, she asks softly. Ormr and Apep may still hear her, but they’re in their own conversation so they may not be paying any attention.

“Yes, I called him last night. He will be here later this morning. He won’t touch me. I’m hoping Apep will be civil.”, I answer, moving to the next plant.

“I wouldn’t know what to expect in this situation, Ilayda. Donovan is an intelligent man that has done extensive research on dragonian, you’ll have to trust his judgment in navigating around Apep. Ormr will not treat Donovan any differently. He assured me of it last night.”, Anavrin replies.

I didn’t think Ormr would, he isn’t that type of person. He doesn’t take sides that way, Donovan is still his friend. Anavrin changes the subject and tells me about the reports Rayne sent on the interrogations. I didn’t get the chance to review them this morning.

I look back to make sure Ormr and Apep are occupied before whispering softly to Anavrin, “Do dragons bite their mates?”

Anavrin furrows her brows at me and whispers back, “Like when they mark them?”, she asks.

“No, you said they had a taste for blood, like vampires.”

Anavrin turns bright red and glances back at Ormr, probably making sure they aren’t listening. They continue talking, I don’t think they are listening to us. “Let’s have them take a walk.”, she says softly, then turns to Ormr, "Ilayda and I need a minute alone. Why don’t you go show Apep the other greenhouse? I’ll link you to come back shortly.” Ormr and Apep both tilt their heads and I cover my mouth to hide my laugh, but it does no good.

Ormr smirks at me, he knows I’m embarrassed. “Sounds like you’re coming with me to pretend to care about Aconitum blooms, brother. Not to worry, I’ll know if anyone attempts to pass the ward. They’ll be fine here alone.”

Apep chuckles and stands, following Ormr out of the greenhouse. Anavrin goes to the door and watches them cross the yard. She returns to me, “He never bit me or even mentioned wanting to bite me until about a year after he marked me. He does bite, but he never takes very much from me. He says he just…”, her face turns Scarlet and she covers her cheeks for a second, “He says that he gets off on my taste.”

Whoa… Ormr’s a bit of a freak then. I giggle at the thought and she turns more red, swatting my arm. I laugh. “Does it hurt?”, I ask her seriously.

She rolls her eyes at me, “You’ll laugh.”

I shake my head, “No, I promise. I really want to know.”, I insist.

“I was nervous the first time he asked to do it. He does it all the time now. It hurts for less than half a second, then I feel his power in the most intense way and it feels so good.”

So they are a little like vampires then. “Does it cause orgasms like vampire bites?”, I ask. Being eaten alive might not be such an awful punishment.

“It does, yes. says that their bite is tied to their emotion, they don’t necessarily control what it feels like as vampire do. If a dragon bites his mate in love or desire, she enjoys it. If a dragon bites his mate in anger, it can be very painful for her.”, she answers.

“Do they bite their lovers or only their mates?”, I ask curiously. Vampires are equal opportunity biters. I want to know how similar they are.

She shakes her head, “Dragons are hunters. They have a strong taste for blood. They typically satiate that in hunting. Only their mate receives their bite in pleasure. Once they’ve had their mate’s blood, others are no longer filling. They’ll still like the taste of blood, but only crave their mate’s.”

“A little kinky, Anavrin. I didn’t know you had that in you.”, I tease.

She pushes my shoulder as her face heats, “Stop it, Ilayda. I won’t answer you anymore.”

I laugh and I can tell she has linked Ormr to return.

“I appreciate your answers, Anavrin. I was only teasing.”, I assure her as they come back in.

Ormr grins at her, “What are you talking about that has you so flushed, Gersemi?”

“Nothing.”, I reply and give Anavrin the side eye.

She laughs and goes back to pruning. I think over what she told me. I’ve never been bit, by anyone, not like that.

“Mmmm.”, Ormr hums as he nips Anavrin’s jaw. He studies her then me. “What is your guess, Apep?”

“I don’t have to guess, Ormr. It is obvious.” He replies, sitting down.

Ormr tilts his head and turns to look back at Apep without releasing Anavrin. I’m amused by this; she made him leave her for all of a few minutes. Now he needs to be close to her. “Your analysis, brother?”, he asks.

I feel Apep’s eyes on me, “I do not wish to displease my mate, Ormr. They wanted their conversation to remain private.”, he replies.

Ormr bites Anavrin’s jaw gently, “You’re correct. I apologize, Gersemi.” She turns into kiss him briefly.

“Now, let me get back to this. I want to be finished today.”, she says softly. Ormr chuckles and returns to his seat.

I find that I want to push at Apep, maybe because I want to dispel the images of him biting me in my mind. I would be embarrassed to have to say what we were discussing, but there is no way he knows. I decide to call him out on it. “You pretend to know to make it embarrassing.”, I accuse teasingly.

Apep tilts his head, “My answer was to prevent your embarrassment, not cause it, little one.”

I smile, “But you were bluffing to begin with.”

Apep smirks and stands, crossing the greenhouse to stand in front of me. “I never bluff, Aziza. Are you certain you wish me to speak my analysis?”

Ormr chuckles, “Do, Ilayda. I want to know.” Anavrin giggles and hushes him.

“Be specific, Apep. No random guesses.”, I challenge. There is no way he knows.

He leans back against the counter, partially sitting and guides me to stand in front of him, between his legs. We’re now eye level, “You wish for me to perform for you now, Aziza?”, he asks softly.

“I want you to say exactly what you think you know.”, I reply.

He smirks, “Very well. Anavrin spoke his true name while we were in the other greenhouse, she was talking about him. I felt her swat your arm and push you; she does that when she disapproves of someone’s teasing and she was flushed when we returned. By the slight scent of your arousal and the way you avoided my gaze when we entered, I’m certain you questioned her about dragonian mating practices. You wish me to continue?”, he asks.

I know I’m a little flushed now. I glance at Anavrin, she is content at being held by Ormr. He stands behind her with his arms around her waist, watching us. Guessing it was s****l wasn’t all that impressive. “Your analysis.”, I challenge him again.

Apep smirks, “When we came in, Ormr nipped at her jaw, and oddly your heart rate increased. I would think you were attracted to Ormr, but you haven’t had that reaction to him before. That led me to believe your question may have had to do with dragonian mate bites. It was confirmed for me when he bit her. He doesn’t arouse you, but your arousal spiked again. Ormr nips and bites her all the time, you’ve never reacted or had any response to it either way in the past. You want to be bit, little mate. You thought about my teeth sinking into you and it aroused you only a fraction less than my words do now.”

I know I’m blushing now, it is only enhanced by the fact that he can scent when I’m aroused and how he affects me. He lowers his voice, but I know Ormr and Anavrin can still hear him, “Don’t be embarrassed, Aziza. The thought excites me much more than it does you. I am going to love tasting you.”

I search his flame lit eyes, I want him so badly it is unnerving. I smile, “What if I don’t let you taste me?”, I ask, raising my brow.

He chuckles and leans into my jaw, slowly running his lips from my chin to just beneath my ear. He whispers softly against my skin, “I don’t think even you believe that is a possibility, Aziza. You want me as badly as I want you. When you get past what’s holding you back, make your move.” He hums softly, his mouth still pressed just beneath my ear behind my jaw. He brushes his fingertips across my abdomen, following the band on my shorts to my hip. “The things I’m going to do to you, little mate.”, he whispers. I turn to look at him and he sits back some. The lust in his eyes consumes me and my eyes travel down his muscular torso to the very obvious bulge in his khaki shorts. I can tell without actually seeing it, he has more than enough to work with. I look back into his heated eyes. “You’re slowing our pruning process.”, I accuse softly, not really wanting to push him away but desperately needing to. A sexy smile takes over his face and he stands, pressing his body into mine with his hand still on my hip. I’m barely chest level to him and it places his erection against my stomach. He feels and smells so good.

“You’ll have to step back if you wish for me to move out of your way, little one.”, he says huskily.

I flush and step back. I was just standing there blocking him in, but telling him to move. He strokes my jaw as he passes me and returns to the stools by the door where Ormr has already taken Anavrin at some point in my conversation with Apep.

Anavrin returns to pruning with me and I focus on getting control of my raging hormones, but his eyes on me, even now, keeps control just out of reach.