Dragon in Distress Read online

  Taking a shower and dressing, he considered waking Sophie, but her recent experience made him decide to let her sleep. He hurried down the stairs to eat breakfast and speak to Ram. He was there with Annie even though it was earlier than usual for all of them.

  “Good morning, everyone.” He greeted.

  Around of greetings came his way. Fixing his plate, he seated himself across from Ram. Even though he was hungry, he wanted to get this started. “After yesterday, I have some concerns about our mates being in the field with us.” Annie started to say something. “Please wait. What will you do when you are expecting?”

  Annie looked stunned. “I agree another option should be available.”

  “What have you come up with?” Ram asked.

  “Nothing specific, but questioning under safer conditions, researching, and searching with spells seems like a good place to start.”

  “That’s interesting. Dae told me he has several males on his team that would like to get into the field but are stuck in those kinds of positions. He’d hire a strictly research type of team, but the budget won’t allow it. Dae also is concerned about mated females that could be with child being in such a dangerous position.” Ram admitted.

  “Sounds like Dae had a lot to say.” Sophie declared from behind him.

  “We were all concerned about what occurred with Sophie. No one wants to lose a member of our team. Mated females are especially important because they might carry another life as well.” Ram explained.

  “It’s surprising Dae would consider that.” Sophie murmured.

  “Not as surprising as you think. Dae was mated at a young age. His mate was a fellow team mate, pretty and sweet as could be. She refused to stay home at that point saying she’d be home when they had young.” Sophie was seeing where this was headed and she didn’t like it. “Margeesa was good, but a bit impatient and sometimes rushed in where angels feared to tread.”

  “They were on assignment in the rough part of town. She was supposed to stay back letting Dae and his partner go in first. She saw a child being abused and rushed in to be cut down by gun fire from someone she never saw. Her partner rushed in after her dying the same death. The coroner reported she was two months along. Either she didn’t know, or she held back telling him so she could continue to work in the field. We’ll never know.” Ram explained.

  “That’s horrible.” Sophie said with tears in her eyes. Annie nodded, her eyes looked wet too.

  “That’s why Annie won’t be in the field anymore either.” Ram said.

  “Are congratulations order?” Knossos asked.

  “They are indeed. We just heard from the healer.” Ram admitted.

  He and Knossos shook hands as Sophie hugged her cousin. Soon, this would be her. It made her think about having a little Knossos running around and she thanked the goddess Nan would be there to help her. Maybe he was right about them needing to get their own house soon. She was doing nothing to prevent conception, doing so hadn’t even occurred to her. Witches accepted babies unconditionally inside or outside of relationships.

  It wasn’t always easy for a witch to conceive. Because they lived so long, their babies were often spaced out and sometimes a witch didn’t have any at all. Great-great aunt Hester had been one of those. She’d adopted human children instead and raised many before she died in the Salem witch trials.

  When Knossos and she were alone they needed to discuss some things like children. Today, they would be looking at another house and she would take things more seriously. They would want privacy and a place to prepare as a nursery even if they didn’t conceive right away. Conception in the first year was rare among witches.

  “What are you two doing today?” Annie asked.

  “We’ll be looking at a house near Wolvesville.” Knossos said.

  “Where?” Sophie asked. She’d lived here all her life and never heard of it.

  “It’s a small werewolf community hidden and charmed to make it hard to find. Only wolves are allowed there, but we won’t be in town, only nearby.” Knossos explained.

  “Why have I never heard of it?’ Annie asked and Sophie nodded in agreement.

  “It’s by design. The only reason I know if it is because it’s spoken of in the real estate agents listing.” Knossos admitted.

  “There are many similar communities in the area. Only those that need to know do.” Ram agreed.

  “Why don’t we go now and I’ll show it to you?” Knossos asked.

  “I’m ready.” Sophie responded.

  Knossos got up and held out his hand helping her out of her chair. They left to a chorus of goodbyes. The trip was a little longer, but not by much. The community the wolves had appeared as if by magic in an area she had traveled often. Why had she never even felt something magical here? It was a small community of twenty-five to thirty houses and a couple stores that provided essentials like groceries and gas.

  Knossos drove through it as if it wasn’t there. They continued on to a house on a slight hill. “There is a large estate that goes with the house even though the house itself is smaller than the others on the list.”

  It was smaller and built like a Victorian. Honesty, Sophie loved it. She couldn’t say if it was because it was homier or if it reminded her of the home she’d been raised in. It was only a little smaller and it had stained glass windows in certain rooms. One even showed a dragon, the magnificent beast was in flight. It was red with a gold belly. Similar to, but different than her beast. She stopped and stared at the window in the entry.

  The living room, entry, and dining room were formal, the rest of the house was a family space. There was even a family room that was comfortable and casual. There were three stories with the top one having a balcony where the view was beautiful. As far as she was concerned, this was the house they could raise a family in. The problem was there was no dragon playroom.

  “You like this one.” Knossos observed.

  “I do, but I wish it had a playroom you could fly in.”

  “Silly girl. We can always build one onto the back of the house. Did you notice the guest house and outdoor pool?”

  She hadn’t, but Knossos took her out back so she could tour them. Adding a playroom would make this place perfect. “How many more houses do we have to tour?”

  “Just two more, but if you love this one so much, you can view the others online to see if you even want to see them.” Knossos replied.

  They headed back to Ram’s place and she felt like they’d found their home. She’d even picked out the room that would be a nursery once they bought the house. Stopping in Wolvesville, Knossos took her to a diner where they ate lunch. They both ordered the chicken fried steak special. It was good and she felt ready for a nap after her mate insisted they eat chocolate cake for dessert.

  Once done, they continued their trip. Pulling in to the parking lot at Ram’s, they were out of the SUV and inside the building in no time. They went to their room where his attention was immediately on the computer, but she had something else in mind. He looked up and he was stunned.

  She lay stretched out on the bed naked and ready to seduce. It was rare for her to take that role in their relationship. Sophie crooked her finger at him as she gave him a come hither look. “Come here, Mate.” Knossos eyes glowed which she had gotten used to, but he thought it excited her.

  He moved to where he was standing in front of her and started to sensuously strip out of his clothes. He could smell the need roll over her body, while his skin was revealed inch by inch and finally his cock became exposed until he stood naked and proud with his cock reaching toward the sky.

  “See something you want?” he asked coyly.

  Sophie reached out and touched him, then grabbed him and tugged him until he was right in front of her. Knossos slid onto the bed and all she stared at his monster, she was so close that she leaned down and licked the drop of dew off the end. He thought he would die of pleasure. She licked him like an ice cream cone causing him to
moan with need. Sophie slid him into her mouth going down as far as she could until she feared she’d gag. Then she took one hand and used it to stroke the bottom of his shaft where her mouth didn’t make it. She moved up and down, bobbing her head faster and faster and stroking harder and faster with her hand.

  He was close, but he wanted inside her so he rolled her to her back and she spread her legs wide so he could slide inside her. Knossos was crazy with need and he thrust in hard and fast, going into a frenzy of desire that caught them both up in it. Fast, hard, and deep, he moved and he swiveled his hips to hit the spots that drove her wild. He hammered hard into her until she was out of control, and then he followed her to bliss.

  Rolling them over, he held her tight. “I’m glad you brought me to you.” He whispered, but she was already asleep. Laying her down gently, he carefully got out of bed. Dragons needed little sleep and lately he’d been getting plenty because he enjoyed sleeping with his mate.

  Heading downstairs, he met with Ram as they discussed what to do with their beautiful mates. They exchanged ideas, but they stopped their discussion when Annie entered the room. She was home from work.

  “Hear anything new about the wedding?” Annie asked.

  “Not a thing, but I refuse to worry since the ball went better than expected.” Knossos informed.

  “It was about like our ball so the wedding will probably be similar too.” Ram suggested.

  “You don’t know Sophie’s mother, Antoinette, very well. She makes Maybelle look mild mannered when it comes to social events.” Annie explained.

  “Why me?” Knossos asked.

  “Just lucky I guess.” Ram teased.

  “Won’t Patrick limit it because of the expenses?” Knossos asked.

  “They’ve been saving for this event since Sophie was born.” Annie admitted. “Part of Sophie’s earnings go into the account too.”

  “Was she aware of that?” Knossos wondered.

  “We all have five percent yearly go to the fund. Everyone knows that. It’s males and females alike. It’s done traditionally. Females and their family pay for the wedding, males cover the reception.” Annie explained.

  “I’ll be glad when it’s time.” Knossos admitted.

  The next day, Sophie had toured the other houses online but saw no need to view them in person. The decision made, Knossos ran with it. The house was theirs days later. “I thought it took longer to close a deal like this.” Sophie mentioned.

  “Cash deals close quickly. Financing always takes a while.” Knossos explained. “When do you want to move in?”

  “Do you think we can before the wedding?” She asked.

  “I don’t see why not. We bought the place furnished, but we’ll switch out anything you don’t like.” Knossos assured.

  Sophie liked most everything about the house and was excited they could finally call it their home. Staying with Ram and Annie had been nice, but they needed a place of their own. Now they had it. The coming week would be busy, but tomorrow would be the wedding rehearsal. No one seemed to be looking forward to it.

  They were all gathered at the Hall. It was a place most of the witch weddings were completed at. It could hold nearly a thousand people and many important events happened there. Weddings were probably the most frequent events the old place saw. It had a huge stage that was easily set up for the event with a ramp that covered the stairs to make it easier for a bride with a long dress and longer train to get on the stage.

  Decorations weren’t in place yet, they wouldn’t be until the morning of the actual wedding. Royal would be performing the ceremony, he did many although he’d not done his daughter’s. Instead he’d given her away, he’d considered that more important or so he’d said. Knossos eyes moved around the room. It would do.

  He stood with Ram, Cam, and Dae, his groomsmen. They were on the stage in casual clothes going through the motions they would repeat in less than a week. The music started and Annie came towards them followed by Daphne, and Gertie. Once they were in place, Sophie’s little sister Emily followed pretending to throw flower petals and her brother walked beside her with a pillow, but no ring.

  It wasn’t until they reached Knossos, that the music changed and Sophie and her father appeared. She was in casual clothes, but she still left him breathless. Once he got to know her, he’d never regretted being summoned and would gladly go through it all again. He finally knew he’d found his destiny in her.

  The next time she walked down the aisle toward him, she would be dressed in a beautiful gown, but she looked just as lovely to him now. He couldn’t imagine ever being without her. They finished the rehearsal without a hitch and met at Italiano’s afterward.

  Sitting next to Sophie, she helped him with his order. The food was terrific and he intended to bring her back sometime when it was just the two of them. Everyone seemed happy and they were all talkative except him and Sophie. They were just busy with each other. She was feeding him samples of appetizers and he was enjoying it.

  By the time the meal and the wonderful dessert after it were done, he was full and ready to get his mate home. He was glad when they finally made it up the stairs and to their room. The door closed and he moved to his mate.

  His hands moved down to her slacks unbuttoning them and sliding them down her legs where they pooled at her feet. She toed off her shoes and kicked them away. She looked at Knossos, her love in her eyes. He bared himself to her. His cock rose up to his belly button hard as a rock. Its mushroomed head nodded in her direction.

  He didn’t give her time to think and he knew exactly what he wanted. Knossos pulled her against him again, but this time there was heat coming from him. His awareness of her increased as he felt every inch of her skin that touched him as if it was branding him. Knossos moved against her felt her tension increase. Sliding against her he reached down with one hand sinking it into her pussy. He felt the ease which his finger entered. She was slick and more than ready for him.

  Knossos sat on a chair and pulled her into his lap. He arranged her so that their bodies lined up and he slowly started to enter her until he could hardly breathe, he wanted her so much. As the head of his cock hit the slick heat of her channel, he wondered if the pleasure might kill him. When he stopped to draw in a deep breath he tried to still the shaking that threatened to undo him. He inched in and her warmth made him thrill with delight. She moaned and he stopped himself.

  “Goddess, that feels wonderful,” she whispered.

  He slid in further until he felt the bottom of her soft ass cheeks pressing against his big balls. Knossos groaned, it just felt too good to resist. His hands sat slightly higher on her ass which held her in place. Her belly pressed against his lightly and her arms were wrapped around his neck. His hands lifted her up and down on his dragon sized cock. His mate was aroused and so wet that she took him even though it was a tight fit.

  He rocked his hips causing his cock to hit in other places deep inside her. Sophie made sweet noises that urged him on as she slid up and down his stick faster than he thought she could go. Knossos’ whole body buzzed with electricity. This was special even extraordinary. His mate was more than who he wanted, she was who he needed.

  Knossos knew his eyes were glowing. The need to bite was overwhelming and he knew he would give in when he came. His mate was close and once she went, he would follow. Sophie was riding him and he hoped the chair would hold up since it was old. He change their position, but he had more passion than he could resist.

  Sophie came down on him hard, yelled his name, and squeezed him. Knossos pulled them up managing to keep a hold of her as his orgasm caught him and his teeth sank into her neck releasing his mating venom inside her. He had planned to wait until their wedding night, but sometimes things happened. This was one of those times because his need had gotten the best of him. She was out, so he moved her to the bed settling her in and covering her. She would forgive him, he was sure of it. No one else would know so it didn’t really matter.
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  His mate never mentioned it the next day and they were busy between working with Dae and moving. The girls had now formed a research group that was giving them incredible Intel. Not only were they safer, but they seemed to be where they needed to be to use their abilities to serve them the best.

  They had managed to capture several higher level followers, just not the highest ones. The girls helped out two days a week for eight to ten hours. Since both had full time jobs, that was a generous schedule.

  Ram and Knossos went out with Dae almost every day, not only raiding, but also having a presence in the community. People needed to know they were there and they would help. Today, they sat at a food wagon eating brats and watching the people who walked by. Somewhere nearby, Hubolla had a presence and they planned to find it. Herk was along this time and his buddy would be along next. They took turns so they could see everything and make an informed decision.

  Knossos enjoyed his brat with an ice cold beer. Drink had no effect on him, but the contrast in flavors were amazing. He ate every single bite and considered getting another, but his friends were restless and he could tell they wanted to move on. They walked to the parking lot where they divided into two SUVs. Knossos was with Ram and Herk.

  His friend Herk had been quieter than usual and didn’t act happy. Normally he was a happy enough guy. Since the dinner where he’d met his mate he’d been odd. “Having trouble with Pru?”

  “Who?” Herk asked.

  “As if you don’t remember your own mate.”

  “We’re not mates. She’s just a girl I know.”

  “So that’s how it’s going to be. Good luck, Buddy. You’ll need it.” Knossos offered. What a poor dumb shmuck.

  “I don’t know what you mean.” Herk protested.

  They got to Ram’s where several other teams met. It seemed today was a waste of time. Wherever they hid, it was hard to ferret out. Knossos wouldn’t be going out again until after the wedding. Tonight would be their first night in their new house. The work on the new addition would begin tomorrow. His personal life was coming together even if their war on Hubolla wasn’t. He would be going home soon. Home where Sophie was supervising the team of cleaners that were working on their house.