In fact, it was quite common. Galaton communicated with Draconia on an almost daily basis in one way or another.
“Tell me more about the water lands,” Ella said when the movie was done.
“The water lands are covered in a vast ocean that covers most of the west of Galaton. We live in an underwater dome in a place called the Coral City. It is a city of living coral, kept vibrant by the deep underwater roots of the system.”
“I can’t wait to see it with my own eyes,” she said.
She’d seen many pictures of his homeland, but being there would be another story. She’d spent half a year aboard the spaceship, first waiting for him, and then having him with her. Now things felt as natural as could be. But she still wanted to finally settle down with him at home.
What she wanted more was for him to finally claim her.
“Do you think I’m ready now?” she asked him, slipping onto his lap.
“Perhaps,” he growled through his sharp teeth, his hands sliding up the back of her dress.
He cupped her ass with his big hands, sliding her over his erect cock, her belly big between them.
Shay pulled her bodice open, her breasts pert in his face. His big mouth nuzzled the ripe mounds of her breasts, his hands cupping them gently. His tongue roved her nipple, flicking over the tight flesh. It amplified her lust, and she rubbed against his cock, finding the spot on his neck that made his uniform melt away.
His naked flesh rubbed against her pussy now. She was wetter than she’d ever been in her life.
He cupped her ass, sliding her back and forth over his shaft. He was so thick she didn’t know how he would ever fit inside her.
Her pregnant belly kept her from tipping her hips forward and sliding over the head of his cock. She wanted him so badly. Her body ached to take him. She was so open, so ready for anything.
Shay sucked her tits, cupping them and squeezing them as he lapped up her nipples, drawing out the tiny drops of milk from inside her fertile bosoms. She gasped at the pleasure, and Shay groaned. Their eyes locked. His moss-green orbs told of unknowable depths of emotion. She wanted him to fill her with everything he had to give.
Shay gripped her hips and turned her over on her knees. The couch felt velvety soft below her skin. Shay slid his shaft under her pussy and rubbed up and down the length of her folds, while he fondled her breasts. He towered above her and arched his broad back to hold her against him and nuzzle her ear. His thickness rubbed back and forth over her ready opening. She knew she could take him now.
She bit her lip as the head of his cock pressed her hole. He was so wide. So unimaginably wide. She gasped. He held her breast in his hand, and held her to his chest. With her on the couch, and him on the floor, he was able to control their considerable height difference. His huge cock angled up below her, and he pushed her legs open wider.
She looked behind her to see his massive form towering over her little body, his naked blue-green skin shimmering in the light. His hands caressed her back as he pressed his head into her core. Ella moved forward, resting against the back of the couch, the cushions soft and warm against her electrified breasts.
His hand pressed against the small of her back as he widened her ass. The thick head of his cock slid further inside her. She groaned, feeling herself widened beyond imagining. Shay leaned over her prone body and whispered into her neck.
“Are you ready for this, my darling?” he asked her.
She groaned in agreement.
“My little princess,” he growled above her.
She could feel the tips of his fangs graze over the skin of her neck. She longed to have his fangs deep inside her, to be claimed by him. His cock pushed deeper, inch by inch, she took him. His wholeness. All of him.
That long, hard shaft she’d worshiped for days. She finally felt it inside her soaking wet core. She erupted at the feeling of him pressing against her swollen desire. Her nipples throbbed, and she bit the cushions again, the pleasure and pain mingling as one. When he pushed the last inch inside her, she felt him expand. His fangs bit deep into her neck.
His hot seed erupted into her pussy. It shot to the very back of her channel, making her quiver into a full body climax. His teeth bit hard and deep, his jaw clamping. Ella clenched on his cock as her mind expanded into the deep reaches of the universe.
She felt the bond between them explode in her soul. It radiated through every pulse point on her tiny frame. She burned with a new awareness, broader than she’d dared ever dream. It flew outward in all directions but always brought her back to Shay.
She was his goddess and he was her god. Their bond wrapped around and dove inside her, their pairing rooted at her depths. His hands slid up her waist and she was burning. The climax radiated between them still. She knew him deep into his most secret parts. This enigma who’d been lost to her for so long was finally revealed and it was magnificent.
He pulled carefully out of her body and laid her on the couch. He transformed the couch into a bed with the flick of a button and they lay together, looking into each other’s eyes. She cupped his cheek, adoring the sight of his gorgeous face. He leaned in and kissed her.
“Now that we’ve mated, I feel like I understand you in so many new ways. I never imagined it would be this intense.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” she giggled. “It’s like we’re the same person.”
“I will give my life to protect you. You are my everything.”
“I can’t wait to get home,” Ella said. “For us to finally start our life together. It’s all I think about.”
“It has been a long journey for you, my beloved, but soon it will be done. I will get you to my palace where I can worship you as you should be worshipped.”
Ella giggled as Shay moved in to kiss her hard against the mouth, already ready to make love again.
Sirens blared through the room, making Ella flinch. Shay jumped from the bed.
“Prince Vishak, we are under attack.”
Ella stood up and pulled on a robe. Shay flicked on his uniform and went to Ella.
“You need to strap in, beloved, the Mulgor have found us.” He helped her into her seat and gave her a kiss on the top of the head. “Everything is going to be all right, Ella” he said, looking at her earnestly. “Don't worry, my beloved,” he said as he hurried out.
Ella clung to the straps of her harness as the ship began to move at a new angle. Her experience in the last battle had not been any fun, and she didn't expect this one to be any better.
She screamed as she saw a Mulgor fighter jet flying toward the bank of windows in front of her.
The furniture was all strapped down to the floor so there was nothing flying around the apartment. And even though the antigravity mechanisms made it so she didn't fly around, she still felt the massive amounts of force when the ship spiraled and dove this way and that.
A ships coming toward her window was smashed in an explosion of laser fire and the Black Spear sprang upward and away, spiraling around and around. Ella gripped her stomach and felt as if she might be sick.
There were so many ships coming at them all at once. As they turned again, she saw the mothership outside the window. She could see the black hole from Shay’s attack in the hull of the Mulgor vessel, but she wasn't any less terrified.
The Black Spear shot in the opposite direction, shooting laser beams at the oncoming fighter jets. Shay maneuvered around until he was coming up hot on the mothership. Huge fire balls propelled through space toward the giant ship. It hit again, and this time there was a chain reaction, catalyzing each and every layer of the mothership. The chunks dropped off the exterior and the interior imploded. The fighter jets exploded one by one, somehow connected to the mother ship. Just at that moment, Ella felt the inertia of the beginning of warp drive.
When they settled into the next solar system, Ella was as relieved as she’d ever been. They were that much closer to Galaton and she would finally be home.
&n
bsp; She slid out of the harness and climbed back into bed, waiting for Shay to return. Her mate would always protect her with his life.
He returned several minutes later and lay beside her.
“We’ll be back on Galaton in just a few days,” he said, reassuring her. “I don’t think we will have to worry about the Mulgor again.”
Chapter 9
Shay walked down the hall to his holodeck and opened up his console to contact the other princes. He saw all their faces come up on the screen.
“What is it?” said Salvatt the Fire Prince.
“I have defeated the Mulgor mothership in our trade route,” Shay said.
“That doesn’t mean we will be safe from them,” Magmus the Earth Prince said.
“You must return as quickly as possible,” said Elait, the Air Prince. “We are barely able to hold the Water Throne against your lords.”
“What?!” bellowed Shay. “Why did you not inform me of this?”
“It is a new development, Prince Vishak. The Earls and Dukes have stormed the Coral Palace and our forces cannot hold them back.”
“I am still two warp jumps out from Galaton,” Shay growled, clenching his fist. “I will bring my bride to your palace for safekeeping, Salvatt.”
He should have known this would happen. The water dragons are the strongest. The warriors the other dragons sent were no match for his men. Only he could push them back. But now he had Ella with him. It was not a good situation.
He flicked off the screen of the other princes and sat down at his desk. He didn’t want to tell her about this but he had no choice. He would have to leave her in the ship or take her somewhere safe while he fought for his own throne.
With a heavy heart, Shay stood and walked back to his chambers. He found Ella waiting there with a broad smile on her beautiful face. She had received all the benefits of being claimed by a Draconian. She’d have longer life, greater health and vitality.
But aside from that, she also had a deeper connection to him now. He could tell by the look in her eyes that she knew something was wrong.
“The water lords have overtaken the throne,” Shay admitted, not wasting time with diversion or lies.
“No!” Ella gasped, putting her fingertips to her pretty lips. “What are you going to do?”
“I will take you to stay at the Fire Prince’s palace, and then I will take back my throne.”
“I’m so sorry this is happening, Shay. I feel like it’s all my fault.”
“There is nothing in the world more important than you, my beloved. Even my throne.”
Chapter 10
Shay,” she said, swooning into his arms.
They held each other on the couch and looked out into the expanse of space outside the windows. Ella felt her heart ache for Shay’s kingdom. He was two hundred years old and had ruled his land for a hundred and fifty. Now, when he’d gone out to rescue her from the danger of the Mulgor, he’d lost his kingdom. She felt guilty, but Shay wouldn’t allow her to feel that way for long.
His tender kisses and comforting words were enough to soothe her mind and heart over the last few days before they made it back to Galaton.
When they arrived in orbit around the terraformed planet, Ella’s stomach clenched with excitement and anticipation. Finally, she’d arrived home. But they still had so far to go before they were done.
The water lords still had to be overthrown before she and Shay could finally settle down and start their lives together. She’d waited so long, and at the very doorstep of home, she had to wait even longer.
It just wasn’t fair. But that was the way of things on Galaton. She knew that Shay would do everything he could to defend his throne. That was what scared her the most. She feared she might lose him in the fight.
Her baby was due soon, and it would be a wonderful experience for her and her mate. But if she lost him, she didn’t know what she would do.
“Shay,” she said, reluctantly, looking out at Galaton orbiting in the distance outside her window. “What if something goes wrong?”
“What do you mean?”
“If you can’t win?”
“I don’t want to hear you say that, beloved. I will not lose.”
“I’m scared, Shay,” she whispered, leaning into him.
She’d never been so terrified. Losing him would be like losing her own life. Perhaps even worse.
“I know, my darling. But have faith.”
“I’m trying.”
He leaned down and kissed her head.
“If something happens to me, the other princes will take care of you. If you wish to stay on Galaton or return to Earth. You will be taken care of and so will my son.”
“Thank you, my mate. I needed to hear those words.”
After they packed their things, they climbed into a space pod and hurried through the expanse between the ship and the planet. Entering the atmosphere, the space pod rumbled and groaned as if it hadn’t been used in a hundred years.
She wanted to scream, but Shay took her hand, and it helped keep her calm. The feeling of his big fingers wrapped around her tiny hand gave her a sense of grounding, even as she hurtled through space.
When they broke through the atmosphere, the world stretched out below her. She saw the vast green jungles of the Fire Lands that circled around the central volcano. A plume of smoke curled in the distance.
“Salvatt, the Fire Prince, and his bride will care for you in my absence,” Shay said, kissing her hand.
“Please come back to me,” she said as the space pod began to descend onto the landing platform and landed. He helped her out of her harness, and smiled up at her.
“Try not to worry,” he said.
“I’ve just landed on a strange planet and my mate is going off to face a horde of aggressive dragons. I don’t know what else to do but worry.”
“I understand, my love. I will not tell you not to worry. It is a legitimate emotion for my human bride.”
He kissed the top of her head and helped her stand. Her seven-month pregnant belly was heavy and round, making it hard to get out of the space pod seat.
When they came out onto the landing pad, they were greeted with the fanfare appropriate for a visiting prince. The Fire Prince and his lady greeted them with their guards all around.
“It is good to see you,” Prince Salvatt said, placing his hand on his heart and bowing forward slightly as was the customary Draconian greeting.
“It is good to see you too, old friend,” Shay said with the same gesture.
“And this must be your bride,” Salvatt said, looking at Ella.
His ruddy red skin seemed strange after getting used to Shay’s blue-green skin. Ella put her hand to her heart and bowed slightly in greeting.
“This is my mate, Ella Turner,” Shay said.
“And this is my mate, Celeste Dawes,” Salvatt said to Ella, motioning to the pretty red-headed woman beside him.
She was curvy and petite, holding a pudgy, bouncing baby who gurgled at Ella and smiled. Ella cooed at the baby, wanting to hold him. It made her long for her own child who would soon be born.
“This is our son,” Celeste said.
“He’s so gorgeous!” Ella said.
The group walked into the Obsidian Palace through the high arching entrance. The walls of the entry hall were smooth and black, curving upward overhead.
Ella marveled at the sight of everything around her. The palace was a marvel of technology. Salvatt served as tour guide as they walked to a comfortable sitting room. He explained that the Obsidian Palace had been constructed during the time of terraforming for the four types of elements.
When Ella was comfortable in a well-appointed room, furnished with bold red and black furniture that reminded her of medieval Earth style, Shay turned to her to tell her goodbye.
“Do you have to leave so soon?” she said, reaching up to him from the couch where she sat beside Celeste and her baby.
“You will be well t
aken care of here, beloved. Prince Salvatt and his princess will make you feel at home. I will return to you very soon.”
“You’d better come back to me,” she said, standing up to wrap her arms around his waist.
“You can count on it,” he said, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. “I will be back before you know it.”
He held her close for another moment and then let her go. Ella watched him as he left the sitting room and disappeared into the wide hallway outside. Tears slid down her cheeks and she couldn’t keep them back. She collapsed into the couch next to Celeste and tried to wipe away the torrent of emotion.
“I’m sorry,” Ella whimpered, sniffling. “I must seem so weak right now.”
Celeste reached out and touched Ella’s wrist. The baby gurgled in her lap.
“Don’t worry about it for a second! I understand exactly what you are going through. When I first arrived, my mate was injured in a fight, and I thought I might die with worry. I love him so much.”
“This is all so strange. I don’t know what to do or what to think.”
“You’ve just been in space for seven months, Ella. And now you’re here, and you can’t even go home. The fact that you’re functioning at all right now is a testament to your strength. You are truly a dragon bride,” Celeste said with a wink.
Ella let out a long sigh. Celeste was such a sweet woman. Ella was more than grateful to have someone to talk to who understood what she was going through. The baby giggled and reached out to Ella. Celeste looked up at her questioningly.
“Do you want to hold him?” she asked.
“Can I?”
“Of course. I have a nanny, but I like to take care of him myself,” she said, handing her child over to Ella.
The sweet-smelling child was heavier than Ella had expected. His weight and the scent of him filled her with a heady sense of excitement and longing for her own baby. Something in her seemed to burst open and she felt her breasts let down milk for the first time.
She gasped and put her hand to the side of her breast, not fully understanding what was happening.