A Mate's Heart - Dragon Queen
Pairing: Nuke
Rating: NC17
Word Count: 3191
Summary: Noah and Luke have children and the path to parenthood is never easy...especially with dragons.
Disclaimer: I only own the cracky story idea.
A/N: I was feeling sad and decided I needed to play with my dragon and his mate once more. Unbeta'd so any mistakes are my own.
Luke looked over at Noah, who was lying on the bed with two small dragons curled on his chest. All three were sound asleep and Luke’s heart swelled like it always did when he looked at his family.
No one had been more surprised than Luke when he’d produced two eggs instead of one and the fact that they’d both hatched had been almost unheard of in dragon history.
But not completely unheard of.
Luke was well aware of the implications of a male dragon from the royal line giving birth to twins. The fact that one twin was a female made it all the more ominous.
Female dragons were only born once every few generations and it had been 300 years since the last one. The things his daughter were destined for both elated and terrified Luke.
At least he no longer had to worry about his grandfather trying to make him sit on the throne.
Once the rulers had heard of their blessing, other dragons had been coming by, curious and cautious in equal measure, as Luke’s fierce protection of his mate was only matched by Noah’s. His once simple farmer had become a master swordsman in the effort to be the best defender of his family.
But as he lay there with their hatchlings asleep on his chest, there was no sign of the killer warrior present.
The children were just over a year old and had only just figured out how to transform into their dragons after a year of living as human babies. Noah’s delight in their hatchling form had eased the worry in Luke’s heart. He’d feared that Noah would feel sad or rejected when the babies refused to be human for days at a time, but his mate had just set them on his shoulders and encouraged them to wind their tales around his upper arms for balance.
They were never far from one father or the other but at the moment, their favorite place was with their snouts snuggled under Noah’s chin so they could feel his heartbeat against their small chests.
Noah knew that the hatchlings were special, but Luke hadn’t been able to bring himself to tell him the whole story yet. He wanted them to be able to enjoy these early years with their children before the pressures of reality stole away the easiness of their family life.
Luke put down the quill he’d been using to write down the story that was flowing through his mind and got up to walk over to the bed. Now that the hatchlings were asleep, they would stay that way for hours and Luke wanted some time with his lover.
He picked up one and then the other before carrying them over and setting them on their nest by the fire so they’d stay warm. Jaycen opened his eyes sleepily, and Luke smiled at him before kissing him and setting him down. Minka didn’t even stir, just curled up close to her brother and sighed in her sleep.
Once they were settled, he went back to the bed and stripped his pants off before climbing in. He didn’t like wearing clothes any more now than he had when he and Noah had first met, but his mates jealous possessiveness and his insistence that he at least have his cock and ass covered in case of someone coming by had made it worthwhile.
Settling beside Noah on the bed, he slowly pulled the down the sheet that had been the only thing preserving Noah’s modesty until his mate was bare to his gaze.
Noah’s skin was tanned and gorgeous but it had a few more scars than it used to. Being the mate of a dragon was sometimes dangerous and his body showed it. Healing quickly didn’t mean leaving no scars behind.
Leaning down he gently kissed the longest one. It had been left by Luke’s brother when he came to kill them both in his insane quest for a throne that was never meant to be his.
Noah turned his head and smiled sleepily at him. “Hello love. Have you put the babies to bed?”
Luke nodded and kissed him. “Yes. They’re sound asleep and should stay that way for a while.” He looked up at Noah from under his lashes, knowing that his mate wouldn’t be able to resist the pleading look Luke gave him.
Noah reached up and wrapped his arms around Luke before pulling him over to straddle his body. “And what would my dragon like to do with those few hatchling free hours? Sleep perhaps?”
Luke slid back so that Noah’s hard cock was rubbing against the crease of his ass, the head catching on his hole every couple of thrusts, making them both gasp with pleasure. “If you like.”
He reached for the bottle of oil that was on the table beside the bed. Popping the cork, he drizzled some on Noah’s fingers before setting the bottle down and steering Noah’s hand down between his legs. He moaned as his mate’s calloused finger’s rubbed over his hole.
“But I was hoping for something a little more….ungh….vigorous to wear me out first.” He sighed as Noah slid one finger in, pushing back against his hand for more.
“I think that could be arranged.” Noah’s husky growl made Luke shiver with pleasure.
Pushing back to get that wicked finger deeper, he moaned as he sat up to run his own hands over his chest and stomach. Noah loved watching Luke pull at his own nipples and stroke his own cock almost as much as he loved doing it himself.
“Please Noah. Need to feel more of you in me.” Most of the time he was content to let Noah prepare him for as long as he wanted, but sometimes he wanted to feel the burn as Noah split him open on his hard flesh.
Grabbing the bottle of oil, he slicked his own fingers before reaching back to run them over Noah’s cock. Without giving him time to think, he pulled of Noah’s finger and pressed the head against his hole. Noah grabbed Luke’s hips as he slowly slid down, hissing in pain and pleasure as he took his mate inside.
“Love…” Noah sounded like he was being strangled and Luke knew there would be fingerprints left behind on his skin from the grip his mate had on him.
Once he was completely seated, he leaned down to kiss Noah, letting him take over and dominate Luke as their tongues tangled together. Noah was shaking with the effort to hold still but Luke didn’t want him to hold back.
Sitting up, he reached down and took his own cock in his hand and started stroking. His hips moved automatically, fucking up into his fist before slamming back down against Noah.
“Fuck. Feels so good Noah. Love how you fill me.” He found a rhythm and kept it until he heard Noah growl and knock his hand away.
The feeling of his mate’s hand on his cock was almost over whelming and when he started thrusting up into Luke, the dragon knew he wasn’t going to last long.
“Harder…fuck me harder Noah. Need to feel you.”
He wasn’t really surprised to find himself flat on his back a few seconds later, his legs hooked over Noah’s arms as his mate pulled back and slammed into him.
“I’ll make you feel me.” Every thrust was ecstasy as Noah found the perfect angle and Luke saw stars. He reached up and grabbed Noah’s biceps knowing he was going to leave his own marks behind on his mate. “You’re going to feel me inside you for days.”
“Yes…need that Noah. Please.” He tipped his hips up a little more and keened as Noah pushed in harder. “So perfect for me mate.”
Noah’s eyes were wild and anyone looking at them in that moment would think that he was the dragon instead of Luke. “My mate.” He growled again and Luke couldn’t help but smile. He loved Noah when he was being dominating and possessive.
“Then fuck me like you own me.” He knew what the challenge would do.
Noah pulled out and grabbed Luke by the hips, flipping him over. He didn’t even get a chance to settle before Noah draped himself over Luke’s back and plunging back in.
“Like this my dragon?” He had one arm wrapped around Luke’s chest and the other around his neck, using the grip to hold him still as he pounded in fast and hard.
Luke cried out, his senses overwhelmed by the feeling of Noah surrounding him. Finally managing to get his arms under him, he pushed back hard, clenching his muscles down on Noah inside him.
Noah roared and bit into Luke’s shoulder and the resulting pain was enough to push Luke over the edge into oblivion with Noah following right behind him.
They tumbled onto their sides with Noah still pressed deep inside Luke, his cock barely softening after his release.
When Luke caught his breath he tried to pull away but was pulled back against Noah’s chest and held fast. “Where do you think you’re going, mine?”
For a dragon well over four hundred years old, Luke couldn’t believe how Noah’s gravelly voice could make me feel like he wasn’t much more than a hatchling. “I was just going to turn over.”
Noah pressed soft kisses over the bruises he left with his teeth. “I don’t think I’m done with you yet.”
Luke’s cock twitched feebly, trying to fill again. “Gods, Noah. You’d think you were the one who goes into heat.”
Noah smoothed his hand down Luke’s body until he could stroke his cock, pulling until it was hard once more. “You make me feel that way, like I’m burning up inside every time I touch you.”
Luke whimpered and rolled his ass back against Noah’s groin, his passage made slick by Noah’s seed. “I don’t think I can…”
Noah pressed his hips forward while stroking with his hand. His free hand came up to play with Luke’s sensitive nipples causing him to shudder against Noah’s body.
Letting go of Luke’s cock for a moment, Noah reached down to lift the dragon’s top leg and press it closer to his chest, giving himself more room to thrust as he stroked Luke faster and faster.
Luke could hardly breathe and he was completely beyond words as he felt his body being taken over by the pleasure his mate was bringing him.
“Give it to me Luke. I need your surrender.” Noah’s voice held something Luke was too lost to identify and he was helpless to do anything but obey.
He called Noah’s name as his felt the pleasure pain creeping up his spine and explode out of his cock. Luke was barely aware of Noah finding his own bliss as the spasms shook his body and when he finally came back to himself, he was on his back with Noah smiling down at him and washing away the evidence of their lovemaking.
Not for the first time he wished that he had Noah’s gift for reading minds. It would make it so much easier to find out what was going on in his head.
“You could just ask.”
Luke was startled, just as he was the first time Noah read his mind. “What bothers you love?”
Noah tossed the cloth he used to clean Luke up with in the wash pile and climbed onto the bed. He settled with his head against Luke’s chest, curled into his side.
“When are you going to tell me about the babies? The thing that has you so worried and has nosy dragon’s flying by to gawk at us?”
Luke sighed and ran his fingers through Noah’s hair. “I told you that make dragons only have one baby at a time.”
Noah nodded. “But we were blessed with two.”
Luke smiled at the love for their children in Noah’s voice. “Yes, but what I haven’t told you is that dragons are mostly male. Females are rare and almost never born to male dragons.”
“And this means what?” The tension in Noah’s voice was almost unbearable for Luke.
“It means that Minka and Jaycen are special.” He knew he was dragging it out, but he also knew that Noah was going to be unhappy with the rest of it.
“How special?” If Noah had been looking at him, Luke was sure that he probably had one eyebrow raised.
“Twins born to a male dragon of the royal line and one is female? Extremely special.”
“What does it mean Luke? Stop stalling.” Noah’s voice held fondness and fear and Luke just wanted to make it all go away, but he couldn’t.
“She’s destined to be queen.”
Luke could feel Noah’s breath catch in his throat as he lifted his head to look at Luke. “Queen? Queen of what?”
Luke shook his head. “You’re being obtuse on purpose Noah. She’s going to be queen of all the dragons.”
Noah pushed himself up and off the bed. “You’re telling me that my daughter is going to be the queen of all the dragons.”
Luke nodded. “Yes. It’s her destiny.”
Noah shook his head. “No.” He grabbed his clothing and dressed hurriedly. “She’s not. She’s just my child. Minka doesn’t have to be the queen of anything.”
Before Luke could say anything, Noah was grabbing his sword and walking out the door.
Luke was shocked. He knew that Noah wasn’t going to be happy about Minka’s birthright, but he’d never expect such outright anger and denial.
Jumping up, Luke dressed quickly and hurried out the door after his mate. He didn’t have to look far. Noah was outside, pacing in front of the garden and glaring up at the sky.
“Noah?” If he could only figure out what was causing Noah’s distress, maybe he could ease it.
“They’re going to keep coming, aren’t they?” He looked at Luke, tears shimmering in his eyes.
Luke understood finally. “They won’t take her, Noah. We won’t let them. She is protected until she’s older, by us and the dragon council. When they are old enough, Jaycen will train and be her guard.”
When Noah started to protest, Luke cut him off. “It won’t be his duty. He won’t be forced if he doesn’t want to, but he will want to. The only love he will have that will be greater than his love for Minka will be for his mate. They are twins and two halves of the same whole.”
Noah turned and walked away, pacing once more. “I don’t want that kind of life for them. It’s hard enough for dragons and their mates without this kind of burden on their shoulders.”
Luke walked over in front of him and stopped him. It wasn’t often that he used his greater strength against Noah but he needed to make sure he would be heard.
“It will be hard, but Minka will be a magnificent queen. She will have your big heart and common sense to guide her and all of us will keep her safe until she is able to do it herself. And trust me, she will. Jaycen and Minka will be large and fast. They will grow to defend their world and it will defend them in return. Our children will be beloved.” He looked up into Noah’s face, waiting for him to decide.
“They are already beloved.”
Luke smiled at his mate. “They are. And we will always be the ones who loved them first. But we will not be able to keep them with us forever. Minka’s destiny will call to her and Jaycen will follow wherever she goes.”
Noah dropped the sword on the ground and wrapped his arms around Luke. “How will they ever find their mates if they never leave each other’s sides?”
Luke shrugged. “Most likely their mates will end up being from the same family, probably siblings or cousins. Nature will find a way somehow, as long as we raise them to understand their need for their human mates.”
Noah pulled back and looked down at him. “This really isn’t upsetting you?”
Luke shook his head. “There isn’t any point in getting upset. Fighting your destiny only leads to madness.” He reached up to kiss Noah, letting himself curl into the heat of his mate’s body. “And accepting my destiny led me to you. How can I want less than that for them?”
Noah’s gaze lingered on Luke’s face for a moment, searching for something. “Some will try to hurt them.”
Luke nodded. “Yes, but you and I have a very formidable reputation. And there will be more who would defend them.”
The pain in Noah’s face broke Luke’s heart. When Noah finally sighed and crushed Luke to his chest, Luke let himself be held and cuddled until Noah was satisfied.
When his mate’s grip finally loosened, Luke grabbed him by the front of the shirt and pulled him back to the house. Looking down he noticed that Noah’s feet were bare and Luke looked up at him in consternation. “Why do you always insist on running to the defense without your boots? Now you’ll need a bath before I let you into our bed.”
Noah blushed and ducked his head. “I wasn’t thinking…” He trailed off and Luke took pity on him.
“You were thinking of our children. I can’t fault you for that.” He sat Noah on the bench in front of the fire and grabbed the kettle of warm water that always waited there. He poured it into a wash basin and knelt at Noah’s feet. Lifting them, he set them in the water and washed them carefully, inspecting them for cuts and bruises, happily finding none.
Neither of them spoke, but when Luke looked up at Noah, the love that was showing on his mates face took his breath away. Kneeling up, he kissed Noah gently before going back to his task.
Once he was finished, he dried Noah with a fresh cloth and then led him to the bed, stripping him quickly and urging him beneath the covers. Luke was about to follow him in when one of the hatchlings stirred and the pleading look Noah gave him had him crossing back to the hearth the gather up his children.
He settled them beside Noah and then crawled in behind him, enjoying the chance to be the one curling around his family in a protective embrace.
Noah turned his head and tilted it up for a kiss which Luke gave gladly. “I love you, my dragon.”
Luke chuckled. “I love you too, my mate. And don’t worry too much yet. We have many years before we have to be worried about our children leaving us. Let’s enjoy them while they’re here, okay?”
Noah nodded and then snuggled back against Luke before drifting off to sleep.
Luke held him close and closed his eyes as he whispered a desperate prayer to Draconis to keep his family safe from all who would harm them.
Rating: NC17
Word Count: 3191
Summary: Noah and Luke have children and the path to parenthood is never easy...especially with dragons.
Disclaimer: I only own the cracky story idea.
A/N: I was feeling sad and decided I needed to play with my dragon and his mate once more. Unbeta'd so any mistakes are my own.
Luke looked over at Noah, who was lying on the bed with two small dragons curled on his chest. All three were sound asleep and Luke’s heart swelled like it always did when he looked at his family.
No one had been more surprised than Luke when he’d produced two eggs instead of one and the fact that they’d both hatched had been almost unheard of in dragon history.
But not completely unheard of.
Luke was well aware of the implications of a male dragon from the royal line giving birth to twins. The fact that one twin was a female made it all the more ominous.
Female dragons were only born once every few generations and it had been 300 years since the last one. The things his daughter were destined for both elated and terrified Luke.
At least he no longer had to worry about his grandfather trying to make him sit on the throne.
Once the rulers had heard of their blessing, other dragons had been coming by, curious and cautious in equal measure, as Luke’s fierce protection of his mate was only matched by Noah’s. His once simple farmer had become a master swordsman in the effort to be the best defender of his family.
But as he lay there with their hatchlings asleep on his chest, there was no sign of the killer warrior present.
The children were just over a year old and had only just figured out how to transform into their dragons after a year of living as human babies. Noah’s delight in their hatchling form had eased the worry in Luke’s heart. He’d feared that Noah would feel sad or rejected when the babies refused to be human for days at a time, but his mate had just set them on his shoulders and encouraged them to wind their tales around his upper arms for balance.
They were never far from one father or the other but at the moment, their favorite place was with their snouts snuggled under Noah’s chin so they could feel his heartbeat against their small chests.
Noah knew that the hatchlings were special, but Luke hadn’t been able to bring himself to tell him the whole story yet. He wanted them to be able to enjoy these early years with their children before the pressures of reality stole away the easiness of their family life.
Luke put down the quill he’d been using to write down the story that was flowing through his mind and got up to walk over to the bed. Now that the hatchlings were asleep, they would stay that way for hours and Luke wanted some time with his lover.
He picked up one and then the other before carrying them over and setting them on their nest by the fire so they’d stay warm. Jaycen opened his eyes sleepily, and Luke smiled at him before kissing him and setting him down. Minka didn’t even stir, just curled up close to her brother and sighed in her sleep.
Once they were settled, he went back to the bed and stripped his pants off before climbing in. He didn’t like wearing clothes any more now than he had when he and Noah had first met, but his mates jealous possessiveness and his insistence that he at least have his cock and ass covered in case of someone coming by had made it worthwhile.
Settling beside Noah on the bed, he slowly pulled the down the sheet that had been the only thing preserving Noah’s modesty until his mate was bare to his gaze.
Noah’s skin was tanned and gorgeous but it had a few more scars than it used to. Being the mate of a dragon was sometimes dangerous and his body showed it. Healing quickly didn’t mean leaving no scars behind.
Leaning down he gently kissed the longest one. It had been left by Luke’s brother when he came to kill them both in his insane quest for a throne that was never meant to be his.
Noah turned his head and smiled sleepily at him. “Hello love. Have you put the babies to bed?”
Luke nodded and kissed him. “Yes. They’re sound asleep and should stay that way for a while.” He looked up at Noah from under his lashes, knowing that his mate wouldn’t be able to resist the pleading look Luke gave him.
Noah reached up and wrapped his arms around Luke before pulling him over to straddle his body. “And what would my dragon like to do with those few hatchling free hours? Sleep perhaps?”
Luke slid back so that Noah’s hard cock was rubbing against the crease of his ass, the head catching on his hole every couple of thrusts, making them both gasp with pleasure. “If you like.”
He reached for the bottle of oil that was on the table beside the bed. Popping the cork, he drizzled some on Noah’s fingers before setting the bottle down and steering Noah’s hand down between his legs. He moaned as his mate’s calloused finger’s rubbed over his hole.
“But I was hoping for something a little more….ungh….vigorous to wear me out first.” He sighed as Noah slid one finger in, pushing back against his hand for more.
“I think that could be arranged.” Noah’s husky growl made Luke shiver with pleasure.
Pushing back to get that wicked finger deeper, he moaned as he sat up to run his own hands over his chest and stomach. Noah loved watching Luke pull at his own nipples and stroke his own cock almost as much as he loved doing it himself.
“Please Noah. Need to feel more of you in me.” Most of the time he was content to let Noah prepare him for as long as he wanted, but sometimes he wanted to feel the burn as Noah split him open on his hard flesh.
Grabbing the bottle of oil, he slicked his own fingers before reaching back to run them over Noah’s cock. Without giving him time to think, he pulled of Noah’s finger and pressed the head against his hole. Noah grabbed Luke’s hips as he slowly slid down, hissing in pain and pleasure as he took his mate inside.
“Love…” Noah sounded like he was being strangled and Luke knew there would be fingerprints left behind on his skin from the grip his mate had on him.
Once he was completely seated, he leaned down to kiss Noah, letting him take over and dominate Luke as their tongues tangled together. Noah was shaking with the effort to hold still but Luke didn’t want him to hold back.
Sitting up, he reached down and took his own cock in his hand and started stroking. His hips moved automatically, fucking up into his fist before slamming back down against Noah.
“Fuck. Feels so good Noah. Love how you fill me.” He found a rhythm and kept it until he heard Noah growl and knock his hand away.
The feeling of his mate’s hand on his cock was almost over whelming and when he started thrusting up into Luke, the dragon knew he wasn’t going to last long.
“Harder…fuck me harder Noah. Need to feel you.”
He wasn’t really surprised to find himself flat on his back a few seconds later, his legs hooked over Noah’s arms as his mate pulled back and slammed into him.
“I’ll make you feel me.” Every thrust was ecstasy as Noah found the perfect angle and Luke saw stars. He reached up and grabbed Noah’s biceps knowing he was going to leave his own marks behind on his mate. “You’re going to feel me inside you for days.”
“Yes…need that Noah. Please.” He tipped his hips up a little more and keened as Noah pushed in harder. “So perfect for me mate.”
Noah’s eyes were wild and anyone looking at them in that moment would think that he was the dragon instead of Luke. “My mate.” He growled again and Luke couldn’t help but smile. He loved Noah when he was being dominating and possessive.
“Then fuck me like you own me.” He knew what the challenge would do.
Noah pulled out and grabbed Luke by the hips, flipping him over. He didn’t even get a chance to settle before Noah draped himself over Luke’s back and plunging back in.
“Like this my dragon?” He had one arm wrapped around Luke’s chest and the other around his neck, using the grip to hold him still as he pounded in fast and hard.
Luke cried out, his senses overwhelmed by the feeling of Noah surrounding him. Finally managing to get his arms under him, he pushed back hard, clenching his muscles down on Noah inside him.
Noah roared and bit into Luke’s shoulder and the resulting pain was enough to push Luke over the edge into oblivion with Noah following right behind him.
They tumbled onto their sides with Noah still pressed deep inside Luke, his cock barely softening after his release.
When Luke caught his breath he tried to pull away but was pulled back against Noah’s chest and held fast. “Where do you think you’re going, mine?”
For a dragon well over four hundred years old, Luke couldn’t believe how Noah’s gravelly voice could make me feel like he wasn’t much more than a hatchling. “I was just going to turn over.”
Noah pressed soft kisses over the bruises he left with his teeth. “I don’t think I’m done with you yet.”
Luke’s cock twitched feebly, trying to fill again. “Gods, Noah. You’d think you were the one who goes into heat.”
Noah smoothed his hand down Luke’s body until he could stroke his cock, pulling until it was hard once more. “You make me feel that way, like I’m burning up inside every time I touch you.”
Luke whimpered and rolled his ass back against Noah’s groin, his passage made slick by Noah’s seed. “I don’t think I can…”
Noah pressed his hips forward while stroking with his hand. His free hand came up to play with Luke’s sensitive nipples causing him to shudder against Noah’s body.
Letting go of Luke’s cock for a moment, Noah reached down to lift the dragon’s top leg and press it closer to his chest, giving himself more room to thrust as he stroked Luke faster and faster.
Luke could hardly breathe and he was completely beyond words as he felt his body being taken over by the pleasure his mate was bringing him.
“Give it to me Luke. I need your surrender.” Noah’s voice held something Luke was too lost to identify and he was helpless to do anything but obey.
He called Noah’s name as his felt the pleasure pain creeping up his spine and explode out of his cock. Luke was barely aware of Noah finding his own bliss as the spasms shook his body and when he finally came back to himself, he was on his back with Noah smiling down at him and washing away the evidence of their lovemaking.
Not for the first time he wished that he had Noah’s gift for reading minds. It would make it so much easier to find out what was going on in his head.
“You could just ask.”
Luke was startled, just as he was the first time Noah read his mind. “What bothers you love?”
Noah tossed the cloth he used to clean Luke up with in the wash pile and climbed onto the bed. He settled with his head against Luke’s chest, curled into his side.
“When are you going to tell me about the babies? The thing that has you so worried and has nosy dragon’s flying by to gawk at us?”
Luke sighed and ran his fingers through Noah’s hair. “I told you that make dragons only have one baby at a time.”
Noah nodded. “But we were blessed with two.”
Luke smiled at the love for their children in Noah’s voice. “Yes, but what I haven’t told you is that dragons are mostly male. Females are rare and almost never born to male dragons.”
“And this means what?” The tension in Noah’s voice was almost unbearable for Luke.
“It means that Minka and Jaycen are special.” He knew he was dragging it out, but he also knew that Noah was going to be unhappy with the rest of it.
“How special?” If Noah had been looking at him, Luke was sure that he probably had one eyebrow raised.
“Twins born to a male dragon of the royal line and one is female? Extremely special.”
“What does it mean Luke? Stop stalling.” Noah’s voice held fondness and fear and Luke just wanted to make it all go away, but he couldn’t.
“She’s destined to be queen.”
Luke could feel Noah’s breath catch in his throat as he lifted his head to look at Luke. “Queen? Queen of what?”
Luke shook his head. “You’re being obtuse on purpose Noah. She’s going to be queen of all the dragons.”
Noah pushed himself up and off the bed. “You’re telling me that my daughter is going to be the queen of all the dragons.”
Luke nodded. “Yes. It’s her destiny.”
Noah shook his head. “No.” He grabbed his clothing and dressed hurriedly. “She’s not. She’s just my child. Minka doesn’t have to be the queen of anything.”
Before Luke could say anything, Noah was grabbing his sword and walking out the door.
Luke was shocked. He knew that Noah wasn’t going to be happy about Minka’s birthright, but he’d never expect such outright anger and denial.
Jumping up, Luke dressed quickly and hurried out the door after his mate. He didn’t have to look far. Noah was outside, pacing in front of the garden and glaring up at the sky.
“Noah?” If he could only figure out what was causing Noah’s distress, maybe he could ease it.
“They’re going to keep coming, aren’t they?” He looked at Luke, tears shimmering in his eyes.
Luke understood finally. “They won’t take her, Noah. We won’t let them. She is protected until she’s older, by us and the dragon council. When they are old enough, Jaycen will train and be her guard.”
When Noah started to protest, Luke cut him off. “It won’t be his duty. He won’t be forced if he doesn’t want to, but he will want to. The only love he will have that will be greater than his love for Minka will be for his mate. They are twins and two halves of the same whole.”
Noah turned and walked away, pacing once more. “I don’t want that kind of life for them. It’s hard enough for dragons and their mates without this kind of burden on their shoulders.”
Luke walked over in front of him and stopped him. It wasn’t often that he used his greater strength against Noah but he needed to make sure he would be heard.
“It will be hard, but Minka will be a magnificent queen. She will have your big heart and common sense to guide her and all of us will keep her safe until she is able to do it herself. And trust me, she will. Jaycen and Minka will be large and fast. They will grow to defend their world and it will defend them in return. Our children will be beloved.” He looked up into Noah’s face, waiting for him to decide.
“They are already beloved.”
Luke smiled at his mate. “They are. And we will always be the ones who loved them first. But we will not be able to keep them with us forever. Minka’s destiny will call to her and Jaycen will follow wherever she goes.”
Noah dropped the sword on the ground and wrapped his arms around Luke. “How will they ever find their mates if they never leave each other’s sides?”
Luke shrugged. “Most likely their mates will end up being from the same family, probably siblings or cousins. Nature will find a way somehow, as long as we raise them to understand their need for their human mates.”
Noah pulled back and looked down at him. “This really isn’t upsetting you?”
Luke shook his head. “There isn’t any point in getting upset. Fighting your destiny only leads to madness.” He reached up to kiss Noah, letting himself curl into the heat of his mate’s body. “And accepting my destiny led me to you. How can I want less than that for them?”
Noah’s gaze lingered on Luke’s face for a moment, searching for something. “Some will try to hurt them.”
Luke nodded. “Yes, but you and I have a very formidable reputation. And there will be more who would defend them.”
The pain in Noah’s face broke Luke’s heart. When Noah finally sighed and crushed Luke to his chest, Luke let himself be held and cuddled until Noah was satisfied.
When his mate’s grip finally loosened, Luke grabbed him by the front of the shirt and pulled him back to the house. Looking down he noticed that Noah’s feet were bare and Luke looked up at him in consternation. “Why do you always insist on running to the defense without your boots? Now you’ll need a bath before I let you into our bed.”
Noah blushed and ducked his head. “I wasn’t thinking…” He trailed off and Luke took pity on him.
“You were thinking of our children. I can’t fault you for that.” He sat Noah on the bench in front of the fire and grabbed the kettle of warm water that always waited there. He poured it into a wash basin and knelt at Noah’s feet. Lifting them, he set them in the water and washed them carefully, inspecting them for cuts and bruises, happily finding none.
Neither of them spoke, but when Luke looked up at Noah, the love that was showing on his mates face took his breath away. Kneeling up, he kissed Noah gently before going back to his task.
Once he was finished, he dried Noah with a fresh cloth and then led him to the bed, stripping him quickly and urging him beneath the covers. Luke was about to follow him in when one of the hatchlings stirred and the pleading look Noah gave him had him crossing back to the hearth the gather up his children.
He settled them beside Noah and then crawled in behind him, enjoying the chance to be the one curling around his family in a protective embrace.
Noah turned his head and tilted it up for a kiss which Luke gave gladly. “I love you, my dragon.”
Luke chuckled. “I love you too, my mate. And don’t worry too much yet. We have many years before we have to be worried about our children leaving us. Let’s enjoy them while they’re here, okay?”
Noah nodded and then snuggled back against Luke before drifting off to sleep.
Luke held him close and closed his eyes as he whispered a desperate prayer to Draconis to keep his family safe from all who would harm them.