The Dragon's Lover
By Marie Medina
3.5/5
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About this ebook
Ryu, a dragon shifter and vampire, has found his mate, a man he already has strong feelings for, but he knows his confession is going to take Takumi, a fox shifter, by surprise. In a few days time, Takumi will be taking holy vows, and Ryu and his brother set out to stop him from doing so. But when they arrive, they find the temple in an uproar because the leader of the order has been kidnapped by a demon.
Takumi is distraught because of the abduction of his mentor, Mikimo, and seeing his good friend Ryu gives him great comfort. Takumi had long ago given up hope of anything happening between him and the powerful vampire, so Ryu’s revelation leaves him shocked and confused. As they search for Mikimo, Takumi consents to become Ryu’s lover, but he remains reluctant to acknowledge their matehood. As they fight side-by-side, will Takumi open his heart and accept the love the gods have ordained for him, or will he hold back because he’s afraid of being hurt?
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The Dragon's Lover - Marie Medina
Published by Evernight Publishing at Smashwords
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2014 Marie Medina
ISBN: 978-1-77130-699-7
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor: Karyn White
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
To Howard
THE DRAGON’S LOVER
The Year of Stars, 2
Marie Medina
Copyright © 2014
Chapter One
Valladora
3151, The Year of Stars
Ryu didn’t know what to feel as he looked out the carriage window. On the one hand, the presence of his brother, Kyo, and Kyo’s mate, Hatori, comforted him. On the other hand, the two men had not stopped teasing him since they left Kyo’s castle. Ryu had never been so nervous in his life, and thus far, nothing on this journey had eased that anxiety. It did not help that Ryu had, however briefly, been intimately involved with Hatori before they’d discovered he was Kyo’s mate. Ryu, who had been adopted by Kyo’s family after being rescued from a human who wished to enslave him because he was a halfling dragon shifter, had also had a very intense crush on his adopted brother years ago. Thus, the two men had far too many ways to tease Ryu, who was already anxious about claiming his mate.
Takumi, said mate, had come to Kyo’s dominion when Hatori was sick, accompanying Hatori’s older brother, Mikimo, who was the head priest of the order in Yoshinaga. Takumi had been an acolyte, preparing for holy orders but also considering a career in medicine. A few weeks ago, however, he had told Ryu he had chosen the priesthood. Ryu had been disappointed for himself yet happy for Takumi, who seemed confident he had made the best choice. Everything had changed the day after Takumi left. Ryu had called for blood from the steward’s store, and one taste had confirmed that the blood belonged to his mate. Every vampire had a fated mate, one person whose blood affected him or her in a special way. Ryu had been both thrilled and terrified when he’d learned the blood was Takumi’s. He had strong feelings for Takumi, but he knew some mated couples had problems when the vampire took its mate away from a life he or she had already built. The thought of taking Takumi away from his dream of entering the priesthood frightened Ryu. Mikimo had raised Takumi after Hatori found him in the forest when he was only three years old. Pleasing the priest meant everything to Takumi.
Ryu, you look like you might vomit,
Kyo said.
I’m fine.
Ryu folded his hands in his lap and took a deep breath.
I’ve been thinking,
Hatori said.
Have you?
Ryu asked.
Hatori nodded. Takumi considered two professions, physician and priest—the professions of the family that raised him. Now that I have left Yoshinaga to live with Kyo, he wants to stay by Mikimo’s side.
You think he does not truly want to be a priest?
Ryu asked. Hatori had helped raise Takumi, acting as a big brother and mentor, so Ryu longed for his insight, especially as he seemed serious now.
I believe he will be content as a priest and happy to be with Mikimo. I do not think he will find true fulfillment. He has so much love to give. It’s why he became so attached to us. It is my opinion he will be overjoyed to be claimed, once he recovers from the shock. He admires you, but he seems to keep you on a pedestal.
What?
Ryu asked. I can’t believe that.
Hatori shrugged. It’s just my opinion. He talks about you in a reverent way.
And as I already said many times, his attraction is obvious,
Kyo said.
Ryu nodded. Attraction is not enough. He’s human, so he won’t feel the pull I’m feeling. Yes, he’ll react to my bite more intensely, but I don’t want him to submit because of desire alone.
Ryu,
Kyo said in an authoritative tone. You’re getting yourself worked up for no reason. We shouldn’t have teased you so intensely. I’m sorry we did. We’re happy for you, and we got carried away.
Yes, I’m sorry, too,
Hatori said.
Don’t apologize, either of you. It’s just that,
he paused, thinking, this has been so different from what I expected. This feeling, I mean. My libido has always ruled, but I’m not ashamed of that. My lovers meant something to me, yet this kind of desire is different. I’ve never wanted so much from a lover.
He glanced up at Hatori. Does that make sense?
Hatori nodded, reaching for Kyo’s hand. If Kyo doesn’t mind me bringing certain things up, I think I can help you explain it.
Kyo raised Hatori’s hand and kissed it. Go ahead. It won’t bother me.
Hatori met Ryu’s gaze. You told me we should cherish love wherever we can find it, and when we were together, love is what I felt. Even though we did not fully consummate it, and even though the feeling could never compare to what I feel for Kyo, when we touched I felt a great deal of love from just that physical connection. That physical part is all you’ve known up until now, because you were waiting for your mate, even if you had pushed that fact to the back of your mind. It’s confusing you that you want him to do more than desire you.
Ryu smiled at Hatori. You’re very good at that, Hatori.
He glanced back out the window. That is exactly it, in a way. I’ve never had to work hard to inspire desire, but I’ve never tried to inspire something deeper. I want him to submit because he wants me, not because my bite arouses him. I’d give anything to make him feel what I feel.
Don’t sell your mate short,
Kyo said. He’s a fine young man, based on what I’ve seen and what Hatori has told me. Trust that the gods knew what they were doing when they fated him to be your mate.
Yes, Ryu. Focus on that,
Hatori said. He’s more like Mikimo than me in that respect. He does believe the gods order our lives lovingly and with purpose. He’ll readily accept that the gods want him to be with you and that they made a good choice.
That doesn’t mean he won’t miss life at the temple. It doesn’t mean he’ll fly into my arms and be happy the moment I tell him. Instead of voicing those thoughts, Ryu smiled. He did not want Kyo or Hatori to think he was not grateful for their words of encouragement and comfort. Likewise, he did not wish to worry them more than he already had. His brain did know he was overreacting, but his heart refused to understand that.
Kyo leaned over to look out the window. Only a few more minutes. I can see the pinnacle of the temple now. Today will be happy, no matter how surprised Takumi is by your news.
Ryu’s heart began to race. He feared he’d be unable to make any sense at all until he’d confessed his reason for coming and his true feelings to Takumi. He’d always experienced this type of love with his body alone, as Hatori had pointed out, and the intensity of it all threatened to overwhelm his heart the moment he saw the young man he’d come to cherish so much.
****
Takumi rushed out of the sanctuary when the new altar boy, Jared, informed him that Hatori and two other vampires had arrived at the temple. He stopped short when he saw Ryu with Hatori and Kyo. He’d been expecting Satoru, but as he thought on it, he realized word could not have reached the demon slayer yet. Seeing Ryu did give him some relief, but he reined the feeling in. He could not allow himself to be happy when