And the wall moved.
Dryads slid free of the vines that had been hiding them and slithered out to a space before the high table. The ladies were clad only in flowers and the men in leaves. As we ate, they spun, their roots lifting them as ballerinas might go up on their toes. I put my fork down and grinned. Dryads had never looked so lovely.
As graceful as willows, the Dryads twirled through complicated motions, the men lifting the women even higher so that they skimmed the ceiling. Petals rained down as delicate fingers trailed over them and Pixies scurried away. Up and down, bending and twisting, the roots of their legs like ribbons and the branches in their hair curling around their faces. It was one of the most amazing performances I'd ever seen.
A male Dryad tossed a female up, and she rolled into a tumble, her roots pulling in tightly. Suddenly, the whole group came together beneath her, some rising to catch her as others formed a solid base to cover the roots of those above them. The women were on top, and they took flowers from their outfits and held them out, forming a giant bouquet. The woman at the top lifted her arms and the branches of her hair, adding her blooms to crown the rest.
The Fey in the dining hall burst into applause, myself included. Even the Earth Pixies came down on vines to cheer. The dancers lowered to the floor slowly and bowed. As the crowd continued to applaud, the dancers twirled away and down a corridor.
“That was wonderful!” I exclaimed.
“I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Queen Vervain,” Rory said. “I think they're wonderful, but it's nice to have the Queen of Fire's approval.”
“And the King of Fire's,” Arach said. “It was quite extraordinary.”
“On behalf of them, thank you, King Arach.” King Rory lifted his glass. “And thank you for your assistance today as well as that to come.”
“My pleasure, King Rory,” and Arach sounded as if he actually meant it. “To new friendships.”
“To new friendships,” Rory said.
The kings lifted their glasses toward each other and then sipped.
Chapter Twenty-Two
After dinner, Arach and I retired to our guest room where we provided hours of pleasure for each other before going to sleep. In the morning, we had breakfast in our room, then prepared to go on our flight. And by prepared, I mean that we shifted into our half-dragon forms. Weredragons, if you will. Why shift inside the castle? Because we wouldn't have to worry about stripping in front of witnesses or leaving our clothes behind. I could have worn the leather dress he brought me, but I decided against it. My dragon didn't like the idea. And in our weredragon forms, scales covered all the naughty bits. It was like wearing very flexible armor.
Arach's eyes warmed as he watched me strip, but they didn't go molten until golden scales rose over my body, even my face, and horns emerged from my head, spearing through my thick hair. I shook out my wings, stretched, and swept my tail playfully around my claw-tipped feet.
Arach slowly stepped over to me, his body shifted as well, muscles moving sensually beneath his crimson scales. He was all red now, all but his eyes, and those caught fire as they swept up and down my body.
“Great flames,” Arach whispered as he ran a hand down from my sternum, between my breasts, to my belly. “You are more beautiful than I imagined.”
Shivers followed his hands. Scales could either protect or magnify sensation. Anything sharp would be deflected, but the stroke of a hand sent delicious vibrations through the scales and into the flesh beneath. It was like being stroked through silk.
“Stop that.” I grabbed his wrist, my claws forming a cage around it. “Or we'll never leave the ground.”
“I am already flying, A Thaisce.” Arach's hand turned and slid back up to flow along my neck, then cup my cheek. “I don't think I could get much higher.”
Arach bent his head, and I met him halfway. From the first touch of his lightly scaled lips, I was groaning. Then my body arched into his, and my fight was over. With every slide of scales on scales, pleasure tingled through me. I went liquid in all the good ways, and Arach took advantage of that.
With a growl, my husband swept me into his arms and carried me to bed. He laid me down, my wings pulling in to cushion me, and instantly started to worship me, his hands stroking my body as if in prayer. Down he went, brushing his face against my breasts, tongue flicking out to lick at the crests. I gripped the horns crowning his head and pulled. He growled. Grunted. Went lower.
Shoving my thighs apart as if he were affronted by their attempt to keep him from my core, Arach dove. His hot tongue split the seam of my sheath, pushing deep into sensitive flesh while his horns pushed my thighs even further apart. Carefully, Arach spread the scaled shield with his fingers, keeping his claws lifted. Then he feasted.
“Oh, great fucking Dragon Kings!” I cried and used his horns like handles to pull him against me.
My legs went even wider, my feet planted on the bed, and I rolled my hips, riding Arach's face even as he lapped and growled and even scraped his teeth over me. Ecstasy unfurled in my belly, then tickled my breasts, hardening my nipples. His tongue sank into me.
“Arach!” I shrieked.
That was when Arach surged up and presented himself. His cock had emerged from its sheath—a hard rod of weeping flesh. Before he could spear into me, I rolled up and forward. Arach got shoved back, but he didn't mind in the least when he saw where I was headed. His growl lowered to rumble through his body, down his cock, and into my lips. I pushed forward, spreading my lips around his shaft but keeping them tight. The moisture atop his crown was pushed back along his length.
“A Thaisce,” Arach growled as he grabbed my horns.
I didn't mind. After all, I had just done the same to him. So instead of protesting, I went still. Arach's whole body trembled at the unspoken offer. Then he started to thrust. I kept my lips tight as he bucked into me. My tongue laved the bottom of his shaft, tasting the flavor that was Arach's alone. Dragon spice. Yum. And he didn't merely take his pleasure. As he slid in and out of my mouth, his tail curled beneath me and found its way into my core. The position of it had the long, slender length rubbing against my clit as the tip pumped in and out of me. I could have stayed like that forever.
But after a minute of this, Arach yanked out of both openings. I looked up to find his glowing stare locked on me and his rock-hard chest heaving. He cupped my face with one hand, his thumb's claw scraping my cheek, then bent to kiss me. As he kissed me, he pushed me back, rolling me into the position he had first had me in. My legs spread around him naturally.
