“It is. Unless both men were lying, which I doubt. They gave their tales separately. And both described the same type of world.”
“And one mated a Land Dragon while the other mated a Sea Dragon?”
“Yes.”
“Doesn't that seem strange to you?”
“That is most definitely strange. But then, it was caused by the Gods.”
“No, I mean with who they mated. That two men were brought to our world is amazing enough, but then for the mating magic to bind them to Dragons—one of land and one of sea—makes it seem less random.”
“As if they were pulled through those rifts because of the mating magic?”
“Yeah. Maybe.”
“Interesting theory. Especially since it was divine Dragon magic that created the passages.”
“Your Majesty and Your Grace!” Yavess interrupted us.
Vax and I looked over to find Yavess standing in the space before the dais.
“On behalf of the Morilren Dread, I congratulate you on your mating. We are delighted that our king is the second Sea Dragon king to find his mate!”
The court cheered and applauded.
Vax nodded and grinned at them.
“To celebrate, I've prepared some special entertainment,” Yavess went on. “I hope it thrills, inspires, and delights you.”
Yavess clapped his hands and a group of half-dressed men and women from several of the undersea races came streaming up the aisle to line up before us. Yavess stepped back, then turned and went to his table, just to our right. As soon as he was settled, music started to play. The musicians came up the aisle and stood along the left wall while the first group began to dance.
Lithe bodies twirled and bent. Undulated. Hands tipped in claws trailed along dark indigo skin. Frilled ears twitched as lips brushed them. Tentacles clung to muscular thighs.
I cleared my throat and shifted my shaft into a more comfortable position. As a pirate, I'd seen many erotic and exotic performances. I had even watched them with my chosen lover for the evening. But those performances had been in dark taverns or around campfires, once even on the deck of the Lu-Ken. They were not in a royal dining hall while I sat next to my mate.
I swallowed past the dryness in my throat as a Kaikeyo's hand adhered to a Leeya's pale pearlescent stomach, locked in place by the suction cups on his fingers. The Leeya—a woman—moaned and bent backward, her beaded nipples poking through the wispy fabric of her top. The Kaikeyo bent his head to brush his cheek against one of those nipples. While he did that, one of his chin tentacles reached out and wrapped around the Leeya's other breast. And squeezed.
What the fuck? How far was this going to go?
As I gaped at the “dancing” couples who were beginning to moan and lose some of the clothing they couldn't afford to lose, Vax's hand slid around my waist. My stare shot to him. He was smiling softly, and that smile distracted me long enough for him to undo my trousers. But when his hand found my cock, I jerked out of my daze.
“What are you doing?” I hissed as I shoved his hand away.
Vax chuckled and whispered in my ear, “Look around, Zix. It's acceptable.”
Other couples were stroking each other as they watched the dancers. Even Yavess had pulled one of the Kaikeyo slaves onto his lap and was sucking on her plump breasts absently as he watched the performance.
“Holy shit,” I whispered. “I've heard stories about Sea Dragon courts, but I wasn't expecting this. Are we going to fuck right here?”
“We could if you wished to.” He shrugged. “But most people choose to take the final act elsewhere. This is just the appetizer.” His hand went back into my pants and gripped me. “Is this all right?”
My breath came faster. I barely got out the, “Yeah.”
His thumb circled the head of my cock, spreading the liquid that had gathered there. “I'd like you to straddle me, Mate.”
“You would?” I glanced around.
Most of the court was busy with their partners, though they still watched the dancers as they, uh, got busy too. No one was watching us. A thrill raced down my spine. How fun would it be to celebrate our mating by actually mating in front of the court? All right, maybe not that far, but perhaps a little oral?
