Firedrake - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,98

I vow to do everything in my power to live up to the expectations of knighthood.”

Roland chuckled and shook his head. “You already have, my friend. You were ever blind when it came to your own stature. You are the best—the only—partner for Jenet. We’ve all known it for as long as we’ve known you both. As for being worthy of being a knight…” Roland grasped Drake by the shoulder. “You’ve always been worthy, Drake. Your love for Jenet, your loyalty to the land and people of Draconiaeven as you traveled far and wideyour honor, your courage. All of those things make you one of the champions of this land. You found Wil, as you promised. You’re more than worthy. You’re one of our elite, just like Mace. A better matched pair, I’ve never seen.”

Drake was floored by the king’s words. He was actually stunned speechless, which was a rare condition for the master bard. Before Drake could come up with a reply, Roland had turned to Krysta.

“Welcome to the family, Krysta. Your brother and I had a long talk while you were away. We’ll be glad of your skills in the coming days.”

So the king had exchanged intelligence with his Master of the Guard. Good. They would need all the help they could get if the battle Gryffid feared really did come to pass.

“Thank you, my liege.” Krysta replied, bowing with her gaze kept on Roland’s in a show of respect.

She said nothing about her brother for the moment. She would not speak Jinn secrets for all to hear. She was still a spymaster, with all the cunning and caution that implied, and Drake loved that—and so much more—about her.

Hours later, Drake, Mace and Krysta had a hastily prepared wedding celebration and their dragons flew in a mating flight, long anticipated since that first time they’d been together. Even Drake was astounded by the speed with which they’d been able to get the party together. It was a mix of Jinn and Lair traditions, with Prince Nico and his wife Riki standing as witnesses, though all agreed neither Drake nor Mace needed any guidance in making love to their wife as was custom for newlyweds in many of the Jinn clans.

After feasting and dancing, they were shown to a small enclosure on the battlements traditionally used for such celebrations. The party was held up there so the dragons could join in the festivities and be near their human counterparts until the very last moments before they took to the sky.

Drake was pleased to see the enclosure had been festooned with Jinn tapestries in bright colors, donated for the cause by Krysta’s clan. Her eyes filled with emotion the moment she saw it, and Drake was glad such care and thought had been put into their wedding bower. No doubt, Riki and maybe even Lana had a hand in the decorations. He’d have to remember to thank them.

Drake had already been informed there would be another party the following night with the entire Wayfarer Clan as well as those of the Black Dragon Clan who were already living in Castleton, to celebrate the joining of Krysta and Drake. Mace would be adopted into both clans and made Jinn by marriage as well. Judging by past experience, Drake figured that party would last for days.

But that night, as the dragons trumpeted their joy to the heavens, coiled together in bliss, so too were the human partners in the family. They were all swept up in the driving pleasure. Drake felt spurred on by the amazing bond with the dragons. Golden sparks of fire enveloped them all, heating their blood but harming none—a magical display of Drake’s power brought on by intense emotion.

Krysta was left gasping after the first round. It had been hard and fast, with few words but a wealth of emotion passing between the three humans and the dragons whose lust pushed them. Now that Wil was home safe, Jenet and Nellin had warned Krysta that she would get little sleep that night. She’d thought it a joke at the time, but after the second, intense round of dragon-inspired lovemaking, she began to wonder.

Drake lay panting on one side of the soft bed, Mace on the other. Krysta crawled over to a low table near the entrance to the enclosure and began to nibble on the delicacies that had been prepared for them. If they were going to keep up this pace, she’d need some nourishment. A grin passed