Chapter 22: Chapter 22

I’m on fire. The taste of him is like a drug and I can’t seem to get enough. As he breaks his soul devouring kiss I moan at the lost. I just need more of his. I circle my hips against him as the large bulge in his pants rubs the perfect spot. When he growls I feel my legs shake and I tighten them against him. God, I love that sound.

He captures my gaze and I watch mesmerized as the eyes of his dragon appear. When he licks his lips I feel a new wave of wetness coat my thighs. He circles his hips digging his erection into me and I toss my head back with a mean. The stones of the house roughen the strands and I barely care. When his mouth flies to my neck I gasp. Sweet, sweet joy I feel. The spot that he sucks is tender. My toes curl against his back and I know that I am close to euphoria. Our grinding increases as he builds me up higher. When he sucks harder I feel myself tense ready for the wave of pleasure to take me under when suddenly it all stops.

I catch myself right before I fall to the ground, and I hear a loud crash. A little ways in the distance I watch as Maximus climbs out from the wall of a house he must have hit as the gold guy blocks my view. Just as I have noticed him he is knocked away from me and Maximus takes his spot with a feral growl. I have no idea what’s going on. I need to stop this before one of them get hurt. Maximus takes two deliberate steps in Xander’s direction. It’s almost like his size enlarges and I feel a wave of fear go over me.

Stop him. Suddenly I’m flying forward, and I wrap my arms around him. I squeeze him as tight as I can and plant my feet on the ground. When he halts his advances I sigh with relief. I push my head into his chest and tingles flow across my skin. Using the tip of my nose to nuzzle him I smile at the sensation. It’s like enveloped in warmth and safety. My body relaxes against him, and I hear Xander speak.

“You need to get control. I wasn’t trying to get in your way or take your mate. When I saw you your dragon was at the front you were about to mark her. Do you understand what I am saying?” he ask. I’m so confused by what he says. Why would he think that he was going to take me. I don’t need to be protected from Maximus. A wave of anger hits me as the silence goes tense. Is that why people keep stopping us. Because they think he is trying to hurt me. Before I can ask Maximus speaks and his voice vibrates against my cheek.

“Just spit it out Xander” He says as he looks down at me. There is so much emotion in his gaze. I just want to go home. To his home. His cabin I correct myself. If this interruption hasn’t ruined the mood. Maybe we can finish what we started.

“You need to talk with her about the laws. You cannot mark her if she doesn’t know what it means. You have to do this right” he states. He dust the dirt off of his robe and rolls his head on his shoulders. He looks as if he is about to go to war and my guy is the target. Maximus stiffens beside me, and his embrace loosens. I don’t want this guy ruining what is going on between us.

“Did you try to mark her?” Maximus says. His gaze flies back to me and he starts to look at me in an odd light. His gaze lingers at places on me. I watch as his expression turns to anger as he looks at me and starts to back away from me. A cold feeling enters my chest and I know that I am losing him. He is going to leave me like everyone else. I step toward him prepared to fight when I hear his dragon speak through his mouth.

“She is my mate to mark. It is fated” he states.

Maximus bristles under his words and I hear as Xander steps forward. Maximus body starts to shake, and his gaze starts to shine. It almost looks as if he is…well in anguish. He looks tortured as his gaze starts to go back and forth between him and his dragon.

“How could you take away her choice. It is her right to decide to be with me. You cannot force her.” Maximus screams.

“She is mine and I will have her. I have tired of your waiting when you knew about her. You should have tried harder to find her all those years ago” his dragon screams. Claws unsheathe from his hands and his chocolate skin starts to turn black. A hand wraps around my waist and starts to tug me backwards.

“Get your fucking hands off of her” They both scream. Immediately I am released. I look back toward Maximus in fear. What does his dragon mean about seeing me years ago? I’ve never met him before.

“Step away from them Emily. He is having a fight with his dragon. It looks as if they are trying to force a shift. I need to get you out of the way before you are hurt.

“You have no right to speak about her. You are the reason that we lost her. She saw what you did. You are the monster” Maximus screams. A scream leaves his lips and I watch as his body starts to grow. Parts of him grow while others shriek, and he looks to be in so much pain. Cracking body parts fill the air and each one makes me flinch where I stand.

Knowing that I really need to move I start to take more steps away from them. I start cautiously not wanting to capture their attention.

“She is mine. In her eyes I am No monster. I protected her when you couldn’t. I did the duty I was born to do. SHE is alive because of me” his dragon screams.

“No she is broken because of YOU! You drove her crazy with what she saw in that camp. You are a monster and I no longer want to be connected to you” Maximus yells.

Waits are they still talking about me. My body freezes as I realize what they mean. Memories float through my mind from the most horrible moment I have ever experienced. When I was captured by those disgusting men and threatened. When they ties me to a chair and left me in the dark. When they beat my friend as he cried for me. No, no it couldn’t be. HE can’t be…..

A loud roar fills the air interrupting my thoughts. “You will not lock me away. I have spent ten years being your prisoner. NO MORE” He roars. A pop fills the air and Maximus is gone. A giant beast stands in his place and his tail flows toward me. The beast looks menacing. A wave of fear hits me and then I’m moving. I full on run toward Xander and get behind him as he takes a stance.

Maximus’ dragon is the biggest things that I have ever seen. His body has fully crushed the house that he was thrown into. He growls as he shakes his large head and I know that Maximus is still fighting him. “What do we do?” I ask Xander.

“Stay with me. We have to hope that now that Maximus has lost control his dragon won’t hurt you” he says as the beast roars into the air. Igneous comes flying out the house with a throw blanket wrapped around him.

“What the fuck is going on?” he yells as he eyes the humongous beast.

“Maximus has gone batshit and his dragon has taken over. I need to get him away from here, so he doesn’t cause more damage. You need to take the human female and get her away from here”

My mate. Come to me.

The voice speaks into my head, and I freeze walking to Igneous. I look up at Martell and see that his eyes are on me. They are larger and the shade of black is deeper. His eyes look like an ocean of petroleum as he stares into me.

“Did you just speak to me?” I can’t help but ask dumbfounded.

The giant head nods in my direction as his gaze doesn’t leave mine. Xander Igneous reaches out a hand to touch me and it growls. “Igneous don’t touch her. He is a beast right now and he sees her as his territory. If you touch her he will attack. Emily if you can speak to him, we need to get him to move. There are too many people around here” he says speaking fast.

“I’m not going anywhere with him. I am literally bite sized right now and I’m not just making a short joke” I spit out at him.

I would never cause you harm. You are mine.

“I find that hard to believe. From the sounds of things you have already killed before. Who’s to say that you won’t kill me to” I say. The others look at me as if I have grown a second head. I am provoking the beast as they say.

I killed him to protect you. Maximus does not understand this and has kept me prisoner for it for over a decade. I will no longer be a prisoner for what I did.

He takes a step toward us, and I have to catch myself when the ground shakes. He whips his tail forward and I close my eyes waiting for it to hit. As I feel it brush against my eyes flash open and see it gently rubbing against my leg. Apparently he is trying to show me that he means me no harm. Having his tail on me however is still scary. One wrong swipe and those spikes could cut me to pieces.

“Is he going to move. We can’t exactly hear the conversation you two are having” Igneous reminds me in a low whisper.

“I haven’t asked him yet. Give me a little time” I tell him. I turn my attention back to Maximus. “These guys here need you to move. You are too big to be in such a populated area. You okay with that big guy” I ask him.

He cocks his head at me, and I can’t see that he is thinking about it. He leans his head down closer and I can’t help the wave of fear I feel when I see his ginormous teeth. He truly is a predator. If he chose to go on a rampage I’m sure he wouldn’t even have to chew. A chuffing sound leaves his lips and I realize he is smiling. I wonder if he can hear me.

Yes mate. I can hear you well in this form. I am no predator when it comes to you. You may find it hard to believe but I have only killed for you. I will never harm you. You are mine.

I definitely hear what he just said but I can’t help but ask aloud. “You mean to tell me that you could hear me and still let me yell out loud to you like some buffoon” I question him.

He chuffs again and I frown not to happy that he finds me so amusing. I like your voice. It does not sound the same in my head.

“So about my question. Will you go?” I find myself reminding him. I can feel the guys still tense behind me and know that I am running out of time.

If you will ride my scales then I will go with you. Your temporary guard may stay.

“Ride your scales. You honestly think that I am going to get on your back. I’ve never even been on a plane. There is no way I’m taking my chances to ride a dragon first” I scold him. He can’t possibly be serious. What would I even hold on to?

I will keep you safe. It is like riding a bike as you humans say. If you agree I am willing to answer any questions you may ask.

Damn. He’s pretty smart for a reptile. He just played right into my hands knowing that I still have questions. I became a reporter because I love getting answers. I look at Xander and see that he is still eyeing Maximus. Igneous eyes him also but he doesn’t look like tense. As I think it over, I know that I have been in the presence of his dragon before. He didn’t hurt me while he was using Maximus’ body so why would he hurt me now.

Decided I take a step forward, but Xander grabs my arm. A loud growl fills the air and I quickly shake him off looking at Martell to make sure that he is still calm. When I see how much hatred he eyes Xander with I know that I have really made my decision. “Everything is going to be fine. He wants me to go with him. You two have to stay here” I tell them almost pleadingly.

“We don’t know what he is capable of. I can’t just let you go with him. You don’t even know everything.” Xander says trying to convince me.

I step away from them knowing that I will get answers this way. “He can fill in the blanks. He won’t hurt me. I know that you fear for me and I’m grateful. However, I know his dragon and believe him. I will contact you soon” I promise.

He watches me as I walk away, and I can’t help but to look back as I do. I’m leaving with a beast that I know has killed before. But the way he looks at these to I know that he is capable of doing it again. The heart in me just can’t allow that. I approach Martell cautiously. He must know I’m afraid because he stands still like a statue. Reaching out a hand I close my eyes as I touch him expecting the worst.