Chapter 106

Jaxon’s POV

Having Anila here was unexpected. Not physically having her here…that was very expected the moment I found out she was my mate. But the way I was feeling with her in my space… that was unexpected. I found myself actually enjoying it and I hadn’t enjoyed much in a long time. Not since I had to do the unthinkable and kill my father. I did what I had to do to not only protect the dragon masters but also the dragons.

By then though, it was already too late. The damage had been done. Dragons and dragon masters were outlawed and now the world fears them. Hiding them under the ground was the best thing I could think of. I wanted to tell Anila about it when she first asked that way, so she could understand why it’s important that they remain under the ground for the time being and why I do what I do… but I feared that she would use that information to exploit me. I know I should have trusted her; my inner dragon cursed me for not trusting our mate. But let’s be real, I knew nothing about this girl other than the fact that she had 4 other mates.

The thought was still unsettling to me; I wasn’t sure how something like that could be possible. I wanted to keep her to myself… make her my queen and forbid her from seeing the others. But after I watched her in her dream last night… the way she was with that wizard boy… my heart stuttered.

I knew in my gut that I couldn’t keep her away from them… but I could keep her to myself for just a little longer.

“I’m sorry… you want me to what?” I heard her soft voice from behind me, bringing me out of my thoughts. I grinned, not bothering to look over my shoulder at her. I had her hand in mine, and it fit so perfectly. I wondered if she thought so too. I could feel her anxiety when I mentioned flying a dragon.

“Fly a dragon,” I repeated, not bothering to hide the humor in my tone.

“I… I can’t fly a dragon,” she said, her voice coming out hoarse.

I laughed and didn’t say anything more as we walked across Dragon Valley streets and towards the stables. A couple of the adult dragons were already out, one of which was being mounted while a couple of others took flight. Most dragon masters were highly trained in the art of flying a dragon, but those who weren’t trained had to have one of the stable workers to ride with them. Anila on the other hand didn’t need a stable worker… she had me and I wouldn’t let anything happen to her while we were in the air.

I built this underground city tall; it was tall enough that dragons could fly comfortably to get some exercise.

“Taking flight, Your Majesty?” One of the stable workers asked.

“Yes,” I told her, turning to Anila. “This is Lila. One of Emily’s workers.”

“Hello,” Anila said, forcing a smile, but I could tell she was still incredibly nervous.

“Emily had told me about you,” Lila said, bowing her head in respect to Anila. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Anila’s cheeks turned pink; it was oddly adorable.

“Will you be taking flight as well?” Lila proceeded to ask. Anila glanced up at me, hesitantly.

“Yes, she is,” I told her. “She’ll be riding with me. I won’t need anyone else to accompany us.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” Lila said with a grin. “Then, I’ll leave you to it.”

I nodded and tightened my hold on Anila’s hand as I walked her toward the waiting dragon. There was already a saddle on it; true dragon masters didn’t need a saddle, but I figured for Anila’s first time, it wouldn’t hurt.

It took me no time to mount the dragon; she wiggled and blew out a soft breath of fire, making Anila flinch and step back.

I grinned down at her.

“The first step to riding a dragon is that you can’t be afraid of them,” I told her.

She stared up at me for a moment and then pressed her plump lips into a thin line.

“I’m not afraid of them,” she said, clenching her fists at her side.

I let out a low laugh as he reached my hand down to her.

“Prove it.”

She stared at my hand for a heartbeat before she grabbed it. I helped her mount the dragon; she surprisingly did well for the first time. I had scooted back so she could get in front of me, and she moved delicately, tightening her legs around the dragon's torso and running her fingers along the dragon’s scaly neck.

I put my hands on her hips and scooted her back slightly, so her curvy hips were pressed against me. She fit so perfectly against me… the thought took me by surprise, just as all the other thoughts had.

“It’s like riding a horse,” I told her, whispering the words against her ear and watching as her body reacted to my nearness. She shuddered and I saw goosebumps forming against the nape of her neck.

“I’ve never rid one of those either,” she admitted.

I chuckled and she scowled at me.

“I’ve lived a very sheltered life,” she murmured. “It’s not my fault.”

“The dragon responds to your body language. If you want her to turn, you move your body in the direction you want her to go. Same thing if you want her to go up, or down. If you want her to speed up, kick her lightly on the side, if you want her to slow down, pull at her neck slightly.”

She hung on to each of my words, nodding along with everything I said.

“And I’ll be right here, so you don’t need to worry about anything,” I assured her.

She let out a shuddering breath before nodding. I tightened my hold on her hips, loving how she felt in the palms of my hands. I slowly pulled her back, so we were leaning back and then I nudged the dragon with my foot. The dragon understood the assignment and leaned back as well, then she took flight.

Anila’s scream took me by surprise; the dragon wasn’t really going that fast, but it was clear Anila wasn’t prepared. She was gripping the dragon’s neck with all her strength and screaming until she had no voice left. I belted out laughter as the dragon whirled around the sky; there was no specific destination in mind, I just wanted to take a small flight. I turned the dragon in a different direction and straightened her movements, so she was steadier.

I noticed Anila’s eyes were pinched shut. I placed my chin on her shoulder and whispered against the nape of her neck, hoping to have the same effect on her body as I had earlier.

“Open your eyes,” I whispered, letting my breath hit her flesh and warm her.

She inhaled and I wondered briefly if she was inhaling my scent like I couldn’t stop inhaling her. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around. Her body immediately started to relax, and a look of awe spread across her face.

“Woah…” She whispered.

We were very high up and we could see literally everything. I loved flying, and yet, it made me a little sad as well.

“It’s better above ground,” I murmured.

“It’s not fair that you can’t fly up there,” she whispered, leaning against me. I wasn’t sure if she knew she was leaning against me, but I wasn’t going to ruin the moment by saying anything. I tightened my hold around her hips, and she wiggled against me. My cock started to grow uncomfortably big in my pants and I wondered if she could feel it against her backside. And if she did… I wondered if she liked it. “Something has to be done about it…”

“Hmm?” I asked, forgetting for a moment what we were talking about.

“About the Alpha King,” she told me, peeking up at me. “About the ways of this world. You shouldn’t be forced to live a sheltered life. I’ve lived like that my entire life and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”

I saw how serious her expression was and it made my chest tighten, along with my pants.

I cleared my throat, trying not to think about it.

“So, what do you think?” I asked her, changing the subject and gazing out across Dragon Valley. “About flying I mean.”

“It’s beautiful,” she said breathily. “I thought this would be scary… but it’s not at all. It feels almost natural. Like I’ve done this so many times before.”

She pulled slightly away from me and repositioned herself on the dragons’ back. I immediately missed her closeness and fought the urge to pull her back into my arms.

To my surprise, she took control and turned the dragon in a different direction.

“You’re a natural,” I agreed, the corner of my lip twitching as I fought back a smile.

I noticed her neck getting slightly red from my compliment.

“Can we go faster?” She asked.

A laugh bubbled out of me… it took us both by surprise because she turned to look at me, her eyes wide. I realized that I hadn’t laughed in a long time, and it probably sounded off. I shook the thought out of my head.

“Eager one, are you?” I asked her, recovering myself. “We can go as fast as you’d like.”

She smiled; her grin reaching ear to ear and a sparkle of excitement reached her eyes.

“Hang on tightly,” she warned.

She didn’t have to tell me twice, I held her against me, my hands splaying across her belly and her hips against my pelvis.

She kicked the dragon lightly on the side and the dragon sped up, buzzing through the air. This time when Anila screamed, it was out of delight; she had a large smile on her face, and she was laughing. It warned my heart to see that smile on her face knowing that I helped put it there.

After a while, I could tell she was starting to get a bit restless.

“How about we land?” I suggested.

She nodded.

“Yeah, my butt is sore,” she blurted.

“I can help with that,” I said, my voice sultry with a hint of teasing. She tensed slightly when she felt my hands gripping her hands, but she didn’t pull away from me.

Once we were firmly on the ground, I slid off the dragon first. I opened my arms, waiting for Anila to slide down next. Once she did, she let out a breathy scream before landing in my arms. I held her upright for a moment; her body pressed against mine. I was immediately brought back to her room earlier when she was in my arms completely naked. Of course, it was an accident, but the feeling of her nakedness made my cock twitch even then.

She cleared her throat and stepped out of my arms, adjusting the skirt of her dress and rubbing her hands up and down the seams.

“That was amazing,” she said, peeking up at me. “Thank you.”

“No, thank you,” I replied, bowing to her. I looked up at the dragon and patted the side of her neck, making her practically purr with happiness.

Anila smiled and patted her as well.

“She’s beautiful,” she breathed.

“She’s pretty much a baby. She loves to fly,” I told her. “Hyper little thing.”

She raised her brows.

“She’s a baby?” Anila asked.

I nodded.

“Didn’t I mention that dragons grow fast? It won’t be long before Ember is this size too. I give it another week or so.”

Her mouth fell open as she looked over her shoulders at the stable that Ember was in with her mother.

“That’s unexpected,” she said with a light laugh as she turned to face me. “I can’t wait to be able to ride her.”

I raised my brows; she really was an eager little thing. A true dragon master perhaps.

“So, now what?” She suddenly asked.

I smiled down at her.

“Now let’s return to the festival,” I said, taking her hand. “We are expected.”