"I can't believe you knew this was here," she told him, glad that the magic of the Lair had lit it for them.
"The entrance to the Keeper's Hoard is always in the Keeper's Suite. It is the only entrance, and only the Keeper can open it."
"Every Lair is like this?"
"Yes, but..." he paused as he reached the bottom of the stairwell, his head turning to look behind them.
"But what?" she asked moving to his side.
"I've never seen one this size before."
"Really?" She let her eyes travel over the cavern taking in the height and width of it. It stretched out in front of and behind the stairwell. Along the sides were arched openings to more caverns and what appeared to be jewels spilling out of them, but something about them wasn't right. "Why don't they shine in the light?"
Kirall move to the closest cavern then leaned down to pick up a large, cloudy jewel. "This is a White Breath Diamon. They are very sought after because they're able to store an enormous amount of power. They should also be clear and reflect the light."
"Then why aren't they? Any of them?" She moved on to look into the other archways.
"They must be completely drained." His gaze traveled over the huge piles of opaque jewels in the other caverns, unable to fathom the amount of power it must have taken to infuse such a hoard let alone accumulate it. "Your Razeth must have been an extremely powerful Dragoon."
They stepped over the jewels that tumbled out of the side caverns as they moved toward the only one that still had glowing gems in it. It was by far the largest of them.
"My God," she whispered looking at the softly glowing jewels. Not only did they cover every spectrum on the color chart, but the pile touched the ceiling before cascading down to cover the floor before them.
"I have never heard of another Dragoon doing this," he murmured.
"Doing what?" she asked turning toward him.
"Hoarding jewels of every color."
"Isn't that what Dragoons do?" she asked smiling teasingly at him. "Hoard jewels?"
"Yes," he returned her smile. "But they tend to favor one color. The one of their Dragon."
"You mean because Razeth was a Red, you expected the majority of his Hoard to be that color?"
"Yes."
Autumn tipped her head at him. "So exactly what jewels did you Hoard as a Black Prime?"
"While my Hoard contains Black Breaths and obsidian, I tend to favor any dark shade of jewel."
"Really..." she asked turning toward him. For some reason, seeing him surrounded by the glowing Hoard filled her with a primal desire.
"Yes." He frowned at the look she was giving him. "Why?"
"Well, I was just wondering if you still prefer the darker shades." She slowly began pulling her gown down off her shoulders. "Or if you were starting to like things that are in a lighter, paler shade."
Kirall's eyes turned silver as his mate's gown fell away. The glowing Hoard transformed her pale skin into every color of Dragoon. It instantly filled him with a desire unlike any he'd ever felt before. Without another thought, he tore off his clothes and pulled her flush against his body and fell back onto the Hoard.
"I desire any shade, as long as you are a part of it," he growled as he pulled her mouth down to his for a hot, hard kiss.
Autumn lost herself in the kiss not noticing that her claws had extended and were digging deep into his shoulders as she straddled his lean hips. Her dripping channel hugged his rock-hard cock for only a moment before the need overwhelmed her and her hips started to move, coating him with her juices.
"God, Kirall!" she exclaimed, ripping her mouth from his as he moved his hips lodging the head of his shaft at her entrance.
"Take me, Autumn," he demanded, his hands shifting to her hips. "Into your private Lair. To that place where there is only us. One heart. One soul."
Autumn's eyes widened at the need in her mate's words because they echoed precisely how she felt whenever they joined. It was more than just the joining of their bodies. He touched her in a way that no one had, and it wasn’t because she’d never had sex before, but because he saw her, needed her, loved her. They may not have been together long, but that was something she knew deep down in her soul. Kirall loved her.
Easing her body back down his, she took him in until there was nothing left to take then reversed the motion.
"Kur, yes," he groaned, his claws sinking into her giving flesh as he began to thrust. Already he could feel his balls starting to pull up tight against his body. Her hot, snug channel gripped his engorged cock as if unwilling to release him even long enough for him to thrust back inside.
Autumn felt her mate's claws penetrate her skin, but the slight pain only increased her pleasure, and she wanted him to feel the same way. Her gaze flashed to her Mating mark on his neck. Driven by an instinct older than time, she sank her teeth into it, his taste filling her mouth.
Kirall's roar echoed through the Hoard as his mate's fire burned through his system. His thrusts became more powerful, more brutal. They had him sliding across the Hoard as his heels dug in for more leverage, until his seed erupted forth, bathing her womb in its fiery heat.
"Kirall!" she screamed, her hands sinking into the jewels, as wave after wave of ecstasy exploded through her system. It was too much. Too powerful to be contained even by two Supremes and it flowed out from them and into the Hoard.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Autumn wasn't sure how long she lay there listening to Kirall's heartbeat calm, her body utterly boneless on top of his. Every time was like this with him. An amazing, life-altering experience. But this time, this time it had been even more. Lifting her head, she saw the relaxed, fulfilled expression on her mate's face.
"Well aren't you looking very satisfied with yourself," she said propping her chin up on the hands she crossed over his chest.
Silver rimmed eyes opened to gaze up at her. "I am. Are you saying you aren't?"
"Oh, I'm definitely satisfied." She gave him a saucy smile as she wiggled her hips feeling his cock start to come back to life inside her. "Especially since I did most of the work."
"You did?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Oh, yeah." Her smile grew as his cock did. "But I'm getting used to that."
"You are, are you?"
Her laughter filled the chamber as she suddenly found herself on her back, her thighs held snuggly against his hips, his cock still lodged deep inside her.
"Still enjoying yourself?" he asked, as he slowly started to rock his hips.
"Perhaps." She couldn’t help but taunt.
"Perhaps? Oh, that will never do." Bracing himself on one arm, he slid back just far enough so that his cock remained inside her while his lips nipped their way along the underside of one of her breasts. He smiled when he felt her suck in a sharp breath. Continuing around the firm globe, he worked his way up until he reached its beautiful, taut nipple. Lifting his gaze, he made sure she was watching as he latched onto her, sucking the nipple deep into his mouth.
"Kirall!" she cried out, the pleasure shooting straight from her nipple to her channel. Her heels dug into his ass as her fingers sank into his hair, pulling him even closer. God, she loved it when he sucked her breasts. Nothing ever felt as good as Kirall loving her.
The passion and desire in his mate's eyes was something he'd never get tired of seeing. Wanting to keep it there, he slowly pulled back holding the tension on her nipple until it escaped his mouth with a pop. Before she could even gasp, he thrust forward capturing her other breast and gave it the same attention. As his mouth worshiped at her breast, his thumb rubbed her swollen clit, knowing how sensitive it was going to be after their first joining.
"Kirall!" Her back arched up off the jewels that supported them as wave after wave of pleasure swamped her.
"That's it, baby," he growled releasing her breast, but his thumb continued its assault on her clit. "Give me your sounds. Let me hear how much I please you."
"You do!
God, you know you do!" she exclaimed her eyes flashing to his.
"Then give me more!" he demanded, his voice deepening as his Beast began to emerge.
Autumn’s breath caught as she realized what was happening. Kirall’s Beast was loving her. That had never happened before. When Kirall, his Beast, and his Dragon had claimed her, they’d believed she was an Other, and because of that, they had held back their full strength and size from her. On the Inferno, Kirall had also held back because she'd still been recovering. But now that they knew she was not only healthy but Dragoon, his Beast wanted to make her his too, and knew her body could handle him.
“Yes!” she encouraged even as his Beast-sized cock stretched her channel nearly beyond its limits. It ratcheted up the tension in her body even more, and her claws extended sinking deep into his back. "Show me how much you love me!"
His deep growl filled the chamber as his Beast-powered thrusts drove into her again and again and again. Until they returned to that place where it was only them, and they were one.
Chapter Six
Kirall's chest was heaving, and his limbs trembled, but somehow he still managed to remember to roll onto his side so he wouldn’t crush his mate after their amazing climax. She might be Dragoon and a Supreme, but she was still a great deal smaller than him.
When he could finally speak, he asked, "So who did all the work this time?"
Autumn was silent for a moment then started to chuckle. She loved her mate's sense of humor. It hadn't been there in the beginning, but then Kirall had believed he'd been through an unnatural Joining Heat, and hadn't found anything humorous about it. Then she had nearly died because of Bonn, and he hadn't found that funny either. It had only been on the Inferno, after he was sure she was completely recovered, that it finally began to appear. Then they reached Mondu, and he'd become all serious again. She was glad to have it back.
"I can agree that this time it was you and I couldn't have enjoyed it more," she said turning her head to smile at him.
"I wasn't too rough?" he asked, propping himself up on an elbow so he could run a gentle hand along her cheek.
"No. You've never hurt me, Kirall, not in any of your forms."
"I did our first time... your first time." Regret filled his words.
"Shhh." She put a finger to his lips, silencing him. "Stop. I'm not going to lie. Yes, that time hurt but you thought I was Kristy and we both know she wasn't a virgin."
"That doesn't matter."
"Yes, it does," she insisted. "You have nothing to feel guilty about. You don't," she interrupted him as he opened his mouth, her hand cupping his cheek. "It happened, and neither you, your Beast nor your Dragon have hurt me since. In fact, I've never felt more loved and protected. I have no regrets, Kirall, and I don't want you to either. If that hadn't happened, we never would have met. I wouldn't be here now with you, and it's the only place I want to be."
Kirall closed his eyes as the power of her words flowed through him, sinking into the very depths of his soul lightening the weight of that memory. Opening his eyes, he found so much love and belief in her gaze that it humbled him. Leaning down he gently kissed her lips, silently vowing to do everything in his power to make sure she never lost any of it, and that meant he needed to take better care of her. To protect her from any threat or discomfort, big or small, starting with her not lying on a Hoard of jewels. No matter how beautiful she looked surrounded by their glow.
A glow that was becoming more and more intense.
Pushing himself away from her, he jumped to his feet landing in a crouch, making sure he was between whatever was happening and his mate.
"Kirall?" Autumn sat up, curling her legs beneath her as her senses went on high alert, but Kirall's broad back blocked her view. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Reaching back he pulled her in close under one arm as he nodded his head toward the rest of the Hoard. "Look."
Autumn gasped in shock as her gaze traveled over what before had been an opaque, lifeless Hoard. Now it was filled with clear, sparkling jewels that pulsed with so much power she could actually feel it.
"Oh my God, Kirall. How?"
"I... I'm not sure," he admitted. "There's a legend about how some hoards are empowered."
"And?" she asked looking up at him.
Leaning down he kissed her upturned lips then murmured. "The power of a Hoard is directly related to its Keeper's lineage and age."
"You mean that a Prime Dragoon's Hoard is inherently more powerful than a Minor’s?"
"Yes, but it’s more than that. It also varies depending on the Dragoon's color and the original color of his parents."
"So a Green Prime has more power than a Blue Prime because Blue is the base color for every level of Dragoon; Minor, Prime or Supreme."
"Correct. But the offspring of two pure Green Primes would be more powerful than those of a Green Prime that mated with a Blue Prime or any Minor color."
"That's why you are so powerful. Both your parents were Blacks."
"As were theirs. It's the only reason I was able to establish my Lair as soon as I reached adulthood. Normally a Dragoon has to go through his second Heat before he can transfer enough power into his Hoard to protect a Lair."
"So that's the legend?"
"No. All that I've just told you is commonly known. It is why those like Tove argue that lineages should remain pure."
"He sounds like a real jerk."
"Jerk?" Kirall still wasn't familiar with all the Earth terms she used.
"Asshole? Idiot? Someone who is totally stupid and annoying?"
"While I agree that Tove is annoying, he is far from stupid. He is a very powerful and influential Elder."
"If you say so. Now tell me about this legend."
"Many don't believe it."
"But you do."
"I do now," he told her.
"Why?"
"Because of this," he gestured to the brilliantly glowing Hoard. "The amount of power needed to infuse a Hoard this size... especially when it was nearly depleted... Only in legends of the Original Dragoons were there even whispers of it being possible."
"What was whispered?"
"That when mates whose love has been blessed by Kur himself become one, on their Hoard, the power of their love will flow out from them empowering everything around them."
"So you’re saying we did this?" She looked at the brightly, glowing chamber. "By loving each other?"
"Yes."
"It's how all mated couples, like your parents, empower their Hoard?"
"I..." Kirall found himself uncomfortable at the thought of his parents acting like he and Autumn just had. He knew they regularly mated, after all, they had seven offspring. It was another reason he'd left their Lair as soon as he could, but that didn't mean he wanted to think about it.
"Are you blushing?" Autumn couldn't help but tease as a red flush started to travel up his neck. "You are!"
"I just prefer not to think about my parents mating, especially as they will be arriving soon."
"What?!!" She jerked back, her face losing that teasing look.
"Can't you feel them approaching?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Close your eyes," he instructed then waited until she did before continuing. "Now feel the power of the Hoard. You are one with it. Listen to what it is telling you."
Autumn closed her eyes but didn't expect to feel anything. After all, she wasn't a full or pure Dragoon, as Tove would have said.
‘No, you are more.’ A deep growl vibrated through her. 'You just don't know it. That is why I am here. To help you understand. You have been tested more severely than any other in your line because Razeth accepted my challenge. A challenge every other Supreme refused. It is why his line has returned to Mondu. You are the last of that original line, and if you and your mate don't succeed, then all will perish.'
'Succeed? Succeed at what?’
'Stopping the plague that is trying to infect my people.'
/>
'Your people? Who are you? I thought you were the Hoard.'
'No, I am the source from which all hoards receive their power. I am the Creator of the Dragoon. I am Kur. Now be still, and you will understand.'
Autumn felt a volt go through her and suddenly she understood what Kirall was talking about. Even though they were still several hours away from the boundary, she could feel Kiran and Niccele approaching from the air and a group of Others on the ground. She could also feel the life pulse of every creature, large and small, within the boundary. It was as if they were one.
'You are. They will protect and serve you. As you and Kruba serve and protect them. It is as it was always meant to be. One only survives when the other does. Neither more important than the other. Remember this.'
'No!'
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Kirall's eyes began to fill with silver. He was the one that had encouraged Autumn to close her eyes so she could connect with the Hoard, but the moment she had, a vise-like grip had wrapped around him keeping him immobile no matter how hard he struggled.
'Calm.' He was ordered by a voice so powerful it made the Hoard’s seem puny. 'No harm will come to your mate.'
'Release me!' Kirall roared even though he couldn't open his mouth.
'When I'm ready.'
'Now!' Kirall demanded and calling on the combined strength of his Beast and Dragon began to shift only to have a blast of power stop him mid-shift. Who could possibly be powerful enough to control a Supreme?
'Your creator and God. Now remain silent, or I will silence you!' The power holding him continued to increase until Kirall cried out in pain.
'No!’ Autumn's outraged voice filled Kirall's head. 'You will not harm my mate!’
Kirall fell to his knees as his Autumn opened her eyes and the crushing power surrounding him disappeared.
"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice full of concern as she dropped down beside him.
"Of course, he is."
They both looked up in shock to find a glowing orb floating several feet away from them. Kirall immediately jumped to his feet putting himself between his mate and the orb, unconcerned about his nakedness but blocking Autumn's.