12 comments/ 19843 views/ 29 favorites Δράκος: Νερό Pt. 02 By: leejames The high-pitched squeal of death, which was emitted by the hare, filled her ears right before she chomped down, severing its life-cord. Like a cat that kills for a game, the slender golden dragon tossed the prey away, bored and uninterested. Layra was seething on the inside, her discontent growing steadily, and she couldn't help but feel like it was entirely the black dragon's fault. His fault that she was in this cave, his fault she was even alive, his fault that they were mates. Or at least, he claimed that they were, because of her change. She wasn't so convinced, though. Layra's nostrils flared reflexively, glaring at Jareth from beneath scaly eyelids, irritated at the lesson he was trying to teach her. She longed to take to the skies, hunt freely, but he kept her here in his cave, trying to educate her constantly. She'd become so submissive to him before the change, but now all she felt was contempt, and anger. He turned around and realized she'd killed the rabbit, and picked it up in his mighty jaws, tossing it back over to her. "Eat it." His voice, as always, commanded no disobedience. Layra lifted her head haughtily, lying down cat-like, but with her nose stuck in the air. "No." She glared at him, almost begging for him to whip her for such insolence. He sighed and looked at her hard, until she was squirming uncomfortably under his gaze. "We eat everything we kill, Layra. That is the way nature intended it, and that it the way it must be. Whether you like that rabbit or not, you must eat it." When she refused further, he gathered himself to his full size and she saw those golden eyes swirl some as he spoke the words that would transform her back to a human. She roared in defiance at his control over her body, but her roars turned to a scream. She immediately willed herself to change back, but found she was unable to. He walked over to her, pinning her form to the ground, and took the rabbit up in his talons. "You WILL eat this Layra, even as a human, and let it be a lesson to you. She cried out in anger and he sighed, walking away from her. She was surprised to watch his retreat; he usually forced her if she refused to do his bidding. "Do you think I enjoy this, Layra? Do you think I delight in punishing you?" At this he whirled around, and uttering a few words, changed to his human form, so tall, and so striking. "Who are you, Layra? What discontent is building on the inside? Do you not think I would help you if you would let me?" He sighed, sinking into a squat by the pool, and Layra felt smug in her power over him. He whispered his next words. "What's happened to you? What's happened to my little darling?" Layra tried to ignore his words, to ignore how her heart instinctively reached out to him when he uttered them, but her pride held her fast. Without a backward glance at her, he dipped into the pool, and disappeared from the cave. She could see his dragon form flying off in the distance, and she felt a twinge of sorrow, but it passed quickly. ~~~**~**~~~ Jareth flew in and out of the cloud cover, banking left and right at ease, not overly concerned with where he was going. His thoughts were instead occupied with his mate. Layra had become distant the last few weeks, and even resentful. She refused to sleep in his bed, instead lying on the floor, and would not spend any time with him except when forced. She constantly tried to stay in her dragon form, and he could tell she was straining to find a way out of the cave, and away from him. He just couldn't figure out why. He knew the transition was frightening, but she had freely given herself to him, and then suddenly tried to retract it. It didn't make any sense. Jareth landed on a precipice, watching the mountain goats below. Normally he would have loved to take Layra to see these things, to let her take part in the thrill of the hunt, but she had no respect for the value of life. She was becoming once again the spoiled princess she had been before he took her to his cave. Back then though, she had been so grateful to him, and in so much awe of his dragon form, she had looked at him with a kind of reverence. Naturally, he had taken to spoiling her, letting her get her way more than he should, but he had only used a firm hand at first because of her defiance. He had never intended to use one her whole life. Dragons, once mated, mated for life, and Jareth had always thought he would spoil his life-mate beyond her comprehension, letting her live a life in pleasure and joy, and expected to receive the same treatment. Layra, with her new form, was spoiled and rotten, and just plain mean. She nipped at him when she thought she could get away with it, she purposely bullied him and spoke to him disdainfully, and she was practically asking to be put in her place. Jareth toyed with the idea, it was enticing. She needed it-that was for sure. But though he had been hard on her at the beginning, forcing her was never his intention. He had asked for her complete submission, but he had still taken care of her along the way. Some may have said he'd made her into a slave, but any observer would state that he was as much a slave to her. He sighed softly, picking out the weakest goat, and swiftly dove down for the kill. The ram bleated in protest, but the dragon's swiftness and jaws made quick work of the kill, and in seconds, the fight was over. Jareth mercifully snapped its jugular, letting the animal die quickly and instantly, and then picked up the kill, taking it back to Layra. In her giant form, it seemed there was never enough food to satisfy her. ~~~**~**~~~ Layra stretched out by the pool, her golden scales glittering with the jewels' reflection. She idly drew a talon across the water, loving the ripples it made. Though Jareth was a fire dragon, she was naturally a water one, and her transformation was through a wave of liquid. Instead of breathing fire, she could control water bodies and even emit them from her own being. Jareth had remarked on how incredible it was. She didn't know it yet, but soon she would be able to go under water for extended periods of time, and eventually could even dwell down there, only coming up if she wanted to change. She saw Jareth surfacing in the pool and looked at the ram in his great jaws. He swam over to the bank and dropped the kill on the ground before climbing out himself. Even though she tormented him and hated him, in spite of herself, she was still amazed by his form. He was huge, the largest dragon she had ever seen, and blacker than the darkest night or the deepest abyss. His gold eyes were as pure as the color of her scales, and though he was so large, he was incredibly lithe too, moving with grace that she did not possess, and would perhaps never attain. Although she was dragon herself, she would never have all the skills that natural dragons possess, though she may have some that humans-turned-dragons did. Jareth hadn't shared with her yet what those skills were, though she had tried to bully him into telling her. He dropped the ram before her, and without a second glance, moved over to the rock he often preened on and settled, watching her. Layra quickly devoured the ram, bones and all, crunching away. She cast a glance at him and her clear blue eyes narrowed. She got up, leaving the meal half-eaten, and waltzed away, back up the tunnel. "The meat's tough. Perhaps you can do better next time." She didn't cast a backward glance, and never even noticed that Jareth, as usual, didn't eat a bite of the catch. ~~~**~**~~~ Layra slept, as was her habit nowadays, on the floor outside Jareth's door. She was so uncomfortable, and hardly slept a wink, but denying Jareth her warm presence gave her some bit of comfort. She didn't know why she was torturing him so, or why she held such animosity. In truth, all he had ever done was save her. But Layra longed for more, a life outside of this place, and with her dragon form, she didn't need Jareth. She thought back over his words. What had changed? Why was she so defiant now? She couldn't answer these questions. Layra had never had anyone and she certainly didn't them now. No, she thought to herself, Jareth was a means to an end, and I don't need him now that I'm a dragon. For some reason, in the pit of her heart, the thought, and her denial of her love for him, saddened her. She cried herself to sleep without realizing it. ~~~**~**~~~ Jareth watched her, as he did every night, as sobs racked her body. He longed to comfort her, but when he had tried, she hadn't let him near. He could see so clearly that she was keeping herself from him, but why, he couldn't be sure. He stretched easily in the shadows, admiring the way she slept. Pure dragons had no need for sleep, and so never did, though he could be caught curled up in a rest-like fashion of a cat nap. Layra didn't realize this, and he felt no need to tell her, if she had realized he didn't need sleep, she'd probably try it too. Why was she so damn defiant? Jareth thought back to that first week after the change, when she'd curl up against him as they read in the library. Layra was so affectionate during those days, preparing all their meals, waiting for him at the pool when he'd returned from a hunt, insisting on sharing what he'd killed for her. They'd spent nights making love to each other until she was so exhausted she couldn't move, and he'd reveled in her ferocity in their bed as her dragon-self forced her passions to grow hotter and wilder. He was shaken out of his reverie by a hot, warm sensation gripping him, and when he looked down, he had to blink to make sure he was seeing right. Layra was between his legs, his member in her mouth, and looking up at him with the most doe-looking eyes he could remember her showing. He smiled at her, and she smiled back, and continued to suck him deeper and deeper, as his erection eagerly grew in her mouth. She must have forgotten how large he was, because she soon started to gag and had to take shallower strokes, but she continued none the less, working at him with her mouth in the exact movements that he had once told her he loved. He was too caught in abandon to wonder why she was being this way. When he felt the familiar tightening and he began to grow even larger in her mouth, she sucked him in hard, and he couldn't hold back the explosion as he gripped her hair tightly, his hands forcing her mouth to take him in all his length, and the wonderful feeling of her swallowing every inch of him. When he began to soften, he reached down and scooped her up into his arms, taking her into the room and laying her down on the bed. He made quick work of her robe, removing in a single swoop, and lowered himself down upon her, his forked tongue searching for the cavity between her neck and shoulder, sending delicious sensations through her body. Layra wiggled and writhed underneath him, seeming to beg for more of his ministrations, and he worked his way down her body to one puckered nipple, taking it into his mouth and suckling hard, drawing a delightful mewling sound from her. He moved to the other one, working his way slowly with nips and kisses, and took it into his mouth, licking in circles and then flicking it with his tongue, while his other hand pinched and pulled at the abandoned peak. Layra arched against him, the feeling coming back to her so readily, her need growing stronger and stronger as Jareth played her body like a fine-tuned violin, knowing just where she wanted him to go, and just where to touch to give her that release. She had to admit, he was never selfish in bed. He moved down on her, kissing her navel and all the way to between her thighs, her musk so strong to his dragon senses. His tongue snaked out and took a lick that had her writhing, crying out for more. He continued to lick her, gently, teasingly, and she realized he was toying with her. She grew angry and tried to force him, but she realized quickly that though Jareth was a patient teacher, when his passion and arousal was in full swing, he was every bit the dragon who had torn those men apart in the glade so many weeks ago. He snarled at her ferally and rose up over her, pinning her wrists down to the bed, and in her anger, she kicked right for his growing groin, missing him by a centimeter. A second later, she was cowering down as red hot flames licked over her head, and she looked up in the red eyes of a very large, very enraged black dragon. She instantly remembered, from all her reading, that dragons only shifted forms involuntarily when they lost control of their passions, be it grief, joy, or in this case, anger. This caused her to cower even further into the sheets. "ENOUGH!" His voice boomed, reverberating the room and causing pictures to fall to the floor, shattering. She had never seen him angry in his dragon state, or at least, not directed at her. "I will have no more of this." His voice wasn't as loud, but it wasn't gentle, either. She could see that although in dragon form, he still had the erection, although due to his large size, it was much, much more formidable. She realized he might pummel it into her, as angry as he was. She tried to hold as still as possible, more afraid than she had ever been, even before her change. She had forgotten that Jareth, though she pushed him around and bullied him, was a dragon, and still had dragon limits. She didn't even try to will herself to change; she knew it wouldn't be possible. She was shocked to feel a talon gently graze across her labia, and involuntarily lifted her hips. She felt something white hot, like fire, for a fraction of a second, but then a softer touch. She looked up to see the face of Jareth, in human form, but still with red eyes. She realized he had changed himself back, gathering control of himself once more. Though she was afraid, she involuntarily arched her body with need; she was so close to orgasm. He toyed with her, keeping her on the brink, and when she began to beg and plead with him to take her, he removed his hand and looked at her. "Who do you belong to, Layra?" He asked in soft tones. She looked at him and growled. "I belong to no one!" She continued to wriggle on the sheets, glaring at him. He toyed with her more, bringing her so close again. "Who do you belong to, Layra?" He asked again, no change in his voice. "NO ONE!" She roared back, and lunged for him, trying to force him to satisfy her. He easily pinned her to the ground and shoved deep inside of her, burying himself to the hilt and moving in and out in an animalistic rage. She cried out at the sudden pain of being taken so forcefully, and tried to get away, but he held her still as he slammed into her, demanding her to look at him. "Who do you belong to??" He said it again, maddening her. "No one, Jareth! No one and especially never you!" She yelled at him, furious. She was so close to orgasm, she could feel it clenching around her, but she knew he wouldn't drive her over the edge. She knew what she wanted; she just hated to give it. "You, Jareth! I belong to you!" She snarled, even though she knew she didn't mean it, but she got what she wanted. At her words, Jareth dipped into her hard, rubbing her nub with his body, and she crashed into ecstasy, floating away in pleasure. She didn't open her eyes when Jareth pulled out of her, nor when he set her on their bed, or when he wiped her clean. She didn't realize it when he didn't crawl into bed beside her, and she didn't know that he left the cave, their home, and took off into the dark night on beating wings, large dragon tears glistening in his eyes. ~~~**~**~~~ Layra woke up alone. She was ecstatic her plan had worked; she knew that if she had given Jareth pleasure, he would be off to hunt in the morning, giving her time to execute her plan. She didn't want to admit to herself she had enjoyed it, too. No, she had simply done what was necessary to get what she wanted. Right? Shaking these thoughts from her head, Layra moved in the direction of the tunnel, skirting down it to the pool, where she morphed herself. Though the pool was at the bottom of the cave, it was the only way out of the place. Of course, it was so deep that humans couldn't swim that far to get into it, but luckily, as a dragon, and a water one at that, she was confident she could do so. She stretched out her wings, the golden membranes stretching long, and dove down into the water. At the sight of the jewels, she took a few choice goods; those would help her to get started in a new place. She beat her wings and swam for what seemed minutes until she neared the surface, and came up, looking around. She couldn't believe it - it was the spring she had swam in all those times before she'd met Jareth for the first time. That must've been how he had found her so quickly. She pulled herself out onto the bank and willed herself to change back to a human, but quickly realized she had been rash in her plan, for she had no clothes and hadn't thought to bring any. She looked around and saw she was alone, so for now, she'd simply have to find a village and steal clothes off a line. Layra looked around at this place she hadn't seen in so many weeks. Why had he kept her underground anyway? She thought briefly of going back to the kingdom, but remembered the brutes that had tried to rape her. Instead, she headed in the direction of a village she knew would be to the West, not in too much of a hurry, but not wanting to get caught in the nude, either. ~~~**~**~~~ Layra finally saw the village in the distance, much, much later in the day, and felt relieved. She was dirty and tired, and starving, and she was sure she'd feel better after a food, a bath, and some clean clothes. Though she should have felt bad for thieving, she was still in the frame of mind that everything in the kingdom belonged to her. She laid down under a tree to sleep, exhausted by her walk. Layra knew she could've gotten there in two strokes of her great wings if she had changed, she also knew that she would've drawn so much attention to herself, and would've been struck down dead. She sighed as she drifted off into a dreamless sleep, feeling very safe and, though she didn't yet realize it, very alone. Layra awoke, suddenly, to the rough feeling of someone yanking her out of her sleep. She growled and went to snap at the hand that did so, figuring it was Jareth waking her in the morning, but then the realization that she was far from home dawned, and she opened her eyes blearily as a hand roughly pulled a hood over her head and bound her hands. She tried to cry out, but a gag was put around the hood, and she found herself at the mercy of whoever her captor was, bound and already naked for him. She shuddered at the thought, but didn't have much time to do so before she was shoved roughly to what her feet told her was a kind of path, and led towards who knows where. ~~~**~**~~~ Layra blinked and opened her eyes as the hood was roughly torn away from her face. She blinked once, twice, to try to acclimate to the light that her eyes were not used to. She was still bound at her hands, and now that she could see, she realized at her feet as well, though she should've felt that without seeing it. She decided she was just disoriented. She looked around to try to find her captor, but there was no one in sight. Finally, a man came into view, and she looked at him, trying to size up how hard it would be to morph and devour him. She waited though, she was curious to see what would happen next. Curious and defiant to the last. The man approached her, and she saw he was a large, burly type of brute, but he didn't look particularly cruel either. He sat down at the chair opposite of where she lay strewn on the floor, drinking a glass of water. When she looked at him searchingly, he lowered the glass to her lips to let her drink, and then murmured something to a woman who had suddenly appeared beside him. Δράκος: Νερό Pt. 02 "Yes, yes, go ahead and make her something, as well." She continued to watch him, leery, but not particularly so, after all, he had given her water and was making a meal for her. They watched each other this way for while. Finally, he spoke. "I can't help but wonder what a girl like you is doin' in the woods," he rumbled, but she noted his voice didn't reverberate the room. She immediately chastised herself; of course it didn't; only Jareth's voice did that. "And naked at that...." He added, after a moment. She hadn't considered the implications of what was happening here, she had always been naked when she was with Jareth, for they morphed so often it was silly to try and dress – their clothes would be ruined so quickly that way. She was glad, at least, that he didn't seem to realize who she was. "Yes, sir," she chose her words carefully, "I was on a morning ride and was thrown from my horse. Thieves attacked me and took my clothes and parcels, leaving me completely stranded. She was so obviously naïve, thieves would never take a woman's clothes without raping her in the process, but what had happened to her mattered very little to the man. "I see. Well, we shall fetch you some clothes immediately. You really must stay here for now, though, because there are several men in the village who may not be as kind as I, and we would hate for anything to happen to you, wouldn't we?" She nodded, though she silently thought to herself that she could handle anything that tried to "happen" to her, her dragon form could devour this whole village, her ability with water could flood it in an instant. The man moved over to her and silently undid her bindings, and held out a simple dress to her, implying that she put it on. She took it and stood, dressing quickly, but she suddenly longed to remove it, feeling more naked it in that she did without clothes. She nodded her thanks and took the bowl of stew offered to her, devouring it quickly-she was starving. Once her belly was full, she settled down on the cot next to the fire, feeling warm and hazy, and happy at her new-found freedom. The man watched her sleep, sighing sadly to himself. He hated that they had to do this, offer up young girls as sacrifices, but what choice did he have? It was either this beautiful young woman before him, or one of his own, one of the villagers. He couldn't let that happen. Tomorrow she would be gone, and hopefully, the sacrifice would be met. ~~~**~**~~~ Layra woke to hushed voices whispering, but she kept very still, trying not to show that she was awake, for the topic of conversation was most definitely very interesting to her. "The King has been searching everywhere for the princess - haven't you heard?" This came from the woman who had given her the stew. "Yes, there have been rumors of that, but I don't believe them at all. They say that whoever brings her to him will receive a lordship." The man answered. "I just wish I knew what she looked like!" The woman snorted. "What do you think he'll do with her?" The man shook his head, though Layra didn't see this, she somehow sensed it. "Who knows? I've heard he means to kill her, others say to take her as a consort." Layra bit her lip. So Jareth was right after all, her father really did mean her harm. Lucky for her, these people had no idea who she was. She made up her mind to leave in the morning light, not wanting to risk being found out. Layra had no such chance. ~~~**~**~~~ Early that morning, before the sun rose, she was hauled to her feet and the dress removed from her body while she was still bleary-eyed, and dumped into water. Two women scrubbed her from head to toe, making sure she was extra clean, and her hair was brushed until it shone. She no longer kept it in the braid, though Jareth had instructed that she must, but had left it down and long since she had left, no longer his possession. After the bath, she was removed and dried, then clothed again. She made to protest this treatment, but she was gagged, and then bound, though she thought she saw pity in the women's eyes, and taken outside into the sunrise, looking like maiden marching to her wedding bed. Layra was taken to a small circle made from stone, and she saw that not a soul was in sight, though her heightened senses told her they were watching. She hadn't morphed herself yet, more out of curiosity than anything else, but she was starting to reach her limits. Just when she was about to utter the word, the man came to her and sighed, running a finger down her cheek. "I am so sorry that it has to be this way, but you see, if we don't offer you, he'll take one of us." He moved away from Layra, and bound her to a stake in the center of the ring, and then moved out of it himself. He went back to the house, quickly, and latched himself inside. Layra pondered this for a moment, what was she being offered a sacrifice to? This was all very much like a dragon sacrifice, but Jareth didn't take sacrifices-she always thought he was too weak to do so- and he was the only one within leagues of here...wasn't he? Suddenly, there was a terrible roar and a familiar beating of wings, and she screamed into the gag as a blood-red dragon dropped before her, looking its wine-red lips eagerly. She could feel its green eyes boring into her soul, and before she had a chance to morph herself, it picked her up into its talons and took flight. Despite her defiant resolve, she lost consciousness as the ground rushed quickly away from them. ~~~**~**~~~ Layra awoke to a very familiar feeling, and she sighed as she realized it had all been a dream. A very, very bad dream. She may detest Jareth, but it was better than being eaten by a red dragon. She made to sit up and couldn't, she looked and realized she was chained to the wall, a collar around her neck. Like a pet dog... Or a slave. Jareth had once told her not to leave their cave, because other dragons out there were known to make slaves out of the humans they found. She shuddered, trying to acclimate herself to what she was seeing. Unlike Jareth's cave, this one was very shabbily furnished, and she could tell this dragon didn't take any interest in higher education. She looked around for more clues as to just where she was or what she had been taken by, but there was nothing there to give it away. She sighed, closing her eyes, feeling a little bit of remorse for the first time in a long time. Why had she been so hateful to Jareth? He had proven time and time again that he could take care of her, why had she denied him herself? He was powerful but merciful, passionate yet tender, and was undoubtedly a slave to her demands. She had treated him like a spoiled child would treat their nursemaid, when really, she had this new-found power because of him. He had given her every wish she had, being "cruel" to her for her own good, and she had denied him and ran away. Layra curled into a ball on the floor, at least as much of one as she could accomplish because of her chains, and cursed herself for her stupidity. She was lost without Jareth, he was her whole world, and now she didn't know if he'd even want her. The fact that they were mates had little to do with it. Still, she held on to her hope. She just had to wait a little while, and Jareth would rescue her. He always did. ~~~**~**~~~ Layra jumped at the feeling of cool breath on her neck. She opened her eyes blearily and looked into the burning green eyes of the large red dragon. He laughed softly, and she could feel him leering at her, taking in her naked body for his own pleasure. She shuddered under his gaze, but she tried to remain strong, she knew if she got the chance to morph, it would only be for a moment, and she had to time it just right. That was the only way she could hope to get away from this monster. She could feel in his gaze that compassion and kindness were not there. He sniffed at her sex lazily, noting how dry she was, and then stepped back, uttering a word. An explosion of rocks surrounded him, but amazingly didn't hit her, and she was staring at a tall, red-haired man before her, with chilling green eyes. He was not nearly as tall as Jareth, and though his hair was long, it was not braided neatly, but pulled up into a type of plait, though still unruly. He studied her for a moment. "You are not surprised by this change..." He stated it rather than asking, as if he was alone in the room. Though she was no longer gagged, she did not make a sound. "It would seem as if you have seen a dragon before." He nodded, as if by coming to this conclusion, he was brilliant. "How interesting that you are free now, though. I do not know of any dragon that frees its slave once he has acquired it." Then, it suddenly dawned on Layra. Jareth's kindness, his tenderness, these were because he was allowing her the choice to be with him, the choice to be his mate. He could easily, just as this dragon did, take her as a slave, keep her chained and collared, but he did not, instead giving her the chance to love him as desperately as he loved her. He loved her. Jareth, though he was confusing at times, loved her deeply. And she had betrayed him. She felt a tear fall down her cheek, but the man before her mistook it for fear instead of remorse. "Do not worry, it will be quite pleasurable for you as well, if you let it be," He said, his voice holding some strong reverberations, but nothing like Jareth's deep voice. She realized he fully intended to have his way with her. His erection stood out from his body, and she detested the sight of it, although she couldn't help comparing its smaller size with that of her mate's impressive equipment. She blushed at the thought, and again, the dragon man mistook her reaction. "Like what you see, eh? That's a good sign, slave. You will be easy to train. I'll give you the benefit of seeing how loyal you really can be." With that he moved and released her bonds, though he knew full well that if she resisted he could easily snap her in two, so he felt no real risk. As he turned around and walked towards a chair in the room, he heard a loud voice behind him, and whirled around. "Νερό!" Layra shouted, standing at her full height, waiting for the transformation. Nothing. She shouted the word again, but the entire room was silent. Then, the man laughed. Hard. She glared at him but he fell down into the chair, his whole body shaking with laughter. She sank to the ground, feeling utterly confused. She had said the word that would transform her in the dragon tongue, but nothing had happened. She was still her. The man walked over to her and grabbed her by the hair, hauling her up. She screamed at the intense pain. "You are a mated dragon?!" He snarled at her, and she could see the fury in his eyes, despite the mocking humor behind them. She was surprised that he could tell this just from her attempt, but no humans knew dragon tongue, and she was clearly not a pure dragon. Layra could only conclude that this man before her knew of such information, as she assumed all dragons did. She didn't answer at first but nodded docilely when he pulled her hair even harder. "You cannot transform, though, can you?" He mused out loud. "You have defied your mate and therefore can no longer embank on the power that he has given you." He laughed again. "Oh, how incredibly ironic! You sought freedom but found yourself as captured as a caged bird!" Layra cried softly as he held her hair in a death grip, shaking his head as he studied her. "Well, it doesn't really matter if you were another's mate, anyhow, for that shall not be my purpose with you." At this he growled gutturally and dropped her down to the floor, lust and desire filling his eyes, though not with a desire to please her. He grabbed her face and pushed himself into her mouth, his erection choking her and causing her to gag. He held her face there, his fingers buried in her hair, and thrust in and out, delighting in the choking sensations her throat gave him. As if reading her mind, he spat out hoarsely, "God help you if you even think of biting down." Layra tried to block all of this from her mind, the intense pain of him, the feelings of guilt and disgust, and just focus on getting him off, hoping he would leave her alone and she could figure out how to escape. At last he came, but she ripped her mouth off of him at the last second and spat on the floor, unwilling to swallow his cum. He growled and backhanded her, then dragged her by her hair to the wall, chaining her collar around her neck once more and throwing her to the ground. Once down, she curled into a ball, and he kicked her, hard. She tried to muffle her cry, but she couldn't help it. He leaned down and whispered in her ear. "I'll be back for more, little bitch, and you better be more cooperative next time." With that he kicked her once more and stalked away, muttering and cursing to himself. ~~~**~**~~~ Layra wasn't sure how long she lay there, but it felt like days. She couldn't feel very much, she was numb and so hungry, her skin clung to her bones. Her hair had begun to fall out, and she desperately wished to braid it back how Jareth wanted it, but she felt too weak to move. The red dragon hadn't come back to her; she hadn't seen anything of him. She was grateful for this, but also afraid, if he was gone for so long, he must be plotting something sinister to do to her. It was during those long hours that Layra thought back on the peace she had shared with Jareth, before she had become so resentful and conceited. They had spent many nights reading to each other, her curled up against his leg, though he never forced her to do so. She had mistaken his love and tenderness for her as weakness, believing that she had the upper-hand, when really, she should have been content to simply love him just as much in return. The hours they had spent together, where he never left her side except while she slept, and he would return in the morning with a fresh kill for both of them. He had doted on her, giving in to her every whim and desire, spoiling her more than any ladies' maid ever could, demanding obedience from her, but giving all of himself in return. She fell asleep thinking such thoughts, and always, she woke up hoping this was all but a dream, and she was once again in her mate's bed, curled up tight against his side, her face nuzzled in the hollow of his neck. ~~~**~**~~~ Layra awoke, suddenly, to the flapping of wings and a muffled scream. She looked over to see the red dragon perched in the mouth of his cave, a skinny woman clutched in his jaws. He dropped her to the ground carelessly and she landed with a thud, and Layra was sure she had broken something. She shrank back, trying to not draw any attention to herself, the look on the dragon's face was foreboding. The girl didn't move a muscle, but Layra thought she heard a low groan. The dragon morphed back into his human form, rocks flying around him for a moment but not hitting anything once more, and stalked towards this new girl lying on the ground. Layra tried to close her eyes, not wanting to see what happened next, for though naïve, she had a pretty strong feeling of what was coming. She couldn't help but stare on in horror. In a single move, the dragon man (for he had not yet given her his name, and she did not ask for it) flipped the girl onto her back and thrust deep inside of her, his eyes boring into Layra's, making sure she was watching. The girl couldn't possibly have been ready for him, and she cried out in anguish, though how she was even conscious was beyond Layra. The small form tried to move away from him, but with her body broken from the drop, there was no escape. He continued to rape her right in front of Layra, smiling ferally, and then flipped the girl onto her stomach. He paused for a moment and then rammed himself into her unlubricated bottom, and she screamed in complete terror and agony as she was taken unmercifully. He drove into her with wild animalistic abandon, not caring how she was hurting, with one hand around her throat, choking her. Layra tried to close her eyes, but she was forced to keep them open by some power beyond her control. She could not look away or move, but was made to watch what was happening before her. The dragon man then did something beyond her imagination, and she screamed out in her own weak voice as it happened. He pulled out of the girl, then morphed himself, and pushed back into her entrance in his dragon form, his member splitting the girl in half. Layra knew it had to have killed her, for the girl's face froze in horror, and then her wide eyes went glassy. The red dragon did not stop, but continued to take her, until he reached his release and pushed into her hard one last time. Layra felt hot tears rolling down her face for the girl, but she had little time to think of this, because as soon as he pulled out, the dragon leaned down, sniffed her dead body, then snapped her into his jaws in one bite, devouring her whole. He looked back at her, the green eyes a swirl of black, and laughed gutturally at the mortification on her face. Without a backward glance, he stalked back into his cave, leaving her there alone, and terrified beyond her wits. ~~~**~**~~~ The next time he woke Layra up, it was to a low laugh. She slept most of the hours of the day, for there was nothing else to do in her present state, and without food and only enough water to keep her barely alive, she was so weak that she couldn't muster the strength to stay sitting, let alone to stand. At first she had thought it was just out of cruelty, but now she realized the red dragon man was purposely starving her so she wouldn't put up a fight. She turned her head in the direction of the voice, but she was so used to the dark, she had problems focusing her eyes on anything. When she had been with Jareth, her senses had risen beyond normal levels, but without him, she was once more an average human being. She tried to focus on where the laugh was, but could only make out the blurry figure of him sitting in a chair. His voice sent tingles down her spine. "Well, princess, is it?" She tensed at these words, he knew who she was. "I knew you looked familiar, in some way. I have just recently been to town to get some...necessities...and saw a picture of you in the market window. It would seem you are...wanted...by the King. Though I have no use for any type of Lordship, it does make you much more...let's say, interesting to me." Layra held perfectly still, afraid of what he would do. While her father might be safer than being raped and eaten by a dragon, he still wasn't much better. "So it would seem I am at a crossroads. I do not know what to do with you at this moment. Though I would love to keep you and devour you, it would seem that you may be a worthy enough piece to convince the King to offer sacrifices to me throughout the entire Kingdom." At this, he licked his lips, and she shuddered again at the memory of the girl from before. "I suppose I could deliver you to the King myself. I would enjoy getting another taste of you, but perhaps I can up the ante by abstaining from such. A full Kingdom under my control is certainly worth passing up on a princess, though I'm sure you would be such a...delightful...morsel." He stood from the chair and moved towards her, but she did not have the energy to shrink back. "We will leave in the morning. Perhaps I'll even let you bathe before then." And with a kick to her bruised ribs, he lumbered off deep into his cave. Before Layra drifted out of consciousness, she heard a woman's pleading scream from the direction he had headed, and then... Silence. ~~~**~**~~~ Early the next morning, Layra was woken roughly and removed from the chains holding her. She was too weak to struggle, and the dragon man quickly bound her wrists together with leather straps, and formed a set of hobbles around her ankles, should she suddenly find the strength to run, though he quite doubted that. Since the cave was so high on a mountain that humans could never get to it on their own, he decided to fly them further down the road, so as to get to the castle faster and get the girl off of his hands before he changed his mind. While he would've loved to take a bite of her, he was more eager for the girls he knew he'd be getting at the end of the dirty deal. Δράκος: Νερό Pt. 02 Layra didn't protest or struggle against him when he gave her water, or when he forced some sort of broth down her throat. Though it gave her no extra energy, it gave the appearance to mortal humans that she was in excellent health, when in reality, her ribs extended far past her shrunken belly. Dragons' magic was a powerful, powerful thing. The sustenance only served to make Layra hungrier, but she did not have the will to try anymore. Too long had she gone without food, too long had she been chained to the wall of the cave. While a human might believe what the magic made them see, Layra was a day away from her deathbed. She had long since given up hope that Jareth would come looking for her, no doubt he was glad to be rid of her and had already found a new mate. Layra knew very little of the true nature of dragons, and that once they had found their mate, it was for life. She was picked up into the talons of the blood red dragon, and though the claws cut into her unmercifully, she did not even flinch. The fight was gone out of her. They flew for what seemed awhile, though Layra was sure it was only a matter of minutes. Her ability to tell the time had faded, her eyes stayed closed to avoid the harsh sunlight she had not seen in so long. Her bruised ribs cried out in anguish from the death grip the dragon held on her, but she did not utter a sound, instead silently hoping that this would be the end of her; that she would not live to make it to the castle. They landed in a clearing not far from the village the dragon had originally taken her from. He dropped her roughly to the ground but she did not move, lacking the strength to roll away from. The dragon morphed into the man once again, and she watched him pull clothes out of a pack she had not noticed before. He dressed swiftly and then walked over to her and hauled her to her feet, dragging her to a pool they were near for she hadn't the strength to walk for herself. He hauled her into the water and held her under, scrubbing at her body and getting all the sweat and dirt off. When she could no longer hold her breath and felt her lungs were near bursting, he pulled her up, giving her a split second to breathe before he pushed her back under, scrubbing harder to remove all the blood. When his hands brushed over her bruised ribs, she made to cry out, but instead swallowed a mouthful of water and began to choke. He pulled her back up and laid her on the bank while she coughed and sputtered, and set about washing her hair until it shone. He was not tender in any of his ministrations, but rather approached it as simply as if he was washing fruit or dishes. The magic potion he had made her drink put color in her cheeks and meat on her bones as an illusion, but with her body nicely clean, she definitely looked the part of the princess once more. Her lithe muscles she had developed while in her dragon form had wasted away, but to the mortal eye, she looked every bit the royal part. The man pulled a dress over her body, a simple white one similar to the ones she used to ride in, and dropped some sort of liquid onto her leather bonds. At once, they disappeared, but she could still feel them binding her, a clever trick. Layra looked into the pool for a moment, and couldn't believe what she saw there, it was like looking into an enchanted mirror that showed the past. She knew it was a trick, but her own eyes betrayed her. She sighed, but had little time to think over these things, as she was hauled to her feet once more. The man inspected her carefully, then, seeming appeased, proceeded to pull her along back to the path that would lead to the kingdom. Layra could hardly walk along beside him, but she was forced to but some power yet again that was not her own. Layra searched the skies, but to no avail, her dragon would not come. ~~~**~**~~~ It was nearing dark when they finally stopped. Layra was past exhaustion, past coherence, past caring. They had walked all day, flying in remote parts of the countryside, and were just outside of Larkenshire and the castle of the kingdom at this point. She wasn't sure how she had put one foot after the other, but somehow, she had. The dragon man had snapped a collar around her neck and chained her to a nearby tree in the glade where they rested for the night. He planned to present her at first light to the King. She sighed to herself, thinking over what would happen the next day. The man that held her captive had sent out a courier to the King to alert him that he was to meet them in this very glade if he wanted the princess. Where the dragon had found a courier was beyond Layra's understanding, but at this point, she didn't really care. The King would appear, and be presented with his daughter, but the dragon man would first tell him his conditions. He was to be offered a sacrifice of a virgin girl once a season from every village in the kingdom. When the King would scoff at this, the red-haired man would morph into his dragon form, and the King and his knights would cower down in fear, for although he was not near Jareth's size, he was still much larger than an average human man. The King would, of course, agree to these conditions, and she would be handed over. What her future was beyond that was anyone's guess, but she figured that instead of killing her, the King would keep her as his own personal sex slave, since she had cost him so greatly. She shivered at the thought and the horror of such a deal. The dragon man lay in the glade not far from where she was chained, but even if Layra had been able to escape, she wouldn't have had the energy to even try. She settled herself and closed her eyes, her thoughts and dreams carrying her to the same place they always did – the safety of Jareth's arms. How she longed for him, to feel his tender gaze upon her as she undressed, to feel the heat emanating from his skin as his dragon fire burned hot and deep, to feel his forked tongue caressing her body in loving, passionate desire as he moved from her throat to her breasts, leaving no inch of skin untouched. To see his eyes as he dipped between her thighs and into her tight center, toying with her as he brought her so close to the brink, knowing just where to touch her, his pleasure reflected in those golden eyes at the moans she emitted in pure ecstasy. To feel his body connecting with hers, and the low groan he would always utter as he slid deep inside of her, claiming her as his own and uniting their bodies once more. Layra cried herself to sleep once more, but it was not out of spite, but pure, unbridled desire for her mate, and the life she had once had. ~~~**~**~~~ The following morning, before the sun had even begun to touch the tips of the trees, Layra woke on her own accord. Though weaker every day, she felt a kind of energy at being out of that horrible cave and in the soft grass bed she had rested on. To hear the birds singing and not be surrounded by the stench of blood or the sight of human bones was a freedom in itself. If Layra had ever thought she wasn't free before, she truly understood bondage now. She longed to morph herself and take to the skies, flying alongside Jareth as they danced in and out of the wind currents, high above the mountains and cloud-bank. She still felt the inner strength, the touch of defiance, but the dragon man that held her captive had starved her, removing all physical capabilities of showing such traits. Not that it really mattered now, for the King would be here soon, and as she now lost hope, no one would save her. Not this time. The dragon man was moving around, and she remembered that such men did not require sleep, though she had hid this knowledge from Jareth at the time. She watched him under still-bleary eyes, though they were slowly adjusting to the light again, and she knew it would not be long before the knights arrived, followed by the King. The man turned to her and grinned wolfishly to see her awake, but he made no move towards her. Instead he leaned down and drank from the stream that they had stopped by, offering her none, but making sure that she was watching as he let the cool water dribble down his chin. She felt the familiar flare of animosity in her chest. How she hated this man! But she could do nothing for it; as it was, Layra still was incapable of walking but a few steps, as weak as she was, and her sole existence relied entirely on the grotesque creature that sat before her. He smirked as she dryly licked her lips, and he could see how badly she wanted, and probably needed, the water. He still did not offer her any, but stood quickly at the familiar fanfare of trumpets as the party moved towards them, and towards the glade. Layra watched on as a group gathered in the clearing, and she could see the amazement on the faces of the soldiers as they recognized her, their mortal eyes not seeing past the spell he had placed on her. She wondered how long it would take for the potion to wear off. Shortly after they gathered and took up the familiar pattern of the circle, her father, the King himself, entered into the glade, staring at the man before him, after a brief glance in her direction. While the red-haired hunter wasn't particularly intimidating to the King's eyes, something about those bright green orbs spoke worlds of apprehension to the King. However, he was desperate to have the princess back, and so he continued his dismount. He walked to the center of the glade and stood a few feet away from the man, drawing himself to his full height. "It would seem I am your debt, Sir, for you have successfully returned my daughter to me. As per the reward stated for such an act, I shall grant you a Lordship in my Kingdom, with your choice of the land and flocks." The King stated this all without realizing how much trouble he was about to be in. The man laughed a deep laugh, that faded out to a snarl. "Your highness, I have no use for a Lordship, what I seek as a reward is much more worthy." The King looked at him questioningly. "Well, state what you desire and it shall be yours." The man's grin curled into a wicked smile, and Layra, who was watching this exchange from a distance, could see his fangs elongating. "I desire a sacrifice every season, from each village in your Kingdom, of one virgin." He sneered. The King stared at him for a moment, before letting out a laugh, followed by the knights surrounding him. "That's rich! A virgin, every season, from each village?" He laughed harder than ever, tears rolling down his face. Layra closed her eyes, she knew what was coming. The red-haired man closed his eyes and shouted the word he used to change, and in moments, a blood-red dragon stood in the glade before them. The King went ashen at the sight, and one of the younger knights fainted. The dragon snarled and his voice boomed out a word Layra did not recognize, and the small cliff behind them exploded and shattered, not close enough to harm anyone, but certainly enough for the King to realize his power. His eyes widened and he looked at Layra, his daughter. She was not worth such a bargain, there were plenty of young women he could have just as easily, but he got the distinct feeling that the dragon was not really using Layra as a bargaining piece. She was simply the ploy to get the King to come. Still, he could not give in to this brute and lose his control over the kingdom. "Layra is simply not worth a virgin from each village for as long as you desire! Keep her!" He spat out, trying to back out of burning range, not knowing that only certain dragons breathed fire. The red dragon roared at him and stomped over to Layra, ripping her chains from the tree. "I will still have my demands, but for your refusal, I will punish you, first." He grasped her in one mighty paw, and she closed her eyes, bracing herself for the intense pain she knew she would feel right before he snapped her in half. She waited. And waited. But nothing came. Time seemed to go in extra slow motion, and she opened her eyes just as a shadow blurred out the sun before it torpedoed to the middle of the red dragon. She fell to the ground in a heap just as she heard a mighty roar, and looked around to see the King and knights scrambling behind logs and trees, watching with horror and amazement as a massive black dragon grabbed the throat of the red one and bit down, hard. The red dragon voiced his fury, but the black dragon only returned the noise, his own vicious snarl reverberating the trees and causing the river to shudder, the cliff-face breaking apart even further at the echo of his deep roar. Though significantly smaller than his foe, the red dragon was wound up so tightly in pride that he would not back down from a fight, even when it was clear that he was the underdog. He tried to shake the larger dragon from its death grip, but could do nothing to loosen his jaws. He scratched and bit, and finally, a back talon met its mark in the belly of the black, and he loosened his grip just enough for the red to rip away. They circled each other, the black dragon at least double the size of the smaller, and his black scales glittered deep in his fury. His eyes swirled a deep red, the same color as the scales of his attacker. They met in a ball of fury once again, each trying to get the upper hand, but it was an easy match for the black dragon as he found a death grip once again. The red dragon ripped his neck away at the last second and took to the skies, hoping that his smaller size would give him swiftness in the air. The black dragon quickly followed, and they met once more, slashing at each other and roaring, doing incredible flips and acrobatics throughout the air. It was clear that the black dragon was almost toying with his foe, but when his dragon eyes looked below and saw Layra, lying on the ground, a look of terror on her face, his entire fight changed. ~~~**~**~~~ At first, this fight was about another dragon in his territory. Jareth, as all dragons were prone to be, was extremely possessive over the Kingdom as his own territory, and dragons do not live within miles of each other. When he had detected this dragon, he had been biding his time, waiting for the right moment. But when he beheld Layra, he suddenly understood. He had looked for her for weeks when he'd discovered she was gone, but to no avail, it was like she had disappeared into thin air. He knew she would no longer change since she had left, but he had begun to lose hope of finding her, though he looked day after day and night after night. He had torn the kingdom apart trying to find her, and at last had taken to watching the castle, knowing that if anyone did find her, they'd bring her here for their reward. His dragon eyes saw past the potion, and he felt physically sick at the creature she now was, a day away from starving to death, bruises covering her whole body, her hair falling out and the color gone from her cheeks. The nausea quickly formed into rage, an animalistic desire to kill and destroy the red dragon that had tortured his mate, and the black dragon let out a breath of fire that burned the eyes of his attacker, causing them to crash into each other. They met in a ball, descending to the ground in a tumultuous battle, and he positioned the red dragon underneath him so that he took the brunt of the fall. With his advantageous position on top, Jareth reached for his jugular, the sensitive patch of scales that would sever the animal's life, but the red dragon was fast and darted away, snaking his head around to take an once-in-a-lifetime shot at the death grip on Jareth's neck. Though he twisted and turned, he could not free himself, and he felt the red dragon's teeth grinding down to the cord that would end his life. He raised his eyes to look at Layra, who was standing so close to where they landed, and took in a last view of her. She was standing now, bound in leather manacles, what was left of her blond hair whipping around her face as the breeze ripped through the trees. Her eyes were more pronounced than ever by the hollows in her cheeks, and the clear blue glistened with tears; he could see them beginning to run down her face. Though so skinny, and so mistreated, she was so, so beautiful. His mate. He stopped struggling against the red dragon, there was no point in fighting against the hold, the rogue had locked him in firmly. He felt the teeth so close to their mark, and shut his now-golden eyes, feeling utterly defeated for he had failed to protect her. Suddenly, in a flurry of activity, the grinding stopped, and the dragon let out a roar of fury and tried to whirl around, but he could not, for he was still trapped partly under the large black brute. Jareth opened his eyes and saw a slender, beautiful golden dragon with a grip on his attacker, grinding in the same way that the red dragon had done just moments before. Registering what was happening, and taking advantage of the ambush, Jareth reached his great maw over to where Layra held their foe, and in one hard bite, snapped the red dragon's head off, where it fell to the ground, the great body lying a few feet away. Layra looked at him shakily, her great form so skinny and sickly, and his eyes widened as she suddenly fell to the ground, in her human form once more. He looked at the knights and king were they sat cowering and scooped her up into his talons quickly, flying both of them away from the battle, away from the King, away from it all. "Hang on Layra..." His voice rumbled as he flew as quickly as he could. "Just hang on." ~~~**~**~~~ Layra's eyes opened blearily in a dark room, and she was sure that she was dead. Her transformation always took a lot of energy out of her, but when she'd seen Jareth so close to death, she had involuntarily changed. Surprised, but full of adrenaline, she had dove for the red dragon, grabbing it in the same hold as he held Jareth. When it was over, and her adrenaline had subsided, the energy she so desperately needed to stay alive was gone, and she had slipped out of consciousness. She had never really imagined what the afterlife was like, but this didn't feel right. The bed felt distinctly familiar, though she hadn't slept on one in so long, and the smell was...it was... Jareth. She could smell him, all around her, flooding her senses. She tried to pick up her head, but she was too weak to do so. She tried to say something, anything, but all that came out was a soft whimper. In an instant, she felt something by her side, and she instinctively tried to roll away from it, remembering the beatings the red dragon had given her. Something held her fast, and she looked up into the golden eyes of her mate. He was smiling at her. "Easy there, Layra, don't worry, nothing will hurt you." He murmured, pressing a cool wet cloth against her forehead. She tried to sit up again, and surprisingly, found the strength to do so. Her voice was raspy, but it still worked. "Jareth." All she said was his name, but the smile he gave her warmed her to her soul. She felt her ribs, they ached, but looking down, they were no longer bruised. She felt weak, but not near death, and every second that passed she felt a little bit stronger, though she was sure it would take days for her to return to her full state. "You will heal very fast, Layra, much faster than a normal person," He informed her, though she hadn't actually voiced her question. She looked at him, searchingly, but his eyes revealed nothing to her. "What happened?" She implored. He laid down beside her, unable to keep his hands from exploring her body once again, though she was still emaciated. Her curves were smaller, but still gave him chills as he felt the silky softness of her skin. Δράκος: Νερό Pt. 02 "You morphed yourself involuntarily." He said this as if it was the simplest explanation in the world. "But how? I couldn't change anymore after...after..." She paused, biting her lip, remembering how she had abandoned him. "We're a mated pair Layra, you can always change into your dragon form if you have completely given yourself to me," He grinned at her, and though she was tired and bleary, she could see the desire dancing in his eyes. "But I didn't say the word." She insisted. "You don't always have to say it. You were so consumed by your feelings that you changed just because of the need." He smiled at her again, softer. "You saved my life Layra." She giggled softly. "I guess we're about even." He nodded, but his face was solemn. "I wouldn't have ever let this happen to you, Layra. If I could've found you..." He broke off mid-sentence, and she could see the guilt in his eyes for not having found her sooner. "I ran away from you Jareth. I thought I wanted freedom, but now I see, my freedom is only real when I'm with you, as your mate, as your slave, as your lover." She reached towards him, her chin pointing up some, and he knew what she was asking for. He lowered his mouth to her offered lips and took them, drinking deeply of her taste once again, lost in the flavor of her. Her body arched up against him, and he could feel the desire in the sinewy way her limbs moved, but her full submission was in the way her body shaped to his. As they kissed, Jareth's mouth controlling her, taking her deeper and deeper, Layra felt a strange tingling throughout her body. She felt stronger, more energized, and her ribs were now merely a dull ache. She pulled away from Jareth and immediately felt weaker again. Her eyes searched his imploringly. He smiled at her unspoken question. "Feeling better already?" She nodded slowly. "Yes, but how?" He sighed, and she noticed lines around his eyes she had never seen before. He looked tired, suddenly. "As mates we can borrow each other's strength to heal ourselves, Layra." He turned back to her. "I can heal you with my own energy by taking on some of your pain." She shook her head, she could not imagine inflicting such pain on him, though once she had reveled in it. "It's not a question, Layra." He moved back over to her, capturing her mouth with his once again, and she felt that strange energy renewing her once more. Eager to feel him, all of him, what she had been without for so long, Layra submitted willingly, lying back against the bed as he drew her tight underneath him, her pain becoming lesser by the moment. She could feel the hardly restrained desire throughout his entire body, the way his hands roamed up and down her curves, the hardening against her belly, the hunger that he kissed her with. She sighed softly into his mouth, delighting in the feelings he gave her, in the little tingles she felt as his hands searched her. He withdrew his mouth to move down her neck, and she felt weaker once more, though stronger than she had the first time. Jareth traced lazy, slow licks and nips down her throat, exploring every bit of her as if she was a meal and he hadn't eaten in weeks. His tongue curled in figure 8's around her throat, and though she wanted to be a more eager participant, she could not find the strength to do so. She was simply at his mercy. He moved down lower, and Layra could feel the barely restrained self-control in his movements. He was determined to take his time, though his body was screaming at him to take her in a fury. He paused between her breasts, watching her face. She felt guilty, all of the sudden, remembering what the red dragon had forced her to do. She started to voice this feeling, but he put a finger to her lips. "He forced you, Layra. You did not do it of your own free will. You have nothing to feel guilty for." How had he known what happened without her saying? She did not ask, Jareth knew many things without her ever saying them. "Jareth, why didn't he just rape me? He had plenty of chances." Jareth studied her for a moment. "Did he know you were mated?" She nodded. Jareth mulled over this for a moment before answering. "Thane (so that was the red dragon's name, she thought) was a cruel dragon, but a coward none the less. He knew he was occupying another dragon's territory, and he knew it was one much larger than he. The only answer for who your mate could be would have to be the only dragon that claimed these lands, and though Thane was a monster, he wasn't entirely stupid enough to mate with you. He knew, as all dragons know, that if he had taken you, your heart would've called out to me, alerting me to just where you were, and his life would have been over." She stared at him, shocked. Layra didn't know if she would ever look at Jareth the same way again. He was a fierce, possessive warrior who loved her more deeply than she could ever understand. Why had it taken such an ordeal for her to finally understand all this? He looked back to her, his golden eyes capturing hers and refusing to release them. "You belong to no one but me, Layra." She couldn't take the intensity of his gaze. "You will never belong to anyone but me." He lowered his mouth back to her body, and took lazy, slow licks across her areola, causing her nipples to pucker, begging for him to take long suckles of each of them. He obliged willingly, taking first one in his mouth, pulling hard, while torturing the other with his fingers. He played with her until he could feel the strength starting to leave her body, and he moved his lips back to hers, taking her mouth possessively, reveling in the enthusiasm with which she returned the kiss, the desire and hunger in the way her tongue danced with his. He kissed her as long as he could, but his control was slipping faster and faster, and he could feel her hips involuntarily gyrating against his erection. He pulled from her and took her body in, drinking in the vision of her lying in his bed, cheeks flushed with desire, eyes heavy-lidded with passion. She smiled up at him, the longing so clear in the lines of her face, and he could wait no longer. Gently, he eased himself into her, pleased to find she was so, so ready for him. Her hips lifted to meet him and as he buried himself to the hilt, a little moan of pleasure escaped her lips. He smiled down at her, careful not to take her too fast, and lowered his mouth back to hers, thrusting in and out in a slow, easy way, loving the feel of her around him once again. Jareth took his time with her, not letting his passions overrule him, though they threatened to. Layra could draw off his strength and energy, this was true, but too much at once could threaten her still weakened spirit. They made slow, passionate love to each other, lost in the sensations of being wrapped in one another's arms yet again, and when Layra came, her body clenching and tightening around him, it was too much, and with a low groan, he felt his own release. He lowered himself on top of her, enjoying the feelings rippling through his body. After a moment, he rolled off of her, pulling her against his side, where she snuggled into the hollow of his neck willingly. She murmured softly to him as she sank into sleep. "I love you, Jareth." He knew the joy wouldn't last long. Soon the King would be looking for her, for both of them, really. A princess was valuable, to be sure, but a golden dragon was even more so. They would have to face this new threat very, very soon. He was lost in his thoughts when she cried out against him softly, and he pulled her tight against his form, his scent comforting her back to reality. She soon settled and was quiet once more. "Don't worry, little darling." He murmured as she drifted asleep. "You never have to run again."