Odessa

We didn't wake up until the suns were high the next day. Creed and I defiantly missed breakfast, and I was going on day six without eating. My stomach growled angrily, only for Creed to rumble his chest in jest.

The food from the night before had spoiled, so our best bet was to make our way down our tree cottage and find some food. I had done much better going down on the platform. The slow, steady way Creed would handle the ropes to keep it solid had my fear wiped clean.

His eyes never left me, his hand always around my hip or arm possessively. If any human man did that, I'm sure my body would have reacted negatively, but he was a dragon and my mate. The new emotions swirling inside me only confirmed his loyalty and love for me, and his judging eyes of everyone to make sure I was not put in harm's way were reassuring.

As we sat around the large tables, food was being served today. Many elves looked over at Creed warily, wondering if he would shift into his gigantic dragon. Creed paid no mind. He was probably used to the stares, but it had me feeling awkward.

"That's enough," Annabelle scolded, walking up with a tray of food. "I swear, they act like they have never seen a mated couple before." she clicked her tongue and set it before us. "Here, this will give you strength. I know it is more meat you are probably used to, but it will help your dragon come to the surface faster to sate your mate." I cocked my head to the side, not understanding what she meant.

Instead of sitting beside Creed, he now lifted me up and sat me on his lap. I squealed, holding my arms around his neck to get my balance. "Mhmm," Annabelle smirked, walking away to talk to Zaos with a worried face. Before listening to their conversation, Daine and Tangle sat beside us. He had a significant bite mark on his shoulder.

"You-!" we both spoke at the same time. Laughing, we both pointed.

"Yes, the same night!" Daine clapped his hands wildly. "I knew we would be the best of friends, getting marked the same day!" Tangle pulled Daine closer, his nose straight to his shoulder, playfully biting him. Tangle continued to be the silent type, but Daine now pays more attention to his mate. They must have a silent communication like Creed, and I had.

"We were so worried when we heard Creed's roar; I'm glad we got to you in time." Creed's arm tightened, pushing more red meat into my mouth. Chewing with a huge mouthful, Daine continued to explain how they snuck me out of the cave without being seen.

"I swaddled you up like an elven baby just leaving the womb with nothing but banana leaves. No one could tell we took you with all the Yellowcress roots we sprinkled on you, but of course, your dragon found you no problem." Creed ignored, still stuffing his face.

Creed had one arm wrapped around me, and his, ahem, was still poking me in my side. Does it ever go away now? Creed moaned when I tried to move elsewhere, but he pulled me closer, rubbing his thingy right on me again. My face flushed red, obviously liking it too much myself, until Zaos interrupted everyone's lunch.

"Everyone listen up," his voice carried with authority. He held a letter in his hand with a falcon on his shoulder. "We have received news from Alpha Amora. As we all suspected after having two witnesses attest to the attack on our new alliance with Creed...." Daine elbowed me.

"He's talking about Tangle and me." Tangle hushed his lips with a kiss, continuing to listen.

"The alliance between the dragon shifters and us is over. Alpha Adam has attacked Creed for no reason other than not leaving the cave with his mate. Alpha Adam of all dragons should know trespassing in a dragon's home is a death threat in itself, then attacking said home is vile." Many elves talked amongst themselves, whispering their own opinions about the situation.

"Now, there is more evidence coming to light. Alpha Amora was falsely marked as a true mate." Gasps and yells of no's picked up with the wind. The trees swayed, and the translucent canopy of leaves knocked out the sun. "The King and Queen of the Moon Kingdom will hear about this. Their laws demand justice. Wrongfully marked mates is a death sentence. We are now on lockdown. Every warrior to your post." Elves, trackers, and children ran around the territory, knowing what to do. Zaos and Annabelle ran up to us, Daine holding my hand.

"Creed, Amora wishes you and Odessa to meet her in the Light Kingdom. With the Dragon Shifters on Moon Kingdom Territory, that will be the first place Adam looks. Until Odessa can take care of herself, you must go to Amora, and Willa will keep her safe." Creed stood, picking me up with him.

The bond showed bravery in his heart. "He wants to stay," I spoke softly. "He wants to keep you all safe." Zaos smiled, shaking his head. "We can take care of a few dragons. We outnumber them ten to one. Besides, we have enough Yellowcress Root to knock out both of your smells; they won't think you both were ever here. Do not worry." Zaos put his hand on Creed's shoulder. "My friend, this is a dawn of a new leader. If you can defy an Alpha order, it means you have alpha blood. Take that into consideration the next few days." Creed stood still, eyes not leaving Zaos. "The gods must wish it," he nodded to him, now backing away.

"Here, I've gathered a few supplies." Lura held up a bag. "Amora left these clothes for you, and I put in a few pieces of parchment and a quill, so you both don't have to carve into that nasty leather," she giggled. "You both are adorable, and I can't stand it."

"Thank you, Lura, for everything. You too, Daine." Daine stood up proudly, throwing his colored hair over his shoulder. "Anytime, baby girl," he winked. "Once the King has a harsh word with Alpha Adam, I'll come to the Light Kingdom myself and let you know. Then we party! I heard they have killer parties out there." Tangle twirled Daine's hair, kissing him on the cheek.

"Alright, I'm coming," he waved, Tangle walking away.

Creed pulled me to the center of the meadow, handing me his leather pants and tunic. He was still sporting that thing right out in the open. Could he not tie it down or something? Creed's plumes of smoke came around his body while shifting. Everyone was watching.

"Daaaaamn, I knew he had something under there. Did you see that? It was like a damn two-foot-long filled bamboo husk!" Tangle pulled his mate by the ear, laughing at his mate.

...

My face was still red, riding on the back of Creed. We had left the Elven territory now, heading to the Light Kingdom. It was the same area we had circled just a week and a half ago, but now I had a name. Each territory had a different theme, and this one was full of light, bright spaces, and nothing but fluttering faes and fairies. The bright colors descended from the stained glass windows onto the marketplace below were beautiful. The little fae children fluttering around, learning to fly.

Creed landed just outside the palace steps. Gently letting me off, King Orion and Queen Willa walked out with Amora holding Willa's hand. Amora's relief as she saw the both of us walk to them flooded her body, hugging Creed and me. "I'm so glad you are here," she half sobbed. "I was worried he would have found you already."

"No, there wasn't any sign of him. Zaos and Annabelle said they had it under control. They used that Yellowcress Root?" I questioned myself, looking at Creed. Amora sighed her hand over her heart.

"We will send some of our warriors, just in case. They had left just as you arrived," Orion said, standing tall. He was wearing a long white jacket over his bare chest; bits of gold threading and expensive-looking leaf jewels stood out on the neck of his collar, all the way down to the bottom of his jacket. Willa wore something similar, except a tea-length dress and a low-cut top.

"We will have a lot of fun. We can do a spa day. Remember when we did that, Amora?" Amora nodded slowly, her heart still clutching her chest.

"Hey, it's alright, we are going to figure this out," Willa went to Amora, holding her close.

"How could he? I feel so used, so dirty," Amora broke down in sobs. I didn't know Amora well, and knowing she had been subjected to forced mating was horrible. I didn't understand how she wouldn't know it was forced, but there were many things I didn't know.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what is going on," I spoke quietly. "But if it is because of what Adam has done to you, I'm truly sorry. He has been cruel to Creed and cast him aside, lied about everything. I can't imagine what you are going through being subjected to his abuse for so many years." Creed walked up to Amora, looking at her in the eye. His forehead went to hers and let down a silent tear.

"Creed, it's alright," Amora rubbed his back. "I should have known the moment he cast you out, but I was too blind. The bond pulled me towards him. I'm ashamed I didn't understand what he did." Creed shook his head, fists tightened. The veins in his forearms were stretched tightly across his skin.

"Brother, it will be fine," Amora wiped away a tear. "We will take away his Alpha rights; the Moon Kingdom will see to it." Creed's dragon growled, pulling away from her. Amora, still visibly upset, was interrupted by a groan from Creed. His body shook, and he immediately reached out for me.

"What's wrong, prince charming?" His crotch immediately rubbed against my backside. Oh, dear.

Orion chuckled, his fingers going to his mouth, tickling his lips. "Congratulations on your mating, by the way," he chuckled. "I see that you've been bitten, but he has not yet?" I shook my head.

"My dragon hasn't come out yet." Orion chuckled again, which earned a shove from Willa.

"You nasty King, what are you hiding? Stop playing around; the poor man is hurting." Willa came closer to inspect. Creed growled loudly, holding me closer to his body. His thingy now driving into me tightly. Trying not to get aroused, I stood there, letting him rub himself on me.

My dragon was horny? So horny he would do this in public?? He was practically humping me.

"Ohhhhh," Amora sighed. "He's never been sexually active before, and he marked his mate. He's going into a rut."

"Eh? What? Like an animal?" I questioned loudly.

"Well, a dragon is an animal," Orion chuckled. "I can turn into one when I want to," Orion nipped at Willa's ear.

"Not now, Daddy, we've got guests," she whispered.

I think I might gag.

"There goes our spa day now. Looks like we need to get them to a room," Willa waved for some servants to come closer. "Can you get a room ready for these two love dragons? One that has plenty of room for their activities?" Willa giggled at that.

"They need a cave," Amora spoke. "Usually, the male dragon will take their female back to their nest, but his home is now compromised. Do you have any caves around here? Creed will feel more comfortable there." Creed growled, tightening his body around me.

"And quickly," Amora pleaded. "Otherwise, he will just take her now to relieve his problem."

"I thought girls go into heat?" Willa questioned while we walked behind her.

"They do," Amora walked ahead of us with Orion, spouting out orders to get the sea-side cave ready. "It's just that Odessa hasn't had her first cycle as a dragon. She was out for almost six days and hasn't had her chance to. Creed's dragon is older and hasn't had his rut, so he couldn't wait to rut until she had her heat. His dragon needs some pussy." Willa cackled at Amora, whose spirit was lightening considerably.

"Tell you what, glad that Faes don't have ruts. Orion already keeps me busy when I'm ovulating. I'll tell you that much. I'm glad he drinks that tea every month to keep his swimmers away because I think I'd die getting pregnant right now." Amora's mood now faltered again but continued to walk with us down the beach.

Creed groaned. He pulled me up, having me straddle him rubbing my core next to his cloth. The bags he had carried on his back were light as a feather, and he continued to rub me up and down his length.

"Can you hold on? We are almost there," I whispered. "We can't do this in public." Creed whimpered, his rubbing ceased. The pain in his eyes broke my heart. The others didn't seem bothered, but this was a bit much.

"How long do ruts last?" I asked no one in particular. The woman turned around, smiling and giggling, not answering my question. That long, huh?

"Here we are!" Willa jumped for joy. It was a smaller entrance to the cave, not as vast as ours at home. Warm salty air blew through it, having a wonderful sea breeze smell. A servant came up with a sign and pounded it into the ground. "Do Not Enter, Dragon Rutting," Orion laughed joyfully, his hands on his knees. "This is the best idea!"

"Do they really need that?" Willa's wings fluttered angrily at the King.

"Yes, they do. Otherwise, someone will think something is wrong with Odessa when she screams in ecstasy." My face turned bright red until Creed ran straight for the cave.

"Wait!" I squealed, but Creed continued to take long, shaky strides to the hole of the mountain.

"Enjoy!!!" The girls both screamed in laughter as their footsteps faded down the beach.