Tarragon Mountain

—Ten Years Earlier—

Visenya startled and swiftly spun around. “Lucian… you scared me! Cas was just about to shift. He’s going to take me up to Tarragon Mountain to watch the sunset.”

“Oh… my… Gods! Were they about to fuck right here in the dirt like a bunch of dogs in heat?” Cheyenne laughed derisively.

“No!” Lucian and Visenya both exclaimed.

“I was just collecting Cas’ dress shirt. He was going to go and shift behind that tree there,” Visenya explained.

Cheyenne looked at Caspian’s masculine chest repulsively.

“You like what you see, Cheyenne?” Caspian teased as he flexed his pec muscles.

“Eww… don’t make me vomit,” Cheyenne gagged.

“Come on, Vee. We don’t owe them any explanations,” Caspian remarked.

Even the fact that Caspian had a nickname for Visenya made Lucian’s blood boil. It was apparent that they had a close relationship, and it drove Lucian to the brink of insanity just wondering how deep it went.

Visenya gave Lucian a subtle smile. “Well, see you later.”

“Wouldn’t you much rather ride a dragon?” Lucian abruptly proposed.

Visenya looked back at Lucian as if she hadn’t heard him correctly. “What?”

“I can fly you to the mountain much quicker, and I’ll even take you higher, where the view is a hundred times better.”

Visenya’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Seriously?”

“Uh, yeah, seriously, Lucian?” Cheyenne chimed in, skepticism evident in her tone.

“Vee, I really don’t think that’s a good idea. Your father would never agree to it,” Caspian reasoned, concern lacing his words.

“Her father isn’t going to know about it unless you open your big mouth and snitch her out,” Lucian retorted, the two of them engaging in a deathly stare-down.

“Oh, come on, Cas. I’ll be back before you know it. How often do I get the opportunity to ride a dragon?” Visenya pleaded.

Before Caspian could protest any further, Lucian transformed into an enormous, red dragon. Visenya gasped in fascination, staring at Lucian as if he were the most incredible thing she had ever seen. She had never been that close to one before, and it astonished her beyond words.

“I really hate this idea, Vee. I mean, come on… how does that not creep you the hell out?” Caspian grumbled, pointing up to Lucian.

Visenya gazed up at Lucian, utterly mesmerized. “I think he’s absolutely magnificent.”

Lucian lowered his head and blinked his large, golden orbs, which reflected only her image. He leaned in with one of his wings for her to climb onto, and she made her way up onto his back. When he knew she was securely holding onto his spiked scales, he soared high into the sky. Visenya’s breath hitched at the back of her throat as Lucian took off, a mixture of fear and exhilaration gripping her.

She squeezed her eyes shut, her grip tightening on Lucian’s scales as a surge of dread washed over her, momentarily clouding her confidence. Just as she was on the verge of asking Lucian to turn back, she heard a series of snarling clicks emanating from him. Tentatively, she met his gaze, sensing a silent exchange passing between them.

Though it seemed irrational, she felt an uncanny understanding of his message. She did as Lucian advised and took in the breathtaking scenery unfolding before her—the sky ablaze with the radiant hues of the golden hour.

A whirlwind of emotions swept through her, but foremost was exhilaration, coursing through her veins as the wind tousled her long, curly tresses. With arms outstretched like wings, she surrendered to the moment, letting the rush of the moment envelop her.

Lucian’s audible gestures prompted her to tighten her grip on his spiky scales once more. With a sudden descent, a rush of excitement fluttered in her stomach, eliciting a delighted laugh. Unable to resist her curiosity any longer, Visenya traced her hand along the smooth surface of Lucian’s dragon skin.

She longed to know what it felt like and was not disappointed at all. She was intrigued by its glossy, micro-patterned texture that felt soft like silk. She couldn’t help but trace her delicate hands along the smooth skin of his back, causing Lucian to purr like a cat from the pleasurable sensation of her caress. Visenya chuckled at his obvious enjoyment of her petting him, and he let out an angry huff.

They finally made it over one of the highest cliffs of Tarragon Mountain. Lucian didn’t even land before he materialized into his natural form, which left Visenya falling mid-air. Her terrorized scream was cut short when Lucian caught her in his arms, bridal style. They stared deeply into each other’s eyes, their faces only inches apart.

“You’re fully clothed…” Visenya acknowledged.

“Would you rather me not be?” Lucian teased.

Visenya’s eyes widened and her cheeks instantly blushed with shyness. “Oh, I just mean that they didn’t get ruined when you shifted. When Lycans shift with clothes on, they get shredded to pieces. It’s like you dragons are magical or something.”

“We’re just better,” Lucian stated in all seriousness.

Visenya breathed a small laugh and rolled her eyes, then she looked out at the view in awe. “Wow.”

Lucian placed her on her feet, and she walked over towards the edge of the cliff, staring at the breathtaking sunset before her. She sat on the edge as Lucian stood there appearing bored, as if he had seen this view a million times.

“Won’t you sit down?” She asked, patting the space beside her.

Lucian sat down next to her and was suddenly hypnotized by the marvelous view—but it wasn’t the sunset. The way Visenya looked in the soft colors of the twilight was enough to make his heart skip a beat or two. In that moment, he knew he’d never go a day in his life without wanting her, but he still felt so conflicted about what others would think of them. He silently cursed her alluring beauty and looked at her with great displeasure.

“Do you come up here a lot?” Visenya cut through the silence, attempting to keep the conversation going.

She liked Lucian like this. It was the warmest that he’d ever been, and for reasons she didn’t understand, it made her heart flutter. To her disappointment, however, he was now back to his usual self, burning a hole through her soul with his dead stare, not saying a word.

Visenya looked back at the sunset and let out a sigh of defeat. “Okay, we don’t have to talk. We can ju…”

Before Visenya could utter another word, Lucian’s lips crashed into hers. Her eyes widened with shock as he kissed her pouty lips. When he realized that she was not kissing him back, he stopped and looked into her large, confused eyes. Before his expression could grow dark again, Visenya palmed the side of his face with one hand and kissed him right back.

Lucian grabbed her by the waist, pulling her closer to him, as he earnestly slipped his tongue into her mouth. Their tongues moved in unison, like two partners who had been dancing together all their lives. Neither one of them had ever kissed anyone before, but nothing had ever felt so right and so perfect.

Visenya had been saving all these moments for her mate, and it confused her that she felt like she could spend the rest of her life kissing Lucian. Lucian leaned in, guiding Visenya onto her back, as he positioned himself on top of her.

He continued to kiss her fervently, and Visenya responded eagerly, matching each of his passionate kisses with her own, her fingers entwining in his hair. As his lips trailed down to her neck, he gently lifted one of her legs, positioning himself between them.

Visenya started to become uncomfortable, and when she felt his large, hard bulge press against her core, she started to think that maybe they had gone too far. “Lucian…” She whispered, pushing softly against his chest.

His pace continued as his lips fell on the top of her breasts, kissing and licking them hungrily. He pulled up one side of her dress and ran his hand up her inner thigh.

“Wait… no…” She adjured.

Lucian gave a slight tug at her undergarments as if he were about to tear them right off.

“Lucian, stop! Get off of me!” She shouted as she pushed him off with all her strength.

He lifted himself up, hovering over her with an angry glare. “What the hell is your problem?!”

She scooted herself back and out from his caged arms. “My problem?” She asked as she stood to her feet. “I don’t know what you were expecting here, but I’m not that kind of girl.”

“Oh, please, don’t act all innocent, Visenya. You’ve been teasing me since we were in the sky, and I’m sure you aren’t so innocent with your little buddy back home.”

“Who? Caspian?” Her tone brimmed with bafflement at his absurd accusation. “Caspian is my best friend!”

Lucian towered over Visenya, giving her a dark, chilling look. “Your best friend that you like to watch undress? Do you let him touch you?” He stalked closer, causing her to take a few steps back. “Hmm? Answer me… does he touch you? Do you get on your knees for him and take his cock into your mouth?”

Visenya slapped Lucian across the face, and the look in his eyes grew even darker than before.

“Not everyone has a perverse mind like you, Lucian… and not that it’s any of your business, but I’m saving myself for my mate, and I assure you that he won’t be a depraved deviant like all you twisted dragons seem to be!”

Lucian shot her a gloating smirk. “Don’t be too sure about that, Princess. You might find out your mate is exactly what you criticize. Then you’ll soon learn that your only place in this world is either on your back or on your knees, bringing him pleasure.”

“I would never accept such a vile mate. I deserve better than that.” Visenya boldly declared.

Those words made something snap in Lucian. It felt like rejection which was a huge blow to his inflated ego. “And what is it that you think you deserve? Love? Look at yourself, Visenya… you’re fucking hideous. Who could ever love you?”

She knew that Lucian was just being bitter and that she shouldn’t take anything he said at face value, but she couldn’t help the tears that stung the surface of her eyes. His words hurt her more than she thought they should have. “Caspian thinks I’m beautiful.”

Rage flared in Lucian’s eyes. “Trust me, he only wants to fuck you. That’s all that you’re good for, and it’s all you’ll ever be good for.”

"I want to go back… Take me back right now!" Visenya demanded, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Lucian walked to the edge of the cliff, casting an indignant glance back at her. “Find your own way back.”

Without another word, he leaped off the cliff, transforming into a dragon mid-air and disappeared into the night sky.

“Lucian, come back! Lucian!” Visenya’s desperate cries echoed through the night, but he never came back.