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"Stay inside, I'll deal with this," Langston said.

"The hell you will. I'm tired of being left behind."

"Anna, please, now isn't the time." His spoke in a strained whisper as he looked out of the window. When he looked back at me, he knew I wouldn't listen. "Fine, but stay close to me." We moved to the door. Langston took a deep breath and we stepped outside, together.

A crowd had started to gather, both of the local villagers and of the visitors. Leading the growing mob, Peter Coren and a half dozen other men on horseback glared at us, each of them in the regalia of the dragon hunters. Several of them held crossbows across their laps. At their front, Theodore smirked, his dragon hunter pin gleaming in the daylight. He spoke, but his voice was broken and raspy. "I knew. The second you touched me, I knew. I should have smelled it on you." He leered at me. "Lady Anna. Do you fancy her as your 'mate'? Intend to use her as quality breeding stock to replenish your conniving race?"

I started to speak up, but Langston held me back. "Go back to Hartfell, Mr. Locke. We don't need any more troubles from your kind here. The local guard will be here shortly, I have no doubt."

The riders all laughed. "The local guard are currently being reminded of their loyalties. Why do you think I am standing before you? My father and the Duke knew that something was rotten, even if Lord Ingram was too blind to see it. It's clear now that the infection has run much deeper than we thought. His own daughter is playing consort. Do you know what he is? Does he have you under some spell?"

I could not hold my tongue any longer. "Is that what you believe? That I was bewitched into not giving you the time of day? My mind is my own. And I reject you for the man you are, Theodore. You are...beneath me." The words landed their blows and Theodore climbed down from his horse.

"You will be taken and tried for treason. But, I want you to know personally, that I think you are fucking whore. And maybe, if you're lucky, I'll have them spare your head so that I can visit your cell and have my--" Langston's hand shot out and connected with Theodore's chest, knocking him back almost ten feet and taking the wind out of him.

Panic broke out among the riders. Crossbows raised and fired. Two missed and a third barreled straight for my chest. Langston moved in front of me, the bolt plunging into his shoulder. He winced and I screamed. Coren's horse reared up as he turned to slash at Langston with a sword, but Langston was quicker. He had Coren by the arm and threw him to the ground, kicking away the blade. The crossbows were being reloaded and the other men had drawn their swords. The crowd had started to flee. The horses, ill trained for a panicked crowd, added to the chaos as their riders tried to rein them in. Langston remained between the attackers and me. With a quick snap, he broke off the bolt in his shoulder as blood soaked his shirt. Then, I saw a thing so peculiar that I thought I'd gone mad. My lady's maid, Marie, waded through the fleeing crowd towards us.

Another of the dragon hunters lunged at us. Langston pried the sword from his hand, but not before it made a gash along his thigh. He pushed the man away and reached back to grab me, intending to make a run for it. New screams drew our attention. Marie had pushed aside the last of the villagers. Her dress tore as muscle and sinew bulged through. Her skin shimmered as thousands of metal like scales started to cover her flesh. Falling forward, she landed on growing clawed feet. A tail extended behind her as wings sprouted from her body. In moments, my maid had disappeared and a dragon roughly the size of Langston's cottage had taken her place. Marie roared and swatted away another of the dragon hunters as the rest turned to face a new threat.

"What are you doing!" Langston yelled.

Marie's slitted eyes blinked at him, not so dissimilarly from her human eyes. The crossbows fired again, but the bolts bounced harmlessly off her plated hide. "Run!" The voice was guttural and steeped with anger, but still clearly Marie. The remaining riders charged at her large form. The first she caught easily in her front paw, ripping him from his saddle and slamming him into the ground. I gasped at the brutality of it, but then the second stabbed into her flank, managing to pierce her armor. Marie roared and flailed her tail, catching the rider's horse in the side and toppling them both over.

Langston moved to help her, but Theodore had risen to his feet. The bruised and winded leader of the dragon hunters lunged at Langston, slashing wildly with his sword. Despite his wounds, Langston moved out of the way easily. He landed another effortless blow on Theodore's right arm. I heard a sickening crack and knew the shoulder had been broken. Theodore fell and started to crawl away, whimpering.

Meanwhile, Coren had rallied the others and even enlisted a few men from the crowd as they confronted Marie. She swatted at them, but they were quick enough to evade her. As one group feinted towards her left side, Coren managed to slip under her and hack at her wing. Blood spurted from the wound as the wing crumpled to her side. The dragon hunters cheered and I heard the pained cry of a wounded dragon. It chilled me to my core, but the following bellow of rage made me even more frightened. Langston's body morphed more quickly. He tripled in size twice as black scales covered his body. His wounds remained, a bolt wedged in his front shoulder and a cut along his hind leg, but they did not slow him as he scrambled forward towards Coren. I huddled back against the cottage as the man I loved plowed into the group of hunters. Langston was bigger than Marie, standing ten feet taller and hundreds of pounds bulkier. He also had one thing Marie seemed to lack. A gout of flame erupted from his jaws, scattering the attackers. One did not move quickly enough and received the full blast of fire. He screamed in agony as he collapsed to the ground. Langston's giant black wings flapped, the gust knocking a few more to the ground. His tail battered one away, likely breaking several ribs, and his paw crushed down on another, claws driving into the man's gut.

I cried out in warning. Peter had managed to charge up behind Langston, blade in hand and a wild madness in his eyes. Before the blow could land, Marie's neck darted forward in a quick snap. Her jaws closed around Peter's neck and I turned away before I saw the result. The surviving hunters fled and all around us the town was raising alarm. The panic was rapidly spreading throughout the city and I understood why Langston had been willing to fight them as a man rather than as a dragon. Before me, the road and surround grass was trampled. Broken bodies and blood covered the ground. Marie's huge form whimpered and collapsed onto her side. Forgetting the danger, I rushed over to her. On her side, I still looked like a child beside her. I looked at her wing, it was torn and bloody. I gently touched her side and I saw her lips peel back in what I thought looked like a smile. Before she said anything, Langston's huge form hovered over us.

"We cannot stay here," his voice rumbled from deep inside his gargantuan form. "She needs healing." Marie's head tilted down in acknowledgment. As smoothly as they had transformed, Marie reverted back to her human form. Scales disappeared and her form shrank. As I watched, despite all the horror around me, a small thrill of being so close to two dragons coursed through my body. The excitement vanished as Marie's wings disappeared and a huge gash in her back formed. As a human, she was much more frail and I could see the toll the change took. I rushed inside and tore the sheets from Langston's bed as he stood watch over her. I wrapped the the sheet tightly around her body, covering her nakedness and compressing the wound. Sweat lined her brow and she seemed to drop in and out of consciousness. "It was brave, but foolish," Langston purred. "The change is very draining. I will need to carry her. My love, climb upon my back. Use the wedge of my wings as you would a stirrup."

I did as he asked, though I was reluctant to leave Marie. As I climbed onto his back, I felt the same heat coursing through his body as always. He moved gently and I felt the raw power of his muscular, serpentine form between my legs. One of his large black scaled paws closed around Marie's limp form. I felt him coiling slightly and I leaned forward to wrap my arms around his neck. The scales, though hard, were smooth to the touch, almost perfectly uniform across his whole body. His body wriggled again, like a cat ready to pounce, and with one flap of his large wings, we took flight. I gasped and clung tighter to his neck as the cottage and the town grew smaller. I was terrified. I wanted to close my eyes and hold on until it was over, but at the same time it exhilarated me. I looked down on the market and saw the thousands of people moving away from the city. Many of the pointed up towards us and over the roar of wind, I could hear their shouting. The violence had ruined the market day, of course, but even then I hoped that some good would come of Langston and Marie showing themselves. Coren and several other dragon hunters had died. Theodore's arm was maimed and I doubted the others would be quick to pick another fight with a dragon. As Langston built speed and carried us farther from the city and all the things I knew, I ignored the intruding thought that this would only make things worse. Theodore would not give up so easily.

I could not gauge how quickly Langston moved, but certainly faster than a horse. The landscape below us rushed by. The familiar fields of the plantations and small towns disappeared as we crossed over a large forest. Judging by the sun, he flew north. An hour went by and then another. Though his internal heat kept me warm, riding on his back quickly grew uncomfortable as my joints stiffened. I worried for Marie and for Langston himself. From my position, I could see the wound from the crossbow and blood continued to seep out of it. Still, I held on, happy to at least be with the man...or beast that I loved. After the third hour, the hills grew into mountains and Langston started to descend. For the longest time, I thought we would crash into the mountain, but as we grew nearer, I saw a small cleft in the stone. Soon, it was large enough to fit two dragons through side by side, but I doubted it could be seen or reached by foot. Langston sailed easily through the small cleft and hovered for a moment to drop Marie's body on the ground before landing. I climbed off and ran to her. Her breath came steadily, but her body was cold, especially for a dragon.

From further inside the mountain, I heard footsteps moving quickly on the stone floor. Langston's body contorted as it shrank back down to his human size. He did not collapse from fatigue as the scales and claws disappeared, but walked calmly over to me. I blushed at the sight of his manhood and despite our dire situation, my mind drifted back to our time together earlier. The steps grew nearer. Langston bent down, picking Marie's small form up with ease, and told me to follow. As we moved into the mountain, we left the craggy cave of an entrance and entered into a long hallway, where the walls had been carved to smooth stone. Hurrying down the hall towards us were three women, each wearing a plain black dress. The oldest looking of the three stepped up to Langston and took Marie from his arms as if she weighed no more than a feather. Another handed Langston a robe. The elder turned her eyes to me and sniffed, "Who is that one?"

"The daughter of Lord Ingram, Lady Anna." He pulled on the robe, but not before one of the younger women noticed his wounds.

The elder spoke again. "You'll need the healer as well. Come along. Stay close." The three turned and walked quickly back the way they came. Langston took hold of my hand and we followed.

After a short walk, the narrow hallway opened up into a wide cavern. I felt very small in that giant space and I soon saw why. I gasped and Langston squeezed my hand. On the far side of the room, four enormous dragons sat side by side. If Langston was six times the size of his small cottage, then the each of these dragons matched him ten fold. All around them and on the crags around the cavern, smaller dragons sat in rigid form, like gargoyles watching from a parapet. I followed the three women as if we were a troop of ants moving closer to a picnic of giants. Around the cavern, huge pyres burned, providing ample light, but the dragons themselves radiated light as well from the fires burning with them. Earlier in the morning, I had been the girl who daydreamed about seeing a dragon in a meadow. Now I had ridden on the back of one to the home of what seemed to be dragon gods. As we approached, their luminescent eyes followed us closely.

"Trouble in the south once again," one of the four boomed, a bright golden dragon with hazel eyes. "Langston the Black has come to the Roost."

"And with him the daughter of Lady Ingram," said another, more feminine voice. "Would that it were under happier circumstances. Bring my daughter to me. And you as well, Langston."

The dragon who spoke gleamed a bright red in the firelight. Of the four, she seemed to be the smallest, but still towered over the human forms like a mountain. Langston let go of my hand and left me standing in the center of the vast court. The two younger women who greeted us stayed with me. The elder woman laid Marie at the red dragon's feet. Langston went to his knees beside her. The red raised a paw over them and as gently as a mother caressing a newborn, tore away the sheet wrapped around Marie. Langston pulled off his robe, but kept his head down. A warm red glow grew around the dragon's paw. The red seemed to purr and hum with a deep resonance as the glow grew brighter and brighter. It enveloped my lover and friend and grew so bright that I had to turn away. An instant later, the light vanished. Langston muttered something as he pulled his robe over his closing wound. Marie stirred, but the elder woman returned and quieted her. The red's voice echoed in the chamber again, "She will need rest. We shall keep her here."

The head of the largest dragon dipped down towards me and I thought I would shrink into the stone out of fright. The jaws of the beast could snap me in half with no more effort than snapping a twig. The two women on either side of me put their arms to my back to hold me up in case I fainted. "I am Ardogan, human. We are the dragon council of the Americas. Daughter of Ingram, you are welcome in our halls, but your presence heralds strife among our race."

The gold dragon inhaled deeply, "She is a consort now. We cannot send her away." As much as I could tell, he did not say it with any resentment, but more a statement of fact. Many of the other dragons bristled at the statement and I felt very unwelcome, despite what their leaders said.

Ardogan raised his head once again. "Langston the Black, what do you ask of this council?" The room was tense and I could see all of the eyes trained on Langston's small form.

"Only a night's rest and aide for my friend," he said, his voice confident but humble.

The fourth dragon, more slender than the others and, from what I could tell of the nature of dragon, significantly older as well, spoke in a lilting hiss. "You are welcome to it, Rathonar. The halls of this council are open to you as ever they were. Despite your...questionable choices." The dragon looked directly at me. Where Ardogan shook me with fear, I knew this dragon to be wicked and dangerous. Her face was neutral, but her eyes told me that she would rather see me as a morsel than guest.

Ardogan spoke again, "My consorts will take you to suitable chambers. I assume you will stay with your mate."

"Thank you," Langston bowed and then walked back to me. He took my hand and we followed the two women out of the vast chamber through a different hallway. We moved in silence, Langston keeping a tight grip on my hand. I could feel the tension in his body and the two women escorting us seemed ill at ease as well. We finally came to a small door set into the side of the hallway. They opened it and Langston pulled me into a room not unlike one of ours at Annandale. The stone floor was covered with thick carpets and the walls were lined with mirrors and artwork. Several ornate chairs and a small table surrounded a hearth in the center of the room. On one end, a massive feather mattress sat on a bed made of stone. On the other, a large obsidian basin meant as a bathtub was set into the wall. The fire was already lit and fresh clothing had been prepared. Langston thanked our escorts and they bowed out of the room. As he closed the door behind them, he let out a long sigh.

"I'm sorry you're wrapped up in all of this," he said. "Come, let's sit."

I eyed the tub. "They've drawn a bath. Would you like to join me?" I pulled away my dress, letting it fall into a heap around me. I regretted that it had become so soiled and tattered from the journey, but it still seemed like a relic from a different life. I stood naked before Langston and his eyes roved over my body. I walked over to him and untied his robe. The soft fabric moved off his skin with ease as his warmth reached out to me. I had caught a glimpse of his manhood before, but it had been during a moment of harried worry. Now, as his chosen mate undressed him, his body responded to my presence. I took him into my hand, admiring the feel of it as it pulsed, growing larger. His arms pulled me closer to him and we kissed. I pulled him over to the basin and tested the water with my toes before climbing in. The hot water teased out all the soreness from our flight as I sank down into the dark bowl. Langston followed, lowering himself into the other end and then pulling me over to him. My back to his chest, his arms wrapped around my torso, but not before he took the opportunity to tease my breasts with his thumb. I felt him pressed against the small of my back, but it was not insistent. We both sighed in contentment as we enjoyed the water.

"All of this was built by dragon hands," he said. "The whole of the mountain has been turned to their purpose. These chambers were built for visiting humans. The water is constantly refreshed, you see. Heated from somewhere in the mountain by dragon fire."

I could feel the slight current in the water, like a warm spring washing in and out of a pool. "It's all amazing. In the hundreds of stories, I never read about anything like this."

"It's a well kept secret. And it's rather new compared to all your old stories." As he spoke, his hand moved along my arm, lightly tickling my skin. "It wears on you after a while. The closed in spaces, the stale air, all of it starts to drive you mad."

I turned slightly so that I could rest in the crook of his arm. "Why did they make such a show out of greeting us? Why did they make a point of calling me your consort? Not that I mind, but I can't imagine if we visited another Lord's house and we were introduced that way. The tall green dragon, what was her name? Oh I have so many questions."

"I can answer some of them now, but others should wait."

"I'm tired of being told I should wait. If you love me, it's time to tell me the whole truth. My life is just as much a part of this as yours." I did not want to sound petulant, but being constantly pulled in different directions with no reason behind it was driving me mad.

Langston bowed his head into my neck, nuzzling slightly. "You're right. Let's see then. We've slept together, that's why you're a consort. In our culture that confers you some rights, so to speak. You're considered family in a way and no honorable dragon would turn you away. We view intimacy different as dragons. It's not a taboo like among other humans. Dragons are proud of their consorts and consorts are proud of their mates."

"Are you my consort?" I asked coyly.

His hand moved from my shoulder down to my breast, giving it a firm squeeze. "The larger dragon is considered the alpha in the relationship. So you are my consort and I am your mate. It would be odd for you to term it the other way."

"I suppose that's acceptable." My hand dipped into the water and moved along his thigh. "Why did the green seem to dislike you?"

"That is Hessa, the former consort of the Wyrm. Surviving, I should say. All of his other consorts and many of his children were killed during and after the war. Hessa took a place on the council in order to calm the other dragons who still had lingering support for the Wyrm."

"How does that make her not like you?"

"She and her ilk resent any of us who live among the humans. Hessa still thinks that dragons should sever all ties with humanity. History has shown us what becomes of those who follow that path. I am particularly guilty of this because I was raised mostly by your father. I did not meet another adult dragon until I was almost ten."

"Rathonar. Why did she call you that?" I moved easily in the tub, rolling over to straddle him. I sat on his thighs so that I could see him while we spoke, but my hands moved down between his legs to do my best to distract him.

"Langston is the name given to me by foster parents. When I was brought here to learn the ways of my people, I was given a new name. Rathonar. Dragons have an obsession with names. Most of them are guttural nonsense, but once we learn a dragon's name we cannot forget it. Only Hessa's brood refers to me with that name. What else do you want to ask?"

A different question had been in my head since we first were together. "Could we have children? Would they...be like you?"

"Yes and possibly. Marie is the daughter of a dragon and human."

"She knows who her parents are?"

"Yes, your father told us on my fourteenth birthday. I remember because it was also the first time I had seen my foster parents since coming to the Roost."

"He told you both? You know your true father?"

Langston sighed and pulled me closer to him. "Hessa has several reasons to hate me. One, I was raised by humans, and two I have sided with the humans over her mate, despite how close the Wyrm was to my father. I am the son of Richard Maxwell. Marie is my half sister, born of my mother's handmaid. When our father was killed, we were hidden away. They murdered my mother and burned our home, but we were kept safe and hidden."

Maxwell's murder ignited the war. The Wyrm rallied the dragons while the Duke of Coren and the other conspirators used Lord Kyle to purify the human race. The lords profited and the dragons furthered their separationist approach. My father had helped save the Maxwell children as well as many other dragons who went into hiding. While my father sought out the conspirators, Robert Locke, the murderer of Langston's family accrued more and more riches. I marveled that Langston had not ripped the Lockes into pieces already. "Does Marie know it was Theodore's father who murdered her family?"

"Yes," Langston said solemnly. "We agreed long ago that vengeance would only lead to more problems. Your father told us that if we wanted to bring down Locke and Coren, we had to shine a light on their plot. All of that is in ruin now. Though Marie likely found great pleasure in the younger Coren's death. I fear that will only incite the old bastard more. We may have started a new war."

I rose off of him. "Let's go to bed. It's getting late. We can talk more in the morning."

"I'm not tired. Shifting makes me restless."

"I didn't say we were going to sleep. Come to bed." I rose out of the water and pulled a cloth from a nearby rack, drying myself off as quickly as I could and darting across the room to the bed. Langston followed, but did not dry himself. Instead, his body started to glow and the water sizzled off in a haze of steam. He smirked. "Aren't you just full of tricks?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he climbed on top of me. His warm body pushed against me as his mouth closed around my breast. I gasped as I felt him push against me. In one motion, he was inside, pushing me apart. Then I felt a growing warmth from him, making my whole body tingle as he thrust in and out. I looked up at him with wide eyes. "Yes, full of tricks." His lips met mine and the wonderful smell of cinnamon filled my head. Within minutes, I moaned in pleasure, letting anyone listening know that I was indeed the consort of Langston the Black.