The camp was loud, rowdy,
spirits high after weeks of fighting. Shalafae finished dressing,
hair still damp from his bath. The war was over, and they could move
on to the next planet.
Servants moved through the
tent, preparing dinner. "Where is my daughter?" he asked of
the first girl he grabbed.
"Unknown, Master."
The slave kept her eyes down, trembling. So rarely did he speak to
them it showed.
So had she.
Morrigana was with one of his
generals, celebrating, intoxicated. She was supposed to have been in
his tent, cleaned up, having dinner with him. Anger seethed, and
Shalafae summoned his girl back.
She didn't come, didn't
acknowledge him. Gritting his teeth, the emperor stormed out of the
tent, shaking the aether with his call.
"What do you want?"
she snarled, appearing near him. Morri still wore her armor. Stained
in blood, wild eyed, she was reeling drunk. "I'm busy."
Ulrich's ire increased. "Too
busy to attend your father?"
She took a swig from her
tankard, tresses dancing in the night air. Her presence flooded the
area, elated, hungry, full of fight. The camp began to react,
emotions spiking, turning violent. "What's another fucking
dinner? Won't mean anything when we're cutting through people
tomorrow."
Morrigana wouldn't meet his
eyes, kept drinking. Her shields remained up, keeping him at a
distance. Purposely keeping him out. Him.
The air chilled as his anger
took over. "Put that down and get in here. Right now."
Silence fell in the camp as she
laughed. Attention was focused on them, but he was past caring. Ulrich was angered by her behavior, but not because it undermined him
in front of his army.
He was angry because he'd
allowed it to happen. Too busy with his conquest to see that his
beloved needed him. Dragons thrived on violence, but they also
thrived on their mates. Ulrich had been an inattentive husband.
Morrigana continued laughing,
wings spread, tail lashing. Her aura was choked with stagnation; all
the love and lust they hadn't been acting upon. The jaggedness of her
presence cut at his heart. Stalking toward her, Shalafae knew the
solution would be easy.
With his daughter's eyes still
closed, he slapped her.
The change was instantaneous.
Morrigana growled, her killing will coming to life. Shalafae's rose
in response, smothering the camp. Normally calm troops screamed,
running for the transporters. No one wanted to be around the royal
couple when they were in such a state. Especially if they fought each
other.
The hybrid didn't draw her
sword, just crooked her claws and slashed. Shalafae raised an arm,
blocking the attack, dodging away. The silk of his sleeve became
ribbons, soaking up the blood that welled.
Growling, Morrigana followed
him. Fangs were bared, eyes wild. He absorbed her anger, fed on it,
channeled it against her. Her dragon nature was running the show,
deadly and vicious. Shalafae dodged Morrigana's attack, arousal
beginning.
She rose on broad wings,
quickly turning around. The air shook with their fight, the last of
the troops gone. Claws gleamed as Morrigana took another swipe.
Shalafae grabbed her wrist, locking ki around her, twisting the limb.
The half-dragon landed,
bracing, and jerked against his hold. She'd never given in to
pressure holds, quickly healing any damage she took. Claws found his
forearm, and he grunted as she dug deep. Then Morrigana slashed at
his chest.
He kicked the side of her knee,
breaking it, jerking her off balance. She battered at him with
enormous wings, forcing him to close his eyes. She bit his hand,
freeing herself, and he slammed her away with a wall of force.
The ground rumbled under
Shalafae's power. Rocks flew, debris pummeling his daughter. She
snarled, flapping high, diving back down. Kicks landed on his
shoulders and chest. He grabbed her tail, jerking her off balance.
Wings encased him, and she bit his thigh. He punched her shoulder, ki
strengthening the blow.
Neither gave ground, neither
reacted to the pain. They slammed each other, cut each other, bit
each other. Blood coated everything, the planet itself shook, and the
camp was trampled. He was more experienced, she fiercer.
He loved her for that ferocity,
for her violence. She was beautiful in all that she did; that beauty
was heightened by the blood and claws. His heart swelled his love,
his manhood with lust.
Shalafae felt when she changed
from anger to desire. He shared the same dark lust dragons did,
brought out by fighting. His people may have forgotten their roots,
but he revealed in this brutal aspect.
Grabbing for her, Shalafae
opened his heart. Morrigana responded, their energy and love
mingling, drawing their souls together. He cupped her face, pulling
her into a kiss.
She clawed his arms, biting his
lip, forked tongue lapping at his blood. He tugged her hair, knotting
it around his fist, exposing her neck. With a snarl, he buried teeth
in her soft flesh, breaking skin.
The fight left her entirely,
changing to fuck. The hybrid moaned, hitching a leg over his hip,
pulling him close. They each shook with need, and used their magic to
disrobe. Frenzied, naked, they joined, entwined in passion.
Time passed, and they made love
harder than they'd fought. Exhaustion finally claimed the couple, and
they passed out in each other's arms. Morrigana smiled, kissing him.
Their bond renewed, Shalafae felt complete.
