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  Zoe stared at the woman who was just a few years older than herself. A part of her was angry at Ava and at her mother for hiding these things about her. But a larger part felt hollow, unable to come to grips with being a demi-god and the daughter of Odin. According to Ava, she was a Valkyrie, a maiden warrior, tasked with bringing souls to the underworld.

  "What about the books?" Zoe asked woodenly. "Why did you write about the dragons?"

  Cane sat straight up. It was obvious he didn't know about Ava becoming a famous author, nor the fact that dragons were the star heroes. And then Zoe remembered the scenes depicting the Dragon King having sex with the maiden, and a flash of jealousy speared Zoe's heart.

  "I don't understand how you could be tasked with protecting me and still working for the dragons. And yet you wrote their stories for profit and told of their ways. Why should we believe you are remorseful? You have proven yourself untrustworthy."

  Ava fell to her knees. "You are right. I allowed myself to believe that what I was doing wouldn't hurt anyone."

  "What books?" Cane demanded, pounding his fists against the arms of the chair.

  Ava's color fled her and she truly looked it.

  "You exposed our secrets to the humans?" his tone was hard and firm as he addressed her.

  Ava coughed and closed her eyes. "I didn't mean to. I was writing a fantasy romance. There are literally hundreds of stories about dragons."

  "Dragon Kings?" Zoe raised a brow. "Who fuck their slaves."

  Cane had heard enough. He stood, and there was that flicker of fire in his eyes.

  "You betrayed your people. You betrayed Freya, and you betrayed Zoe."

  "Please," Ava interjected, throwing her arms out so that she was face down on the floor. "Please have mercy! I didn't write about you, my king. It was a mistake; please do not kill me."

  Cane was ready to blast Ava. Zoe stood beside him and placed a soothing hand on his arm. Cane looked down at her and noted the determined look that Zoe had on her face.

  "What is it, little mate?"

  Zoe let out a sigh, her wings unfurling and stretching as she looked down at Ava. "You have been kind to me, and for that, you won't lose your life."

  Cane's face darkened, and Zoe knew he wasn't happy with her decision.

  "That being said, your punishment must be swift." Zoe looked up at Cane. "Can we discuss this further and give Ava a final ruling?"

  Cane nodded. "Ava, you will wait with the guards on the other side of the door."

  "Yes, my king," Ava choked out and then rose slowly to her feet and walked out of the room.

  "The woman should be dead, Zoe. She has many crimes against her."

  Zoe bit her lip. "Master, might I ask you a question?"

  "Of course," he answered swiftly. "What is it?"

  "Have you and Ava… that is, was there a time when you were intimate with her?"

  Zoe's cheeks flamed as she asked the question that had been plaguing her. The jealousy and frustration of knowing that her Master had other lovers before her was bad enough. But for some reason, Zoe couldn't stand if Ava had been intimate with him.

  Cane recoiled. "No, absolutely not! Why would you ask that?"

  Zoe frowned. "She wrote about it in her stories. You have said that you have brothers, other Dragon Kings?"

  Cane nodded. "There are four of us. My twin, Quin, me, Andar, and our oldest brother, Titus."

  "Why was Ava chosen to run the claimed program?" Zoe persisted.

  Cane tried to remember when the claiming of humans for sexual relations had become more of a business than a random event.

  "I believe that she approached the Dragon Kings and suggested it. She said something about fulfilling dreams or some other such nonsense."

  Zoe had an idea that was starting to formulate in her mind. She wondered if Ava had started the program because it was something Ava was denied herself. The half-breed human dragons were considered the lowest of the social classes. If this was the case, perhaps Ava was trying to get herself noticed by the Dragon Kings.

  "What are you thinking, Zoe?"

  "I wish to gift Ava to one of your brothers. If she serves him faithfully for a time, she will be exonerated of her crimes." When Cane scowled, she continued. "A lengthy amount of time, five or ten years."

  He smiled faintly. "Dragons live for an exceptionally long period of time. A thousand years or more would be more appropriate for a sentence. I still think it's too light for what she has done. But I cannot deny that she brought you to me."

  Zoe blushed and her wings fluttered.

  "And for that, I suppose I owe the wretched woman something. Yes, all right, we shall give her the choice. She can choose a thousand years of servitude or death by fire."

  Zoe's lips twitched. "You tend to like death by fire, do you not?"

  Cane leaned over into her personal space, his large, muscular body coming in close as he brushed his lips against her forehead. "I am a dragon. Death and fire are what burns in my veins," he whispered the words against her cheek, and she shivered as he kissed her again on her jaw and neck—hot, moist kisses that were making promises to other parts of her body.

  Death and fire, Zoe thought with a pang about her father, Odin. He was the god of death and the underworld, and it, too, ran through her veins.

  Ava was brought back into the room to receive her sentence. Zoe had never seen the woman look so afraid.

  "I choose a thousand years of servitude," she answered Cane with a tortured voice. "Whom will I be serving?"

  "My brother, Titus, arrangements will be made and another procurer will be put in place for the humans. My mate has talked with me about finding male volunteers along with the females. It is good that we help to serve our people in this manner."

  Ava was shocked.

  She would be serving Titus, the Dragon King whom she had spent most of her life loving. That was no hardship for her. And yet to be so close and not able to express herself, perhaps it would be the greatest challenge she had yet to face.

  Chapter 14

  Zoe and Ava were sent to the bathing chambers once again, to be primped and polished. But this time, it was for the Dragon's Flame Ceremony. Not only would the new location of the portal be announced, but there were many other surprises, including Ava as a gift to Titus until her indenture was completely served.

  Sabrina had taken over Elaine's position and made sure that the eunuchs treated Ava and Zoe with the greatest respect. Ava, having never gone to a Dragon Ceremony, was not only scared that she was to be participating, but she was scared that secrets she had long held dear might come to light.

  Zoe, too, was nervous about performing sexually in front of so many different dragons. Cane had described to her that while he would refuse to share her, it was his duty as king to fuck his mate for all the horde to see and know the place she represented as their queen.

  The eunuchs took great care ensuring that they were waxed bare from all hair on their bodies. Both had skin that was glowing pink from the rub downs and the sweet oils massaged into them. Both also had their hair braided and wound along their heads with flowers to adorn it. Dark coal lined their eyes, and passion pink berries darkened their lips.

  No clothing was necessary at the Dragon Flame Ceremony. Ava and Zoe were carried in chairs made of the softest furs, their breasts bouncing with every step of the lesser horde as they proudly brought in the mated and soon to be claimed of their Dragon Kings.

  Zoe refused to glance around the cavern to see the hundreds of dragons who were staring at her. She knew her nipples had tightened into proud peaks, and she told herself that she wouldn't be embarrassed by her nudity. Cane had spent so much time lavishing attention on Zoe that she was starting to believe the things he said about her.

  Zoe was starting to notice her beauty and even be proud of it. When at last she was set down, Cane rose from his throne. They were in a large, round cavern with four thrones, one on each side. Obviously, Cane, being the Dragon Kin
g of the East Sea sat opposite his twin brother, Quin, who was the Dragon King of the West Sea. Titus, being the oldest, was the Dragon King of the North. He sat to the left of Cane, and opposite Titus was Andar, Dragon King of the South.

  Zoe had never seen all of the Dragon Kings together. While they were very similar in looks, she could see the differences. Quin smiled much more often than Cane and seemed to have a rather jovial nature. Cane was often irritated, but when he did smile, her heart stopped beating.

  Titus was harder looking, taller than Cane and the heaviest muscled of all the brothers. Andar had long hair and was by far most handsome if one could compare, which was difficult since they were all gorgeous.

  "Why is the half-breed here?" Andar questioned.

  Cane stood, raising a bow. "In good time, brother. First, I should like to introduce my mate and claim her for my tribe and horde as the Queen of the East Sea."

  Thankfully, he had already prepped his brothers, because many of the spectators voiced their concerns.

  "Silence!" Titus roared out. "Zoe is a demi-god and therefore, in her own right, should be respected. She is also the chosen mate of one of the Dragon Kings."

  Silence filled the cavern and then, slowly, they all began to bow down, showing their allegiance and respect for Zoe.

  Cane came and picked her up from the chair and carried her to his throne.

  "I am so very proud of you, little mate," he murmured in her ear. "You will soon be properly fucked as the ancients decreed it."

  Zoe felt her sex throb with need. She wanted to serve her Master, to do anything and everything that would make their union stronger. But her eyes went back to Titus, who was still standing. His eyes were glued on Ava. Flame jumped into their black depths but faded almost as quickly as it had appeared.

  "What will happen to her?" Zoe asked Cane softly.

  Cane turned back and nodded to his older brother, Titus. Zoe watched as the massive Dragon King walked down the steps from his throne and gathered Ava in his arms. But instead of returning to his throne, he nodded once more to his brothers and then, in the center of the large cavern, changed into a great black dragon.

  With Ava clutched in his gigantic claw, he shoved off from the ground and shot down the open passageway, his wings unfurling as he flew away.

  "Where is he taking her?" Zoe asked.

  "To the North, my brother Titus 敖順 is the essence of winter. He will be her new Master and tame the half-breed's wicked ways. But enough about her, we are here for us."

  Cane turned to face his brothers. "Quin, Dragon King of the West and Andar, Dragon King of the South, I present to you, my mate."

  He lifted Zoe high above his head and slowly turned in a circle.

  "As you can see, her back holds the markings of our mating as well as the wings from her birthright, which was hidden from her. I shall now seal this mating with the Dragon Flame Ceremony, and nothing and no one shall ever come between us."

  The words echoed off the rock walls and sank deep into Zoe. He set her down near his throne and clamped her arms above her from a hook that came from the ceiling. The cuffs were softly lined and comfortable. Her legs were then spread wide and placed into the cuffs of a spreader bar. She was open and vulnerable for every dragon to witness.

  Cane's fingers shook as he traced the delicate curve of her breast. "You are such a good girl, Zoe. I am so proud of you."

  And then to the crowd, he said, "See how beautifully she submits? My mate is proud and strong. Her great strength and desire to serve is just one of the things I have come to love about her."

  There was a collective gasp as Cane realized what he said. He turned to Zoe and didn't deny the words. "I have come to love you, little mate."

  She could hear the emotion in his gruff voice, the way he tenderly took care of her, even now, during such a public assembly.

  "I love you, Master."

  Her words were soft but floated to the ears of the witnesses below. He plucked and pinched at her nipples, causing them to tighten even further. Her breathing was sharp and fast, and she knew that everyone could see the wetness that was on her pussy lips and running down her thighs.

  He smacked her ass cheek, the crack echoing through the room. And then he turned her on the hook so that everyone in the room could see his print on her round ass. She moaned as he kneeled in front of her. The movement showing his great respect for Zoe, to be on his knees in front of his people.

  Cane parted her pussy lips with his fingers and began to lick her swollen folds. Zoe had never known how much of a turn on it could be to have so many people watching her while her pussy was being eaten.

  Her body was strung up with an intense need to do exactly what he wanted. When Cane's fingers entered her, she moaned and her eyes slid closed.

  He pulled back and spoke sharply to her. "Open your eyes. See the desire on the faces of all of these people and know that it is for you. Watch how they pull out their cocks and stroke their pussies, wanting desperately to be you. This is your moment, Zoe. I don't want you to miss a second of it."

  Chapter 15

  Zoe's eyes snapped open and she viewed all of the hundreds of dragons around her. Many had their breeches undone and were unashamedly pleasuring themselves as they watched her. The women were just as blatant as the men; with skirts raised, they fingered and stroked themselves.

  He was right. Everyone watching wanted to be doing things to her or to be her. She felt powerful and strong, desired, and needed. Cane continued to torture her with his mouth, spreading her even wider until the restraints on her ankles tugged and she moaned loudly.

  His fingers sank inside of her, back and forth, over and over again as his tongue flicked and licked her clit. Goosebumps erupted on Zoe's body and she knew that release was close.

  "Master," she cried out.

  Cane knew her well enough to know that she was teetering on the edge. He sucked harder on her clit and she came for him. His fingers continued to work against her G-spot until she was gushing with liquid, and there was a great roar of approval from the room.

  It was at that moment, Cane stripped himself of his breeches and moved behind Zoe. Her body was still shaking with the orgasm when he thrust his way inside of her, burying himself deep into her heat.

  She thrashed back and forth, wanting to hold him, to make him fuck her like she truly needed.

  His hand wrapped around her body and went to her heavy breasts. As he slowly slid in and out of her wet heat, Cane pinched and pulled at her tender nipples until the pleasure/pain of it all became all-consuming.

  Cane could hardly take the clenching of her channel. She was always so fucking tight, and it seemed that being on display only heightened her excitement. Cane could hardly believe his incredible luck. Zoe was everything he could have wanted in a mate.

  As he slammed his cock inside of her again and again, her wings tickled his chest and reminded him once more of the hidden depths of Zoe he still had yet to explore. They were beyond lucky to have found each other and had the rest of their very long lives to get to know every little detail.

  "Master, please!" she cried out as he moved a hand to her swollen folds and parted them so that his horde could see his cock taking her. She was his, and he wanted every person to be aware of the fact.

  Many of the dragons around them spilled their seed into their hands and on the floor. In essence, their seed was akin to their fire, and they were paying tribute to the new queen.

  Her body began to shake and clench down hard on his cock. He knew that she was close, seconds away from shattering again.

  He whispered words of love in her ear as he rubbed her erect clit, and she shattered in his arms. Cane couldn't control the way his own release ripped through him. He felt his cock spurt seed over and over until he felt completely wrung out.

  It was completed, the Dragon Flame Ceremony was over, and she was officially their queen. He pulled himself from her body and undid the latches holding her up. He knew her
arms would prick and tingle as the blood raced back into them and Cane cradled her close and rubbed her up and down.

  There was a small commotion at the mouth of the cave. But Cane left that for his brothers Andar and Quin to deal with. His priority was to take care of his mate. She was cuddling into him with such trust and devotion that Cane couldn't help the tenderly placed kiss on her brow.

  "Fuck you!" a dark voice rang out among the crowd. "That is my daughter, and I will see her. If I need to take you all back to Valhalla, so be it."

  Zoe picked up her head. "Who is it?"

  Cane had been just about to tell her that it didn't matter, when it seemed that time stood still.

  All of the dragons were frozen in the spot they had previously been in, including Cane's brothers who had risen to their feet.

  "What magic is this?" Cane demanded.

  A man, looking not much older than he did, came out from the depths of the crowd. His features were harsh and somewhat familiar. There was a cruel beauty to them that didn't seem right on such a fierce creature. But what really rattled Cane was the set of great black wings that unfurled from his back.

  Zoe looked at the man with a wrinkle on her brow as if trying to place him. The man stared at Zoe as if she were his everything, and Cane immediately knew who he was.

  "Odin, what brings you to our realm? The Norse gods and the dragons have never had cause to fight before."

  Odin turned and took in the great hulking beast of a man who was holding his daughter.

  "You have claimed one of mine," he bit out angrily.

  "Zoe came here of her own free will," Cane said in even tones. He wasn't above fighting the god, but because he was Zoe's father and she had a penchant for peace, he figured he would try it her way.