A/N: So sorry for the long wait but this is it. Lucy is finally mated.
-Chapter 15-
It was the afternoon of the 30th - the second day they were travelling by wagon - when Lucy noticed that Cristoff wasn't motion sick. Every dragon slayer she knew, even little Wendy, got motion sick on transportation with a few exceptions. Natsu had always been the worst of the lot claiming various reasons why certain things made him sick while the others were perfectly fine. Happy, of course was his friend, so he didn't make him sick yet Lucy, also his friend, carrying him on her back did. Riding a dragon or a gosler hadn't been a problem but the roller coaster in Edolas had. Rolling down a mountain as a chunk of ice? He didn't even feel queasy but sliding down a mountain on a leaf? You'd better watch out. He was so inconsistent! If Cristoff was immune or had a secret cure-all she needed to know if only to salvage her sanity.
"Immune?" Cristoff asked trying to not laugh. "No my magic makes me just as sick when travelling. There is a healing spell but it doesn't last all that long and I can't do it after the fact if I'm taken by surprise. My sister Xally actually made this for me," he said holding up his left wrist so she could see the bracelet, "and put the spell we use on our airships to prevent motion sickness in the small lacrima here." He pointed at a small bead looking lacrima. "She made one for Emzadi too so neither of us ever get caught off guard."
"That's brilliant. I might have to ask her how she made them so we can get one for all the slayers in Fairy Tail," Lucy said fingering the bracelet her mind already planning what each dragon slayer would look best wearing. 'A choker for Natsu so he doesn't lose it, an earring for Erik, an anklet for Wendy because she is just too cute, bracelet like this for Laxus and maybe just the lacrima for Gajeel and he can add it to one of his piercings himself…' "I should probably tell Yukino so she can make something for Sting and Rouge too…" she continued out loud.
"I'm surprised Bicks or Van never mentioned it. They both know about mine," Cristoff said.
"I'm not. They both enjoy screwing with people too much," she said back. She and Cristoff were sitting up front alone driving the wagon to give them some space from the others. Safra hadn't been lying when she said dragons got possessive and violent the longer they waited to mate. She'd already gone after Erza once when Cristoff was healing her after the berserkers attacked and it was only getting worse, at least for her. Cristoff had no issues when she was near his brothers and she was a little jealous of that. Both Erza and Safra had to keep at least 5 feet between them and Cristoff or she started grinding her teeth.
They'd decided yesterday that Bicks and Van would take Gemini as Lucy to meet the client tomorrow after they got off the train just to be safe while she and Cristoff would head immediately to the place Arman had setup for them. Until then Lucy needed to keep some physical contact with her mate to keep her calm and they both now wore cloaks similar to the one Safra wore since it obscured most all of their features.
"That's true," he smiled back even though it couldn't be seen under his hood. "I'm curious where my father is going to take us. It sounded like he already had it ready when we talked to him last week."
"He did. Could he have prepared it for you to stay at for the full moon when he found out we were mates?" she asked. It was the only thing that made sense. His father was a master at getting things like this arranged but just so happening to know a perfect place where they could hide away that was close to where they were to meet their client was too coincidental. It made more sense that Arman, being very familiar with the draw his son had on women during the peak full moon as well as his magically induced drunkenness, had anticipated the need and had already prepared somewhere for him before they could ask. To be honest, her possessive and aggressive territorial issues only came about after Cristoff told her why they were all so concerned about the full moon. Apparently her big hunky dragon got really drunk and horny off of the excess power from the moon. His dragon pheromones started pumping from him double time and he became some sort of literal chick magnet without any real from of self-control. The times he'd tried to lock himself up to stay away from everyone he always seemed to wake up naked surrounded by women in a similar state with no memory of what happened the night before. That had pissed her off and ever since should couldn't stand the sight of anything female near Cristoff, not even her spirits.
"That wouldn't surprise me. You know what he said when I called him while we were still locked in the temple?"
"No," she said glancing his way.
"That we needed to start working on his grandbabies."
"He what? I hadn't even thought about that! I'm not on any birth control."
"My reaction too and don't worry I know a spell that will make sure you're not fertile this month while we mate. I'd like to know you at least little before having a kid. That and we have to figure so many things out that are more pressing like where we'll live and work."
"I don't know if I can leave Fairy Tail…" Lucy honestly shared hesitantly. Her guild was the first place she ever felt accepted and they were her family left. At the same time she understood it was most likely the same for Cristoff. All his family lived in Bosco and he had an amazing life there.
"Like I said, we need to answer all of that before we start having kids," he said pulling Lucy closer into his side.
-DTRE-
When the group of mages got off of the train in Acalypha it was with a sigh of relief. Even having rented the entire last train carriage so they had it all to themselves things had not gone smoothly. The lunar slayer's draw was already amping up and women were already seeking him out.
The two black cars and a smiling Arman had never been a more welcome sight. Arman wore one of his customarily well fitted three piece suits on his tall lean frame that brought out the warmth in his pale green eyes. His dark long hair with flecks of gray was the only real way to guess his actual age from his youthful appearance.
"Dad, I didn't know you were going to be here," Cristoff said walking straight to his father's open arms.
"You couldn't expect me to miss the opportunity to meet my soon to be daughter-in-law in person." His smile widened as Lucy quickly replaced his son in his arms. "How have you been my dear?"
"It's been a rollercoaster of a mission. I'm just glad all that's left is turning in our findings."
"Yes you just leave that with your team. It's time we get you and Cristoff out of here." Arman was noticing the women starting to stare at his son more and more. Tomorrow was the height of the full moon and he would not let anything ruin his son's chances at mating this darling woman. "I need to speak with both of you once I get these two settled. The driver knows where we'll be." He added to his other sons before glancing at the women to their sides. The professor he'd found was still working on the translation for the spell Lucy had shown him but with Lucy being Cristoff's mate he had an educated guess that these ladies were going to be his daughters soon too - he'd never believed in coincidences where magic was concerned. There was always a reason behind things like this and he was certain his sons knew more than they were telling him. Especially when it came to the blonde Vander had his arm wrapped around. There was just something in the way they looked at each other; a hidden secret shared. He'd have to find some time to become better acquainted with her soon. Erza he'd at least known of ever since Bickslow had joined Fairy Tail though they'd never officially met. This blonde was a complete mystery – one none of they were talking about. All they would say was there was something different about her and would explain everything once they were in a secure location. The anticipation was driving him crazy!
-DTRE-
Cristoff snuggled Lucy into his side once they all got seating in the magic mobile and watched as the train station slowly faded into the distance.
"Well then," Arman said, "who was the sixth person in your party?"
"That's something I'd like to talk to you about but only where we can't be over-heard," He said cautiously. At his father's nod he continued now knowing it was safe to speak, "The spell in the temple was created by real life Fairies. It is what they call a finding spell and used to help find their mates. It works by scanning for the most compatible soul so it seems to work for everyone with a soul not just them." His father's eyes practically danced with delight and plans – Cristoff seriously pitied his brothers. His father had been trying to get any of his seven living children to settle down for years but each of them had thwarted his machinations; that was until possibly now.
"I expect this sixth person told you all this?"
"Safra, she is a fairy and told Vander all of this who told me. Bickslow suspects but we haven't told him or Erza anything. They're fully human so…" Cristoff didn't finish. His brother was already trying to start things with Erza and they didn't want her to think he was interested only because of some magical spell. Apollo's glimpse into a possible future, which is what the brother's had decided it had to be, only made Bicks take a nice hard look at Erza in a new way. Everything else was his doing. Their attachment wasn't a guarantee like his and Lucy's. Vander and Safra weren't even sure they were mates because even though fairies had partners like dragons a similar spell had failed her before.
"How extraordinary, I didn't even know actual fairies even existed for real in the first place! I always told you all there is some truth in all legends and stories," he said then paused his smile turning humorous. "So my three youngest sons all found their very own fairy? I wonder if I shouldn't bring the whole family down to Magnolia to try their luck." While he would have preferred his children to find significant others closer to home, the fact that these were the three children he worried about the most was a comfort. Well three of the four. Poor Emzadi now had a rule like Vander and Cristoff to not get involved with anyone. She slept with them once, maybe twice, but that was it. Arman sighed, 'I'll just have to build a nice place for myself in Magnolia where they can all gather for visits with enough room for all their spouses and children. Grandbabies,' the thought made him smile. It was settled, he would just have to start looking for some property, maybe retire early once the grandchildren started rolling in especially if Farron's current interest came to anything.
"You could say that," Lucy smiled. "Where are you taking us?" she asked seeing them leave town and head toward very familiar mountains.
"That would be telling," Arman said in a teasing tone before turning the conversation into lighter topics to pass the time.
It was almost an hour later that Arman saw the recognition blooming across Lucy's face.
"No. Why? What? How?" Lucy tried to speak several times but she was just so focused on the fact that the car was driving through the mountains surrounding her old home. A place she was still planning on repurchasing someday once she'd saved enough. With a quote of 300 million jewel just for the main house and garden she still had a long way to go. Her cursory meeting with the bank to see how much the whole property would cost, close to 1 billion jewels, left her little hope of restoring the entire property any time soon.
"When you told me about your father and what happened I was surprised. I told you before I had met Jude years ago and he was a smart, business savy sort of man, so to have his business fall because you didn't marry Duke Junelle sparked my interest." He paused hearing his son growl and see him pull Lucy onto his lap, nose buried in her hair but narrowed silver eyes glared possessively at him over her shoulder. He had to control the smile threatening his lips. It was just so adorable for his usually calm and content son to possessively horde his soon-to-be mate like he was a little boy again with his favorite toy.
Shaking his head he continued, "I had a few associates look into it and it turns out your father had the whole situation already figured but just didn't have the evidence and time to prosecute. So, I had Vander recover all the old contracts from each of the concerned parties a few months ago. Turns out over a decade ago Junelle bribed the bank manager your father worked with and his own lawyer to force Jude into a compromising position so you would be forced to marry him. Negotiations had not been going well for your marriage contract up to that point and Junelle very much wanted to take over the Heartfilia Kozern and you were his ticket. It was all highly illegal." Lucy gasped in outrage at what those men had done.
"I know dear, they played on his grief after Layla passed. His lawyer had him sign contracts with illegal terms, the bank manager increased the interest rates way beyond acceptable rates and then Junelle bought all the debt for hardly anything at all. I couldn't let that stand so I took them all to court in your name and was awarded recompense from Junelle, the law firm and the bank for their fraudulent behavior. It seems the presiding judge is a friend of Queen Hisui and the princess put in a few good words about the case. I just used the proceeds to repurchase your home from the bank at a highly discounted rate. Now the bank owner is a very good woman and said it was the least she could do for the part her bank played in the situation. She even went so far as to fire the bank manager.
The lawyer was disbarred in due course and from what I've heard, Junelle is struggling a lot with all his current business partners. None of them trust him anymore and are slowly moving their business and financing elsewhere. I see that look in your eyes Lucy. It was all your money to begin with and I just smoothed out all the drama for you. Happy Birthday!" he finished as the car turned onto a vista with a great view of the large secluded valley below with a huge mansion and quaint little village. "It took some time to fix up all the damage caused by its neglect and then a little more to get everything setup for your mating but now it's all yours."
Cristoff blinked, absolutely stunned, and Lucy wasn't faring much better. Tears were streaming down her face as she stared transfixed at the view; her home.
"You got her home back for her birthday?" Cristoff asked still more than a little overwhelmed clutching his tearful mate to his chest. Had it been a small property it would make more sense for his father to intercede but the mansion was at least twice the size of the home he'd grown up in and on probably just as much land. It may not has a prospect of the Grass Sea but the surrounding snowcapped mountains were like a little piece of home in the heart of Fiore.
Bosco had large, imposing mountains everywhere so this valley broke up the more open horizon the pervaded most of the Fioren landscape.
"I just facilitated it and made sure to invest the remains of the funds with trustworthy people. Oh and I hired some staff that will maintain everything once your mating is finished using some of the monthly interest. All the paperwork is in your father's old study for you to look over later." He said it like taking down a corrupt Duke and his hired lackeys was just a normal day at the office; for him it probably was.
Lucy still couldn't speak but she threw herself at Arman.
"What about all the villagers who live here. You think it's safe for them? Do they know not to approach the main house?" Cris asked rubbing the blonde's back as she cried onto his father's shoulder. Lucy's laugh came out garbled.
"Those were the homes that the servant's used to live in. When my father lost his home, they lost theirs too so no one should be living here. The workers you hired, are they temporary?" she asked Arman now that she'd found her voice again.
"They are. I setup their initial contract for six months since I wasn't sure what you wanted to do with the place but figured it would be perfect for you to mate at for the time being. Kaleb found a few married couples from White Sea to volunteer to stay here to make sure no one disturbs you both. They see it as kind of an extended vacation truth be told. They're saying in some of the surrounding homes. I hope that was alright?"
Lucy smiled brightly. "That's fine. Can't let perfectly good homes go to waste."
"Good good," Arman returned her expression. The car turned into the valley a little while later and the three spent the time going over more details and showing Cristoff the extent of the estate. All the while in the back of her mind, Lucy was planning what she was going to do with her home. After her mother passed the large estate felt empty and cold. She wanted it full of life, a place she could happily call home, to actually turn the houses into a village but still keep it a sanctuary for her friends and soon to be growing family. It was a great distraction to take her mind off of her nerves.
-DTRE-
"Cosplayer really did grow up as a princess," Bickslow said then whistled as he looked around the area the driver had dropped them of at.
"Yes, it is a very beautiful place but I don't think I should stay. I am very likely to try and check up on Lucy," Erza said twiddling her fingers. She was already fighting the urge to find her young friend and forcibly remove her from Cristoff, knew it was a bad idea, but the longer she stayed here the more she felt the need to interfere. Lucy was like her little sister and she knew she would be freaking out right about now.
Bickslow saw her fists clenched and looked to Vander. They didn't say anything, didn't have to for Vander to understand that Bicks was checking to see if he was needed still or if he could join her for her journey back to Magnolia.
"I'll go with you Amazon, Vander can deal with Dad on his own. Besides, it's been too long since I've been able to mess with the Master," Bickslow said light-heartedly leading Erza back to the car. Erza smiled despite her anxiety at Bickslow's attentiveness. He'd only left her side once since she'd been caught up in the spell and that was to meet with the client. She wanted to let him know she was interested but he was a member of the same guild which could complicate things. Plus, she wasn't sure if he was behaving this way only because she was the only available woman around or if he was truly interested in her.
If she were being completely honest with herself she wanted him to pursue her, to want her enough to make the first move. She'd had to do all the pursuing before and none of them lasted beyond a single night. Something needed to change. Was it wrong that just once she wished a man would look at her like they did most other women – like prey just ripe for capturing?
"Wait!" Safra called digging in her bag. "Your things, you should not leave without them." She quickly setup her skini and held open the flap. "Your cart is still inside."
Erza smiled and quickly got her cart back out and immediately started speaking with the driver about the best way to hook it up to the car. Bickslow feared a couple of times that Erza was going to knock the man out and do everything herself but fortunately his father came out of the main house before things escalated and everything was settled. It wasn't long after that that the driver took them back to the train station so they could catch the last run into Magnolia for the day.
-DTRE-
"You must be Arman, Vander's father?" Safra asked Arman as they watched Erza and Bicks drive away with her luggage cart swaying precariously behind the car. She's seen him at the station but circumstances what they were she'd not had a chance to introduce herself.
"Yes, and you must be Safra. Cristoff and Lucy told me a little about you," he said holding out his hand for her to shake. Safra just stood there looking at his proffered hand her blonde brows pinched in confusion before she approached him and kissed neck then lips in the standard form of greeting family. She still wasn't sure if he would be her father in the future but it would be a horrible insult if she'd done otherwise.
Vander smirked at his father's surprised reaction. It wasn't dramatic, he was a Boscan and used to forward behavior and being kissed as a greeting, but it coming from Safra was unexpected enough to render his father speechless for a moment. "Safra?" he asked gaining her attention. "I'm sure my father is thirsty and tired from such a long day."
"Pardon me," she said back than wrapped an arm around Arman's waist. "Let me show you inside where you can rest. Would you like tea or wine maybe?"
Arman followed her into the tent still not sure what just happened. He knew what she was and who she was to his son but nothing else. Usually he had some idea of the culture when he worked as an ambassador but he doubted he could find reliable texts on fairies even if he'd had the time to prepare. This was also the first time he'd come across a culture even more familiar with their greetings than Bosco's. It wasn't until he was inside the tent and sitting on a plush couch being handed a glass or dark wine that he realized that he was not in a tent but a studio apartment of sorts and that his youngest son was thoroughly enjoying his discomposure.
"So you get the two love birds settled?" Vander asked sipping at his own wine. It was a fresher type of wine being made from elderberry juice but its alcohol content was no joke. Turns out fairies were a bunch of boozers just like the mages named after them. Safra had finally removed her cloak and was puttering around in the kitchen looking for something and Vander just let his eyes follow her around loving the way she flitted about nervously.
"Yes, though your brother, in all his apparent wisdom, did not tell me that he and Lucy are only promised and not engaged so I have Farron putting together the correct paperwork. They'll be mated but only promised, have you ever heard of such a thing?" he said as if mating was common place occurrence. Safra set a tray of delicate looking canapés on the low table in front of the sofa before curling up into Arman's side tucking her long legs under her.
"In case you require food." She nodded toward the tray before resting her head on his shoulder.
Good humoredly Arman snuggled the interesting woman closer then sipped his wine. It reminded him of Saturday evenings when his own little girls used to cuddle with him as he relaxed after a long day at work. He'd missed this and he now hoped even more that Vander really was Safra's mate - Cristoff had made it sound like their future together was even less likely than Bicks' and Erza's were.
"Now I just feel left out," Vander said pouting across the room.
"Deal with it," Arman said back then sipped his wine again. "You've gotten to spend a great deal of time already with this beautiful creature. You can hardly begrudge an old man this opportunity."
Vander shrugged rolling his eyes and dropping his pout. "You're hardly old. Any news since the last time we spoke? Kaleb still seeing the pilot?"
Sighing Arman answered, "No, he didn't tell me why either. For a man able to literally read people's minds you would think he could maintain a relationship for longer than a month."
"It's probably the reverse. I would hate knowing a person's every thought. You'd know too much about them from the start. It would take out a lot of the excitement and fun with being with somebody."
"You're probably right. He just isn't getting any younger and I'm worried the Princess will name him as her consort when she finds out about Cristoff."
"You think she'd try that with Kaleb? I could see her doing that to Cristoff but Kaleb is a wizard saint and White Sea's guild master, it would be beyond risky."
Arman shrugged. He honestly wouldn't put anything past the woman who had taken advantage of his sons several times over. He wanted to take it up to the king as a friend but something like that he wasn't sure would be believed without proof. Who wanted to believe their child capable of that kind of behavior? Plus the national fall out from Kurino's disgrace would be horrible for everyone.
"On another topic, did Bickslow tell you about the Sevenese men we came across handling berserkers here in Fiore?" Vander asked.
"He said that they were searching for a crown or something like that but they didn't know why or what for. I am interested how they got Pergrandian berserkers and if it has anything to do with the rumors we've heard coming out of Seven as of late."
"I'm more curious why they have berserkers searching for something that isn't alive. A berserkers wouldn't be any more likely to find something like that than a normal person would, probably less likely. Seems like a waste for Pergrande and I don't trust it."
Safra tried her best to follow the conversation but she just didn't have enough knowledge about the people and politics involved. What she did understand was that they needed more information about what was going on in Seven. It might be the human in her but she had always hated Pergrande's King and his grotesque creations. It could only be so much worse if he was influencing another nation.
"Would it be beneficial if I was to gather some information from Seven?" she asked both men.
"Safra, we have trained military mages to do things like that. I would prefer if you and Vander…"
"Dad, stop right there. There is no way anyone else is going into Seven. I was there when we encountered the berserkers and I don't think we should tell anyone else about this until we know more. I am still officially a Blood Hunter and I'm the best person we have at gathering intel quietly."
"That is where you are wrong. As of last week you are officially retired from the Steel Council."
"I'm what? Way to bury the lead Dad!" Vander had been free for a week and he hadn't even known.
"Yes," Arman's eyes glinted mischievously. He loved messing with people as long as no one was actually harmed; it was one of a few traits Bickslow and Vander had picked up from him as children. "While I do not doubt you would do very well in gathering everything we would like to know, what about Safra? Are you just going to leave her here for however long it would take?"
Before Vander could speak, mind still rolling with his new freedom, Safra cut in, voice a little more testy than intended. "I will go with him of course. I have my own ways of being invisible to sight, motion sensors, heat sensors and weight triggers. But I also have this. Ora, show me the Sevenese Royal Family."
The fireplace turned reflective for a second before a room appeared where a middle aged woman had a young man tied to a bed. He looked drugged out of his mind as the woman impaled herself on his thick cock while smacking his face every so often to elicit a reaction. It was obvious to Safra that this was not consensual and judging by her request and the room's trappings this must have been Seven's Queen. "The Queen is allowed to do this to her people?"
Vander snorted as he gracelessly plopped down next to her and his father on the sofa for a better angle. "Yes but the worst part is that is her son. Sick bitch killed her husband years ago then started raping her own kid," he said with obvious disgust.
Arman's eyes were wide. He'd known the Boscan government had been trying to get eyes on a few of The Royal Families of other countries but Seven and Pergrande always found the devices so quickly the missions were being cancelled as not worth the risk. "Can you get sound?" he asked first – his other questions could wait.
"No just images and the angles are limited," Safra said tightly as her body started to glow faintly when the woman's had closed over her son's throat, strangling him and not in a playful way. Vander's gentle touch on her leg broke her fixation on the scene and soothed the fire in her veins to calm her enough she was able to rein in her magic. "I am not very skilled at Sevenese but from what I can understand the Queen very much enjoys inflicting pain and she's upset Nuryev is so drugged. Nuryev, is that her son's name?"
"It is and Kressa is the Queen's." Arman said. He was fairly good at lip reading in every language he spoke. As an ambassador it came in very useful during negotiations to be able to use his eyes to listen when using his magic wasn't possible. His eyes turned calculating, "What are the constraints to the spell? How does it work?"
"Any viewing window can use any reflective surface as a way to see what is going on. If you connect to another viewing window they can see you in return and sound is available."
"Can anyone use a viewing window?" Vander asked knowing where his father's mind was going. It would reduce so much risk for a lot of missions if Bosco could get a hold of this spell.
"Yes as long as the magic lasts but the spell takes centuries to master in order to create a viewing window. I am nowhere near close to being able to do so. It is a power my people are not likely to share for fear of its abuse." The very thought of humans like this queen getting their hands on something this powerful sent shivers down her spine. Her people could be hunted down easily using it and killed off completely this time around.
That thought brought both men up short. "She's right you know. The Steel Council, as much as they are a part of our government, would use this to gain power and control over other countries not just to secure the safety of our people," Vander said all too familiar with the politics and power hungry nature of a few council members. They weren't as bad as some of their predecessors but it took a certain type of person to want to work as a Steel Council member.
Sighing and rubbing his temples to clear his mind of all the half formed plans he nodded. "I think you should come back to Bosco with me first and meet with Altiene before we make any moves. I don't think the King should know about Safra or this ability now, maybe ever, but he should know about the berserkers and your plans of infiltrating Seven. While I trust him, I do not trust all of his counselors or Kurino to not try and do something we'd all regret. I also think Queen Hisui should be warned to watch her border with Seven."
-DTRE-
"So," Lucy said looking around the entryway after Arman had left them alone. She was so nervous now that the time had come for the actual mating she tried desperately to find the comfort from her familiar surroundings. It was easy enough to decide to do it and get to this point but now they were here and everyone knew what was about to happen. She flushed at the thought.
Cristoff smiled and shook his head. He would never understand why sex was made to be such a taboo in other countries. "How about you show me around?"
Lucy smiled and took the proffered distraction. It was a large house with lots of places to explore and would take the rest of the day to look around. 'I'm procrastinating…per usual,' she thought leading the way. It didn't take long before the tour devolved into a game of hide and seek. The game wasn't even close to fair even with her superior knowledge of the house given the man's sense of smell could pick up her trail easily where ever she went but she'd picked up a few tricks of her own being in a guild where there were just so many dragon slayers around.
It was Lucy's turn to seek this time around though and the excitement sung through her veins causing a slight shiver. Her smile broadened as she slipped her shoes off to silently make her way across the marble floor. Unthinkingly she let her body take over the hunt – some unknown feeling drawing her closer to her prey.
Her excitement mounted even higher as the pull became more insistent; she was close. Without thought she called up her Taurus Star Dress the cow printed bikini top and single legged pants sans her standard boots had power surging through her body, whip coiled in her right hand.
Her eyes narrowed in concentration as she closed in on her prey keeping her breathing steady even though her heart beat was thundering in her ears. She could feel him very close just around the next corner.
There was no reason of how or why she felt she needed to act quickly and capture him before he escaped but it was there, that undeniable need to capture and restrain so he didn't escape. This was no longer part of their friendly game and her blood trilled more with excitement. She let her whip move along the ground along the wall as she stepped out and confronted him. "Found you," she said lowly in an almost teasing voice as her whip coiled around his legs without his notice.
Oh she loved the way his eye lightened into that silver shine and could almost feel the intensity of his gaze caressing her body. When his eyes finally met hers she snap her whip magically shortening it throwing her dragon off balance in his surprise falling forward toward the ground. She was on his back straddling his hips before her could react, tying his hands together quickly with the practiced ease from her lessons with Virgo. Her mate looked delicious laid out helplessly underneath her as he struggled to free his hands and legs.
Lucy leaned over him, breast pressing into his back and growled contentedly when she felt him shrived. Her mouth sealed over his neck as her hands found their way up the back of his shirt so they could mapped his bulging torso. Cristoff hissed under her attentions and it just fueled her desire to own him more. Releasing his neck with a pop she admired the nice mark she'd left before pulling away and rolled him onto his back. She needed to see the snarls she was hearing and feel more of his deliciously sculpted body.
Her fingers ran over the exposed portion of his chest where he'd left the buttons undone letting her fingers dig into his hard thick pecs as she ran her nose up the column of his neck before nipping at his skin. It was easy to push the high gold trimmed collar out of the way as her hand slipped further under the intricately molded gold detail that cleverly hid the shirt's clasps.
"Mine," she growled out as she nipped his throat again harder earning a defiant growl and hips bucking under her in return.
It didn't take Cristoff long to realize that whatever part of Lucy had her acting like a dragoness was in complete control right now. The growling, dominating, hell even her mannerisms were that of a dragoness right now. He couldn't have asked for better timing for this side of her to show; he was about losing his mind waiting for her to get more comfortable with him so he could ease her into it. Only there was a slight problem. Lucy'd gotten the jump on him and that outfit she was wearing was giving her incredible strength that she was currently applying to rip open his shirt the rest of the way.
He growled in challenge and struggled against the binds around his wrists and ankles again but they tightened and drew his hands and ankles closer together stretching him into a back bend. Her hands burned across his skin and he wasn't sure he could fight her much longer but he had to try. Nurem had warned him that something like this would happen when he tried to claim his mate. It wasn't often that a dragoness played and challenged for power instead of outright killing. In fact Nurem had told him herself that the only thing she would hesitate to kill would have been Draco before they mated.
"He needed to prove he was capable of protecting our young while I hunted and protected our land. Should I fail, he would not."
"What did he need to do to prove himself," young Cristoff said confident he wouldn't have a problem in the future when the time came.
"He needed to dominate me. If he did not succeed on his first attempt but the second I would protect the hatchlings while he hunted. If he failed a third time I would have killed him for his stupidity and weakness and found another male to sire my young," she grinned maliciously.
"But they are destined to be your mate!" little Cristoff exclaimed. He knew what a mate meant to a dragon and the thought of being killed by his was horrifying.
"Yes, if he cannot figure out a way to defeat an opponent he has already faced he is over-confident to the point of stupidity and that should not have a chance to be learned by any hatchlings. It would mean their death while still young."
"Does the other male have to dominate you in order to sire offspring?"
Her eyes sparkled at the thought, "No but if he tried to mate her instead of just fertilizing her eggs her magic would likely kill him for the impertinence."
He needed to find a way to escape and not by brute strength, even though he knew he probably could. The damn binds were cutting off his magic so that left him with only his wits which was perfect. His little mate valued intelligence highly; that much he knew about her. So what he needed to prove was he was just as smart as he was strong. His eyes flared silver again when she bit his nipple then licked it soothing the abused flesh. He struggled instinctively again only for his legs to bend back even more as the whip tightened again. Cristoff could stop the snarl as he jerked out to nip at the blonde currently tormenting him.
'I am a dragon not a sheep. Be a fucking dragon!' he internally seethed then an idea popped into his head. He struggled more intentionally causing the whip to shorten again but he was ready this time. He moved his feet under his legs and let the whip actually pull him into a kneeing position with his hands bracing against his heels.
Lucy whined at the vertical movement clinging to his shoulders so she didn't slid down his chest. It was the distraction he was looking for as he used the slack he now had in the whip to loosen the binds and slip his arms and legs free. He wasted no time freeing his limbs and had Lucy pinned on her back, arms held at her side by his knees before she knew what was happening.
She snarled and struggled under his weight trashing her enticing body not at all happy Cristoff had somehow gotten free.
"Did my little mate enjoy being on top?" he teased her while his hands ghosted over her skin thoroughly enjoying the role reversal. It was now his turn to play with her.
Lucy whimpered at the contact and tried to follow his hands to increase the much needed pressure but was thwarted as his hands pulled away completely.
"Now now now, it's my turn to be in control," he said. With his magic once again available to him Cristoff increased his mate's sensitivity with a delightful little spell and watched as she trembled when his fingers lightly tickled across her shoulders to her neck.
"I want you," Lucy gritted out before pleasure barreled through her body when his magic touched her skin again with more force leaving her breathless.
"And you'll have me," he growled leaning over her ear as he tweaked her nipple through the small bit of fabric still covering her.
"Aaahh!" Lucy exclaimed at the sharp bite of pain, her eyes clearing from a red haze. She'd been aware the whole time but not exactly in control, wasn't even sure when she lost control until just then when she reclaimed it. Her body was tingling in a way that almost hurt but she longed for more. Something deep and instinctual still pushing her for more. She rubbed her thighs together for the friction as she tried to cope with what was happening.
"There you are," Cristoff said leaning down to kiss her softly calming down her now slowly fraying nerves. They'd made too much progress toward mating for him to stop without potential backlash from what he could only call her dragoness. Plus, he was just done fucking waiting already. Gods, he could feel the moon's influence building up heating his blood, he wanted her now. They were near a bedroom, one of the few he'd seen while exploring earlier, so without breaking the kiss he picked her up and moved them to the bed. Using her surprised gasp he deepened the kiss teasing her tentative tongue to move with his. It was obvious she had little to no experience but he'd change that soon enough.
Taking her hands in his own he ran them over his chest and shoulders encouraging her to touch and feel him again like she did before as he growled a deep rumble that only excited her ardor more.
Cristoff went achingly slow, using the skills he'd learned so long ago on how to handle virgins. It had been years since he was young enough to act as a girl's first partner in Bosco since that typically happened shortly after a young woman had experienced her first period. He was much too old now for that to be appropriate and even then they had all been through Sudepah lessons and excited for the experience, not anxious. He could tell Lucy was so confused at all the new sensations that he had kept them slow, building back the passion she'd had earlier so she could actually enjoy this instead of being overwhelmed and too terrified to even participate.
He managed to strip her little skirt and blouse, thankful it buttoned up the front, while continuing his slow buildup of her arousal. Gods her breasts were full and heavy and he couldn't help nuzzling between them and letting the soft weight press through his fingers. Her pale skin tasted like starlight and strawberries and he couldn't get enough of it. The musk of her arousal teased his need, begged of him to just bury into and lose himself completely.
"Cris!" Lucy gasped out between the embarrassing sounds she couldn't help but make when his hand dipped between her legs. She was wet, she could feel it on her thighs and confused by the intense burning tightening in her stomach.
"Oh Gods you feel so fucking perfect!" Cristoff growled letting one of his fingers dip into her hot wet fucking tight heat. Her moan was driving him to push harder, faster, his cock jealous of his hand, but one glimpse of the panicked look in her eye had him slowing down again. He shuttered out a breathe fighting against the very real dragon in his head screaming at him to bend her over and take his mate. Soothingly he increased the pressure of his hand stretching her pussy slowly so he could push in a second. He needed to get Lucy out of her head but every time he took a set forward her mind snapped right back in control.
Taking his time, Cristoff growled comfortingly as he moved back up her body so she could get used to the feeling. Heavens above how he wished he could of spent an entire month alone with her before the full moon hit, take his time teaching all the wonderful things they could do, but right not he already felt his control slipping. The magic from the moon dulling his reasoning. His unclaimed mate was here and he needed to take her! He only hoped his magic would affect Lucy as well freeing her own inhibitions.
"Everything is fine, you are fine. Just let go. I will always have you," he whispered in her ear as his second finger dipped into her.
Lucy gasped at the stretching sensation but focused on Cristoff's words, her mate's words. Recognition and realization swept through her mind in a comforting embrace. This wasa not just any man coming to her bed, not just sex they were about to have. This was the beginning of their wonderful future together, a way to bind them so strongly not even death could break them apart.
She finally had the courage to let go, to hand herself over completely to the one man that would never, could never, abandon her. She finally trusted him.
It was freeing in a way she would always associate with Cristoff from that moment on. Pulling him closer she finally kissed him through albeit the tears burning her eyes. She felt him spread her legs more, gently, as he moved between them, felt the pressure slowly build, first shallow then into deepening thrusts. It was uncomfortable, he was just so big, but she understood it would be like this at first. She'd imagined it feeling so much worse, the books she'd read of Levy's made it sound like those girls were dying. She found this to be something she had to acknowledge but with the next thrust she was unable to focus on anymore. Gods his lips and tongue were like heaven playing with her sensitive breasts.
By the time Cris was fully seated in her using slow agonizingly long motions he was at his limit of holding back.
Lucy's breathing was harsh and fast as she gasped for air. He knew she was close already feeling the flutterings against his cock. When her body bucked his eyes crossed. Her nails bit into his shoulders and he fucking loved it.
Cristoff increased the pace finally even though he knew neither would last much longer at this point. He was forever thankful she had finally stopped fighting her body's reactions. It was a true testament of his experience and stamina that he lasted as long as he had.
It did take much longer before he felt Lucy lose complete control of her body as she spasmed and clamped hard onto him taking him with her in ecstasy. In that moment of his initial, pleasure corsing through as the tension at the base of his spin let loose, he felt something tear into his chest.
The pleasure of release was nothing to the pain he knew he'd not be able to survive much longer. It was like having someones arm pushed through his chest. Another burn in his chest and the pain was gone, only a residual memory echoing through his senses, and he could breathe again. It had been incredibly brief but the pain he'd felt was deeper and more consuming than any he'd felt before and he hoped never to feel again.
He could barely hold himself up so Cristoff rolled to the side so he didn't crush his now official mate.
"What was that?" Lucy said her voice shaky from what she'd just experienced.
Pulling Lucy flush against him he shared his guess. "Dragons share a piece of their soul with their mates and Nurem said it happens the first time we orgasm together because our natural defenses are down making it possible. She didn't say you would violently rip a piece of my soul from me before then shoving a piece of yours in place." He sighed and buried his nose in her hair. "Gods, I now know why females kill males who try to mate them when they aren't their actual mates! I'll have to tell poor Emzadi."
"Your sister? Why?" Lucy asked groggily enjoyed the warmth of Cristoff surrounding her.
"It wasn't something I remembered until just now but I wished I had, I was just so young. Emzadi is a solar dragon slayer. Her clan implanted a dragon lacrima in her body for safe keeping before they realized that they couldn't take it back out again so she didn't have a dragon parent to explain things. Nurem had planned to teach her but had to go into hiding before she got the chance. Emzadi ended up falling in love with a boy who wasn't her mate really young, even though I warned her not to. The young man decided to try and mate her while she was in heat one year since he wasn't a slayer and that would have been his only chance that year. The next day no one knew what had happened only that he was somehow dead and Emzadi blamed herself saying she killed him. There were no marks on his body, no injuries of any sort and life eventually went on but she's never been quite the same. She was only 14 at the time."
"Your poor sister!"
"Hmmm," he hummed in agreement then continued, "Two years later an S-class mage in our guild had fallen in love with her and against our warnings he tracked her down during her next heat and the story repeats. My guess is the only way for the male not to die from the damage to their soul is if the female's soul accepts his portion as viable then gives him a piece of hers to heal it. If the souls aren't compatible the female is not going to die by damaging her own soul and he dies from the damage caused by an incomplete mating… I'd think Bicks would know if for sure if he saw it happen, but that would require him to be present..."
"That wouldn't turn out well," Lucy guessed. From her talk with Natsu long ago she knew that dragons swapped pieces of their souls but nothing specific. Her heart went out to his sister but she couldn't have known or controlled it; Lucy sure hadn't. "I think I should write about how this works for the other slayers," she paused and flushed at the memory. "I might need your help with that."
Cristoff chuckled heartily imagining his new innocent little mate trying to write about her first time. "You never know, it might be easier to write about."
"Wait, Levy and Gajeel mated over a year ago. She didn't tell me about anything painful and she told me so much about everything else. Is it possible they haven't mated yet?" Lucy was worried for her friend. She knew Gajeel would never get involved like they were with someone other than his mate; he was the one that warned Natsu about it. So why would Levy not tell her about this?
"I don't think that's possible. She had no reason to believe you would need to know that so she could have just left that part out," Cristoff reasoned.
"I'm over thinking things and ruining the moment, aren't I?" Lucy asked.
"That's ok we can just create more moments." Cristoff tipped Lucy's chin up and kissed her sweetly. "Besides, you're going to need a lot more practice before moon rises fully tomorrow," he said suggestively running a hand down her body healing her fatigue and muscle strain as he went.
"That feels nice," Lucy squirmed a little under the cool feeling of his magic.
"Well I can make it feel even better," he returned and pounced on her causing Lucy to giggle and try and squirm away.
-Chapter End-
Shout out to 19vanelkc for your comments and the line about being a dragon not a sheep. I had to change it a little but when she'd said that in a message I just had to include it.
Also thank you Desna and Flamey Owl for your comments and support.
