Griff was beginning to think that neither the elf nor the orc saw anything clearly. It wasn’t his place to interfere, however, so he merely watched them for a moment before asking them if he could touch each of them as he murmured blessings over them.

  The words should have seemed odd on his tongue, but they flowed as if he’d always known them. When he finished, he hugged them, his friends, even though he hadn’t understood them to be such until then. Sometimes, he admitted silently, he was blind to what was before him.

  But not to the love he had for Blaze. Griff cupped Blaze’s jaw and kissed him, letting all his affection and gratitude flow into the kiss. Even though it was brief, he knew Blaze understood.

  Then Griff took Blaze’s hand in his. “Your brother?”

  Blaze nodded.

  Chapter Forty-One

  Fyre looked broken. That was Blaze’s first thought when he saw his brother. Tears streaked Fyre’s cheeks, and his hands shook as he wiped at them.

  But then Fyre raised his head and stared right at Blaze. The unmistakable fury in Fyre’s eyes had the irises turning blue and orange with his inner fire.

  Blaze hoped that anger wasn’t about to be directed at him or his bonded. He moved to put himself between Fyre and Griff. “Fyre, I’m—”

  “I can’t believe she deceived me for so long!” Fyre raged, pounding his fists against his thighs. “How could I be so stupid? So gullible! Such a gods-be-damned fool! She lied to me with every fucking word she ever spoke, every touch she gave me, every fucking faked orgasm and promise of a family together and—” He threw his head back and bellowed, hot flames shooting from his mouth and nose. “I am so fucking mad at myself for being played by her!”

  Blaze felt the heat rolling off his brother. He was afraid the man would combust if he didn’t watch himself. “Fyre, you weren’t a fool, aren’t a fool for having believed in her. We all did. I did. I thought she was genuine.” Not always in a good way, either. “Your kingdom believed in her and—”

  “You believed, they believed, because I did,” Fyre cut in, slashing angrily at the air as if he could slap away Blaze’s words. “And I fell for her lies because I’m a fucking fool!”

  Blaze opened his mouth to argue, but Fyre didn’t give him a chance.

  “This is proof of my idiocy,” he said, nodding at the ashes. “My failure as king, my failure as a man and brother, a son. As anything. You.” He pointed to Blaze.

  “Me?” Blaze repeated, confused and scared of what was coming.

  Fyre nodded. “Yes, you and your demigod bonded, I give my kingdom to you both to rule. You’ll do better by far than I ever could.”

  Blaze panicked. “I don’t want to be king!”

  But Fyre had shifted and was already flapping away. He didn’t even acknowledge Blaze’s refusal.

  “Fyre!” Blaze shouted. “You get back here! Get back here! I don’t want to be king! Or queen! Or whatever! Gods damn it!”

  “I don’t think he’s in any place to listen right now,” Griff said. “Let him have some time to himself, time to heal and see the truth. He’ll come to understand that it wasn’t him but Bonny who was in the wrong. I hope.”

  Blaze wanted to go after Fyre. It hurt to know his brother was in so much pain. Fyre wouldn’t thank Blaze for it if he did pursue him, though. Fyre had as much pride as any other dragon, more, even, and it’d been decimated by Bonny. Only time would help him now. Blaze had to trust in his brother’s ability to reason.

  It still felt wrong to let him go. Blaze was going to have to step back, however. It was what he and Fyre both needed.

  Even so, he wanted some comfort, and Griff was frowning. Sliding his hand over Griff’s silky wings helped soothe them both.

  Griff made the sweetest purring sounds when Blaze did it.

  “I think I’m going to be touching these a lot,” Blaze said, smiling at Griff. “In fact, I can’t wait to see what you do with them when we’re making love.”

  Griff wasn’t slow at all. He smiled wickedly. “Well then, let’s go home and find out.”

  But nothing was that easy. There were congratulations to be accepted by fairies and dragons, and Blaze’s mind was blown by the dragons that kneeled for him in a show of respect—and he nearly tripped to see Bort doing so.

  Blaze stopped walking and looked down at him.

  Bort smirked, though there was a nervous edge to it. “I know, right? Weird. But here’s the thing—I can admit I was a dick. You’re obviously a man blessed by the gods, and I’m not stupid all the time. I’d rather curry your favor than your wrath now.”

  Blaze wasn’t sure that was the best promise to follow him, but it was an honest one, so he’d take it. “So this is a truce.”

  “A permanent one,” Bort agreed. “And I won’t let anyone else insult my king.”

  Blaze felt as though he’d fallen through space onto another planet. “Uh. Okay. Thanks. I mean, blessings to you and your family.”

  Bort snickered. “I’ll help you study up on kingly behavior.”

  “He doesn’t need the help,” Griff said. “Blaze is perfect just as he is.”

  Bort tucked his chin down. “I didn’t mean anything bad by it.”

  Griff touched Bort’s head, right on top. “I know, but he must rule as he is, not as anyone thinks he should be. Blaze is at his best all the time, but especially when he allows his heart to guide him instead of worrying over other people’s opinions.”

  Blaze couldn’t help it. He had responsibilities he’d never imagined, a kingdom suddenly depending on him, subjects needing reassurances, but he had to pull Griff into his arms. “Thank you for believing in me. I love you, so much.”

  Griff’s smile was brighter than any dragon’s flame. “I love you, too.”

  Epilogue

  “A king and a demigod. This world is about to be shaken,” Jade teased. “Just try not to take over my kingdom, please, if you decide on total planetary domination. Let me keep my little corner of it.”

  Griff rolled his eyes but couldn’t keep back a grin. “Fine. If we must.”

  “You are too kind.” Jade bowed with a flourish. “I suppose I must get back to my battle now. It’s been…different.”

  “Prick,” Blaze muttered. He snickered when Jade gave him an innocent look. “You know you are.”

  “It’s because I’m royalty, and I’m fairly certain someone here made comments about royalty being screwed-up and haughty. Oh wait.” Jade blinked.

  Blaze groaned and covered his face with both hands. “Don’t remind me! But I’m not king-king, just a temporary filler.”

  “You’re still a king,” Jade informed him. “And I think you might be one for longer than you expect.”

  “Why do you say that?” Blaze asked, though he didn’t give Jade the chance to answer. “Fyre is strong, and he’s made to be a ruler. He’ll be back soon. He’ll get past what Bonny did to him.”

  Jade shook his head. “It’s not what she did to him that haunts him, but what he sees as his own failures.” He turned when Grlind called out that he was ready. “Ah. I wish you both well in life.”

  Griff had kept his distance from the Storm King all along, but thought it was time to let go of the distrust he’d felt for the elf.

  He wasn’t expecting the hug from Jade, though. “Uh?”

  Jade giggled and squeezed him. “Oh, come on. You’re as close to a god as I’ll ever get to touch.”

  “You’ve touched him plenty,” Blaze grumbled, though he sounded more amused than irritated.

  Jade released Griff and lunged for Blaze. “Jealous? Here’s your hug, hottie.”

  “No—aw, shit,” Blaze whined, but patted Jade on the back. “Okay, now, fine, get off of me.”

  Jade did, and that left only Grlind to say goodbye to. However, the orc stayed back, shaking his head.

  “Don’t care much for goodbyes,” Grlind said. “Safe journey to you.”

  “Safe journey to you as well,” Griff replied.

  “If we can ever be of any help, or you just want to visit, you’ll always be welcome,” Blaze added, taking hold of Griff’s hand. They watched the Storm King and the orc walk away. “Why do I feel like crying?”

  Griff turned to Blaze. “Because they were better friends than we realized until this moment.”

  “I was always suspicious of them, well, mainly of Jade,” Blaze admitted.

  Griff wasn’t certain that Jade was as selfless as he portrayed himself to be. He had wondered, and maybe still did, if Jade had somehow known of Griff’s semi-divinity.

  “I suppose you’ll be living with the dragons?”

  Griff glanced at Artaxis. “For a while, yes, but we’ll be heading to my house first. I have to get Egregio.”

  “That’s your pet, right?” Blaze asked.

  “Yes, though don’t let him hear you say that. Egregio will take your toes off,” Griff warned. “As far as Egregio is concerned, I’m the pet, and you will be, too.”

  Blaze scowled. “Why would you want a mean pet?”

  “Because he’s really cuddly and soft and warm,” Griff explained.

  Artaxis just laughed at them both and promised to meet them at the frolic.

  Blaze had to deal with his army of dragons before Griff was finally able to have Blaze all to himself. He turned his face up to the sky, squinting against the suns’ bright rays.

  “Ready to fly with me?”

  Griff spread his wings. “Always.”

  Flying with Blaze was unlike anything Griff had ever experienced before. It was fun and sensual, an erotic dance between the two of them at times. When they landed at his house, Griff’s entire body was vibrating with the need to touch Blaze’s naked skin and to mate with his bonded.

  But as soon as he tugged Blaze inside, Egregio yowled and leapt on Blaze’s foot, biting at his toes.

  “Ow! Shit! OW! You evil little shit!” Blaze yelled, hopping on his other foot. “Get it off me! I’m gonna toast your fuzzy ass—”

  “Egregio, behave,” Griff said, then cooed, and Egregio sprang up into his arms.

  Blaze glared daggers at the beast. “That is evil incarnate.”

  Griff scratched behind Egregio’s ear. “Be nice.”

  “It attacked me!” Blaze shouted.

  Egregio growled.

  “And he’ll do it again if you continue to yell.” Griff peered past Egregio to Blaze’s foot. “He didn’t break the skin.”

  “It still hurt.” Blaze’s bottom lip poked out as he pouted.

  Griff gave Egregio one last scratch. “Go on, and be good. No more attacking my bonded.”

  Egregio leapt down and made an inquisitive sound.

  “Yes, he’s my bonded, my lovely dragon, Blaze, and he’s a king. Keep that in mind the next time you go into attack mode.” Griff chuckled as Egregio puffed up, then skittered under the bed.

  Blaze squatted and poked at his foot. “We’re not having sex on the bed, right?”

  Griff waggled his eyebrows, then stood in front of Blaze, his cock nearly eye level with the sexy dragon.

  Blaze was looking up at him, lips parted, eyes dark with lust.

  “Right here works,” Griff rasped. He took hold of his hardening cock and brushed the tip of it over Blaze’s lips. “Keep your hands behind your back,” he ordered when Blaze started to reach for him. “Or on my thighs if you need the support.”

  “Need to touch you,” Blaze muttered, his palms warm on Griff’s legs.

  “You’ll get to touch.” But for now, Griff had a need to see his cock slipping into Blaze’s mouth. “Open for me.”

  Blaze did so after licking his lips, slicking the way for Griff’s shaft to glide over them.

  Griff let go of his cock and instead held on to Blaze, one hand at his nape, the other cupping his jaw. “Yes,” he hissed, sinking into the pleasure of Blaze’s mouth instantly. “Fuck. Take me deeper.”

  Blaze’s nostrils flared, and little clouds of steam gusted from them. He bobbed his head down, and Griff’s eyes crossed as silky wet perfection encased his length.

  “Oh,” he whispered, his knees going weak as Blaze swallowed and moaned. “Gods.”

  Blaze moaned again and slurped his way back to the tip, where he tongued and teased at Griff’s slit.

  Griff was panting, and his legs were shaking in minutes, his balls drawn tight as he struggled to keep from coming just yet.

  He let himself fuck Blaze’s mouth a few more times, then pulled back and rubbed his cock on Blaze’s cheeks, the rough scrape of stubble almost more than Griff could bear. Almost. But not quite. The little bite of pain added to the arousal coursing through Griff.

  “Can I?” Blaze asked, his voice raspy from sucking Griff.

  “Go ahead. Don’t make me come.” Griff let Blaze take hold of his cock and worship it, with tongue and lips and caresses.

  All the while, Blaze spoke to him of love and devotion, and Griff promised him an eternity together.

  Nothing would keep them apart. Not enemies, not pride, not death.

  Griff pulled Blaze to his feet and kissed his swollen lips. He held Blaze in his arms, touching his hot skin and stroking over firm muscles.

  “Griff, please. I need you.” Blaze trembled as Griff sucked up a purple mark above his collarbone. “Griff!”

  Pleased with the way Blaze was unraveling for him, Griff walked Blaze backward, then laid him out on the table. He followed Blaze down, kissing him until they had to separate for breath. Griff nibbled his way down to Blaze’s nipples, where he proceeded to work them into stiff peaks as Blaze writhed beneath him.

  Griff left marks down Blaze’s chest to his taut belly, then in the divot where groin and leg met. Blaze squirmed and giggled at first, then scrambled for a hold of the table and brought his heels up to the surface of it, offering himself to Griff.

  Griff licked Blaze’s cock from shaft to base, then came up and took half the length into his mouth while at the same time palming Blaze’s balls.

  “Argh!” Blaze jolted, hips shooting up and cock sinking deep.

  Griff’s eyes watered as he relaxed his throat muscles rather than stiffening up at the sudden thrust. He tugged Blaze’s balls gently, then slid his hand down to rub over Blaze’s taint.

  Blaze mewled and rutted, and Griff let him, giving Blaze this, the control to take what he needed.

  Blaze buried his fingers in Griff’s hair and began to move with more purpose, losing himself to the bliss Griff could give him.

  Then Blaze keened and jerked away, twisting his hips and pulling his cock from Griff’s mouth.

  “In me,” Blaze demanded, panting heavily, still lying halfway on his side. “I want you in me!”

  Like Griff would ever argue with that. “Let me get the lube.”

  “Hurry,” Blaze pleaded.

  Griff had never moved so fast in his life. He had the lube open and spread on his cock in less than ten seconds. But when he would have used his fingers to prepare Blaze, Blaze shook his head.

  “No. Just your cock. I want you to fill me like that,” he said, pulling his legs up and baring himself to Griff.

  Griff’s heart pounded as he lined up his tip to that little hole. “You’ll tell me if it’s too much.”

  Blaze rolled his eyes. “I’m fixing to tell you to hurry the—oh—” This time his eyes rolled for a different reason.

  Griff grinned as he pressed into Blaze, slowly breaching his hole with a steady pressure.

  The perfect grip of Blaze’s body was mind-boggling. Griff’s smug grin slipped away as he struggled for restraint.

  Blaze’s ass was so hot, the temperature of his inner fire evident in every rippling clench of his anal walls. They pulled Griff’s shaft in deeper, massaging it and working every inch of it.

  Griff lifted one knee onto the table as he pushed the rest of the way into Blaze’s ass. He had to close his eyes and start naming off species of plants to keep from coming right then.

  Blaze’s ass clenched, then finally, he grunted and Griff could move.

  “Gods, Blaze,” Griff got out before he withdrew almost fully. The underside of his cockhead stretched Blaze’s rim beautifully. “You should see—” He thrust back in, hard.

  Blaze gasped, his body arching as he grabbed onto Griff’s arms.

  Griff couldn’t hold back any longer. He gritted out Blaze’s name as he took his bonded and gave of himself in return.

  Griff pounded into Blaze, pushing him across the table so that Griff had to climb up onto it and hold Blaze. It was no hardship. He wanted to hold Blaze forever, and he would.

  He kissed Blaze, a messy, more teeth than lips kiss as they clung to each other, Blaze driving his hips up eagerly in time with Griff’s movements.

  Never enough. Griff would never get enough of Blaze. He moaned and thrust faster. He was too close to climaxing.

  He tried to get a hand between their bodies, but Blaze beat him to it, fisting his own cock. Griff instead pinched one of Blaze’s nipples. He managed to get out one word. “Come.”

  Blaze gasped, and his dick sprayed hot cum between them.

  Griff’s orgasm tore through him like a summer storm, violent and perfect. He shouted, his body suffused with a pleasure so intense he couldn’t do anything but feel.

  Aftershocks of it kept rippling through him for several seconds before he lowered himself gracelessly to Blaze’s side, rolling Blaze with him.

  He had many words to say, later. Right now, they were in a perfect place—each other’s arms, and only three words needed to be said on his part. “I love you.”

  Blaze sniffled. “And I love you.”

  Griff smiled and held his bonded closer, brushing a tender kiss over his cheek. He was sure they’d have many more adventures in the future, but for now, he couldn’t imagine a more perfect moment than the one he was sharing with Blaze.

  Want to see more from this author? Here’s a taster for you to enjoy!

  Wild Ones: Destined Prey

  Bailey Bradford

  Excerpt

  Jack Tucker watched his brother retrieve the rifle from the gun cabinet in the office. “Um. Rhett? What’re you doing?”