Supreme's Kiss (Kiss Series Book 3) Read online

  Finding nothing, she moved to the bookshelves. There had to be something here that she could use to help her father. Before she could explore too far, she heard voices outside the door and rushed back to the couch. She barely made it back before Cai walked in.

  Entering his office, Cai found Tove's daughter draped across his couch, the slit in her dress revealing a great deal of skin. Ignoring her, he went to sit behind his desk and instantly noticed how several of the drawers were slightly open. Obviously, she’d been snooping while he was gone. It didn’t surprise him. As the daughter of the Gold Prime Elder, she had always acted entitled.

  "Your mother might be some time," he told her making sure she didn't realize he'd discovered what she’d done. "Would you prefer to wait in one of the outside establishments?"

  While Dramman wasn't what most would consider a real Village with the accompaniment of shops and businesses most had, it did have a few permanent establishments that serviced the Guards and those that attended Council meetings.

  "Oh no," Maaike denied batting her eyelashes at him. "I'd much rather stay here with you."

  "Why?" Cai demanded.

  "What do you mean why?" Leaning forward, she exposed more of her cleavage before rising to move toward him. "You are a strong, handsome Dragoon."

  Cai remained silent but turned his chair to watch her seductively swing her hips from side to side as she rounded his desk.

  "Who holds an extremely, important position," she continued, sliding between the massive thighs he’d spread and began walking her fingers over the exposed muscles of his chest. "What female wouldn't want to spend time with you?"

  "I see." Cai allowed her to explore his chest. While he wouldn't deny it felt good, he wondered just how far she was willing to take this.

  "I so hope you do," she said provocatively pressing her breasts against his chest.

  "Are you sure you want to do this?" he growled, sinking one of his hands deep into her hair, pulling her head back to expose her vulnerable neck.

  "Yes, of course," she gasped, surprised to find she was actually aroused by this male's dominance. Still, she couldn't let it distract her from her objective. She needed to find that relay jewel. So as she arched her neck, giving his lips even better access to her neck, her fingers ran under the collar of his open shirt and found a pair of chains. 'So the Commander wasn't as stupid as she'd thought. He was wearing the jewel.'

  "Looking for something?" he asked gruffly, pulling back to look her in the eye.

  "What do you mean?" she asked, making sure to pant breathlessly as she did. "I was just caressing you. You're so big and strong."

  "Sure, and the fact that I'm wearing your father's relay jewel, the one that caused him to be imprisoned has nothing to do with it."

  "You are?" she asked, batting her eyes innocently.

  "You know I am,” he growled. “You're fingering the chain."

  "Oh, I didn't realize it." She slowly dragged her fingers back down to his chest, hoping to distract him.

  "Really." He gave her a disbelieving look. "So that's not what all this was about?" He gestured to her between his legs. "To distract me and obtain this jewel?" He pulled it out and saw the truth in her eyes as he dangled it in front of her.

  Before she could reply, a buzzing sound came from his waistband. "What in the name of Kur?" she demanded as Cai set her aside and turned back to his desk.

  "You are ready to leave, Lady Macawi?" he asked, tucking the jewel back into his shirt.

  "Yes." Came the voice Maaike recognized as her mother's.

  "I will be there shortly," he told her then stood and gestured to Maaike. "Shall we?"

  Chapter Seven

  Later that night, back in Kruba, Kirall’s lips explored his mate's naked body. They’d returned several hours earlier, and after an amazing meal, he’d taken her to their bed and loved her until she lay limp and satisfied beneath him.

  “I heard what you said to Dacke,” he murmured, kissing his way across her flat stomach.

  “Did you?” she asked quietly, never opening her eyes. “What was I saying?”

  “You told him that Whites have always been associated with justice and protection, especially the Supremes.”

  “Mmm, it’s true.” Lifting a hand, she sunk her fingers deep into his loose thick hair, directing his mouth to where she wanted it.

  “I believe you." He willingly moved to the breast she guided him to. "Dacke will make a fine Elder that way.”

  “Yes," she agreed arching up, offering him more of her breast. "But he’s still struggling to find his way as a Supreme.”

  “It’s only been a few days,” Kirall reminded her, before sucking her nipple deep into his mouth abrading the already sensitive flesh with his tongue before releasing it with a pop. “It's a big jump to go from a Minor to a Supreme.”

  “He’ll figure it out," she gasped out as he gave her other breast the same attention.

  "He will," he told her, pulling up to look at her. "You chose wisely."

  "We chose wisely," she corrected, her emerald green eyes capturing his. "I couldn't have done it without you."

  He gave her a smoldering look. "You are my life and my mate, nothing I ever do will mean anything if we aren't doing it together." Stretching up, he captured her lips, still swollen from their earlier passion, in a gentle but intense kiss that had her arching up to accept his throbbing cock poised at the entrance of her private lair.

  Then the vibration of relay jewel Cai sent halted him.

  "You'd better answer that," Autumn sighed relaxing back into the bed. "It might be your father."

  "It’s not. It's the jewel Cai sent," Kirall told her giving the glowing jewel an irritated look. Was it too much to ask for one uninterrupted night with his mate? Giving her a quick kiss, he rolled out of bed and gripped his relay jewel. "What is it!"

  "Elder Kirall, this is Commander Cai," came the answer through the relay jewel in his mind.

  "What can I do for you, Commander Cai?" Kirall continued to speak out loud so Autumn could hear the conversation.

  "Something has occurred that you need to be made aware of."

  "Stop." Kirall pulled an encryption cube out of a drawer and set his jewel on it. "Elder Autumn can now hear you, Commander Cai. Continue."

  "Elder Autumn, I am sorry to disturb you."

  "It's fine, Commander." Autumn sat up and even though she knew Cai couldn't see her, covered herself with the sheet. "I take it this has something to do with Elder Tove."

  "Yes, he had a visitor today, several actually, but only one was allowed to see him."

  "Who was it, Commander?" Kirall asked.

  "His mate and female arrived with Elder Lando."

  "I see, and what did they want?" Kirall demanded.

  "Lady Macawi requested to see her mate."

  "And the others?" Autumn asked.

  "Elder Lando only seemed to be there because he believed it necessary for Lady Macawi to be granted access."

  "So, he was grandstanding," Autumn said.

  "Grandstanding?" Cai questioned while Kirall looked at her in confusion.

  "He was acting as if he had more power than he actually does," she explained.

  "That would be correct," Cai told her.

  "So, what happened?" Kirall asked.

  "Elder Lando left once I agreed to escort Lady Macawi to her mate. Gold Prime Maaike remained in my office."

  "You made sure Macawi wasn't carrying a relay jewel for Tove?" Kirall demanded.

  "Yes, and the bag she carried also remained in my office."

  "Good."

  "Lady Macawi requested privacy once she was in her mate's cell."

  "You allowed them contact?" Kirall questioned in disbelief.

  "No, I lowered the separation wall."

  "Separation wall?" Autumn asked, looking to Kirall for clarification.

  "It is a clear wall that can be lowered in a cell that, even in their Dragon form, a Dragoon cannot break through.
It protects the Guards from the more unruly detainees," Kirall informed her.

  "I see, so Tove and Macawi were able to talk and see each other but not touch." Autumn nodded her understanding even though Cai could not see it.

  "Yes," Cai confirmed.

  "I hear a but in there," she said to Cai.

  "But not long after Macawi left, the wall was raised, and Tove was able to shift for the first time in days and began to heal."

  "So she somehow secreted him a jewel," Autumn murmured.

  "That is my belief, and as the fault is mine for not physically searching Lady Macawi, I will accept any punishment deemed suitable."

  "Punishment?" Autumn frowned at Kirall. "Why would Cai be punished?"

  "For allowing Macawi to give something to her mate," Kirall told her.

  "It was just a jewel," Autumn argued back.

  "Which he wasn't supposed to have," Kirall reminded her.

  "I don't care. Cai won't be punished for Macawi's deceit." She frowned at the relay jewel for a moment. "Wait. Did you just say Tove hasn't shifted or healed in all the time he's been in your custody?"

  "He shifted into his Other form before he was dragged from the Council Chambers but besides that no."

  "But why wouldn't he?" Frowning, Autumn looked to her mate. "He must have been in agony."

  "It's because Kruba drained Krapis' power before Tove could access it. Now even if his Hoard had managed to remain empowered, Tove never would have been able to penetrate our boundary to access it."

  "So Macawi must have been able to take some jewels with her when she fled," Autumn said thinking out loud.

  "Which she gave to Tove," Kirall added.

  "We only found one when we searched his cell," Cai informed them.

  "How well did he heal?" Autumn asked.

  "Well enough for the Council to reconvene," Cai told them.

  "When?" Kirall demanded.

  "You are the first Elder I notified. I hadn't realized how late it was. I will contact the other Elders in the morning, so it will convene the following day."

  "Alright, thank you for keeping us informed, Commander."

  "There is one more thing," Cai quickly said before Kirall could end the transmission.

  "What?" Kirall demanded. He wanted to get back in bed with his mate.

  "Gold Prime Maaike searched my office while I was escorting her mother."

  "She was looking for her father's relay jewel." Autumn didn't make it a question.

  "Yes, and when she couldn't find it in the room, she attempted to seduce me in the hopes I would reveal its location."

  "I assume she was unsuccessful," Kirall growled.

  "In seducing me? Yes. While I am only a Yellow Minor, I am smart enough to know that Gold Prime Maaike would never lower herself to associate with the likes of me unless she wanted something." Cai's resentment at Kirall questioning his honor was easily heard.

  "Oh, Cai, Kirall didn't mean it that way. Did you?" Autumn glared at her mate until he spoke.

  "It was a reasonable question," Kirall muttered.

  "Maybe for one who has experienced her… attributes before, but I have seen what she truly is and don't find it attractive."

  "Well he has you there," Autumn grumbled and rose from their bed, angrily whipping on a robe at the reminder.

  "Autumn…" But when Kirall reached for her, she pulled away.

  "My deepest apologies, Lady Autumn," Cai's contrite voice filled the room. "I never should have said something like that. Especially not to a mated couple. It was wrong and unnecessarily hurtful."

  "It doesn't make it any less true," she said quietly then took a deep breath. "But that's in the past and can't be changed. What's important is that you know it isn't you who is unworthy. It's Maaike."

  Cai was silent for a moment then said, "Thank you, Lady Autumn."

  "I also need to apologize, Commander," Kirall told him quietly, his gaze never leaving his mate. "I did not mean to imply you were without honor. I just know how manipulative Maaike can be."

  "She can be, and she did discover where Tove's relay jewel was," Cai told him.

  "What?" Kirall shouted.

  "She did?" Autumn couldn't believe Cai would tell her.

  "Yes, because I wear it around my neck along with my own relay jewel."

  "Oh, I see." Autumn realized what Maaike must have been doing for that to happen. "I bet she didn't expect to find it there."

  "No, she didn't."

  "So she'll be contacting you so she can try again."

  "She won't be able to," Cai told her. "One, because she doesn't have my code and two, because Dramman is always searched then sealed the day before the Council convenes, securing the safety of all."

  "Then we'll see you in two days, Commander." With that, Kirall lifted his jewel off the encryption device and ended the transmission. "Autumn…"

  She waved a hand to silence him and walked out onto their private balcony to look up at Mondu's moon. It was different than Earth's, more prominent with more of a reddish tinge. She wondered how long it would take before that didn't seem odd to her.

  Pulling on a robe, Kirall followed her outside. "I'm sorry," he told her quietly.

  "You have nothing to be sorry for," she told him still looking at the moon. "Like I told Cai, it's in the past and can't be changed any more than General Terron killing my family can be."

  "But both still hurt you."

  She couldn't deny that, so she remained silent but relaxed back in Kirall's arms when he wrapped them around her, pulling her close.

  Leaning down, he murmured in her ear. "You have to know that you are the only female that matters to me. More than my mother. More than my sisters. And especially more than any female, I might have joined with in the past."

  "I know," she told him.

  "You are the only one I ever have or ever will give my Kiss."

  "I know that too."

  "I don't know what else I can say or do so you're not upset by this."

  "There's nothing you can do, Kirall. It's something I have to come to terms with and get over, and while I know I can do the first because you are mine, and only mine." Turning in his arms, she tipped her head back to look up to him. "I'm just not sure I'll ever completely accomplish the second. Dragoons can live thousands of years. That means eventually we'll run into Maaike again, and it will be brought up…again. And when that happens, I know I'm going to react just as strongly as I do today. Just as you would if the situation was reversed."

  Kirall gazed down into his mate's eyes and saw her pain but also her truth. Just as he couldn't take away her scars, he couldn't take away the pain this caused her. "Know that when that happens, I will be standing at your side, supporting and defending whatever you do."

  "I know that too." Stretching up on her toes, she brushed his lips before turning back around to gaze over what was now her and Kirall's territory. "So in two days, we'll find out the truth."

  "We will," he agreed.

  "Dacke is ready to stand before the Council, but is Nixie?"

  "I thought you wanted to wait until after Tove was dealt with before it became known there were other Supremes."

  "I did, but now I think we need to reveal everything that is happening or the Council and Mondu will never unite again."

  "Everything?" Kirall's eyes widened.

  "Well, not how Nixie and Dacke became Supremes, but that they are."

  "What made you change your mind?"

  "Before we returned home, I was wandering around Krapis while you were talking to Dacke, and a tapestry appeared on the wall. It showed a full Council, and while each Elder stood separately, there was no missing that they supported each other. If we wait until after Tove's issue is resolved, then it will appear we kept Nixie and Dacke a secret because we didn't believe they would support us. They need to be there, need to be seen and heard. They also need to cast their own vote concerning Tove, just as every other Elder will."

  It was Kirall'
s turn to silently stare out over their territory. His mate made a valid point. It would appear as if they were making a power play if more Supremes appeared after Tove's sentence, especially when one was his sister and the other his friend.

  "We will need to meet with Dacke, Nixie, and both families to make sure they are willing to take this step."

  Tipping her head back, she looked up at him. "And that's another reason why I love you. You see what I don't. We do need to give them and their families a choice."

  "You would have given it to them." Leaning down, he kissed her nose.

  "Eventually, but you immediately saw it." Closing her eyes, she gave a tired sigh. "We need to contact Dacke and Nixie."

  "I will. You need to rest. You are new to being a Dragoon and shifting takes a toll on you, mentally and physically, even for Dragoons born on Mondu."

  "But…"

  "No. You are my mate, mine to protect and care for, even from herself, and that's what I'm doing now." Sweeping her up into his arms, he carried her back to their bed and lay her down on it. "Rest."

  "I don't like sleeping without you." She gave him a pouty look even though her eyes were already starting to close.

  "Neither do I. You'll be in my arms soon."

  "Vow?"

  "Vow."

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Autumn woke the next morning feeling safe and secure and more rested then she had since… well since before her family had been murdered. And it was all because of the male arms that held her close, a leg intertwined with hers. Lifting her head off his shoulder, she let her gaze travel over her mate's face, relaxed in sleep. He was still so exotic to her with his oval-shaped eyes and a nose that was flatter than a human's because of his dragon. Sliding her fingers over his massive chest, she played with the silky strands of his now red and black hair with its silver laminae.

  "You should still be sleeping," he murmured, his arms tightening around her, his silver-rimmed eyes finding hers.