Draconis 6
Title: Draconis chapter 6
Pairing: Jensen/Jared
Chapter Rating: NC-17
Summary: Jared's a prince who always does what's expected of him, even as he dreams of following his heart. When his father signs an allegiance with a dragon clan and he meets Jensen, everything changes.
Disclaimer: Neither of these beautiful men are mine. I just play with them sometimes.
Previous Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four, Five
(Awesome banner made for me by the talented Mystik-Ivanow)
Jared spent hours in the library after he spoke to Missouri. Although she’d never lied to him before he tried desperately to find evidence that she’d been wrong just this once. He didn’t want to believe that his family, let alone his own father, was responsible for killing the fascinating, noble creatures that they were now trying so hard to have a peaceful treaty with.
Jim helped Jared as much as he could, bringing him book after book of slayer reference guides and listings from near and far. In each one Jared was aghast to see his family’s name as far back as fifteen generations. Jim had even found Jonathan’s journal, although he seemed reluctant to hand it over.
“Some things are best left alone, Jared,” the librarian said.
“The truth always has a way of surfacing, even if it’s not what we want to know,” Jared countered.
He took the journal with careful hands as though afraid it would break and ran his hand over the cover. It was made of a dark leathery substance, and Jared sincerely hoped it wasn’t dragon skin.
The pages crinkled with age as he spread the book open on his lap, and there in black ink just as Jared had feared, Jonathan’s neat scrawl dictated his very first dragon hunt at the tender age of eleven. He hadn’t done any killing himself at that time, but he wrote page after page of how honored he was to finally be able to be a part of it. How amazing it had been to watch his own father Samuel take down a large female with the assistance of other skilled family members.
Jonathon then detailed every task afterwards, such as extracting the dragon’s teeth and claws for weaponry and skinning it’s hide for profit. The most disturbing part was they’d kept the large skull as a memento, and Jared realized with repulsion that it was probably still somewhere in the castle.
Each entry was extremely graphic, especially the one about Jonathan’s first real hunt where he had killed and gutted a young male dragon and Jared felt increasingly ill with each word. The image he had of Jonathan as being a kind and noble man was completely destroyed, replaced with the reality of a ruthless hunter who found pleasure in murdering dragons as often as he could.
Ridding the world of their evil, Jonathan had believed.
In the last entry, he wrote of how his son Gerald was going to join him on the next hunt. There was such pride in his words and Jared hastily dropped the book to the floor as though it had bitten him.
Certain events made sense now, but there were still unanswered questions. Such as if Gerald had been involved, what made him stop? What made him decide to form this treaty and how the hell did Jeffery Dean trust him enough to show up and sign it?
If he wanted answers Jared knew the only way to get them would be to question his father. But it was Jeff’s night, so Jared would respect him and wait until the next day to try to fit the last pieces into the morbid puzzle his family history had become.
He told Jim he could leave for the night, taking pity on the man since he looked like he was ready to fall asleep on his feet, then laid down on the sofa. Jared stretching out as much as he could with the intention of only staying himself for a little while. He didn’t want to return to the party, nor did he want to risk running into anyone on his way to his room.
He awoke with a start much later as a hand brushed across his cheek, and his eyes adjusted to the dying fire light to see a familiar figure crouched next to the sofa.
“Jensen..”
“I see you’ve been doing research,” Jensen looked around at the strewn books. “Find anything of interest?”
“You were right about my family.” Jared pushed himself to sit up, wincing a little at the ache in his back. “They were dragon slayers.”
“It was only my complete trust in Jeffery Dean that I followed him that day to view the treaty,” Jensen told him. “Ansem said he was walking into a trap, but Jeffery Dean simply saw a future for us where we could live and prosper without worry. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine that such unguarded creatures like humans could diminish our numbers, but I’ve seen it for myself.”
“You said… you said your brother and sister were killed. Did my…?”
A faraway look overtook Jensen’s eyes, the dragon lost in a memory for a moment. “The best,” he finally sneered, and Jared flinched. So it was true.
“How can you not hate me?”
“You weren’t there.”
“I know, but still. My father was and yet you don’t hate him either. You helped him when he was sick.”
Jensen climbed onto the sofa next to Jared. “As I said, I trust Jeffery Dean. In your father I saw means for a future for us. Opposite what I’d said about you, our destructor had become our savior in a way. But now everything’s ruined. Your brother will find a reason to declare death on us.”
“He said he wouldn’t.”
“As you said, he’s quick to anger. I’m afraid that we can’t take that chance.”
They sat in silence for a while. Jared shivered as the flames in the fireplace continued to die, but he didn’t move to feed it. He was afraid that if he left Jensen’s side the dragon would disappear on him again. Without realizing it, Jared shifted until he was leaning against Jensen’s side.
A kiss brushed against Jared’s temple, then cheek and jaw. Jared tilted his head as Jensen’s mouth moved to his throat, the light scrape of teeth coaxing a moan from his lips. Desire coursed through Jared’s body and together he and Jensen shifted so that Jensen was leaning back against the arm of the sofa with Jared between his legs. Their kisses grew intense and hungry, Jared sucking on Jensen’s tongue as it wove into his mouth.
Jared grabbed the hem of Jensen’s shirt and pushed the fabric up, holding it at his armpits as his lips traced over his lover’s firm chest and peaked nipples. Jensen moaned, arching slightly as Jared’s tongue teased over one of the nubs while his fingers did the same with the other.
“Jared…” Jensen tangled his fingers in Jared’s chestnut hair, gently guiding his head further down until his mouth brushed against the top of Jensen’s pants. Between his legs, his erection was pushing eagerly against the fabric and Jensen hissed as Jared tentatively slid his tongue across the length of the bulge. “Please.”
“Please what?” It was instantly addicting, being able to reduce Jensen to this. “What do you want me to do?”
“God, Jared. Suck me.”
Glad that Jim had left long ago, Jared eased open Jensen’s pants then tugged them down to settle low on his hips. Jensen’s dick was fully hard and dripping, the sight making Jared’s mouth water and yet he hesitated.
Jensen’s thumb traced over his jaw. “It’s okay,” he soothed. Jensen knew Jared had never done this before, and that in itself was an incredible turn on. “Kiss it.”
Wrapping his hand around the base, Jared kissed the thick head and immediate tasted the slightly bitter precome. Encouraged by Jensen’s intake of breath, he continued to pepper slow, slightly-parted kisses to the swollen length and balls before taking the bulbous head into his mouth. Jared sucked softly and rubbed his tongue against the slit, gathering the moisture onto his taste buds.
Jensen jerked beneath him, his breath speeding up as he grunted and moaned. “Oh yeah.. just like that.”
Eager for more, Jared lowered his head a little too fast and immediately pulled back choking as Jensen bumped the back of his throat. Tears clouded his eyes and he coughed wetly, embarrassment burning his cheeks.
“Are you okay?” Jensen’s fingers kneaded the back of Jared’s neck. “You don’t have to continue if you don’t want to.”
“I want to.” Jared parted his lips and tried again, taking Jensen into his mouth more slowly this time. He moved his head back and forth, careful to pull away when Jensen’s cock started going too far as he used his hand to stroke and squeeze what he couldn’t fit into his mouth.
Jensen huskily murmured encouragements entwined with Jared’s name. Every now and then his hips would twitch slightly, his body aching to thrust but he kept himself in check not wanting to scare or hurt Jared.
Jared pulled back when Jensen warned him he was going to come, hovering his open mouth over the head of the other man’s wet dick. Jensen jerked himself off with quick, desperate tugs and watched hungrily as Jared caught his semen in his mouth. Jared audibly swallowed and licked his lips, the taste just barely sliding passed his tongue before he was yanked up and into a deep, passionate kiss.
Jensen broke away, sitting up as he guided Jared to lean back. Jensen yanked open the younger man’s pants and immediately sucked his erection down to the root. Jared cried out in pleasure, and already incredibly turned on from giving his first blowjob he came in moments.
After fixing their clothes they fit their bodies next to each other, Jared lying between Jensen and the back of the sofa and Jensen’s butt hanging off the side. It was a comfortable, faded green piece of furniture but not really made for two men who were both over six feet tall.
“Where have you been the last few days?”
“Jared honestly, would it have been wise for me to be around? Everyone was busy setting up for the coronation party for a man who despite any promises he made to you, hates dragons. It was best I stay away. Besides, certain things had to be done. There is a nest due to hatch very soon.”
“A nest?” Jared asked excitedly. “That’s great! How many eggs?”
“Six. The standard amount. In such times as these it’s up to everyone to protect them until they’re ready to be born, and even then we’re all involved in some way.”
“I wish I could see them hatch.”
Jensen smiled at his wistful tone. “I think you’re the only human we could trust to be close to them.” He got up and urged Jared to do the same. “Come on, Jared. We have to go.”
“Go?” Jared asked confusedly, but allowed Jensen to pull him to his feet. “Go where? I don’t think we should walk around the castle, Jensen. The party is still going on. These things generally last until the early morning.”
“I know,” Jensen replied anxiously. He grabbed Jared’s hand to literally drag him from the room, but once they reached the hallway Jared dug his heels stubbornly into the floor. “Jared, come on!”
“Why are you in such a hurry? Is something going on?”
“Of course not. I just think it’s a great time to get some air, that’s all. The stars are out brightly tonight too, you want to go look at them?”
Jared narrowed his eyes.
“I’ll show you all the constellations,” Jensen said, sounding desperate now. “I know a bunch of stories about them.”
“Jensen, please. Tell me what’s going on.”
The sound of a woman sobbing distracted him, and Jared looked down the corridor to see Samantha trying to sooth an inconsolable Genevieve. Leaving Jensen, he immediately headed over.
“Geni?” Jared asked worriedly, and the maid buried herself further against Samantha like she could hide from him. “What’s going on, Samantha? Is she hurt?”
“Not physically,” his teacher shook her head, conflicting emotions of sympathy and frustration showing on her face. She pushed Genevieve away enough so that the dark haired maid could look at her. “I think it’s time you told someone, don’t you? It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay!” she sobbed. “I can’t believe I let him trick me like that!”
“Trick you?” Jared echoed. He was startled when Genevieve released Samantha to attach herself to his chest. His shirt was instantly soaked with her tears. Jared hugged her, patting her back in a soothing manner like he always did with Megan or Sandy when they were upset. “What’s this all about?”
“Genevieve,” Samantha touched her hair. She was in complete Mother Mode, “the only way to make this right is to tell Jared what happened. If anyone can help you, it’s him.”
“I don’t deserve help,” the girl wailed, her voice muffled by Jared’s chest. “What I did..”
Jared cupped her face in his hands, making her look up at him. “What did you do?” he asked in his kindest voice, and finally it seemed to break through to her.
Genevieve stepped back and wiped her eyes, her cheeks red and wet from her tears. “The previous king and the princess, it’s my fault they were sick.”
“It is?”
“Yes… I was supposed to put poison in your father’s soup, but I couldn’t go through with it and only a little got in. Just enough to make him sick. One of the servants took it from me before I could pour it out.”
Realization dawned on Jared. As the soups were placed down Megan had taken a spoonful of Gerald’s before she realized it wasn’t hers, which is how she’d gotten poisoned too and it was why she hadn’t suffered as much as Gerald had.
“You-!” he started furiously, and Genevieve jumped back in fear.
“Jared, wait,” Samantha pulled the maid protectively to her side. “You know this girl. She’d never do anything to hurt your family.”
“Oh please! Did you just hear her? She tried to murder my father and sister!”
“I was put up to it!” Genevieve insisted tearfully. “Sir Badgley told me that he would love me, if I’d do it.”
“Penn?”
“Yes. I know I was stupid to listen to him, Highness. He seduced me weeks ago, and I just wanted him to love me. But when I realized what my infatuation with him was turning me into, I knew that it had gone too far. That’s why I stopped. I never meant to hurt anyone, I swear!”
At the earnest and contrite look on her face, Jared’s anger transferred to the deserving source. He knew Penn was despicable but to play mind games with someone! Mind games that very nearly caused the death of two people.
“That’s the real reason why he didn’t help us take care of father and Megan that night,” Jared mumbled, more to himself than the two women.
“In the end his plan still worked,” Jensen said stonily, moving to stand at Jared’s side. “The king’s death would have automatically made Jeff, his successor, take his place. But even though the poison did not kill Gerald, he was still weakened enough to pass the crown along anyway. Now Penn has the new king’s ear.” He looked at Jared with a raised eyebrow. “Still want to marry him?”
Jared scowled. “I never wanted--”
“What’s that sound?” Samantha asked as a loud screech echoed throughout the castle.
A loud, familiar screech.
Horrified, Jared only had enough time to look at Jensen before the castle shook around them and people began screaming. The doors to the ballroom burst open, guests streaming out like water as they ran. Jared yanked Genevieve close before she could get trampled by a heavy-set man, and when it was safe he urged her towards Samantha.
“Get out of here!” he demanded then shoved his way passed the panicking people and into the ballroom, calling for his family.
The Padalecki’s and Penn were the only ones remaining in the room when Jared managed to get through, and he rushed over to them just as a burst of fire shattered the stained-glass windows.
“Jared!” Sharon grabbed her son. “Thank God you’re okay.”
The castle shook again as the dragons smashed bodily against it. From the sound of their attacks, there was at least three of them.
“We have to get out of here,” Gerald said, urging his family towards the exit.
They were forced to stop short as Jensen blocked their way. “I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.”
“Jensen?” Jared expression was a mixture of surprise and hurt. He was completely disconcerted by Jensen’s betrayal.
“I tried to get you to leave, Jared. You wouldn’t listen!”
“Enough of this!” Jeff moved in front of his family, blocking them protectively. “I knew from the beginning that you couldn’t be trusted. We outnumber you, Jensen. Do you really think that you alone stand a chance in stopping our escape?”
“I’m not alone,” Jensen replied coolly.
Mike and Tom appeared at his sides.
“You two are in on this as well?” Gerald demanded.
“Of course we are, Majesty,” Mike retorted with a sardonic smile. “After all, do you really think we’d go against our own clan just for you?”
The castle shook again under the outside assault, and Megan screamed as a massive chunk of the ceiling crashed to the floor in the center of the room.
“Send word to stop the attack,” Jensen told Tom, but his eyes never left Jared’s. “We got what we came for.”
“I trusted you,” Jared accused, his body shaking from the numerous emotions running through him, “I believed you, and you lied to me!”
“Not everything was a lie, Jared. Some of the things I told you--”
“Just shut up! I swear Jensen if we get out of this alive..”
“If, being the operative word,” a new voice said smugly. It’s owner walked into the room passed Jensen and Mike. He appeared young, much younger than Jared expected with short and spiky brown hair and lighter highlights woven into the strands. “The infamous Padalecki family,” he scoffed, looking at them as though they were bugs too disgusting to even squish.
“You must be Ansem,” Penn curled his lip in loathing. “I’m surprised to see you like this. As the rest of your clan, it seems you get your jollies from pretending to be like us, huh?”
“This form is nothing to me. But since your tiny human brains can’t comprehend us when we speak in our true tongue, this degrading body will have to do for now.”
He cast a dark look at them, and Jared automatically pulled his sister protectively to his side. The movement caught Ansem’s attention; he smirked at Jared.
“I remember you. The one who thought it wise to interrupt Jensen’s and my fight. You’d be barbeque if he hadn’t saved your delicate skeleton.”
“I don’t need Jensen to protect me.”
“No?” The stared each other down. Jared refused to relent or break eye contact, and it only seemed to amuse Ansem. “We’ll take him with us,” he declared.
“What?!” Jensen gaped. “No, Ansem! That wasn’t part of the plan!”
“Did you really think this was going to be easy, Jensen? No, we need collateral.”
“Monster!” Sharon cried, holding Jared and Megan to her. “I won’t let you take anyone!”
“You have no choice, female. He comes with us, or I give the word and my family still waiting outside slaughter all of you. Pick.”
Jared glanced towards the broken window. He could see the scaly head of a large blue dragon looking back, it’s giant claws piercing the stone wall to keep itself there as smoke drifted from it’s slightly parted mouth. Slowly, he released Megan and stepped towards Ansem.
“I’ll go with you.”
“Jared, no!” Sandy grabbed his wrist. “What’s to stop them from killing you?”
He looked at her. “If they were going to kill me, it would just seal their own fate. I’ll be okay.”
Jared stumbled as Ansem grabbed the front of his shirt unexpectedly, yanking him forcibly close with a low growl. “You think you know us?” He inhaled deeply, then glanced behind him at Jensen.
He’d caught Jensen’s scent on Jared’s body.
“Hm.. Perhaps you know us better than I thought. Having a little fun on the side with such lowly creatures, Jenny? How disgusting. I’m surprised you didn’t catch a disease.”
Jensen growled at him. “Fuck you.”
Ansem laughed then turned back to the Padalecki’s. “We’ll just keep your offspring for a while, and you decide how it is you’re going to play this little game. Take your time. We’ll wait. Can’t have him knowing where our territory is, though.”
The last thing Jared saw was Ansem’s fist heading for his face, then everything went black.
Chapter 7
Pairing: Jensen/Jared
Chapter Rating: NC-17
Summary: Jared's a prince who always does what's expected of him, even as he dreams of following his heart. When his father signs an allegiance with a dragon clan and he meets Jensen, everything changes.
Disclaimer: Neither of these beautiful men are mine. I just play with them sometimes.
Previous Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four, Five
(Awesome banner made for me by the talented Mystik-Ivanow)
Jared spent hours in the library after he spoke to Missouri. Although she’d never lied to him before he tried desperately to find evidence that she’d been wrong just this once. He didn’t want to believe that his family, let alone his own father, was responsible for killing the fascinating, noble creatures that they were now trying so hard to have a peaceful treaty with.
Jim helped Jared as much as he could, bringing him book after book of slayer reference guides and listings from near and far. In each one Jared was aghast to see his family’s name as far back as fifteen generations. Jim had even found Jonathan’s journal, although he seemed reluctant to hand it over.
“Some things are best left alone, Jared,” the librarian said.
“The truth always has a way of surfacing, even if it’s not what we want to know,” Jared countered.
He took the journal with careful hands as though afraid it would break and ran his hand over the cover. It was made of a dark leathery substance, and Jared sincerely hoped it wasn’t dragon skin.
The pages crinkled with age as he spread the book open on his lap, and there in black ink just as Jared had feared, Jonathan’s neat scrawl dictated his very first dragon hunt at the tender age of eleven. He hadn’t done any killing himself at that time, but he wrote page after page of how honored he was to finally be able to be a part of it. How amazing it had been to watch his own father Samuel take down a large female with the assistance of other skilled family members.
Jonathon then detailed every task afterwards, such as extracting the dragon’s teeth and claws for weaponry and skinning it’s hide for profit. The most disturbing part was they’d kept the large skull as a memento, and Jared realized with repulsion that it was probably still somewhere in the castle.
Each entry was extremely graphic, especially the one about Jonathan’s first real hunt where he had killed and gutted a young male dragon and Jared felt increasingly ill with each word. The image he had of Jonathan as being a kind and noble man was completely destroyed, replaced with the reality of a ruthless hunter who found pleasure in murdering dragons as often as he could.
Ridding the world of their evil, Jonathan had believed.
In the last entry, he wrote of how his son Gerald was going to join him on the next hunt. There was such pride in his words and Jared hastily dropped the book to the floor as though it had bitten him.
Certain events made sense now, but there were still unanswered questions. Such as if Gerald had been involved, what made him stop? What made him decide to form this treaty and how the hell did Jeffery Dean trust him enough to show up and sign it?
If he wanted answers Jared knew the only way to get them would be to question his father. But it was Jeff’s night, so Jared would respect him and wait until the next day to try to fit the last pieces into the morbid puzzle his family history had become.
He told Jim he could leave for the night, taking pity on the man since he looked like he was ready to fall asleep on his feet, then laid down on the sofa. Jared stretching out as much as he could with the intention of only staying himself for a little while. He didn’t want to return to the party, nor did he want to risk running into anyone on his way to his room.
He awoke with a start much later as a hand brushed across his cheek, and his eyes adjusted to the dying fire light to see a familiar figure crouched next to the sofa.
“Jensen..”
“I see you’ve been doing research,” Jensen looked around at the strewn books. “Find anything of interest?”
“You were right about my family.” Jared pushed himself to sit up, wincing a little at the ache in his back. “They were dragon slayers.”
“It was only my complete trust in Jeffery Dean that I followed him that day to view the treaty,” Jensen told him. “Ansem said he was walking into a trap, but Jeffery Dean simply saw a future for us where we could live and prosper without worry. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine that such unguarded creatures like humans could diminish our numbers, but I’ve seen it for myself.”
“You said… you said your brother and sister were killed. Did my…?”
A faraway look overtook Jensen’s eyes, the dragon lost in a memory for a moment. “The best,” he finally sneered, and Jared flinched. So it was true.
“How can you not hate me?”
“You weren’t there.”
“I know, but still. My father was and yet you don’t hate him either. You helped him when he was sick.”
Jensen climbed onto the sofa next to Jared. “As I said, I trust Jeffery Dean. In your father I saw means for a future for us. Opposite what I’d said about you, our destructor had become our savior in a way. But now everything’s ruined. Your brother will find a reason to declare death on us.”
“He said he wouldn’t.”
“As you said, he’s quick to anger. I’m afraid that we can’t take that chance.”
They sat in silence for a while. Jared shivered as the flames in the fireplace continued to die, but he didn’t move to feed it. He was afraid that if he left Jensen’s side the dragon would disappear on him again. Without realizing it, Jared shifted until he was leaning against Jensen’s side.
A kiss brushed against Jared’s temple, then cheek and jaw. Jared tilted his head as Jensen’s mouth moved to his throat, the light scrape of teeth coaxing a moan from his lips. Desire coursed through Jared’s body and together he and Jensen shifted so that Jensen was leaning back against the arm of the sofa with Jared between his legs. Their kisses grew intense and hungry, Jared sucking on Jensen’s tongue as it wove into his mouth.
Jared grabbed the hem of Jensen’s shirt and pushed the fabric up, holding it at his armpits as his lips traced over his lover’s firm chest and peaked nipples. Jensen moaned, arching slightly as Jared’s tongue teased over one of the nubs while his fingers did the same with the other.
“Jared…” Jensen tangled his fingers in Jared’s chestnut hair, gently guiding his head further down until his mouth brushed against the top of Jensen’s pants. Between his legs, his erection was pushing eagerly against the fabric and Jensen hissed as Jared tentatively slid his tongue across the length of the bulge. “Please.”
“Please what?” It was instantly addicting, being able to reduce Jensen to this. “What do you want me to do?”
“God, Jared. Suck me.”
Glad that Jim had left long ago, Jared eased open Jensen’s pants then tugged them down to settle low on his hips. Jensen’s dick was fully hard and dripping, the sight making Jared’s mouth water and yet he hesitated.
Jensen’s thumb traced over his jaw. “It’s okay,” he soothed. Jensen knew Jared had never done this before, and that in itself was an incredible turn on. “Kiss it.”
Wrapping his hand around the base, Jared kissed the thick head and immediate tasted the slightly bitter precome. Encouraged by Jensen’s intake of breath, he continued to pepper slow, slightly-parted kisses to the swollen length and balls before taking the bulbous head into his mouth. Jared sucked softly and rubbed his tongue against the slit, gathering the moisture onto his taste buds.
Jensen jerked beneath him, his breath speeding up as he grunted and moaned. “Oh yeah.. just like that.”
Eager for more, Jared lowered his head a little too fast and immediately pulled back choking as Jensen bumped the back of his throat. Tears clouded his eyes and he coughed wetly, embarrassment burning his cheeks.
“Are you okay?” Jensen’s fingers kneaded the back of Jared’s neck. “You don’t have to continue if you don’t want to.”
“I want to.” Jared parted his lips and tried again, taking Jensen into his mouth more slowly this time. He moved his head back and forth, careful to pull away when Jensen’s cock started going too far as he used his hand to stroke and squeeze what he couldn’t fit into his mouth.
Jensen huskily murmured encouragements entwined with Jared’s name. Every now and then his hips would twitch slightly, his body aching to thrust but he kept himself in check not wanting to scare or hurt Jared.
Jared pulled back when Jensen warned him he was going to come, hovering his open mouth over the head of the other man’s wet dick. Jensen jerked himself off with quick, desperate tugs and watched hungrily as Jared caught his semen in his mouth. Jared audibly swallowed and licked his lips, the taste just barely sliding passed his tongue before he was yanked up and into a deep, passionate kiss.
Jensen broke away, sitting up as he guided Jared to lean back. Jensen yanked open the younger man’s pants and immediately sucked his erection down to the root. Jared cried out in pleasure, and already incredibly turned on from giving his first blowjob he came in moments.
After fixing their clothes they fit their bodies next to each other, Jared lying between Jensen and the back of the sofa and Jensen’s butt hanging off the side. It was a comfortable, faded green piece of furniture but not really made for two men who were both over six feet tall.
“Where have you been the last few days?”
“Jared honestly, would it have been wise for me to be around? Everyone was busy setting up for the coronation party for a man who despite any promises he made to you, hates dragons. It was best I stay away. Besides, certain things had to be done. There is a nest due to hatch very soon.”
“A nest?” Jared asked excitedly. “That’s great! How many eggs?”
“Six. The standard amount. In such times as these it’s up to everyone to protect them until they’re ready to be born, and even then we’re all involved in some way.”
“I wish I could see them hatch.”
Jensen smiled at his wistful tone. “I think you’re the only human we could trust to be close to them.” He got up and urged Jared to do the same. “Come on, Jared. We have to go.”
“Go?” Jared asked confusedly, but allowed Jensen to pull him to his feet. “Go where? I don’t think we should walk around the castle, Jensen. The party is still going on. These things generally last until the early morning.”
“I know,” Jensen replied anxiously. He grabbed Jared’s hand to literally drag him from the room, but once they reached the hallway Jared dug his heels stubbornly into the floor. “Jared, come on!”
“Why are you in such a hurry? Is something going on?”
“Of course not. I just think it’s a great time to get some air, that’s all. The stars are out brightly tonight too, you want to go look at them?”
Jared narrowed his eyes.
“I’ll show you all the constellations,” Jensen said, sounding desperate now. “I know a bunch of stories about them.”
“Jensen, please. Tell me what’s going on.”
The sound of a woman sobbing distracted him, and Jared looked down the corridor to see Samantha trying to sooth an inconsolable Genevieve. Leaving Jensen, he immediately headed over.
“Geni?” Jared asked worriedly, and the maid buried herself further against Samantha like she could hide from him. “What’s going on, Samantha? Is she hurt?”
“Not physically,” his teacher shook her head, conflicting emotions of sympathy and frustration showing on her face. She pushed Genevieve away enough so that the dark haired maid could look at her. “I think it’s time you told someone, don’t you? It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay!” she sobbed. “I can’t believe I let him trick me like that!”
“Trick you?” Jared echoed. He was startled when Genevieve released Samantha to attach herself to his chest. His shirt was instantly soaked with her tears. Jared hugged her, patting her back in a soothing manner like he always did with Megan or Sandy when they were upset. “What’s this all about?”
“Genevieve,” Samantha touched her hair. She was in complete Mother Mode, “the only way to make this right is to tell Jared what happened. If anyone can help you, it’s him.”
“I don’t deserve help,” the girl wailed, her voice muffled by Jared’s chest. “What I did..”
Jared cupped her face in his hands, making her look up at him. “What did you do?” he asked in his kindest voice, and finally it seemed to break through to her.
Genevieve stepped back and wiped her eyes, her cheeks red and wet from her tears. “The previous king and the princess, it’s my fault they were sick.”
“It is?”
“Yes… I was supposed to put poison in your father’s soup, but I couldn’t go through with it and only a little got in. Just enough to make him sick. One of the servants took it from me before I could pour it out.”
Realization dawned on Jared. As the soups were placed down Megan had taken a spoonful of Gerald’s before she realized it wasn’t hers, which is how she’d gotten poisoned too and it was why she hadn’t suffered as much as Gerald had.
“You-!” he started furiously, and Genevieve jumped back in fear.
“Jared, wait,” Samantha pulled the maid protectively to her side. “You know this girl. She’d never do anything to hurt your family.”
“Oh please! Did you just hear her? She tried to murder my father and sister!”
“I was put up to it!” Genevieve insisted tearfully. “Sir Badgley told me that he would love me, if I’d do it.”
“Penn?”
“Yes. I know I was stupid to listen to him, Highness. He seduced me weeks ago, and I just wanted him to love me. But when I realized what my infatuation with him was turning me into, I knew that it had gone too far. That’s why I stopped. I never meant to hurt anyone, I swear!”
At the earnest and contrite look on her face, Jared’s anger transferred to the deserving source. He knew Penn was despicable but to play mind games with someone! Mind games that very nearly caused the death of two people.
“That’s the real reason why he didn’t help us take care of father and Megan that night,” Jared mumbled, more to himself than the two women.
“In the end his plan still worked,” Jensen said stonily, moving to stand at Jared’s side. “The king’s death would have automatically made Jeff, his successor, take his place. But even though the poison did not kill Gerald, he was still weakened enough to pass the crown along anyway. Now Penn has the new king’s ear.” He looked at Jared with a raised eyebrow. “Still want to marry him?”
Jared scowled. “I never wanted--”
“What’s that sound?” Samantha asked as a loud screech echoed throughout the castle.
A loud, familiar screech.
Horrified, Jared only had enough time to look at Jensen before the castle shook around them and people began screaming. The doors to the ballroom burst open, guests streaming out like water as they ran. Jared yanked Genevieve close before she could get trampled by a heavy-set man, and when it was safe he urged her towards Samantha.
“Get out of here!” he demanded then shoved his way passed the panicking people and into the ballroom, calling for his family.
The Padalecki’s and Penn were the only ones remaining in the room when Jared managed to get through, and he rushed over to them just as a burst of fire shattered the stained-glass windows.
“Jared!” Sharon grabbed her son. “Thank God you’re okay.”
The castle shook again as the dragons smashed bodily against it. From the sound of their attacks, there was at least three of them.
“We have to get out of here,” Gerald said, urging his family towards the exit.
They were forced to stop short as Jensen blocked their way. “I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.”
“Jensen?” Jared expression was a mixture of surprise and hurt. He was completely disconcerted by Jensen’s betrayal.
“I tried to get you to leave, Jared. You wouldn’t listen!”
“Enough of this!” Jeff moved in front of his family, blocking them protectively. “I knew from the beginning that you couldn’t be trusted. We outnumber you, Jensen. Do you really think that you alone stand a chance in stopping our escape?”
“I’m not alone,” Jensen replied coolly.
Mike and Tom appeared at his sides.
“You two are in on this as well?” Gerald demanded.
“Of course we are, Majesty,” Mike retorted with a sardonic smile. “After all, do you really think we’d go against our own clan just for you?”
The castle shook again under the outside assault, and Megan screamed as a massive chunk of the ceiling crashed to the floor in the center of the room.
“Send word to stop the attack,” Jensen told Tom, but his eyes never left Jared’s. “We got what we came for.”
“I trusted you,” Jared accused, his body shaking from the numerous emotions running through him, “I believed you, and you lied to me!”
“Not everything was a lie, Jared. Some of the things I told you--”
“Just shut up! I swear Jensen if we get out of this alive..”
“If, being the operative word,” a new voice said smugly. It’s owner walked into the room passed Jensen and Mike. He appeared young, much younger than Jared expected with short and spiky brown hair and lighter highlights woven into the strands. “The infamous Padalecki family,” he scoffed, looking at them as though they were bugs too disgusting to even squish.
“You must be Ansem,” Penn curled his lip in loathing. “I’m surprised to see you like this. As the rest of your clan, it seems you get your jollies from pretending to be like us, huh?”
“This form is nothing to me. But since your tiny human brains can’t comprehend us when we speak in our true tongue, this degrading body will have to do for now.”
He cast a dark look at them, and Jared automatically pulled his sister protectively to his side. The movement caught Ansem’s attention; he smirked at Jared.
“I remember you. The one who thought it wise to interrupt Jensen’s and my fight. You’d be barbeque if he hadn’t saved your delicate skeleton.”
“I don’t need Jensen to protect me.”
“No?” The stared each other down. Jared refused to relent or break eye contact, and it only seemed to amuse Ansem. “We’ll take him with us,” he declared.
“What?!” Jensen gaped. “No, Ansem! That wasn’t part of the plan!”
“Did you really think this was going to be easy, Jensen? No, we need collateral.”
“Monster!” Sharon cried, holding Jared and Megan to her. “I won’t let you take anyone!”
“You have no choice, female. He comes with us, or I give the word and my family still waiting outside slaughter all of you. Pick.”
Jared glanced towards the broken window. He could see the scaly head of a large blue dragon looking back, it’s giant claws piercing the stone wall to keep itself there as smoke drifted from it’s slightly parted mouth. Slowly, he released Megan and stepped towards Ansem.
“I’ll go with you.”
“Jared, no!” Sandy grabbed his wrist. “What’s to stop them from killing you?”
He looked at her. “If they were going to kill me, it would just seal their own fate. I’ll be okay.”
Jared stumbled as Ansem grabbed the front of his shirt unexpectedly, yanking him forcibly close with a low growl. “You think you know us?” He inhaled deeply, then glanced behind him at Jensen.
He’d caught Jensen’s scent on Jared’s body.
“Hm.. Perhaps you know us better than I thought. Having a little fun on the side with such lowly creatures, Jenny? How disgusting. I’m surprised you didn’t catch a disease.”
Jensen growled at him. “Fuck you.”
Ansem laughed then turned back to the Padalecki’s. “We’ll just keep your offspring for a while, and you decide how it is you’re going to play this little game. Take your time. We’ll wait. Can’t have him knowing where our territory is, though.”
The last thing Jared saw was Ansem’s fist heading for his face, then everything went black.
Chapter 7