Kirishima's PoV

After Mashimo had exclaimed his declaration of war, he had stormed out of the throne room and an ice-cold silence had fallen upon those present. My thoughts were racing and I was still trying to understand what it all meant when the eldest dissolved the assembly. He led me to another part of the palace and brought me there in a large spacious room. I had shifted into a dragon again so as not to attract too much attention, although I was sure that the news would quickly make the rounds. On the edge of my consciousness I noticed that it was a great gesture from the head of the clan to accompany me personally, but I could hardly concentrate on it.

The room Kurini lead me to was huge. The walls were made of the same stone that was used to build the entire palace. One side was completely open and I could see the entire moonlit city. I paused for a moment and enjoyed the view, but then Kurini cleared his throat behind me.

For you all this has to be a new experience and you probably have to figure out a lot first. But after you've had a good rest, I'd like to have a personal talk with you and Mashimo tomorrow morning. It's important and it's about the future of our clan, he said insistently.

I nodded. I could well imagine what it was all about and I shuddered as I thought of Mashimo's clear threat. He wouldn't let me become clan leader. But did I even want to? My place wasn't here with the dragons. My place was at Katsuki's side. I missed him so much that it almost hurt.

Well, then lie down and get some sleep. I'll send someone over tomorrow morning to take you to the meeting, the old dragon said gently, before he turned around and disappeared through the huge wing door.

When I was alone, I took one deep breath. A lot had happened today. Half the room was covered with soft pillows and thick, mattress-like blankets. I walked up to it and placed a paw on the soft material. At first I was afraid that I might destroy it with my claws, but the blankets seemed to take it. For humans this bed would probably be hard, rough and absolutely uncomfortable, but for my dragon body it was ideal. Satisfied, I lay down on it and pulled at the blankets so that they resembled a nest. Then I laid my head down on my paws and looked outside.

The moon in the sky shone brightly and the night was starry. Where was Katsuki just now? Was he already back at the royal court? My thoughts were with my mate as I closed my eyes and slowly dozed off.

---

A knock tore me out of my sleep. My eyes opened only reluctantly, and I immediately pinched them together again because the sun blinded me. A tired growl escaped my throat as I struggled to get up from the comfortable nest. I shook myself briefly to get a clear head. Then it knocked again.

Come in! I hummed, still tired. That had to be the one who was supposed to lead me to the meeting with Kurini and Mashimo.

The wing door opened quietly and carefully and a graceful dragon lady came in who was a little smaller and certainly younger than me. Her scale color was very unusual. They were light blue and the scales on her belly were almost white. In contrast were her red cat eyes. As she approached me she moved gracefully and her scales shimmered like sparkling diamonds in the incoming sunlight. I had to admit that I had rarely seen such a pretty dragon.

And then her warm, clear, sweet scent hit me with full force and my surprised growl filled the room. My legs began to tremble and my blood began to boil. Saliva dripped out of my mouth as she surrounded me and playfully stroked her tail tip over my side. At the edge of my consciousness I noticed that something was damn wrong here.

She kept ensnaring me, but I remained frozen. What was going on? Why did I hesitate? A pleasurable moaning escaped my throat. There was no reason, was there? My eyes closed and my excitement had no limits. I walked towards her and let my teeth glide playfully over her neck. Hmm, she smelled so damn good. I let my rough tongue glide over her diamond scales and she purred deeply. Her purring was like music in my ears. Oh shit, I wanted him so badly!

Wait a minute ... him? The one before me was definitely a dragon lady! Then pictures flashed in my mind. Ash blond hair. Pale skin. Well-trained muscles. A razor-sharp look. Red eyes that only became gentle for me. Katsuki.

With a tremendous effort of will, I pulled myself away from her. I held my breath to stop inhaling her scent - her pheromones. But my head was still foggy.

Stop ... it! I growled. My tone was dominant, but my voice was rough and scratchy when I commanded it.

Why's that? Come on, you want it too. Relax, she said teasingly and stroked my cheek with her long slender tail.

A new wave of her scent overpowered me, and I almost lost my mind. But only almost, because the thought of Katsuki had taken hold and gave me strength. Angry and desperate I roared at her. So loud that surely half the palace heard it and the walls trembled. With a mighty push of my paw I shoved her away.

Shocked, she jerked together, her head submissively lowered, as she stopped her scent. Quickly I went to the open side of the room and breathed in the pure fresh morning air. Gradually my head cleared up and I noticed with relief that my excitement was immediately diminishing.

E-excuse me! she said a little abashed. I was told you needed a little distraction and when I saw how good you looked, I lost some control. I'm really sorry, I thought you wanted it too.

Slowly I turned to her. Although I was really angry, I couldn't be any longer as I saw how embarrassed she was. I remembered how Tetsutetsu had warned me about the pheromones of a female dragon and how important it was to get a mark of one's mate. But that it would be so intense, I couldn't have imagined. I frowned a little as I thought about what she had just said.

What did you just mean? That someone had told you that I needed a little ... distraction, I asked, still an angry crease between the eyes.

Surprised, she looked at me, then she tilted her head a little embarrassed to the side. Well, originally I was supposed to take you to a meeting. But Mashimo told me that it had been postponed because you had to settle in a bit first. And then he said ... well ... that I could pay you a visit anyway.

The blood froze in my veins. You were the messenger who was supposed to lead me to the meeting?

Yes, why?

Where's the meeting? I asked upset. It had all been a trick of Mashimo to keep me away. I had underestimated him, he was really capable of anything.

In the southern tower, two floors up, she said confused.

I spread the wings to leave the room directly through the opening to the outside. But then I turned around again. Just to make that clear: I have a mate and I won't let anything come between us. And if that's not warning enough, he's a dragonslayer. I saw fear flashing in their eyes, but I didn't care. Surely this message would spread quickly in the palace and protect me from any future advances.

Strongly I pushed off the floor and left my room. The room where the meeting took place was much easier to reach by air, so I didn't need five minutes to land on the platform in front of the room. With a quick step I walked along the short corridor and pushed the door open.

Kurini looked up irritated when he saw me. The displeasure at my late arrival was obvious in his face. But I hardly noticed him and stared only at Mashimo. There was only a mild surprise in his eyes.

You bastard, I hissed as I walked toward the black dragon.