Rumors were running rampant around the castle. It seemed as though the new king was mating humans with dragons. Mikhail Dubolazov sat on the edge of the bed, his heart in his throat, as he stared down at his lover and clutch leader, Konstantin Victorovich. The two had been together for over fifty years and he was planning on sticking by the dragon’s side for the rest of his long life.

If the rumors were true though, Mikhail was afraid he wasn’t going to be able to do that. He was worried that Konstantin would be forced to mate the human leader from the west, Grigory Krayev. What would happen to his life then? Would he be forced to watch the man he loved more than anything in the world, abandon him completely? Would he have to stand by and watch Konstantin mate with another, grow old with another… and maybe fall in love with another?

He wouldn’t survive it.

“Honey?” Konstantin slowly sat up, the sheet falling, pooling at his waist. “What’s wrong?”

“He’s going to mate you to someone else.”

“Sweetheart.” He sighed. “I already told you last night not to worry about that. It doesn’t matter what the king orders, I will refuse.”

“You can’t refuse.” Mikhail stood up and started pacing. Even he knew that Konstantin had to follow an order from their king. He didn’t want to contemplate what would happen if he refused. “He’s the king. He can command you to do whatever he wants.”

He knew the rumors were true. The staff around the castle were chattering like a gaggle of geese. It felt as if his heart was going to be ripped from his chest. How could he watch Konstantin with another man? He wouldn’t be able to live at the keep any longer. He would have to leave. There was no way Mikhail would be able to sit back and watch as his lover moved on.

“I can and I will,” Konstantin said, his voice strong and full of promise. It was a voice that sent a thrill through Mikhail even after all of these years.

“You won’t be able to say no to the king,” he insisted.

“Do you trust me?” Konstantin asked.

Mikhail’s shoulders dropped in defeat. “You know I do.”

“Then I need you to stop worrying about what the king might do and believe that even if I’m ordered to, I will reject any mating. I love you. I’m spending my life with you.”

“I love you, too.” Mikhail climbed back onto the bed and Konstantin opened his arms. He moved closer, leaning his head against his lover’s chest. “I’m just…” He didn’t have words for how terrified he was that he was going to lose Konstantin.

“I know.” 

“I couldn’t stand…”

“I know.” Konstantin placed a finger under Mikhail’s chin and lifted his face upward. “I need you to stop worrying and start having a little more faith in me.”

When Mikhail didn’t automatically respond, Konstantin raised a brow. Mikhail sighed. His lover was a stubborn ass. “I have faith in you,” Mikhail said. “I love you.”

“Good.” Konstantin grinned and kissed Mikhail’s nose. “Then stop worrying.”

Konstantin took possession of Mikhail’s lips. The kiss started out soft and gentle, but it soon spiraled out of control. Konstantin lay back down and pulled Mikhail on top of him. His strong hands moved down Mikhail’s back and gripped his ass, kneading his cheeks. Using his strength, Konstantin moved Mikhail’s hips back and forth over his erection.

Moaning into his lover’s mouth, Mikhail pushed the sheets away. Naked skin pressed against naked skin and Mikhail melted into his longtime lover. After all the years the two had been together, he still couldn’t get enough. He’d never get enough.

The fear of losing Konstantin still hovered around his head, a sharp blade ready to come down and ruin his entire life. He knew his lover would fight against the king, but in the end, the king’s word was law. They would be forced a part. Normally, he didn’t believe gossip. People liked to talk trash and cause trouble, but in this case, he knew it was true. Something deep inside his gut twisted and the fear bubbled up, choking him.

Pulling away, he jumped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom. He barely made it. Mikhail slid on his knees in front of the toilet and gagged before he threw up. Sweat trickled down his forehead and Mikhail furiously wiped it away with the back of his hand. When a cold washcloth touched the back of his neck and he glanced to the side, watching as Konstantin lowered himself to the floor. He sat next to Mikhail, rubbing a large palm in a soothing circle.

“You’ll never lose me,” Konstantin’s voice was smooth as he comforted Mikhail. “We’re in this for life. I’ve given you my word and we exchanged vows. You won’t be able to get rid of me, Mikhail. If…and that’s a big if. If the king orders me to mate with a human, I will refuse the order. The consequences don’t matter.”

Mikhail took a few deep breaths, trying to calm his stomach as it gurgled and rolled. The fear wouldn’t go away. Stomach acid burned his throat to a crisp and he gagged again.

He knew Konstantin would do anything to keep them together, but he couldn’t seem to believe that everything would work out in the end. He hated the fact that he doubted his lover. He was so ashamed that he didn’t respond at all. He didn’t want Konstantin to know he held doubt in his heart. Mikhail cleared his throat and swallowed repeatedly, trying to rid his mouth of the nasty taste.

“I’ll be right back.” Konstantin kissed the top of Mikhail’s head before leaving the bathroom. He wasn’t gone long though. Konstantin was back fairly quickly holding a glass of water.

“Thank you,” Mikhail murmured before taking a sip of the ice water. The cool liquid helped to ease the burn in his throat.

“You’re making yourself sick for no reason, my love.” Konstantin sat back down next to Mikhail and started rubbing his back once more. “The king is not going to separate us.”