Free Dragon Claiming (Year of the Dragon) by Marteeka Karland, Shara Azod

Chapter One
 
                Uryen growled deep in his throat as he flew over the mountains surrounding the desolate desert that was his territory. In dragon form his cock didn’t throb quite as hard, and the drive to sweep down into the village and take what was his did not ride him as hard. Even this far away he could hear the music of her laughter ringing in his ears. He could smell the sweet desert flower perfume on her skin. The maiden Sippora was a sweet little thing, gentle and pure of heart. In Uryen’s heart there was only darkness and desires far too intense for one such as her. Despite the happiness his brother Tegyr had found with his Brynn, Uryen did not fully believe the prophecy was really coming to pass.
                Or rather, he was too afraid to believe. Here in his own mountains, away from the prying eyes of his brethren, he could admit that what he really felt was fear. It was a hard thing for a dragon to admit, that he was afraid. Especially when there was no way to conquer this kind of fear. It was not the feeling of trepidation before a battle, or the quivering of the belly when facing seemingly insurmountable odds. Those things he could face without batting an eye. Looking into the icy eyes of certain death had never made Uryen feel anything more than mild curiosity at best. This phenomenon was new, something he had never experienced before. For the first time in his too long existence he was facing something he had no clue how to handle, how to deal with, how to dominate completely.
                A woman. His life mate.
                Not just any mate either. If he had been given one such as Brynn, Tegyr’s mate, he wouldn’t feel the icy tentacles of uncertainty that wrapped around his heart now. The bitch, Fate, had given him a mate far outside his comfort zone, someone he would likely crush with the needs that had begun to keep him awake in his lair. She was every bit as good and fragile as he was dark and rough. Small and slight, she would surely break if he didn't handle her with exquisite care. The images of Sippora chained to his bed with diamond ropes glistening against her dark skin tormented him. The need to see his maiden tethered open for him had his cock pulsating whenever he dared allow himself human form. It wasn't a fantasy a maiden like her would participate in willingly.
                The madness had begun to seep into his consciousness not long after Tegyr had claimed his own mate. Only a fortnight had passed before the call had settled upon Uryen with an intensity that was sure to drive him insane. The drive to claim what was his rode him hard night and day. Only in dragon form did the need to bury himself deep inside her abate somewhat. The thing he forgot was that his dragon form was territorial, possessive; when he let go of anything human, the baser side of him was too hard to stave off.
                It was unfortunate that his mate was the darling of her tribe. Considering she was a rare beauty, it wasn’t really surprising. Even this far away he could hear people around her, laughing with her, gently teasing. Usually Sippora was surrounded by other maidens, who clung together for safety reasons. In her tribe, men stole their brides, capturing them unawares and taking them off to their own abode. Tradition dictated the male in question must have a home and the means to support his stolen woman. Only after the mating was established was another male let in, this time a male of the female’s choosing. No less than three constituted a true mating, no more than five.
The dearth of women on this planet made every woman a commodity. Sippora was more coveted than most. Her uniquely dark, silken skin ensured that. Not only was she so soft spoken and gentle, but she could melt the hardest heart, bring a smile to the gruffest face, and she was beautiful beyond measure. In a