"Your Majesty, there are reports of another dragon family loose in the marshes."

Kurt gripped his silverware so hard he almost bent them. It was the third time this week hed heard that news. All the reports had come from the same general area. The southern border with the Dalton kingdom. Ever since King James IV had died and left his oldest son, Cooper, in charge, dragon sightings had shot through the roof. There was a long strip of mountains that marked the edge of his own kingdom, a mountain range inhabited with fierce, enormous monsters that had always been Daltons responsibility as part of a long held treaty of friendship between their two lands. Kurts great-grandfather and King Coopers grandfather, a young, newly-crowned king, had forged the document almost a century ago.

Now, that whimsical, lazy fire-breather was dishonoring it. Or more likely, as Kurt suspected, Cooper was too busy charming as many royal women as he could find. Hed never cared much for the older Anderberry son. The two youngest, Rachel and Blaine, were odd, but distant friends of his.

"How many?" he asked as his aid continued to bow. "Stop bowing, Finn. Honestly. Ive known you since birth, our parents are getting married. Just treat me like anyone else."

"Sorry, Your Ma– Kurt, um. Theres been five reports so far, saying somewhere from five to eight. Two fully-grown, and several offspring around six months, judging by their size."

"And Dalton?" Kurt asked snidely as he went back to his soup.

"Nothing, sir. I sent a runner and all we got in return was an away message from King Cooper."

Kurt finished his wine, took a last bite of soup, and wiped his mouth.

"Shall I send another set of troops?"

"Yes, but Ill lead," Kurt said. He stood up and adjusted his tunic. "Prepare my knights and send a runner to make sure word has been spread throughout the marshes to evacuate or seek fortified shelter. Send a second to Dalton and tell King Cooper hes to meet us at their base in a fortnight or Ill have him skinned and hung on a mountain top." He grinded his teeth. "We leave before the sun sets."

Finn hurried out. Kurt sighed and poured himself another glass of wine. He despised Cooper Anderberry.

It took two days of hard riding to reach the border. From there it was another two weeks of mindless chasing and capturing, and, in the case of the adult male, killing. The rest had slowly been rounded up and frozen with a clever charm Kurt had leaved as boy. He wasnt considered the Ice King by their distant enemies for nothing. The last time theyd battled almost a decade ago, Kurt, just a prince of sixteen, had frozen an entire herd of mammoths about to flatten himself and his soldiers.

"Thats the last of them," Santana called as several men tied the almost entirely frozen dragon to their harnesses. It was the mother dragon, all but its still flapping wings encased in ice. "Shall we camp here for the night?"

Kurt watched her re-tie her hair and then slid her helmet back on. "No, its still early. Well have a quick meal, then head to the border. Towards their base. If King Cooper has any sense, he should be there to meet us today."

Santana snorted and pushed her visor down. "That mongrel doesnt know his ass from his face."

As she rode off to tell the rest of his knights their marching orders, Kurt couldnt help but agree. If only Cooper had been gifted with his younger siblings brains. He had the impeccable good looks and the charm, but nothing else. Why Dalton hadnt outlawed their archaic rules of ascension was beyond him. Theyd done away with everything else, just as Kurts father and grandmother had during their reins.

They stopped and ate a few rations, then rode out, the monstrous dragons soaring along above them in their ice capsules. One of the babies, with wings still growing and weak, had been fitted into a makeshift harness and was dragged along towards the border. The sun set over the mountains as they loomed larger, and by the time the first stars appeared, Daltons base could be seen glowing in the distance.

Kurt called his troops to a halt. "Camp here tonight," he said to his soldiers. "Ill ride on for the night and deal with the politics. Santana, at dawn I want you to come meet me at the camp. From there well hand the dragons over to be relocated deeper in the mountains."

The rest of the group nodded, but Santana winked and gave him a cheeky little grin. "Sure thing, Your Majesty. You ride hard tonight, you heard?"

If it hadnt been dark, hoots and jibs about his beet red blush would have followed him towards the mountain pass. So what if Prince Blaine, his long-time friend, happened to be stationed as Dragon Guard? That had nothing to do with riding on by himself for tonight.

Dalton soldiers dropped into deep bows as Kurt entered their base camp. It wasnt a large fortress like some of his kingdoms own to the west. Just four jagged stone walls carved from the mountain and a deep hollow into its side. Kurt slid off his horse as he entered the mountain side and handed her off to the first soldier to approach.

"A quiet stable and plenty of hay for her, please," Kurt told the young girl. She couldnt have been older than sixteen. The same age hed started his own military venture. "Id like to see the prince as well. We have six dragons that need to be relocated."

"Of course, Your Majesty. Shell be well tended," the girl said, bowing once more. "Prince Blaine is in his cabin. Just over the–"

"I know where it is," Kurt said simply. "See that we arent disturbed," he added to the soldiers around him. "His brother was supposed to be here to discuss this increasing dragon issue and I can see clearly hes not."

"No, Your Majesty."

"Very well." Kurt nodded to all of them, accepted their bows and offers to take his cloak and sword. Once they had all scattered off to continue their duties, Kurt continued down the path deeper into the mountain with an oil lamp one of the men had offered. It was still decently lit with the lamps hung all along the pass, but the ground was jagged and snagged at peoples feet. After ten minutes and dozens of smaller cottages and bunkers for the soldiers, Kurt reached the end of the twisting road. A door had been carved into the stone here, and a dozen windows were glowing in the rock around it. He knocked loudly.

"Sam, if this is about my asinine brother again– Kurt." Blaine stared at him, his gaze brightening as he stepped back to let him in. "I didnt expect you until morning."

"Had an easier time than I thought," he smiled as he looked around the small room. It wasnt much at all and no different from a few months ago. A desk cluttered with parchment, spilled ink all down the side, a handful of polished swords and bows by the door, and a small fireplace that Kurt had never understood the structure of. They were tens, if not hundreds, of miles under the mountain, yet the smoke never filled the room. Maybe it had something to do with Blaines own abilities.

"Again? Honestly, Im so sorry about this, Kurt. Weve had so much trouble to the west. Its breeding season for the Oltan Diamondbacks right now. Theyre giving the entire western edge a huge problem."

"Your brother hasnt been any help either," Kurt added. "He was supposed to be here to discuss his end of the Treaty of Devon."

"Coopers useless. If I were king," Blaine stopped at that and Kurt knew why. Even as a prince, it was considered treasonous for him to speak in such a way. "Ill have Rachel handle it," he said finally. "Between the two of us, were handling everything Cooper hasnt bothered with. Can you believe hes got three women pregnant right now? All married women, of course. Hell never have a legitimate heir and I somehow doubt I will either."

"Considering your type, I doubt it, too," Kurt teased. He smiled over at Blaine who grinned back. "Im sure Rachel will, if nobody else. At least I have an excuse to come visit you. So, about my lodgings for the night."

Blaine smiled, his eyes growing dark. "Im sure the usual arrangement will do, wont it, Your Majesty?" he approached slowly and unfastened the hook on Kurts belt. "Here, let me disrobe you, draw a nice, hot bath, and then how about a massage in your bedroom, My Lord?"

Kurt grinned and ducked his head a little. For all his twenty- seven years, he still couldnt keep the bashful grin from his lips when Blaine spoke to him like that. Blaine, for his part, slipped into their intimacy like a second skin. He set Kurts belt on his desk and started pealing back the layers of his tunic.

"Mmm, youre always so taut," Blaine murmured, his lips dipping into the hollow of Kurts throat. "So smooth and broad." Kurt shivered as his tunic hit the floor and Blaine led him to the bedroom. "Shall we skip to the massage and then have a bath?"

"Sure," Kurt breathed. Blaine shut the door and pressed Kurt against it, his mouth sucking over Kurts freckled skin and every inch of muscle as he exposed it. "Ive missed you."

"Ive missed you," Blaine whispered. His hands undid the fastenings of Kurts pants and pushed them down his hips. "Kiss me."

And Kurt did, his mouth eagerly molding against Blaines as they back-pedaled towards the bed. Blaine turned them around and pushed Kurt down. "Oils in the drawer."

Kurt grabbed it as Blaine finished undressing him and moved over him on the bed. "On your stomach," Blaine ordered slowly. He smiled down at Kurts erection as he stroked it once. "Its been too long since Ive made you feel good."

Kurt rolled over and groaned as his hips rocked against the bed. Above him, Blaine started drizzling oil over his skin. As Blaines hands started to work along his shoulders, neck, and back, Kurt sunk into the bed and moaned softly. Nothing ever compared to being alone with Blaine. Even if it was just one evening, once a year or two or five, it was always a magnificent experience.

Blaines fingers kneaded and loosened his muscles, slowly moving down his body until they skimmed over his ass, tugging gently at the firm cheeks until Kurt whined high in his throat and rutted against the bed.

"Youve always loved having your ass played with," Blaine purred as he kissed each cheek and then massaged more oil into his ass and thighs. "Do you want me to give your ass a nice, long massage tonight, sweet king?"

Kurt groaned and nodded against the pillow, his hips shifting in their search for friction. "Please."

Blaine tugged at each of his cheeks, then spread them apart and ran his tongue along the dip. "Mmm, so beautiful." Kurt gasped as Blaines tongue teased his rim, then flickered in through the muscles and back out. A second later, a slick finger was tracing the muscle, pressing and relaxing until Blaine slipped the tip inside. Kurt gave a pleased cry at the stretch. It always felt incredible after months and months without. The last time theyd met two months ago, Blaine had reacted in much the same way, writhing and moaning as Kurt had worked him open.

A kiss was pressed to each of his cheeks as Blaines finger pushed in, then started slowly thrusting. Kurt was panting against the pillow by the time Blaine slid a second and then third one in alongside the first.

"Please, please, I need to– want to feel you," Kurt whimpered. He moaned as Blaine worked his fingers apart and then held them as deep as he could. A soft kiss lingered against the slick skin at the small of his back. "Blaine, please."

"If you wish, sweet king," Blaine murmured. He slid his fingers out slowly. The bed shifted underneath Kurt as he forced his fist between himself and the bed to stroke his aching cock. As he sighed, Blaines hands settled on the bed on either side of his face, and the blunt, slick tip of Blaines cock nudged against his hole. "Youre going to feel so good. So good."

A gasp fell from Kurts lips as Blaine started to push in, his hips arching forward until he bottomed out with a deep groan. For a few moments, they were still, adjusted and panting at being joined once more. Then Blaine eased his hips back and began to thrust, his movements fluid and slow as Kurt stroked himself rapidly.

"Youre always so tight," Blaine breathed, dropping his weight to his elbows and pressed a wet kiss to Kurts neck. "Such a perfect ass." He moaned and his hips jerked to a faster rhythm, his thrusts slapping down hard against Kurts ass.

Kurt cried out and arched up to meet Blaine, holding himself tight and stiff until Blaine let out a gasping whimper and paused. After a decade of meeting for one night, Kurt knew how to guide Blaine off the ledge, how to angle himself for the best of both of their enjoyments.

"Thats the spot," he breathed, fisting his own cock more tightly. "Dont stop, please. Just go all night."

Blaine rolled his hips back and started moving, burying his face against Kurts neck as he slammed his hips down against Kurts. Lights exploded behind Kurts eyelids at the force, lightning coursing through his limbs as Blaines frantic movements pushed him into oblivion. He barely remembered calling out his lovers name as he came over his fist, or the writhing orgasm that dropped Blaine on top of him.

For a while they slept, dozing in and out and shifting around into each others embraces. Finally, when Kurt felt rested enough, they drew a bath and slipped into the tub, Kurt relaxing back against Blaines chest. As always Blaine didnt talk much, he washed Kurts hair, chest, and arms, kissing any new scars or cuts or patches of freckles or hair he found.

"I wish I could marry you," Kurt murmured as Blaine finished and kissed over his shoulders and up to his left cheek. "If we could have an heir together youd be perfect. It would unite our kingdoms after a century of peace."

"You could always marry Rachel," Blaine suggested as he breathed over Kurts neck. His breath was always hot, not smoky, but much warmer than the average humans. It reminded Kurt of a dragons breath, only in a smaller, kinder dose. "Then both of our kingdoms might have heirs."

"Oh, shut up," Kurt snapped as Blaine pinched his ticklish spot. "I love Rachel, I do. But not in the way I love you. Ill never be able to love any woman like we love each other."

"No, we wont," Blaine agreed.

For a long time they relaxed together, sharing a few kisses and tender touches. After the water had started to go cold, and Blaine had heated it again with fire from his fingertips, he spoke.

"We could, you know. Have a child or children together."

"What?"

"We can have children," Blaine said thoughtfully.

Kurt turned to stare at him. "Sweetheart, Im quite familiar with your anatomy and my own and I dont see how thats ever going to work."

"Im a fire-breather," Blaine reminded him. "A lot of that old legend is myth, but there is some truth. Fire abilities," he raised his hand from the water and produced a small flame, "and being able to change our organs for a period of time. Its in my blood. If might even be in yours. The dragons that once existed in the caverns in the north of your kingdom are where your lineage gains its abilities. My great-grandfather and his husband did it. Ive," he paused uncertainly and looked away from Kurts gaze. "Ive spoke to our palace witch-doctor about it and if Im capable. He thinks theres a very good chance I can, with his help. If you want to. Its just something to think about. Or you could. If itll work for either of us."

"Really? Youd do that? For us?"

"Kurt, weve spend part of the last three years picking out names for kids wed like to have, if we could," Blaine reminded him. "I just took another step towards that, because I thought it might just work. We can try it at least, and if either of us can sustain the change and were still fertile then–"

"Ill absolutely marry you," Kurt squeaked. He nearly dunked Blaine in his hurry to kiss him. "When– how soon can you try?"

"I go back to the palace in a fortnight," Blaine said, biting his lip to hold back his smile. "Im sure you can make a journey then, to shout– I mean, meet with King Cooper."

"Definitely, he needs an ice shard up his ass," Kurt said. He kissed Blaine once more and beamed at him. "We– if this works, Im so sick of turning down women offering themselves to me."

"Two weeks," Blaine said as Kurt rubbed his flat, tone stomach. "Then well know."