Rhysander
Idressed and left the princess sleeping in my bed before the sun rose. The castle was quiet as a tomb. Most of the servants shied away as I ambled to the upper levels. I could have taken to wing from the same balcony where we’d landed the night before, but I wanted to put as much space between Elena and I as possible. The blending between our minds was a constant throb now that we were bound, but it dulled a little with the distance.
I stopped a servant, whose eyes bulged at my hand on their arm. “Please inform Prince Gideon the Princess and I will leave at first light. Have our coaches prepared and my men informed.”
“Yes, Lord Blaque,” he replied with a stammer. “Of-of course.”
I’dmirrorAlaric before we left to keep him abreast of our travels. With the attack in Braedon, I didn’t want to linger away from home too long. Now that my contract with King Baron was satisfied, the men I’d appointed to the southern borders of the realm would also return with us. A point of contention I’d not allowed the crown to sway.
Shrugging the thoughts away, I launched myself from a barren room I’d broken into at the highest levels of the castle. The smattering of capital serfs were but smudges beneath me as I urged my ice-blue wings to strain higher and higher. Soon I’d have more of my people in the skies alongside me. There’d be so many Dragon-Clan, we’d blot out the stars.
Those among my advisors thought my plan foolish. The curse on me couldn’t be broken.
But I didn’t plan to outwit the curse.
I planned to break it.
And my pretty mate was the key.
As the sun rose on the edge of the horizon, I tipped my wings to carry me to the balcony’s edge. Elena was awake, I could see through the hazy glass windows. She was still in bed, wrapped tight in my sheets, but otherwise naked. Her bare shoulders were visible above where she fisted the material in her hands, as well as the swells of her firm breasts.
I could have her now, if I wanted.
I’d been inside her mind and I knew she’d bend to my will with the slightest enticement. She’d been as hot as dragon flame beneath me, around my cock. Remembering it had my fangs lengthening and my dragon purred.
He’d like it, too. So much, he’d claimed her as his own.
It hadn’t been a part of my plan to brand her with my mark. The magick between mates is ancient and as complicated as court etiquette. In short, branding your mate comes from the shifter’s animal. It’s a sign the beast preferred the match and wanted to make it known to the world. If I had a choice in the matter, I wouldn’t have marked her as mine. Most people saw the sign of a brand as the sign of true mates, which was ludicrous. True mates were the thing of faerie tales. Worth less than a promise from the Prince of Fae himself.
It didn’t matter. Beasts were fickle creatures, prone to fits of temper and whim. He merely felt the power from her family line, as I did, and knew the alliance was a beneficial one. He marked her to protect that alliance. Maybe he was cleverer than I gave him credit for.
Perhaps the mark would make her even more amenable to the arrangement. The sooner I had her belly swollen with a child, the better. I planned to devote myself to the effort until we had several hatchlings to carry on the Blaque name.
Feeling markedly more relaxed after the flight I strolled into the room. Elena jerked the sheets up to her neck. “Lord Blaque!” she exclaimed with a squeak. “The servants said you were preparing to leave.”
“I wish I wasn’t naked,”her thoughts called out to me.
“I’m glad you are,” I answered.
Her eyes widened, and I chucked. “As soon as you bid your father farewell, we leave for the Northlands.” Dropping my voice an octave, I added, “We’ll save the nakedness for when we get to Fellenor.”
She ignored the last comment and said instead, “Thank you. I-I’m grateful. He means a lot to me.” I didn’t have to read her mind to know that was true.
Elena’s cheeks were flushed pink as she got to her feet, the swaths of sheets rippling around her body. With aching tenderness I wasn’t sure I deserved, she moved to my side and kissed my cheek. The affection resonated deep inside me, rippling like stone disturbing water. I didn’t want to be disturbed. I liked my waters clear and calm.
“I need to see to my men,” I said gruffly, cutting off the moment. “I’ll wait for you in the stables.”
Her lips parted in question, then she pressed them together with a nod. “Very well. I’ll be quick.”
“Take your time.” I caught sight of my mark on her neck as she turned away and my chest was alight with internal flame. I choked down its embers and ignored the roaring of my dragon, who urged me to pin her to the bed with my teeth and make her ours again.
She dressed quickly and quietly. The door closed behind her when she was done, and I breathed a sigh of relief. The tether I had on my beast was tenuous at best. I wanted her bred, but on my terms, when I was in control. I’d never let myself lose control again. Not when it cost me everything I held dear.
* * *
“You went through with it, then?”Alaric drawled, his countenance rippling on the surface of water I had pooled in the sink.
“I don’t know why you sound so surprised.”
