Page 18 of Breaking Briar

My cock pulses with need as I take in her form, studying as best as I can with her covered up. She lies there, so sweet and innocent, her pale, pink lips just begging to be kissed. Asleep as if dead, and only true love can wake her up.

It seems as if the witch had her way, after all. It’s astounding what influence she had over so many. Thankfully, the Violet Witch cast her blessing upon my bride, preserving her for me.

Striding over to the bed, I move to bend down, but pause, noting the Dragon’s Bane nestled in the crook her breasts. Anger surges through me as I rip the plant away and toss it to the floor. Next are the pieces hanging around the canopy. They will do her no good. Not now. Not ever.

With a flick of my wrist, I rip the covers away and look down at her body. Lush curves swell and dip, sending lust sizzling through my brain. She’s mine. She’s been mine since the day she was born.

No. Not yours. A voice hisses in my head. Ours.

The talons grow as I desperately try to keep the dragon at bay. He’ll harm her for sure.

Do you not remember? Her graces keep her safe from us. We will not hurt her. Claim our bride.

My mind reels back to that time so very long ago. Eighteen years ago, she was given the grace of safety. She will not be injured. She will not feel pain. We can do our worst, unleash our bloodlust, and her obedience will make her ask for more.

Heat shimmers in my vision as lust overtakes me. I cannot tell if it’s me, him, or us who feel so strongly toward this near stranger. Reaching forward, I rip the gown from her body, revealing her naked form for the first time.

Our cock pulses, pearling precum as I look at her pinkish nipples surrounded by delicate, tan areolas. Until her, I’ve never seen a woman so desirable. Letting my gaze travel lower, I take in the thatch of curls guarding her pussy. Her breath hitches in her throat as I trail my fingers down, gripping the strands and tugging on them.

Even in her sleep, she can feel what I do to her. Wrenching her legs apart, I watch as arousal gathers at her entrance, preparing her for my invasion. The craving to taste her overrides all logical needs. Snaking out my long, dragon tongue, I lap at her, taking her taste deep into my mouth.

She tastes like the wild forest berries covered in a sugary frost—dark and forbidden. Pulling back, I ease the tip of our tongue into her opening, sliding it in as far as I can go. Soft whimpers spill from her lips as I fuck her with my tongue, forcing more arousal to gather and coat her thighs.

Her inner walls clamp around me as desperation ripples through her core. But I pull away, not willing to give her pleasure yet. She has to give me something first. The one thing she cannot give anyone else. I will claim her innocence before I allow my bride to come.

CHAPTER 8

BRIAR

Darkness swirls behind my eyes, a dream I can never escape. Trapped in my mind, I have no concept of how long I’ve been stuck here. Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, years? It all feels like some never-ending stretch of time.

Fathomless.

When given the option by the witch to put myself into this slumber, I thought it was much better than the alternative. To be at the mercy of an abomination would be hellacious. But this? This feels so much worse.

A curse.

A spindle.

Death.

That’s all I’ve grown up hearing about. But no one ever said what it entailed, exactly. The only thing I was told was that it was no longer an issue. Thankfully, the kind woman of the woods told me things and educated me about my future.

She’s the one who tried to protect me when no one else seemed to care. A prick of my finger on some odd contraption. That’s all it would take. One drop of blood and I’ll be protected forever.

If not for her… Though, in the throes of this never-ending sleep, I have nothing but time to ponder if this was the correct course of action. I know my father only wished to protect me from the evil swirling through Godwin’s underbelly, but maybe I should have trusted him more?

The kind woman made me feel heard, however. She listened to me when no one else would. She talked to me for hours about everything and nothing. Honestly, she was a far better companion than even my mother.

At least, that’s how it felt at the time.

Now I’m not so sure. Unfortunately, every time my brain tries to think through her words and actions, it feels as if my mind melts, making me forget what was bothering me in the first place. Even now, that odd warmth covers me, sending a dull ache through my skull.

Asleep.

That’s all I am.

That’s all I’ll ever be.