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I searched for the voice. Julian walked straight out of the wall—more than a shadow, more than a man. Just his presence awakened things inside me I wasn’t aware of. The need to run my fingers across the blood once more and rub them across my lips was as tempting as any aphrodisiac. I could see my wants mirrored in Julian’s eyes.
“Denying your beast will eventually wither every part of you, human and dragon. Open yourself and accept what you really are. Leave your humanity behind and let your dragon take control. You’ve been fighting her when she should be your greatest ally. What does your beast want?”
I screamed inside my head. I didn’t want to be more monster than human. I didn’t want to be like Alasdair or Calista. Or like Julian. The added power of leaving my humanity behind wasn’t worth the price I’d have to pay.
As far as what my beast wanted, I didn’t have an answer. I could feel her thoughts as if they were mine, and I was terrified because at the center of everything she coveted, there was only Julian. My beast wanted him.
I shoved my dragon away and got myself under control. I changed the subject and asked, “What are you doing here?”
“This is my dream. I can go where I please,” he said arrogantly. “I invited you, and you accepted my invitation. There is something between us, Rena. A connection. I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist me for long.”
I shivered at the thought of how closely Julian’s words had mirrored Noah’s. “Your ego leaves something to be desired. I still have my free will, no matter how much you wish it otherwise in your dream.”
“I like to believe that the gods have brought you here for a reason. It’s up to you whether or not you seek the reason out. Now, I asked you a question. You have halted the growth of your powers by closing off your natural-born instincts in your need to feel more human. Your emotional state when awake is what holds you back. Only in your dreams can you truly be the dragon you were meant to be. Why would you make yourself less, when you could be so much more?”
“There’s nothing wrong with wanting to have human emotions,” I said before I could stop myself. “And when I’m awake, I’m the one who’s in control of them. I like being in control.”
“Ahh, yes, I’ve noticed this about you. Like this ugly nightgown you are wearing. It is just to prove a point, no? To prove that you have the strength to stand against me?”
“You seem to be missing the point of how my decisions have nothing to do with you.”
“Hmm,” he said, circling around me. “I think you must not realize your appeal. All of that sexy hair. Skin the color of gold dust. And a stubborn chin that had rather take a punch than back down. And then there’s your eyes. They’re like black fire.”
Dragons weren’t self-conscious by nature and we never backed away from desire as long as the feelings were mutual. But I felt the urge to cover myself, even though I knew I was perfectly decent.
“Ahh, but you aren’t, my sweet. That chaste gown is as transparent as the naughtiest lingerie. But still, I believe I prefer my choice. Don’t you?”
I felt the whisper against my skin, just as when he’d changed my clothes before dinner. Only this time I was afraid to look down. I could already tell there was much less there than had been before.
“You’re wasting time with parlor tricks, Julian. We have many things to talk about.”
I walked over to the throne with purpose and sat down. The blood was gone, and only the softness of the velvet touched my skin. I noticed the wisp of smoke curl out of Julian’s nostrils and knew he was irritated that I’d taken his place of power. Good. That made us even. Because I was furious with him.
I crossed my legs. He took a step toward me before he could stop himself.
“I don’t think my throne suits you, Rena. I had something a little more…primitive in mind for you.”
“Chains in the dungeon, no doubt.”
“Never. I was thinking more along the lines of this.”
He nodded his head to the space next to me and another throne appeared out of thin air. A smaller version of his, just as plush and ornate. Just as ancient. But a lady’s chair.
“I would have you rule at my side,” he said. “Think of how powerful we could be.”
“I don’t know, Julian. I don’t think you’ll be very comfortable there. It looks a bit small.”
He threw his head back and laughed, a full-bellied laugh that echoed off the walls and sent tingles low in my stomach. He looked surprised at the sound.
“You’re right,” he said. “This is much more suitable to us.”
He snapped his fingers and both thrones were gone. In their place was a bed the size of a lake. I was lying in the middle of it.
This was not like any bed I’d ever seen. It put the one in my room to shame. This was a carnal bed, a bed for vices and wicked things. Things I was desperately trying not to think of.
“You’re a bad man, Julian. How are we supposed to speak of important matters when it is obvious your mind is elsewhere?”
He gave me a smoldering look, and I felt his power slowly creep around my body so it held me in a loose embrace. His dark hair was unbound around his shoulders and his clothes changed before my eyes. Gone was the suit he’d been wearing at dinner and in its place was a pair of black lounging pajamas. His chest was bared, so I had a beautiful view of hard ridges of muscles that rippled across his chest and down his stomach. He was broad and smooth, and I longed to run my hands over him. My hand moved toward him instinctively, but I jerked it back just in time.
