AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I nodded against his neck, barely able to breathe now. My belly was quivering. His smell was just... so good.
“Iain, I know your dragon wants to claim her, but please, let her go. Give her to me. I’ll take her to have a shower. To eat. You trust me, don’t you?”
Stavrok’s voice was soothing, but it annoyed me just the same.
“It’s okay,” I managed to choke out. “You can go. He can keep me.”
I couldn’t believe I was saying the words, but I was. I wanted him. And he wanted me. Surely that wasn’t a terrible thing?
“Veronica?” Stavrok asked quietly. “Iain isn’t in control, and although he doesn’t want to hurt you... you’re a virgin, are you not?”
I buried my face in Iain’s shoulder once more. “Yes. Why?”
Iain’s arms loosened on me, then he said in a growling tone, “Quickly. Go with my dad. I... need to get my dragon back under control.”
I lifted my head and stared at him. “You don’t want me anymore?”
All of my fears came crashing down on me once more, but the heat in his eyes called his words a liar.
“Go.” He spoke louder this time. “Dad, quick. Take her before I shift.”
Stavrok’s arms came around me and lifted me off Iain’s body.
“No!” I screamed, my arms out and grasping for my mate.
Iain turned his head away, his chest rising and falling as he took great big gasps of air.
Stavrok set me on my feet, then pulled the same move he had with Iain. He put his shoulder in my gut and lifted me up off my feet.
“Uncle Stavrok! Put. Me. Down.”
He didn’t comply. Instead, he marched me all the way upstairs and didn’t put me down until we were in my bedroom.
I fell back on my ass on the familiar carpet, still only wearing my cloak. “Why did you do that?”
My mom came hurrying into the room, her face as white as a ghost. “Veronica? Oh my God... Veronica!”
“Mom! Is Dad...” Tears filled my eyes and squeezed my heart. I couldn’t finish the question.
“He’s alive.” She rushed over to me, holding out her hands and hauling me to my feet.
I fell into her arms and she dragged me in for the biggest hug of my life. My mother. A dragon princess of her era. She held me as I squeezed her tight, then finally she pulled back and cupped my face in her hands.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
I nodded. “Yes. I’m fine.”
Mom released me to turn and stare at Stavrok. “Iain?”
He nodded. “Thanks to Veronica, he’s alive. Healing.”
Mom turned toward me. “What... I’m sorry... I don’t understand.”
Stavrok smiled at me and bowed his head. “I’m going to go and make sure my son hasn’t burned down the castle. And you can talk to your mom.”
The king left me alone and somehow, strangely, I wanted to call out to him and call him a coward. Or maybe that was just how I was feeling? I didn’t want to talk to Mom, or anyone else, about Iain.
“Tell me about Dad,” I said to her, wandering over to the fireplace.
