“Your Majesty, I could but he informed me he was coming in whether you wanted him to or not,” Lira advised me. He had barely finished speaking when Dad marched in with Talon and Roa’ in tow. Nearly everyone in the room growled or hissed. I sank to my knees in Tdem’s arms, while he tried to decide what was more important, the new comers, or me pressed intimately against his body. The three guards jerked to attention and moved closer to the tub.
“Dad! Now is really not a good time,” I nearly yelled at him. “And what do you think you’re doing dragging those two in here?”
Dad smiled serenely, though his eyes widened at the sight of Tdem in the tub with us. “We felt your… ah. You are most shocking, daughter,” he chided me. I moaned and dropped my face against Tdem, who appeared more than willing to cuddle me against him. “That doesn’t matter now. I’m here for formal introductions,” and he stepped back so Talon and Roa’ could move up next to him. He turned to Talon and informed us all. “Talon ‘a Nyx, may I present my daughter, Princess Lexi Helyanwe of the Seelie and Queen of the Dragons upon this world.” Then he looked toward Roa’ and introduced him as “Roa’ N Bel”
Chapter 7
“Great…thanks Dad, we’ve already met. Can you go now?” He just frowned and shook his head, glancing back at the two men who were eyeing me with interest. I noticed they were both dressed as they’d been in the Everlasting, and Tdem shifted against me and made a low noise. Talon stepped forward and I paled and held up a hand. “No wait!” I yelled, while Talon merely grinned and leaned forward at the waist already reaching for his belt.
“I declare,” he told me boldly and dropped his blade to the floor while I watched in shock. His shoulder armor went next, and then he bent over and unstrapped his shin guards. When he was done, his weapons began dropping to the floor, one after the other. So many came off him, that even Cursed looked impressed. His boots went next, leaving him with just the red material belted about his hips, and I swallowed and watched as he stood and crossed his arms over his chest. He moved away from the weapons to stand just a little closer to the tub. “Come here, little one,” he demanded and crooked his finger at me while I stared back at him in horror and shook my head. “Do not make me come in there to get you,” he warned me while I glared back at him. He was being a jerk and I had no intention of obeying him like some kind of servant. He turned to look at my father, who frowned at me and also crossed his arms over his chest.
“I believe you’ve been asked to do something, daughter,” he stated firmly, and I swallowed and stared back at him in surprise.
“Dad… I don’t much care what he told me to do,” I informed him and held tightly to Tdem.
My Dad’s face flushed and his eyes narrowed and I nearly flinched from the anger aimed at me. “He has invoked the right of first refusal, Lexi, get out of the water and get over here now,” he growled, while both Gareth and Jace sucked in air and jerked violently.
“Go, Lexi. Now,” Gareth breathed and I turned to look at him, realizing that he was extremely distressed. “Now,” he told me again, and reached to help me stand while Tdem looked reluctant, but moved back.
I glanced around me and even Kit looked worried, which I figured was not a good thing. I reached for a towel only to be told, “You will not require that.” The towel was yanked from my fingers by Jace, who looked even paler than Gareth. His eyes were whirling in agitation and I stared at him in confusion as I slipped over the edge of the tub and glanced at Talon.
“She looks much improved, yet is still too skinny for my taste,” Talon remarked as he watched me take a step in his direction. “Turn around,” he told me and I frowned and stared back at him. “Turn around so I might see all of you,” he commanded. I glared at him and watched as his eyes narrowed, and he spoke to me using the words I had used on him. “Do not make me repeat myself,” he told me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath then turned slowly. “Her hair is a disaster,” he remarked casually and reached to rub his chin with one hand as his eyes assessed me like one might a brood mare. “Long legs, nice breasts. Her skin appears acceptable. No visible scars. What is that about her wrist?” he demanded then turned to my father, who glanced at Kit then back to me.
“It is the mark of her contract with her familiar, The Demon Kit who stands there,” Dad informed Talon tightly, his hand pointing toward Kit who stood with his hands at his sides trying to look more innocent than I’d ever seen him.”
“Hmmm,” Talon mumbled. “What manner of Demon?” he asked, stroking his chin and glancing at Kit.
“Lust,” my father mumbled softly.
“Ah… that would explain the disruption earlier,” he remarked and my father pressed his lips together and said nothing. Interesting, I thought, and continued to stand mere feet from where I’d left the tub. “Does she have a problem with her hearing?” Talon asked casually and ran his finger over his lips.
“No. I fear she was merely coddled as a child and has developed a stubborn streak,” my Dad replied while my mouth dropped open in shock.
“Coddled?” Talon repeated in disbelief. “Was she not raised by you in preparation?”
Dad looked a little green around the edges but replied, “No, her mother.”
“You allowed a potential Queen to be raised by a woman?” he demanded, sounding outraged.
“There was little choice in the matter, as I was not aware of her until too late.”
“I see,” Talon replied, clearly not pleased. “This would explain her lack of grace and proper knowledge. However it is nothing that can’t be tamed, I’m sure,” he added. I felt myself tense up, and behind me distressed noises were quickly squelched. “You are trying my patience, little one,” he advised me and several minds screamed at me to move. I jumped and took a few steps in his direction. He pointed to the floor in front of him. “Here.” I swallowed and moved to the spot he indicated, then stood there watching his eyes, too overwhelmed by the terror of nearly everyone around me to do otherwise. “Open your mouth,” he told me and I let my lips part. “Wider,” was his instruction and I opened wide while he leaned forward and actually looked around at my teeth. When he leaned back I closed my mouth and felt my face flame under his gaze. He smiled and reached out and ran a finger over my collar bone and my heart fluttered and nearly stopped. “How old is she?” he asked, not bothering to look at my father.
“She has just recently turned a score and five,” he replied.
“She is breeding?”
“In the initial stages, yes.”
“You are certain she will breed true?” he demanded. My eyes flicked to my father, who seemed to tense but nodded, while inside me Goldy raised her head and stared up at him. She seemed hesitant… as if she wasn’t sure what to make of Talon and was perhaps a little intimidated. Talon’s eyes narrowed on me and he pulled air through his teeth. “Hmmm,” he muttered and his eyes felt as if they might pierce my very skin. “Who are you?” he asked softly, his voice coaxing.
Goldy blinked and leaned away from him as he seemed to expand and hover over us. “Goldy,” I finally whispered and he blinked and gave himself a small shake. He lifted his hand and slid his fingers around my neck, exerting just enough pressure to let me know he was there.
“I did not like being choked,” he leaned in to inform me. And then his hand slid into my hair and his finger splayed so that he grasped a full handful. “Nor having my hair pulled by a belligerent youth. But I especially did not enjoy being made a fool of the other day,” and he tightened his fingers until my eyes watered. He watched me closely, increasing the pressure when I refused to cry out. And then he released me and slid his hand down my body, brushing my breast and humming softly when my nipple hardened in response. “I will try her and we shall see,” he informed the room. Behind me several people let out mental sighs as if they’d been holding their collective breath.
Gee, now would have been a good time to have used some of that Dragon lore I kept meaning to have Kit share with me. If
I lived through this I was going to have to get serious about those lessons.
“Okay so… does someone want to tell me what is going on?” I asked, glancing around and realizing that the rest of my men had edged into the room behind Roa’, who was standing with his arms crossed over his chest. He had an unhappy look on his face and I wondered if I’d need to decrease Talon’s size just to make him laugh again.
“No, Mistress!” Kit yelped and I turned to look at him in surprise while he shook his head vigorously. “Please no,” he whispered.
I sighed, glanced up at Talon and raised an eyebrow. He did not look amused and I shrugged. “We will do this the traditional way and should I not be pleased, the rights will be revoked.” And beside me my father looked like he might faint.
“So what exactly is this right of first refusal?” I asked. “Apparently I’m at a disadvantage here. I’d hate to unintentionally cause a revocation.” Unfortunately no one seemed to want to answer me. Maybe they thought it was best I didn’t know. “So we are talking about sex, right?” I asked, sighing heavily when he nodded. “And I guess you want it now? Geeze,” I muttered to myself. “Of course you do, you’re male aren’t you?” I added under my breath. “So here on the floor, or maybe the tub? Can you hold off until we get to a bed? Or do you just want to hold your skirt aside and push me up against the wall?” I asked, my voice turning nasty. “Would you like me to do my hair first?” I flipped my head over and shook my still damp curls in every direction, then flipped it back again, making sure I slapped him in the face with the wet ends as I stood. It settled about my body, covering my breasts and half my face. “It is, after all a disaster.”
He smiled and it wasn’t pleasant. Then his hand moved and he back handed me across the cheek, just as I had done to him outside the cell, though he did not hit me nearly as hard as I had struck him. Around me a roar went up and pandemonium broke out. I staggered one step then lifted my face and held up my hand. “Stop,” I breathed and the room quieted, though in my head a war raged. “I will allow that we are now even,” I told him softly, my eyes having shifted to Dragon. “But if you ever raise your hand to me again, I will kill you,” and my voice was colder than an artic winter.
He stared down at me and replied calmly, “I would expect no less.”
His response confused me and I blinked my eyes back to normal, and then stood there balanced on the balls of my feet simply watching him. Roa’ held his sword in his hand and my eyes flicked to him briefly, then over to my men.
“Choose one,” Talon informed me and I glanced back at him raising an eyebrow.
“Choose one what?”
He sighed and shot my father a disgusted look and he was quick to answer. “Lexi, you must choose one man to go with you and act as…witness.”
“Witness for what, Dad?” I replied.
“The union.”
“For what purpose? If I might be so forward as to ask.”
“To ensure no advantage is taken,” he replied and I frowned.
“Advantage? As in he does not beat or rape me… advantage?” And he nodded. “Dad…this isn’t the first time we’ve had sex,” I told him. “Is this actually necessary?” My dad hesitated a moment then nodded. “And what will this witness be doing while we’re ah… having traditional sex? That is what you said, right?” I asked and glanced up at Talon.
“Observing only.”
“Okay, is there anything else I should know? Like does he get to shift to a black blob and red eyes while I have to lay there and take it?” I asked and Talon growled softly. I turned back to him and told him calmly, “It is a valid question. I think I deserve an answer.”
“There will be no shifting once you engage,” Dad informed me.
“Okay fine… since this isn’t a love match, I guess I choose you, Dad.” Then watched as he turned a greenish tint.
“Lexi, that is not a good idea.”
“And why not?”
“Because… because if he is unable to finish, I will have to,” he told me and I swear sweat broke out on his forehead, while I think I turned a little green myself.
“Okay, no problem. I choose Kit.”
Talon growled again and his face became haughty. “You must select a Dragon,” he informed me.
Sheesh I thought, and glanced at Kit, then frowned. “Kit?” I asked, and he stepped to the middle of the floor, shifting to a 20 foot long black and silver dragon. Thank goodness the room was big enough to accommodate us all, I thought. “Will that do?” I asked and smiled at Kit, who had shifted back and stood watching us.
Talon frowned but finally nodded, then he turned to Roa’ who stepped forward. “I choose Roa’.”
“For what reason would you need to choose Roa’?” I asked in confusion.
Talon unfolded his arms and glared down at me. “To ensure you do not take advantage of me,” he replied in a threatening tone.
“Define… advantage,” I demanded, and he lifted an eyebrow at me and tilted his head to the side.
“None of your sorcery,” he informed me. “I will not have my person abused as you have done previously.”
I lifted both eyebrows and glanced between the two of them. “And you think he can stop me?”
“If he kills you,” Talon informed me coldly while I sucked air into my lungs.
“You would doom an entire race for your vanity?” I breathed.
“No, you would,” he replied and I rocked back on my heels. “I merely seek to mate.”
“You know, Talon, this isn’t necessary. I never said I wouldn’t have sex with you. You’ve declared and that makes you mine,” I told him.
“Later,” he informed me. “First we mate.”
Kit dressed me in black leather, which he assured me would be appropriate, though in looking down at the black straps that crisscrossed my body and the halter top in leather that matched the black mini skirt, I wasn’t at all convinced. At least he’d given me thigh high boots with low heels and a place to put my dagger, and my skirt wasn’t skin tight. I also got black lace panties, though there wasn’t much there and I nearly didn’t bother. Owen handed me my blade with a scabbard and belt. He also provided me with arm bands and braided my hair for me while he stood silently behind me. The rest of my men watched in various stages of unease from across the room. I had the strange sensation they were staying away so they wouldn’t say something to spook me.
Talon stood chatting with Dad and Roa’, his back to me. But Roa’ watched me closely, his silver eyes taking in every motion as if he was committing it to memory. It was kind of creepy and I frowned at him. He frowned back, crossed his arms over his chest and continued to stare. Maybe he’d never seen anyone dressed like a biker chick before and didn’t know what to think about it.
“Likely he’s torn between hoping Talon fails so he can have you, and loyalty to his friend,” Owen whispered. “And… maybe it’s a little of what you said too,” he added, grimacing as he shook his head. “You should have let me dress you.” And Kit gave him a dirty look.
“So will we be fighting?” I asked, glancing down at the blade and knife.
“It is how it will begin.” Owen informed me softly. “I cannot say how it will end. That will be up to you.”
“Bada bing bada boom, we have sex. He’s happy, we all move on? Why does this have to be so difficult?” I asked.
Owen turned me and lifted my chin with his finger. “Because he wants to test you. You’ve wounded his pride and he is punishing you.”
“Would it help if I said I was sorry?” I asked and Owen shook his head.
“No, because you cannot change who you are and who you love,” he added and I frowned up at him in confusion while he sighed. “He is very old,” Owen breathed against my ear. “And he didn’t like what you said about the Silver… especially because he’s younger and his protégé’, but he really doesn’t like your attachment to Gareth or Jace. He sees them as a challenge. Add to that the fact that you choked him, dragge
d him about by his hair, and then sliced him open like a fish…” he continued and shook his head, his dark brown eyes worried. “You told him he was of no use to you. But worst of all, he finds you attractive. He wants you, but his ego won’t let him have you without making you fight for it.”
“But what if I don’t want to fight for it? Will he just go away and leave us alone? Or can we not send him back to the Everlasting and be done with him for good?” I whispered. Owen’s eyes widened as he glanced over my shoulder and I swallowed. “He’s right behind me, isn’t he?” I asked and Owen nodded and stepped back.
“No little one… if you do not meet this challenge your position is forfeit and you become my slave. You wish to be Queen, you must earn it.”
“Well okay then, why didn’t you just say so in the first place? Let’s get this little show on the road, shall we?” And I made a bee line for Gareth and hugged him tightly. “Be right back,” I told him and when I would have given him a brief kiss, he held me fiercely and rocked my world. When he was done he handed me to Jace who squeezed me tightly.
“Fly well,” Jace whispered and nearly bent me backwards as he kissed me. When he let me up, he passed me on to Cursed, who held me in his arms and purred deep in his throat.
“I like this,” he whispered, running his finger under the edge of the buckle below and between my breasts. The straps wrapped from either side across my ribs and around my back then once around my waist. “I’d very much enjoy removing it from you later.” Then he too kissed me as if I was going off to war. I was nearly panting when he handed me to Amras, who ran his fingers up the back of my thighs and gripped my bottom in his hands under the leather mini skirt.
“Mmmm,” he breathed against my neck, causing goose flesh to erupt over half my body. “Hurry back,” and he grasped my hand and pressed it against the front of his leather pants. “I’ll be waiting.” Then his lips came down on mine and I moaned while he rubbed himself against my hand.
Dragon Greed Page 9
