He was full of smiles for her parents, though. It was sickening even, how he bowed over her mother’s hand and made a production of leaning in close so as not to miss a single word his queen said. And his laughter, it was so loud it was obnoxious. Not that he was much better with her father. Their heads were so close together they might as well have been conjoined twins. Even the drat servants were getting more attention from him than she was, and she was the one he was supposed to be concerned with.
Mia cleared her throat. “I thought you were in a hurry to get underway, Sir Starkweather?”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Did you say something, princess?”
Heat flooded her cheeks. “I have a proper name. Don’t call me princess.”
He ignored her, and Mia cleared her throat again. “I said, I thought you were in a hurry to get underway. At least, that’s what you were spouting yesterday.”
The block-headed barbarian had the audacity to wave her off as if she were a pest. Mia seethed.
Her parents, however, didn’t. They both rushed to her side. Her mother hugged her close and kissed her cheek while her father wrapped his arms about both of them. “Listen to Talon, daughter. Do what he asks of you. We talked long into the night last evening. He’s smart and knows his way around a quest, and he also knows what is expected of him.”
Mia wanted to argue, she wanted to tell her father it was her challenge to take and hers to win or lose. She’d do it as she saw fit, and she didn’t need any advice from the likes of Talon Starkweather. She didn’t, though. Worry lines creased her father’s brow, and her mother’s eyes were brimming with tears. So, she simply nodded. What she did out of their sight would be her own business.
Talon, however, wasn’t the least bit quiet. “That’s correct princess, listen to your father and do as I say, and what I say right now is to quit dawdling and get in the coach. Daylight’s wasting.”
The dratted man offered her his hand, but she climbed into the royal blue carriage without his assistance and was adjusting the skirt of her matching gown when Talon hopped in and slid his large frame right up against her. The heat of his body seeped into hers, and sparks of awareness skittered along her spine. He smelled of fresh air mixed with a touch of sandalwood this morning, and it was all Mia could do not to lean into him and sniff and taste. Her tongue tingled with the thought. She shook her head. This would never do.
“I see no reason for either one of us to be crowded.” Mia pointed to the bench seat opposite them. “Please move.”
He chuckled. “I don’t think so, princess. If I’m riding backwards, there’s no way to see what’s coming toward us. And since I’m your personal bodyguard, at least for the duration of your time away from Alaria, seeing what’s coming is a lot more important than your comfort.”
“Fine, I’ll move then,” Mia huffed.
Before she could even begin to scoot forward, Talon had an arm locked around her waist. The sparks that had begun when his body first touched hers exploded into an all-out heat that threatened to sear her soul. She could feel the length and width of each individual finger imprint upon her skin, right through her gown, as if she wore nothing at all.
She breathed through her mouth, willing her racing heart to slow. What the VoT was wrong with her today? She wasn’t some silly little virgin on the cusp of womanhood and hadn’t been for a while now. Why on Albrath did it have to be this man’s touch that affected her so?
“Though I do enjoy bating you and watching your dander rise, I truly don’t wish to fight with you or even upset you, Mia,” he whispered against her hair. She shivered as her nipples tightened and her pussy dampened, and he held her even tighter. “I promised your father I’d keep you by my side at all times, and I will. Whether or not you believe me to be a man of my word, a man of honor, I truly am.”
She nodded. It was the only response she was capable of. If she opened her mouth to say a single word, what would come out would be a plea for him to fuck her again. A plea that would probably shock him to the very tips of his toes. Though tempting, she wouldn’t. She wouldn’t take the chance he’d find out what his touch, his mere presence did to her, at least not yet.
And even though she now ached from deep within and her clit was pulsating a steady throb, throb, throb that was making her absolutely crazy and had been since the moment his arm had wrapped around her waist, she forced herself to think about other things. Things like how far away was the portal that would take them to The Academy of Magical Arts? She couldn’t remember. It had been a long time since she’d last been there.
During a couple of their summer vacations, as preteen girls, she and Kitrina both had spent their share of long, lazy afternoons roaming the empty hallways of The Academy. Since they’d both had parents who’d been instructors at the time, they’d been left on their own to discover any secrets the dusty old castle might have to offer while their parents had been busy in boring, old faculty meetings.
Would The Academy look the same to her now as it did then? And would her suite of rooms be ready when she arrived? Would she have to meet with the council right away, or would she at least be able to get one good night’s sleep before the quests began?
A thought suddenly struck Mia. Her palms began to sweat, and her heart thumped a double beat before once more returning to a more normal rhythm. “Talon, when you promised my father you’d keep me by your side at all times, you didn’t really mean at all times, right? I mean, certainly not at night? Not while I’m sleeping? Not in my chamber?”
His eyes were smoldering when he looked at her. Their gazes locked. “Especially at night, princess, and without a doubt while you’re sleeping, and not just in your chamber, but right beside you in your bed. I promise you, no one and nothing will get close to you without going through me first.”
Mia forgot how to breathe.
****
He sat her trunk down on the stone hallway floor and opened the door to her chamber wide. Turning, Talon gestured Mia inside. She didn’t say a word, and she didn’t glance in his direction as she slowly walked like a condemned prisoner into the room. But then, Princess Amelia Zoe Cassidy Hammerstrike hadn’t said a single word to him or anyone else since he’d informed her he’d be sleeping in her bed. It was as if, when those words had been spoken, the beautiful light that was Mia flickered and faded until it was all but gone, and he had no idea how to turn it back on.
She hadn’t remarked when they’d passed through the portal, and she hadn’t gasped or giggled with glee like most females when the impressive towers of the four castles that comprised The Academy of Magical Arts first came into view. And she hadn’t even mumbled a thank you or a fuck off and die when he’d helped her alight from the carriage. Even worse, she now stood in the middle of the princess suite with its rich ornamental rugs, its colorful wall hangings, its opulently decorated rooms with lush upholstered furnishings, and she looked as if she’d been heralded into a rodent infested cell.
What was he going to do? He couldn’t take back what he’d said. He’d given his word to his king and to Zander. And even if he could take it back, he wouldn’t. She deserved to sleep in peace, and she would with Talon by her side, even if it killed him to keep his hands, his mouth, and other body parts to himself. Mia would one day be queen, his queen, and her safety was his sworn duty. If nothing else in all of Albrath, he took what he considered to be his duty, very seriously.
He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. “I have to go to my room and gather my things. It won’t take long, but I’ll need you to come with me, princess.”
She flinched, but she turned, faced him, nodded, and followed.
Talon walked slowly, prolonging the moment they would arrive at his door and she’d see how far below her station he truly was. Where her bright light-filled suite was high up in a tower, his one, single, dreary room was deep in the bowels of The Academy, and he stood before the door much sooner than he would’ve liked.
It hadn’t m
attered with Zander. They were both men and neither needed fancy carpets upon their floors or pictures on their walls. With Zander, Talon had been able to forget for a while how far apart their stations in life were. Zander had always treated him more like a brother than a bodyguard, and he’d always felt brotherly toward the man that would’ve someday been king if not for his marriage to Kitrina. But his feelings toward Mia were anything but brotherly.
Taking a deep breath, and preparing himself for her look of disgust, he turned the key and opened the door. A snow-white ball of something hard and scaly hit him square in the chest, knocking him flat on his ass. A rough pink tongue flicked out and licked him right across the face.
“What are you still doing here? Didn’t I tell you to go back to Castle Kuropkat where you belong? You’re going to get me in so much trouble. Dragons aren’t allowed at The Academy. Fuck, what am I going to do with you? I swear, you overgrown lizards don’t listen to a VoT word anyone tells you.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to continue his scolding when the sound of tinkling laughter reached his ears. He glanced over his shoulder and was amazed. The color had returned to Mia’s cheeks, and her gray-blue eyes shown with life once more.
She bent to his level and reached out a hand toward the small dragon. “What’s her name?”
Talon shook his head. “You see, princess, that’s what I’m talking about. That’s why you need someone watching your back at all times. I’ve been attacked by a frigging dragon, for God Draka’s sake, and all you can say is what’s her name?”
Mia took the squirming little dragling right out of his hands, stood, walked through the door of his room, and sat down on his bed. “Oh please, Talon, she wasn’t attacking you, she was obviously happy to see you, though I have no idea why. And don’t forget, I was raised around dragons. I’m not afraid of them. Kit was my very best friend in all of Albrath. We played with baby dragons like other little girls play with dolls.”
He stood and dusted off his breeks. “Well, I may have taken the oath of the Paladin’s of Albrath, but I still don’t trust the scaly demons, not even the little ones. She followed me home from Castle Kuropkat, and I swear, she’s already doubled in size, and looks at me as if she’s hungry and I’m to be her next meal.”
Mia giggled again. “She probably is, hungry that is, or will be soon. Draglings have voracious appetites. “
A warmth floated through his mind, not much more than a nudge really, not uncomfortable, just there. And then he heard her. “I am called Pearl. I am your dragon, and you are my human, I mean, paladin, I mean, barbarian.”
He looked at Mia. “Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
Again the warmth filled him. “I’m not hungry yet, and even if I were, I’d never eat my master. Anyway, Mother says barbarians are much too chewy and more gristle than not. The Academy had lots of fat, juicy rats to fill my belly, though I do fear I’ve eaten them all.”
“Stop doing that, and I’m nobody’s master, especially not yours,” he hissed.
Mia looked at him with narrowed eyes. “She’s talking to you, isn’t she?”
He nodded.
She smiled. “That means she’s bonded with you.”
He shook his head. “I don’t want her bonded to me. I want her to go home. I don’t have time to be bothered with a—a dragon.”
Pearl glared at him, but Mia laughed. “Well, you’d better find the time, because when a dragon bonds, it’s for life.” Pearl nodded and stuck out her tongue. Talon simply sighed and packed up his meager belongings.
****
“So, why were you so quiet for most of the trip here and when we first arrived? What was wrong, princess? I need to know.”
Mia sat in the corner of the overstuffed sofa in the drawing room of her suite, with the snow-white dragling nestled in her arms, and stared at the man who was pacing back and forth across the length of the room. She didn’t want to answer Talon’s question. She wanted him to see her as strong and capable, not the meek little scaredy-cat her bother had always accused her of being.
Granted, she didn’t like snakes, and she abhorred spiders, but then, who in their right minds didn’t? That didn’t mean she was a coward, however. Especially since what scared her right this moment would frighten even the biggest, strongest, bravest barbarian in all the land.
“Well,” he demanded. “Was it because I said I’m going to be in your bed while you’re sleeping? Because I can assure you, princess, you’ll be safe, even from me. I swear.”
She shook her head. “I’m not afraid of you, Talon.”
He ran his hand through his hair. “Then what is it?”
She carefully set Pearl on the couch and started her own path of pacing. “I guess it finally caught up to me.” She stopped in the middle of the floor right in front of him. Tears burned the back of her eyes, but she refused to allow them to come forth. “I really am the heir to the throne of Alaria now. There’s no going back to the way things were. There are no more days of doing as I please, going where I please, and thinking as I please. Now, I have a duty, an obligation to my people.”
She took a deep breath. “I used to always fret about Zander when he was away from home. I was constantly afraid harm would befall him, or some crazy, radical idiot would take his life, and then I’d be forced to become the heir. And though I’m glad he’s safe, and I’m thrilled for both he and Kit, I’m not sure I’m ready for this. I’m not sure I’ll ever be a good enough leader. Especially not as good as he would’ve been.”
A single tear did escape then. “I’m afraid, no matter how hard I try, in the end, I’ll be a disappointment to my people.”
Talon pulled her into his embrace and held her close. His lips grazed her ear as he whispered, “You know you don’t have to do this, don’t you? Queen Adrina’s Challenge, that is. No one will think any less of you if you decide not to, princess. It’s not too late to choose a man to rule in your place. I’ll even help you find one.”
Mia relaxed against him and breathed in the essence that was Talon. “I’d think less of me,” she whispered back.
Suddenly, his head popped up. “How can you be hungry again? I thought you said you ate a bunch of rats?”
She backed away. “Rat’s, eww, what are you talking about?”
He pointed toward the little snow-white dragon. “Pearl says she needs to eat again. Something about growing pains.”
Mia laughed, and it felt good. “Well, then, I guess we’d better see her fed.”
“Feed her what?” He scratched his head. “Other than rats, and she said she’s devoured every single one in castle, what the VoT do draglings eat?”
Mia shook her head. “You truly don’t know anything about baby dragons, do you?”
It was his turn to shake his head.
She walked over and picked up the dragling. “They eat meat, Talon, at least mostly meat, and lots of it. She’ll almost double in size weekly until full grown. Tomorrow, you can take her out in the woods hunting, but for tonight, we’ll take her to dinner with us. I have no doubt Aunt Laycee and Uncle Leeky are expecting us. As a matter of fact, their feelings are probably hurt because we didn’t go straight to their apartment when we first arrived. We’ll take Pearl with us, and they can feed her, too. What’s one more mouth among that group?”
Talon groaned. “Do we have to? I mean, don’t get me wrong. I like gnomes just fine, and especially Leeky Shortz. He’s a VoT fine rogue and a fascinating teacher. I don’t even mind listening to his farfetched stories.”
Mia waited, knowing more was coming. She tapped her foot. “But?”
He cleared his throat. “It’s the rest of his family. I swear, his wife, Laycee, looks at me as if she’d like to do unspeakable things to my body, and her purple haired daughter, Lavender, isn’t much better. And then there’s Pierced. He makes me completely crazy. I mean, I don’t mind that he’s a gay-Goth gnome. To each their own.” He shuddered. “But the things I’ve s
een him do in public with, Steve, that dark elf boyfriend of his, would make a grown man blush. Not to mention that whole, bizarre blow-up doll side of the family. It’s not a fit place for a barbarian princess, let alone a baby dragon.”
She laughed, and it felt good to be herself again, if only for a little while. “I can see where to an outsider the Shortz clan could seem a tad odd, but I’ve been raised around them all my life. To me, they’re family. And you don’t have to worry about Pearl. Dragons don’t like the taste of gnome, even naughty ones. Now dark elf, that’s another story. You may have to keep a close eye on poor Steve’s indigo-blue ass.”
****
Talon took a deep breath before knocking on the door. Giving himself and Mia the time it would take one last grain of sand to trickle through the hourglass to prepare themselves for what lay ahead.
The moment the door swung open, he knew it’d been a waste of time to hesitate at all. There were things in this world one simply couldn’t prepare for. Leeky Shortz stood before them in a pair of bright lime-green boxers with orange smiley faces all over them and not another stitch. His little pink pot-belly hung over the rim of his colorful under garment. He had a mug of something frothy in one hand and what looked suspiciously like meat sauce dribbled down his chin.
Pearl licked her dragon lips, and Talon held her tighter.
“What the burnt crust and bubbling juices of a halfling baker’s pubic hair pie with cheese melted on top and garnished with troll testicles do ya make of this, Laycee? The lass and Talon have finally deemed us fit ta visit and only after being here at The Academy for most of a full day. Get on in here and strip down ta ya panties. It’s comfy, cozy night at the Shortz residence this evening, and ya’re right on time for dinner. We’re having Laycee’s special, secret recipe chili.”
Tested by the Night Page 5
