“Ketrine,” he replied simply poking the fire fully dressed. “These, an unsuspecting farmer loaned to me.” He gestured to his own garments.
Lyra looked at him in astonishment before turning her back to him and removing the dress. She stood bare from the waist up as she righted the vest to put it on. “Obviously you’ve seen her.” Lyra donned the vest with jerky movements. She set her wet boots by the fire next to Daene’s.
“She’s tied up in that alcove over there.” Daene motioned with his head to the small opening.
“Wait a minute, why did you come for me if you had her?” Lyra turned around and put her hands on her hips waiting for an answer.
Why indeed? Daene thought to himself as he looked at the angry Lady Prince. Her scent was washing all reason and thought from his mind. He wanted to rush her to the ground and mount her until he had no air left in his lungs. When her dress had blown up in the tunnels, he almost grabbed and caressed the finely toned bottom. He was sure he would have gotten some kind of wound for that. He was also sure it would have been worth it.
“She’s young and headstrong. She acts without thinking,” Daene replied. Taking her scent deep into his lungs, he couldn’t for the life of him figure out why her scent was driving him mad. He felt like an adolescent seeing the charms of a naked woman for the first time. “I don’t think it has occurred to her that no man would pay her the reward and just let her walk free.”
“You know her?” Lyra seemed impressed with his assessment.
“I have known many like her. The fact that she traded places with you smacked of an amateur move. Feznik, even knowing who you are, would have taken advantage of the situation and sold the girl as well. She would have merely sealed your fate and hers as well.”
“I agree,” Lyra said sitting down by the fire. “Not to mention Jaen and Seven.”
“Besides, I have no doubt that you would have eventually gotten away and you, my Lady Prince, would have hunted her down and killed her.”
Lyra grinned at that as she took the stick from him to tend the fire. Fire shot through his fingers and trailed up Daene’s arm. The contact was brief but packed quite a punch. Daene tried to shake it off. “You’re right again, thief. So tell me, why do you need a wife?”
Daene paused, the shock rendering him momentarily speechless. He looked at her and knew the beast in him was rising having been aroused. A warning pulsed through him that she was dangerous to his secret. What was it about this woman that was ensnaring him? Daene cleared his throat. “There is a man here that I need to speak with. However, because of the bride ceremony…”
“You cannot enter without a wife.” Lyra trained her amber gaze on him. Daene felt as if she were seeing right into his soul. “Seven would not be a wise choice in such an environment she has not the skill to think on her feet and predict consequences.” Lyra shifted her position pulling her knees up to her chest in thought. “Jaen, well, she is too innocent. Ketrine has already shown she can’t be trusted. So by default that leaves me. Fine, I’ll bite. This man that you need to speak with. Is he the next man to be murdered?”
He was taken aback by her direct question. “That is quite an intent you accuse me of, young Lady Prince.” Daene smiled at her, but she didn’t smile back. She would not be an easy one to charm.
“Your reputation precedes you. Both men you came to ‘see’ in the past wound up dead after your visit. Their coffers near empty. Tell me, what did those men and this one do to you, or are they merely the targets of a blackguard?”
“You are smart to ask such questions but really, it is none of your concern. Our deal is that you appear by my side as a wife. I will return the other two as soon as you are done with our deal. If not, I will deliver them to the first Wife Dealer I smell.”
Lyra stood in indignation. Fury added a rather attractive light to her eyes. “Those girls are lambs at a slaughter. How could you do such a thing? You said you freed them!”
“Are they still locked in a cell?”
“For all I know, yes!”
“Then you have to ask yourself, are those girls worth the risk of your hard-earned freedom?”
“They are worth it, without a question.”
“And what about the one who betrayed you, is she worth it as well?” he murmured low.
“She did something stupid and selfish. I won’t deny that. But haven’t we all? But yes, she is worth it. It is you I consider a waste of life!”
Daene stood slowly and walked to her. Her scent was driving him mad. Whatever it was, was totally responsible for what he was about to do next.
Daene grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her roughly to his chest. He felt as if every breath of air left his lungs as he looked into her beautiful, fire-lit eyes. His skin tingled at her proximity. He should have stopped as his beast rose and demanded to be satisfied.
Daene crushed his lips to hers. He frantically caressed her tongue with his, her taste drugging his senses. His skin began to heat as his desire grew. Tentatively, she responded to him, tasting him, retreating, then coming back. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she pulled him nearer and his aroused member close to her core.
She moaned, sending Daene into oblivion of pleasure. He pulled her tighter, his fingers digging into her soft, firm skin. A warm thermal air began to surround them, lifting his hair but doing nothing to cool him. She moved deeper into his kiss, giving as much as she was taking. Daene was fighting the beast within him, and he was losing.
Unexpectedly, Lyra broke the kiss, breaking the contact by stepping back. Her breathing was ragged as she looked at him. Astonishment clouded her features. Daene was looking at her through desire filled eyes.
“Oh my,” Lyra rasped heavily and stepped back. “Your eyes…”
Her words seized his brain, giving him focus. He took notice of the warm wind around them. So did she, as she looked at him in understanding. Her next words froze his heart.
“By all that is sacred, you’re a Fire Beast!” Lyra broke into a run.
He watched as she ran from him. Her lithe form ran smoothly through the woods. But he would not let her get away from him. Not that easily.
Chapter 4
Lyra ran as fast as her strong legs would carry her and her bare feet could cross the forest floor. She had heard stories of the Fire Beasts. They stole. They killed. She knew Daene was fast on her heels, and if she were completely honest with herself, she knew he could overtake her at any time. Perhaps he was toying with her. She had heard the nature of the Fire Beast was cruel. His blood red eyes flashed in her mind.
Fear robbed her of air. Her chest grew tight. She could never outrun a Fire Beast, and perhaps, Daene knew that. He was merely running her aground. She would run until she could run no more. She would fight for her life, weaponless if need be.
“Lyra, please stop!” he called to her, sounding as if the run was having no affect on him whatsoever, and it probably wasn’t. He wasn’t natural. Her father had told her the Fire Beasts had been wiped out.
Two strong arms encircled her waist, causing her to crash to the forest floor. Lyra kicked instinctively when they both landed on their side. One of his strong, long legs trapped hers. Propping himself on one arm, he used the other one to pin her down across her chest.
“Listen to me, Lady Prince,” he puffed lightly into her ear. Lyra hated the thrill of excitement winding through her. She had no excuse earlier when she responded to his kiss. But now, she knew what he was, and still…
“How dare you make demands of me!” she hissed as she wiggled to get free. All it accomplished was the feeling of his aroused manhood nestled against her backside.
“You made an agreement, Lyra.” He said her name in a taunting manner, stretching it out for emphasis. “Has the daughter of a king no honor in her word?”
“Honor?” Lyra barked. “You are an abomination! You are a thief and murderer by nature. It’s in your blood. How dare you speak to me of honor?”
Daene imm
ediately released her, pushing her away as if she were the offending creature. She rolled and pounced onto her feet to face him. The moonlight barely entered in the forest, but it was enough to see his now-garnet eyes which revealed his nature and desire. He shook his head slowly, as if he were dealing with a dumb child.
“You’ve no right to speak of me or my people in that manner. You know nothing of my people except the lies that were taught to you. Yes, I am what you call a Fire Beast. My people prefer the name Draegonii.” The same thermal air whirled around them, violently this time. “It means descendent of the Dragon.” Lyra could feel the anger in him take life. His hair fluttered wildly, the multicolored strands now looking like living fire.
“You call me an abomination, yet it was your ancestors who tried to destroy what they coveted and could not obtain for themselves. It was your people who murdered mine and sent us into hiding. We are as natural as the air you breathe. Go back on your word, Lady Prince. I expect no less from the offspring of man. My people have been deceived by them before.” Daene turned sharply, walking away in long strides. Instantly, the warm swirling air died.
“Deceived by you?” Lyra called after the fast retreating figure. “You lived among the humans as if you were human. Yet, you are dragon. You want to talk deception?” Lyra gasped softly when Daene stopped midstride and turned slowly to face her. Lyra had the feeling she had pushed the powerful shifter too far.
“Let us talk deception,” he said quietly, his voice falling into a low growl-like state. “You stand there as if you are repulsed by the very sight of me, yet I smell your arousal. Even now, as you stand there wallowing in self-righteousness, you want me still. Tell me, Lady Prince, will you be honest, or will you try to further deceive me and deny this?” While he spoke, he’d walked toward her so slowly that she didn’t realize he had advanced upon her until his dark red eyes looked down at her in challenge. Lyra willed herself not to step backward.
“You have used whatever supernatural abilities you have on me.” Lyra sniffed. “I remember the stories quite well growing up. Dragons can’t seem to resist seducing a vir—” Lyra clamped her mouth closed as she realized what she was about to reveal. It was too late. The slow smirk that started at one corner slowly made its way over to his very sensual mouth.
“Well now, that clears things up for me. No wonder you smelled so intoxicating,” he said, looking down at her as if she were a meal. “It has been a long time since I found myself in the presence of a virgin worthy of a dragon lover.”
“You didn’t let me finish,” Lyra said in a haughty manner crossing her arms in front of her chest. “Dragons can’t seem to resist seducing a virtuous woman.”
Daene looked at her incredulously before he threw his dark head back and let out a loud guffaw. Lyra found the sound oddly pleasing, and a smile began to flirt about her lips. She had to look away from the sight of this handsome man-dragon laughing. It pulled at her, made her want to see him laugh more in her company.
“If nothing else, humans can construe words to suit their purpose.” He wiped a tear of merriment from his eye and took a deep breath before he began again. “I will not hold you to your word, Lyra. I will find another way to achieve my goal. Good night.” He turned his back and walked away from her, still chuckling.
Lyra sat on the ground and played with a twig. Regardless of what he was, she had agreed to a bargain, and he had kept up his end. She was of royal blood, and whether she was a practicing royal or not, it had been drilled in her that her word was her honor. She would be everything the common people accused royalty of being if she went back on her word, simply because of what he was. Lyra was not discriminating and self-serving.
Fire Beast. Even as the word reverberated through her mind, it didn’t dampen the attraction she had for him. If he wasn’t natural, was her desire for him unnatural as well? It felt real, and it came easily enough. She’d never felt such a strong pull to any man before. Worse, she had insulted him. After convincing herself the only reason she was going back was honor alone, she made her way slowly to his camp. The least she could do was hear him out.
Chapter 5
Daene watched Lyra cautiously approach the fire, but he said nothing. He sat going over his options. Lyra sat opposite of him and focused on him without wavering.
“Why have you killed these men? Do you plan on killing the one you hunt now?”
“My life and my reasons are not for idle discussion.” Daene returned her gaze. “I will not sit here and be judged by you. You will help as you agreed or you will not. You do not get to decide the worthiness of my cause.”
“So it is a cause,” Lyra picked up immediately.
Daene could see she was quite focused. “I will not tell you my reasons, but I will share this in order to remove some of the ignorance instilled in you. Dragons with honor do not murder. We kill for justice. We do not steal, at least not honest dragons. The part about the virgins, however, is true. Virgins are a delicacy for a dragon. And for the record, not one virgin has ever complained about her dragon lover,” he said with pride.
Lyra blushed. She brushed past his boast. “So you killed those men in the name of justice? You stole from them. Does that mean you are not an honest dragon?” Lyra raised an eyebrow.
“I am not the most honorable dragon, but I am quite sure I am not the worst.” Daene replied. A picture of Kripken flashed through his mind. “You have a right to know certain things, but not now. When I feel you can be trusted, I will tell you things you need to know.” He rose then and stretched. “What is your decision, Lady Prince? Will you keep your word or not?”
Lyra remained sitting as she stared into the fire. “I will keep my word. But there is something else. I have business to attend. So whatever it is you plan on doing, I will need extra time.”
“What business have you still? The girls are no longer in the Hostel. The one that has betrayed you is within yards of your clutches.”
“You have the right to know certain things, but not now.” Lyra threw his words back at him with a snicker. “When I feel you can be trusted, I will tell you things you need to know. Speaking of things that one needs to know, where are the other girls?”
“First, I want a little information.” Daene smiled at her. “You dropped the girls off, and then you came back. At first, I thought you a Wife Dealer. But those are not the actions of a Dealer. Tell me, little Lady Prince, are you trying to liberate young women and amass an army of Lady Princes?”
A small smile appeared at the corners of her mouth then quickly disappeared. “I’ve no more reason to reveal my intentions than you. I do need to know where you have hid them. That is unless, of course, you have stolen them to sell later to line your own pockets.”
“I do not deal in the business of selling human flesh,” Daene replied. His suspicions of her were becoming more concrete. She wasn’t the hard, people-hating woman her reputation bellowed.
“So you were bluffing earlier when you said you’d sell them to the first Wife Dealer you smelled. Very good move, Draegonii. Then where are they?” Lyra insisted, an edge coming to her voice. “Those girls are more than likely frightened and confused. They are my responsibility. I will see to it that I keep my promise to them no matter the cost. So if you are holding them as leverage, you have won, Fire Beast. Where are my girls?”
“Just like that, you would give in to my demands to rescue pampered females who couldn’t save their own lives?”
“It is not their fault how they were raised. We do no choose our families. But we can choose our destinies. They are pampered, yes. Defenseless? That remains to be seen. We are all defenseless until we learn to fend for ourselves. I’m a big girl. I can handle whatever you throw at me. It is no great sacrifice on my part.”
Daene looked her over thoroughly, taking in her stare as she eyed him by the fire. Most definitely, she was not cold and hard inside. But she was wise. Culturing a reputation such as hers was a requirement for survival and respect.
“I saw you stash some items just outside of town. After you left, I had a little look-see for myself. It appears that you’re smuggling the girls far away given the warm, heavy clothing. You are not a Wife Dealer, Lyra. More aptly put, you are a Wife Stealer.” Her eyes never shifted from him. There was but the smallest hint of surprise that she had been seen as a Wife Dealer. She waited for him to continue.
“I slipped into town and saw a figure dressed as you. She didn’t smell like you, however. I apprehended her and may have scared her a tad. I didn’t think it wise to leave her alone with two very angry females.” Daene let his eyes flash red, causing Lyra to break her stone-faced expression and giggle. “The rest I’m sure you can figure out.”
“Thank you for returning for me, even though your intentions were self-serving.”
Daene waved a hand feigning humbleness. “It was my pleasure. There are many caves strewn about here. I have hidden the girls in one. They will be safe.”
“I wish I had known of these caves. It would have been easier to go through the town and have the girls wait in the caves while I collected supplies than risk the Hostel.”
“The Draegonii people have had to hide for a long time until we found a place safe enough to take root. There aren’t many caves I don’t know. As I have said, they will be safe.”
“How can I trust your word? I need to see them.”
“Fair enough. We’ll take the hostage with us, so they can keep an eye on her. Right now, it is getting late. We should wait until dawn, that way we can bring them food.”
“Tomorrow then,” Lyra responded, already appearing to be deep in thought.
“And I will keep watch as you sleep,” he replied. Lyra never raised her eyes from the fire. Silently, Daene strode away without glancing to see if she watched him. He shifted his claws and scaled the tree swiftly. Daene watched the fiery little woman from his perch. His loins stirred as she stretched herself on the ground near the fire and used her hands to pillow her head. She was breathtaking.
The Lady Prince (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 3
