Deal with the Dragon (Immortals Ever After Book 1)

by Nicole Blanchard

  “Everything these days is unusual. None of the Immortal races are stable anymore. Something is brewing.”

  I wasn’t ignorant to the tensions between the Immortals and the humans, or even between the Immortals themselves. The curse had so long been my focus; I’d had no time to worry about the rest of the world going to Slaine. Once we broke the curse, I’d figure out how to save us from everyone else. There wouldn’t be a Dragon-Clan to fret over if we didn’t.

  “We’ll deal with it when it comes. But if any of them show threatening behavior, you have my permission to deal with them as you see fit.” It wasn’t often vampires or fae ventured so far North.

  “If you don’t mind, I’ll have Raiden handle the fae, should they make an appearance.” His expression in the mirror was grave, but I didn’t pry.

  “Of course.” There was a knock at the door and a servant stuck his head through the door at my call.

  “The carriages are ready, my lord,” he said with a bow.

  “Thank you.” At my motion, they closed the door behind them. “I must go, friend. Mirror if you run into any trouble.”

  “Safe travels,” Alaric said.

  I could only offer his reflection a grim nod. He was right, something was brewing, something even worse than the curse that tormented my people. With so few Dragon shifters left, if a war were to break out among the Immortals and humans, those who depended on me would be more vulnerable than ever.

  It had never been so vital to produce an heir and break the curse.

  11

  Elena

  I’d never been so forlorn for my lack of a shifter form. I was deathly sick of the swaying carriage and makeshift bed, cranky from lack of sleep, and growing frozen by the rapidly chilling air the father north we went. Rhys was unfazed, both by the frigid weather and bruising pace his men set, though I didn’t see much of him on the first day’s ride.

  I didn’t realize when we left the capital how many men he’d traveled with, but I learned nearly an entire company of them followed him everywhere. According to rumor, however, some were killed on the travel from the Northlands.

  I didn’t say it to him when we’d exited the castle after visiting my father, but the sight had surprised me. Who exactly were they? What clan were they with? Human? I didn’t get the chance to ask before I was shuffled into the grandest carriage of the line, followed by Leisha, who was also too stunned to speak.

  The two of us soon gave up any attempts at conversation. Though the carriage grand, the heavily rutted road and breakneck speed we were traveling at caused it to dip and sway precariously. After a few hours, we were too nauseous to carry on a simple conversation. Leisha, from the last look of her, had turned a peculiar shade of green.

  Rhys rode on his magnificent horse with his men when he wasn’t scouting ahead in his half-shifted form. I caught glimpses of him now and again outside the small window, and it always amazed me how a jolt of white-hot pleasure sang through my body. I was grateful for the space, which I think he somehow already understood. It made my head ache how fast things had changed, how vastly different my life was in only a few short days.

  And most of it had Rhys at the very center.

  I wasn’t sure how comfortable I was with depending on him, so despite how generous he’d been and how much my body said otherwise, I would do my best to keep some emotional distance, at least for a little while, until I found my footing again.

  As though she could read thoughts as well as my mate, Leisha said the first words since we’d started on the second day’s ride. “You two look like you’ve gotten to know each other.”

  I pressed my warm forehead against the chilled glass of the small window. “I would hope so.”

  She managed a weak smile. “C’mon,” she said with a wince and pressed a hand to her stomach. Her expression was pinched, but she pushed on. “Distract me. What was he like? Are you happy?”

  I chewed on my response. “He’s… very different than I thought he would be.”

  Leisha scowled. “Well, that doesn’t tell me anything. When I saw you this morning, he couldn’t keep his hands off you.”

  I was sure the blush filling my cheeks was as crimson as the interior of the carriage. “He was surprisingly kind.” The blush deepened. “And very generous.”

  She fanned her face and straightened in her seat. “And?”

  My shoulder lifted and settled. “And I don’t know. I don’t really know him all that well, n-no matter how well we suit in the bedroom.”

  She sighed. “Well, I suppose if you’re with him for a lifetime, at least you’re compatible in that department. Before I was a novice at the temple, my parents were going to betroth me to the most loathsome man, so count yourself lucky.”

  “You were?” I studied her more closely. Three years together and she’d never mentioned it. In fact, she’d hardly talked about herself at all. Feeling like a complete idiot, I reached across the space between us and touched her arm. “You never said anything about it before.”

  Her eyes went to the window and she was silent for a second. I was about to apologize for being intrusive when she laughed it off and said, “There’s nothing to say. I’d much rather talk about your betrothed than mine.”

  We shared a moment of laughter that made me forget all the negative things that had happened to me. In that moment, I wasn’t the failed queen who had to be bartered off like chattel to prove her worth. I was just a girl with her friend.

  Shivering slightly and heavy with morose thoughts, my spirits lifted when I saw Rhys’ draw close to the carriage with his horse. The carriage swayed to a stop without waking the occupants, and Rhys swung down from his horse to open the door.

  As he strode across the rutted road, it was as though my body could sense his was near. It lit up like the magicked lanterns townspeople can buy from the capital city markets and send to the skies for festivals around each equinox. Was this the bond? It couldn’t be. We barely knew each other.

  No matter how much I protested it, there was no denying the way my heart raced. I tugged at the collar of my dress, then scratched where it chafed at the wrists. I’d worn it for its softness, but I wanted nothing more than to tear it off and set it on fire.

  Rhys met my eyes as he opened the door and his jaw snapped closed based on something he read in my eyes. Without a word, he held out a hand. After a pause, I placed mine in his, and he tugged me down the steps. I didn’t even glance back at Leisha. My brain was too clouded with need for him. It made everything inside of me fuzzy and weak.

  He didn’t say a word as he pulled me down the line of men and carriages, but I felt as though I could sense his mood as well as I could my own. The awareness of his skin against mine only increased the sense of closeness, of connection. I wanted to pull my hand away, but, for reasons I didn’t quite understand or want to delve into, I didn’t. It was a silly thing, really, holding hands, but it felt more intimate than making love. So I bit my lip and tried not to let him realized how much I enjoyed his big hand around mine. I didn’t let go until he tugged away to open the door to our carriage and help me into it.

  I think that’s what scared me the most about Rhys. Not that he had the tendency to be fierce and unforgiving like he had the day he murdered the guard who tried to kill me, but that I didn’t want to let go.

  Rhys settled on the bench seat across from me, his long legs stretched out in front of him and his eyes on me, hot as a brand, though he didn’t try to touch me. He barely even needed to the way I was already responding to him.

  But he didn’t move other than to shuck his overcoat and toss it on the seat next to him. He rolled up his sleeves like it was the middle of the spring season instead of encroaching on winter. Though he didn’t need the protection of extra layers like I did, I recalled.

  “Rest,” he said instead of beckoning me forward, like I wanted, craved, despite my own travel-weariness. “We’ve got many miles to go yet and you look like you need it.”

&n
bsp; I wanted to harrumph and shoot him a dirty look, but underneath the want for him was weariness and he was right. We both could use the rest.

  “Thank you, I—” I started to say, but then I realized that his mouth hadn’t moved. “Did you just…Did I just—”

  I pressed a hand to my head to make sure the lack of sleep wasn’t causing me to hear voices that weren’t there. This mind blending was so odd. The rumble of his chuckle resounded in my head and my eyes snapped up to where he still sat, unmoving. His eyes closed, and head propped against the cushion.

  “Don’t act so surprised. I told you about the mind blending,” he said aloud without opening his eyes. There were deep grooves bracketing his mouth and carved in the space between his brows. The urge to smooth them away was so all-encompassing; I had to twist my fingers into the heavy velvet of the seat cushions.

  I tilted my head, considering his words. “Does this mean I’ll be able to hear your thoughts, too?” I asked.

  “I pray not, but eventually it may be possible.” His blue eyes brightened. “Do you want to know what I’m thinking right now?” His voice was silky, intimate, and I was suddenly reminded of the fact we were alone in the small, enclosed space, not that I’d truly forgotten.

  “It would probably help to get to know you, considering that we’re mated now.” I deliberately mistook his meaning. I’d never flirted with another man before, but it was easy with him. “Not to mention that it’s freezing, and I’d much rather think about something else. We can’t all turn into fire breathers.” I pulled my cloak more tightly around my shoulders to ward off the bite of chill in the air and emphasize my point.

  “Come here,” he said and splayed his legs even wider in blatant invitation.

  One I very much wanted to accept. I remembered the warmth of his skin. How satisfying it felt to be in his arms. But the yearning inside of me was so great, it scared me to give into it.

  I shook my head. “No, I didn’t mean—”

  “It’ll save us both a lot of time if you just do as I ask, Elena.” His tone brooked no argument. “Now, come here.”

  Considering the pitiful state of my frozen fingers, despite the many layers I was wearing, I did as he asked and crossed the jolting carriage to his side, practically falling into his arms from weakness. His warmth called to me and I still craved the comfort of his touch. Neither boded well if I was to keep the proverbial distance between us. He opened the placket of buttons at his throat and guided me underneath the voluminous material of his shirt. I groaned aloud, not caring if he heard, as I snuggled into his heat. It felt just as good as I remembered. Better.

  He gathered my fingers in his and I watched, speechless, as a brilliant gold glow shined between our clasped hands, melting away the chill. That was new. Rhys chuckled above me and settled my body against his, one of my hands still clasped firmly in his, like it was hard for him to let me go, too.

  I supposed there were benefits to being mated to a dragon after all.

  “Definite benefits,” he said into my hair, his voice hoarse with exhaustion. “But I’m too tired to illuminate them just now, pet, much as I would like to.”

  His warmth, the cinnamon-smoke scent of him, was too alluring to fight so for a moment I didn’t. I laid my head on his chest and allowed him to cradle me like a child as he stroked his hands from my head down to my ice-cold feet, his warmed hands heating me down to the bone.

  Half asleep, I nuzzled into his shirt without thinking and his hand stilled on my ankle. “Who are those people?” I asked drowsily. “Your guards. Are they from your clan?”

  His other arm rested under my back, cupping my hip and cocooning me against his body. “You have been sheltered, haven’t you?”

  The comment bristled, but I let it slide because moving away was unthinkable. “I’m sure you know what it’s like, at least partially. After,” I paused, cleared my throat, “after I learned I couldn’t shift, the threat was too great for me to stay at the castle. My brother needed me to go somewhere safe. Not much has happened at the temple in the past hundred or so years and they like to keep it that way.”

  “My guards are Dragon-Clan.”

  That caused me to look up at him, my eyebrows in my hairline. “What?” I pressed a hand to his chest as I straightened in surprise. “But I thought they—”

  “When the curse befell the Dragon-Clan, it froze them in their human form.” His voice grew harsh and the hand on my leg clamped down reflexively. “Now they serve the clan in the only way they can until the day comes when we can break the curse.”

  I said nothing. I couldn’t. I’d never heard of a shifter clan protecting those they deemed weak. Like me. The only reason I was alive was because no one had successfully managed to kill me yet, but they sure kept trying. That and doing so would start a war—one that was probably inevitable. After that, my thoughts turned inward, and I was grateful Rhys left me to them. I chased them around and around until I fell asleep.

  The rest of the journey north wasn’t pleasant, and I was loath to say it, but it would have been all the worse if Rhys hadn’t allowed me the use of his chest for a pillow now and again. A few hours outside of the Corinthine Wood the carriage slowed, jolting me awake from a contented half-sleep against his chest. I blinked up at his face, finding his eyes on me, his expression almost soft in contemplation.

  The carriage came to a stop, and I straightened, pulling back the curtains covering the small window. A light dusting of snow covered the ground and the tops of the trees outside—or it would have if there wasn’t a regiment of Rhys’s clan marching across the road and back up the direction we’d just come from.

  Rhys pulled me back down to the seat, though the worry of being so far away from everything I’d ever known turned my stomach to lead. “You should rest.”

  “Is this where you were attacked?”

  His hand came to rest on my back automatically as we settled back down on the seat. He was quiet a moment before he spoke. In the silence, I tried to read his mind as he could read mine, but there was only silence on the other end. “Yes,” he said. “We’re a brief journey from where we’ll move to the ship.”

  I closed my eyes and tried to rest as he said, but couldn’t shake the feeling of desolation, that hung like chains around my neck, with the increasing distance between myself and the place I had always considered a home.

  “Gods, woman, do I need to provide you with a distraction to get any rest?” he asked some time later, the rough tone of his voice startling me from my frenzied thoughts. “Is that the only way you will relax?”

  “What kind of distraction?” my mouth asked, before my brain had time to think the question through. His eyes heated and so did my cheeks. “No,” I squeaked out, “no, you can’t. We can’t.”

  “If the last few hours are any indication, I think I most certainly can.” He arranged me across his lap as though I was featherlight. I didn’t have any time to protest—and I wasn’t sure I would have. One second I was blinking up at him and the next I was arranged across his thighs and captured in his powerful embrace.

  “Rhysander,” I whispered, as his lips mapped the line of my throat. “There are dozens of people right outside that door. We shouldn’t.”

  “Oh, that’s the first thing you should learn about me, pet. Denying me something makes me want it all the more. Besides, if either of us are going to get any res, it seems as though I’m going to have to wear you out first.”

  He tasted and nipped his way up to my lips, then took them with a commanding sweep of his tongue. I gasped against his mouth, feeling every sensation acutely. From the taste of him—male, a bite of mint, and the hint of mulled wine—to his scent, to the ache low between my legs making itself known again.

  His arms caged me against his chest until I couldn’t discern where I ended and he began. I opened my eyes, wanting to know if I had the same devastating effect on him as well. A shockwave passed over my nerve endings when we locked eyes. Strangled whimpers
came from deep inside my chest, and my hands grappled for a handhold in the weighty material of the seat cushion.

  The more he used the mental connection between us, the more I recognized his presence in my mind. I could feel it like a thread that connected us, one that vibrated under the pressure of my examination. Was this what happened when couples mated? Did it always happen?

  “Relax,” he said, “give in to it. Don’t fight it.”

  He grinned through our bond and it was like a veil of sunlight washed over me—warm and welcome. I tipped my head up, seeking more, and I felt the responding purr from his chest underneath my hands.

  “Are you ready for me to show you?” he asked, peppering kisses on the apples of my cheeks, the curve of my brow, and the tip of my nose.

  The words tangled in my throat with each added press of his lips and, dammit, I let his hand tumble through my skirts and drag up the sensitive skin of my thigh. My eyes rolled back as he shared vivid, enticing images of all those things he’d like to do to me. I didn’t pull away from him. In fact, I took his hand where it lay in wait just above my knee and moved it higher.

  And for the first time, he was speechless.

  The realization made me smile. The sensation was powerful. To have such a man at my whim, under my spell. My lids parted and then widened when I found his eyes had turned liquid again. The shorts of his nails scraped against my legs and a moan slipped out, echoing in the constrained space of the carriage. I gave a fleeting thought to the driver in the little cabin out front, but it was promptly whisked away when Rhys’s fingers found the juncture of my thighs.

  I gave a whole-body shudder, and he hissed out a breath in response. “Fuck, you’re going to need to be still, Elena, or I will have to take you here before we even get to the bloody ship.”

  Enraptured, I inhaled swiftly. “Can we do that?” I breathed.

  His answering growl was cut off by the slash of his lips over mine. His fingers delved into the material covering my center and found me hot and wanting for him. I didn’t know if it was to block out the worries and fear about leaving my home, or if it was the growing connection between us rewiring my brain to want his taste, his touch, him, but I found that I couldn’t get close enough.