by Amelia Jade
He turned and left, his long strides carrying him swiftly to the doors. Boots clicked on the tile as he walked, joined a moment later by the soft scuff as Miranda spun on her heels and walked out next to him.
***
Miranda
“Are you nuts?” she hissed, just loud enough for him to hear as they made a beeline out of the chamber.
“Maybe,” he replied. “But they can’t do anything to me, and they know it. I hate my reputation, the awe that people have over me. I detest it. But if I can use that for the good of my home, than I will do whatever it takes,” he growled as they approached the double doors that led out into the rest of the building.
“Daxxton,” a voice called.
He stopped, and she thought it was only because it wasn’t Klara.
“Yes, Horus?” he asked of the male shifter who had spoken.
“The Council will think on your words swiftly this night.”
“Thank you, Horus, I believe you will,” Daxxton said in a much kinder voice, though he still didn’t turn around.
Inside, Miranda felt a small sliver of something grow. It took her a moment to identify the feeling, because it had been a while since she’d felt it within her. But she wasn’t so far gone as to not recognize hope when she felt it. Daxxton’s words had stirred up something in the Cadian Council. More so than her own, she thought, wondering if she’d made the right move in revealing herself to everyone. Had that helped or hindered her cause?
She might never know, but the tone in Horus’s voice was thoughtful, and she judged it to be genuine, and not an act. Perhaps the wolves understood the truth of what was coming their way, better than the more powerful, longer-living dragons did.
Miranda could only hope, for the sake of her tiny stronghold, that they did.
“So, Princess,” Daxxton said with a little bit of irritation as they exited the building at last, the night sky dark above them but for the plentitude of stars that lit the vast landscape. “Where shall we go?”
“Don’t take that tone with me,” she pleaded. “Call me Miranda. That is my real name, after all. It’s just not the one anyone knows me by publicly.”
Daxxton shook his head, and she could see the hurt in his eyes at being lied to. Part of her wanted to reach out and touch him, to pull him into a tight, desperate hug and let him know she hadn’t done it to hurt him. He was a strong man, but he’d just opened up to her earlier that day and told her his deepest, darkest secret.
And only a few hours later he’d found out she was a fraud.
“Of course, Your Royal Highness,” he said stiffly. “Whatever you wish.”
“Daxxton,” she said sadly. “Please don’t do this. I’ve not lied to you about who I am. What you’ve seen, that’s me. The real me. Yes, I am the princess and ruler of Tanith. The woman you think is her is just a very good body double. But I haven’t faked anything for you.”
He stared straight ahead, looking out at the panoramic view of the night sky, not saying anything.
“I’m sorry,” she said so quietly at first it didn’t seem he’d heard her. “I’m so sorry. We pulled the switch before we made the break for Cadia, just in case. It seemed the prudent thing to do.”
She sighed. “I should have told you after they attacked us in the bar. It became clear then that they knew who I really was. I’m sorry I didn’t, but I think you can agree things were rather rushed at the time.”
“I trusted you,” he said, speaking at last.
Miranda cringed at the betrayal evident in his voice. How few times had he allowed himself to truly trust another, especially on the level which he’d opened up to her? Miranda doubted it was very many times, even over the long span of his life.
“And I hurt you,” she said. “But I could never have expected to fall for you like this when we were making the plans for the deception, and you know that just as well as I do.”
He nodded. “But you could have confided in me when it became apparent I was going to be near you for the duration of your stay. I could have—”
“You could have what?” she asked with a bit more snap in her voice than she intended. “Protected me? Ensured I had extra security? Treated me more like a package than the person I am?” She shook her head. “Daxxton, I’m crazy about you because of the way you looked at me, with respect, dignity, and admiration. Not because of what I was born into, but because of what I showed you. With my confidence, my mind. My body,” she said with a whisper. “That is what attracts me to you. If I had told you the truth, you would have done away with all that.”
She looked at him sadly. “And I couldn’t bear that. I’m sick and tired of being fawned over, and treated like I’m some evil bitch simply because I happen to be the daughter of the last Princess of Tanith. Do you know how fucking annoying it is not to be taken seriously, or to have your brains so underappreciated that people think my advisors are the ones actually running Tanith? All because I’m considered good-looking. That’s all it took for my persona to be undermined,” she said with a snort of derision. “But then you came along, and you looked at me like I was beautiful, but you treated me like I was strong.”
She watched his golden-brown eyes, and within them she saw an answering emotion, which surprised her greatly.
“Actually,” he said a bit wryly. “I do know.”
“You do?” Miranda was confused. What wasn’t he telling her that would allow him to understand that?
He extended one arm, the light from the moon and the stars reflecting off burnished gold scales as he called them to the surface.
Of course.
“To many, I am nothing but an oddity. Something to be practically worshipped and revered, simply because of the color of my scales,” he said sadly. “I am accorded status and respect, not because I earned it, but because people feel I warrant it because I am rare.” He smiled, but there was no joy in it, only sadness. “In some places I am looked at like an animal in a zoo.”
She nodded. “That’s why you fly at night. So that others can’t see who and what you are.”
He tilted his head once at her. “Yes. It’s the only time I get some peace and quiet.” Daxxton shrugged as she watched, his muscles bobbing up and down with the motion. “Don’t get me wrong, I have used that to do many great things, I hope. I love teaching new generations of dragons at Top Scale Academy as well. That is a great privilege for which I am extremely thankful. But you are wrong, Miranda Pyke, if you think I do not understand how you feel, because I do. Perhaps more than many others.”
She nearly shook when he called her by her name, and not her station.
“It seems I owe you another apology,” she whispered, the seed of hope that had blossomed with Horus’s words threatening to bloom with the apparent acceptance of her apology by Daxxton.
“Perhaps,” he said, turning to look at her, his eyes scanning the nearby area for anyone else.
“Maybe,” she said, biting her lip. “If you care to escort me back to the Nova residence, I can find a way to show you just how sorry I am?”
“No,” he said firmly. “There will be no more apologizing.”
She felt her spirits sink.
“But if you wish to come relax and be together as equals, I could be up for that.”
Miranda grinned. “I would like that, Daxxton Ryker. I would like that a lot.”
“So would I,” he said, reaching out to take her hand in his, eliciting shiver of delight from her as their skin touched once more.
***
His skin touched hers much more once they made it back to the Nova Estate and informed everyone of the goings-on.
They excused themselves as quickly as was reasonable and returned to his quarters. Thankfully he’d only destroyed one of the bedrooms in his suite, and not everything. After sharing a laugh over the destruction he’d wrought, Daxxton had carried her over the ruins and into another bedroom, where he’d proceeded to promptly remove all of her clothing.
Not
that he’d escaped unscathed. Her hands had been busy removing his as well, leaving the pair of them naked and entwined in each other’s arms as they lay on the bed.
Miranda whimpered as his big, strong hands caressed her inner thigh, teasing her constantly as he came close to touching her clit with each stroke, but never actually giving in and pleasuring her.
“That’s not nice,” she admonished, her own hand resting playfully just above his already-hard cock.
Daxxton used his free hand to pull her mouth to his once more, kissing her softly but passionately for several moments before replying.
“I know.”
Even as he spoke his index finger dipped directly between her legs. He gently played with her opening, coating his finger in her wetness so that he could more easily slide it across her.
“Yes,” she said, biting off the word as he finally caved and began to rub her clit in slow circles. “Fuck, you’re so good at that,” she hissed. Her hips began to gyrate in time with his fingers, bringing her closer to the edge.
“I want you to cum for me,” he whispered in her ear, his tongue running gently over her lobe even as his hot breath washed over her neck.
Miranda nodded jerkily in response as his finger pressed ever so slightly harder.
“Can you do that for me?” he asked.
“Yes, I can,” she said, the words practically gasps as he brought her closer and closer.
“I want you to tell me when you’re cumming for me,” he ordered in her ear.
Miranda felt fresh warmth rush between her legs at the commanding tone, the way he spoke to her so intensely erotic she felt her nipples harden from that alone.
“I will, I promise,” she moaned, desperate to say whatever he wanted so that he didn’t stop touching her. “Just like that. Please. I want to cum for you.”
“I know you do,” he growled, his body moving alongside hers with a sinuous grace that turned her on even more.
The pressure of his digit against her increased slightly, and she shuddered at the change in sensation.
“A little more,” she told him, and this time Daxxton didn’t hold back. He pressed harder, his circling forcing ever more moans from her mouth as she felt the pressure building to an incredible level within her.
This was so much gentler, more exploratory than the first time they’d been together. She felt like a goddess the way he was worshipping her body, his hands having been all over her constantly. Her nipples she swore had never been harder, and her thighs were soaked from the way he touched her.
“Daxxton, I’m going to—”
Her words cut off in a rush as she began to jerk in his grasp.
“Are you cumming?” he asked, his voice a deep growl that vibrated against her skin.
“I am,” she gasped as bliss rolled over her like a tsunami. “I’m cumming. For you.” She barely got the words out amidst the waves of ecstasy. They hammered at her constantly, a new one spurred on each time his finger made contact with her clit.
The moment went on, and on.
And then it was gone, and she heaved for breath, crashing into him as he used both arms to pull her tight, stroking her back lightly as she whimpered with helpless delight as her orgasm finished having its way with her.
“That was so hot,” he whispered in her ear. “I’m so hard just from watching you.”
And just like that, Miranda was ready for more. The knowledge that he’d gotten turned on—and she could feel how rock-hard he was as her hand slipped between his legs—from watching her cum was just too much.
“I want you inside me,” she ordered, her tone brooking no argument. “Now.”
Daxxton smiled and rolled up behind her as they spooned, and she bit her lip as the tip of his dick slid inside of her, pushing her open slowly as he thrust forward.
“Fuck me,” she commanded as he slowly teased her with his length.
That was all the air she had for words after that, as Daxxton went about doing his best to obey her order.
Chapter Eleven
Daxxton
He stirred awake, his face a mix between a smile and a frown.
“Well that’s an interesting look,” Miranda commented sleepily from within his arms.
“Does it look as happily unhappy as I feel?”
She mused on his words for a moment, her brain still addled from the night. “Yes, I think that means what you look like. Otherwise no, it doesn’t mean what you look like.”
He chuckled at the way she covered her bases for no reason.
“I was happy about waking up to the sight of your pretty face,” he said, looking deep into her eyes, so brown they were almost black, especially in the dim light of the bedroom. Her hair was undone and fell down around her shoulders.
“Yeah, I really should have gone back to my room,” she said. “I was so good about that the past few nights, but tonight I was just so tired,” she admitted.
“I’m not complaining, but the odds are high someone noticed.”
Miranda shrugged. “It’s early. I’ll go soon. It’s right across the hall. Nobody will know.”
He arched an eyebrow, but she didn’t seem too concerned, so he let it go. It was much more enjoyable waking up to her in the same bed as him after all.
“So what’s the unhappy all about then?” the raven-haired beauty asked as he admired the top half of her naked body, visible to his hungry eyes as the covers fell back while she stretched in bed.
“It’s been two whole days since we went to the Council. And we haven’t heard a word,” he said grimly. “I am losing hope in their willingness to do the right thing.”
Miranda reached out a hand and gently stroked his face. “It’ll be okay.”
He nuzzled her, relishing her touch. “I hope so.”
“It will,” she said, more strongly this time.
Daxxton lay back and gazed at her face for a long time, not saying anything. Miranda began to blush and eventually ducked her face back under the covers.
“You know,” he said softly, “I think things are going to be okay.”
She looked up at him. “You aren’t talking about the Council, are you?”
He shook his head. “No, I’m not.”
“What changed?”
“I didn’t have the dream last night,” he said, still somewhat in disbelief himself. “I slept peacefully for the first time in centuries.”
“Daxxton,” she said cautiously. “That’s great.”
The Aurum Dragon’s eyes riveted on hers. “But…” he said.
Miranda sighed and sat up, pulling the comforter tight to her chest to hide her nudity. “But don’t go falling in love with me just yet,” she said wistfully.
His stomach heaved and flopped. “What do you mean?”
Although he hadn’t considered the idea of love, he also was aware, if he admitted it to himself, that only something powerful could have gotten him to continue on with his life after Kyra at long last. He would always cherish his first mate, and she would forever have a spot in his mind and his heart. But he was learning how to care again, and that was a rare thing indeed.
“Dax,” she said softly. “I’m the Princess of Tanith. I have to think of my people. I won’t ever be able to mate for love.” She reached up and caressed his cheek. “No matter how much I may want to.”
He froze at her touch.
How could he have been so stupid? Of course she couldn’t be with him. She was the ruler of a bloody shifter stronghold! He was important and powerful, and in that aspect he would be an acceptable suitor for her.
The problem was, he was Cadian, and Tanith…
“Is neutral,” he said aloud. It was an incomplete thought, but she nodded sadly, confirming what he was thinking. “I’m such an idiot.”
“No,” she admonished, leaning in to him until their foreheads rested against each other. “You don’t feel this way alone,” she told him. “I promise. But I must keep their interests first and foremost. That s
tarts with the neutrality of Tanith in any conflict. We’ve worked hard for it, and they would hate me if I threw it away.”
He bobbed his head repeatedly, searching for the right words to say just then.
But they didn’t come.
Eventually Miranda pulled away. “I should get going,” she said. “Before anyone notices I’m not in my chambers. Can we talk more later today?”
He nodded absently, not sure what more there was to talk about, but eager to spend more time with her.
What a fucked-up situation. I should have never let myself get into it. I’m supposed to be the smart and wise one, and here I am jeopardizing her entire nation. Good fucking job, Daxxton the Dumb.
He snorted derisively at himself as the door closed and he threw the covers aside, not feeling like being confined by them any longer. This time he resisted the urge to destroy the room, taking deep breaths and running through some meditative exercises to help dissipate his anger.
Okay, what would the smart Daxxton do in a situation like this? Think.
He sat down on one of the few unbroken chairs in the entire suite and let his mind wander.
There had to be a way to make this work.
***
Miranda
Miranda held back the tears until the door to her own set of rooms opened for her. Then they began to flow indiscriminately as she started stripping her clothes back off, heading for the shower.
“Mir?” came a voice from inside the room.
She jerked upright, not having realized anyone was there.
“Oh, hey Har,” she said with a wan smile at Harriet Saunders, her best friend and body double. She looked much more comfortable now that she was able to abandon her act as the fake princess. “Why are you here?”
