“What of them?” Ryu shifted a few wooden figurines on the map.

  “Will they keep their mouths shut about our location?” Desmond picked up a figurine, swaying it back and forth. “Or do we need to worry about the Plumus prince coming for his princess?”

  Ryu shook his head. “No. They are sworn to the princess and the kingdom of Kinoko. It is in their best interest to keep our location a secret. At least until we resolve the matter of the Plumus cunts.”

  Desmond snorted and laughed. “That prince sure rubs you wrong, doesn’t he?”

  Flicking his eyes up from the map to meet his brother’s gaze, Ryu glowered. “You would too if you had seen what he’d done to her. No one should treat their women in that manner, least of all one’s own future mate.”

  Bobbing his head, Desmond tilted his head to the side and clicked his tongue. “So... what’s going to happen once we win?”

  Ryu stared down at the map. “What do you mean?”

  “Say we fight the Plumus and save the day. What happens then? Do we go back to hiding? Does the princess get to go home? Or do we all just pretend like none of this ever happened?”

  The more questions Desmond asked, the more Ryu’s chest tightened, a low growl building up in it.

  The very thought of sending the princess away. Of pretending like none of this happened. Ryu couldn’t even process it. The only thing for certain Ryu knew was that he wanted the princess. In his bed, beneath him, on top of him, against the wall, in the bath... wherever he could get her. He had not had his fill of her yet and until that was done he would not let her go.

  “Ryu?” Desmond prodded, his gaze on him.

  “We will figure it out when the time comes,” Ryu grunted in answer. He shifted away from the map and stalked toward the door.

  Desmond called after him, “Where are you going?”

  Ryu didn’t bother to answer his brother. His mind firmly set on finding the princess who had brought all this destruction to his doorstep and turmoil in his body and mind. It was time she started fulfilling her part of this bargain. Beginning with that sharp mouth of hers wrapped around his cock.

  Chapter 3

  Leaning back against the side of the hot springs, I groaned.

  Oh by the gods, my body hasn’t ached like this since... my face heated thinking of the way the drake king had thoroughly fucked not just my pussy but my ass as well. It wasn’t as if I’d never had a cock there... however, at the same time? I hadn’t even realized such a thing was possible or done until Ryu had done it and I was dying to do it again.

  If only I could push down my pride enough to face him. We’d fucked quiet savagely in the clearing before the guards from my kingdom interrupted us. After that, we’d been silent on our way back inside. Ryu had left me at his bedroom door and went off to do... whatever he did to plan a war.

  I sat around, waiting for him to come back. When he didn’t, I ventured off to find Aryn and explained what had happened. I had hoped when Ryu came to bed that night he would pick up where we left off, or at least, make some kind of move that he wanted me again. Unfortunately, I fell asleep before he came back and then he was gone when I woke up. The only reason I knew he’d been there at all was the hot spot on the bed beside me.

  The water shifted around me. I didn’t open my eyes, expecting it to be Beautine. She’d trained me until I dropped and then some. Now I wished I’d taken up sword fighting lessons as a girl when my father offered it to me. Back then I was too into parties and pretty things like my mother. Now, it was biting me in the ass.

  Wanting to know if Beautine had any remedies to help sore muscles, I slit my eyes open slightly. Only to find the drake king lounging against the other side, his hot gaze boring into my exposed flesh. My eyes widened, and I ducked further into the water until only my head was visible.

  Ryu’s lips ticked up. Shy now, pet?

  I scowled at him. Don’t call me that.

  Snaking through the water, Ryu stopped inches from me, not touching me but I could feel the heat coming off of him even through the warm water. Then what should I call you? Love? Little one? Mine?

  My face burned with each pet name he offered. I hated to admit it, but all of those made my insides quiver with need. Forcing myself to meet his gaze, I schooled my features into a bored expression. Princess. Or your highness will do.

  Except. I outrank you. Should you not be lowering yourself for me? Ryu stared at my lips until I caught on to what he meant.

  I pushed back in the spring, water sluicing around me as I scrambled to get some distance between us. I wouldn’t say you outrank me. Since you are only the king of the drakes and you have no kingdom. This is my land. Not yours.

  Ryu’s lip curved up showing a fang before he was on me in a snap.

  My back pressed into the stone of the hot spring and Ryu shoved between my legs, his long hard length shoved up against my throbbing heat. I let out a whimper, desire coursing through me even as his sharp claws were inches from my jugular. I grasped the stones behind me to keep myself from grabbing him.

  What was that, princess? Ryu’s other hand grasped behind my thigh pulling it over his waist, his tail holding it there at the calf while he thrust against my core. I think your body says differently.

  Forcing my brain to get past the lustful fog, I glared up at him. Involuntary reaction. It would happen with anyone. You’re not special.

  Ryu threw his head back and laughed. It rumbled through his chest and vibrated on my nipples making them harden and ache with need. I would agree with you there. I’m not special. I’m not nice. I’m not a prince who will sweep you off your feet.

  Cupping my breast in his hand, his thumb brushed my nipple before pinching it until I hissed with a mixture of pain and pleasure.

  You knew what you were getting into when you came into my home and offered yourself to me. Ryu lifted my face up. “Now, I’m going to take what’s mine.”

  Without warning, Ryu shifted his hips and slammed into me. My back arched up off the stone, my hands grappling for his shoulders, nails digging into his scaled back and torso. My hips jerked up with each thrust of his hips, pounding into me so hard that my back scraped against the stone. His nostrils flared, probably scenting the blood on my back, and whipped me around, pulling me into his lap, his hands coming around me to hold me close.

  Done fighting it, I grabbed for anything I could hold on to which ended up being the horns on his head. Ryu became animalistic in his fucking, his hands, his tail, his tongue, everything was everywhere and all at once, overwhelming me with each touch and flick until I was breaking apart on his cock, my throat going raw from screaming out.

  The drake king stilled, his claws tightening on my hips as he held me to him while his hot cum filled me. For a brief moment, I worried that he may get me pregnant. The contraceptive potion I usually took for such things was back at home and I was due to take it in a few days. I’d been sure to take it as soon as Callahan showed up. If the bastard ever tried to take me against my will, I didn’t want to end up with a little monster like him bound to me forever.

  Ryu lifted my chin, licking his long forked tongue along my lips and chin. I tried to shift out of his lap which only made him tighten his hold on me further.

  I scowled at him. You got what you wanted. Let me go.

  Amusement sparkled in Ryu’s eyes, his fingers sliding down my sides tickling my rib cage. When they found the edges of the newest scar Callahan had given me, his expression hardened. Why?

  I struggled against him, shoving at his chest to get away. Why do you think? He’s a sick bastard who gets off on my pain.

  The drake king allowed me to shift off his lap, his cock leaving me hollow and empty. No, why did you let him do this to you?

  I huffed a laugh, turning my back on him. Someone like him couldn’t understand. I wasn’t a king. I wasn’t a man. I was a princess and a broken one at that with a kingdom that was on the verge of destruction.

  Fighting Callahan would have done nothing but bring pain and sorrow on my people and my father. I’d long decided to take what he gave me for them. Even if it meant breaking me even further. It wasn’t until I found out Callahan’s plans for me after the wedding that I had decided to fight back.

  Ryu’s heat brushed my back, his fingers curling over my shoulders as his lips found the side of my neck. He did not deserve you. He will pay for what he’s done...slowly and you will have him bleeding at your feet before I’m done with him.

  My heart raced at his words trickling through my mind. No one had ever said something like that to me before. I’d had men plead their undying love. Declare they would go to war for me. Empty words and promises, said after sex.

  Never... never had one tell me he’d torture and kill someone because of me. For me. I had set out to save my kingdom and myself and now it seemed like I not only had allies in my corner but someone who would burn it all just for touching me. It was a heady feeling.

  A heaviness weighed in my throat. This was all ‌too much for me. I’d come here to save my kingdom, not get emotional about a monster... who had a magical cock... and yet still treated me better than my own fiance.

  Without a word, I moved out of Ryu’s embrace and climbed out of the hot spring, not caring that he could see all of me as I scrambled to get dressed and away from there as fast as possible. A part of me was sad that he let me.

  Chapter 4

  When I walked into the female’s quarters, I told myself I wasn’t hiding from Ryu. I had to see Beautine and figure out what we were doing next for my training. We’d already started with some basic stretches and she showed me the different weapons. Now for some reason, I was itching to hit or cut something.

  “That prissy bitch thinks she can just waltz in here and take our king?” Daylea griped with no regard for me sitting right there a few feet away, reading her lips.

  Oh. Right.

  “Shush,” the pale blue female drake sitting beside Daylea swatted at her. “You shouldn’t talk about the king’s mate like that.”

  Daylea snarled, baring her teeth and claws at the other female. “She is not his mate.”

  The blue one flinched back from Daylea. “She smells like it though.”

  “That’s because she’s whoring herself out to him, nothing more.” Daylea shot me a nasty look.

  I pretended not to understand seeing how much more she would dig herself into a hole. It would also help to see if anyone else had the same or worse thoughts about me.

  If Aryn had been in there, she would have gotten pissed on my behalf and tried to shut the female drake up. Thankfully, she wasn’t there so I could see what was being said next.

  “You’re just pissed off because King Ryu threw you aside after he caught you trying to fuck his brothers.” A deep violet drake scrunched her nose, adjusting the fabric in her lap. I didn’t know how she got her stitches so small with those claws in the way.

  I peered down at the daggers in my lap, trying to figure out how to best deal with this. If all the females felt this way about me, then it was going to be a problem. I needed to have their favor because then the males would be easier to get on board.

  Sure, Ryu could order them to go to battle for me. He was the king. But, I didn’t want them going to fight for me because they were being forced to. That wasn’t how you won a war.

  Beautine sat beside me and finally said something to Daylea. “Regardless of your opinions of her, if not for the princess we would not know about the attack coming from Plumus. We need her kingdom as much as they need us.”

  Daylea's nose scrunched up as she eyeballed me. “Not if she’s dead.”

  Okay. That was enough.

  Daggers in hand, I shifted to face Daylea completely. Using my hands to sign at the same time, I stated, “I am deaf. Not stupid. If you have something to say to me, at least have the courage to say it so I can understand you and not the cowardly, underhanded way of thinking I can’t read your lips.”

  Daylea's eyes widened and mouth dropped open, her face paling at my words.

  “I might be the king’s whore,” I gestured with smug satisfaction, “But at least I’m willing to do whatever it takes to save my people. What does that say about you?”

  The other female drakes nodded around me in agreement while Daylea swallowed visibly, climbing to her feet and snapping at me, “I still don’t like you,” and then stalking out the door.

  “Oh, how will I ever go on?” I called out to her, turning back to sharpening my daggers. I was used to women like her, always trying to get the upper hand on other women in any way they could even if it meant tearing them down.

  “I’m sorry about Daylea.” Beautine rubbed her fist against her chest. I’d tried to teach her as well as a few other drakes how to speak in sign, those who were interested, Beautine had caught on far better than many of the others, even Tat. “She’s just upset that you have the king’s favor when he used to bed her.”

  “It’s alright. I get it.” I waved her off and focused on my task. Learning to sharpen my daggers was one of the lessons Beautine had me working on before we got down to basics in the training ring.

  You can’t learn to fight until you can learn to take care of your weapon, or something like that.

  I lifted my dagger up to get her appraisal. “When do I get to start training?”

  Beautine retrieved the dagger from me, surveying my work before saying, “Once you have mastered your breathing and taking care of your weapons.” She offered me my daggers back, hilt first and then leaned in and asked, “So...we’ve all wanted to know.”

  My brow arched. “Know what?”

  “How does the king compare?” Beautine eyes twinkled with mischief and while none of the other drakes came any closer, they were all listening intently.

  I licked my lips and let out a nervous laugh. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  Beautine swatted at me. “Yes, you do. You’ve been with a drake and a human. So which one?”

  My head turned around the room and saw the rampant attention I was getting from all the female drakes. Was this what it was like to have female friends? Back at the palace, I lost many of them after I lost my hearing and my mother. Something that didn’t go unnoticed, which either meant they didn’t know or care how to navigate my new change or they were never my friends to begin with.

  Heat burned my cheeks at the attention and I focused on the daggers in my hands rather than return their intense stares. “It was... different.” I tucked a stray dark hair behind my ear. “Humans don’t have the extra... uh... appendages.”

  I glanced up to see Beautine’s reply.

  “They don’t have tails, you mean.”

  I cleared my throat and added on, “Or horns. Though, they were useful when I needed something to grab onto.”

  Beautine and the other females laughed around me, the delight on their faces at my words making me feel like one of them.

  “Though,” I began, wanting to bond with them more, “Do all drake men use their tails to... uh... penetrate?”

  Beautine grinned from ear to ear. “And women. There is a benefit to being a drake that makes it so that we do not need a man for pleasure if we don’t want it.” She shot a knowing look at her fellow drakes who nodded in agreement.

  “And what of the brothers?” Beautine asked me out of the blue. “Which do you prefer?”

  I jolted at her questioning. “Wha... what do you mean? There’s nothing going on with me and the king’s brothers.” They couldn’t possibly know about what happened with Ira in the corridor the other day. I swore we’d been alone, unless that drake blabbed to anyone who would listen. Thinking of the calculating drake, it didn’t seem his way.

  “Oh, do not get embarrassed. It is normal and natural to be attracted to them too. Encouraged even.” Beautine patted my hand with reassurance.

  One of the other females leaned forward and added, “Besides, the more males you have the more likely you will become with child.”

  The gleeful expression on the female's face didn’t stop the choking gasp that came out of me. With child? Who? Who said anything about becoming with child? I hadn’t planned on being here long term so a child would definitely complicate things. Besides, could drakes even breed with humans?

  That was a stupid question.

  Of course they could. That’s how they were created in the first place. Their dragon ancestors used their human forms to fuck their way through the human population until they made a whole new race of dragon human hybrids.

  “Oh, that would be fantastic.” Beautine took my hand in hers and beamed down at me. “Then you will certainly be one of us.”

  The door to the female quarters opened and Aryn walked in with a scowl on her face. She stalked over to me and signed quickly. “We need to talk. Alone.”

  Happy to have a reason to get out of this crazy discussion, I withdrew my hand from Beautine and signed back to Aryn. “Of course, let’s go.”

  Chapter 5

  Cal

  The screams of the soldiers hanging on Cal’s dungeon wall sent a thrill of delight through him. Not his dungeons yet though. He had to find that bitch of his fiance first.

  Who knew that the deaf cunt had it in her to run to the drakes for help? It almost made Cal laugh at the absurdity of it. He had underestimated Georgia, that was for sure.

  “Are you done here yet?” Luis droned from his seat nearby. “I’m hungry.”

  “Bored, brother?” Cal cocked a brow at the lounging prince. “You could get off your ass and help. It would make things go a lot quicker.”

  Lu rolled his head to the side and grimaced at the soldier’s bloodied form. “You know this kind of work has never been my kind of thing.”

  Lu had always been more of the kind to enjoy screams of pain for pleasure rather than for business. Torturing soldiers for information didn’t quite make him hard like it did Cal. There was nothing to gain from causing pain for anything other than information. Then there was the pure pleasure of getting something out of someone who swore loyalty above all else.

 

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