“Okay, okay. Stop.” Desmond waved his hands in front of him. “I don’t need details. I don’t want to know what Wellern likes. And I suggest you keep those words to yourself before we get to Ryu or he’ll really bite your head off.”

  Ira’s good eye crinkled at the edges. “And I suppose I shouldn’t mention how you were flirting with the princess in the corridors just now.”

  Desmond paused, his mouth dropping open slightly. “That wasn’t flirting. That was keeping the market from taking advantage of her.”

  “And I see she appreciated your efforts so much,” Ira mused pausing before their private dining area.

  Rubbing the back of his neck, Desmond grimaced. “It’s harder than I thought to communicate with her just through her mind. Some things don’t come through right and then there’s the whole, everyone else can’t hear what you’re saying to each other, thing. It would be so much easier just to talk to her.”

  Ira grabbed a goblet off the table and filled it with the dark liquid from the jug beside it. “Perhaps you should learn her language instead. Make things easier for her.”

  Desmond filled a plate randomly. Ira wasn’t even sure he was paying attention to what he was putting on it. He almost reminded Desmond that he didn’t like onions when he put them on his plate but then thought better of it. It’d be far more entertaining to see if he actually ate it to save face or not.

  “How am I supposed to learn her language? I can’t come out and ask her to teach it to me.” Desmond made a face and flopped down onto the stone seat by the fire pit.

  Ira watched him with growing amusement as Desmond picked up a long stalk of onion and brought it to his mouth, his mind so engrossed with his thoughts he didn’t notice the vegetable until he’d bit into it.

  “Ugh. Fuck. Gross. Why did I get onions?”

  Throwing his head back and laughing, Ira took up his seat across from him, his own plate balancing on his knee. “Finally noticed, did you?”

  Desmond shot Ira a glare before throwing the stalk of onion at him. “You’re such a bastard.”

  Ira shrugged a shoulder.

  “So, are you going to help me or just watch me poison myself?”

  “Ate another onion, brother?”

  Ira and Desmond’s heads turned to where Ryu walked in the room, a broad grin on his face. Ira had to admit his brother might be more possessive and growly about his new toy but he seemed far happier now that he was getting dick wet regularly.

  “Fuck you too.” Desmond growled, slouching on his plate and staring hard at its contents.

  “We were just discussing how to learn the princess’s hand language,” Ira provided, watching his older brother’s movements closely for a reaction.

  Ryu paused by the serving table and frowned. “I do not know the language she and her maid use. How would we learn it?”

  “I caught her teaching her guard, Tatoween, before. Perhaps we should ask him?” Ira asked, flicking a bit of onion that’d landed on him off his leg.

  Desmond shook his head, dragging his fingers up his left horn. “Why learn second hand and not go straight to the source?”

  Ryu and Ira exchanged a look before breaking out into a growling laugh.

  Smacking Desmond on the back of the head as he passed by, Ryu sat in the remaining spot around the fire. “You have met the princess, yes? Do you really think she will give up her secret language to us?”

  “To make her and our lives easier? If we could learn the language, then we could teach it to the other drakes and then I know I would feel much better with her wandering the corridors alone.” Desmond explained not realizing his words were causing their brother’s jaw to clench and his chest to burn with rage.

  “She did what?” Ryu snarled, his plate completely forgotten as he focused on Desmond. “When was she out by herself? Why wasn’t her guard with her? I’m going to —”

  Ira stopped his brother with a hand on his arm. “Take a moment. You cannot confront her in a rage or she will just continue to defy you. Control yourself.”

  Ryu almost snapped at Ira then seemed to think better of it. With much effort, Ryu blew out a breath, the air flickering with flames before him. “Fine. What do you suggest?”

  Playing with the meat on his plate, Ira smiled secretly. “If you cannot go to the source, go to the one who cares about her even more than you do.”

  “I don’t care for her,” Ryu protested.

  Ira ignored him and continued, “The princess may not care for her well being but her maid surely does. If we implore her to help us then I’m sure that we can find a mutually beneficial solution to our problem.”

  “And you think she’ll help us?” Desmond cocked his head to the side, adjusting the armor on his shoulder. “She doesn’t exactly trust us.”

  “For the sake of her princess, she will.”

  Both of his brothers stared at him for a long minute before Ryu announced, “Very well. Since it was your idea, you can persuade the maid to assist us.”

  Ira didn’t so much as protest. He was used to his brothers pushing the difficult tasks in his direction. Majority of the time they didn’t even realize he was orchestrating it to be that way.

  If Ira became endeared to the handmaiden then he would have someone on the inside to the inner workings of the princess’s mind. That, in itself, was far more valuable than any hardship he would face convincing the older human female to help them learn their secret language.

  “Very well.” Ira sat his plate and goblet to the side and stood. “I suppose the task goes to the smartest and cleverest of us. I will try not to fail you, brothers.”

  They threw bits of meat and vegetables at his back as he made his way out of the dining room. They could be so ungrateful.

  Chapter 9

  Sweat poured down my brow and tickled the small of my back. I hadn’t perspired so much since I learned to sneak out of the castle when I was thirteen. The way Beautine was looking at me, I had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last time.

  Three days of being stuck in this training room with its high domed ceiling and hard walls lined with every kind of weapon imaginable and I didn’t feel as if I was getting much better. My body hurt in all the wrong ways. Muscles I’d never used before screamed at me in protest.

  “Hands up.” Beautine commanded me, her lips moving slow enough for me to keep up while she showed what she wanted me to do. “Don’t let me through your defenses.”

  I pursed my lips, concentrating on my stance, my movements, even the way I breathed. Beautine told me everything counted when you were fighting. Since I didn’t have one of my senses to rely on I had to make up for it with all the others.

  “Feel the air move around you.” She thrust a fist toward me, letting me feel the air shift with her movement.

  Automatically, my body moved to avoid the fist coming at me.

  Beautine grinned, nodding. “Again.”

  We went through several movements, my eyes searching for the signs of where she would move and when. I never knew my way of reading people would have a use such as combat. If I’d known maybe I would have... against Cal... fuck. No. Don’t think about him now.

  Stuck in my memories, I didn’t notice the slight shift of balance as Beautine whipped around, her tail hit the back of my knees. I landed on my front hard. The breath knocked out of me.

  Grunting, I pushed myself up to my hands and knees.

  Beautine stood over me. Her hand held out to me, she waited until I grasped it and stood before saying, “Never get distracted. That’s when you end up dead.”

  I grunted and nodded my understanding. It was a bit like dancing. Figuring out where your partner would move next by the shift of their body weight. Even if I never saw battle, the ability to protect myself against anyone, not even just Cal and Luis, lifted a huge weight off my chest.

  Beautine arched her brows and waved a hand. “Again?”

  Before I could answer, Beautine's head whipped to the side. My eyes followed her movements to settle on Ryu standing in the entrance to the training room. He walked toward us with every confidence in each step, his tail barely moving behind him as if he had complete control over every aspect of his body.

  I licked my lips and stepped back, my body quivering with the mere presence of the drake king standing there staring at me like I was the next thing he wanted to take a bite out of.

  My single step back caused Ryu’s lips to curl up with a vicious knowing smirk, his fangs peeking out from between his lips. Just seeing those fangs made the mark on my inner thigh pulsate and ache for him. I didn’t know how this creature caused such a visceral reaction from me with just one look. The way his nostrils flared told me that he knew exactly how I reacted to him.

  I think you need a new teacher.

  Beautine glanced from me and then back to Ryu before bowing her head slightly and leaving without a word.

  Traitor.

  Ryu took up the space where Beautine had been a moment ago, his hand reaching behind him to pull the halbert from his back.

  My lips curled as I thought at him. Do you carry that thing everywhere with you?

  If I didn’t, then you’d have stabbed me already I’m sure.

  I huffed a laugh. I can’t stab you, if I need you to fight my betrothed for me. So stabbing you would be counterintuitive.

  Do you really want me to be the one to kill your betrothed? Wouldn’t you rather do it yourself?

  The thought had occurred to me. Especially when Beautine had offered to help me learn to fight for myself. The idea of having Cal and Luis under my hand, at my mercy, was almost too much for me. The very thought made a shiver of delight go down my spine and to my utter horrification heat spouted between my legs.

  I see you like that idea. Ryu stepped toward me holding his weapon before him. Let me show you how.

  A part of me thought this was a bad idea. The other part was eager to see the drake king on his back at my mercy like he’d had me many times over the course of the last few days. The more times the drake king touched me, fucked me, completely and absolutely owned my body the more I wanted him and felt like I was no longer the seducer but the one getting seduced.

  Hesitant because of the strength in his arms and viciousness in his face, I held up the sword Beautine had been teaching me with. Alright. What do you want me to do?

  Ryu lifted a hand and bent his fingers in a come hither movement.

  I frowned, unsure what he wanted me to do. I wasn’t just going to come at him. That would be suicide and a sure way to get me on my back once more.

  Come, little one. Attack me. He flexed his claws and smirked. Or are you scared?

  Baiting me. That’s all this was. He wanted me to get mad and charge at him head on. What he didn’t know was I was used to people trying to get me upset because of my disability. Or speak about me when I was in the room thinking I couldn’t understand them. I had to school my emotions and face to keep from causing a political incident.

  Instead of rushing him, I took my time inching around the training area searching for a weak point on the large drake king. My gaze skimmed over his muscular form, lingering on the spikes coming out of the metal and bone armour on his shoulders and knees. I wanted to stay away from those for sure. My eyes flicked to his long tongue sliding along the edges of his lips and tonguing his fangs.

  Heat pooled between my thighs. Ryu sniffed the air and smirked my way, the extra swish in his tail giving away his glee.

  Shit.

  This was going to be harder than I thought.

  I waited too long to take action. Ryu shot toward me, almost a blur of movement from his speed. Sucking in a gasp of air, I barely stepped back before Ryu had his tail wrapped around my ankle, jerking me off my feet. Bracing myself for the ground to hit my back the way it did with Beautine, Ryu shocked me by catching me around the waist.

  Come now, your enemies will not wait for you to come to them. One clawed hand cupped me beneath the chin, holding my face up to him. You will be a mighty warrior and all those who see you will tremble before you.

  My lips curled up into a smile. You don’t need to lie to make me feel better. I know I am hardly intimidating.

  Ryu brought me back up to my full height, moving in close to me. His finger slid the shoulder of my shirt to the side, exposing one of the many scars covering my body. The claw of his finger tickled along the puffed up edges of it. There is more to a warrior than a fierce and horrifying exterior. That finger moved down into the neck of my shirt, tracing around the line of my breast and pressing his hand over my heart. Your heart is filled with such a fire it would frighten even the bravest of warriors.

  I scoffed, turning my head to the side. I couldn’t even stand up to Callahan and Luis. My eyes burned with tears of frustration. I had to run to someone bigger and stronger to help me fight.

  Ryu turned my face back to him and leaned forward, his tongue laved at my face picking up the tears that had escaped. Even the strongest of warriors know when it’s time to fight and when it’s time to wait for reinforcements. It doesn’t make you weak. It makes you strong.

  Licking my lips, I swallowed thickly, this time letting my voice come out, “Okay. Show me what to do.”

  Right. Ryu stepped back and lobbed his halberd off his back, giving me a teasing smile. Let’s see if the little one has teeth after all.

  Chapter 10

  Desmond

  The younger prince of the drakes had no problem seducing females to get what he wanted. It was one of his favorite pastimes to be sure. Usually what he wanted was a quick and dirty rut against the mountain's walls but today was different.

  The human handmaiden, Aryn, could not be seduced. Oh, he could definitely get her on her back, screaming for more, but that wasn’t the goal here. Besides, Desmond didn’t think the princess would be too happy if he fucked her handmaiden. Especially, if he ever planned to be at the mercy of her delicious form.

  No.

  Desmond had to find a way to get on Aryn’s good side so she would help his brothers and him learn the language she did with the princess. They couldn’t have them talking, conspiring against the drakes right under their very noses. As well it would certainly get him into the good graces of a certain fiery princess.

  Finding the princess, now that was easy. Desmond could find her with his eyes shut and his ears covered. All he had to do was follow the mouthwatering scent of cinnamon, juicy raspberries, and something sharp that cut his nose. Of course, even her scent would be lethal. It fit with her personality so well.

  Desmond sauntered toward the female’s quarters, expecting it would be the obvious place to look for the little human maid. She didn’t have the backbone and bravery the princess had. It would surprise him if Aryn walked any of these corridors alone. The guard she had assigned to her complained enough about having to ride her ass all day. If Desmond knew Vion, the asshole would have dropped her at the female’s quarters when she became too much of a nuisance.

  Stopping before the double doors, Desmond inclined his head at the two guards standing watch. Cadben and Baron were two sides of the same coin. One could be your best friend in moments and the other was more likely to stab you first, ask your name later.

  “Your highness,” Baron grunted, his voice low and gravelly. He stepped to the side with no other words exchanged.

  Cadben did no such thing. The blue drake beamed at him, striking up a conversation. “Prince Desmond, did you see that fight in the west corridor? I thought for sure B’ven would take Kir down but the sly snake ended up pulling through at the end.”

  Desmond shook his head and clapped a hand on the drake’s shoulder. “Unfortunately, I missed it. You’ll have to tell me about it some other time.”

  Cadben nodded eagerly. “Yes, of course. I look forward to it.”

  Baron snorted. “He’s just being polite. He doesn’t want to hear about a stupid fight. His highness has more pressing matters that don’t involve our pathetic squabbles.”

  Frowning, Cadben avoided Desmond’s face and stepped aside. “Sorry, your highness. Didn’t mean to keep you from your work.”

  Sighing, Desmond relinquished. “Baron is right. I can’t focus on the fight right now, but I wasn’t lying about wanting to hear about it. Perhaps later?”

  Cadben’s head jerked up and his eyes beamed. “Yes, your highness. Of course.”

  Happy that he had saved the drake’s feelings, Desmond pushed into the female’s quarters with a lopsided fang toothed grin. “My lovely creatures of grace and beauty, it has been too long.”

  The females paused what they were doing at his appearance. A few of them turned back to their tasks while the younger females, the ones ripe for mating, swarmed him with eager glee.

  “Your highness, have you seen my new necklace? I made it myself.”

  “Look at this dagger. Isn’t the inlay gorgeous.”

  “Why haven’t you called on me? I thought we had fun.”

  Desmond held his palms up and shook his head with a laugh. “My lovelies, I would love to say this is a social visit but I do have a reason for coming here that doesn’t involve pleasure.” He said the word, so it ended in a growl, sending the arousal spiking in the room.

  “What do you need? Anything, my prince.” One of the closer drake females, Ordya, he thought her name was, purred, her pale yellow scales gleaming in the light. “Anything at all.”

  Pushing down his own mating urges, Desmond scanned the room for the one he had come for. Not seeing the small woman, he turned back to the females at his feet. “Where is the human female? The shorter, plumper one, Aryn? I have need of her.”

  A round of disappointed sounds filled his ears, leaving him wishing he could calm their fears, but he was on a mission.

  “Ugh,” Daylea snarled from his left side. “What is so special about these human females? Do they have ale flavored nipples? Do their cunts dance upon your cocks?”

 

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