Page 18 of The Soul of the Dragon

The rope I always carried now dug into the delicate skin of her wrists. I could already see the redness it had caused after she'd fought her restraints, and yet, I found nothing more exciting than marks I'd created on her body.

"The dungeon is an unusual place for a female. But if you persisted at escaping I might understand why it was done. Now tell me what else you did to deserve such harsh treatment because I doubt it was so cut and dry as you explained. From my experience, there is always more to the story."

She turned her head, but not before I caught a slight smile tipping at the corner of her lips. I tried not to laugh and failed.

This woman had a mischievous streak and I had to admit it piqued my curiosity more than I expected.

“I can’t tell you everything. At least not on day one of whatever this is. What happens if you discover I am not as useful as you think I am? Will you discard me as callously as you tied my hands? Will you dispose of me in the dark forest where no one will ever know what happened to me?”

I frowned.“You have quite the imagination. But if it makes you feel any better, I have no desire or interest in seeing you dead. But I do need something from the King and the only thing he wants from me is you. So unless you can make me a better offer…”

After that comment we traveled in silence for quite some time. I wanted to hear more of her story, but I didn't want to push. Not yet. I had a hunch if she told me on her own, we'd both fare much better in all of this.

But my patience was already running thin.

What she didn't know is I'd heard her conversation with the little sprite creature. Without magic it was all but impossible to hide anything from my ears. And apparently hers had been bound. However, knowing that little bit of information only made me want to know more. Why had her magic been bound and by whom?

And that little winged friend of hers had mentioned the amulet she needed by name. My amulet. Or at least the one I was searching for. So for now, we weren't going anywhere near that fucking palace. With this new information, maybe I wouldn't need the King and his nephew at all.

I could figure this shit out on my own, get the amulet, and then return to my world without ever having to sell my soul or her, to the devil.

Provided the Princess cooperated with me. Of course, I had a plan brewing for that too. If I was correct and she truly was an omega, then it shouldn't be that hard to get whatever I wanted from her.

I just had to keep my barb away from her...

ChapterSix

Ian

Scotland

Following my mother’s footsteps to the edge of an ill-fated cliff did nothing to settle my mind or the anger that still coursed through me every time I thought of my father and his needless death.

No matter how much time passed, I would never understand my mother’s easy forgiveness for what Isaac had done.

“Are you all right?” Cordelia asked, pressing her hand to mine as we walked arm in arm across the grassy slope.

“I’m fine,” I managed through a clenched jaw.

“You’re not. But you will be. You just have to get through today and then give it more time. Grieving the passing of your father is going to be like fighting through a maze of complex emotions whether you like it or not.”

“My father didn’t pass, he was murdered.”

I caught her wince from the corner of my eye and sighed. She didn’t deserve my anger. Isaac did. But his disappearance and probable death meant I couldn’t lay out my anger on the one person who deserved it the most.

“I’m sorry,” I said, leaning over to press a kiss to her temple. “You are right. Grief is a strange thing that tends to show up out of nowhere, and often when you least expect it.”

“Honoring your father and his traditions today will go a long way to seeing you through. I know you didn’t want to go through an official coronation, but I think we both knew it had to be done.”

“Our shifter kingdom seemed too small to bother with pomp and circumstance. Especially now, with this cloud hanging over our family.”

She laughed and I drank in the sound like a man dying of thirst. Having her at my side again meant everything to me.

“It would seem the smaller, the more boisterous. At least that’s how I’ve seen it. And considering the growth as more shifters have chosen to align with you, I’m not surprised at all that they all wanted something official for their King.”

“My father is the King.”

She drew short, forcing me to stop walking and turn to her.

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