Page 26 of The Soul of the Dragon

However, looking at him wasn't all bad.

I’d been so focused on the heat threatening to burn me alive from the inside out earlier, I’d not been able to appreciate the size and weight of him as he’d leaned into me. I recalled the sensation and realized how much I liked it. There was something primal about a man like him that made me think of safety and satisfaction. And after having some time to think a little bit about it, I still thought my idea from earlier was our best option. Probably more mine, but whatever.

Losing my virginity would certainly dampen my appeal to the King. He seemed obsessed with what he called my "purity." I nearly gagged on the thought as bile rose in my throat.

And then there was Magnus. He offered me everything I thought I could want, but there was something about him that I always found off. When he smiled, it never really felt like a smile. Instead he unnerved me.

“Do you want to toss me my clothes, or do you prefer looking at me this way?”

I cleared my thoughts and smirked. “You certainly suffer no lack of ego. Of course, if I looked like you do I likely wouldn’t either.” I grabbed his trousers and tossed them across the clearing.

“What is that supposed to mean? You are fae. You practically glow with perfection and beauty.”

I twisted my mouth into a smirk. “You only say that because you are not fae and can see nothing beyond what the eye beholds."Despite our characteristics of beauty, we werenotall created equal. We aren’t only judged by our beauty, but our magic as well. And our tendencies toward being as cutthroat as possible made some of us as cautious as we are cunning.”

"So you think I'm shallow?" His lips curled into what could only be called a cruel smile.

“Beauty isn’t as special here as it might be in other cultures. It is taken for granted and the least judged of our attributes.”

“Then what makes a fae special here?” This time he looked genuinely curious and it made it easy for me to tell him more.

“Power. All fae crave it in one way or another. Some want to wield it over others and then some want it in order to live free.”

His brow furrowed. “You don’t strike me as power hungry.”

I smiled softly. “Don’t let the pleasing looks fool you into believing any fae are sweet and innocent. Not even me. We all hunger for more power. It's in our nature.”

“And what do you want to do with this power you supposedly covet?”

My heart skipped a beat as he pressed dangerously close to one of my private hot buttons. I was used to hiding my wishes and dreams. There was danger in letting others know what you craved. If you weren't careful, they would find ways to use it against you.

But in this, I could only be honest.

"I want my freedom. And considering I'm wanted by the ruler of this kingdom, I'm going to need all the power I can get to obtain it."

"I don't sense much magic in you," The blank look on his face seemed so benign and not at all cruel, but I did not trust what I could see. Only what I knew. And I couldn't tell from that expression what he was thinking. Either way, I wasn't prepared to tell this creature all of my secrets.

"My power or lack thereof at the moment doesn't matter. What did you find out from the skies? Are we far from the nearest village? I have to admit I've not been allowed to wander this far from the palace in years, and I've lost track of the distance between villages."

He frowned again. "I'm liking this king of yours less and less the more you say. How exactly does he restrict your movements?"

"It doesn't really matter, but suffice it to say, he would prefer I never left the castle."

He frowned but didn't respond, and after a few minutes more he finished dressing and picked up his pack, slinging it across his back. "We aren't too far at all. Just on the other side of the falls. We should have no trouble making it there before nightfall even on foot."

"You could have gone on your own. Left me behind."

He turned and glared at me, almost making me flinch. "Yeah, that's not happening, Princess. You are the reason I'm out here in the first place. And don't think you can run from me either. I can act like a nice enough guy when I need to, but if you anger me by trying to leave on your own, then all bets will be off and it won't be the King you fear the most."

I bristled against that threat, despite the prickling of my skin. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Anger coursed through my veins. My mouth was always the problem. No matter my good intentions, or how dangerous the situation, I couldn't seem to keep it shut.

"Exactly what it sounds like. If you don't want to cooperate, then I'll happily take whatever I want."

"Which is...?"

"The Vostuzan amulet. Which you're going to help me find."

My chest seized. "And why would I do that?"

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