Page 14 of The Soul of the Dragon

“Okay then. If you know so much, where can I find this mysterious amulet that you think will solve all my problems?”

“Not think. Know. But you—.” Her head whipped around and her wings fluttered madly. “It’s too late. You should have run while you had the chance.” She whisked away up into the trees and left me standing there more confused than ever. I opened my senses and found nothing other than the normal creatures of the forest. Or the absence of most of them actually.

Which could only mean one thing.

A real predator had entered the forest and scared the normal creatures away.

“Well, hello there, Princess.”

I turned towards the unfamiliar voice and almost gasped at the man standing there.

Not Magnus. In fact, I had no idea who this man was, but he didn’t smell like anything I’d ever encountered before.

He leaned casually against the tree I’d been sleeping in not fifteen minutes before. Black, wavy hair fell almost to his shoulders and he stared at me with green eyes so vivid, they reminded me of fresh spring grass between my toes, making me think I could get as lost in those as I did the forest.

Next, his lips drew my attention, because despite the fact they were compressed into a smirk, they were the perfect color and shape that I couldn’t tear my eyes away from. He reminded me of a darker version of Magnus, if Magnus had not been ruined by his uncle. Which meant I was not to be fooled by a pretty face. If he was anything like my step-cousin, I could be in big trouble.

My stomach jerked. Maybe this kind of trouble wouldn't be so bad...

I took a few steps back. That was a horrible thought. And completely out of the blue. From my experience, men were always trouble and I didn't want to be a part of that.

“Why does everyone keep calling me Princess today? I’m about as far from a princess as I can get.”

"Well, that's not quite the truth now is it? Even the stepdaughter of the King is going to be treated as a princess."

I snorted. He had no idea what he was talking about. "So he sent you, a stranger, to find me and do what? Take me back? Or worse?"

He shrugged and pushed off the tree. The lazy (and deceptive) posture he'd taken on disappeared in a blink. "I haven't decided what I'm going to do with you—yet."

He took several steps in my direction and I matched them with backwards steps. I had a feeling if he got too close to me, something bad was going to happen.

"Good. Then you can let me go. I'll be out of the kingdom soon and then we'll both be free of any obligation we have to the King."

A low rumble passed through his chest. It came out like one part growl and one part laughter. It had a unique sound that reminded me of a melody. I couldn't help but wonder if he made that noise frequently. If so, I might like to hear it again.

"I'm not letting you go," he stated simply, that look in his eye darkening.

"Why not?" I was still backing up and I threw a quick glance behind me to make sure I wasn't going to do something stupid like fall over a cliff and die while mesmerized by his deep, rumbly voice.

"Because I have use of you."

My back stiffened as I imagined what use I could be to him, and with my imagination my anger grew proportionately. "If you think I'd let you touch me, then you're out of your mind. I'd rather lie with a—"

"I'd be careful what you say next, Princess. I've been known to make a person's worst ideas come to pass." He stalked closer before he continued. "I wasn't talking about your body, although if you want to ask nicely I might consider it. After you’ve bathed of course. At the moment, you look like a wild beast."

I opened and closed my mouth so many times while still remaining speechless that I felt like a fish on a hook. I also inexplicably felt more trapped than ever before and that was saying something considering I'd just escaped from my stepfather's dungeon. Who the hell was this man and where had my stepfather dug him up from?

And where was an imp when I needed one? She would have made an excellent distraction.

"Don't hold your breath waiting for that. That's not going to happen. But if you aren't going to let me go, what is your plan? What exactly has the King instructed you to do?"

"He wants me to bring you back to him. He misses his daughter."

I snorted.

The mocking tone of his words set me on edge, but it didn't stop me from blurting out whatever thought came into my head. "Oh really? Is that what he told you? I'm his daughter now? So I guess he didn't bother to tell you that he expects me to take my mother's place at his side. Or that the nasty bastard intends to force me into his bed so he can steal my womanhood."

I clamped my hand over my mouth at the same time his eyebrows shot up to the top of his forehead. One of these days I would learn to keep my mouth shut and my personal business to myself.

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