Page 110 of The Dragon Queen

That part was almost true. Madam Gilly had made sure to pack me enough of the birth control to last the campaign, but the nature of what we did meant sometimes I forgot to take it. I gasped, tilting my hips backwards, wanting him deeper.

“You feel so wet, so ripe, Pippin. You’re destroying my control. Everything inside me wants to seed you, breed you, claim a part of you that no one else can take, not yet. You’d be mine if you bore my child in your belly.” His hand slid around my hip, then dove between my legs, but not before he caressed my stomach. “No one would ever take the mother of my child away from me.”

“Yes…” I sobbed, my head thrown back.

I needed every inch of him, but this was something more. My body felt heavy and swollen, as if I was pregnant with pleasure and that would be the start. I could toss the tinctures in the bushes, or better, hand them to Lady Fast and let her dispense them to women who needed them.

Because I didn’t.

My thighs moved wider, letting him in. It hurt just a little, this angle, yet I craved that, a pleasure that raked its fangs along my flesh. I wanted him, wanted the future we’d conjured together.

Wanted an eternity spent at his side.

“Do it,” I panted out. “Give it to me, Brom, everything you’ve got.”

He complied, because that’s what males do. His fingers pinched down on my pearl, wringing waves of ecstasy out of me as he ploughed through each rippling wave until he joined me in bliss. A heart-rending snarl and then his mouth landed on my neck, nipping the skin before sucking away the pain. Those sensual pulls had my whole body shuddering as they washed through me, bringing me crashing down to earth.

And Brom with me.

I ached, he ached, as we collapsed down onto his jacket. The cold dew of the leaf litter filtered through, but I didn’t care. He heldme close, his breath just as forced as mine, the two of us lying there until it began to slow.

“Pippin—”

“No.” My hand covered his, keeping it right where it was, lying over my heart, his breath shifting the small hairs on my scalp. “No, don’t say it. Don’t pull away. Just don’t.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” There was a chuckle in his voice, then a kiss was pressed to my nape. “You burned through all the noble self-sacrifice I had. I am yours.” My fingers tightened their grip. “I was prepared to be that at a distance?—”

“That’s not what I need.” I didn’t want to pull free of him, but I had to turn around. “I heard every word and acknowledge your very real fears. If I’m honest, in the still of night, I’ve felt the same, but…” My leg was thrown over his, dragging us closer and he smiled at that. “I have to believe we will find a way forward. I must. I can’t go into a fight against a maniac who is threatening to tear the country apart in a civil war, otherwise…” I studied his face, seeing lines that had been there for weeks smooth away. “What’s the point? What future is there if you’re not in it, all of you?”

His kiss was so much gentler now. The time for passion was over, so love was able to shoulder forward.

“It’s just a relief to know you feel the same way, though…” He winced when he saw the now throbbing mark he left on my neck. “That was madness. Does it hurt?” His fingers probed the mark gently.

“Everything hurts, Brom, but that least of all. I’ll wear your mark proudly, meet the eyes of any rider, any person, bold enough to stare. I might have to pretend to be something I’m not most days, but not that. Anyway.” I took his hand and placed it back on my stomach. “You might get your wish. I’ve been lax about taking my tinctures.”

“What?” He rolled up on his elbow and stared down at me. “Pippin…”

Something in my eyes had him stopping. He studied my face, but what I had to say couldn’t be done with words. I’d never thought about having children. When I was still a lady, it was my fate, when Iwas a herder it would’ve been a prison sentence for me and my child, but now…? He nodded slowly, his head dropping lower.

The kiss was far slower but contained a deadly intent. He’d thought to run away from us, but now? He kissed his queen, stole her breath away and then her heart, right as his mouth moved down.

It wasthe sound of birds calling in the morning that woke me. That and the bite of the morning air. Goosebumps formed all over my skin, my body shivering as I located my clothes and yanked them on. Brom slept on, reaching for me sleepily, his hair a dark fan around his head. I wanted to stop, to comb out every knot, but if we were to have the future we dreamed up together, I needed to play a role now.

Defeat the Duke of Harlston, retrieve the dragon eggs and return them to Wyrmpeak, then once they were safe with Cynane, I could leave Nevermere to sort itself out. My riders would come with me north if that’s what it took to stay together, but Draven…? He was always the wild card, so I’d need to ask him myself.

I brushed the dirt from my palms and stared down at Brom, not wanting to leave him to wake up alone, but I must. Instead of kissing his temple and running my fingers through that beard, I nodded and then turned on my heel, marching out of the forest.

Only to find the general waiting.

“Highness.” My title was used in a brisk, businesslike tone. “We missed you during the celebrations last night. I feared something had happened to you.”

Something had. I stood taller, noting that the man was only a couple of inches taller than me. We stood almost eye to eye as I smiled.

“I’m fine, as you can see.”

“Are you sure?” One eyebrow rose slowly. “That’s a terrible bruise you’ve got on your neck.”

Dealing with members of the court was always exhausting. No one ever said what they meant. Rex wanted to shout at me, grab myhand and give me a good shake, all while remonstrating me for being a silly girl. I just wanted to ram my knee into his testicles. Instead, we were forced to fence at the forest’s edge, the noises of a slowly waking camp behind us.

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