Page 63 of The Dragon King's Curse
Staring up at the sky, I waited. Within moments, he appeared as a giant black mass against the indigo sky, his wings spread wide as he swooped down to come in for a landing. I watched with breath held, unable to get over how fascinatingly beautiful he was in his dragon form.
It hurt me that my family had taken that from him. I was so happy to have been able to give it back.
Noxx swooped down before me, circling dangerously low to the fountain. I thought surely he would smash into it. Instead, he shifted back, dropping to the ground before me as a man.
Dressed in all black, a sword from his own realm on his hip, Noxx’s hair was disheveled in a devil-may-care manner. Gazing upon him swept my insides with heat.
“That was quite the display,” I said, unable to keep the smile off my face. His mere presence brought it out of me.
He cocked his head to one side, quirking a brow. “Like what you see, princess?”
“I love it. You’re absolutely enchanting.” I squealed as he swept me into his arms, spinning me around as he kissed me. When he placed me back down on the ground, I asked, “What was that? I felt you coming. Like I knew that you were here before I saw you. Did you feel it too?”
“I always feel you, Feryn. It must be you. Because you broke my curse and set me free. We have a connection.” He kissed me again, a ravenous claiming of my mouth. “I hope you’re all rested up, princess. I plan to fuck you until you are absolutely spent. No battle you’ve fought will compare to what I’m going to do to you.”
He nipped at my neck, right where he’d previously bitten me. The vampire bites were long gone now, yet a light scar from Noxx’s bite remained. I’d assumed because it was a dragon bite instead that it may take longer to fade.
Knowing that our time together may soon be cut short, I said, “Well then, what are we waiting for?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
FERYN
“What about this one? It almost matches your eyes.” Cleo held up a pale purple ball gown, turning it this way and that to show off how the skirt fell in silken waves.
I sat on the edge of Noxx’s bed, anxiously gnawing my fingernails. “It’s so pretty. I think it might be too pretty. I can’t tell you the last time I wore a dress. It’s been ages.”
My parents were no strangers to throwing fancy balls. More often than not I skipped them, preferring to spend that time with Leif, sparring or drinking in the gardens outside. Fancy parties always made me feel like I had to put on airs. Present myself as someone that I wasn’t.
Tonight was the party welcoming Noxx home and celebrating the return of his dragon. I was more than happy to be part of the celebration. I wanted to be there for him. Even if that meant wearing a dress.
As I sat there chewing my nails and fidgeting with the long robe wrapped around my body, I watched Cleo hold up dress after dress. They were all so beautiful.
“Let’s go with the purple one. There’s something about that skirt. Like it’s made of magick.” There. I’d made a decision. That was a start.
Noxx had left the room earlier, off to take care of some palace business before the big event tonight. We’d spent most of our free time in bed together. We both knew that we had to hold onto every moment. Neither of us said it aloud, yet there seemed to be an unspoken understanding that our time together was temporary.
“What would you like to do with your hair?” Cleo asked. “I was thinking a few fancy plaits with flowers woven in and the rest falling loose. The color of your hair is almost celestial. It should be shown off.”
“That sounds fine with me.” I let Cleo usher me over to the vanity that had been brought in for me.
She seated me in front of a large mirror framed in silver. I stared uncertainly at my reflection while she got to work on my hair. An array of colorful cosmetics had been laid out on the table before me. Powders, kohls, and paints. I wore such things even less than I wore dresses. Would Noxx even recognize me with all this fanciful stuff?
“You’re going to be absolutely beautiful, Feryn,” Cleo gushed. “The king will be breathless when he sees you.”
I forced a smile that looked almost painful as I studied my reflection. “I’ll be surprised if he even knows who I am.”
Cleo laughed, carefully pulling a brush through my long hair. “I’ve never seen him so happy. He’s like a whole new man since he met you.”
I shrugged, watching as she started with the first braid. “I’m sure that’s because he has his dragon back. He certainly was a grumpy pain in the ass when we first met.”
Those days locked in the fae prison felt so far away now even though they weren’t. Noxx and I had come so far together since then. My hand absently strayed to my throat as I remembered the way he’d grabbed me upon his arrival, trying tochoke the life out of me. My fingertips trailed over the bite that still remained. Healed but with a visible scar.
“Yes, well, the king has been known for his temper. Most dragons are a little temperamental. It runs in our blood, I suppose.” Cleo smiled at me through the mirror.
“I can’t imagine you being temperamental at all,” I said, returning her smile. “You may very well be the kindest person I’ve ever met, including those in my own realm.”
Her smile grew at my compliment. We continued to make conversation while she finished my hair. From there we moved on to my face, painting my eyes with silvers and purples, and my lips a pale pink. I watched as my reflection in the mirror continued to change. Before long I barely recognized the woman staring back at me.
