Page 60 of The Dragon King's Curse
“What about the curse?” Flynn asked before taking a large drink from a hefty mug. “How did you possibly break it? I thought it was supposed to be next to unbreakable.”
I immediately grew uncomfortable. There were at least twenty people gathered around the table, listening to us speak. Twenty people that I didn’t know. I said nothing, allowing Noxx to answer that question.
“Feryn was able to break the curse,” he said, careful with his words. “There was a loophole. The curse had been bound to her because her people never believed she and I would meet, let alone under such circumstances. I owe her everything.”
A woman several chairs away stared hard at me, pale orange eyes burning with hatred. “How kind of her to break the curse put upon you by her people.”
Noxx shot her a warning look but didn’t say anything. The woman seated next to her nudged her with an elbow, quietly telling her to mind her business. I hadn’t been sure how Noxx’s people would respond to me. Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised that some of them hated me after what my family had done to him.
I released a shaky breath, willing my hand to be still as I brought my wine glass to my lips. Nobody needed to know the details of what had happened between us. Many who knew of Noxx’s curse also knew that I’d been the one with the power to break it. They did not know the details nor did they need to.
Many of Noxx’s people eyed me curiously. I suspected they had many questions they would never get answered. I didn’t enjoy being on display for them all. Thankfully, Noxx expertly guided the conversation.
After the food arrived and everyone had filled their plates, Noxx swirled the liquor in his glass. “Has there been any news of Nika? Has she been seen?”
I listened attentively, curious about this Nika. Noxx had never mentioned her.
“Nothing since you left. She’s been keeping her distance.” Cain poured an ocean of gravy onto his mashed potatoes. “We’ve been keeping an eye out for her. I’ve had a team scouting the town near her castle for information.”
Noxx thoughtfully shook his head. “My sister would never be foolish enough to let the townspeople know of her plans. No doubt she knows I’ve had spies among them.”
His sister? This was the first I’d heard of her. I wondered why he’d never mentioned her before.
“We should be ready for anything,” Pyke said, his expression solemn and serious. “When she learns that your curse has been broken, she won’t keep waiting. If anything it will make her quicker to act.”
Noxx refilled his glass, taking a large drink. “I’ll be ready for her.”
The conversation took many turns as everyone ate and drank, happy to have their king home. I didn’t speak much aside from telling my side of the story in the fae prison and our journey back to the Fire Realm. After a few glasses of wine, I was ready to escape to a quiet place without so many voices and questions.
The woman with the black hair and orange eyes continued to sneak hateful glares in my direction. I pretended not to notice, doing my best to avoid eye contact with her. A jealous sparkinside me made me wonder if perhaps she’d been one of Noxx’s lovers. Why else would she hate me?
Maybe I was mistaken. Perhaps she hated me simply because I was an elf. I was the enemy. I’d started to forget.
When at last dinner ended and Noxx brought me upstairs to the tower that held his bedroom, I felt like I could breathe. Being surrounded by so many dragons as the outsider, the enemy, it had worn on me. I hadn’t prepared myself for this part.
We ascended one of the large spiral staircases near the entryway, taking a hall that curved off to the right and then another stairway that wound up the tower to a large lavish bedroom. Much of the castle was draped in shades of white, gold, and blue. Noxx’s bedroom had a darker appeal.
A thick gray carpet covered the room. The four poster bed was a centerpiece that drew my eye. Black curtains hung all around it, creating a small sanctuary within the room. A gray sofa had been placed across from the bed. A desk positioned near the window. Through the open door to the attached washroom I saw that the floors gleamed with shiny white marble.
“Make yourself at home, princess.” Noxx closed the door behind us and immediately began to strip out of his clothing. “I cannot wait to sleep in my own bed with you next to me. We’ll bathe and rest. I’ll have fresh clothing sent up for you. Is there anything specific you would prefer?”
“A tunic and some pants is fine for now. Why did you never mention your sister?” Sitting heavily on the edge of the bed, I marveled at how soft the mattress felt. Even though my own castle back home held its luxuries, life on the run with Noxx had made me forget how truly precious such things were.
“Because she wasn’t worth mentioning.” Bitterness crept into Noxx’s voice. “She and I have never got along well. Would you like to start with a bath or get right into bed?”
His clothing dropped into a pile on the floor next to him. A devious smile lit up his face. It was apparent to me that he didn’t want to speak of his sister right now. There would be time for that later.
“I’d like nothing more than to crawl beneath your silk sheets and stay there until I absolutely have to leave them.” Glancing over at the desk, I added, “I’d like to pen a letter to my family first. A quick note to let them know that I am here and I’m alive.”
“Of course.” Noxx gestured to the desk. “I’ll have some of my dragons fly it close to the Earth Realm border first thing tomorrow. They’ll employ someone from The Seam to take it from there. It will take a few days.”
While I sat at the desk and helped myself to some paper and a quill, Noxx slid into the bed. His watchful golden gaze never left me. I hurriedly penned a note to my family, briefly explaining the situation. I asked them to come in peace, wanting no further conflict with Noxx and his realm. Should they not be willing to do so, I would rather them not come at all, and I would find my own way home.
I imagined the look on my father’s face when he read the letter. Would he be furious? Relieved?
When I finished, I disrobed, keenly aware of my Dragon King’s hungry stare. Part of me was aching to ask him about the woman at dinner. The one who so viciously scowled at me the entire time. Afraid to learn that he may have been involved with her, I decided to wait for another time.
“You must be so happy to be home,” I said, getting into the bed beside him.
