Page 203 of The Forbidden Dragon King
Is it the Dracanian’s fault that the vampires won’t simply swear fealty and accept our protection as the wolf shifters have done?
You fuckers should all have been turned to ash in a big fucking bonfire like we did it in the good old days, when we knew how to treat fae.
Hadrian’s Dagger vibrates at my side.
Did Tarquin treat the fae differently than I do? Like the stallholder did?
Losing my patience, I grab the stallholder by the neck. “Apologize for insulting my dragon rider. Look at him and apologize. Then beg for his forgiveness, or you will be the one who is burned to ash.”
The stallholder may be an Alpha but he’s about to piss himself.
Daire crosses his arms, staring evenly at the trembling dragon.
The stallholder desperately seeks out his gaze. “I’m s-s-sorry. Please, f-f-f-orgive me.”
“Sir,” Daire says, flatly.
“W-what?”
“You called your other customerssir. Call me it.”
The stallholder pulls a face, as if he’s been asked to slice off his own knot.
Finally, he forces out, “I’m sorry,sir.”
Daire shrugs. “Fair enough.”
I’m warmed by the way that both Daire and Freya are looking at me like I hang the moon.
Perhaps, threatening people is better than giving gifts. At least I know that I’m good at it.
I let go of the man with a shove. Then I bend down to pick up the amethyst feather from the floor, wiping the mud off it on my cloak.
I fish out a gold coin from my pocket, which is worth at least twice the value of the brooch, and toss it at the stallholder’s feet. He’s too frightened to pick it up.
I turn and swagger to Daire, handing the brooch to him. “For our Omega.”
“Thank you.” I know that he means for more than the brooch.
Gently, he brushes Freya’s hair aside and fixes the amethyst feather to the front of her robe. “So pretty, love.”
Freya strokes over it. “This is my favorite color. I used to dream about your eyes. My lavender eyed fae.”
She leans forward and kisses Daire, deep and tender.
When they break apart, they’re both breathing hard.
Then Daire grins. “Well, I am your god.”
Freya blushes, biting her lip. “Do you think Iggy is enjoying the carnival?”
“Only if Iggy isn’t here on a date with Aquila like Aurelius is with us.” Daire pulls a face. “Aquila needs to remove the tail out of his own arse. I’ll help him with that if I see him.”
Daire flaps his wings, diving back into the crowd.
It strikes me that I haven’t seen Daire full of life like this since the ambush in Rune Forest and I’ve wanted to.
I never fully realized how much I wrecked him that night or how much it destroyed a fae to clip their wings and steal their freedom.
