Page 23 of Wings of Frost and Fury
“You are interesting,” she says. “So calm, even though you must know that I could kill you as easily as you could kill me.”
“I don’t want to kill you,” I reply. “I need you.”
“Gracious.” She laughs, fingertips fluttering along her collarbone. “Say that again, in a deeper tone.”
I lower my voice to a rough growl. “I need you.”
She sucks in a sharp little breath. “God, you’re obedient. Have you been anyone’s pet before, darling?”
“I am not your pet.”
“I think you might be.” She tilts her head, and her golden earrings flash in the slanted rays of light. “Tell me, dragon, why are you here? What do you want? Am I to assume that my accursed father went through with his terrible plan and killed many of your kind?”
So she knew of his plan. I am momentarily angered that anyone could have known about the spell and not warned its potential victims. But then, why should she warn us, allied as we were with the invaders of her country?
“The Supreme Sorcerer slaughtered all our females, and ended his own life in the process,” I reply.
Her face falls, the humor and confidence gone. Her devastated expression lasts only a moment before she says carelessly, “The world is lucky to be rid of him.”
“A cruel way to speak of your progenitor.”
“He was cruel tome. He tried not to be, but he was. He didn’t ascribe much value to anyone—even people I loved.” Her mouth tenses, but a second later she shakes her head and produces a bright smile. “In light of his malevolence toward your species, I assumed that you came here for revenge. But you say you don’t wish to kill me, so we return to the question—why are you here?”
“We have taken our revenge already,” I say. “We’ve brought human captives to our island. And now my prince, Kyreagan, requires your assistance with a spell.”
Her eyes narrow. “What kind of spell?”
“A spell of transformation. I am to bring you to Ouroskelle, where the prince will explain the details.”
Kyreagan did not expressly forbid me from telling her everything, but I suspect withholding some information will pique her interest. She seems both clever and inquisitive.
“You will be compensated,” I add.
“With what?” She chuckles. “I can’t imagine you and I value the same things.”
“Humans enjoy treasure, just as dragons do.”
“You’ve got me there. I do like sparkly things. And wine. Ilovewine. I don’t suppose you have a lifetime supply of wine stashed away in your caves?”
“We do not. But if you wish it, I could procure some. I will personally ensure that you get everything you desire.”
“Everything I desire,” she muses. “And how will you, a dragon, know what I want?”
“You will tell me, and I will fetch it.”
“Sweetheart, you would end up smashing or crushing the items I might request. But I like your spirit. You seem very willing to serve.” She walks around me, looking me up and down, from horns to claws, from snout to wings to tail. “Did you ever serve someone else, besides your princes? A mate, perhaps? Someone you lost to my father’s magic?”
“I had mating partners during the last heat, twenty-five years ago,” I reply. “But since then, no one. Though I did lose my dearest friend to your father’s spell.”
“My sympathies,” murmurs the enchantress, returning from her inspection of my body and facing me again. “You’ve had no sexual pleasure in twenty-five years?”
I arch my neck uncomfortably and my spikes rise in spite of myself.
“Oh, but youhave,” she says eagerly. “Do tell.”
A cautious rumble rolls through my chest. I’m not sure why I yearn to confess to her, but I do. She gives me the same feeling as the wordsDevil’s Kiss. Ruinous and lovely at the same time.
“You’re sure that he cannot hear us?” I jerk my head toward the magical wall that conceals Fortunix.
