Page 51 of Bride of the Black Dragon
Xaren considers for a moment, cocking his head like he’s listening to something I can’t hear.
“He’s bigger than the biggest beast you’ve ever seen,” he says finally. “But…” His lips twitch into a half-smile. “He tells me to tell you he promises to be very careful around you.”
“Oh.” I swallow, hard. My palms feel sweaty. “But…what if he breathes fire?”
“He says he won’t,” Xaren assures me. “I would never ask you to meet him if there was any danger. He cares for you. He’ll be as gentle as a lamb—I promise.”
Gentle as a lamb. I try to picture a creature that large being gentle. A beast with wings that could block out the sun and talons the size of swords being gentle. It doesn’t sound possible.
I draw a breath and remind myself that I’m not some cowardly Court flower. I’ve survived a horrible marriage, been sold like property, and lived to tell the tale. I’ve seen Xaren’s face—both sides—and kissed his scars. I’ve taken him into my mouth and swallowed his seed with pleasure.
I can do this.
“Then of course I’d like to meet him,” I say, my smile only slightly forced. “Er, but when and where can we do it?”
“We’ll go right now—this morning,” Xaren says. Then he grimaces. “Before we have to deal with the consequences of yesterday.”
“You mean what happened in the gardens with Dorian?”
He nods shortly.
“There’s definitely going to be a follow-up. By now the whole Court will have heard of it.”
My stomach tightens.
“What do you think they’re going to do to us?”
He shrugs, his broad, bare shoulders rolling with the gesture.
“Probably I’ll get another whipping.”
“What? But why? What happened wasn’t your fault!” I sit up, outraged. “You saved me!”
“I know, but that’s not how my mother will see it. Dorian is her favorite and he’ll certainly bend the truth when he goes to complain to her.”
He says it with a calm detachment, but I can feel the tension thrumming through his muscles. His eyes blaze for a moment before he pushes his dark thoughts aside, seemingly with an effort.
My throat thickens with emotion.
How many times has he taken punishment for things that weren’t his fault? And now he’ll have to take another punishment for me. He’s already been whipped for me once—it’s not fair!
But fair or not, that appears to be life here in the Citadel—at least for the Dark Prince.
“We can’t stay here in my rooms forever,” Xaren says softly, interrupting my thoughts. “But we can delay the moment of reckoning.”
“Delay sounds good,” I say in a small voice. “I’m not ready to face the Queen again.”
“Then come. I know a secret passage that will take us out of here with no one the wiser. Get dressed, little dove. My Drake is eager to make your acquaintance.”
I nod and slide from the bed. My legs still a little wobbly from last night’s pleasure. My gown is crumpled on the floor where he pulled it off me. I retrieve it and dress quickly, then pull on my robe. No court finery today—just what I wore to seduce Xaren last night. I hope his Drake won’t mind.
Xaren watches me the whole time with open appreciation in his eyes. When I slip my slippers on and look up, he offers his hand.
“Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
He leads me to the tall armoire at the edge of the room. When he opens it, I expect to see clothes or armor—but instead there’s a narrow, shadowy tunnel carved into the stone wall beyond.
