Page 85 of Sky Shielder
The heavy rainmade the rock face slick, and Vorik, having no familiarity with the area, climbed down carefully. Actually, halfway down the cliff, he climbedlaterally. Distant shouts from the temple promised the kingdom enforcers were still looking for him. Earlier, a couple of men had run to the edge of the cliff and peered down. But he’d had time to climb far off to the side, so they’d looked in the wrong place. At least for now. As the day got brighter, he would be easier to spot.
Are you coming out to reunite with me?Agrevlari asked into his mind.
Not right now.
Are you irritated that I interrupted your mating?
Given the circumstances, no.Vorik hated to admit it, but the dragon might have saved his life.
Even hearing the guards and the danger, how close had he been to ignoring it all? To letting his penis rule his mind and body and take the pleasure it had craved? Too close.
It had been a long time since he’d been engulfed in lust so strong that it made him stupid. Of course, it had been a long timesince a woman had saved his life. Even more than that, Syla hadn’t tried to poison him when she could have—shouldhave. And she hadn’t bound him with her magic, again when she should have.
It would have been one thing if she’d believed his tales and grown smitten with him because of his athleticism or good looks, but sheknewhe was trouble. He had no doubt. And yet she wouldn’t betray him. He wouldn’t blame her if she did, but it didn’t seem to be in her nature. She was too… wholesome? Was that the right word?
He imagined her naked beneath him, squirming and panting as she gripped his shoulders and cried out his name, and decided wholesome wasn’t a good descriptor. He also grinned at the memory until a rocky protrusion bumped his groin. That poor body part, still half-aroused despite the passage of time and his precarious position, was having a rough start to the day.
I’m going to find the princess,Vorik told Agrevlari.
To complete the mating?
That would be amazing, but he said,To complete my mission. Our orders.
Having mating interrupted is unappealing. Dragons are not anatomically like humans, but we do have some similarities, more so than to lizards or chickens. We, too, can experience discomfort if we cannot complete the act.
I’m sure. You needn’t give me any details about that. Maybe you can see if your keen eyes can peer into the temple and let me know if Syla leaves.
I will do so. We have been bonded for many years, and I’ve long learned that you are more agreeable when you’ve satisfactorily mated.
That’snotwhy I need to know when she leaves.Vorik rolled his eyes toward the clifftop high above, though Agrevlari probably knew there was a part of him that was motivated by wanting tosatisfactorily mate. Maybe it was foolish to deny his feelings to a dragon who could see into his mind. Nonetheless, he said,I need totrack her to the shielder. Once I know where it is, I’ll find a way to get it or destroy it, then figure out a way to reach you.
Vorik imagined himself swimming out to the dragon while pulling an artifact identical in size to the huge glowing orb underneath the castle. How heavy was the damn thing? He would need a raft. Or a barge.
He snorted at himself. He might only be able to return to the general and give him the location. Lethimfigure out how to move it.
Syla would hate Vorik forever if he managed to destroy it. Somehow, giving its location to his superior officer seemed like it would be less of a betrayal to her.
But… would she see it that way?
He told himself it didn’t matter. There wasn’t a future for them. He shouldn’t even pursue her for a single night of pleasure. He should do his duty and get out of her life.
Except… the general’s demands wouldn’t end with the capture or destruction of one more shielder, would they? Vorik didn’t know his exact plans, but Jhiton wantedmanyof the kingdom islands for their people, if notallof them. He wanted the stormers to have access to the bounteous croplands and all that they produced so that their people could survive and thrive.
This mission is turning out to be harder than I thought it would be, Agrevlari.
Since I am nursing a bite wound from one of my own allies, I do not disagree.
We’ll finish it up as quickly as possible, and then…The memory of Syla floated through his mind, but Vorik pushed it away. She would not be a part of his future.Then we’ll rest, my friend.
I look forward to it. Hold. Another dragon approaches.
Another one that wishes to bite you?Vorik paused in his climb, wiping grit from his damp palms as he peered out to sea.
As he’d noticed before, Agrevlari perched on a rock formationbeyond the shield. Another dragon approached him, a dark gray one that appeared almost black in the dim lighting.
Is that Tonasketal?Vorik asked.
Yes. He says he’s dropped off Lieutenant Wise with a collapsible kayak. The general sent him to spy on the largest population center of this island, but when they learned you were here, they diverted, and the lieutenant is coming to get your report.
