Page 2 of The Dragon King's Assassin

Chapter Two

King Tarocvar stood up, hauling me with him. Normally, I could keep my heart rate slow, even in the most tense of situations. But it seemed to have forgotten that fact and pumped as if it could break free of my chest and run away without me. Fuck you, body; I'll take my chances without you. I dangled from the royal grip, my hands clutching his forearm to alleviate some of the pressure on my neck. My toes didn't even brush the floor. I was strangling. Dying.

And I still looked down.

The Dragon King was nude. Gloriously naked. That perfect immortal body was slabbed with muscles that bulged as if begging to be touched. Stroked. Licked. Oh, fuck. The guy looked as if he'd been carved from stone and polished for pleasure. Shoulders wide enough to carry an ox, pectorals big enough to bench press a unicorn, and thighs strong enough to thrust for hours. Speaking of thrusting, that piece of man-flesh between those thighs would fill me as I'd never been filled before. Long and thick, but not massive. Perfect.

Oh, fuck, was I really getting turned on while he strangled me to death? Some people liked that, right—being strangled in bed? Did this count as that?

When I lifted my gaze at last, I found the Dragon King looking down, his stare focused on my crotch. I didn't have to look to know that my erection tented my pants. Maybe I'd die of embarrassment before he killed me.

The King set me on my feet but didn't release my throat. “Is it being strangled that has aroused you, or is it me?” He eased up on his grip so I could answer.

Panting, I looked down his body again. My cock twitched. I mean, at this point, why not be honest? What was he going to do, kill me twice?

“I see,” he said, his tone amused. “You've come to kill me, but now you want to fuck me. How interesting.” He leaned in and inhaled deeply, his nostrils flaring, then straightened and let me go. “What's your name, little mouse?”

“Locrian Mahvis, Your Majesty.” I bowed and hoped it didn't look mocking. My heart still beat wildly, probably because it, like me, couldn't figure out what the fuck was happening. “Lock, if you like.”

King Tarocvar slid his gaze down my body. “I just may. Turn around and we'll see.”

“What?” I squeaked like the mouse he labeled me.

“Turn. Around.”

I turned in a circle.

“Take off your mask. Let me see your face.” He flicked a finger and the logs within the fireplace to my left caught fire.

I flinched but did as ordered, pulling back my hood before pushing down the mask that hid the lower half of my face. I smoothed my hair and licked my dry lips as I waited for the King's verdict. He was silent for several nail-biting minutes, his gaze roaming my face and body. And my stupid cock remained at attention for him the entire time.

At last, the King stepped away from me and left the room through a dark doorway. I gaped after him, then took a step toward the window.

“Do not make me hunt you, little mouse,” the King called from the other room. “I have your scent now; you cannot hide from me.” He came back into the bedroom wearing a pair of loose pants. “And I'm not in the mood for a chase.” He grinned. “Not tonight.”

I stood still as he circled me, one hand sliding over my chest, down my arm, and across my ass. He paused and squeezed one cheek. My teeth ground together to hold my groans back. What was happening? Was he going to fuck me before he killed me? Was I opposed to that? My cock twitched as if to say no.

The Dragon King stepped in front of me. “Who hired you to kill me?”

“I don't—”

“Do not lie to me!”

I flinched back from his sudden fury. “I'm not lying, Sire. No assassin knows who hires them; it works best that way for both parties.”

“Then how are you hired? How are you paid?”

“Through an intermediary, a broker.”

“A broker?” he said it as if it were ridiculous. “And who is this intermediary?”

“I don't know that either. When they have a job for me, they seek me out in a local bar I frequent, and they're always cloaked and masked during our meetings.”

“How did you hire this person, to begin with?”

“They were referred to me by my old mentor, who is now dead.”

“Great blasts of fire!” the King roared. “If you have nothing to give me, you are worthless.”

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