Page 49 of Dragon Fire

Only since coming here had she learned that more of his brethren were imprisoned in ice in the far North of the world, in a place called the Citadel. A prison for evil wizards.

And her father’s greatest enemy, Captain Fisk, had just stolen the key.

She hadn’t even known her fatherhada greatest enemy, much less a pirate who would do something so audacious as raid the stronghold of the last of the great wizards with impunity. She wondered if she ever really knew her father at all. Her memories of him from her youth were of a much different man. He’d smiled more before her mother died. He’d been almost jolly.

But after her mother’s death, he’d been…different. Cold. Quiet. And so, so sad.

As she’d been.

Only, he hadn’t turned to her to share their grief. If anything, he’d turned his back on her. Or so she’d thought. Her father had said some things that made her question his motives. He’d told her a little bit more about Fisk and had made the startling statement that it had been Fisk who had murdered her mother.

If, all these years, her father had been actively hunting Fisk… It made a sad sort of sense that he’d left her alone, safe, in Dragonscove. If Fisk thought his daughter meant little to Captain O’Dare, she would be safer, so her father had all but ignored her. For her own safety.

It still hurt, but she thought she understood his neglect better now. He’d done it out of love, oddly enough.

They arrived at the door to her room, and Seth paused outside it. Livia shook herself out of her reverie and smiled at him.

“Father is gone,” she whispered, moving closer to Seth and reaching out to finger one of the ties on his jerkin.

Seth smiled back at her. “Are you sure—”

She cut off his words by placing a finger over his lips. Opening the door behind her, she tugged him into her room.

“Never doubt that I want to be with you, Seth.” She closed the door behind them and faced him, leaning back against the wood panel of the door.

She was feeling daring and free. The events of the past few days had liberated her in some indefinable way, and the newfound independence was coming out in all sorts of unexpected ways. Without Gowan and his dominant ways to subdue her, she was feeling friskier than usual at the idea that Seth was completely hers for the rest of the night.

Caressing his shoulders, she moved him toward the large bed. She freed him from his vest and began untying his jerkin even as his nimble fingers went to the closures on her bodice. They were undressing each other with smiles on their faces, each reveling in the idea that they would not be disturbed and could spend the rest of the night exploring each other.

“Do you miss Gowan?” Seth said, breaking her concentration for a moment. She looked up to meet his gaze.

“A little. But I had time alone with him last night. Tonight, it’s only fair that I spend time with you, don’t you think?” It shouldn’t feel so natural to think of herself with both men, but somehow…

“You talk as if we’re a bonded trio,” Seth said, his gaze clouding over with regret. She hadn’t meant to make him feel that way. She wanted tonight to only bring him pleasure.

Livia placed her finger over his lips once more. “Don’t think about that now,” she counseled. “I don’t understand what’s really going on here or how this is all going to work out in the end, but I feel drawn equally to both of you.” She shook her head, unsure how to make him understand. “I don’t understand it either, Seth. I just… It feels right. Can’t we just enjoy our time together now and worry about tomorrow when it comes?”

Seth’s frown was still firmly in place, but he nodded. “I guess that’s really all we can do for now, but if I could commit to you, I would in a heartbeat. I hope you realize that, Livia. If I had a dragon partner, and he was Genlitha’s mate, all would be perfect. As it is…”

“As it is, we’re alone in my bedchamber, unlikely to be disturbed until morning, and we’re wasting time talking about things we cannot change.” She smiled to soften her words. “But that doesn’t mean things won’t change. I have faith that the Mother of All would not be so cruel to us. I have to believe that somehow things will work out, in time. We just have to be patient and have faith.”

Seth shook his head again, but his expression had eased. “I’ll try.”

Livia smiled as she pushed him down onto the bed. “Don’t worry. I’ll make a believer out of you yet.”

Those were the last words spoken for some time as Seth and Livia renewed their acquaintance on the most basic levels. She cried out his name in ecstasy more than once, as he did hers, and when morning came, they were wrapped in each other’s arms, the bed sheets a tangle around them.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A little later that morning in the great hall, Hrardorr was in what looked like a serious conference with Gryffid when Seth and Livia made their way to the great hall. Gryffid had pulled up a chair near the dragon’s head and waved them over when he noticed them walk in.

“What do you think that’s about?” Livia whispered to Seth.

“I haven’t the foggiest idea. Hrardorr and I haven’t spoken since yesterday,” he replied as they walked over to the wizard and the blind dragon.

If Seth was any judge, Hrardorr’s expression seemed troubled. Not in an alarming way, but it definitely looked like the wizard had given the dragon something very important to think about. Seth couldn’t begin to imagine what the two might have been talking about, and Hrardorr wasn’t saying anything. He looked both distracted and perhaps a little miffed as they walked closer, and Seth wasn’t going to be peppering him with questions when he had that sort of obstinate look on his scaly face.

“Good morrow, milord,” Seth said to the wizard, pulling out a chair for Livia at the table just in front of Hrardorr when Gryffid indicated they should join him.

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