Forbidden Craving(79)

Brenna arched a brow and tried not to smile. "What do I get in return?"

She fluffed her pale hair. "The admiration of your queen."





  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

VALERIAN PACED THE length of the parapet, the rhythmic pounding of his footsteps reverberating in his ears. Waiting for the dragon army proved maddening. He was a man of action. A man eager to finish with business and return to pleasure.

Finally, hundreds of soldiers crested the horizon. That the men had chosen to walk to the palace rather than flying in dragon form meant they were not overcome by rage and did not mean to attack-yet.

With his next step, one of his boots snagged on a fallen branch and he stumbled. He braced his hands on the wall to steady and drew in a shaky breath. The wait had drained more than his patience; the wait had drained his strength. He needed sex. He needed Shaye. Soon!

At this rate, he wouldn't be able to win a battle against a bunny, much less a dragon.

"My king." Broderick rushed to Valerian's side. "Are you unwell?" 

"I'll be fine." He'd gone a week without sex, something he hadn't done in...ever. Not since his first time. "I'm well enough to do what needs doing."

He must. For Shaye.

The wound in his arm had increased the intensity of his weakness. Had he made love with Shaye earlier, he would have already healed.

But he couldn't regret what had transpired between them. For one brief moment of time, she'd softened for him, not only welcoming his kiss and his touch but moaning for more.

"After we deal with the dragons," Broderick said, "we must deal with a stranger who now walks among us. He claims he's a nymph, and he must be, since he's sleeping with all our women. They talk of no one and nothing else. But I've never met him."

A new nymph? Impossible. Valerian knew every one of his people. But Broderick was right. Now wasn't the time.

"If the dragons come within a hundred yards of the palace," he said, "fire a warning shot. If they take a single step after that, fire again and do not stop."

Broderick nodded. "Archers," he called. "Prepare."

The men knelt and pulled their bows tight. Waiting. Waiting. Time ticked by slowly.

Joachim limped onto the parapet, his features contorted by pain. He managed to stay upright as he approached Valerian.

"What are you doing?" Valerian demanded.

"Fighting," his cousin said. "There's to be a war, is there not?"

"You have yet to recover."

"That's no reason to remain in bed."

He searched the male's face and found determination under the pain-he also found a need to make things right and nodded in approval. "Very well. Take your place in the lines below."

Joachim pivoted without protest, ready to do as commanded. Then he paused. Looking over his shoulder, he said, "I won't apologize for challenging you, but I will respect your skill and your leadership from this moment onward. Majesty."

Respect? From Joachim? And even affection?

Reeling, Valerian said, "Thank you," and clapped his cousin lightly on the shoulder.

Joachim turned and pulled him close for a-very manly-embrace. They broke apart a second later and pretended the hug had never happened.

His chest tight, Valerian assumed a battle stance at the wall. He stared down at the field of wildflowers leading to the front entrance of the palace.

Closer and closer the dragons came... Silver armor glinted in the day's light. Trees rattled behind them, the ground visibly shaken. Colorful petals whisked through the air.

Finally the dragon forces stopped and parted; Darius rode his stallion through the center. He held a sword, the long, menacing blade stained crimson from his many kills.

Over the centuries, Darius had become known as a lethal killer. An unfeeling warrior with no conscience.

A worthy adversary, to be sure.

Valerian's hand curled around the hilt of the Skull.

"Hold," he told his men. To the dragons, he called, "Welcome to my home, fire-breathers. You will understand if I do not invite you inside."




 

 

Darius scowled up at him. "You know very well the palace is mine."

He tsk-tsked under his tongue. "If you wanted to keep it, you should have sent a stronger battalion to guard it."

"What did you do with the dragons who were inside?"

"Showed them mercy, allowing them to live, and locked them in my dungeon."

Blue eyes narrowed to tiny slits. "I have your word of honor they are alive and well?"

"You have my word of honor that most are alive and well." A battle had been fought, and a life or twelve lost.

Darius nodded, the action clipped. "My wife has asked that I not slaughter your entire race for daring to steal what's mine. I'll heed her wishes-for now-if you do two things I require of you."