Forbidden Craving(84)

"Please," the youngest beseeched. "My name is Kendrick. Let us go. We have no plans to hurt you. We would never hurt a woman."

Yes, but what of the men?

"Perhaps we can help each other. I will help free you from the nymphs' spell," he rushed on, his voice suddenly dripping with hate, "and you can let me go. Just touch the bars. That's all you have to do."

She and Brenna shared a look. Kendrick's hatred settled the matter. The boys stayed in the cell.

"You're speaking English. How did you learn? And why were you imprisoned?" Brenna asked.

His eyes narrowed. "Our king married a human. And we're here because we're dragons. Why else? Because this is our palace and the nymphs stole it."

Just as she'd suspected. "They fought for it and won it. There's a difference." The moment the words left her, she flinched. Was there a difference?




 

 

Valerian would say he'd fought for her and won her, and she would say he'd stolen her from her home.

That man is turning me inside out!

"Sorry, boys. I feel for you, I do, but I can't help you. Not at this time. However, I'll speak with Valerian about releasing you into the wild. Alive. And uninjured." Better to cover all the bases so there were no misunderstandings.

Brenna nodded in agreement.

"Don't you see?" The bars rattled; a feat Shaye hadn't been able to accomplish. The strength the dragons must possess... "You're under Valerian's spell. Fight it or you'll remain his slave for all eternity."

Under Valerian's spell...how true those words were. She hadn't been herself since she'd first laid eyes on the sexy man.

Had his nymphness enchanted her, though, or was Valerian the man responsible? She suspected the latter, because none of the other nymphs appealed to her in any way.

"Even still." She squared her shoulders, determined. "I'm leaving you in there. Setting you free would endanger too many-"

"Where is she?" The shout sounded from beyond the cavern, the words filled with terror and fury.

Valerian!

Her heart sped into a too-fast rhythm, beating against her ribs like a broken drumstick. Heat infused her cells. "Gotta go," she told the boys. "I won't forget you, I promise. Come on, Brenna."

"Shaye!" Valerian bellowed, unashamedly frantic. "Shaye!"

"Don't leave us here," Kendrick pleaded. "Fight against his allure. It's the only way-"

She raced from the enclosure, Brenna right behind her. They rounded the corner and bypassed the back side of the portal.

"I'll return as soon as possible," Valerian said to someone.

He was about to step into the portal, she realized. About to search for her on the surface. Warmth spread through her.

"I'm here, Valerian." She moved into his line of vision. "I'm here."

Their gazes locked, and shadows of relief couched his features...followed quickly by a blaze of fury.

He braced his arms over his chest. A battle stance. It was then that she saw what rested in his hand, and she almost cried. An orange. He held an orange. 

A barbed lump filled her throat. She had mentioned that she wanted one, and even in the midst of war, he'd found one.

Her knees shook. Her nerve endings sizzled as she accepted the gift from him. "Thank you," she said softly.

His hair was sweat soaked and hanging in sand-coated tangles at his temples. Streaks of blood covered his face and arms, and his turquoise eyes shot sparks at her. Of the fury, yes, but also of lust.

Lust that kindled the need inside her.

A deep gash bisected his chest, and she gasped, horrified. "You're hurt!"

"I'm fine. Tell me how you escaped the cell." The quiet statement crackled with menace and was far more ominous than if he'd shouted. When Brenna stepped beside her, he added, "I'd also like to hear your reasoning for endangering your friend."

Shaye, too, assumed a battle stance. If he wasn't worried about the wound, she wouldn't be, either. "We were never in danger. And for your information, I got out with a little thing called ingenuity."

He ran his tongue over his teeth. "How long have you been free?"

Chin up. "Long enough to go through the portal."

He sucked in a breath. Then, bit by bit, his expression relaxed. "You could have gone through...but you didn't. You stayed. Why?"

Because...she wanted to pick up where they'd left off. She wanted his tongue on her and in her. Wanted, finally, to know the most erotic place on her body. Wanted him to bring her to a shuddering climax. Twice.

She wanted to drip orange juice on his skin and lap up every drop.

He must have read the desire in her eyes. His long legs ate up the distance between them as he backed her against the wall. Cold rock behind her, hot man in front of her. Goose bumps broke out.