I poured the liquid on his shoulder before he finished the single word. He stiffened, grimacing, his face tight as theburning sting set into his gory wounds. I did the same for his face, then the long gashes on his back. By the time I finished, he lay on his uninjured side, his eyes closed.
“I need a drink.”
“In a minute.”
I did my best to tape the gauze over his raw wounds, hoping he’d heal as fast as he said he would. “Maybe Willow can bring another present.”
“No,” he replied tiredly. “Lanokota isn’t free with her gifts. I’ll be a hundred percent better by tomorrow.”
While I doubted that, I left him to lie on the couch while I hunted up drinks for us both. I found a mini bar in an alcove just off the kitchen complete with whiskey, scotch, sodas, wine, vodka, and other bottles I skipped past. I mixed scotch and soda on the rocks for us both, and took them back.
Alaric gingerly sat up and patted the sofa beside him. “It’s too late at night to call Willow,” he said, taking his glass. “We’ll call her tomorrow.”
“Will Damon go after her?” I asked, sitting beside him.
“No. If he does, she’s more than capable of taking him out.”
I snorted. “Youcouldn’t.Youbarely survived. What can Willow do that you can’t?”
“Willow is also in Lanokota’s service,” he said with a small grin. “Shewon’t let that bastard harm her beloved priestess. Fiona either. Lanokota will turn them both inside out and piss on them. Besides, Willow doesn’t look like she can harm a flea. But get her angry.” Alaric sucked in his breath. “She’s a demon when she’s ticked off.”
I sipped my scotch, discovering I added too much soda, and pondered asking the difficult question. I inwardly shrugged and made the leap. “Did you love her?”
I braced myself to hear the fateful words –oh, yeah, I love her to the moon and back, I wish she was in my arms right now– and caught his questioning glance.
“Who? Willow? Of course.”
Rolling my eyes, I snapped, “No, dumb ass. Fiona. Do you love her?”
“Gods, no.” Alaric grimaced. “Ineverloved her. Nor she me. Ours was a sort of arranged marriage, something more political than affectionate. She wanted my titles, and I needed some considerations from her father.”
I breathed easier. “Oh. Good.”
He all but choked on his drink. “What? You thought I loved that harpy? Shit, I dreaded our wedding night. I’d rather stick my dick into a thicket of nettles.”
Now, I choked. I laughed so hard I spilled my scotch all over my bra and bare stomach. When the image of him sticking his shaft into thorny nettles emerged into my mind yet again, I laughed harder. Forced to set my glass down, I held my aching ribs while the tears rolled down my cheeks.
“I’m so glad you found my predicament so amusing,” he grumbled, drinking his scotch.
At last, I brought myself under control. I supposed that the threat of Fiona returning to his life and demanding his hand in marriage had been casting a dark shadow over me. Nor did I notice it. Now that their relationship was clearer, I could risk opening up my emotions.
Toward him.
“Need a refresher?”
He swallowed the last of his drink. “Yeah. Thank you.”
I mixed new drinks, then sat beside him again, a little closer than before. No, I had no sexual designs on him. Alaric was in no shape for bedroom shenanigans, nor would I pushhim. I felt content just simply being in his company, and remembered his magnificence in his dragon form.
“I loved seeing you as a dragon tonight,” I murmured. “So powerful, so graceful in the air. You fought – well – it’s hard to describe. You sent two dragons fleeing for their very lives.” I met his soft and smiling gray eyes. “I feel very protected around you.”
He bent slightly to kiss the tip of my nose. “And you acted with strength and guts, my queen. You were there when I needed strength and courage. You honored me.”
My face heated at his praise. “I did what anyone would do.”
“No.” He smiled into my eyes. “Anyone might run screaming in horror at a fire breathing dragon flying toward them. You ran toward me, ready to help. You have more guts and good sense than you realize.”
His warm hand clasped mine. “You held me up as big as I am. You never flinched at the sight of my blood, my wounds. You took off your own shirt to stop my bleeding. You conquered you fear. That, in my opinion, is true courage.”
