I think about her writhing in the tub… about the flowers sliding over her skin, sucking her nipples and tonguing her pussy. I think about the sounds she made while the fat green vine fucked her and came in her. I think about how much I want to do the same.
I shift slightly in my chair, grateful for the heavy table hiding the fact that I’ve been half-hard since we left our room.
Then—finally—she speaks.
“I know you must be wondering why we sought you out,” she says to the Sorceress.
I turn toward her, watching the way she lifts her chin, how she steels herself before going on. She’s nervous, but determined, my brave little Princess.
“Why yes, my dear—I've been waiting for you to bring it up,” the Sorceress says smoothly. “Please, do go on. Anything I can do for you, I will.”
Irena takes a deep breath. I see the hope in her eyes, fragile and bright, and something tightens painfully in my chest.
“My mother, the Queen of Therevan is ill,” she says. “She has a wasting sickness—the same kind that killed my father, the King, just two years ago.”
Her voice wavers. She stops, and I know she’s fighting tears. I hate seeing her like this—hate knowing how much she’s carrying alone. I want to put an arm around her—to comfort her—but that might derail her show of strength.
I keep my hands to myself.
“The Head Healer said that only a Draught of Healing mixed by your hand can cure her,” she continues at last. “So please—I’ll do anything if you’ll just make her the draught.”
The Sorceress clicks her long nails against her wineglass, the sound sharp in the silence.
“My dear, I wish that I could,” she says. “But I cannot brew the potion you ask for.”
“What? But I came all this way!” Irena’s eyes blaze. There are tears there too, shining and furious. “Please—I told you—I’ll do anything!”
“Ah, and indeed you may be called upon to do things you do not wish to do,” the Sorceress replies calmly. “For you didn’t let me finish. I cannot mix the Healing Draught for you—but you can.”
“What? Me? But if I knew how to make it, I never would have flown over the Poison Desert and risked going through Thornmere to get to you!” Irena snaps, frustration coloring her voice. “Do you know how much I risked? The things I’ve done that I would never have done otherwise?”
“Please don’t be upset—your sacrifices will not be in vain,” the Sorceress says. “It is a good thing you came to me. For you see, I am the only one who can teach you to harness your magic.”
“You keep saying that—saying I have magic.” Irena blows out a breath. “But I don’t. The only magic I wield is this ring.” She lifts her hand, the silver glinting. “It connects to the collar that Valen wears. It allows me to command him… to a certain point. But I still had to make a bargain with him to even get here to see you. It’s not absolute power. If I took off the ring…”
She looks at me.
“Then I could Shift and fly away without you, isn’t that right, Princess?” I say dryly.
Once, I might have wanted that—it was all I thought about at first. But now…well, I have to confess I’ve developed some strong and very confusing feelings for my curvy little Princess. Feelings I really haven’t sorted out myself. I only know I wouldn’t leave her to fend for herself, even if I could.
“Yes,” she whispers. “You could just fly away and leave me here, I guess.”
“I don’t think your man is likely to leave you any time soon,” the Sorceress says smoothly, breaking the moment. “And Irena, the very fact that you are able to wear that ring and wield the power it possesses is proof positive that you do have magic of your own. For none but a powerful magician could control a Drake Shifter like Valen.”
“But I don’t control him—he mostly does as he pleases,” Irena says plaintively.
I smirk despite myself.
“That is because he has magic too—but it is magic inherent to his Drake form,” the Sorceress explains. “Magic is part of who he is—not what he does. For your people, magic is something you do—not what you are. Do you see the difference?”
“Yes, I suppose. But I still don’t think I have enough magic to heal my mother.”
“Let me prove it to you,” the Sorceress says. “With your help, if you please, Master Drake?”
I frown, but nod slowly. “All right—what do you want me to do?”
“To start, I’d like to see your Drake. Do you think you have room to Shift in here?”
