Saunder smiled wickedly, not even flinching from the strike, as his golden cheek turned red with the imprint of my hand. He didn't let me go. In fact, he pulled me in closer. So close, I could smell the raw meat upon his breath, rotting in his teeth. So close, I could feel the excessive expanse of muscles his towering frame was covered in. Every ridge and curve pressed into me menacingly. So close, I could see the pupils in his eyes flare from reptilian slits into pointed ovals. If only they would grow large enough to cover the crimson color of his irises. He may have been less repulsive then. Well, then again.
“Let go of me, Prince Saunder,” I growled. “Or I will scream.”
He closed his eyes as if he were savoring the thought, “Oh yes, my sweet Adelysia. I would love to hear your screams.”
I opened my mouth to do so, and his descended, claiming mine and drowning out my cry for help. He drank down the sounds of my protest, his tongue filling my mouth with the taste of carrion and ale. I gagged, and he released me. He smiled wider when I spat his flavor out onto the floor.
“Enough of this, Princess,” Saunder murmured. “I've played your human games for weeks now. I've tried to make you mine honorably. But now I grow weary of the chase. I will simply take what's mine.”
I didn't truly fear him then. It wasn't until he tossed me out of the nearby window that I thought to be scared. I screamed as I plummeted, but then suddenly, there were massive, curving talons encircling my body, and I was flying through the air, within the grip of an enormous dragon. I pushed the sunset strands of my hair out of my face and stared up a muscled leg into the eyes of a monster.
The beast's eyes were the same shade of red that the Prince's had been. His scales were the same dark green I'd seen highlighting Saunder's ebony hair. It was him. Definitely Prince Saunder in his dragon form. What was he doing with me? Where was he taking me? I peered into the direction he was heading and saw the deep blue strip of the sea. Beyond that sea, several days journey by ship, lay his kingdom. But we weren't traveling by ship were we? Saunder would probably get us there much faster.
That's when I knew I had made a fatal mistake. I should have run in the opposite direction every time I had seen Saunder. I should have spoken to him only when courtesy demanded. I should have told my father of the liberties Saunder had tried to take with me on several occasions. I should have started carrying a dagger to defend myself against him. I should have done so many things. I wasn't the simpering princess many thought me to be.
But all I had done was underestimate Saunder. Now, the chance for resistance had passed, and any opportunity to deny him was gone. I was to be the dragon's bride. If I was lucky. Saunder may not even marry me. I was his captive. He could simply take what he wanted without the bond of matrimony. I would most likely end up as nothing more than the dragon's whore.
Had I been made of less sterner stuff, I would have cried. I may have even begged Saunder to take me home. But I'd accepted my lot at a very young age, thanks to a stout nursemaid of mine. She'd taught me to be humble, telling me that a princess was nothing more than a slave in pretty clothes. I must act a certain way. I must speak a certain way. I must shine as brightly as I could for the honor of my parents and my kingdom. And then I would be sold like any other precious jewel, my body in exchange for an alliance.
I had always known I'd become a whore, one way or another. The fact that it was to this deplorable dragon wasn't even that much of a surprise to me. All men had the potential to be monsters. This one just happened to be more honest about it.
So instead of crying or screaming, I settled back within Saunder's claws and went to sleep. I had a feeling I would need my strength at the end of this journey.
Chapter Three
I awoke in a soft bed which smelled of lavender and chamomile. The pillows were full and cushioned my head perfectly. The blankets were thick and warm. A canopy of rich, blue velvet hung above my head, swathed with gold cords. Across from the bed, mullioned windows looked out on a stormy sea, waves pummeling the boulders which dared to stand steady in the shallows.
I sat up and noticed that someone had removed my outer dress. I was sleeping in my cotton shift. No matter. I was still covered, and I wasn't in any pain. It was unlikely that anything nefarious had been done to me while I slept. That was something to be thankful for, though perhaps I would prefer to be asleep when the time came for my deflowering. I swallowed hard, pushing that thought away resolutely, and got out of bed.
There was a pitcher of water sitting within a basin, on the far side of the room. An oval mirror in a gold frame hung over it. I went to wash my face and revive myself, wiping off the water with one of the linen towels stacked beside the basin. I looked up into my reflection and took stock.
My skin was even paler than usual, with dark smudges beneath my eyes and within the hollows of my cheeks. My eyes, normally a bright green, were darkened with anxiety. My hair seemed darker too, nearly mahogany instead of its usual flaming auburn. It fell around me in wild tangles. So I took up the wood comb laid out beside the basin, and put my unruly locks back in order. Vanity? No. A princess had to use whatever she could to survive, and her beauty was high on that list. I would have to use my charms to soften the beast as much as I could. And so I needed to look my best.
I found my dress draped over a chest at the foot of the bed. I slipped it on but had no one to tie the laces for me. So I sat in a high-backed chair beside the window and waited. Hopefully, they would send a woman to help me dress. I folded my hands in my lap and tried to be patient. Outside, the storm continued to grow steadily stronger, and I wondered if we had flown through it. But no, my hair was dry. Surely it would still be damp if we had come through that weather.
“Adelysia,” the hissing purr seemed to creep up my spine. I stiffened as Saunder walked into the room. “Did you have a nice rest?” He smiled, absolutely amused that I could sleep through my abduction.
“Well enough,” I stood to face him. “I require some assistance with my laces. Would you be so kind as to send a lady to help me?”
“Would I...” he blinked at me in surprise, and then burst into laughter. “Ever the princess,” Saunder shook his head. “I'm afraid you must rely on me for all your needs.”
Saunder strode over and turned me around briskly. But then I heard his intake of breath, and his hands gentled upon me. He carefully pulled the heft of my hair over into one mass, and draped it across my shoulder. Then I felt Saunder's lips at my neck, his breath tickling my skin. The urge to squirm was nearly impossible to resist, but I managed to stay still. I had to win him over if I wanted any chance at happiness.
Saunder moaned when I didn't pull away, and eased his bulk closer to me. Thick hands, as large as my head, crept over my shoulders and held me firmly in place. I felt the warm wetness of his tongue flick out to taste my skin, then he trailed it down to the edge of my shift. I closed my eyes and pretended to be somewhere else. Then his hands shifted to my hips and pulled me back against him. I felt the massive length of his shaft press into the crevice of my backside as he ground himself into me.
I fought the urge to vomit.
“Adelysia,” Saunder said into my ear, “I have dreamed about you naked beneath me, writhing in pleasure. I can give you that. I can make you scream in ecstasy instead of fear.”
“Will I be your wife or your whore when I do this screaming?” I asked calmly.
Saunder chuckled and pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I will have you for my wife,” he promised, and I relaxed a little. “You thought I would debase you? I love you, Adelysia. Besides, we would have to war with your kingdom if I made their princess into a whore. And as much as I love war, my father has grown weary of it. So we shall be married, rest easy, my sweet.”
“So be it,” I sighed. My father would have married me to a prince anyway. What did it matter if the choice was taken from him? A prince was a prince.
“You've made me so happy.” Saunder eased around to my front and lowered his lips to mine.
At least he had cleaned his teeth since the last time he'd kissed me, and this time Saunder tasted of mint instead of meat. Maybe this wouldn't be so awful, after all. I tried to relax against him. But then he pulled my dress down, and I gasped, yanking away from him.
