Yeah, sure, Zixin, it's your tattoos that would have been the problem,I thought to myself.
We walked deeper and deeper into the castle, then traveled upstairs in one of those lifting boxes the land-dwellers use to carry them from floor to floor. We came out into yet another corridor and walked another ten miles or so. Maybe a hundred feet. Whatever. I was about to ask how much further it would be when someone stepped into our path.
“Your Majesty!” my escort sounded surprised, so I knew even before I looked that he wasn't speaking to the King who had sent for me.
I met a dark stare and went still. All three of my hearts stopped beating. This guy was seriously scary. His hair was even the color of fresh blood. Two thin braids framed his face, but it looked as if the hairstyle was more about keeping his hair out of his way than any attempt at fashion. No, this man didn't give a fish's lip about fashion.
He did, however, like to fuck. I saw that seconds later when that black stare heated and swept over me. His deep voice vibrated with lust when he asked, “Have you brought me a present?”
“He's my guest,” a new voice drawled, this one with swagger in it.
Both the tone and depth of the voice affected me. It wasn't as deep as the Land Dragon King's, and I liked that. But what I really liked was the humor in it. I could tell that he enjoyed playing—with his friends, lovers, and food. It had to be King Vaxarion.
Sure enough, the Sea King sauntered down the hall and over to us with a smirk on his handsome face. “So that makes himmypresent. To myself.” He held an elegant hand out to me. “Come, Zixin.”
I took his hand, but even as the Sea King pulled me toward him, the land King grabbed my free wrist. I stared at the King of Gavemor in shock. But he wasn't looking at me. He stared at King Vaxarion.
“Where did you find such a jewel?” the land King asked. “In my city? If so, that makes him mine.”
“No, I found him in my kingdom,” King Vaxarion said, still smirking. “He was aboard his ship, in the waters ofMorilren. And that makes himmine.” He pulled, and I fell into his arms, my wrist slipping free of the other King's grip.
The land King snorted, his vicious face softening. “Fine. Keep your plaything. I'll find another for tonight. And maybe I'll snatch this one up when you're finished with him. I do enjoy a colorful dessert.”
King Vaxarion's grin widened, becoming a baring of teeth, and his fingers dug into my side. “Look at him. I may never be finished.”
I blinked. What the fuck was happening? I wasn't that attractive. Was I? Was I Dragon bait and didn't know it? Holy shit. Were they going to fight over me? This was fucking spectacular! Wait until I told the crew. They were going to think I was making this shit up.
“You're leaving tomorrow,” the land King said, his expression shifting too. But where King Vaxarion's features had gone feral, the King of Gavemor's went smug. “I doubt Zixin's ship is leaving so soon. Isn't that right, sailor?” He leaned closer. “Or are you a pirate?”
“I'm from a merchant vessel, Your Majesty,” I said. “We're respectable.”
“Not tonight you aren't.”
I grinned. “Very funny, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, you're amusing,” King Vaxarion was back to his slow drawl. “And yes, I'm leaving tomorrow. But you never know what the morning may bring. Now, if you excuse us, King Lyrandir, we'll be making use of that enormous bed you've so generously provided me with.”
King Lyrandir nodded. “Enjoy your evening, King Vaxarion.” His gaze slid to me. “Both of you.” That stare seemed to imply that come morning, I'd be switching beds.
Surprisingly, I wasn't game for that. The land King scared the shit out of me, and that wasn't something I looked for in a lover. I didn't care if he could shower me with riches. I didn't want to worry about making it out of his bed alive.
Thankfully, King Vaxarion hustled me along. As we went, several Sea Dragons fell into place around us. I hadn't even noticed them before that. I'd been too distracted by the Dragon Kings and the potential fight between them. I glanced at the grim faces of King Vaxarion's knights and then at the Sea King. His smile was gone, but when he caught me staring at him, it returned. He even winked at me.
I chuckled and smiled back.
Then we were entering a massive suite, and King Vaxarion's men split up, two staying in the hallway to guard the door while the other four came into the suite with us. They swept ahead of the King, moving rapidly through the sitting room to the bedroom beyond. By the time King Vaxarion and I entered the bedroom—a huge space full of velvet, gilded wood, and silly paintings—they had secured it and were headed out to the balcony.
As soon as the balcony doors clicked shut, the King pulled me into his arms. No, hey, thanks for coming. Not even a hello. His lips went straight to mine, and his body pressed forward, letting me know how ready he was for me.
Fuck it, that's what I was there for.
I wrapped my arms around King Vaxarion and went for it, putting all I had into that first kiss. And it did the trick. The Sea King growled and started yanking at my clothing. I helped him, kicking off my boots before untying my scarf. He shoved down my pants, then tore free of me. Panting, his purple eyes practically glowing, King Vaxarion watched me remove the last of my clothes. He was still fully dressed. And didn't that make it all the more sexy?
I palmed my cock and stroked it for him.
“Very nice,” the King said and started to undress. “Get on the bed. Face up.”
I eagerly crawled onto the behemoth of a bed and plopped down amid the pillows and down comforter. It billowed around me so much that I slammed it down with my fists, making annoyed sounds.
