“I just need some time, my foundling.” He tried to smile, but it looked pained.
Sir Vanoak knelt beside him. “May I see your wound, Your Majesty?”
Raventar nodded. I helped him lie across my lap and stroked his hair out of the way. Sir Vanoak leaned over and inspected the thin red line that was all that remained of the cut. Around us, the other knights and the humans—remarkably still alive—packed up the camp, sending us worried glances.
“It's healed,” Vanoak said. “Foxren is suffering the same sort of weakness.” He nodded over to where Sir Foxren was propped against a tree. “He was struck by the same man with the strange blade.”
“He said it was compulsion magic.” I continued to stroke the King's hair. “It's not poison. He should recover.”
“Who said that?” Vanoak demanded.
“Nahel,” Raventar growled even as he wrapped his arm around my waist and snuggled closer. “That fucking bastard came for Eliel. He cut me down from behind and tried to enslave Eliel while I was paralyzed.”
“I'm sorry, Eliel. I don't mean to make light of enslavement, but I'm glad he was after you,” Vanoak said. “Otherwise, he could have killed the King.”
I gasped and stared down at Raventar.
“Don't scare him!” the King snarled.
“I want to know the truth, even if it scares me.” I lifted my chin. “He attacked us to capture me, didn't he? There was no other reason for it.”
“I don't think it was solely about you,” Vanoak said. “Nahel probably knows we're hunting him.”
“Yes, you're right,” I murmured. “It couldn't just be me.”
With the battle over, I could process all that had happened, and I began to tremble. I had nearly become another man's plaything. But what truly terrified me was how close the King had come to dying. Looking down at him again, I found my hand straying from his hair to his face. When had he become so precious to me? Was it last night when we shared that unusual intimacy? Or had this feeling grown slowly with every kind word and gentle look he'd offered me? It was all of it and more. His patience. His strength. The determination to see me through mytragedy. All while asking nothing in return. And he thought I was his mate.
“I don't care what his priority was. He went after you, and I nearly failed to protect you.” The King pushed himself up and groaned.
“Your Majesty!” I put my hands on his chest to support him. “Please! Don't get up yet. Rest.”
“I'll be all right.” He set a hand over mine, smiled, and then slid his stare to Vanoak. “Can you get Foxren into a carriage?”
Sir Vanoak glanced across the clearing to where the other knight lay propped against a tree. “Yes, Sire. I think he's doing better. He was only scratched by the weapon.”
“A scratch put him down?” the King growled. “Motherfuckers! We need to get that blade and kill Nahel. No one can be allowed to own something that deadly.”
“I agree, Your Majesty. But I also agree with Eliel. We should camp here one more night.”
“No. I won't risk him. That scum is after Eliel, and I'm to blame for bringing him with me.”
“No, you're not!” I grabbed his hand. “You gave me a choice, and I decided to come. I don't hold you responsible, and you shouldn't either.”
“You see?” Vanoak waved at me. “He's as wise as he is beautiful. Listen to him.”
Raventar growled at Vanoak.
Vanoak drew back. “I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I was just making an observation. I have no intention of pursuing Eliel. He is yours. We all know that.”
I looked from Dragon to Dragon, my eyes going wide. Where was my kind King? Who was this growling monster, jealous over nothing? I leaned back. Dear Gods, had I misjudged him? Was I so foolish that I couldn't tell when a man was using sweetness as seduction?
Raventar narrowed his eyes at Vanoak, but then he glanced at me. Immediately, his growling stopped. “Eliel, don't be scared. It's only my dragon. He's grown attached to you. It's instinctive for him to warn other men off.”
“And it's a good sign.” Vanoak grinned and winked at me. “All right. We'll pack up and get moving, Your Majesty.” He got up and went to help the others.
“What just happened?” I gaped at the departing knight. “What changed his mind?”
The Dragon King cleared his throat. “One of the signs that a Dragon has found his mate is a fierce protectiveness.”
