Dear Gods, I loved him!
That was the key. Love. Ironically, it was our anger that showed me how deep he had gone. The Dragon King had found my heart and claimed it. He slid into me slowly, carefully. I hadn't noticed he was there until he ruled me more thoroughlythan his kingdom. I knew then that I would do anything for Raven. Not out of submission but love.
I let go of his shaft, bent forward, and braced my hands to either side of his hips. Holding myself steady, I took what the King offered, accepting him into my body in the only way he'd allow. Because he loved me too. He had to. Why else would he be so concerned about our first time together? He loved me, and I loved him. This was what I'd been searching for my entire life. Belonging to someone did not have to mean slavery. It could be the opposite. That's what the Dragon King was to me.
“Eliel!” Raven pounded up, driving himself through my tense lips, over my eager tongue, and down my throat. “My foundling. My sweet foundling. Oh, fuck!” With one last upward thrust, the Dragon King emptied into me.
I moaned as the flavor hit my tongue, savoring it before I drank it down. My hands went back to his cock as he dropped onto the seat. Body shuddering and arms flopping to the sides, Raven gave me his pleasure, just as I'd hoped. I watched him flinch through the little zings that followed a great orgasm, smiling around his cock, and slowed my motions to bring him down. At last, I sucked my way off his limp flesh and sat back to admire my work.
“Oh, Gods damn me,” the King gasped, his hands going to my face. “I'm so sorry, Eliel. Did I hurt you?”
“With your cock?” I smirked up at him. “I'd say it was your flesh that was in danger, not mine. You had to risk my teeth.”
He went still, only his chest moving with his harsh breaths. “But . . . your lips. They're swollen. You were trying to be sweet, and I brutalized you.”
I burst out laughing.
His expression turned horrified. “Stop laughing and be honest with me. Are you hurt?”
Pushing his hands away, I nuzzled his cock and then licked it. Even spent, it was beautiful. Maybe I could encourage a second round. He was a Dragon, after all. They were known for their rapid recovery times.
“What are you doing?” The King pushed back my hair. “Stop, Eliel.”
“Shut up, Your Majesty.” I sucked his spent cock into my mouth and played with it, taunting him with my tongue until his flesh swelled once more. I shuddered as the orgasm that had been building inside me finally found release. With a cry around his cock, my hips shot forward, and I found my pleasure.
His hands went still. “Was that? Did you?”
With a satisfied sound, I sucked him up to his tip. “I just came, yes. Now fuck my face again, Raven.”
With a savage growl, the Dragon King grabbed my head and started thrusting.
Chapter Eighteen
The sun was just setting as we entered the town of Two Rivers, named for the rivers that intersected nearby. Our arrival immediately garnered the attention of the locals, who must have been on high alert after the Crimson Feathers raid. They came out of their homes and shops to cry out in shocked delight when they saw their friends, neighbors, and loved ones sitting in the wagons. Shouts of recognition came, and then cheers. We gathered a crowd that followed us to the center of town, where we finally came to a halt.
As soon as the wagons rolled to a stop, the freed captives jumped out of the wagons and ran to their loved ones. Raventar helped me out of the carriage, and I stood pressed against his side, his arm around me and my wing around him as we watched the happy reunions. All but Tara. She stood to the side, her arms wrapped around herself, watching with a blank expression.
Raventar and I shared a worried look. He nodded, and we headed over to Tara. Just as we reached her, the sound of hoofbeats came from the road to our right. Everyone turned to watch the approach of a group of mounted humans dressed in the traditional leather garments of the Lamatoka tribe. A man on the lead stallion, his long black hair braided back to emphasize his sharp cheekbones, stared over the crowd with narrowed eyesuntil he saw Tara. His expression went relieved, and then joyous. With a cry, he jumped off his horse and ran to her.
“Tara!” He swept her up into a hug. “My love. You're safe.” He eased back to look at her and stroke her hair back from her face. “We've been out searching for you. We couldn't track them after they took flight. What happened? How did you get free?” He looked around at the people with their loved ones and then at the King. He went still. “King Raventar?”
“Yes,” the King said. “You are Tara's husband?”
“Yes, I'm Turinoca of the Lamatoka Tribe.” He stepped away from Tara to bow, but then immediately drew her in against his side. “Why are you with my wife, King Raventar?”
“We came across a suspicious caravan. We stopped it and discovered many captives taken by members of the Crimson Feathers.” He motioned at the chained Okons still in one of the wagons. Your wife was among the captives being transported. We freed them and escorted them home.”
“I am in your debt, Your Majesty.” Turinoca bowed again. “My wife is dear to me, but she is also from the Macveren tribe. We married to seal an alliance. If her people discovered I had allowed her to be captured, they would have waged war on us.”
“That explains her hair.” The King glanced at Tara. “I've never met a blonde Lamatoka.”
“Yes, she is a prize.” Turinoca grinned.
Tara did not grin. She didn't change her expression or add anything to the conversation. She barely looked at the husband who supposedly adored her. Watching them together reminded me of Bara and me. I had been much the same when he hosteddinner parties. A prize was something you put on display, not a person with feelings whom you respected. My fists clenched.
“Tara, are you all right?” I asked.
Startled, she looked at me. “Yes, thank you, Eliel. I'm just tired.”
