"Quiet. I have no desire to hear the sounds you made with the princeling."She snarks, and I feel bile build in the back of my throat. Oh gods, I'm never going to hear the end of this. Not from her… not from, not fromanyone,the moment this gets out.
Which means it can't. Nobody can know that this happened. My head shakes back and forth, the heels of my palms pushing against my eye sockets, while I drag myself up into a standing position.
"You're irritated."Vada starts again, her imposing head lowering in front of me.
"And you aren't?"
She narrows one large golden eye at me,"you don't like how he makes you feel. I don't blame you — I don't like it either."
My brows lift,"what do you mean, 'I don't like it either'?"
"We are bonded."She answers, as if that should be a good enough explanation."And you are obnoxiously loud and persistent when indisposed. Makes both of my stomachs turn."
My own stomach churns at the thought of herlisteningto those thoughts…"shut me out next time!"I bark, not wanting to think on it a second longer.
"I do not understand why you are so disgruntled."
My jaw drops, and I look at her, horrified,"you were just sharing with me that you are aware of when I am 'indisposed'."
Her shoulders lift in the most natural way that a dragon can shrug,"that part is the least unsettling. Dragons are no strangers to primal couplings,"oh gods —ew, I think as she continues,"it's your human feelings that are nauseating. Or maybe it's your choice in partner."
"Can we talk about literally anything else other than dragon sex and my choice in partner?"I ask, pushing against her snout as I squeeze past her magnificent form, making my way over to the weapons table.
"Have you shared with the rest of them what you've been up to on our flights?"
I freeze, my hand hovering over one of my whips."No…"I drag out.
"You've not thought it necessary to tell them that you're attempting to Wield over the creatures?"
"Key word there, attempting,"I grumble, turning around to look at her. She huffs another hot breath, her vexation with me palpable, because I can't give her a good reason as to why I haven't said anything yet. When I first got back, the only thing I wanted to do was continue their destruction. To burn them all, to hack them all down. They're the number one predator of my people —and I'm their maker.
I'm no idiot, I've heard the whispers of Eiser and Baelor making more advancements — albeit I wasn't aware of how quickly they were making their headway on Sorrel until today — that's when I first got the idea. They may be our number one predator, but they're also the apex against anyone who dares to cross into our territory.
Besides, once Baelor hears — if he hasn't already — of his precious heir being where she shouldn't be, it won't matter if there are outerland creatures littering their pathway towards me. I'll have war on my doorstep.
But if I can weaponize them… I may be able to prevent them from ever getting that close. My parents did their damndest to make sure that no matter what methods were necessary, this kingdom would remain standing. I won't disappoint them.
I feel warmth wash over me, and I bring my thoughts back to the present, to Vada's scrutinizing gaze."Your mind is clouded."She states bluntly."It's all thosefeelings."
A laugh slips past my lips,"or — and I'm just guessing here — it could be the fact that I'm trying to intercept a warfront from making its way to my borders."
She hums her disagreement. I walk up towards her, look into her prideful stare, and pat the top of her snout."Promise me we'll get through this?"
"I will promise no such thing. I would not have chosen you had I thought you weak, that would have been a waste of my time."A third roll of hot steam bursts into my face as she rears her head back, her full frame dwarfing me. She retreats into the cave mouth until all that remains visible are two glowing gold orbs glaring down at me."Do not waste my time with failure, human."The words are said with finality in them as she disappears into the darkness.
"Of course not," I mutter.
My conversation with Vada left me with nothing but a weight sitting on my chest as I sulked all the way back to my bedroom.
Thankfully, when I reach my room, no guard is lingering outside the camouflaged door. I don't think I could handle my embarrassment in polite conversation. In fact, I don't think I could handleanykind of conversation with another human at the moment, polite or otherwise.
Loosing a bit of my Wield, I lazily use it to open the stone door, slumping against it once I’m inside. My fingers come up and pinch my brow together while I let out a low and long breath. I don't know what the fu—
"That position does not look comfortable."
My breath catches in my throat, and the blood drains from my face. Slowly, I pull my hand away and raise my head. There, across my bedroom and leaning against the doorway to my bathroom, is a very damp, mostly nakedRorin. He smirks, gloating at my obvious gawking as I try to make sense of him being here – in my bedroom.
Naked — well,mostlynaked.
