Ishuddered.
Fuck…and…no.
The King of Gorgons gagged somewhat in his throat, his silver-skinned complexion paling sickly. He did manage to tip his head toward their lair’s entrance. “May we go inside now? Or will we be attacked if we step in?”
The dragon smirked. “They know you’re here. They’ve been listening in to this stimulating conversation.” He waved grandly toward the dark entrance. “Enter if you wish.”
“That is appreciated,” I offered nobly.
It was much easier than fighting.
Definitely so.
Then his head tilted oddly as if he were listening to something unknown. “Duty calls.”
Suddenly, he jumped far higher than anyone I’d ever seen, soaring up into the frigid air. The dragon shifted above us, scattering snow in our direction with each heavy beat of his dark wings.
My red brows gradually puckered as he flew away. “I hope they aren’t killing shifters again. King Athon would disapprove.”
“If we don’t fix this, King Athon may never live to find out what they’re doing.” The King of Gorgons grabbed my shoulders and shoved me toward the entrance, smirking maliciously. “You first, this time.”
“I fucking hate you.” I stomped through the snow, storming inside the entrance to the cave.
The prick followed hot on my heels. “Back at you, murderer.”
“Eat shit, hiss-and-twitch.”
“Bite me, itty-bitty-fang-bitch.”
I snorted hard. “You’d probably like that, stoner-eyes.”
“Actually, Iwouldlove to see them break against stone, you short-and-stubby-pissant. That paints a marvelous picture, indeed.”
“Holy witch of Fairy. Shut up!” King Ula bellowed from further inside the cavern. “I swear on my honor, something is seriouslywrongwith you two.”
“Wait. I bet twenty coins they are fucking.” His other henchman’s voice crept down the cave’s walls. “It has to be.”
“Do not start that bullshit again.No more gambling,” King Ula snapped furiously. “Are you hearing what I’m saying? I do not want to deal with those ruffians again.”
“Quite so.” The dragon sighed grumpily.
Silently sucking in the chilly air, I barely breathed, “If people think we’re Fae damned flirting, then they have something seriously wrong with them.”
King Elon soundly grunted behind me.
* * *
I stoodbefore the King of Dragons and his henchman—the dragon shifter who had killed the original shifter. Neither man was to be trifled with lightly. I placed my hands behind my back, bowed my crowned head respectfully, and stated cordially, “King Ula, I appreciate you taking a moment to speak with me.”
The dragon king’s solid golden eyes held my emerald gaze regally, despite his simple barbarian clothing worthy of the frigid temperatures inside their lair. He may be a fallen and disgraced king, but his stature and arrogance bespoke his royal lineage down to his strong bones and clever regard.
His lips curved harshly as he responded, “You must be desperate if you’ve come knocking on my door again, King Traevon.”
I hedged, “Not desperate, per se.”
King Ula chuckled. “You haven’t even looked at our lovely décor since you walked inside. An action on our part that could be perceived as breaking the pact we made with you and the other royals.”
Correctly so, I was ignoring the new skeletons lying about inside this pit of ruin—for now. “I assure you, King Ula, I don’t know what you’re talking about. But if there is an issue, I’m sure you’ll have it cleared up shortly with the King of Shifters.” Standing next to me, the gorgon kinghissedsoftly in his throat, not agreeing with my swerve around the obvious. But I pushed forward nonetheless. “I have come to ask a favor.”
