Rauk’s lips turn up into something that resembles a smile but is too cold to be categorized as that. And the way he cocks his head just screams predator to me, but what do I know? Maybe he’s actually a nice guy. But then I remember how many times he’s ignored both Rysden and Kaldar and how many people have died or been injured in guivre attacks, while we waited for the king of the Dragon Kingdom to take his sweet time showing up.
I throw my braid over my shoulder and finally find my tongue. “So, you finally answered the summons. You finally ready to step up and stop hiding?”
It goes impossibly quiet, and he turns slowly to me. Those dark eyes burn into mine, and I stare him down, refusing to beintimidated by him. He cocks a single eyebrow. “Is there a reason you’re talking to me?” His voice is low and gritty, and it takes a moment for his words to register.
Anger burns through me so fast, I almost get lightheaded. “Does anybody in your kingdom even listen to you, King Jerkface?” Not my brightest insult; even I can admit that.
Lox snickers. “Really, Harpie?”
Rauk turns his gaze to Lox, and I don’t miss the look in his eyes. It’s not a happy look; that’s for certain. Slowly, he turns his head back to me. “King Jerkface?”
I shrug. “Yeah, well, I’ve been hanging out with this one for too long.” I nod at Farrah. “She hates swearing. Actually, a more appropriate name would probably be—”
“How about we take this conversation to our place?” Rysden interrupts smoothly, effectively cutting off what I was going to say.
“Why am I here?” Rauk asks. His words sound more like a growl than a question.
I glance around. “Are you here by yourself?” It surprises me; I would think he’d have some kind of security with him. Of course, there’s the massive black dragon he was just riding.
Rauk ignores my question.Shocking. “Why?” he asks Rysden again.
I roll my eyes, totally over all this already. “Don’t tell him, Rysden.”
“Don’t tell me what?” Rauk grinds out, and this time it was most definitely a growl. As if the dragon can sense his master’s growing anger, the massive black dragon paws at the groundand snorts out a puff of smoke, sending a sulfur smell into the air.
Rysden looks between the two of us, his sharp gaze missing nothing. “Why are you here?” Rysden turns the question back on him.
Rauk scowls and nods at the dragon beside him. “He’s been driving me crazy for months to come here and won’t tell me why.”
“Great,” I mumble. “Not only is he a jerk, he’s also not perceptive. At all.”
That dark gaze finds mine. “Do you realize I have people killed in my kingdom for less?” He asks, a cruel smile at his lips.
“Wow.” I keep my voice steady and even. “You have people killed for hurting your feelings?”
Rysden’s apparently had enough. “Harper, tell him why he’s here.”
I laugh. “Nope. No way.” But then I swiftly change my mind. “You know what? Never mind. This will be fun.”Redara, want to show yourself?
With pleasure,comes her response. I can’t help but grin because as irritated as I’ve been at this male for not showing up, she’s even more angry that her mate hasn’t come to her. If she’s told me once, she’s told me a thousand times that if she knew where to go to him, she would; but she has no more clue how to get to the Dragon Kingdom than I do. So, it’s with pleasure that I watch my hotheaded dragon fly into our line of sight. I watch Rauk carefully and notice the exact second he registers Redara. He swears long and hard under his breath, and I laugh.
I wipe my eyes. “That was awesome.”
Chapter 3
“We’re going to back to our place,” Rysden says, not leaving us any other option. “Farrah can ride with me, and Rauk you can take my horse.”
Rauk eyes the horse distastefully. I smirk. “You can ride a dragon, but you can’t ride a horse?”
“Does this one ever stop talking?” Rauk asks Rysden as he mounts.
Rysden wisely ignores him. If Rauk can feel the look I shoot him, he doesn’t acknowledge it. I ride next to Farrah and Rysden, and Lox and Rauk ride behind us. “You okay?” Farrah asks softly.
I shrug. “Pretty sure we’re not going to get any help out of that jerk.” I don’t bother to keep my voice down.
“I can hear you,” a gritty voice says from behind us.
“Good.” I reach out to Redara.Are you okay to be left with him?
