Why did this have to happen when he needed to find his sister’s horn? Not like time was of the essence or anything.
Every second he was gone was precious and dangerous.
He needed to get this done and return home as quickly as possible. Last thing he needed was a bit of chatty baggage that wouldn’t cooperate. He had other irritants he was dodging for that.
Grinding his teeth, Dash lowered himself so that she could easily reach the saddle. “By all means, take your time.”
She let out a deep growl at him as she took a few more seconds to try and figure out how to mount him.
Then again, he instantly regretted this decision, given the way she wiggled all over his back as she slowly situated herself. Grimacing, he tried not to think about what she was doing. But it was hard while she slid her long, slender legs over his body. Then, wrapped them around his rib cage and straddled him.
Oh dear God.
Now he was grinding his teeth for an entirely different reason and cursing his rash decision to help her.
This was going to be a long, hard ride.
Emphasis on both.
My father was right. I am an idiot, and he should have gelded me at birth...
Tanis bit her lip as Dash stood up under her. She grabbed at the saddle horn and held on as tightly as she could. Every muscle in his body flexed between her thighs as he righted himself.
With a frown, she realized he didn’t have reins for her to hold on to.Well, that’s annoying.How was she supposed to ride like this? “Where are the reins?”
Without thinking, she sank her hands into his thick, silken mane.
“Saddle!” he snapped instantly. “Hold on to the saddle! Not my hair.”
Well, that was certainly a rude tone. Offended, she moved her hands to the ivory horn and stuck her tongue out at him. ’Course had he seen her, he would have probably bucked her off his back. But he deserved it for being so testy when all she’d been trying to do was not fall off.
After all, it was a long way to the ground. He was an extremely tall beast from this perspective, and she had no wish to break her neck before she had a chance to kill the human she was after.
And as she adjusted herself, Tanis realized why he was so put out by her grabbing his mane. “You don’t like anyone having control over you, do you?”
“Do you?” There was definite challenge in that tone.
“You know I don’t. Is that not why you chose the price you did for my conversion?”
He didn’t respond.
Which suited her well enough. She didn’t want to speak to him, either. Contrary beast.
Fine then, she’d complete this journey in silence. Complete and utter silence.
“My God,Halla. What have you done?”
Halla jumped at the sharp bark that came from the shadows behind her. Trembling and afraid, she turned to see a tall, dark assassin that made everyone quake in fear... or wet their pants.
Everyone except King Dash.
Mostly because this was the only creature alive Dash trusted. If he trusted at all. The two of them had been friends since they’d been boys, trapped together in a hostile court that had done its best to break them both.
“Keep your voice down, Ryper.”
He slammed the door behind him shut with powers that were terrifying in magnitude. Lifting his hand, he used those same powers to pull her to him. “What did you do?”
“Not me!” She choked and coughed. “Not me! Not me! Let me go!”
