‘Cinared?’ I heard the concern in Rey’s voice, his hands gripping my shoulders, stabilising me.
‘She’s mine.’ There was possessiveness in his voice, but also a longing, and I wished I could hear his thoughts like his rider would. ‘Elderblood child, will you accept me?’ Rey’s hands tightened on my shoulders, and he stared at the dragon, eyes narrowing in a voiceless battle of wills. The dragon conceded before I had time to answer. ‘Fine… She’s ours, and ours alone.’
What?My brow furrowed. They were excluding me from a choice that should be mine alone. I didn’t know what this was, but I was not having it. I looked at the dragon, then at Rey, and when my gaze returned to the dragon, I pushed his muzzle away. Well, I tried, crossing my arms in frustration.
‘I belong to no one. I’m willing to accept those who earn their place. Just like everyone else,’ I said harshly. A small part of me was thrilled and yearning to belong to this massive dragon, but not like this.
‘Yessss!’ he roared, backing away. ‘Finally!’ His voice reverberated over the forest when he snapped his wings open, leaping into the sky. The gust of wind the dragon created forced me to turn around and hide my face in Rey’s embrace. He held me tight, stroking my short hair while his heart hammered under my hand.
‘What’s wrong with him?’ I asked when the swirling snow finally settled. ‘And how in Perun’s arse did you end up with a dragon?’
‘Nothing’s wrong with him. He’s happy. That grumpy, sarcastic bastard is happy,’ Ray said with a smile, stroking my short hair. ‘I’ll tell you how I met Cinared when you tell me why you cut your hair.’
‘I didn’t,’ I answered, flinching. I focused on the bies as it stalked closer now that the dragon had disappeared. Reynard tensed, cursing under his breath. I controlled my reaction, nearly biting through my lip. Once I was able, I looked up at him,only to see the muscles on his face twitch in barely controlled violence.
‘I’ll rip them apart for this. Tell me who it was, Sanika.’ Rey’s voice was measured and quiet, but every word bled icy rage, frozen in time until he found the culprit. If he reacted like this to seeing my hair, how could I tell him what had happened at Tivala’s castle? Pain tightened his mouth when his shaky hand combed through my cropped strands.
‘It wouldn’t have happened if not for me and this fucking kingdom. I’m sorry, Sanika. I’m so, so sorry.’ Guilt cracked his icy facade. Men like Reynard built their strength to protect what they loved, and he’d just discovered there were things he couldn’t protect me from. I wanted to tell him everything, to cry in his arms until the horror could be washed away, but I wouldn’t sacrifice his peace to make myself feel better.
‘Tivala can’t hold a candle to Jagon when it comes to beatings, and the hair will grow back.’ I forced a brittle smile, trying to make it appear genuine. I couldn’t hide the marks the beatings had left on my body, but the scars on my soul were mine alone.
Rey’s frown deepened while I stood with what I hoped was a grin, looking him straight in the eye. I gathered the pain threatening to choke me and hammered it into strength. I would become strong enough to end Ernesto Tivala and protect the man I loved from a truth that could destroy him.
‘Don’t hide from me, Viper. This smile is a wall between us, creating a place I cannot reach. It tells me I’m not a man enough if you choose to suffer in silence.’ I had no words to answer this, and after a moment, he exhaled, pressing his forehead to mine. ‘Let’s go home, then, and when you’re ready, I’ll listen.’ Rey leaned back. ‘When I get my hands on him, Ernesto will pray for the end I gave his accomplice.’
‘His accomplice? Wait, did you kill Yaran?’ I asked, blinking rapidly. ‘When?’
The sudden change of subject distracted Rey. He stood frowning for a moment, but eventually, I saw a smile play over his lips. ‘During the last council session. I intended a public execution, but I made an example of him instead – a rather messy one,’ he said, stumbling forward. ‘Now, can you please tell your new pet to calm down before I chop off his precious antlers?’
Yaran had betrayed the kingdom, so his fate was sealed. I didn’t have an inch of sympathy for the bastard. Still, I hadn’t expected it to happen so fast. The bies nudged Reynard harder, and the king turned around, slapping the monster’s head.
‘Sit down,’ he said. I braced myself to jump between them, but much to my astonishment, the beast listened. He whined quietly, looking at me, a question flashing in his bright golden eyes.
‘Good pup,’ I said, unsure of how to reassure it. With a shrug, I reached out and rubbed the tangled mane between the antlers.
Reynard sighed, rubbing his forehead. ‘What do you want to do with your pet?’ He tentatively reached out to the beast, placing his hand on mine before sliding it down with caution, as if he still strongly believed it would attack.
‘It’s not a pet. Just a friend who saved me when the weather nearly turned me into an icicle.’ I rubbed the sweet spot behind the bies’ ears, and the beast closed his eyes, huffing softly.
‘We can’t take him on the dragon, but once things settle, we’ll return so you can bring your friend to Truso.’
My mouth fell open at this statement. ‘You would take him to the capital? Why?’
‘Because it would make you happy. Even if I have to build a stable for the monster to make you smile, it is a small price to pay.’ Rey answered with such a disarming grin as though taming a bies was the most natural thing to do, not an extravagance that could see many people injured or even killed.
I swallowed hard, my throat constricting against the emotions I couldn’t name. To hide this, I turned towards the beast. ‘I think he’ll be happiest where he is, but thank you. That means a lot.’ I exhaled, exhaustion weighing on my shoulders. ‘Call for your dragon. It is time we returned to Truso. I have the schemata Tova needs… and, well, you are a free man. I destroyed the marriage contract. You are all mine now.’
Reynard spun me around, taking my face in his hands, his calloused thumb stroking my lips as he shook his head. ‘From the moment I saw you in the forest, I was yours. No politics, no contracts, or wars can change that. Do you understand, Viper?’ he asked, and unable to hide my smile, I nodded. ‘Good. Now say goodbye to your friend. My dragon is coming, and tonight, you will sleep in my bed.’
He spoke with such certainty that it was both comforting and terrifying. My heart hammered in my chest. I needed to break the heavy tension hanging over my head. ‘Oh, so you’re offering to sleep on the floor?’ I said before deciding to test my reactions. ‘I can’t let a man into my bed who hasn’t even kissed me yet.’
Reynard smirked, bringing his lips to mine in a long, possessive kiss. He didn’t rush, shielding me against the wind caused by the landing dragon. His tongue danced with mine until I moaned, my knees buckling, because darkness didn’t come, and he tasted so good.
Rey paused as if sensing when to stop. ‘Don’t mistake my restraint for lack of desire, Viper. Life can be rough for captive women. You might not want to…’ he stuttered, unsaid words hanging between us. ‘If you’re willing, I will sleep at your feet, across the doorway, or beside you. Cinared was right. You’re ours, but tonight, I won’t share you with anyone. Even my dragon.’
Does he know?The darkness edged closer, but I couldn’t let it consume me. Instead, I focused on the heat that flooded myveins. He still wanted me, and that was all that mattered. Still, I couldn’t let him have the last word. Slowly rising onto my toes, I pressed a delicate kiss on the top of his nose.
‘A bath, dinner, and the strongest, sweetest wine you can find, and I’m exclusively yours… at least for tonight.’
