“This is Veyraxxies. He’s one of the oldest dragons in Nevaehun,” he said. The General placed his hand on my lower back, then quickly withdrew it, remembering not to touch me. He certainly was handsy.
He quickly apologized. “Sorry. Old habit. Don’t be scared of Veyraxxies. I won’t let him hurt you.”
I studied the large orange dragon. It looked at me with the same acknowledging stare the brown dragon and Zephyros had given me. I felt the same tingling sensation in my palms accompanied by a strange pull toward the dragon.
“I’m not scared,” I corrected Cercies plainly.
The orange beast lowered its head toward me and bent at the knee in my presence. Cercies watched with burning curiosity. “How are you doing that?” he asked.
“Doing what? Don’t all dragons act this way with you?” I asked.
“No, they don’t,” he replied, amazement edged with a hint of fear in his voice.
Just then, the massive orange beast lowered his membranous wing, creating a ramp just for me. I placed my tingling palm on his jaw, and the sensation in my mind intensified.
“Thank you, Veyraxxies,” I said aloud.
Then I heard the tiniest whisper in my head, not in words I heard, but in words I felt.
Veyraxxies: I serve the child made.
I froze. My breath caught in my chest. “What?” I whispered.
The dragon only watched me, ancient and knowing. I shook my head. I had to be imagining it.
I climbed up the wing with ease and sat in the front seat of the saddle.
Cercies followed and sat behind me. I had always found riding in a double saddle a bit awkward with Aurelius. Cercies, being a significantly larger male, made the proximity between the two seats disappear. His large muscular body pressed on my back, the pressure from his hips on my backside, made my breath hitch. He inhaled deeply probably taking in my scent, it was evident he enjoyed the close proximity; I could feel just how much he enjoyed it, pressing against my ass. I couldn’t help but flinch.
“Fuck, I’m doing the best I can, but your body touching mine is distracting. I can send for Aurelius if you want,” he said.
Just wanting to get the fuck out of Dragons Maw, I rolled my eyes and huffed.
“Let’s just go.” I groaned.
With that, we ascended into the sky.
CHAPTER 13
The Law of Flesh
DELILAH
The guards opened the castle doors as I watched Veyraxxies fly away, shrinking into the distance. I passed the kitchen, and the fire sprites asked if I wanted
lunch sent to my room. I nodded with a forced smile, but I was not hungry. My stomach was still in knots from what had happened at Dragon’s Maw.
That was when I heard two voices arguing down a corridor. Quietly, I followed the sound. I peeked around the corner and hid behind a giant ceramic vase, spotting Aurelius and Prisca locked in a heated conversation.
“What do you mean no? You can’t tellmeno. I’m the Princess of Flame. If you don’t, I’ll just tell Titus you forced yourself on me at the solstice celebration,” she threatened.
“Prisca, don’t play games. You are going to get me killed. It was a one-time thing. What did you think would come of it? You know I can’t take a mate,” he reasoned.
She pointed her finger in his face. “This is because of that human whore, isn’t it? I see the way you look at her,” she accused.
“No, I’m not even convinced she will accept the High Lord’s mate mark at this point. They can’t seem to stand being in the
same room together, let alone be mates,” he defended, lowering her hand from his face.
