I nodded, equal parts fascinated and concerned. I’d read of those with greater magic, those with ancient blood, who could hear dragon voices. History called them Dragon Whisperers.
An ability believed to have died out long ago with the dilution of ancient blood. To my knowledge, not even Aurelius could communicate like that. But Dragon Whisperers were supposed to hear only their bonded dragon.
Delilah sounded like she could hear… more than one. Maybe all of them. A chill crawled up my spine at the implication. “What did he say to you?” I asked.
Her attention shifted from Draxxinar to me. Her impossibly blue eyes flickered across my face, examining. Her lips pressed into a tight line. No emotion—none she’d let me see.
Then she looked back to my dragon. Her hand remained on his back.
After a moment she said, “He doesn’t like it when you order him to eat people. And he doesn’t like being perceived as a monster.”
A heaviness settled in my ribs. Draxxinar and I were more alike than I had thought. She glanced at me again and added, “He would also like more goats. He prefers them to cows.”
Her lips curved into a small smile, so many emotions crushed me under their weight, guilt, regret, and awe. I didn’t know which.
Then I remembered she was in my lap. I buckled us in, the tight straps adding even more pressure between my legs. I tried to ignore the warmth and curve of her ass—firm yet supple—pressed directly against my traitorous, hardening cock.
Wind tossed a lock of her hair loose, and it brushed my cheek. Her scent wrapped around me. It was strong even outdoors. But it wasn’t lust I sensed first.
It was her power.
And as much as I hated it, I couldn’t resist relishing in it.
Now that Draxxinar agreed to comply, I leaned forward and grabbed the saddle handles, trapping her between my arms. She fit so well there.
We were too close.
She shuddered. I inhaled the spike of her arousal, sharp and potent.
My control thinned.
I gave my dragon the command, and we lifted into the air.
Delilah didn’t know what to do with her hands. There was only one set of grips on a single saddle. Draxxinar was massive, but he was fast as fuck, and she needed something to hold onto.
I groaned in irritation, because I knew I was going to have to do something I didn’t want to do.
I took her hands and placed them on the handles, then wrapped my hands around hers.
Her fingers were warm, soft, and delicate—a pleasant contrast to mine.
It was an intimacy I didn’t do.
I enjoyed fucking. But I didn’t kiss. I didn’t cuddle. And I sure as hell didn’t hold hands.
I despised intimacy. It always seemed like a waste of valuable time.
This situation, with the solo saddle, was literally forcing my hand.
And to my surprise… I didn’t entirely hate it.
She moved her hair to one shoulder, giving me an unobstructed view ahead. But my face was within an inch of her neck, and that’s all I could seem to focus on.
Draxxinar beat his wings against the current, and we gained speed on our flight to the Kingdom of Terrain.
Two hours touching her—without touching her—was going to be the death of me.
CHAPTER 24
