Page 45 of Henrikk’s Secret

“I assume you stole it,” Asher went on, levelling him with a gaze that dared him to lie.

Henrikk lied. “Of course not.” Asher held his stare, and he soon caved. “I borrowed it.”

Asher scowled and returned to his tragic excuse for a bed, although Henrikk was beginning to suspect it was the ideal furniture for sex. Plenty of posts and ledges to hold onto. It only needed stirrups.

“Fine, I stole it.” Henrikk’s mind flashed with the image of Asher spanking him over the sex-bed-thing he’d built. Holy fuck, he needed a good wank. “Why? Is that a problem?”

The promising sound of Asher’s open hand striking his ass sounded in his mind. A suitable punishment for stealing.

Say yes—it’s a problem.

“No, not a problem,” Asher said, a strange glint entering his eyes. “A solution.” He pointed the dirk at the cove entrance where it led out to a moonlit sea. “This weapon is evidence of an unknown civilization. You said the dragon had broken wings, but there must have been a time it could fly. It must have seen other places with cities. Or perhaps it found the sword on a shipwreck. In any case, the dragon lied to you, Henrikk. There is far more to this world than this tiny island.”

Asher looked at him with barely suppressed joy, his handsome face lit up by the golden glow of hope and lanterns and optimism.

In the face of that hope, Henrikk felt Asher slipping away from him. He suspected it would be another night of blue balls. He’d only managed to get himself off a few times, and it just hadn’t been worth the effort. He wanted Asher’s forgiveness far more than his own pleasure.

But Asher was more interested in make-believe cities.

“There is nothing out there,” Henrikk said firmly, “And nowhere you could go where the dragon could not find you. She will hurt you to punish me if I do not deliver on my promise.”

Suddenly, Asher’s face was inches from his. How had that happened? Henrikk was startled to realise he’d stepped closer, gripping Asher’s forearm.

“I know I’ve hurt you,” Henrikk said softly. “I do not want to see you hurt again. I…want to protect you. We have three days,” he added desperately. “Three days before the dragon comes for us.”

The general regarded him with serious eyes, his expression unreadable. Then, he clapped a firm hand on Henrikk’s shoulder, a gesture of camaraderie that felt forced. “Tell you what—I’ll accept the dirk, and you have my thanks. It’s a fine weapon. But you can lay your fears to rest because I am not yours to protect.”

But you are mine to protect, Henrikk wanted to respond, yearning for it to be true.

Instead, he fled the cove—a languid, indifferent stroll followed by a blind sprint through a dark jungle with undergrowth biting at his skin.

He, too, would have liked to escape from himself.

Chapter 9

ESCAPE

Henrikk

A day passed, in which Henrikk tried very hard to give Asher space. He had faith that the general would soon come around.

After all, what secret of his was worth enduring the wrath of a giant, fire-breathing beast?

I will burn your precious Asher’s bones to charcoal if you fail, Dargotika promised on an hourly basis.

Henrikk had never loathed the beast more. And, if he was ever in any doubt of what the dragon was capable of, it never failed to remind him.

You may have been the ruthless Vampire King, but you are not Him anymore. Do not forget who made you that way.

Henrikk quickly formulated a response in his head, willing Dargotika to read his pleas. She scoffed and ignored him, but she lingered in his mind, choosing to peruse his memories. Henrikk could feel the dragon creeping into his thoughts, pulling at memories old and recent and examining them scornfully.

It lingered on the ones where Henrikk had abused Asher, murmuring in approval as the depravity escalated.

Seeing those scenes play out with fresh eyes, untainted by the dragon’s influence, filled him with nausea.

The dragon felt his aversion and laughed, the taunting sound echoing in his mind.

Oh, my little Henrikk… You will need a stronger stomach than that. Those awful things you did to Asher will be nothing compared to the pain that I will make him feel.