The Rover Princess

by D. E. Kilgore

  Shaking my head in disbelief, I made eye contact with Rafael. His eyes flickered from deep amber to dark caramel as he gripped onto the doorframe like a lifeline. He was battling his Dragon half, trying to gain control, but he was exhausted, and I could see deep bruises setting in under his eyes. Shaking off Selene and taking a staggering step toward Rafael, I put my hands on my hips, trying to put a little force into my words. “Well, you’ve done it now, haven’t you?”

  Rafael’s eyes shifted back to bright amber, and I pointed to the bed. “Bed. Now.”

  He growled but continued to stare at me, his eyes gazing to the bed then back to me. Throwing my hands up in the air in frustration, I hobbled over to the bed, waving off Selene’s hands when she tried to help me walk. I’d felt a shift in energy from Rafael’s Dragon the second she tried to grab my arm. His Dragon was becoming more unstable by the second and would not tolerate anyone near me or in the room for much longer. The second I sat on the bed, Rafael staggered over, dropping face first into the mattress before curling a warm arm around my waist and pulling me to his side. I looked at everyone in the room, frustration and fatigue leaking into my words. “I’m not an expert in Dragon, so you will have to explain to me everything that has or is happening at some point. What I do know though is Rafael changed his form at least three times today already. Not to mention completely destroyed his opponent on the training grounds a few hours ago. He needs rest, and so do I.”

  The healer nodded and approached the bed slowly. “Add the stress of these last three months with you disappearing and the challenge to the crown, it would explain his exhaustion.” He looked back at the queen and snapped his notebook shut. “The prince will be just fine. He needs rest, fluids, and food.” He looked back at me. “You on the other hand need to stay off your ankle for the next month at least. Even then it might not heal right. You will likely have a permanent limp.”

  I didn’t knowledge him and instead laid my hand on Rafael’s back. His breathing had evened out, and all I wanted to do was lie down next to my husband and fall asleep. The queen pointed to the door and ushered everyone out. Promising to catch up with Selene a little while later when she hesitated at the foot of the bed, the doors finally clicked shut, and I fell backward with an ‘oof’ as Rafael pulled me in closer. Snuggling into his warm chest, I craned my head to the side to see one of his eyes cracked open, still amber in color. Wiggling around in his tight embrace, I was able to turn over, coming face to face with Rafael. I placed a soft kiss on his lips, receiving a light growl in return. He shifted me around and I ended half on top of his chest, one of Rafael’s arms wrapped around my waist and a hand clasped gently on the back of my neck. I let out a small groan as Rafael began to trail hot kisses across my throat. Threading my hands through his loose hair, I stifled my giggle when Rafael made his way up my neck to nibble on my ear. He pulled away, and I growled playfully, gripping his hair and using it to bring his face back to my lips. His lips twitched against mine, my growl amusing him. I opened my mouth to tell him we were supposed to be resting but instead, Rafael took the opportunity to deepen the kiss. A shiver glided down the base of my spine as I slid into a straddling position over his hips. My whole body flushed and tingled as Rafael’s hands skimmed up my thighs to grip my hips under the robe. Pushing up into a full sitting position, Rafael’s eyes hooded in desire as I loosened the tie holding the robe closed and shrugged the whole thing off. My gasp was sharp when Rafael surged up, flipping me over onto my back and reached down, loosening the ties to his trousers. My body felt like it was on fire, and I shivered hard as tingles began to slide down my spine, anticipation to what was coming all consuming. Rafael paused, his gaze trailing up my body before catching my eyes with his. My brain melted as Rafael gently grabbed my thighs, pulling me into position. My mouth went dry as he leaned over; one hand gripping my hair softly as the other snaked down between my thighs. Rafael resumed nibbling at my neck, and I sunk my nails into his shoulder as a pressure began to build low down in my belly. Rafael let out a low growl, speeding up the movement of his fingers between my thighs. I let out a soft cry as he pressed his thumb down and my whole body shuddered. Rafael nibbled at my lips, his hand slipping from between my thighs, and my breathing became labored as something much bigger than fingers nudged at my core. Breaking his kiss, I threw my head back, crying out once more as Rafael slowly began to slip inside of me. Wrapping one of my legs around his waist, I arched my back as he sunk into me fully. Grinding his hips against mine in an excruciating slow pace, my soft cries of ecstasy mixed with Rafael’s growls.

  My breath caught as Rafael’s pace picked up, and I dug my hands into the bedcovers as the pressure inside started to build once more. Rafael kept the pace, snagging my hands in his and pulling them up over my head. Clasping both my wrists in his one hand, his other grabbed my free hip, pushing it down into the bed and took full control. My body bucked and shuddered against his as pressure built, finally breaking, sending wave after wave of pleasure down my spine. Rafael leaned in, biting my shoulder to muffle his shout, and his whole-body tensed as I tightened around him. He shuddered and groaned, going limp on top of me. Moaning in contentment as an aftershock of pleasure rippled down my spine, Rafael slipped out of me and rolled to his side, bringing me along with him. Wiggling against his hot and sweaty body, I took a deep breath. The smell of musk and pine tickled at my nose as a smaller shiver ran down my spine again. Rafael grunted and groped blindly for a blanket, finally finding one, and half pulling it over our exhausted bodies. His arm tightened around me, and I burrowed deeply into his side, stretching one of my legs out across his stomach. I couldn’t remember a time my body ever felt this relaxed or content. Eyelids growing heavy, I let out a yawn as Rafael’s fingers drifted lazily across my hip. My breathing deepened as I lost the battle to stay awake and sunk into a blissful sleep wrapped up in Rafael’s arms.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Uneventful days passed by since returning to the Stronghold. Rafael had been in and out of a deep sleep for the first two days, and I happily stayed by his side for all of them. We found out his Dragon half—and his human half, in my opinion—was unable to let me leave his side for even a second. I hadn’t minded as much until the time I found him waiting impatiently outside the bathing room door for me. Growling, I told his Dragon to knock it off, and in return he growled right back before throwing me over his shoulder and dumping me on the bed. That led to a second round of lovemaking, except this time, I climbed on top and dared him to try and remove me. Rafael was more than happy to demonstrate how he could still take control of me from this position. He demonstrated so well that not long after we finished, a knock echoed at the door. We found a pitcher of water along with a platter of meat, fruit, and dessert outside. Along with our surprise food platter was a note which said to ‘keep our calorie intake up and to hydrate’. Rafael wouldn’t tell me who wrote the note or sent up the food, but from the way the tips of his ears turned a dark shade of red, I was guessing family. He had snagged the melted chocolate from the dessert tray and hit me with a look that weakened my knees. Our following escapade ended with both of us soaking our sticky bodies in the tub and hatching up a plan on how to destroy the oversized chair we had ruined without anyone asking us what happened.

  It was late on day three when shouting and guards pounding down the hall roused both Rafael and I from a deep sleep. Seconds passed before a loud knocking sounded on our door. It was one of the guards informing us a Goliath and mountain elf had snuck into the castle. They had been caught, ensuing the ruckus we heard. And by ‘caught’, they had them cornered. I couldn’t help my snicker when the guard let us know the Goliath was requesting my presence.

  Rafael and I, with the help of my new crutches, shuffled out. I was ecstatic to see Uthal, not so much the handsy mountain elf, but I figured if Uthal hadn’t killed him yet he must be tolerable to an extent.

  “Uthal!” I exclaimed, waving in her direction. My excitement had me almost top
pling over and Rafael caught me by the waist. I looked up with a smile. “This is Uthal. She saved my life in the Midnight pass after an avalanche almost took me out.”

  Rafael face hardened and he looked at me, to Uthal, then back at me. “Maribella, you almost died?”

  Crap. That was right. We had yet to go into length about our missing time apart. We had been busy sleeping, eating, and as the queen elegantly put it on my first day here, playing. I gave Rafael a sympathetic pat on his arm and a halfhearted shrug. “We really need to swap stories of our time apart, don’t we?”

  Rafael gave me a curt nod but still held onto my waist, almost afraid to let go. He looked at Uthal. “You have my sincerest thanks for any and all help you have given my mate. Let me know if there is anything we can do for you in return.”

  Uthal grunted and awkwardly made eye contact with me. I barely suppressed a chuckle. “Was there a plan to your mini invasion?” I gestured at both her and the elf, who was staring longingly in the direction behind me. I turned to see Selene had snuck up behind Rafael and I during the ruckus. I almost had to do a double take because Selene seemed to have a slight blush on her cheeks, but I couldn’t be sure if it was from the elf’s attention or from how many stairs she possibly had to run up to get here. I turned back to Uthal when she began to speak.

  “Uthal always plan. Uthal find Maribella. Make sure friend safe. Steal back if need to.”

  Uthal’s words made me smile. I was flattered she cared so much to risk her life to break into a Dragon Stronghold just to make sure I was okay. That thought alone made me want to fight for her to stay at the Stronghold and not rot away by herself in the pass. I would somehow figure out a way to make her willingly stay, but first I had some things to clear up. “Why did you come?” I directed my question to the elf who was still ogling Selene. It was getting a little creepy in my opinion, and I wanted to reach out and slap him on the back of the head. Which was exactly what Uthal did when he took too long to answer me. Apparently, Selene had melted his brain.

  The elf scowled, finally breaking eye contact with Selene and rubbed the back of his head. “Unnecessary,” he murmured before glancing in my direction then looking at Rafael. “My name is Varis, and honestly I’ve always wondered if I could break into a Dragon Stronghold.”

  I audibly groaned and Rafael shook his head. “And did you also help Maribella?”

  Varis eyes lit up and I cut him off before he spouted off some sort of nonsense. “If by help you mean scaring me half to death, dragging me out of some bushes, and let me think for a whole minute that I was about to get hauled off into the mountain elves’ domain and get tried for encroaching, then yes, he helped.”

  Varis scoffed and threw his hands in the air. “You make it sound so much worse than it was. What I was doing was helping an innocent pretty lady who rolled head first off a boulder into some bushes. You seemed like a maiden in distress, and I sought to help.”

  My eyebrow raised. “And how long were you hiding in the bushes behind me waiting for the perfect opportunity to scare me?”

  Varis grinned and shrugged. “I get bored sometimes. It’s been a trying few months, and I didn’t see the harm. I truly am sorry I scared you that badly.”

  Now was my turn to scoff as Varis blinked his gorgeous green eyes innocently at me. He really was a good flirt, but unfortunately for him, I was unaffected. I only had eyes for Dragons, specifically for the Dragon who was still holding onto my waist. My Dragon in question growled. “So you put your hands on my mate?”

  Varis eyes widened and he took a step back. “I swear to you it was all in jest. No harm was ever intended, and it will never happen again. I will never even look at her.” I snorted when Varis averted his eyes, momentarily stopping to take in Selene who had been silent throughout the whole interaction, before looking up to the ceiling and letting out a low whistle.

  I still had one more question for him though. “What I am curious about is what you intended to do if Uthal hadn’t come barreling out of nowhere to beat you with her club?”

  Varis let out a visible wince at my question and looked from the ceiling back to me before resting his eyes in Selene’s direction again. “Honestly, I was hoping to use you as ransom for a healer and supplies for me and my men.”

  My jaw dropped, and I glanced up at Rafael when his grip momentarily tightened on my waist and he let out a low snarl. It looked like he was contemplating if he could, or more like should, throw Varis out the window. It was Selene who broke the silence, coming up quietly and stopping a foot away from Varis. “I’ll go with you.”

  If my jaw hadn’t already been dropped, it would have at her declaration. Varis’ eyes lit up and he dropped to one knee, grabbing Selene’s hand in his, “Milady, it would be an honor to have you in our camp. Your beautiful kindness is a blessing and will uplift the hearts of my people, as it already uplifts mine.”

  Selene’s face twisted in mild panic at Varis’s dramatic gesture and she looked over her shoulder at me. I snickered at her and shook my head, making it abundantly clear that Varis’s flirty ass was her problem now. I would talk to her though before she actually left to make sure she felt safe enough in her decision, and possibly see if another healer or a Dragon guard could accompany them. Now that my curiosity about Varis’s presence had been fully quenched, I turned to Uthal and smiled sweetly. “Uthal...”

  She looked at me, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

  “How do you like the Stronghold?”

  “Uthal get in easy.” She smirked.

  I shrugged and let out an exasperated sigh. “Well you could always stay for a bit. Speak to the head of the guard about certain tactics we can put in place so we can keep out handsy elves and random Goliaths in the future.”

  Selene and Rafael both barked out a laugh at my audacity and the way the Head of the Guard was positively fuming at the moment.

  Uthal shook her head, not understanding why I was asking her to stay. “No. I will go back. Pass home.”

  I dug my heels in and crossed my arms, readying myself for the coming argument. I was about to start when to my surprise, it was the head of the guard, Mr. Tall and Skinny whom I’d encountered on the contract day, who helped deliver Selene, Bambi, and I to the Stronghold, stepped forward. His words were guttural and everyone, including Uthal, looked at him in surprise. He was speaking Goliath. Uthal shook her head and stepped forward in return, speaking faster and faster. They bickered back and forth, and I let out a gasp as Uthal swung her club at his head. It looked a little halfhearted to me, and I was taken aback when he bowed to her. Uthal smiled and crossed her arms before nodding in my direction. “Uthal stay for little time.”

  A huge smile grew across my face as I watched them both turn and walk away down the hallway. Uthal was holding herself a little taller, a little prouder, and if I wasn’t mistaken, I was feeling some sort of connection between the Head of the Guard and her. Varis cleared his throat and my attention snapped back to him and to Selene by his side. “Unfortunately, I must be leaving in the morning. I cannot be away from my people for too long. There is danger from our enemies. ”

  My smile fell and I looked toward Selene in concern. “So soon? And what danger? Is Selene going to be okay going with you? Do we need to send others?” I posed my last two questions to Varis. There was no way I was letting Selene leave if she could be in danger.

  Varis shook his head. “Rest easy knowing no harm will come of the beautiful goddess standing next to me. My men and I will make sure nothing happens to her.”

  Selene rolled her eyes at his comment, and I was pretty sure I felt Rafael roll his eyes from behind me. Varis really was a flirt, but so far it looked like Selene was indifferent to it. I startled when Rafael spoke. “Why don’t you and Selene have a night to yourselves to catch up? I wouldn’t mind speaking to Varis in the meantime.”

  I looked hopefully at Selene who let out a small smile and nodded. “Yes, I would love that if you are up to it, Maribella?”
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br />   Chapter Thirty-Two

  I found myself outside Selene’s door a few hours later. Rafael escorted me the short distance down the hall before forcing himself to walk away. I was halfway convinced he was hiding in a dark corner, lurking. Snorting at that thought, I really couldn’t blame him after all that we had gone through. I had yet to tell him my whole ordeal and when I did, I had a feeling he wouldn’t be letting me out of his sight ever again. Shaking my head, I reached up and knocked on Selene’s door. Moment’s later it swung open and I smiled at Selene. She ushered me in, and I saw she had grabbed all the blankets and pillows available, stacking them in a sporadic but comfortable manner on the floor next to the balcony window. Hobbling over, I let out a sigh, looking out the clear glass to the moon hanging bright in the sky. The stars had yet to start their nocturnal emergence, but they would soon.

  “How’s your ankle feeling?” Selene’s voice rang out, muffled from within the large dressing closet. I turned to see her rustling about, pulling out even more pillows.

  “Will we be bringing all the pillows of the realm to our ladies night?”

  Selene scoffed in my direction and lightly threw her handful of pillows down near my feet. I graciously took her outstretched hand, and she helped lower myself down to the floor. Excitement bubbled over, and I couldn’t help myself when I took a small pillow and gently smacked her on the arm with it. “Selene, what is going on with you and Varis?”

  Selene looked at me in confused shock. “What do you mean?”

  Giggling at the blush starting to spread across her chest and up her neck, I pointed at it, “That...that is what I mean.”

  Selene grabbed a pillow and yanked it to her chest attempting to cover it up but failed miserably. “I don’t know what you are talking about, Maribella. I’m just going with him because his people need a healer.”