by Bianca D'Arc
Drake spared a moment to look over at Nellin and noted that Mace—ever prepared—had pulled an oilcloth from his pack and spread it over himself and Krysta. At least they would be dry, but the knight’s preparedness just drove home to Drake how un-knightly he was himself. He’d gone off on a quest without the most basic of necessities.
All Jenet had was the leather pouch Drake had given her, filled with lotions and creams for her wings. No oilcloth. No food. Nothing that could be useful on a cross-country journey.
A knight would have prepared.
Which only went to prove, Drake of the Five Lands was no dragon’s knight.
Before it got too dark to see, Mace signaled a halt and the dragons started angling downward to find a place to weather the storm and get some sleep before they carried on the search.
Dragons could literally sniff out caves. It was part of their basic survival instincts. Even though both Jenet and Nellin had been born and raised in the safety of the Castle Lair, they’d been trained since a young age to rely on their natural abilities. Still, both dragons claimed there was not one suitable cave in the area for their human friends to spend the night.
So the three curled up on the ground at the base of a relatively dry granite cliff. The dragons arranged themselves on either side and held Mace’s tarp between them, making a little tent area for the humans, though it was small.
“I’ve got a dry shirt you can wear and some food in my pack. It’s not much, but we won’t go hungry tonight,” Mace offered quietly.
“Thanks for the loan,” Drake answered. “I just took off, not thinking about provisions—or dry clothes.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Drake. You’re not trained as a knight, after all.”
Drake paused in the act of accepting the dry shirt from his friend. Mace thought he read hurt in the other man’s eyes for a moment and realized his words might’ve come out differently than intended.
“Look, Drake—”
“No. You’re right.” Drake reached out to snap up the shirt. “I’ll never live up to my father’s example. It’s why I left.” He shrugged as he tugged the shirt on. “I knew I’d never be good enough for Jenet.” There was real pain in Drake’s voice, and he wouldn’t meet Mace’s eyes. “This only proves, once again, that I was right.”
Mace was stunned. He’d always admired Drake and the easy way skills like archery and swordplay had come to him. By contrast, Mace had to work hard for every small step forward when they were boys, training and learning together. To Drake, everything had come naturally, yet he’d never lorded it over the younger or less skilled. Drake had always pushed himself harder than anyone else could have. He demanded a lot from himself. Almost too much.
But he’d had a wild side. Drake had been a prankster and often got in trouble for the mostly harmless jokes he played on his classmates. When that happened, Sir Declan came down hard on the boy he clearly thought was far too frivolous.
Mace knew that was finally why Drake had left. There were few in the Castle Lair who hadn’t seen the way Drake took every condemnation and word of correction from Declan to heart. Nobody was really surprised when Drake took off for parts unknown. But Mace had missed him. They’d been friends of a sort.
“You were always good enough. Drake, you were better than all the others in our age group, but you never saw it.”
“You’re deluded. I couldn’t put a foot right. Jenet will be better off when she finds a man who is worthy of her.”
“If you truly believe that,” Mace said at length, “you really are a fool.”
“Look—” Drake turned on him, “—I appreciate the sentiment, but I have my own life now. Away from Draconia. Away from my family. I’ve found my niche and it’s working for me.”
“But what about Jenet?”
Drake sighed. “Like I said, she needs to find a knight who is her equal. That’s not me.”
“I think you’re wrong, but we’ll let it rest for now. At least until after we eat.”
Krysta was sorting through the food in Mace’s pack, divvying up the meager rations. Distracted by her beauty, Mace let the matter go as he moved to sit beside her. She handed each of the men a portion that was noticeably larger than what she kept for herself.
The tension in the air wasn’t lost on Krysta. Drake bristled when Mace settled at her side. She feared a confrontation of some kind was next on the agenda and the men didn’t disappoint. Apparently even among knights—or near-knights—the male mind still had the same basic possessiveness.
Too bad she’d have to end such a long day by teaching these males a thing or two about women.
Krysta sighed as she set aside her meal to look at the men. Drake was frowning as he chewed mechanically and swallowed. Mace seemed oblivious to Drake’s temper—seemed being the operative word. She knew darn well he was fully aware of the response his actions had provoked in his counterpart. The dragons watched all, saying nothing.
It wasn’t long before Drake couldn’t hold his tongue any longer. “You two look cozy.”
She should have seen it coming but was still annoyed when Mace put his arm around her shoulders and drew her against his side. Drake’s eyes narrowed, and Krysta hated the way they’d put her between them, like a bone for two dogs to fight over. But this was something more than just male posturing. There were dragons involved and all the tantalizing possibilities of knighthood. Krysta wanted to see just how far they’d go in their one-upmanship and learn where she stood in the bargain.
She hadn’t become a master spy by playing her cards too early, after all.
“It’s no secret Krysta and I have a relationship.” Mace almost sounded as if he was gloating, but he was too sober a man to actually gloat. Or so she thought.
“Funny—” Drake stood and tossed a scrap of crust away into the brush, “—I thought Krysta and I had a relationship. Guess I was wrong.”
“You know full well we could both have what we want if you’d just wake up and accept what Jenet offers.” Mace’s words were tinged with surprising anger, and she saw an answering flush of emotion on Drake’s face as he spun to confront the knight.
It was time to step in. Elbowing her way free, she stood, as did Mace, to face Drake.
“What about what I want?” She had their attention now. “Did either of you ever ask me if I’d be interested in something more permanent? Did either of you give me any reason to believe you want me for me and not just because I’m a convenient woman you both happen to like?”
“I more than just like you, honey,” Drake was quick to point out.
“Spare me your rogue’s ways, Drake.” She turned her attention to the dragons. “And you two.” She marched right over to Jenet and then Nellin, facing them down as they blinked at her in surprise. “I’m pretty sure you’re trying to orchestrate this behind the scenes. I get the idea you two want to be together and the way I understand it, you can’t be until Jenet bonds with a knight and the two knights find a woman willing to put up with them both. If you ask me, that will require a miracle if these are the two men in question.” She gestured grandly, turning back to the men. “Oh, but that’s right. No one asked my opinion. Far be it from me to have any say whatsoever in what you all have planned for my future. You know what?” She paused, eyeing them all with a steely glance. “Just count me out. I’ve heard a lot about convenience here, but nothing about genuine feelings. I’ve been down that road before and I swore I would never willingly travel it again. Unless and until any of you can convince me otherwise, you’ll have to look elsewhere for a convenient woman who isn’t too picky about spending the rest of her life playing the fool for you all.”
Tears threatened, surprising the hell out of her, but she sucked them back. No way would she let them see her cry. She’d be damned if she let on how much she’d come to care for all of them, only to realize from the tone of their conversation that she meant less than nothing to any of them. She’d hoped Mace, at least, had come to feel somet
hing for her on a personal level. She’d hoped for…love.
But she’d been a fool again. Thinking back, not one word of love had been spoken to her by either of the men. And here she’d thought to guard herself only around Drake. At least she’d known enough not to take anything the glib-tongued bard said to heart. She hadn’t had any such caution with Mace, expecting the somber knight to be more honest in his feelings.
Too bad he didn’t seem to have any at all.
It shouldn’t hurt so badly, but it did.
Krysta moved a short distance away, needing space. No one followed, for which she was glad. She needed time alone to gather her composure and refocus her energies on the task at hand. All this personal garbage had to be put on hold while Wil was still out there, in need of their help.
“You could ask her to ride with you tomorrow,” Jenet suggested as Drake watched Krysta’s rigid back. “Then you could talk during the flight and bring her around.”
“But you said you couldn’t carry us both.” Drake immediately grew suspicious.
Jenet’s voice grew small. “I lied.”
Drake just stared at her for a moment, then started to chuckle. “I’ll be damned. Krysta was right. You and Nellin have been working this all behind the scenes, haven’t you?”
“It’s no crime to want to see you happy.”
Drake sighed and patted her neck. “Or to want happiness for yourself.” He looked over at the male dragon. “So Nellin is the one for you, eh? Are you sure, sweetheart?”
“Oh, yes. I’m sure.”
Drake reached up and hugged her with one arm. “I’m happy for you both, then. Nellin’s always been a superior dragon. And Mace is a good man. He’ll be a good second-father to your offspring—steady and fair.”
“He’d be a good fighting partner for you too, Drake, if you’d consent to being my knight.”
“Sweetheart.” Drake’s heart felt so heavy it might break. “I love you and it was always my fondest boyhood dream to be worthy of you, but you know my reasons. You deserve better than a man who would run off across the breadth of the land without even a change of clothes. I’d be a miserable failure as a knight. This latest fiasco only proves it.”
“You may think so, Drake.” Jenet sighed a thin stream of smoke. “But there’s more to being a knight than remembering your pack. It’s your heart that led me to choose you when we were both just children. It’s true, brave and strong. That’s what I want in the man I will fight beside and live with all his days. You don’t see it in yourself, I know, but it’s there—your nobility and courage. You’re all I’ve ever wanted, Drake.”
Something in her words wanted to sink into his mind, but he refused to consider it at the moment. Right now, he was wallowing in self-pity and anger over his own stupidity. He hadn’t felt this bad about himself since he’d left home. He should have known coming back to Draconia would bring back all that crippling self-doubt.
“That’s because I’m all you ever knew. There are many more worthy men out there, Jen. I hoped you’d have found one in the time I was gone and the fact that you waited and pined for me only makes me feel worse. I’ve been nothing but bad for you since the moment you hatched, but I can’t help loving you. Please don’t make this any harder than it already is.”
Jenet backed off, clearly hurt. “I’ll leave it for now, but I’ll never stop hoping, Drake. You don’t see yourself clearly, but I do. I see to the heart of you, and it’s you I want.”
Great, Drake thought, only two women around for miles and they’re both upset with me. So much for the fabled bard’s charm.
Sometime in the dark of the night, Krysta had snuggled against Drake. There wasn’t a lot of room between the dragons and under the tarp, and though the dragons kept the area warm, Krysta undoubtedly felt the night air’s chill, even positioned as she was between Drake and Mace. She had returned to the group silently as they prepared for sleep, giving in to the necessity of sharing body heat to stay warm as the rain continued to pour down in a steady stream.
Drake felt the soft, feminine touch on his chest under the loose shirt Mace had loaned him and came instantly awake. Krysta was still sleeping, her face nestled into the crook of his arm, her body turned to his, burrowing into his side. Drake saw the way she shivered in the chill air and drew her closer, wrapping his arms around her.
She settled into a deeper sleep, her hand trapped between them, under his shirt, her palm resting over his heart like a promise. Drake felt the rightness of having her there, in his arms, but was powerless against the drag of fatigue on his tired body. He fell back asleep, only to dream of the moment when they would finally make love.
The first rays of dawn touched the land when Drake woke again. Krysta was still in his embrace, her lithe body entwined with his. Their legs had tangled in the night so that his morning erection nestled snuggly between her thighs, resting against the place it most wanted to go. Her lips grazed his neck, raising gooseflesh where they touched as her soft breath rasped across his skin.
Drake relished the feel of her for a long, pleasurable moment before the slight motion on her other side roused him to open his eyes once more. Mace was watching them.
He read envy and a little regret in the knight’s eyes, but strangely, no trace of anger. Drake wondered at that. He thought for certain any man would be incensed to find the woman he wanted had turned to another for comfort in the dark of the night. But then, this was Mace. The quiet knight seldom reacted as others did.
Krysta stirred against him, slowly coming awake.
When her eyes popped open, confusion reigned there for only a moment before she tried to pull away. Drake wouldn’t let her. There was something he needed from her first, something he had to know.
Slowly, he lowered his lips to hers, seeking the warmth of her kiss, knowing full well Mace watched every move. She didn’t resist as his mouth claimed hers, lips and tongues tangling with the familiarity of long-lost lovers though they hadn’t yet shared more than a kiss and a snuggle.
She felt so right in his arms. Surely Mace could see the truth of it. This woman was meant for Drake and he was making the point the only way he could think of at the moment.
He turned her, settling her on the ground beneath him, his cock settling into the welcoming cradle of her thighs as she spread them easily for him, as if he was always meant to be there. Stars! He couldn’t wait to get inside her, but he’d bide his time until they were alone.
Sense overriding passion, Drake eased up, lifting his head to look down at her passion-glazed eyes.
“Good morning, sweetheart.”
Her breathing was ragged, just the way he liked it. “Good morning.”
“I’m sorry about last night. I had a long talk with Jenet and you were right about everything. The nosey little matchmakers were manipulating us all.” He moved off her, helping her rise while Mace stood and folded the tarp they’d used for cover. Drake saw the instant Krysta realized Mace had witnessed their kiss as color flooded her cheeks.
The dragons stood, going off in search of water and perhaps something to nibble on while the humans readied themselves for the journey ahead. Drake felt them leave, but didn’t spare a glance for anyone but Krysta.
“Let’s just forget it, Drake.”
He bowed his head, never taking his eyes from her. “As you wish.”
“There’s a little left for breakfast,” Mace said, moving to place his pack between them. He straightened and yanked Krysta into his arms, planting an almost bruising kiss on her parted lips. Drake half expected her to floor him, but instead, she responded, sinking into the knight’s kiss with what looked like genuine abandon.
Dammit. Drake felt a little of what Mace must’ve been feeling a few minutes ago. Regret that this woman would choose another, envy at the way she was kissing Mace, but Drake also felt the anger he’d expected. It wasn’t anger directed at her for choosing Mace, but rather anger at himself, that he couldn’t be a part of their pleasure. Now t
hat was odd.
Drake squatted by the pack and busied himself with the rations Mace had brought. There wasn’t much left, but it would do until they could find a town or time to hunt. He concentrated on that problem rather than the unsettling thoughts watching Mace kiss Krysta had stirred up.
He heard them break apart and couldn’t help but look up, disappointed to see the same dazed look on Krysta’s lovely face. She responded to Mace in much the same way she’d responded to Drake, though he knew she’d have decked anybody else who dared to kiss her without invitation. She wasn’t easy. Far from it.
Drake expected Mace to be wearing a smug grin, but as usual, the knight confounded him. Mace looked…vindicated was the only word that sprung to mind. As if he’d just proved a point of some kind, and Drake was half-afraid he knew just what point Mace had wanted to prove. Nellin and Jenet wanted to be together. Mace was bonded to Nellin and would therefore have to accept the man Jenet chose as her knight to share a wife with. Mace seemed to want to prove the point that not only would Krysta be compatible with both of them, but that Drake would be a good choice as Jenet’s fighting partner for that reason.
Drake knew it was all too neat and tidy. For one thing, he’d make a terrible knight. For another, the Mother of All only knew if Krysta wanted to be shared between two knights. She seemed to like both of them well enough, but on a permanent basis? Who knew?
Drake shook his head and set to eating his meager breakfast as Mace did the same. He could feel Krysta watching them both, but he didn’t have any answers for her, so he kept his eyes on his food and his thoughts to himself.
Krysta couldn’t believe it. The two idiots were posturing over her again. Pawing her in the early morning, to prove something to each other. Damn them!