The Dragon Prince's Promise (Dragongrove Book 5)

by Imogen Sera

  It was a pleasure to wake in the morning, with hard arms around her and her face pressed to his chest. It was a treat to eat with him, on their usual rock, but it involved more touching now; more arms pressed together, more lips pressed against necks, more of him pressed against her.

  It was even lovely when he disappeared down the passageway and she busied herself with sewing or preserving meat or just shutting her eyes and imagining a future that was hard to comprehend, because she knew her solitude would end.

  The most wonderful enjoyment of all, though, came in sleeping with him. They would stretch out long beside each other, and when her hands brushed over his cheeks, or his fingers ran down her sides, or her hips pressed against his, they would come together. Each time was passionate and intense and left her breathless and sweaty and wondering how in the world her life had become this.

  And then they would sleep, and each time she woke in the night to check her surroundings, he was there. Each time she shifted slightly, scarcely awake, she could feel him against her, warm and sure and solid. When she did wake to an empty bed, the fire would be built up, and she knew that she would have to wait less than an hour for him to come back, and lay beside her, and kiss under her ear and whisper how much he’d missed her.

  She hadn’t even considered returning to the cabin, even when all the snow from the storm had melted and her back ached from sleeping so close to the ground. Tate had offered to help her return, to spend as much time there with her as he possibly could, but...this was where he needed to be, so this was where she wanted to be, too.

  She wondered about that as she stared beyond the mouth of the cave to the sky outside. A rare break in the clouds offered her a view of millions of stars; a rare night without much wind offered her the ability to stand so near the entrance in only her nightgown and cloak, and admire the wild beauty of the peaks and sky.

  It had been at least half an hour since she’d awoken, she thought, so it couldn’t be too much longer until Tate was back to kiss both of her cheeks and pull her close and probably—no, definitely—touch her where she needed him. She turned her head to the back of the cave, hoping to see him emerge from the darkness there, wishing idly that she could summon him with her thoughts.

  It was strange to see a man there, when she turned back to the entrance, watching her from the darkness. It was stranger, still, when he stepped forward and his lips curled into a smile and he called her by her name.

  “Vodan,” she said, taking a step backward, her hand across her chest. She didn’t have any particular reason to fear him, because he’d seemed to help Juliette; no reason at all besides the fact that he’d shown up where she slept in the middle of the night and let himself in, no reason besides the disconcerting smile that he aimed at her.

  “I looked for you in the cabin,” he said, glancing around the cave, “but I must say that I’m not altogether surprised to find you here.”

  It was almost strange to see another human, especially here, where aside from Juliette, she hadn’t seen one in over a month. It was even stranger to see a human man—something she hadn’t seen in more than a year. He wasn’t even taller than her, probably couldn’t knock her down, but something about him terrified her in a way that none of the shifters ever had—including Orin, even when he’d pushed her from her window.

  “There was a storm...” she said lamely, but he didn’t appear to be listening. He was taking short steps around the cave, examining things as he went. She turned to eye the velvety darkness toward the back; she longed to dart that way, down the passageway, and find Tate who would make things alright again.

  Vodan crouched over where they slept, then turned a strange grin up at her. “One bed,” he said.

  She didn’t say anything; she didn’t want to admit anything. She kept her fists at her sides and her mouth from speaking.

  He rose and crossed to her, and paused right in front of her. Too close, she thought, so she took a small step backward. He laughed when she did. “Tell me, Elsie,” he said finally, “you begged so sweetly to go home. I think you’ve been here long enough, I think you’ve earned it. Would you like to go home?”

  She opened her mouth, but she scarcely knew what to say. She didn’t trust him, of course, but...even if she did, would she still want to go home? She wasn’t sure if she did, not when she’d be going home alone. “I don’t know,” she said, after a long pause.

  His eyes narrowed in her direction, and he nodded. “Well then—thank you, at least, for the confirmation.”

  An arm was around her shoulder then, and across her chest. Tate had moved so quietly that she hadn’t heard him; he’d moved so quickly that she hadn’t seen him. He pulled her behind him. “Leave this place,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Leave us now.”

  “I was finished,” said Vodan, and over Tate’s shoulder she saw him shrug. He disappeared into the night, as quickly as he’d come.

  Long minutes passed before Tate looked away from where Vodan had disappeared, his breathing heavy the whole time. She reached out a tentative hand to his shoulder, and he whirled to face her. He took her face in his hands and pressed his forehead to hers and released a long breath. “You’re alright,” he murmured, and she didn’t know if he was asking or telling.

  She stretched up to press her lips to his cheek and wind her arms around his neck. She brought her lips to his ear. “You have to tell me what’s going on,” she murmured. “You owe me that.”

  He shut his eyes as she spoke and shuddered under her breath, but nodded his agreement.

  Twenty-two

  “Please tell me,” she murmured, her lips against the back of his hand. “I won’t...judge you, I don’t want you to be worried about that. I just want to know.”

  It had taken long, tense minutes before they’d returned to bed, before he’d pulled her against him and kissed her mouth and settled her on his shoulder.

  He watched her through half-lidded eyes, savoring the feel of her soft mouth on his hand. “I was my mother’s favorite,” he said after a minute. “She would have never admitted that, because she loved us all—but I was. I spent most of my childhood with her and my sisters, and very little time with my brothers. My father wasn’t pleased with it, but he loved my mother and he had five other sons, so he allowed her to care for me as she wished.”

  Elsie shifted slightly to move up his body and pressed her forehead into his neck.

  “She was kind and she was loving, but she was never one to care much for discipline. She liked to indulge my every whim and...” he paused, squeezing Elsie’s arm, “I was spoiled. I was selfish. I was awful. If my brothers are looking for me, I assure you that it’s only for duty’s sake, not their own.”

  “I don’t think you’re so bad,” she said, and pressed a kiss against his chest.

  He couldn’t help but smile at that. “I was, though,” he said. “But it doesn’t matter anymore. When my mother died, when my sisters died, I couldn’t fix it, I couldn’t have what I wanted. My father sent my brothers and I to find answers so he could have vengeance, but I didn’t care about answers, I just wanted things to be how they were again.

  “I followed rumors to a mage who had the power to...reverse death.” He swallowed thickly. “I found him near here. He had heard of...my ability, had heard of what I could do to the earth, and he had need of me. So we made an agreement.”

  “Vodan?” Elsie breathed.

  He nodded slightly. “Our agreement was sealed in his magic—blood magic. I swore ten years of service to him, two each for my mother and my four sisters, in exchange for him attempting to restore them to life. Ten years of keeping the volcano at bay. I don’t know why it matters to him—I think something important to him is here.

  “It didn’t work. It had been too long since their deaths or I didn’t bargain enough time, but it didn’t work. I still owed him the time, though, so he...installed me into the tribe and made me leader. He threatened them into accepting me, but I don’t kno
w with what. I don’t know why he wanted me in charge except that I was his pawn—I am his pawn.”

  “Ten years, though,” Elsie breathed. “That’s almost up. Then you can leave?”

  The hope in her voice made his chest ache. He looked down at her. “You know I have a twin brother?”

  She shook her head.

  “You remind me of him,” he said. “That’s strange to say, I suppose, but you do. Demetri. He’s...better than me. He’s good, he’s kind, he’s everything that my mother wanted for me, he’s everything that she was. He’s been that way all of his life. He’s soft-spoken but he would do anything for anybody. He came here with me, but he didn’t approve of what I was trying to do and he left before I found Vodan.

  “I haven’t had word of him since then, but we have this...connection. We always have. We can’t communicate, but I can feel him there on the end of it. Several months ago, it was severed. It was sudden and agonizing and I felt like half of my soul was missing. I knew he was dead.”

  “Oh, Tate,” Elsie breathed, and her hand clenched around his.

  “So I made another agreement. I didn’t offer enough time the first time, so this time I offered twenty years—and it worked. He’s alive.”

  She sat up straight and looked at him. “If it worked, can’t you just break the agreement and come home with me?”

  Her words were bittersweet. “It was sealed with blood magic. If I break the agreement, if I don’t do exactly what he asks of me—Demetri will be dead.”

  “So you’re stuck,” she said, hugging her knees in front of her. “You’re just stuck here and there’s nothing you can do?”

  He watched her miserably. “Yes,” he said. “I’m so sorry that you’ve been dragged into this.”

  She shook her head and bit her lip. “I’m glad I’m here. I’m glad I met you.”

  He turned to face her and took her hand in his. “You’re going home soon, El. I’ve been trying to arrange it since Vodan made you stay, and...I think it’s almost time.”

  “What if I want to stay?” she asked, her face defiant. “What if I like to be with you?”

  “The most selfish part of me wants exactly that, love, but I don’t believe it’s safe here for you.” He exhaled heavily. “I made the mistake of telling Orin's father about my dreams. He knew what they meant, he knew that my mate was at the palace, but he never told me. I think he reported it to Vodan—I think Vodan wanted you here. Orin is evasive about why he actually captured you, but I believe it was his father who ordered him to, and Vodan who arranged it.”

  “Why do they care if I’m here?” she asked.

  “You’re my mate,” he said simply. “I would do anything for you. I don’t think it was a coincidence that Demetri just happened to die as our first agreement was nearing its end. Vodan still needed me, and he arranged for me to need him again. Having you anywhere near him terrifies me.”

  Her eyes were wide and her grip on his hand was tight. “You think he would kill me? Just for your help?”

  “I’m sure he would,” he said. “That’s why you’re going home as soon as I can possibly send you.”

  She nodded, but her gaze looked far away. “If he was responsible for killing Demetri initially, surely your agreement with him is invalid? That’s not fair, it’s not...”

  “I know,” he said, and looked toward his little pile of books. “That’s what I’ve been working on figuring out. But I can’t risk it and I can’t prove it.”

  She moved to sit across his lap, and took his face in her hands. “I don’t think you’re selfish, Tate. I think you’re the most wonderful person I’ve ever met.” She swallowed and paused. “I think I love you.”

  He was silent, but his chest felt light, and her face was lovely.

  “I think that if I can’t see you for twenty years,” she continued, “then I’ll count down the days. I think that I’ll love you just as much then as I do now. And I’ll miss you all the days in between.”

  •••••

  “What if you kill him?” Elsie asked, laying on her side with her head propped on her fist. “Would that satisfy the bargain?”

  “No,” said Tate from where he sat next to her, a journal open across his lap.

  “We have to be thorough,” she said. “All types of killing him?”

  “I believe so,” he said, looking up at her.

  “Burning?” she asked. “Decapitation? Being dropped out of the sky?”

  “No to all of them,” he said.

  She sighed and sat up, tucking her legs under herself. She refused to wallow any more, and she refused to let Tate wallow. They were both smart, both educated, and she had decided to take matters into her own hands to find a solution to this ridiculous bargain.

  She’d awoken early, but not earlier than Tate. He’d been confused when she’d shrugged off the path his mouth had traveled down her neck to her shoulder, and confused when she’d insisted on rising. They’d spent their mornings until then leisurely, with wandering hands and wandering mouths, until the mountain beckoned and Tate had to disappear down the passageway for an hour or two.

  She’d dressed in her fur-lined nightgown and cloak, and pulled him behind her as she led him to the cabin. She’d ignored his questions with a swift kiss, and then let him pull her under his shoulder as they walked.

  She made him explain every aspect of the bargain he’d struck, every word that he could remember. If there was a way out of it then they would discover it, she’d promised, and had been delighted when he’d explained the purpose of the books.

  “What if you just stop?” she asked. “What if you let it erupt?”

  He shook his head, but leaned to kiss her shoulder where her gown had slipped off.

  “What if somebody else kills him?”

  “Are you offering?” he asked, and a strange look crossed his face when she shrugged. “I don’t think so, not if it was arranged by me.”

  “What if it’s not arranged by you?” she asked. “What if there’s an accidental death?”

  “I don’t know,” he admitted, this time kissing a line from her shoulder to her neck. “But I don’t want to take chances.”

  She nodded and scooted back to where he sat, his back against the headboard, and positioned herself next to him to tilt her head onto his shoulder. She sighed heavily. “What if we stay here for twenty years and if he threatens me...then you can kill him and we’ll deal with the consequences then?”

  “I’ve heard better plans than that,” he said, winding his arm around her waist and kissing her temple. “Besides, it’s what we’re already doing.”

  “Hmm,” she said, her mind racing. “Explain again what happens when the bargain is broken?”

  “Demetri dies,” he said.

  “Yes, but...” she trailed off. “How does he die? Is he just suddenly dead?”

  He looked thoughtful. “I know I’ve read something about that,” he said, and stood to approach the bookcase.

  Elsie watched him as he perused the titles. She still wanted to return home, desperately, but not without Tate. She hadn’t been sure when Vodan had asked, but she was sure now. It had been a strange revelation that she’d had recently, one night as she lay alone fantasizing about her room and her bed. Even the fantasy had felt incomplete without him there, and when he’d finally returned from the dark cavern, she’d kissed him sweetly and held him tightly and promised to herself that there was no separating them now.

  She didn’t know if he agreed, because sometimes he would hold her face and look at her so sadly that it felt like a goodbye. Each time, her chest tensed; each time, she waited for the inevitable rug being pulled out from under her feet. Anytime she’d begun to feel comfortable in a new life, something came along and shattered it. She wasn’t sure why this time would be different.

  She shook off her thoughts. Tate was sure, steady, and constant; she had confidence that things would be alright, as long as they were together. It was just the chance of b
eing separated that bothered her.

  “Here it is,” he said triumphantly, a huge black tome open in his arms where he stood.

  She blinked and sat up, having pulled up the blankets for warmth when he’d left.

  “It’s basically saying that he’ll suffer whatever killed him the first time,” he said. “So he’ll just die all over again.”

  “Do you know how he died the first time?” she asked.

  He shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

  She twisted a small piece of her hair around her finger as she thought. “Do you know where he is? Or if he can be found?”

  “I don’t know where he is, but I imagine he could be—if the right people were looking.”

  “Hmm,” she murmured, turning her face to the hearth.

  “What are you thinking, El?”

  “Suppose he was...stabbed to death, or something,” she said, not looking away from the flames. “Then he wouldn’t have died right away. If it were to happen a second time, and if we somehow knew that it would happen and when, couldn’t we just be prepared with a healer to tend to his wounds before he succumbs to them?”

  “You’re brilliant,” he said, his face lighting up at her words.

  “It’s dependent on a lot of factors,” she said, “including finding him. We probably shouldn’t be too excited.”

  “It’s something—it’s more than we had before, my love,” he said, grinning at her. “It’s just a matter of finding outside help now, I suppose.”

  “Well,” she said, “I know at the palace that they’re looking for the both of you, and me too, probably.”

  “You think they didn’t believe Juliette’s story?” he asked.

  “I hid a note on her,” she said. “Sorry,” she added sheepishly.

  He crossed the room to take her face in his hands and kissed her thoroughly. “I should have known,” he said. “You’re brilliant. Don’t be sorry; if we find a way out of this it will be because of you.”

  She smiled widely at him and kissed him back. She wasn't used to being called brilliant.