When the doors closed, Logan turned to me and said, “A couple things that will make meeting my parents easier. Curtsy if you can, and address them as Your Majesty. Try not to stare at the decorations or hold my parents’ eye contact for too long. My mother can be a bit of a dragon, pun intended, and my father, well, he’s all that’s left of her original mates, and let’s just say he feels the burden of being the lone survivor.”
“Mates?” I whispered.
“Female dragons usually take multiple mates, especially royalty, as they need to ensure they produce an heir.”
“And you boys think I can help with this somehow?”
He nodded. “We think you are a potential flamekeeper, which is a position equal to the queen, but we aren’t sure yet.”
Before I could ask any more questions, the elevator dinged and came to a stop.
“Here we go,” he said under his breath, squeezing my hand as the door slid open.
I tried not to gasp, I really did, but the room in front of me was magnificent. Room wasn’t even an adequate word to describe it. Something more along the lines of temple sprang to mind. Gold filigree decorated the doors on each side of the elevator as well as the pillars and ceiling. I couldn’t see any windows anywhere, but the room wasn’t lacking for light. The few lit candles and lanterns bounced off all the gold, making the room glow as though it were full of visible energy. A long red carpet embroidered with gold ran down the center of the room, over the intricate tile floor, straight to the thrones themselves with the king and queen. The faint scent of smoke seemed to linger in the air, but I didn’t think it necessarily had a cause. It just seemed to be a smell that dragons exuded.
The thrones were set back on top of five large steps in what could almost be called an alcove if it wasn’t for the size. Large banners of red material swooped down from the ceiling and across behind the large seats. I could see ornately carved wood peeking out from the top on each side behind the monarchs, and when the king readjusted his position, I could see that the chairs themselves were covered in thick red fabric that looked like velvet.
Sebastian, Noah, and Grayson were standing off to the side of their mother, all in equally expensive and dashing suits. When Logan bowed next to me, I curtsied, or at least tried to replicate what I’d seen in movies.
“Your Majesty,” I said, trying to keep the nervous tremor from my voice.
“So, you’re the human my sons think is a flamekeeper?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” I responded, keeping my gaze low.
“Come closer, let me look at you properly.”
I followed her command, stopping at the bottom step to their thrones, and looked up at them, not quite meeting their gazes, but not bowing my head either. The queen was breathtaking; her features were fine and delicate like a porcelain doll, while the king was handsome in his own way, and I was willing to bet he was a knockout when he was younger. The queen’s deep-brown eyes were so like Sebastian’s, as well as her raven hair. An intricate gold crown dotted with large rubies sat on her head, gleaming against her dark hair, and her dress only accentuated it. The thick red velvet was such a deep color, it reminded me of wine. Only the gold panel going down the front kept it from being too overwhelming.
The king, on the other hand, was clearly Grayson’s father, with his sandy-colored hair, albeit with a few gray streaks here and there, and his bright blue eyes that seemed to crackle with energy. The crown on his head was a ring of giant rubies. Each one was roughly the size of a toddler’s fist, maybe bigger, and they completely circled his head. The amount of wealth in just their crowns was astounding, never mind everything else.
He wore a leather doublet that was a rich, supple creamy-tan color, almost the color of the gold decorating the throne room, along with matching leather pants. The sleeves that extended from underneath were a dark crimson, just like the queen’s dress. In a way, I felt as if I had stepped back in time. Kings and queens, leather doublets, and intricate dresses.
“Turn for me,” the queen’s voice rang out, interrupting my thoughts.
I did as she ordered, slowly turning, spreading my dress out so I didn’t trip on it and make an ass out of myself in front of everyone, because make no mistake, a crowd was forming, and it made me uncomfortable.
“You seem like a good candidate. Have they told you what’s to come?”
“Not yet, Your Majesty.”
She harrumphed and sent a meaningful look toward the three brothers standing closest to her. “I’m sure they will as soon as you get back upstairs.” She paused before redirecting her attention back to me. “Do you have family in the human world?”
“Just my parents and a few close friends.”
“What is your relationship like with your parents?”
“They have traveled for work most of my life, so I would say it’s distant but loving.”
“I see.”
Something I had said upset her, but I wasn’t sure what.
“Well, off you go, then. I’m sure the princes will explain everything to you. We are counting on you.” The last part was said with such solemnity that I was slightly taken aback, although I did my best not to show it.
This royal family had placed their faith in me for what? Were they honestly expecting me to carry on their line of monarchs? Sure, the brothers were sexy, but how could I choose between them, let alone have a child with them? Everything seemed to be happening at warp speed, and I wasn’t sure I understood exactly what was going on, which scared me more than I wanted to admit.
Logan was by my side once more, bowing to his mother, so I followed suit and curtsied before he took my arm and led me from the room.
As soon as we turned away from the queen, anger rushed in. Who the hell were these people? And how dare they try to dictate the course of my life without even explaining a damn thing to me except their ability to turn into dragons?
“You and your brothers better get to talking, buddy, or I’ll leave one way or another,” I hissed without even looking at him, and Logan just nodded in my peripheral vision as we walked to the elevator. Nothing in the world was as it seemed anymore, least of all me, and I was done being helpless.
As soon as the doors closed, though, my body betrayed me. Awareness crept through me. Heat radiated off his body, cocooning me and making me feel safe, just as it had on the rooftop.
“Why do I feel safe around you?” I asked, turning to Logan as the words lazily came out of my mouth. The problem was, I hadn’t intended to speak them aloud. I was just so damn relaxed.
“Maybe because you know that I am an apex predator and can protect you from anything? Or maybe because you feel the same pull toward me as I feel to you?”
My breathing quickened as though his speaking of the pull made it roar to life that much harder. There was something between us. I had felt it on the roof and I felt it now, but I had almost had sex with his brother an hour or two ago, and I didn’t want to cause friction between them. “I do feel drawn to you, but Sebastian . . .”
“Knows that we need to share you, if you are willing, that is.”
“Share me?” I practically panted as the thought crossed my mind. I could have them all? Suddenly, I felt like a kid in a candy store who had just been told they didn’t have to choose.
“We will each grow to care about you, and if you are willing, we will share you emotionally and physically. In our culture, that isn’t unheard of. I told you before that my mother had multiple mates. Well, she had five men, all of whom shared her and cared for her equally, just as she did for them. Their deaths have taken a toll on her, one that she tries to keep hidden, especially from the court and the public, but we see it.”
“That must be hard,” I said, unable to imagine what the queen had gone through.
“It’s harder to live without love than to live with the pain of having known it, in my opinion.” His voice was so quiet that it made me curious about the story behind the statement, but I knew if he wanted to te
ll me, he would.
When Logan looked up again, his eyes were blazing with a hunger that I hadn’t seen in him before. The brown ring around his pupil seemed to glow with warmth, while desire filled the green. My breath caught when his hand came up to my face, softly cupping my cheek.
“I meant what I said earlier. You look stunning. Good enough to eat, in fact.” A wicked smile played on his lips as he inched closer and closer to me.
My whole body quivered with need. The need to touch and taste the man, the dragon, in front of me. I closed the distance between us and pressed my mouth to his. It could have remained a chaste kiss, just lips on lips, but as soon as we connected, it felt as if a fire were unleashed between us.
Logan devoured me. I lifted on my tiptoes to get as close as I could while I wrapped my arms around his neck, my fingers playing with his hair. His hands were on my ass, pressing me to him for a moment before he just picked me up. One hand held me in the air, my core pressed against his groin as I wrapped my legs around him, while the other had gone to my breast.
I leaned slightly away from him, and he took the opportunity, kissing and nipping at my neck in a way that had my hips bucking against him and my whole body arching into his hands. Small moans escaped my mouth, and for a moment, I debated taking off my dress. I wanted, no, needed to be naked with him. The urge was so strong, it was hard to think straight.
A quiet ding sounded, and the door behind us slid open, bathing the little room in bright orange light. The sun was setting.
Logan walked us out and kissed me a few more times, but the fire that had consumed us was gone. Gently, he set me down, but still held me close. His lips grazed my ear as he said, “Ava, once you know everything, I will gladly fuck you so hard you see stars when you come, but until then, I think we should cool it. I’m sure the guys will be up in a moment, anyway.”
I could hear the regret in his voice. “Are you trying to do the honorable thing here?”
A crooked smile spread over his face as he looked down at me. His lips brushed my forehead, and he said, “I’m doing what’s right because I know what’s coming.”
A shiver ran down my spine at his words. It didn’t help that he had stepped away from me, either, taking the cocoon of warmth with him. What was coming? And what exactly was a flamekeeper?
Chapter Six
Sebastian
When Ava had walked into the throne room in that dress, it had almost been too much. I wanted, no needed, to be inside her. Dragons could enjoy the company of human females, but it was never as satisfying as being with one of our own. With humans, we always had to hold back, not go too fast or too strong, so that we didn’t arouse suspicion. And forget any long-term relationships; at least, if you were in the ruling class. It just wasn’t done. One-night stands were all we were allowed.
It made a sick kind of sense, then, that the shower had been the most erotic thing I’d ever experienced. Ava might not have been with us for long, but I already knew her better than I had ever known any of my other lovers, and her knowledge of what my dragon looked like just added a whole new level to my attraction to her.
The first time I had seen her in that damn hospital bed, I’d been drawn to her. Now the pull was almost painful. The intimacy we had come so close to having in the shower had only made my longing for her worse.
“Lock it down, Brother,” Noah whispered. “Everyone can feel the lust rolling off you in waves.”
I glanced over at him and saw that not only were his pupils fully dilated but Grayson was staring at me as if he wanted to bore a hole through my chest. I shrugged. “Sorry.”
Logan had stepped up and was escorting Ava from the throne room, and an irrational thread of jealousy turned within me. I knew for Ava to succeed as flamekeeper, I would have to share her with my brothers, and I was fine with that, but something in me demanded to claim her first, and until I did that, I would have to ride this wave of unexpected emotion.
“Boys, please come with me to the council chambers,” the queen called. Her tone was sharp, and I knew she was angry with us before I even looked at her face. Her eyes flashed with her spark of dragon fire as she swept past us in her dress, with her mate following behind, looking ridiculous in his old-school outfit while the rest of the court present were in modern attire. Of course, Mother wore her power dress, the one that made her feel most like a queen. If I didn’t know better, I would worry that she felt threatened by Ava.
The door closed behind us with a gentle puff of air as we all took our normal spots throughout the room. I leaned against the bookcase, while the king took the opulent armchair. Noah and Grayson were on the couch, and Mother was seated behind her desk, which we teased was her second throne. Teasing was not what was on the agenda, though; the scowl that covered her face made that abundantly clear.
“What have you brought me? That girl is scrawny and looks as if she’s on death’s door! How could she hold the flame? It will kill her the moment it touches her,” the queen said, her voice tinged with exasperation.
Ava wasn’t the first human we had tried to turn into our flamekeeper. None of the others had survived, and I dreaded telling her that. The worst was letting ourselves get attached and then watching them burn alive. It wasn’t a pretty or particularly nice way to go.
Peter took the crown off his head and just stared blankly into the room. He hadn’t been the same since the other mates had died. The whole clan hadn’t been the same since our last flamekeeper was assassinated. The memory twisted in me like the claws of my dragon, digging in and tearing.
When neither of my brothers responded, I took a step forward. “She was the sole survivor of her apartment building burning down. Not only that, but she survived without a scratch. She should be dead. The humans should need dental records to identify her based on what happened to everyone else in the building. She also came out of a coma by herself and survived an attack by a water or an air dragon. Unfortunately, I dispatched him too quickly to find out which he belonged to, but he was wearing the colors of both.”
Mother looked at me with eyes that were so similar to the ones I saw in the mirror every day that it was eerie. Eventually, she said, “Sebastian, clearly you favor the girl. I do not object to that, but do not let it cloud your judgment. I do not want you to end up like your brother.”
Grayson tensed at the comment. Out of all of us, he was the one who had been most affected by watching the last two women we thought were flamekeepers fail.
She sighed, and it was as if all the tension left the room. “I just don’t like seeing you boys hurting,” she said as she got up and poured herself a glass of wine. “Have you asked her about any combat training or leadership experience?”
“Not yet. We were only able to retrieve her last night.”
“Well, it sounds as if you have a lot to do. Things to explain, bonds to form, all the responsibilities of being dragon princes.” She almost laughed before her face sobered. “Blair’s death needs to be avenged. We cannot allow the water clan to act without repercussions, but we cannot act until our new flamekeeper is in place. I expect progress and quickly.”
“Yes, Mother,” we all said.
She nodded and waved her hand. We were dismissed. The three of us exited in silence after bowing once to our queen and once to our king. The throne room was still full of spectators as we made our way out of the center of the mountain and to the elevator that would take us up to our penthouse. Grayson was stick straight next to me as we walked. I knew he was livid at the comment Mother had made, but I hoped he didn’t take it out on Ava.
I could feel more and more eyes on my back as we passed. The shifters who lived in the floors between the palace and the penthouse were curious about our new guest. They probably already had bets going as to how far she would make it in the trials. I prayed to the void spirits, hell, to anyone who would listen, that we wouldn’t lose Ava, that she could be the next flamekeeper, and that our search would finally be over so we could get clo
sure for Blair’s death, which was still a sore spot among the clan. A wound that wasn’t taken care of would become infected and poison the host, which was exactly what the other clans wanted.
We were still strong, still a leader among the dragon clans, and still had our place on the council secured, but if we didn’t find a true flamekeeper soon, all that could be in jeopardy. My head swam at the thought of how much we had to explain to Ava. How much should we tell her at first so she wouldn’t get overwhelmed? What should we hold back? The questions wound around in my head like a serpent as the elevator finally began to rise, taking us away from the prying gazes of the other fire dragons, or at least, the ones at court. Who there was feeding information to the other clans? How quickly would they know that there was a new potential flamekeeper among us? And more importantly, how soon would it be until the assassins came again?
Water and air had been hunting flamekeepers since before Blair was assassinated, but we had remained one of the strongest, and largest, clans out there. I knew within my heart that we would protect Ava with everything we had. She was our precious jewel, our hope for the next generation. If she wasn’t a flamekeeper, then we would keep searching until we found one. The thought made something twinge painfully inside me. I didn’t want to lose Ava. Even though I had only known her twenty-four hours or so, she was still important to me. It didn’t hurt that I was more attracted to her than I had been to any of the previous candidates. Everything about her made my mouth water and my cock throb in anticipation. I knew my brothers felt it too, at least to some degree.
If water or air came after her, then they would find out exactly what the fire princes were made of, because I for one wasn’t about to let anything happen to her. One thing held true above all others for our clan—fire didn’t go out easily.
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