“Why would you give me Ketera?”
“As a gift to my only brother. But it is a temporary gift.”
“She is not property.”
“To you, perhaps not.” He shrugged. “To me… You have one night to accept or refuse my challenge. Accept that you must help me in my quest and you get to keep Ketera. She must be pregnant within a month. If not, I will take her. After having taken her, you will never have her again. If I choose, she will be sacrificed to the dragon.”
Dane’s mind rebelled, his heart following easily behind. The ultimatum was horrible, but so was the alternative.
Drakus stepped away from the tent flap and swept his hand toward it. “Your quarters for the night, my brother. You are required to stay here for now. Inside is a welcome surprise.”
* * * * *
Dane is alive.
Ketera heard every word as her mate and Drakus discussed her future, Dane’s future, outside the tent flap. Her heart pounded furiously, her mind whirling like a wheel. By Magon, she couldn’t believe this. They bargained for her like chattel? At the same time, her heart soared at the sound of Dane’s deep, beloved voice. He was alive, and Ketera knew she’d never been happier in her life.
She stood by the side of the bed, riveted. Dane swept aside the tent opening and stepped inside.
His eyes widened with undeniable surprise, his lips parting as he drew in a sharp breath. His composure as a warrior slipped from view and left behind a joyous expression. Her eyes teared, and all her inhibitions exploded as she ran toward him. He went to her, scooped her in his arms, buried his face in her hair.
“Dane, what—”
His mouth covered hers. His kiss wasn’t tender—he thrust his tongue and possessed, each stroke between her lips a hot invader that conquered and demanded and set her on fire. Liquid heat swept into her womb. Her body knew his, yet the long length of his body refused to acknowledge her softly. His chest pressed into her breasts, and her nipples went hard, achy for his touch and tingling. Wild longing sent a liquid rush to the sensitive tissues between her legs. She felt open to him. Waiting. Wanting as if she’d not seen him for a millennium. His hands plunged into her hair, searched her shoulders and then ventured to her breasts. As her hands went around his shoulders, he cupped her breasts through her tunic. She shivered and moaned, hips moving to search out his erection. Solid as stone, his length pressed into her stomach. She writhed, and his fingers brushed over her nipples. She gasped into his mouth, and he took full advantage. His hands went under her buttocks and lifted her. Her legs went around his hips and he broke their kiss.
As their ragged breathing filled the tent, she managed a few words. “You came for me.”
“Always.” He pressed kisses to her nose and forehead. “Did you hear my conversation with Drakus?”
She nodded. “I did. You mustn’t do it. You mustn’t sacrifice anything for me.”
He lowered his voice to a whisper, and when he smiled it was sad. “You are my mate. I could do nothing less.”
Tears she’d fought to hold back surged forward and fell on her cheeks. “I thought you were dead. He said you were killed during the castle siege.” She explained how she was taken captive along with Finius and how the bargain Drakus wanted to make with her. “He does not believe in making Dragonia a better place. It’s his gratification, Dane. He is prideful and willing to lie to the people. And they might believe him.”
Dane brushed hair away from her face, cupping it and pressing kisses to her forehead and lips. “Many would believe him.”
Dane quickly explained what happened at the castle during the battle, as well as Armen’s requirement that Dane safeguard the castle as Armen’s successor. “I don’t want it, but it is my destiny. You and I will return there.”
She drew in a shaky breath and kept her voice low. “Do you have an escape plan?”
“Yes. One that will have its pleasant benefits.” He smiled gently. His arms drew her tight against him and his erection stayed hot and hard, pressing into her stomach. His eyes flashed red, and she thought his body vibrated with an intense energy.
Ketera didn’t want to assume anything. “You can’t mean—”
“Yes.” He lowered his voice and whispered in her ear. “We will be together in every way possible. We will take and give to each other, and as we do we’ll discover a way to survive this. If we fight we will lose. We have to rely on our wits. Or strength.”
When the red in his eyes blazed hotter than she’d ever seen it, the answering flash low in her belly burned so high she gasped.
He kissed her mouth again, soft and sweet and slow. “I want to know that anything you give me is from your willing heart.”
She melted, her body responding with everything female inside. He released her long enough to discard his breastplate. It fell to the carpet. Lifting her into his arms, he took her to the bed and fell down on it. He cushioned her fall, making sure she fell on top of him. Instant need centered in her core. Their circumstances meant nothing under the gathering storm inside her. She’d never felt so hungry for him, and she wouldn’t waste time thinking about what might happen to them later.
She arched against his hardness and lifted up to sit on the thick column that pressed against his trousers. She slipped off the bed long enough to strip off her boots, pants and tunic. They fell to the ground. Gone was her modesty. Only animal, primal hunger remained, a reaffirmation of life. She didn’t give him a chance to pull her down on top of him. Nothing mattered but becoming complete and filling her body with his. She ached between his legs and knew she was more than ready. She pulled at his pants until they were out of the way far enough. His erection released and she held it by the root. She straddled him and did what felt right. Despite her tightness, she’d become so wet and aching for him that when his cock head touched her pussy lips, she gasped at the luscious feeling. Slow love could come later, if there was a later. Now might be their only opportunity.
“Ketera.” Her name sounded so rich on his lips and aching with need. His eyes told a story of hunger and a man’s need to find release within the haven of her body. “Ketera.”
She sat on Dane and pushed his thickness into her inch by inch until he pressed to the root. She moaned, hungry to feel his cock surging, thrusting, bringing the pleasure she knew he could deliver. Forcing worries from her mind, she felt the man she loved filling her.
“Ride me,” he said, clasping her hips.
She did. Instinctively, moving up and down with quick, driving force. With no shame and ravenous desire, she slammed down on him, lifted and came down hard. She watched his face at first and marveled at his closed eyes, his parted lips. Ecstasy and pleasure was written on his features.
She held back her groans of pleasure, concentrating as she closed her eyes and absorbed every emotion and feeling.
His guttural voice whispered, “Come for me, sprite. Come.” Pleasure filled his eyes. “Feel me.”
She couldn’t, straining and wanting but never quite able to reach the top. Dane sat up and turned her onto her back, his cock buried deep. Heat blazed in his eyes, and when he moved his hips, she gasped at the slick, hot sensation of thick manhood taking her with stroke after stroke. His hips picked up speed, pushing his hot column of flesh deeper. Her pussy tingled, the heat more than she could stand. As his cock ground against her clit, she cried out. Excitement spiraled in her stomach. She clasped his shoulders tightly and held on for dear life as pleasure bombarded her.
“Look at me, sprite.”
His rough words opened her eyes, and for those few moments his eyes were no longer red. His gaze burned with emotions so deep, she melted under their force.
“I love you,” he said, and stroked deep within her.
His words and the fullness inside her brought her sweet fulfillment. Trembling on the brink, she fell over. Her entire body trembled uncontrollably as she cried out. Quivering, shaking, she rode the hot pleasure as it burst in tremendous waves. Floating on
a beautiful dream, she didn’t want to let the feeling go.
He held himself inside her, not moving, pressing deep. Then he grabbed her ass cheeks and pounded deep inside her pussy, thrusting so hard another orgasm drove her to the top and she shivered and groaned beneath him. His thrusts jerked, pounded as his breathing accelerated and his moans broke into growls. With a shout, he poured inside her. His body shook with release. Her pussy clenched rhythmically over his cock, pleasure prolonged by his excitement. He rolled to the side, keeping his cock buried within her as he held her buttocks. Silence enveloped them and she didn’t move. Emotions overwhelmed her. Euphoria. Sadness.
“You love me,” she said in wonder. “Or perhaps I only dreamed such beautiful words.”
“You didn’t dream it. I love you.” His voice went ragged. “I wanted you to know in case…”
She knew what he meant. In the event they didn’t make it out of the situation alive.
“What are the chances that we’ll live through this?”
He released her, his still-hard cock slipping from her body. He brushed his hand over her hair. “You’re life means everything to me. If I must sacrifice myself for—”
She covered his mouth. “Do not say it. I can’t lose you now. Not when I know you love me and that I love you so much it hurts.”
He smiled gently. “Hurts? I hope not.”
She couldn’t produce a smile. “Perhaps I should do as he suggested. If I follow Drakus’ command, he might let you go.”
A scowl crossed his handsome face. “I will not leave you.”
He released her and sat up, swinging his legs over the side and reaching for his discarded clothes. Disappointment filled her. Not that he’d left her embrace, but that their time became more limited.
Desperation made her reach for anything she could think of. “And I won’t leave you, so do not even consider it.”
“You heard his ultimatum. Well, I have another one for him.”
“What?”
“I will fight him for you.”
Fear rushed upward. “No.”
“The alternative is not acceptable. I can’t join his quest for domination of the continent. If I fight him it’s over. His men will follow me. We’ll be done with this civil war.”
“Or we could play this safely. You know I heard him say it.” She thought the word but had never dared say it until now. She left the bed and slipped her arms around his neck.
She pressed her body close to his. “Take me. Keep taking me until I am positive to have your child.”
Dane’s gaze darkened, his expression troubled. He held her close and pressed kisses to her nose, mouth and cheeks. “That’s what I want too. But not because he orders it. We have to find a way out of here before a fortnight.”
She nodded and released him. She nodded. “Under the bed is a knife. Samhala gave it to me.”
“Samhala? She’s here?”
Ketera explained everything she’d learned about the woman, including the fact Samhala had betrayed the castle.
Dane’s gaze held hers, and the depth of emotion she saw gave her strength. Ketera wanted to run away from their problems, yet she knew they wouldn’t leave anytime soon.
“She betrayed us, made certain the castle fell.” Dane’s eyes flashed red again. “Made sure men found you and Finius. And you’ve made friends with her?”
His disapproval stung, and she left the bed to gather her clothes. She dressed quickly, vulnerability stealing over her. Now that their quick, hard lovemaking had finished, she felt awkward with him. When she’d first met him, his disapproval had fired her into action.
“You heard what I said about her. She confessed everything to me. She didn’t have to do that,” Ketera said.
Though Dane didn’t speak, she worried his frostiness would continue.
“We cannot trust her, Ketera.”
Exasperated, she sighed. “Fine. But we’ll take the knife. They stripped you of your weapons.”
He nodded. “All right.”
She tucked the knife into her pants pocket and kept her voice low. “What do we do next?”
“Drakus knows that we want to live.” He slipped his arms around her. “I’ll tell him he can’t have you. As I said, I will fight him for you.”
She grabbed his hand. “No. You can’t.”
“Yes, I can.”
Fear shot up inside her. “Listen, we don’t have to do this. We’ll find some other way. Make him think that…” She swallowed hard. “That we will spend the next few weeks making love. It’ll give us time to think of a way to get out of here.”
Dane shook his head. “He’ll continue to take women from Magonia if he can. He might even raid Magonia.” Sadness clouded his eyes. “And we won’t be able to get to your father. As much as I’d like to stay with you and make love to you every day, this won’t work to save our lives. Drakus wants domination.”
Before he could speak, the tent flap opened. In walked Drakus with four guards. Drakus smiled as if he’d just met old friends. Dane moved in front of Ketera, his automatic desire to protect emerging. While she appreciated his desire to keep her safe, she wouldn’t allow him to take all the fire. She moved up next to him, her hand in her pocket with the knife.
Drakus held up his hand. “Before you tell me what you’ve decided, I have some bad news.”
She held her breath.
Drakus took a deep inhalation, as if he didn’t like conveying the news. “We captured your emissary to Magonia. The Daryk One. He was on his way back from Magonia with grave news. He told us what we wanted to know.” Drakus turned toward her. “My dear, there’s no need to return to Magonia. Your father has already been executed for his crime.”
Chapter Twenty
Grief slammed Ketera like a fist to the midsection. She tried to suck in a breath but couldn’t. Dane’s arm came around her waist and she sagged against him as her mind went blank. Drakus stepped forward and for a few moments everything slowed. She couldn’t form a single coherent thought.
“My sincere condolences, my lady,” Drakus said.
“Sprite.” Dane’s voice was soft with caring, softer than she’d ever heard him speak.
Ketera looked up at him, but the words wouldn’t come. Nothing seemed to work as she absorbed the staggering sorrow. She’d known her father’s death was a possibility and had wanted to do everything she could to help him.
She’d failed. Miserably.
And Drakus had as much to do with that as anything else. She stepped from under Dane’s arm and slapped Drakus’ face with a resounding crack.
No one moved.
Drakus’ eyes blazed red for a few moments. “I am grieved that you believe that was necessary.”
Tears surged into her eyes. Even with Dane’s help, she should have realized she couldn’t help her father without the sacred texts. Even with them, the scribes and Truth and Order Police would have declared them blasphemous. Her father was condemned no matter what. She just didn’t want to believe it.
Shaking, she wondered if she’d just sealed her death warrant slapping Drakus. To her amazement, Drakus’ eyes returned to normal and softened. “Your situation is an unfortunate result of war, my lady.”
“That is dragon dung and you know it.”
“Ketera.” Dane’s voice held a warning.
“I won’t stand by any longer and keep my thoughts to myself. You are a piece of filth, Drakus, no matter how wonderfully you dress it up. You’re a madman.”
Drakus laughed, throwing his head back. “My brother, you have a very brave woman. I admire that.”
Trembling all over, she stifled her tears and grief and shoved them to the back of her mind with extreme effort. “My apologies, Drakus. I was carried away with grief.”
She did not mean a word of it.
Dane reached for her and turned her into his chest, and for a few moments she took what comfort she could from his arms wrapped around her, her face pressed into his chest. She wanted
to scream, cry and hit Drakus. She knew better. Shoring up her defenses, she leaned into Dane’s strength and strangled her tears. She wouldn’t show more weakness to Drakus.
She eased from Dane’s embrace and stood on her own, glaring at the rogue leader.
“Let’s get on with it,” Dane said. “I have a proposal for you, Drakus. One that will put this idiocy to an end. I will fight you for Ketera. If I lose, you have to promise you’ll send her back to Magonia unharmed. If I win, you will cease your hostilities toward Grimnald Castle and all peace-loving people in Dragonia. You will also give up your war against Magonia.”
Drakus smirked and put his hands on his hips. “A unique proposition. It doesn’t follow with my plans.”
“Take it and keep what honor you have left. If you kill me, you will be done with me. Ketera will be safe, and you’ll show your compassion to the people. Forcing me to join you is impossible. I won’t do it. Even if you kill me and keep Ketera, I know her well. She will make your life a hell. She doesn’t give in easily.”
Ketera found a wedge of humor in his statement, something she didn’t think she could. “He’s right. Take his challenge.”
She didn’t want Dane to fight Drakus to the death. She didn’t want any of this to happen, but what choice did she have? A sense of fate and inevitability came over. Whatever happened, she’d experienced the most glorious love she could have wished for in a lifetime. That was all that mattered.
Drakus remained silent, apparently considering his options.
When his answer came, it surprised her. “Very well.” Drakus eyes reddened, as if the challenge intrigued him more than anything he’d planned previously. “I accept the challenge with one stipulation.”
“Get on with it then,” Dane said, his voice filled with harsh edge.
“Ketera will be tied up at the altar, waiting for the dragon. If you try anything unusual, she will die by the dragon.”
Dane’s gaze turned to hers and they locked eyes. She saw inevitability lying inside his eyes, a deep love that burned for the ages. “Ketera…”
“Yes.” That was all she needed to say.
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