The Queen's Wings

by Jamie K. Schmidt

  “What, you on your knees?” If my track record with socking dragons upside the head wasn’t so abysmal, I would have smacked him one. How dare he kiss that Queen right under my nose?

  “You’d like me on my knees,” he said and ran his hand up my leg.

  “Speaking of interesting,” I said, moving away from his sensual touch and trying to ignore the tingling parts. He’d kissed Mei Hua. He had a Queen. He didn’t need me now. I needed to accept that Mei Hua was his equal and I was nothing to him but trouble.

  Reed sat down on the couch next to me. I wanted nothing more than to cuddle up to him and rest my head on his shoulder while I showed him the report. But I had some self-respect—for the moment anyway.

  “This dragon here,” I pointed. “He had a mummified hand stolen from his hoard.”

  “And?”

  “He lists a ton of other things in his hoard that weren’t even touched. For example, three Fabergé eggs. Why would a thief leave those?”

  “The thief ran out of time or space, or lack of nerve,” Reed said. He plucked the report out of my hands and tossed it on the table.

  “Hey,” I protested, sitting up. “I was still reading that.” I snatched it back. “Why do you think it’s a he? I thought you pegged your mother for this.”

  “We searched her holdings and didn’t find any of the missing items.”

  “Shit,” I said. “Another Queen would be too noticeable inside another dragon’s lair, wouldn’t she? Even if she decided to glamour up as a man.”

  “A powerful Queen would be able to mask her scent or her gender with glamour. But no Queen would put herself out when she could have men do it for her.”

  “That’s a good point.” I bit the corner of my thumbnail. It helped me think.

  “Once you shift, you’ll get a better understanding of dragon politics.”

  “Or maybe I’ll lead a coup.” I crossed my arms. To hell with Norma Rae. I’d be Joan of Arc—only without that pesky burning at the stake thing.

  “To what end?” Reed growled. “Ours?”

  “I’m not sure.” It wasn’t as if I didn’t feel the weight of responsibility. I understood the consequences, but there was a need for change. The five Queens couldn’t be expected to share the burden of creation to the exclusion of all else. If this damned curse could be lifted, they wouldn’t have to.

  “Were you able to get anymore information out of that witch, or had Esmeralda killed her?”

  “We rescued her. She’s with Lerisse’s people in Paris. They’re trying to reverse the spell.”

  “Good,” I said. “Because I think while the spell is weakening, it’s not breaking. I don’t want to be trapped halfway through changing. How many more women are out there like me?”

  Reed stood up and paced. “Tell me, if you could still take Joachim’s offer to eliminate the dragon part of you, would you?”

  Hell no. I had never wanted to be anything else. Granted, I hadn’t known what the primary purpose of a Queen was, but it didn’t change matters. What would change was their expectations of me. I damn well guarantee that. “Mei Hua said she only chose to become a dragon so she could fly. They broke her wings so she couldn’t escape.” I got up and followed him.

  “And they will die for it.” Reed shrugged it off with a nonchalance that made me seethe.

  “And she still won’t be able to fly,” I hurled at him.

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “Oh, does that bother you? Now you know how I feel,” I said. We squared off at each other and I’m surprised flames didn’t engulf us. I swallowed hard. How could two people in the same room be so far apart? Why did I even try? All this was moot if I never shifted. Maybe the hoard thefts would turn up a clue. “To get back to what I was saying,” I took a step back both literally and figuratively. “The Fabergé eggs are small enough to fit into a pocket. Only a lazy thief would have left them behind. That means the thief went in there specifically for the mummified hand. Why?”

  “Can we stop talking about the hoard thefts? It’s none of your concern.”

  None of my…? I was going to kick his ass. “Sure.” I shoved him with both hands. Predictably, he didn’t budge. “Let’s talk about you kissing Mei Hua!”

  Reed nodded as if he’d been waiting for this. “I have no choice but to kiss a Queen who asks to show her gratitude. Just as you will have no choice but to bear our children. However, if you wish me to be yours exclusively, you will name me consort.”

  Consort? What the hell was that? He was trying to distract me and it worked. I sank back down on the couch. I mean I got the gist of it. Or did I? Every time I thought I knew what a dragon’s life was like I got a nasty surprise. “What does that entail?”

  “I will be the one to stand at your side. I will be your lover, your confidant.”

  “Are you proposing marriage?”

  He went back to kneeling in front of me. “No, you are.”

  “You can’t tell me to ask you to marry me,” I screeched. This was not how I pictured a proposal happening, even if he was on one knee. There was no denying he was the dragon I wanted. But what he wanted out of this was so polar opposite to anything I could handle.

  “Why not?”

  “You ask me,” I told him. “Say, ‘I can’t live without you, Carolyn.’ Hell, how about, ‘I want to sleep with you every night and wake up with you every morning’? Romance! You’re doing it wrong.”

  “I have no right.” He held my hand.

  “You have every right, you big lizard head!” I tore my hand away.

  “The words have to come from you.” He spoke calmly, but I sensed the tension under his words.

  He was impossible. I was going to have to spoon-feed him this. “Why do you want to marry me?”

  “I want to become your consort,” he emphasized the word. “Because you are my responsibility.”

  Well wasn’t that the most romantic proposal a girl could ask for? “How do you figure?”

  “We discovered you.”

  “I discovered myself. You and the rest of the dragon community thought I was a raving lunatic—if you even deigned to acknowledge my existence. Why else?” Come on, Reed, I know you can be charming. Work for it.

  He blinked at me like I had three heads. “I care for you,” he said, slowly.

  “That’s it? Just care for me? Do you care for Mei Hua, too?”

  “She’s not ready for a consort,” Reed hedged.

  That wasn’t a no. I started to do a slow burn. “Yeah, but did she ask you?”

  “No,” he said, fixing his eyes above my left eyebrow.

  “You’re not telling the whole truth.”

  “She didn’t ask me, yet. I told her she should wait a bit until her emotions are all settled.”

  “What about my emotions?” I thumped my chest and then winced.

  “I want you,” he said in a growly voice that made the hair on my arms stand up. Finally. We were getting somewhere.

  “Why?” I couldn’t let him get off this easy. It had to be because of me. Not because Niall told him to, or Esmeralda wanted me compliant. He had to want me for me. Carolyn the human, not Carolyn the would-be Queen.

  “You’re sexy.” He stepped closer to me. “You make me laugh.”

  “So I’m a clown?” I said in my best Joe Pesci impersonation. “I amu-use you?” I tried to ignore my pulse flickering into overdrive as the heat of Reed’s body touched me. “Can you be a consort to more than one Queen?” I whispered.

  “No.” Reed snaked out his arm and pulled me against him.

  “So, if I want you for myself, I have to claim you?” I didn’t want to weaken, but I liked being here in his arms.

  “That’s right.”

  “And you’ll be faithful to me?”

  “I will.”

  “It bothers me you don’t want the same from me.” I held his gaze.

  “What I want doesn’t matter. I keep telling you that.” His smile was ful
l of regret.

  “So hypothetically…”

  “Here we go.” Reed rolled his eyes.

  “If I can find more Queens, can we have a monogamous relationship?”

  “You’d have to find a lot of them, but hypothetically, in theory, yes.”

  “Then I claim you as my consort.”

  He leaned in to kiss me.

  Oh no you don’t, buster, Arianna said.

  “Arianna, either take off, or I’ll have Jack gelded,” Reed said.

  “Can you do that?” I asked as Arianna fled to the back of my mind and faded away.

  “Even if I have to do it myself,” Reed said and pushed me down on the leather sofa.

  “I can’t hatch eggs while I’m still mostly human.”

  “I’m aware of that.” He started to unbutton my shirt. I spread my legs wider and allowed his pelvis to rest against my inner thighs. He was hard and heavy and he felt wonderful. “I knew I didn’t pick you out a bra for a reason.” He lightly blew over each of my nipples until they were thick and pert.

  “So why are you doing this?” I wet my lips with my tongue and arched into him when he flicked his tongue over each nipple. “You’re not taking orders from Esmeralda anymore are you?”

  “Do you want me to stop?”

  “Hell no,” I said. “I just want to know where I stand.”

  “Right now, you are on your back under me, awaiting my kiss.”

  “Arrogant.” I lifted his sweater up and over his head.

  “Doesn’t negate the fact though, does it?” He put his hands on either side of my chest and lowered his head to my nipple. Gently, he sucked on the tip, moving his tongue over the hard nub. I closed my eyes to the sensation. He was warmth and sweetness. Cupping my other breast, he massaged his thumb around the erect tip. I had my legs entangling with his and was grinding myself against him. I pulled his head up and claimed his lips. Each slide of our mouths brought more pleasure, more racked-up tension. I held him tightly and scraped my nipples across his chest. As we kissed, my shoes and socks flew off and my jeans and underwear hit the floor. The leather was butter soft under me. I fumbled with Reed’s belt and zipper, and he helped me until we were both naked on the plush couch.

  “You have Mei Hua now.” I broke off the kiss. “A Queen who will bear your eggs. Why are you choosing me over her?”

  “Because it’s you I want.” Reed threw my legs over his shoulders. “You,” he said and buried his face in the juncture of my thighs. I let out an inarticulate scream, and my eyes rolled back in my head. I was making incomprehensible sounds as his tongue danced around inside of me. He flicked it over my bud and had me digging my nails into the soft sofa. I writhed and twisted trying to get more of his tongue and the slight roughness of his face on every sensitive inch. He slid his hands over my stomach and ass, cupping me possessively. I couldn’t take it anymore. Didn’t want to think or fight, I just wanted to give in completely. My orgasm shattered me.

  “Your consort, my Queen.” He smiled at me. It made me putty and stupid happy. Shifting positions, so I was flat on my back on the couch, Reed covered me. One quick thrust and he was in me to the hilt. He leaned in, pinning my legs to his chest as he pumped in and out of me.

  “Reed,” I sighed.

  “Carolyn,” he sighed back at me.

  “More,” I said. “Faster.”

  He gave a breathless chuckle and picked up the pace. Eyes wild, a fierce smile on his face, he watched me as my eyes started to close.

  “Look at me,” he demanded. “I want to see your face when you come.”

  I gripped him tightly and came with a short hoarse scream.

  “Very good,” he said and slammed into me to the hilt again.

  I writhed around him, enjoying the sensation of being filled and tightly joined with him. He let my legs fall around him where they quivered.

  “Mmmm,” he said, running his hands up the tops of my thighs, over my belly, to cup my breasts again. “You feel like heaven.” He molded his hands over my breasts. “So silky white, with a large pink cherry on top. I can’t resist another taste.”

  I scooted up and locked my legs around his back. He effortlessly lifted me so I was sitting on him. His arms were wrapped around me as he lavished erotic kisses on my chest and nipples. I was rocking into him, loving how hot and hard he still was. A part of me wondered if I affected him the same way. But his eager hands and mouth coupled with his easy motions banished those thoughts. Maybe Reed didn’t like humans, but I had grown on him.

  I rubbed my cheek against his and tickled his ear with my tongue. “I like the feel of you inside of me.” I nipped lightly on his ear. “But now I want you to come screaming my name.”

  Reed choked and reared back to stare into my eyes. “Make me,” he said.

  This time, I was glad he called my bluff.

  I pushed firmly down on his shoulders until he was the one on his back. Kneeling astride him, I ran my hands over his broad chest and the rigid muscles of his stomach. Bouncing slightly, I watched as his eyes followed my swaying breasts. I caught his hands and let him play with them as I rode him harder and faster into the couch.

  “Dragons don’t scream,” he told me.

  I put his hands on my ass and leaned forward so the tips of my nipples teased his face.

  He made an inarticulate grunting sound and his eyes grew wide. I increased my pace rocking over him. His hands took over and jackhammered me up and down. My breasts bounced, and my hair flew. I put my hand between our bodies and felt him slide thickly over my fingers. Touching myself, I started to pant and brought myself to another quick orgasm. As I tightened around him in release, he shouted my name and came inside me.

  I collapsed on top him and kissed him deeply. “There will be no other dragon for me,” I told him.

  “Not tonight, at least.”

  “Not ever,” I said.

  “It’s a nice thought,” he said and stroked my hair until we both fell asleep.

  It was midnight when I peeled myself off Reed. He made a contented snort and rolled over. I had a searing pain in the middle of my forehead. Padding naked out of the room and through the house, I got to the front door. There was something I should be doing right now, but my head hurt too much to stop and think.

  I walked outside. The Texas night was full of shadows, and I pushed my way toward the creek as if I was already swimming in it. Looking up, I could get lost in the stars. Just take myself away from the world and all the questions. I wanted to enter the sky and become one with the heavens, but I was unable to fly. It was hard to concentrate. Didn’t I always fly in my dreams? Spreading my arms, I continued down toward the barn and I let myself into the pasture. The creek was calling me home. I needed to feel the peace of the water.

  There was a fierce wind blowing up, but I didn’t feel it. Didn’t need the big, black lizard standing in front of me. I had to get by him. He was calling my name, but I couldn’t answer him. Soon, I couldn’t hear him. He was blocking my way to oblivion.

  When he shifted to human form, I was relieved. At least now I could get by him. The pain in my forehead staggered me. The man grabbed me by the shoulders and shook. My head felt like it was going to bob off and then with a large pop, I had all my senses again.

  My feet hurt where I had stepped on briars. My teeth chattered at the cold night air. The smell of manure was strong and I could see Reed in front of me.

  “Danger,” I whispered.

  “Carolyn,” Reed shouted in my face.

  “Stop shaking me,” I said. “I’m back, and you’re giving me whiplash.”

  “What the hell is going on?”

  “Did Arianna wake you again?”

  “Yes,” he said. “I shouldn’t have been asleep. Maybe the first time when I flew us to Paris. Just now, I should have woken up the moment you left me but I didn’t feel you leave. Magic blocked me, just as it compelled you to try and drown yourself again.”

  I started to shiver. The d
eep creek was inches from where we were standing.

  He picked me up in his arms. “Let’s get you into the house.”

  “No arguments here.”

  “From now on you are not to take a bath alone.”

  “Kinky.” I rested my head on his shoulder. My teeth chattered from the chill.

  “Or sleep alone.”

  “It’s getting better.”

  “Don’t be so flip. Something is invading my private houses and attacking us.” He cradled me close against his chest. I could get used to this—if it wasn’t for the near drowning myself part.

  “Who would want me dead? The studs need me alive. The cult needs me alive—at least until they get me to the altar.” My voice was high and shrill. Reed’s grip on me tightened, and he kicked the door open to the house and walked upstairs. “Let me take care of those cuts,” he said.

  I winced as he poured alcohol over them.

  “It’s not bad. Thankfully.” And true to his word, after a few Band-Aids I was good as new, aside from the compulsive shaking, that is. “Do you think Esmeralda is behind this?”

  “She’s not the root of all evil,” he said, as he put away the medical supplies.

  “You could have fooled me.”

  “Besides, she’s being watched very closely. I don’t think she could try anything funny with the Order of the Dragon Slayers nearby.”

  “I’m glad you’re with me tonight, but I’m flying back to Connecticut tomorrow.”

  “We’re flying back to Connecticut,” he interrupted. “I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to stay here with Mei Hua?” I was proud that I didn’t sound as snotty aloud as it did in my head.

  “Joachim will see to her. You don’t have to worry that Mei Hua will claim me as a consort. Not yet anyway.”

  It was the not-yet part I didn’t like.

  “I need familiar territory around me.”

  “Very Queen-like.” He nodded.

  I gave him a fishy look, but he didn’t seem to be teasing me. “As soon as my purse arrives, I’m out of here.”

  “You really need to keep a better eye on that thing,” he said.

  “Bite me,” I said.