by Nina Croft
Mal stared at him for a long moment. “Lily will never be yours.”
At the words, the breath left her, and she sagged in relief. She didn’t doubt Mal, but still something deep inside had needed to hear him stand up and claim her in front of this man. In front of this room. She glanced up at his face while keeping a wary eye on Vortigen.
“Put away the knife, Lily,” Mal said. “It won’t help us here.”
He was right, and her heart sank. At least thirty men surrounded them. A sub-machine gun might have helped. A knife would only piss them off. Why hadn’t they brought a sub-machine gun? She sheathed the blade. Mal reached out for her and she slid her hand into his. Together, they took a step back from the King and stood facing the room. Mal raised their linked hands.
“I give you Lily, daughter of Cara, and the last of the Dragon Princesses. And know this,” he said loud and clear. “I have taken her as my mate. She’s mine. She will never belong to the King.”
Elation surged up inside her, as though she wanted to burst with the rightness of his words. She stood up tall and glared her defiance at the room. Whatever happened next, she knew that it was worth it for this one moment of belonging. This one moment of knowing exactly who and what she was.
There was a muttering around the room.
“You bring this on yourself,” Vortigen snarled. “Do you think they’ll ever follow one such as you? They’ll never believe your stupid tales of her powers or that together you can open the portal. And you’re not strong enough to fight us all.”
He made a gesture with his hand and four of the men stepped forward. “Take them.”
Lily tightened her grip on Mal’s hand. She looked into his face, searching for reassurance, for some direction. “Vortigen is right,” Mal murmured so only she could hear. “I can’t fight them all, but this isn’t over. Stay strong. We have allies here, but the four approaching are Vortigen’s sons by Cara. They will remain loyal to him.”
She studied the approaching men. It was almost impossible to believe, but these were her half-brothers. Two looked like their father but the others were dark haired and green-eyed.
Strong hands gripped her shoulders, tearing her away from Mal. She struggled but their strength was inhuman, and her hand slipped from his. A wail was building up inside her, and she tightened her throat against it. She kept her eyes fixed on Mal as they dragged her across the room. Two more men held him between them, and she could see his muscles flexing as he fought to stay calm. She closed her eyes and tried to call up the magic Mal had taught her.
Nothing.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to be calm, to go limp in their arms.
Vortigen came towards her and she eyed him warily. He reached out a hand toward her and she pressed herself back against her captors until she could move no further. Vortigen smiled, his hand stroking down over her face, his fingers trailing over her breasts so she shivered in loathing. His fingers toyed with the neckline of her T-shirt. Then he stepped back and Lily breathed again.
“Strip her,” Vortigen said. “Let us see the proof that she is in fact the one we’ve waited for. She’s like no princess I ever came across.”
Hands fumbled at her top, attempting to drag the T-shirt free, and a surge of rage flooded her. There might be no way she could win, but this time, she wasn’t giving in without a fight. She twisted in their arms, wriggled, fought until she stood heaving with exhaustion between them. She couldn’t get away, but they couldn’t strip her either.
Vortigen stared down at her, his mouth a thin line, and then he punched her hard in the stomach. The air left her in a whoosh, and pain blossomed in her belly. Gasping for breath, she was dimly aware of Mal fighting his restraints. She hung limp, waiting until the pain became manageable, knowing she had to look okay or Mal would lose it. They wouldn’t kill her; they needed her, but she wasn’t so sure about Mal. She slowed her breathing. Vortigen stepped up close and leaned toward her.
“It doesn’t have to be like this. Give in, do as I say, and we can be friends.”
“Friends?”
He nodded, triumph blazing in his eyes. He thought he’d won. A wave of hatred rose in her. Without thinking, she kneed him in the groin with all her remaining strength. “I’d rather be friends with a snake.”
Vortigen stepped back. The only sign she had hurt him was in his rapid breaths and the ruby glints flashing in his eyes. “You’ll pay for that.”
Lily rolled her eyes. She stood up straight, wincing at the pain in her stomach. “Yeah, right,” she said. “Does that mean you’re not going to be nice anymore?”
One of the men holding her laughed, but Vortigen didn’t appear amused. He regarded her thoughtfully through slitted eyes.
“Cassandra?” he called.
Lily recognized the name—the sorceress Mal had spoken of, the one who had betrayed them at the first meeting. Lily rather liked her for that. A woman stepped forward. She was beautiful, small, long blonde hair, pale skin and a dark red mouth. A delicate doll with the eyes of a serpent, eyes that filled with hatred when she regarded Lily. She sauntered toward them, then pressed herself up against Vortigen. “Yes, my Lord?”
Vortigen’s eyes flickered toward Lily, and he smiled. “Cassandra,” he said. “Can you do a compulsion spell?”
“I’ll need blood.”
“Take some of Mal’s, he probably won’t have use for it much longer.” He turned to one of her guards. “Pass me her knife.” Lily didn’t struggle as the knife was drawn from its sheath. The guard handed it to Vortigen, who passed the blade to Cassandra.
“Let us see how you like it when you have no choice but to obey,” Vortigen said. “I think we’ll have you dancing naked before us all.”
She didn’t like the sound of that. Not one little bit. She watched warily as the witch took the knife and strolled over to where they held Mal. He looked across at Lily, and she gained courage from that glance.
“Hello, Malachite,” Cassandra purred, running one finger down his chest.
Mal, she was pleased to see, ignored the woman completely, gazing blankly over her shoulder.
Cassandra scowled. “Hold out his arm.” One of the guards grabbed his wrist yanking his hand out in front of him. She ran the blade along his forearm forming a shallow cut that welled crimson, then dipped her fingers into the blood and came back to them. Smearing Lily’s forehead, she murmured words in a language Lily didn’t understand, then stepped back and stood beside the King.
“It’s done, my lord.”
Was she supposed to feel any different? If so, it wasn’t working…yet.
“You can let her go.” Vortigen said and the guards released her.
Lily swayed, dizzy, then she stiffened her spine. She rubbed at her arms where their fingers had dug into her soft flesh while she waited for what was to come next, sure what it was going to be, and Vortigen didn’t disappoint her.
“Strip.”
She raised her hand to her top button and his smile widened. Slimy bastard. Then she shrugged. “Actually, I’ve got to say, I have no urge whatsoever to take my clothes off.” Lily turned to Cassandra. “Do you want to try again?”
“Be quiet,” Vortigen growled.
“No, I don’t think I will, which presumably means that your compulsion spell sucks.”
She heard a soft laugh beside her again and this time turned to see Kyle. He looked back at her with approval.
“Why isn’t the spell working?” Vortigen asked.
The witch stared at her with eyes wide. “The only thing my spell wouldn’t work on is a dragon.”
“Don’t be stupid. There has never been a female dragon.” He studied Lily his head cocked to one side. “Maybe she’s taken Malachite’s blood and it’s strengthened her in some way.”
Cassandra pursed her lips, her brows furrowing. “The spell should still work. You told me that magic always worked against the Dragon Princesses.”
Lily glanced around the room
, as murmurs of dissent drifted from the small groups. Suddenly, she knew what she had to do. She tugged at the hem of her T-shirt and pulled it over her head, leaving her in her black lace bra. Everyone’s eyes turned to her, and she stood baring the mark for all to see. As she glanced across at Mal, his eyes filled with approval, and she stood proudly before them.
“I am the last of the Dragon Princesses. Two weeks ago, I stood with Mal before the portal and the gateway opened for us. We can take you home.” She turned to stare at Vortigen. “But I will never, never submit willingly to this man.”
“She lies,” Vortigen said. “Only the pure-blood dragons have the power to open the portal.” But uncertainty flickered behind his eyes. He turned to her guards. “Take her away, lock her up, and we’ll prepare for the journey to the portal.” Hard hands gripped her arms, and Lily winced. Vortigen leaned in close. “You will do as I say or regret it for eternity.”
“Fuck you.”
“Take her away.”
Lily had one last glimpse of Mal as he stood between his captors, and the expression in his eyes gave her strength. She had done all she could. Now, she could only hope that someone would believe her.
Chapter 17
Deep inside him, his dragon roared to be free.
Mal concentrated on his breathing, keeping it slow and even as he fought the red-hot rage that sizzled along his nerves as they dragged Lily from the room.
Through a crimson haze, he watched as Vortigen strolled toward him, halting only inches away. The King’s face was expressionless, but his hands were tight fists at his side. Things had not gone as he’d foreseen. No doubt, he had expected the Dragon Princess to be some meek little thing like her mother, easy to bully. Not a flame-haired Amazon unafraid to stand up for herself. Even so, she couldn’t prevail against him for long. In the end, he would break her.
“We must talk, you and I,” Vortigen murmured, then turned to the guards. “Take him to the red room.”
“Scared to do this in front of an audience?” Mal asked.
Vortigen ignored the question. “Go.”
The guards led Mal down a corridor and through a door. They released him and left the room. The red room was a comfortable study, old-fashioned, with leather sofas and dark red walls. Lamps burned in the corners.
Where was Lily? Mal stifled his impatience. He needed to know what Vortigen planned.
No way would they kill Lily; they would guard her, keep her safe. Long ago, the dragons had honored the princesses; many would remember that and treat her well. She was safe for now. Until Mal could work out a way out of this mess.
The door opened and Vortigen entered. He crossed the room to the drinks cabinet and poured two glasses of scotch. After handing one to Mal, he sank down onto the seat opposite. Mal tossed the drink down in one then slammed the glass on the table.
“I am still your King, Malachite. I think you have forgotten your vow of allegiance.”
A rush of hatred surged through him. “You lost my allegiance when you broke your sacred vow to the Goddess. You’re no longer fit to be king.”
Vortigen’s eyes narrowed. “Many of our people would consider that the most important attribute in a king is strength. What do our people want most? To go home. To return to Ankesh, and they know I can give that to them. Oh, they may suspect that you could also open the portal as the Princess claimed, but do you think they are likely to take that risk.” He swallowed the rest of his drink and put the glass on the table. “Our powers here wane with every year we spend away from Ankesh. Do you want us to dwindle until we are no better than mere humans?”
Mal shook his head. “What makes you think we are worth more than humans now?”
“We were made in the image of the Goddess.”
“Humans believe they were made in the image of their god.” Mal sighed. “This is getting us nowhere. What is it you want of me? There must be something. Otherwise you’d have had me killed before now.”
“Mal,” he replied, “you know I have always loved you like a son.”
“Cut the crap, you’ve always hated me as a reminder of the king who came before you. One who was worthy of that name. What do you want?”
Vortigen’s face tightened. “You violated my future mate?”
“If you mean we made love, yeah, I did. Even now, she may carry my child. She’ll never be yours. The mating bond can’t be broken.”
“Making love? You’ve grown weak. And, as you pointed out, things change. She will be mine. In fact I am counting on you giving her to me.”
“Never.”
“You were right, you know. Other considerations aside, I would have had you killed before you even entered this house, but I want what’s best for my people, and many of them would question your death. No, I need you to stand beside me, to release whatever hold you have on the girl, and give her to me. And you must renew your pledge of allegiance in front of all our people.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then you’ll regret it.” He paused, a smile twisting his lips. “And so will the Princess.”
Mal considered this for a moment then shook his head. “After what happened with Cara, they’ll never allow you to mistreat her daughter.”
“You’re wrong. They won’t question my treatment of the girl. They know she has bad blood. They’ll believe me when I tell them she’s evil like her father, that she conspired with you to keep them from their homeland. But it doesn’t have to be like that. Do what I ask and I give you my promise that I’ll be kind to the girl. Come on, what have you yearned for all these years? To go home to Ankesh. To fly again. You could be there tomorrow.”
A wave of longing washed over him. It had been so long. His soul craved his homeland like a physical pain, like a fall of ice-cold water seeping into his guts.
“You never know,” Vortigen said. “She might even come to love me. Women are attracted to power. It will be a good life for her. And if you follow me, I’ll pledge our first-born daughter as your mate.”
“Only the pure-bred get to mate.”
“And as I said, things are changing. We’ve always been slow at change, one of the effects of being immortal, but it can be done. This way, we all get to go home, the Princess will have a good life, and you will get a mate of your own. What do you say?”
Mal frowned. “It sounds perfect,” he said and watched the smile form on Vortigen’s face. “Except for the bit where I’m supposed to pledge allegiance to a king I despise, and hand over the woman I love to a depraved monster. What’s the alternative?”
The smile slipped from Vortigen’s face and his eyes narrowed, glints of ruby gleaming in the dark depths.
“You will die, and you will consign your precious Princess to a living hell, and don’t think she’ll be allowed the indulgence of her mother’s escape. Her hell will go on for all eternity.” He smiled again, and this time something ugly stirred behind his eyes. “You know,” he murmured. “I quite like the idea that she has spirit, it will be all the more interesting, breaking her. Or maybe I’ll keep you alive. If she loves you as you claim, then I’m sure she would do anything, lower herself to any form of debasement to ensure her lover doesn’t suffer. What do you think? Life in some cold, dank dungeon here on earth, never to see Ankesh again, and to know your lady will do anything to please me if only to stop your suffering. Perhaps we’ll let you watch as she pleasures me. Oh, and your brother Killian will die as well.”
Mal’s hands tightened into fists at his side. He had to fight his instincts to attack. “I want to talk to Lily,” he said.
“I don’t think so.”
“I’ll not give you an answer until I hear what she has to say. And I speak to her alone.”
Vortigen studied Mal as if trying to decide if he had an ulterior motive. “You’ll not kill the girl and save her from me that way?”
The thought of killing Lily hadn’t even occurred to him. “Of course not.”
“You swear it on the Goddess?”
“You think I’ll uphold a vow more than you?”
“Oh, yes. You’re a sentimental fool.”
“Then I swear. Now take me to her.”
Vortigen nodded once. “Come.”
The two guards fell in behind them as they left the room. Vortigen led the way along the hallway and then down a stone staircase into the lower level of the house. They were below ground, and the chill, damp air brushed against his skin. They stopped at a large wooden door.
“This used to be a store room,” Vortigen murmured. “We had it adapted as guest accommodation.”
The guard unlocked the heavy door. It swung open. There was no furniture in the room and Lily sat on the stone floor, her knees hugged to her chest. She glanced up when she heard the door open, her green eyes glowing as she caught sight of Mal behind the guard. She scrambled to her feet, then swayed and placed one hand on the wall for balance, the other resting against her belly where Vortigen had punched her. Mal knew she must be carrying bruises, but overall she appeared well. As he stepped passed the guard and into the cell, Lily pushed herself off the wall and into his arms. He pulled her close to him, then turned his head.
“Leave us,” he said.
Vortigen watched them, distaste clear on his face, but there was also a glimmer of puzzlement. He raised an eyebrow at Mal’s command, but nodded. “You have half an hour. See you persuade her to be sensible.”
***
Lily held him as though she would bind him to her, never let him go. As he pressed into her, a sharp twinge of pain stabbed her in the ribs. She suspected she had at least one broken but she didn’t release her hold. She’d been so scared for him, so terrified that they would kill him, and she would never see him again, never get to say goodbye. Never get the chance to tell him she loved him.
The guards had been silent when they locked her in here, refusing to answer her questions. Her bruises had hurt more once she was alone, and she had fought the despair that threatened to overwhelm her.