Assassin's Crown (The Assassin and her Dragon Princes Book Book 3)

by Ivy Clyde

  “Just as I was about to leave the palace, Kora came to me. She said you’d been taken away by Zane. So, I rushed out to find you, only to be blocked by my brothers and Mekhi and Helena.”

  “Helena?” I ground my teeth at the name.

  He nodded. “She identified me as Cain’s third partner. They already guessed who you were.”

  My gaze swept down Adal’s body, looking for injury. I could see nothing through the luxurious full-sleeved tunic he wore but he didn’t seem hurt.

  “I shifted before them so they couldn’t do a thing to harm me,” said Adal, answering my unasked question. “I caught sight of you near the tower casement and flew up there in time to save you from falling to your death.”

  “So that’s what happened…”

  “I took you to the shack where Cain and Norvin were waiting for us. While they looked after you, I went out to get a healer.” He smiled suddenly. “You’re going to be fine.”

  “Thank you for saving my life,” I said. The words hurt my throat like I was trying to swallow shards of glass. Elga made me responsible for keeping the princes safe and here I was, fumbling along, committing mistake after mistake. Excuses, like I was too engrossed in my personal feelings, would never be a good enough reason for my master.

  “It was nothing,” said Adal. “We would give up our lives for you.”

  “Don’t,” I said at once. I could see it hurt him but sacrificing themselves to protect me would never work in my favor. I would still die for failing my mission of protecting the princes.

  Instead of telling him the secret pact between me and my master, I leaned into him and pressed my lips to his. I could feel his astonishment as he went completely still. Next moment, his arm brought me in closer as he returned the kiss, mashing his mouth forcefully against mine.

  Heat flared up inside me. My heart pounded strongly, pumping blood and vigor throughout my body, igniting an ache between my thighs. The dark was gone. The cold disappeared. At that moment, my whole focus was on Adal. His touch made me feel alive again. The fact that I’d survived Zane’s trap finally settled within me.

  With a laugh, Adal fell back to the ground as I straddled his waist.

  “Daria, you’re injured,” he reminded me.

  “I don’t care,” I said through heavy panting, wrestling with the ties of my dress. Why were the knots so tight?

  A haunted look came over Adal’s eyes. They darkened as his hand rose up to cup my cheek. “For a moment, I thought I lost you,” he whispered, his voice hoarse with pain. “I thought they’d snatched away the only woman I ever loved. I could have burned them all for it.”

  I was finally able to free the dress. It slid away from my shoulders and I tugged it down further, revealing my breasts. My gaze went to the bite marks and scratches left by Zane on my body. The sight of the other bruises disgusted me. I could never forget how my pain and helplessness gave him pleasure. The linen bandages were wrapped just below my breasts, covering my entire stomach.

  My body didn’t make an alluring sight at the moment but only Adal’s touch could burn away the lingering feeling of Zane’s dirty hands. “Take me, Adal,” I begged. “Make me feel alive again. Please…”

  A tortured expression came over him. Before he could change his mind, I leaned down to kiss him. Once we started, I knew we wouldn’t be stopping there. Adal’s hot breath fanned my face as he plunged his tongue through my lips. I lightly grazed his plump bottom lip, urging him to kiss me deeper.

  I cheered in my mind as Adal’s kisses grew more desperate. His hands roamed my bare back, sending fiery shivers throughout my body.

  Breaking the kiss, I attacked the tunic he wore. Wrapping an arm around my waist, he sat up. I was pressed against him tight as he used his other hand to take off his under robe. I worked onto loosening the knot on his trousers. He got frantic, moving to help me pull them off. Another cheer rose in my head to see his bulging and erect manhood.

  I smiled down at him, throwing him back on the ground. His pants were barely off his legs but I couldn’t wait any longer. My patience had long evaporated. Positioning my hips right over his erect shaft, I slowly took his cock in my hand. It pulsed in my hold. My core throbbed in rhythm, hungering for it.

  Adal groaned as his head fell back. Stroking his length, I held it at my dripping folds. With torturous patience, I slowly sank on it. Hard moans escaped me as his thick member stretched my walls to the limit, filling me completely.

  “Daria,” he breathed, his hands rising to grasp my hips.

  I placed my hands on Adal’s chest, running my fingers delicately over the hard ridges of his muscular chest. My insides tightened deliciously. I swayed my hips, causing my clit to grind against his pubic bone. “This is what I needed to feel alive,” I whispered through the moans escaping me. “Only your touch can wash away the dirt that’s stuck to me.”

  “No dirt can ever malign you, sweet, brave Daria,” said Adal, lying underneath me as I rode his shaft, taking the pleasure and heat I craved. His hands rose up to cup my breasts gently. He held himself back even though I could see his patience crumbling.

  I knew I could never stop loving him, this man who continued to give without asking for anything in return. My heart swelled with emotions just as my body reacted to his pulsing hardness inside me.

  A soft cry escaped me as I came undone suddenly. My inner core throbbed with the fast beats of my thundering heart. I slumped over his chest, feeling completely spent but not fully satiated. Adal groaned as my walls tightened around his pulsing shaft. Holding me against him, he thrust into me.

  His hard thrusts threatened to undo me once again. I felt greedy, wanting to feel nothing but the heat that rose within our bodies. There would be time enough to ask where we were, where Cain and Norvin were, whether we had enough to survive…All thoughts vanished from my mind, leaving me open to focus only on the pleasure coursing through me.

  “I am close, Daria,” said Adal through gritted teeth.

  I knew it by the way he was thrusting inside me. Burying my head in the side of his neck, I let him take over my body. Holding me tight against him, Adal plunged inside me until his cock twitched, almost at the verge of filling me with his seeds. I slammed my body down, wanting him to reach his climax along with me.

  His heavy groan shattered the stillness of the cavern. Pleasure exploded through my body just as I felt the first burst of Adal’s white-hot essence inside me. My body trembled against his hard chest as he held me tight against him.

  Pure pleasure and joy filled me to my heart’s content. It felt like I was finally able to breathe freely again. My juices drenched his cock just as wave after wave of his hot, creamy seeds exploded inside me.

  It was a while before I came down from the high cloud of pleasure. When the haze of lust cleared from my eyes, I stared into the depths of Adal’s bright azure eyes.

  “I love you,” I whispered, still lying on top of him.

  “And I love you,” he replied, holding me to him. His cock softened inside me but he didn’t pull out. Laying my head on his chest, I felt my weakness take over me once again, but this was a sweet kind of exhaustion that promised a deep, dreamless sleep.

  6

  I watched Norvin’s dragon disappear beneath the thick foliage of the rising evergreen trees. The gray light of dawn illuminated the mountain range around me. For the first time since last evening, I was able to breathe freely. From my vantage point, I could see we were sheltered in the most secure place possible. Nothing and no one could climb this high to harm us.

  Casting one glance back at the cave’s entrance, I drew in a deep breath. Daria would be safe with Adal watching her. The thought allowed me to focus on the task at hand. Standing on the edge of the cliff, I stared down at the sharp descent down below. It’d seemed extremely fun when Norvin did it. But could I morph mid-air like him? I wondered. The reserved part of me scoffed at the idea, telling me not to risk it.

  Closing my eyes, I connected
with my other half. “Can I do it?” I asked him.

  A low grumble filled my mind. “Of course,” it said.

  Taking a few steps back, I sprinted forward. My heart leaped into my mouth as I felt the downward tug towards my death, but just as I fell through the air, my body morphed.

  Large wings unfurled at my side, giving my heavy body a pleasant lift. I glided over the sea of green, feeling the steady rush of air sliding over the length of my body. A roar escaped me as I flew for a few minutes, shedding the anxiety that had been suffocating me for so long.

  Flying higher, I searched for the small town Adal mentioned. It was supposed to be close by, only a few miles away from the towering mountains. Moving northward, I spotted the minuscule buildings making up a village. Making my way back to the woods, I searched for a deserted clearing. Finding the perfect spot within a few minutes, I landed among the frosted grass.

  Morphing back to my human self, I looked around the forest. It was deathly silent. My breath rose up in small clouds before my eyes as I began walking northward. It would take me at least a few hours to reach the town of Okarijun but I couldn’t risk my true form being seen by any of the townspeople. The news would bring down Mekhi and perhaps, even Emperor Ivan here. With Daria still recovering from her wounds, we had to be careful.

  The cold breezes didn’t bother me but soon I needed to find proper clothing. My Baledonian-style tunic and loose trousers would give me away as a foreigner immediately. To blend among the townspeople, I needed to find some fur and woolen garments before entering town. Taking Daria’s lesson on camouflaging myself, I scoured the edge of the woods, looking for clothes to steal.

  Unfortunately, no one hung their laundry outside that early in the morning.

  Since the sun had barely risen, I decided to walk the streets of the central town to familiarize myself with the area. Closed shops and two-storied buildings covered both sides of the paved road. It looked like one of the regular villages in Iorna.

  Something caught my eye just as I was walking by a crumbling statue of a crouching dragon. Tall wooden boards had been set up around the place, each of their surfaces covered with dozens of posters. Moving closer, I took a look at one of them.

  My eyes widened as I stared into a fairly close-resembling portrait of mine. Across my bust were the words:

  Prince Cain of Iorna

  Traitor to the four kingdoms

  Prize of five thousand gold coins to the one who captures him dead or alive.

  My gaze went to the board next to it. There was a ‘wanted’ poster for Norvin there, stating his unusual hair and eye color. Other than the short stay at the abandoned shack, I’d spent most of my time inside the palace of Baledonia. If I’d bothered to roam the streets of Huadu, I’m sure I would have come across such notices in the city center.

  Daria had been clever to dye Norvin’s hair with henna. A servant could have easily identified him if they’d seen these posters.

  I moved onto the next one and saw an image of Daria staring back at me. There were no description about her other than she could be found near me and Norvin. The price on her head was ten thousand gold coins!

  My unease grew. If they considered her as our maid, the price on her head wouldn’t be so high. Did Mekhi somehow relate the silver-scaled dragon to me and her?

  “No, it can’t be,” I whispered to myself, shaking my head. “He might just want to capture her badly for the humiliation she caused him.”

  People started appearing on the street, going about their daily chores. I moved away from the posters, not wanting anyone to look up and see the similarity between me and one of the ‘wanted’ princes. Hiding in a narrow alley reeking of stale urine, I watched the street.

  A drunken man sauntered into the alley. Ignoring me, he promptly pulled down his pants and began pissing on the wall nearby. Disgusted, I turned away, but a thought had me look back at him. The man was leaner but was about the same height as me. Just as soon as he’d finished his business, I fell on him, striking him in the back of his head.

  The man went limp and fell backward on me.

  Dragging him deeper into the alleyway, I took off his stinking clothes. Undressing completely, I put on his things. I left the naked man leaning against a wall with my own clothes in a bundle beside him.

  Just a few more hours, I told myself, unable to breathe through the stench rising into my nostrils. The clothes reeked of vomit and sweat. Endure until you can buy new clothes.

  I waited until the sun rose higher. Within the hour, the streets filled up with more people going about their business. The shops opened up as well.

  My face already had thick stubble around the jaw. Letting my long tresses hang untidily about my face, I walked out into the open. Not sure whether it was my stinking clothes or my common looks, no one paid me any attention, allowing me to move freely.

  The keeper of the pawn shop didn’t even bat an eye as I handed him Adal’s precious rings. He greedily swept them into his hands and offered me twenty gold coins and fifty silvers. Even though I knew the rings were worth more, I didn’t argue, acting the ignorant peasant. A lifetime ago I may have disputed the price of such priceless jewels but now, I knew the importance of keeping up my pretenses. Either way, twenty gold coins would suffice for the supplies we needed.

  I went around the market square, buying clothes, making sure to dispute the prices of those common items. To my surprise, I was able to buy two sets of clothes for each of us with only a few pieces of silver. I made sure to take a trip to the herbs and apothecary to buy some dried henna powder for Adal’s use. After Norvin, he was the one in need of disguising himself.

  Remembering that Daria no longer had a weapon, I went back to the central market area. Earlier I’d seen a shop selling dirks and knives. They weren’t as sophisticated as the ones I’d prefer but it was better than nothing. Choosing one with a carved ivory hilt, I paid the man the remaining silvers I had.

  By now, I was already burdened with the packages of clothes and bags of potatoes and fresh meat. People were beginning to stare, so I decided it was the best time to leave before attracting further trouble. I was about to enter an alleyway off the main market square when something caught my eye.

  Two men in maroon uniforms carried a wide wooden board between them. They began setting it up beside the ones with mine and Norvin’s posters. Their activity attracted the notice of the rest of the people milling around. I hid myself in a shadowy alleyway, watching them erect the board.

  The townspeople murmured among each other but I couldn’t hear them clearly. It sounded like the loud buzzing of a thousand bees. Perhaps, they were too scared to even voice an opinion openly. I wouldn’t doubt that since we were in Drakhaven now.

  The sun began to wane as the late afternoon sunlight faded. I waited until the square cleared away.

  Close to dusk when the place had emptied sufficiently, I walked out of my hiding spot. Reaching the newly erected board, I stared up at the brand new posters the authorities pasted on its entire surface.

  The new notices had the likeness of Adal painted over them, stating the color of his sunshine-gold hair and describing his “beautiful” features. It looked like our whole company was on the ‘wanted’ list in every corner of the four kingdoms.

  7

  Every single scratch and bruise on my body throbbed. As I lay against Adal’s chest, covered by his cloak, I tried not to squirm. He was still sleeping and by the way his lashes trembled, I knew he was dreaming. Even though I was in pain, my body didn’t feel cold anymore. Adal’s passion drove it all away, making me feel safe and warm again. The terror that had gripped me since the moment the poisoned wine passed my lips was gone too.

  The fire burned bright in the shadowy cave. Its dry heat and sound of crackling wood relaxed me further. Whoever bound the gash along my stomach did a good job, considering I still didn’t break it open while riding Adal’s cock like a mindless woman in heat. Even though the wound throbbed, I
knew it would heal soon enough. With my dragonborn abilities unlocked, I could feel my heart beating with a stronger pulse. An injury like this before would have weakened me so badly, it would have taken weeks to recuperate without engaging my magic.

  Now that all threats were thwarted for the moment, questions rose up in my mind. Where were Cain and Norvin? Had they been in danger, Adal wouldn’t have given in to my lust and desperation. And where exactly were we?

  Moving with care, I gently rolled away from Adal. It hurt to move as I slowly got to my feet. Away from the fire, I could feel a chilly breeze grazing my naked body. I picked up my discarded clothes and quickly wore them, biting my lips as each movement brought fresh waves of agony. Even as I walked towards the cave’s mouth and the breeze got stronger, the cold no longer bothered me.

  Being a dragonborn was amazing.

  Stepping out into the bright sunlight, I sucked in a breath. We were several hundred feet from the pine forest down below. At eye level, we were surrounded by peaks of tall snow-capped mountains. The light Baledonian dress fluttered in the strong wind. My braid beat against my shoulder and I noticed someone else did them. It was lopsided with several strands coming loose. It made me smile. In my mind, I could almost imagine Norvin combing my hair and tying it up.

  His handsome face burst in vision. It had only been a single night but I missed him. The mating ritual unblocked my old memories. There was so much I wanted to tell him, Cain and Adal. My heart swelled with a mix of emotions as the full weight of my knowledge slammed into me.

  I wasn’t Daria, the assassin anymore. I was much, much more.

  For the moment, I had no idea where we were. The high cliff surrounded by a sea of green pines felt isolated from the rest of the world. Just as I was about to head inside, a great gale swept over me. Cowering down, I looked up in time to see the glittering blue scales of Norvin’s dragon. The magnificent creature circled overhead with at least three limp deer hanging from its mouth.