by R. J. Lloyd
When Kane turned back to me, there was something in his look that sent a shiver down my spine. Closing the space between us, his footfalls echoed around me. It was as if the air was sucked away from me by his closeness and the way he reacted to my question.
He played with a lock of my hair, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Boutrol, little one, is a dragon. One of the few left on Naelyra.”
I sucked in a breath heavily. “Dragon? Like a real dragon?”
He chuckled. “I’ve told you of them, no? Did you not have a vision of my past with them?”
I blinked. My mind was frozen for a moment, stuck on the fact that he just told me that he was taking me to go see an actual dragon. Finally, his words filtered into my brain. “Mhmm…”
He chuckled again. “Mhmm?”
“Mhmm…” I shook my head. “I mean yeah. Yes. Oh! Yeah!” The realization of it all came crashing in on me. “Yeah. But hearing tales and having some vision that felt more like a dream while awake is far less real that being told you’re going to meet one.”
“I did not say you would meet Boutrol,” he corrected me.
“You said ‘we’. That we would see if we can speak with him.” I folded my arms across my chest.
“Dorian… Wulfgar… Me. I will not risk you like that.” He mirrored my pose.
My eyes narrowed. “So, they’re dangerous.”
“Yes.”
“And you expect me to be okay with you going.”
“I will be fine.”
I groaned. “Can we table it until we find out even if the option is there to speak to him?”
“No.” He was staying firm on his decision.
I glared at him a moment before whipping around and walking away without saying anything. I wanted to demand that I go with him. I wanted to see the dragon. I also wanted to be sure he was safe. But what made me sulk the most? He was right.
“Auri…” His voice was soft.
I held a hand up as I pretended to busy myself with a small stack of books on the table next to one of the chairs near the fireplace, straightening them more than they would ever need.
His hand came to rest on my shoulder. “Auri. I do not…”
I stopped him. “I know. I’m pouting. I’m not mad at you.”
The wind tossed my hair as he spun me around, lifting me up into his arms and carrying me to the bed. Setting me down on it, he leaned in over me. “I will never put you in a situation where I could lose or harm you. You have become too important to me already. But if you need to know about the portals, I will find out for you.”
I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Thank you.”
His lips brushed against mine, and the tension I had felt coursing through my body dissolved as I melted into him. Quickly, he removed any bit of fabric between us and pushed inside me seamlessly, holding me close to him. “I don’t like to fight with you.”
“Me either,” I mumbled into his neck, moaning as he thrust into me again.
His hands gripped my hips and pulled me into him. “I hate that I scared you. I hate that I made you feel unsafe. I just wanted to…”
I put a finger to his lips. “Shhh.” Replacing my finger with my lips, I kissed him deeply, wrapping my legs around his waist and pulling him into me deeper. “You were making sure I was safe. I know.”
“I love you, little one. You’ve made this life worth living again.” He nuzzled into my neck.
It hit me right then that my life had been a series of motions to get by. Always laying low to a degree to avoid drawing the attentions of my mother’s family. Always avoiding my true nature.
Kane made me want to be me. He made me feel like my life was worth living as me, not some watered down version of myself. As if I didn’t have so many other reasons to love him already, that one was a big one.
I gripped him as I inched closer and closer to climax. When he came, I did, too. It was smooth, engulfing, deep. Our bodies curled into each other’s, and our moans were low, deep, from the deepest parts of us. Something was different. Not worse or better than the sex we had been having. Closer.
My lips brushed against his earlobe. “I love you, too, Kane.”
He pushed himself up, looking at me with a smirk. “We should get ready. The men are gathering what we need for our travels. I need to inform them that you will be joining us as well as our extra stop.”
“When do we leave?” I sat up as he stood and began to dress himself.
The smirk returned to his lips when he saw me admiring him. He stepped up next to the bed, his thighs brushing against my leg that I’d swung off the side. “You keep looking at me like that, and we may never leave. I’ll just send someone for your herbs.”
I reached out and pushed his arm. “But then how would we make love in all those exotic places you’re going to show me?”
Desire clouded his eyes, and he leaned in over me again. “Careful what you wish for, little one.”
I laughed loud and pushed him playfully again. “Kane!” I squealed.
But my laughter was short lived. As I went to straighten back up, a shooting pain ripped through my abdomen. My hands flew to cradle the area, and I cringed, my breath sucking in fast.
All desire left Kane’s eyes, replaced by fear. “Auri? Are you alright?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I’m fine.” It was only a half lie. The pain was already easing. “I’ll get dressed.”
He put his hand on my shoulder, keeping me sitting. “No. I’ll send for Sarah. She can assist you while you stay put.” He paused, looking me over from head to toe. “Maybe you should not travel.”
“I’m going!” I nearly shouted my response.
“But…” He stopped himself this time, seeing my determination written all over my face. “It’ll be faster with you with us I suppose. You wouldn’t have to wait for our return for the herbs. I could give you what you need the moment we attain them.”
“Exactly.” I hadn’t realized that a tear had escaped and was traveling down my cheek.
He wiped it away with his thumb before reaching up to pull the rope that would call Sarah to the room. “Please wait for her. I need to go brief the others.”
I nod, a sweet smile tugging the corners of my mouth up as he kissed me softly before disappearing through the door. I’d seen the difficulty he had leaving me in that moment. But I also had seen the determination in him to keep me safe, too.
Before the door closed, I heard Wulfgar out in the hall. “With warning, I could leave the doorway when you and… your queen want to spend some intimate time together.”
“Why would you want to leave your post?” There was a slight hint of humor in his tone.
Wulfgar grunted. “I just…” Before he could finish, Sarah walked up to the men.
She bowed and nodded to each.
Wulfgar, his eyes fixed on the woman, shifted, standing up more and puffin out his chest. “Hello, Sarah.”
She blushed, nodding one more time and rushing into the room with her head down and a blush staining her cheeks.
“Sarah?” I said her name with amused questioning, wanting to ask about her reaction to him.
She waved it off and pointed to my hands on my abdomen.
I signed, “I am fine. Just some pain. Kane wants you to help me get dressed.”
I’d been working with her on American Sign language. While her sentence structure and broad knowledge was still a work in process, she’d been picking up on things rather fast. Something that pleased us both. Admittedly, Sometimes I signed a bit faster than she could comprehend, forgetting she was still learning.
She signed back, “Again please. Kane what?”
Just as I started to sign it all again, Kane came back inside with my new guard in tow. “Sarah, Auriena needs assistance in getting ready for a trip. Do not let her be up on her own much.”
She looked at me, signing, “Are you alright?”
“Yes.” I went to stand. “Just some pains in my sto
mach.”
Kane was by my side before I could fully stand. “Auri… please…”
The pain in his eyes and in his voice pushed me back down alone. “I’m fine. It’s probably just my body adjusting to all of our… activity.” I blushed at that description.
Sarah stepped up by us and scanned me over, signing faster than I had seen her in Kane’s direction, “What does she need? Is she ill? I can help. Should I go with you?”
Granted, her sentences were a bit broken, but she was able to get her point across to at least me. Kane on the other hand? Not so much.
His brows furrowed, and he looked to me. “What did she say?”
“She wants to know if I’m sick and if she’s coming with us,” I translated.
She nods, agreeing with me.
“No,” his response was decisive. “We cannot risk more people coming. But as her handmaiden, you will need to be prepared for her return to assist her then.”
Her eyes went wide as her hands moved fast. “Me? I am hers? Thank you!”
Now, I knew that this was an odd conversation to have. My earthly ways of modern days cringed at this. He was gifting me this woman to serve me. But I knew what it meant for both of them.
Working to set the stigma aside in my mind, I smiled. “Is she not your most favored servant?”
He pushed my hair back off my shoulder. “Yes. But most of what I have needed her for in the past have been trivial things. She is best employed where she is needed, and you two seem to have a bond. I am sure her attentiveness will be better suited with you.”
“Thank you.” My smile was almost as big as Sarah’s as she stood, almost giddily fidgeting.
He kissed my forehead. “I want the best for you. And in that venture, I need to speak to Dorian.” He goes for the door.
Expecting him to follow, I was surprised when I saw Wulfgar pause and open his mouth like he was about to say something. But nothing came out. Instead, he closed his lips, nodded curtly to her and turned, following Kane out of the room, closing the door behind them. The redness stained Sarah’s cheeks again, and she tried to duck her face away from me as she went to get my clothing to replace the sheet I’d draped over me.
“Sarah?”
She shook her head as if she didn’t want me to press the issue.
“Sarah…” I cleared my throat.
Her head tilted back, and she let out a sign. Whipping around, her hands flew to her chest, and she sighed again, only this time, it was something else. Not frustration but a dreamy-like quality to her expression.
“You like him?” I asked.
The idea wasn’t farfetched. Wulfgar was a handsome fierce warrior and a strong protector, not to mention, he had the favor of the king. I could see why any woman would find him alluring in one way or another. But seeing her reaction? I knew she was smitten.
She slowly nodded a yes.
Then, we both started giggling.
“He likes you, too.” I nodded to the door.
Her brows knitted together as she shook her head no.
“Well? We shall see. If he’s my guard, and you’re my handmaiden, you two will cross paths often, I’m sure.”
She shrugged. Her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red as she scooped up my things and brought them to me on the bed, setting them down before going and pulling a case from one of the closets and beginning to fill it with more clothing and essentials.
I decided not to press it further. I’d felt that Wulfgar had, indeed, sparked at the sight of Sarah, just as she did with him. But when he went to talk to her, something blanketed that spark, and he jerked back emotionally. I could only imagine that it was the memory of his lost love. And my heart sank for him. My heart sank for them both. A part of me wanted him to overcome it and for them both to find love. I knew only time would tell.
Chapter
Eleven
Dragon
The carriage that Kane had chosen for me to ride in was luxurious. Velvet seats that were not just beautiful but comfortable as well. A bed sat in the back with thick drapes that provided privacy. Food and water readily available.
He’d explained that it had been spelled to ride more gentile, smoother. I was grateful since, while it had eased, my body knew something was different. And by the look in his eyes, so did Kane. The smoothness of the ride over the rough terrain and the three portals we had passed through was more than appreciated. I made a mental note to thank him personally later, a thought that brought a blush to my cheek.
His men had been briefed on our purpose as much as they needed to know. And he had chosen to ride his horse as we started instead of inside the carriage with me, stating that he wanted to be sure that all was well and in line with those that were accompanying us.
His thoroughness of the situation, while it should have been comforting, set me on edge. I’d spent most of my life avoiding a possible deadly force – my family. Now, in another world, it seemed like I was surrounded by a multitude of them. And Kane’s rigid military style reaction to it all concerned me that there was so much more out here.
When the carriage slowed to stop, I had been dozing in and out of sleep, resting on the bed with the covers pulled up tight around me. A part of me didn’t want to get up. I just wanted to stay curled up and sleep until we got to our destination. Then again, part of me wanted to yank Kane off his horse and pull him in there with me, not caring who all might hear us.
What I was met with was more strategy and logistics talk between the men outside as Kane ordered a search of our perimeter. “Lochlin, take two men and make sure the area is secure.”
“Right away.” The guard’s horse’s hoof steps started fading away, followed by two other sets.
I peeked out the small window above my pillow and saw Dorian move next to Kane. He spoke low, “My king, was it wise to bring her along?”
“Have you ever tried to tell her no?” Kane’s eyes were on the horizon.
Dorian scoffed, not amused at all. “Can you not control this human? If you cannot control her, is she not a…”
Kane’s attentions whipped to Dorian quickly. “I will advise you to watch your tongue. She is not a slave. She is not someone to control like a pet. If we bring her, she’s in danger. But is she not in danger back at the castle without my protection?”
“Could your raider not have stayed with her to keep her safe?” Dorian’s nose wrinkled as he glanced over at Wulfgar in the distance.
“The perimeter is secure.” Lochlin and his selected guys had returned. They immediately went back into formation around the carriage.
“She feels best protected when by my side. And if that is what she wants, then that is what she gets.” Kane turned his horse to face the other direction. “And frankly, I do not disagree with her.”
Dorian watched as Kane trotted his horse over to Wulfgar. The leader of the soldiers obviously did not approve. Yet, he knew that disagreeing with Kane too forcefully probably would not end in his favor. However, from where I watched? His stance on the matter was more than a minor disagreement. He was angry.
As he went to turn the opposite direction of Kane, he saw me peering through the window. We locked in a moment of exchange. But the energy that flowed between us wasn’t protective. I wouldn’t even say it was friendly. It was tense and sent a shiver down my spine. Then, it broke as he gripped his reigns and galloped away toward the front of the carriage.
I climbed out of the bed and poured myself a glass of water. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. Before I opened them, I felt a pair of muscular arms snack around my waist and full lips caress my neck.
“You do not seem relaxed,” he breathed against my flesh.
I turned to face him. “Dorian does not like me.”
“He does not like you being here,” he corrected me.
“That’s because he does not like me.” I gulped down the rest of the water and set the glass in the basket.
He put his strong hands on my shoulders and
rubbed them. “Auri, it’s because we all want you to be safe. And he doesn’t want me to be distracted by you. It is his job to ensure that our defenses and offenses are strong. To him, you pose a chink in our armor.”
“How would I distract you?” I was genuinely curious considering that he seemed so pulled together and focused.
His eyes roamed down as his finger came up and played with the top button of my blouse. “Oh, I can think of a few things that run through my thoughts when I’m out there riding.”
I blushed, swatting his hand away. “Do not tempt me! I was just thinking how much I wanted you in here with me.”
He smirked. “Oh? Is that right? Maybe you should show me what those thoughts entailed.”
Gripping his wrist, I placed his hand on my waist and pressed up against him, reaching up on my tip toes and tilting my chin up to look up at him. “Do you have parts to fix this thing once we break it?”
He took a measured breath as if contemplating the possibilities of what we could do that would damage the carriage. His free hand tucked under my hair, wrapping around the back of my neck as he leaned down and kissed me fiercely.
“Kane.” Wulfgar appeared in the doorway. “We need to move. Some of the men are getting restless. The portal is only a couple more hours’ ride. I would hate to have to dispatch some of their heads before we got to our destination. After all, bartering them as food for Boutrol’s help.”
Kane laughed as the raider strolled back to his horse. “Wulfgar does not care for Dorian’s men.”
“I don’t blame him,” I muttered, thinking about how cold and distant they felt. But then again… soldiers on a mission.
He kissed my forehead and then moved to my lips, sending the best shiver through my body. “How is your pain?”
“I’m alright. It comes and goes, but it’s bearable,” I tried to reassure him.
Gently, he placed his hand on my stomach and huffed. “It is a good thing I cannot show you how much I love you right now. You need rest.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I wrinkled my nose. “Kane? How come you needed men to make sure we were safe? Why all the protection detail?”