33. Vexxion
33
VEXXION
Y ou know I adore you, right? I purred in her mind.
As I stood beside the king in the throne room, her pain had roared through me. It was my place as his controller to remain by his side at all times. He enjoyed watching others quake when I caught their eye.
This afternoon, I’d awakened three Nullens. Then fed him enough of me to satisfy his need for access to what he believed was their power. How long could I keep doing this?
If it protected my fury, forever.
The end was in sight. It would be over in just a few short days. After twenty-three years, I could finally gorge myself on a bitter yet satisfying meal of revenge.
Tempest’s sorrow had cut through me like a jagged blade. When I staggered, the king snarled.
“Something I ate for lunch,” I murmured. There wasn’t much he abhorred more than people getting sick around him—or dying, I supposed. His scowl had deepened.
“Take care of it. Attend to me at dinner.”
I gave him a shallow bow, enough to placate him, and flitted to my fury, the only place I wanted to be.
Now I sat in the bath with her, soothing her wounds. If only I could reach in and stroke her heart, heal her completely.
Love for this slight being swelled within me, jarring against my ribs like a caged bird frantic to break free. So much could go wrong with my plan, and I fought a daily battle with my fear of losing her. One misstep and everything could fall apart. The very thought constricted my throat, and I battled to contain this beautiful agony.
I adore you, I said. You know that.
I felt her lips curl up in the warmth she sent my way. I was pleasing her, though not enough yet.
Yes , she said.
I took the soap and lathered it between my hands. I’d remained clothed because this wasn’t about me. This moment was for my tiny storm who’d lost her energy, who needed my kindness and strength to rebuild herself once more. Only then could she lash the shore, could she show the world the strength that was hidden so long ago. I’ll begin by washing you here. I spread the lather across her belly that quivered from my touch, sliding my palms along her skin in brisk strokes. You smell like dragon shit, my love.
That only makes me sweeter.
Ah, there was her full smile. Happiness would lift the burdens from her heart .
It’s true, I said. Why, however, do you smell like dragon shit so often?
You know me . If there’s an aerie nearby, I can’t stay away. Brenna doesn’t need me all the time. And no one’s taking care of Madrood as he deserves, not even the king.
She needed to be wary of that dragon. He was a hellscape reincarnated. A bludgeon of death. Meanness personified.
Avoid Madrood, please. I’d learned to do so at a very young age. He’d been with the king from before I was born. Ivenrail had molded the beast just as he had me, and Madrood had been more pliable than I ever was or ever would be.
He’s actually sweet.
I snorted. He’s as vicious as the king.
Not really.
You’ve seen something I haven’t, then.
I do it for Madrood. Never the king.
I eased her forward and unraveled her braid. As always, I lost my wind as I stared at her hair. It was like a living thing, an extension of my fury. Freed, it cascaded in a tempest of darkness down her spine, as rich and vibrant as the dawn sky. Strands of gold played through her locks like lightning strikes through storm clouds. It epitomized this woman I loved, wild, untamable, and utterly mesmerizing.
I wet her hair, then I worked soap through the strands, gathering them up to drape them in coils on the top of her head like the crown she deserved.
“Rinse,” I said softly, and she slid beneath the water, shifting her head to get rid of the suds. She was a sea siren with wet strands swirling around her face. Even beneath the water, she smiled up at me, her eyes open and locked on mine.
When she emerged, she turned and draped herself over me.
The air had thickened. So had my breathing.
She crawled up my body, kissing me. When she lifted her head, she smiled again. “You make everything better. How do you do it so easily?”
“It’s easy because I love you.”
“It hurts to love you this much. Sometimes, I think my heart can’t take anymore. It’s swollen beyond belief. This is a fierce pain. Each of my heartbeats throb with a love for you so deep, I worry I’ll shatter. But then I see you again, touch you, and I know I can endure more. I have to.” She shook her head. “No, I want to. Because having you with me makes everything worthwhile.”
“Sometimes, I feel myself faltering in this plan,” I said. Much more than I’d ever wish to admit to. I would share this with no one but her. “I remind myself that my heart is determined. It beats furiously for you, my fury. We belong together. With each touch, each kiss, each word between us, I grow stronger. I can endure this torturous time because you’re with me.” I pressed my forehead against hers, locked my gaze on hers. “You don’t know how many times I’ve wanted to give in, to let him consume what’s left of me. But I’ve held on because I knew you were out there somewhere, that you waited, that once we were together, you’d complete me. You’re my strength, my reason for existing. We. Are. Destined. Our love will endure no matter what comes for us.”
“When you say things like that, I know I can do this. ”
The certainty in her voice made me glad I had said it. I would tell her every second of the day and night if it gave her the confidence she needed.
Trust was a gift, and I was grateful she was able to forgive me for holding things back, that she was able to forgive me for twisting her emotions to get her to this horrible place and into this terrifying situation to fulfill both our goals. It would be worth it. I’d make sure she knew this even if I had to do so with my last breath.
“I don’t believe you’ve finished bathing me, my wicked fae lord,” she said with a sly twist to her voice. She lifted the soap and placed it on my palm.
“You’re right. Turn and lie on my chest once more.”
“Not quite yet.” She frowned, and her face scrunched in a cute way.
My clothing disappeared, and I could tell we were both surprised she could use her magic in this way. She’d soon wreak havoc, but when the sun rose at dawn, the splendor left behind would stun the Nullen and fae worlds combined.
I couldn’t wait to see it.
I prayed to the fates I’d be with her to see it.
“Get washing,” she said pertly, wiggling around to face away from me, lounging across my chest.
My poor cock couldn’t handle this, but I’d find a way.
Smiling hard enough to make my face ache, I lathered my hands again and washed her breasts, giving her ripe nipples extra care. I wouldn’t want them to feel neglected, now would I?
Her lips parted with a heavy sigh, and her raspy breaths crafted mini daredevils with the steam rising off the water .
Because I could tell it pained her, I gently massaged her left thigh. She groaned and shifted as I worked out the soreness.
“So much skill,” she whispered.
She melted against me, and despite our location, there was no place I’d rather be than here, in this tub, holding my fury.
“What were we talking about?” she asked. “I forgot. Oh, yes.” I guess I should confess about Madrood.
They say it makes you feel better.
I’ve been singing poems to him while I work with him. There’s one in particular . . . I felt her frown. I think he likes it. And I’ve been showing him my usual kind self. He protected me because he likes me.
My fingers paused on her thigh. There was my storm, dropping a stunning blow into a simple statement. Tell me more about the poem you’re singing to the hellscape-fostered dragon.
I can’t remember where I heard it, and I suppose it doesn’t matter , she said.
Recite it for me.
A long pause followed. Funny, but I can’t remember it now. I guess it was for him alone. I’ve been a dragon trainer for most of my life. There’s no such thing as bonding with dragons or I would’ve discovered it by now.
My body turned rock solid. Where did you hear about bonding with dragons? I was here to help her relax. To make her see how special she was. To give her this moment of joy. But this. This! Start at the beginning. Tell me everything.
It was just a silly song. Nothing else.
“Where did you hear about bonds?” I barked in her ear.
“No need to get snarly.”
“ Tempest .” My fingertips teased along her sides. “Tell me. ”
“I like it when you do that, though it’s highly distracting when it seems you want me to get to the point. Hold your dragons. I’m getting there.” Reyla kind of borrowed a book from the fae estate prior to the Claiming.
What book? Again, there was more at play here. When I knew she was the one, I changed everyone’s course. I laid the game pieces carefully. But, as with any game, some slipped onto the board when I wasn’t looking. Did someone think they could play me ?
The book’s on the table in our sitting area. Ember’s Shadow. Reyla adores— She sucked in a breath and released it before continuing. I’m using present tense because I’m not going to suggest I won’t have my friend back. Reyla adores romances. I thought the book was about a Nullen and a fae lord falling in love, but instead, it seems to be a series of chapters about various topics, including bone coins.
What about them?
I only read the first line before I was interrupted. Someone knocked on the door. When I checked, there wasn’t anyone there. Then I left for the aerie. I’m going to read that chapter tonight at bedtime.
I needed to see this book.
Another chapter talks about how the Nullens were once vital to maintaining balance here in the fae realm, but it mostly teased information rather than revealing everything I wanted to know.
Interesting. You said one discusses bonding with dragons?
Yes, though it was also vague. Why not just spit it out? Anyway, it can’t be real. I’m a dragon trainer. One of the best, if I do say so myself. If such a thing was possible, I’d know about it .
Such a thing was possible, though no one had done this for many generations. No one knew how to do it any longer. Yet . . .
“Your fingers have totally forgotten what they were doing,” she pointed out. “And my humming body doesn’t like that one bit.”
“I’m remiss in my lady’s maid duties,” I drawled. “Allow me to make up for it.”
“You can begin right here,” she said with a low laugh, taking my hand and tucking it between her thighs. “You need to pay some attention to this area, Vexxion. For a lady’s maid, you’re woefully neglectful.”
Because I knew it drove her wild, I growled in her ear as I slid my fingertips oh-so-delicately between her legs. I’m going to take a look at that book, my love. Later. Much later.
I like that I take priority over a book.
I leaned forward and kissed from her jaw to the peak of her shoulder. Always.
I hitched first one of her legs, then the other onto the sides of the tub, spreading her wide like a feast for my endless pleasure—which she was.
A flick of my hand, and a pottery bowl holding deep red liquid appeared on the low table beside the tub.
“What’s that?” she asked in a lazy voice.
“Something spicy and hot and slippery,” I said, my smile stretching my face once more. She was right that I’d smiled more in her presence than I had in my life. She cracked the lines of my face on a regular basis, and I loved that fact as much as I did her.
Only she saw beneath the beast to the man I was inside .
“Are we eating it?” she asked. “Because it sounds yummy.”
“Perhaps later. For now . . .” I scooped some up on my fingers. “It dissolves in water, though slowly. I believe you’re going to enjoy this distraction, my tiny storm.”
“You haven’t even touched me—not enough, I’ll point out—and I’m enjoying this distraction already. Bring on the red stuff.”
When I spread it between her legs, she sucked in a breath. “Oh, Vexxion, you naughty fae man.”
“I’m wicked, love. Wicked . Never forget that.”