Chapter 6
Yalina
It’s almost disappointing when no one has noticed I was gone. How can my whole world have changed and no one can tell there’s any difference?
As Coltheis brushes out my hair she finds more tangles than she normally does, but if it makes her wonder, she says nothing. She avoids my eyes in the mirror as she always does.
I keep feeling phantom touches on my body as I remember last night. His hands firm on my butt, holding me close, a soft mouth against my inner thigh.
A trickle of moisture leaks through pussy lips he kissed and sucked, and I wriggle in place.
I’m distracted all day while I endure a meeting with my advisors and review the information about all my potential matches.
I want none of them. But that doesn’t change the fact I must choose.
Perhaps it would be easiest to just marry Prince Aurelion.
After all, what is the difference between one suitor I do not love and another?
Days pass. All too soon it’s time to meet him.
His entourage arrives with enormous fanfare.
From my balcony, I watch the people crowd along the boulevard and all down the adjoining lanes to watch.
His golden carriage is so bright in the sun it’s hard to look at.
The four white horses drawing it are perfectly groomed and dressed with rich purple sashes, their manes and tails plaited into elaborate decorations.
As they pass through the palace gates, a messenger scratches at the door. “May I send Coltheis to refresh your makeup, oh, Light of the Sun?”
I dismiss her with a wave of my hand. “There’s no need for that. Thank you.”
“Then should he be shown directly to the reception room?”
I hadn’t really given this part too much thought. “I believe Master Solen has made plans.”
“Very good, oh, Light of the Sun.”
I feel a little ashamed of the fact I’ve left everything to my advisors.
They seemed keen enough to handle it all, though.
Despite the fact that I dismissed the offer of having my makeup retouched, I go to the mirror, leaning forward to examine my face.
What will the prince be like? I can’t help but think of a dragon shifter as scaly.
I don’t think it would be nice to touch scales. In my mind, they’re stiff and scratchy.
Of course my imagination wanders back to my night with Kaelen, to the way it felt to run my fingers over his warm flesh and the way his muscles jumped under my touch.
Cross with myself for giving into it again, I straighten. It’s time.
Just then the door opens and Master Harmer is announced.
“Forgive me, Light of the Sun. I have come to make sure you are fully prepared to meet Prince Aurelion.”
“As prepared as I can be, I think.”
His brows furrow, and he lets out a small cough. “You read the files, Highness?”
“Yes.” I scanned them, anyway.
“Then you know he is a dragon shifter not human?”
“Yes.”
“And you know about the ritual?”
“The ritual?”
“Ah. This is a delicate thing, but dragons rely on scent to choose a mate. A very particular scent…”
The way he trails off lets me know this is not just a matter of wearing the right perfume. “What scent?”
He coughs. “The scent of a mate’s private parts.”
My brows shoot up and, instinctively, I bring my legs together. “No.”
“This is important, Light of the Sun. He has offered for you on the condition that you are compatible. But he must first check your scent to make sure.”
“Am I choosing or is he? What is the point of submitting myself to this ritual if I do not like him?”
“Forgive me, Highness, but when has this been about liking? You can refuse him, but Tarquenor is a powerful neighbor. It would have to be done… delicately… if at all.”
What is he saying? Am I trapped in this marriage already, whether I like it or not? Does that really change anything? I’ll have to marry someone. And I can’t see how I’ll ever like anyone as much as Kaelun.
I sigh. “Very well. I will participate in the ritual. May as well get it over with I suppose.”
Prince Aurelion is not at all what I expect.
He’s tall and his features are sharp, but there’s an almost feminine prettiness to his hard edges.
His hair is long and deep, glossy black, and his skin is red.
His lips are full and his cheekbones high, giving his face a striking beauty.
Even his eyes look golden. They flash in the light as he watches me like he’s ready to pounce at any moment.
Two horns spiral from the top of his head, and two wings sprout from his back, deep-red tipped with black claws.
He seems dangerous.
“What a pleasure it is to meet you, radiant one.” He gives a clipped bow that is just low enough to speak of respect but retains enough pride that I’m left in no doubt as to how he views his status compared to mine.
I return the gesture. “Your Highness. We are honored you were able to visit us so quickly after receiving my message.”
He smiles. “We are such close neighbors, it was hardly an imposition. But if I had not heard so many rumors of your beauty, perhaps it would have taken me a little longer. I’m sure the rumors do not do you justice, however. You have a lovely figure.”
I acknowledge his compliment with another dip of my head, but nothing more. It can only be empty words. There can hardly be rumors of my beauty when custom dictates no one looks at my face.
No one except Kaelun.
“I understand there is a certain ritual you wish to perform.”
His eyes flash as if they’ve caught the light, and the curve of his lips extends into a smile. “There certainly is.” He doesn’t ask for permission.
“If you would care to join me, my servants have prepared a room for us. And when that is done, I am sure you must be hungry. You will wish to eat and refresh yourself after your long journey.”
He leans closer and his gaze falls directly onto my face, breaking protocol. I almost chide him, but he speaks in a lowered voice and what he says raises goosebumps all over my body. “I am hungry.”
I know he is not talking about the offered refreshment. Flustered, I look away, moving toward the door. “This way please.”
The reception chamber is a smaller room off the main throne room.
He follows me to the door, and I lead him through.
I’m not sure what to expect, but it’s certainly not for five of his Taruenorian servants to follow us.
In the center of the room is a long sofa with colored cushions.
A few delicately carved wooden tables are placed nearby to hold drinks, but there certainly isn’t enough furniture in the room to accommodate all these people.
This is a small chamber designed for an intimate audience.
“Move this into the middle of the room.” Aurelion points at the sofa, and his servants jump to follow his orders.
I bristle, wondering what gives him the right to rearrange a room in my palace, but before I can say anything it is done. They stand at attention, ready for his next command.
Ugh, the arrogance.
“I did not realize we would have an audience.”
He only smiles. “All part of the ritual. You are welcome to have your guards as well. It makes no difference to me.”
How dare he tell me what I can do in my own palace? I lift my chin. “Very well. Shall we begin?” I gesture to my guards at the door, and they step into the room hesitantly.
“Lie down, oh, radiant one.”
“I will stand.”
He lifts a brow. “As you wish.”
Nonetheless, I move into the center of the room in front of the sofa. His servants position themselves around the outside so that we are in the center of a circle, all eyes on us.
The prince slides off his modified shirt and elaborate collar, leaving him in only his silken trousers. An servant steps forward to collect his garments. I can’t help staring at the definition in his chest and abs. He’s far more muscular and defined than I guessed.
I stare as he straightens and his body seems to grow. His shoulders sprout spikes. His face elongates into a snout, and his fingers lengthen into claws. His horns and wings lengthen. If I thought he looked dangerous before, I realize now how much I underestimated him.
Instinctively, I take a step back.
His nostrils flare, and his jaws stretch into a grin which bares two rows of sharp teeth. Then he drops to his knees. “Lift your dress.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Lift your dress, please, radiant one. I must scent you.”
I stare around the room at all the watching faces. I cannot do such a thing in front of all these people. But it seems I must.
Refusing to show him my hesitation, I grip the fabric of my skirts.
Master Harmer might have mentioned this particular part of the ritual.
I can’t believe the indignity I’m subjected to as Prince Aurelion shuffles forward.
My shins and knees are bare. My hands tremble, and I clutch my skirts tighter so he won’t see.
“Higher, oh, Light of the Sun. Give me everything.”
I’ll give him nothing. I’m about to refuse, drop my skirts, and leave the chamber when I remember the dry wells and Vathira’s lack of defenses.
Gritting my teeth, I lift my skirts higher.
To distract me from the thought of the prince’s snout there, I close my eyes and try to imagine it is Kaelun, but Aurelion’s hot breath on my leg is nothing like Kaelun’s tender touch, his passionate kisses.
The way he held and stroked and kissed me there like it meant something.
Aurelion lets out a low growl. His breath teases my bush, and suddenly his snout nudges at the sensitive flesh there.
I suck in a gasp, clapping a hand over my mouth to try to hide my reaction, but his laughter rumbles against my pussy. And then a hot tongue slicks out to spear into my most private place. It pushes through my folds and curls up and into me, and my knees go weak.
The prince lets out another growl, and despite myself, I shiver.
Afraid of my reaction, I push his head away. “Enough. Surely that is all you need.”
He stands, and I’m disgusted and fascinated at once by the way he licks his lips as if he savors what he tasted. “Mmm. I find I am famished. You were right. Let us eat.”
I hate the way his words send another shiver through me and make it even harder to remember Kaelun’s mouth on my pussy.
I ignore the implied meaning, only turning and striding from the room.
On the way out I order the nearest guard, “Fetch Master Solen. Let him know the feast is to be readied for our guest.”