Chapter Seventeen
Tara didn't ride in our carriage. She took one look at the Dragon King's furious face and said she'd ride in the wagon with the others. I didn't blame her. The choice of giving her his dagger had been mine. She had merely accepted my offer.
And I didn't regret it.
I climbed into the carriage, settled myself on the edge of the bench, and waited for the King.
He came in like a storm, his size magnified by his anger.
Cloak flapping around him like wings, he sat across from me and glared.
I held his stare as he pounded the ceiling.
The carriage moved, going forward and then circling around.
I had a glimpse of the wagons, now driven by Dragon knights, before we settled into the lead.
The Dragon King's hand shot out and closed the curtains, to the left and then to the right.
The darkness wasn't complete, but I wished it were.
Shadows enhanced his savage expression, and fear finally shot through me.
I had grown too dependent on his kindness.
He had made me so. Lured me into seeing only that side of him.
And he'd done such a good job that I hadn't once considered he might hurt me. Yell, yes. But not physically hurt me.
Now, I began to doubt his kindness.
“Don't you dare look at me like that!” King Raventar roared.
I cringed back against the wall.
He grabbed my tunic and pulled me forward. “No, Eliel. You don't get to cringe in terror now. I proved myself to you. I will not hurt you. But that doesn't mean you can walk over my crown, and I will stand back and smile!”
Relief shot through me even as his words struck home. “Raven, I'm sorry. I didn't think it would . . .”
“Undermine my authority?” The King sneered and pushed me away. “No, you didn't think. You didn't ask. You stole my dagger and gave that woman justice that wasn't hers to take!”
My relief evaporated into anger. He still didn't understand. But how could he? He had never been weak or taken advantage of. He had never been abused as I had.
“Yes, it was!” I shouted and shoved him back.
“It was hers and hers alone! Tara could have killed all of them for what they did.
To her! They didn't rape the others. Only her. I know you eavesdropped on our conversation.” I sneered.
“Always listening to me when I think I'm alone. You want to talk about theft? How about stealing my privacy?!”
He flinched.
“But you did hear her what she said, didn't you? You heard what they did to her.”
“Yes. And I heard what Bara did to you.”
With a growl, I shook my head. “That was for her! I was sharing pain with someone who had been through what I had. That was not given to you! You're the thief!”
The King sucked in a shocked breath and leaned back, his shoulders falling. “Eliel, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take something from you that you weren't willing to give.”
I took a breath and calmed myself. I nodded, unable to speak.
He leaned forward. “I listened because I had to know. I want to share the burden with you.”
“That wasn't your decision to make.” I grimaced and admitted, “I knew you were listening, and I still spoke. I did it for her, even though I wasn't ready to tell you.”
“Why not? You know I would only seek to comfort you.”
“I didn't want Bara to taint what we have. You and I are pure. You've made us that way. But by stealing what I wasn't ready to give, you poisoned that purity.”
“You poisoned it when you took my power!” he hissed.
“I see it more as giving Tara back her power.” Sighing, I sat back. “But I understand your position. It seems that we have wronged each other.”
The King's breath was harsh, his jaw clenching, but then he seemed to deflate. “Gods damn me, Eliel. I have betrayed your trust. I've done exactly what I swore not to do.”
“And I have betrayed your trust. You have been everything to me—everything I needed. And I threw away all that had grown between us to give a stranger vengeance.”
“You felt a kinship with her. I understand.”
“And you wanted to get closer to me. I understand that too.”
“You are important to me, my foundling. But I am the King. I cannot allow you to take control. Not of my people or my kingdom. If you want justice, come to me. I would have given you that man to do with as you pleased. If you had only asked.”
“I didn't think you would. You said you wanted to question them.”
“There were six. I would have given you one. I support that vengeance. I think she deserved it. But as the King, I had to make the decision. You broke my law today, Eliel. If it had been anyone else, they'd be in chains.” He held out his hand. “But I would never chain you.”
“Raven,” I whispered brokenly as I took his hand. “Please forgive me. You're right. I should have trusted you.”
“And I shouldn't have listened to a private conversation. I see that it was a betrayal of your trust. I should have walked away. I forgive you. Will you forgive me?”
“I won't undermine your authority again.” I brought his hand to my face and kissed his palm. “You've made me strong. I don't need to take your power. Thank you for forgiving me. I forgive you.”
“You've given me a lot as well. I don't need to steal your secrets. It means so much more when you offer them freely.” He paused, looking miserable. “And you said such beautiful things about me to her. I suppose you feel differently now.”
I made a mirthless laugh and slid off the bench, onto my knees and right into his arms. Wrapping my arms around Raven's waist seemed natural now, and the feeling of his arms sliding beneath my wings was just as comfortable. I had nearly destroyed this with the death of a man who didn't matter.
“Yes, I do feel differently about you.” Raven winced, but then I continued, “I feel more for you now, knowing you aren't perfect.” I nestled in closer.
“Perfect?” Raven folded his head over mine. “Hardly. I struggle with doing the right thing every day.”
“But you do it, and that's what makes you so special.” I leaned back, nudging his head up with mine so I could see his eyes. “So beautiful.” I touched his cheek and then ventured inward to brush my fingertips over his lips. So soft. “I want to be your mate.”
The Dragon King sucked in a breath. “You want that?”
I nodded. “You said that you think it's possible. Is that true, or are you just trying to make me feel special?”
He exhaled hard and smiled. “I have never lied to you. I think it's very possible.”
“Do you want me to be your mate?”
“Very much.”
“Then take me now.”
The Dragon King groaned. “You wicked thing. No. Not here. Not like this.”
“For years, I've had no choice in whom I lie with.” I pressed my hands onto his thighs and lifted my head to nuzzle our lips together. “I'm ready to choose, and I choose you, Raven.”
He grabbed my arms and pushed me back. “You don't understand what you're asking for. If you are my mate, and I start the binding process, I will be out of control until it's over. We'd have to make camp and maintain a clearing around our tent.”
“I don't care.”
The King shook me gently. “I care! I won't take you like that.
I don't want that to be how we start. Out here in the wild, where I can't protect you properly, and everyone can hear your cries of pleasure. No! Those cries are mine. When I take you, it will be in a comfortable bed, with your wing healed and your mind free of all evil. It will be only us, and it will be beautiful.”
“But you don't know that you'll mate me. Would you wait with another lover?”
“Eliel, I've known from the beginning that you would be mine. I can feel it building inside me. If we didn't mate instantly, I'd be shocked.”
Stunned and delighted, I sat back and stared up at him. He was certain? He'd alluded to it before, but I hadn't realized how confident he was in our future. Suddenly, I wanted him even more, the need clawing at me.
“If I can't make love to you, at least give me your pleasure.” I slid my hands up his thighs and unbuttoned his pants.
“Eliel.” His hand stilled mine.
“I want you inside me. Give me this, Raven. Give up your power here, just here, with me.”
His hand fell away.
Triumphant, I hurried to undo his pants. When his cock sprang free, hard and willing, I licked my lips. How long had it been since I'd done this willingly? Too long. I'd forgotten the wild joy of the act. The feeling of possession. Of power.
Shifting my gaze up to his, I lowered my head. The smell of him, stronger there, hit me first, thick with his masculinity and Dragon spice but also fresh as the sage on the plains. Clean and vibrant. I couldn't wait to taste him.
The rounded tip was wet when it touched my lips.
Groaning, I pushed down on his flesh, letting it split me and enter me.
Salty and spicy. I breathed in deeply and let his aroma enhance his flavor.
My lips stretched around him. I basked in the feeling and then tightened them.
He was inside me at last! I was taking Raven into my mouth.
The thought kept twirling through my mind in amazement.
He was letting me touch him. Please him.
It was just so astounding. And incredible.
Definitely incredible. I groaned as my fantasy became real.
“Oh, great Gods!” Raven thumped his head against the wall. His hand went to my head, fingers slipping through my hair. “Eliel, my foundling. You unman me.”
Sucking off his length, I grinned. “You feel very manly to me.”
As he chuckled, I went back to it, feasting on his flesh.
Devouring his lust for me. Rejoicing in it.
This was pure, just as he wanted. As we both wanted.
My mind spun with ecstasy. I had never enjoyed pleasing a man so much.
It was giving me physical pleasure. My cock tingled as if it were being stroked, and my channel clenched in anticipation.
But I wouldn't receive him there. Not yet.
And that made the anticipation all the sweeter.
I moved up and down his length, tapping the back of my mouth with his tip until I couldn't resist any longer. Loosening my muscles, I let him slip into my throat.
The King went wild, hands shooting away from me to grip the cushion on either side of him. His hips jerked up, and his head slammed back. “Eliel! Eliel, I can't control . . . I want to . . .”
I pulled back to lick his tip playfully, and he sighed with the brief respite. “You want to what, Your Majesty? Fuck my mouth? Will you be rough?”
He lowered his stare to mine, eyes wide and mouth agape.
“Do it.” I held that shocked stare as I reclaimed his shaft, sucking it as I moaned.
“Oh, my foundling, forgive me.” And then he grabbed my head with both hands and thrust his hips upward. Panting raggedly, he took my mouth.
Unable to smile, I still felt joy saturate every part of me. I needed this. I had to prove to myself that sex could be savage and still loving. Giving in to passion was beautiful. Raven's loss of control proved that his desire for me was epic. I liked that. No, I loved it. And I loved him.
Dear Gods, I loved him!
That was the key. Love. Ironically, it was our anger that showed me how deep he had gone.
The Dragon King had found my heart and claimed it.
He slid into me slowly, carefully. I hadn't noticed he was there until he ruled me more thoroughly than his kingdom.
I knew then that I would do anything for Raven. Not out of submission but love.
I let go of his shaft, bent forward, and braced my hands to either side of his hips.
Holding myself steady, I took what the King offered, accepting him into my body in the only way he'd allow.
Because he loved me too. He had to. Why else would he be so concerned about our first time together?
He loved me, and I loved him. This was what I'd been searching for my entire life.
Belonging to someone did not have to mean slavery.
It could be the opposite. That's what the Dragon King was to me.
“Eliel!” Raven pounded up, driving himself through my tense lips, over my eager tongue, and down my throat. “My foundling. My sweet foundling. Oh, fuck!” With one last upward thrust, the Dragon King emptied into me.
I moaned as the flavor hit my tongue, savoring it before I drank it down.
My hands went back to his cock as he dropped onto the seat.
Body shuddering and arms flopping to the sides, Raven gave me his pleasure, just as I'd hoped.
I watched him flinch through the little zings that followed a great orgasm, smiling around his cock, and slowed my motions to bring him down.
At last, I sucked my way off his limp flesh and sat back to admire my work.
“Oh, Gods damn me,” the King gasped, his hands going to my face. “I'm so sorry, Eliel. Did I hurt you?”
“With your cock?” I smirked up at him. “I'd say it was your flesh that was in danger, not mine. You had to risk my teeth.”
He went still, only his chest moving with his harsh breaths. “But . . . your lips. They're swollen. You were trying to be sweet, and I brutalized you.”
I burst out laughing.
His expression turned horrified. “Stop laughing and be honest with me. Are you hurt?”
Pushing his hands away, I nuzzled his cock and then licked it. Even spent, it was beautiful. Maybe I could encourage a second round. He was a Dragon, after all. They were known for their rapid recovery times.
“What are you doing?” The King pushed back my hair. “Stop, Eliel.”
“Shut up, Your Majesty.” I sucked his spent cock into my mouth and played with it, taunting him with my tongue until his flesh swelled once more.
I shuddered as the orgasm that had been building inside me finally found release.
With a cry around his cock, my hips shot forward, and I found my pleasure.
His hands went still. “Was that? Did you?”
With a satisfied sound, I sucked him up to his tip. “I just came, yes. Now fuck my face again, Raven.”
With a savage growl, the Dragon King grabbed my head and started thrusting.