Chapter 15 #2
After checking the palace defenses, a very necessary chore thanks to Roland’s betrayal, I considered keeping my distance from Taron. And I would have, probably, if not for the need, the desperation, to be near him. Distance was torture.
He didn’t seem to mind, following me around the palace of his own accord. We visited the throne room, where I met with one of the councilmen and the new commander of my armies.
“We should cancel the Firebound Festival,” Councilwoman Bauer said, her gaze bouncing between Taron and me. “They’ve begun setting up for the kickoff tomorrow, but with everything that’s happened…”
“Nein. There’s no better time for it.” I didn’t let myself look at Taron, who watched me unabashedly.
“Cedric, Nyla and Rainer are recovering from injuries. The Hoffmanns know they’ll be killed on sight, and Lorik is busy corralling the lot of them.
” I focused on Commander Granger. “I’ll triple the number of guards on patrol and set up lookouts and traps along the perimeter. ”
“Consider it done, majesty.” He nodded and escorted the council member from the chamber, leaving me alone with my human, who turned his attention upward.
For the first time since arriving in Ashmorra, Taron appeared stunned, studying the murals painted across the vaulted ceiling. Next, he examined the intricately carved stone walls and the banners illustrating the various dragon fire breaths.
“Now that would have been helpful when I was learning everything I could about dragons,” he grumbled.
“You never snuck into this room during your many trips?”
He shook his head. “I only had an hour each trip before the rift closed, so I trekked only to possible entrances and escape routes.”
Grabbing his hand, I led him to a display table inlaid with hundreds of tiny tiles that formed a mosaic of dragon history. “You can trace stories as if you are reading a book.”
He drew in a slow inhale and then immediately began scanning the table. “You know how to get to a mythology professor’s heart.”
Hopefully. Nein. Nein!
Adelaide had left a selection of teacups on a silver tray, each one distinct. Some with delicate handles. Others with hand-painted fruit. One appeared solid gold.
I chose one…and so did he. We toasted our victory, sharing a grin before I next took him on a tour of the royal gardens, which were sprawling and overgrown, a lush testament to centuries of careful cultivation.
Black bloodblooms the size of fists climbed silver trellises, vines glittered with frost-kissed thorns of scarlet, and trees with fire-orange leaves seemed to dance flames in the wind.
Dragon-shaped topiaries loomed here and there, trimmed to perfection and lightly steaming, as if they might breathe fire again at any moment.
It was a chilly morning, sharp with the promise of winter, and I’d dressed accordingly: leather pants, a long-sleeved tunic belted at the waist, and a thick fur mantle tossed over my shoulders. Practical, ja, and as anti-seductive as possible. Or so I’d hoped.
“I’ve been meaning to ask,” he said, looking me over. “Did you dress like any old soldier to discourage my attention?”
“Maybe,” I replied with a little snippy-snip in my tone. “Are you complaining?”
“Yes! Even this is too much.” Taron’s gaze lingered on me, heating, branding new parts of me I hadn’t known existed. And I… well, I wasn’t exactly winning our game of “don’t ogle your enemy,” either.
Sunlight loved him. It slicked his black hair with hints of blue, deepened the golden amber of his irises, and turned his skin to sun-warmed bronze.
Sweat beaded at his temples, glinting like molten gold.
Kissable scars peeked from beneath the collar of his tunic, taunting me.
And that shadow beard? Criminally attractive.
My fingers twitched with the urge to touch him.
We reached the heart of the garden maze: a hidden courtyard where a massive stone fountain gurgled gently in the center.
The basin was carved to resemble coiled dragons whose tails looped around the edges, their mouths pouring pink water into the pool below.
Mist rose in delicate veils, catching shafts of morning light and turning them to flame.
“I used to spar here with my sisters,” I said, letting out a wistful sigh as memories stirred, a sweet collection of merriment and challenge.
“Used to?” He glanced sideways.
“All but Adelaide avoid me now. Apparently, I’ve been cranky the past few centuries.” I raised my fingers in exaggerated air quotes.
He chuckled, and oh, that rich, low laugh was addictive. I wanted to steal it, bottle it, and keep it on a shelf for rainy days. “You aren’t so bad. A little quick to temper but easily soothed.” Nudging my shoulder with his own, he winked at me. “Only takes a kiss or two.”
I gaped at him. “I demand you turn this boil of charm to a simmer, sir. Immediately!”
“How about we spar?” Taron shrugged off his fur cloak to reveal the full breadth of those unfair shoulders.
With a wicked glint, he unsheathed a pair of short swords from across his back.
The blades gleamed like twin flashes of lightning.
“Maybe we’ll work some of that cranky out of you without kisses. ”
Hold up. Exhaust myself with the professor whose battle skill still haunted my dreams so that our desire finally evaporated? Don’t mind if I do.
I tossed aside my own cloak, the morning air biting at my arms as I caught the sword he threw. The weight was perfect, like it belonged in my hand. My muscles flexed in anticipation, and the fire in my blood flared.
“Will you pout when you lose?” I asked, batting my lashes.
“Losing to a fierce dragon queen isn’t the worst thing that could happen.”
We exchanged grins, and then we exploded into motion.
Steel rang as our blades clashed. From the marble-ringed fountain to the thick hedges of the maze, we danced a deadly duet.
I ducked and spun, laughing when he grumbled under his breath, too slow to block.
But he was faster than expected, ja. Strong too, ja.
The problem was, he was also easily distracted.
“I can see through your shirt,” he growled as we exchanged strikes. “And it’s cold!”
“It’s not my fault nature loves me,” I snickered, twirling out of reach and aiming a slice at his shoulder.
He caught my wrist mid-strike, twisted, and suddenly I was yanked forward, crashing into his chest. The impact stole my breath in a thousand different ways, leaving his heavenly scent trapped in my lungs.
He smirked. “Tsk tsk. Someone left herself wide open.”
“Ah, but someone else fell for her trap.” I hooked my boot behind his knees and shoved. Hard.
He went down with a grunt, and I followed, blades forgotten as we rolled across the grass, grappling for dominance. Every brush of skin against skin sent heat spiking through me. My hair spilled over his face; his hands gripped my hips. We locked gazes. Stilled.
One wrong breath, and this would no longer be a game.
He leaned toward me. I leaned toward him.
“Fight dirtier!” a voice called from above.
We both jolted.
I tilted my head slowly. Sure enough, one by one, my sisters had arrived like oversized she-lizards, perched across tree branches and mossy stone. Adelaide waved. Bronwyn, Freida and Gretchen shared snacks. The others cheered.
“Bite him!” Lucinda encouraged.
“Claw his back!” Millicent added, chomping her potato chips.
“Did anyone bring chocolate?” Bronwyn asked the group, licking her fingers after finishing off a peach slice.
“Oh, for the love of—” I rolled off Taron with a huff and sat in the grass, brushing leaves from my leathers. “Do you all mind?”
“Nope,” Emma chirped, biting into a sugared plum. “This is more entertaining than the duel I just caused. It ended in bloodshed and an annulment.”
Adelaide tilted her head. “If this is your version of resisting temptation, Queen Ice Maiden, you’re doomed.”
Taron laughed, running a hand through his hair, now dusted with leaves. “Do you come with a fan club wherever you go?”
“I come with consequences,” I muttered, glaring up at my sisters.
Rather than flinch back, as she’d done before, Gretchen pretended to shudder. “Oh, scary. The berserkatrix who can’t even overpower a mythology professor might spank me.”
“And deeply unhelpful commentary.” I rose and straightened my top. But okay, yeah, I loved that the girls were thawing toward me.
Adelaide blew me a kiss, taking credit for the development, as if she’d arranged all of this on her own. I glanced upward with a sigh.
Taron stood beside me, sword back in hand, smirking. “Rematch tomorrow?”
“I don’t think I can handle a rematch,” I admitted. Even now, I barely stopped myself from stepping into him and snuggling close.
He leaned in, voice low and lethal. “So you’ll be too sore. Fine. I’ll give you a massage instead. All business, none of it funny.” Eyes sparkling, he cupped the side of my neck and brushed the pad of his thumb against my thundering pulse. “Maybe some of it will be funny business.”
And just like that, my heart did something foolish. Terribly, tragically foolish. But I refused to consider what it was. Nope. Not here, not now. Moving on.
“Come on,” I croaked.
His amusement faded, and he nodded, dropping his arms to his sides. As we headed for the palace, his knuckles brushed mine by accident, or not, and I groaned.
I whispered to us both, “Only five days left.”