Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
SERAFINA
“Put me down this instant,” I snarled at the dragon shifter who held me.
“As you wish, my lady.” Thorne dropped me to the floor so abruptly, my knees buckled before I caught myself.
While he fiddled with the key to our shared room, I attempted to ignite the back of his head with my glare. Unfortunately, this failed, since I didn’t have fire vision. Pity.
Once the lock clicked, he opened the door, sweeping out his arm. “After you.”
Still playing the role of gallant gentleman? It was a stretch.
“You’re too kind.” I stomped past him.
The room was simple, but well-maintained and clean. There was one dresser, a window with thick draperies, a single chair with a small table next to it, and one bed I couldn’t seem to drag my eyes away from for several long minutes.
In the corner of the room was a dressing screen, beside it, a steaming copper tub. I frowned at seeing such luxury, only to find Thorne watching me.
“Are you taking a bath?” I asked.
“It’s for you.”
“Me?” Indignation straightened my spine. Was this some ploy, insinuating that I smelled bad?
Instead of the mocking smirk I expected, he scrubbed the back of his neck, glancing everywhere but at me.
“Thorne?”
Finally, he met my eyes. “Consider it an apology of sorts.”
“For what, specifically? By my count, there are many incidents to choose from.”
“For nearly drowning you,” he grumbled.
“Really?” I blinked. Was the arrogant shifter honestly remorseful? What did I say to this?
“Look.” He squirmed, tugging the collar of his shirt as if it had become a noose. “There’s no need to get all emotional.”
I stiffened. “I’m not being emotional.” Although stunned could be considered an emotion.
“You seem like you’re about to cry.”
“I’m not crying.”
“Then what are you waiting for?” His voice rose.
“I’m not bathing with you in the room.”
“And after what happened in the tavern, I’m not leaving.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Infuriating female. I should have known you’d make a simple gesture complicated.”
He grasped the dressing screen and pulled it to conceal the tub. Next, he seized the lone chair, turning it to face the wall, slamming the legs against the floor. Like a sulky child sent to the corner, he flopped onto the seat.
“See? All set. I promise not to peek.”
It wasn’t a terrible solution. After the long ride to town, the thought of soaking in a real bathtub was too tempting to pass up. “Fine,” I huffed. “But if you move an inch out of that chair, I’ll clobber you.”
“Your bath is getting cold.”
“I’m going.”
Behind the screen, I shed my dusty clothes, twisting my curls into a knot on top of my head. Another peek to confirm Thorne was behaving, and I eased my aching body into the welcoming water.
Liquid heat surrounded me, and I let out a groan. “Oh, that’s heaven.”
“What was that?” he asked. “Did I hear you say, thank…”
Eyeroll. “Thank you, Thorne.”
“You are most welcome, Princess.”
I rested my head on the lip of the tub, letting my eyes close. Exhaustion pressed in on me. I was unaccustomed to traveling for such long distances. Traveling period, for that matter. Just as I started to relax, the chair squeaked.
My eyes snapped open. “What are you doing?”
“Staring at a terribly interesting wall. If I squint, I can almost make the shape of two rutting stags in the wood grain.”
“Gross.”
“What are you doing?”
I settled deeper in the tub, propping my ankle on the rim and wiggling my toes. Steam rose from my heated flesh. “That’s none of your business.”
Thorne’s dark chuckle rippled over my skin, raising goosebumps. “Very well.” He paused. “If you won’t entertain my innocent query, perhaps you’ll answer a different question.”
“Go on.” My eyelids grew heavier with each passing second.
“The bastard in the tavern. He’s the one who stabbed you?”
“Yes.” I yawned.
“Hmm. Good to know.”
“Why?”
“No reason.”
Fluffy clouds filled my brain, and I floated away.
“Sera?” whispered a voice. “Princess, wake up.”
Gentle fingers squeezed my bare shoulder, and I forced my eyes open, peering up at Thorne.
“What?”
“You fell asleep. I worried you may drown. Again.”
“You…” I trailed off. Water surrounded me. I was in a bathtub. Naked.
“Thorne!” I shot upright, curling my legs in and hugging my knees. “What are you doing?”
“Saving you from a watery grave.” His grin was maddening, those sky-blue eyes warming with amusement.
“You… You’re...” I sputtered. “Despicable.”
“Nothing I haven’t seen before, Princess. Here.” He draped a towel over the flimsy barrier. “Hop out. We both need our rest.” With infuriating ease, he strode back around the screen, once again giving me a modicum of privacy. Gah. I never should have trusted the blackguard.
After a quick scrub with a flowery soap, I dried off and wrapped the towel around my body. Where I’d dropped my dusty garments, the floor was bare. I stiffened, gritting my teeth. “Where are my clothes?” I peeked around the screen to glare at him.
“While you were snoring in your bath, I had our bags sent up and our clothing laundered. Here. Sleep in this.” He flung a swath of fabric in my direction, and I caught it. “I seem to recall you have a fondness for my shirts.”
“Your memory is faulty. I’d prefer you wear one,” I grumbled, stepping behind the screen to change. His smoky scent clung to the material like a brand, and I resisted the urge to bury my face in it and breathe.
Out in the room, I discovered a very bare-chested Thorne sprawled on the bed. Surprise, surprise. He gazed at me with a heavy-lidded look, arms propped under his head. Those mesmerizing eyes traveled down my body, over my exposed legs, then back up again.
A heated tremor rolled down my spine. “Um…are there any extra blankets I can put on the floor?”
He smirked, patting the mattress. “Not a one.”
“I’m not sharing a bed with you.” An image of us lying together filled my thoughts, our naked limbs intertwined. And a shiver of disgust ran through me. Yes. That’s what it was. Disgust!
“Scared?”
“No. I’m not scared.” Flutterflies flipped in my belly. I was definitely not scared.
“Admit it. You’re afraid you won’t be able to keep your hands off me.”
The conceit in this man. I whipped a blanket from the foot of the bed, folded it in half, and then placed it on the floor. “Good night.”
I crouched to lie on my makeshift pallet when firm arms wrapped around my stomach. The room spun, and I yelped. My back hit the mattress.
“Dammit, Thorne!” I lurched upright to find the Draconis exactly as I’d seen him seconds ago. Sprawled beside me, hands tucked behind his head. Beautiful biceps flexing.
A picture of innocence on his face, he beamed at me. “Neither of us is sleeping on the floor.”
“Well, I’m certainly not sleeping with you.” I crawled out of the bed, tugging my borrowed shirt down around my hips.
This time, I kept my eyes locked on the psychotic dragon shifter while I backed away. Hands braced in front of me, I toed my pallet, moving it to the opposite side of the room.
“Stay right there.” I pointed a finger.
He sat up, grinning. “I think it only fair to warn you. Dragons enjoy the chase. Some even consider it foreplay.”
“You–You’re lying,” I spluttered, ignoring the warm tingle that pulsed between my thighs.
“Am I?” Something flashed behind his eyes. A dark presence prowling beneath the surface.
My pulse kicked. “Don’t you dare.”
“Dare what?” He scooted to the side of the mattress. “Since that little chase you led me on when we first met, my beast has been itching to take another bite out of you.”
“It isn’t. You’re making that up.” A vision of an entirely different sort of chase flashed in my mind. One that ended with us tangled up together, naked.
“And here you are. Playing with fire.” Smoke rolled from his nostrils.
“Thorne, I’m warning you.”
In a flash, he was across the room. Air shot from my lungs, his shoulder nailing my stomach. Hanging down his muscular torso, I swung my fist, punching him in the kidney.
“Hey,” he yelped.
The moment my back smacked the mattress, I came up swinging.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Thorne’s heavy frame landed between my thighs.
“Damn you!” I thrashed beneath him.
Panting, I glared up at his smiling face.
“I can do this all night, Princess.”
“Ha! You wish,” I taunted.
His smile turned molten. “Shall I prove it?”
My nipples hardened against his chest, tingles spiraling between my legs. Dammit. What was wrong with me? Did Draconis exhale some maddening pheromone that muddled a woman’s wits?
He brushed the tip of his nose along mine, a rumble vibrating through his chest. “Me thinks the lady enjoyed the chase as well.”
“Did not,” I said, our mouths but a breath apart. If I tilted my head even slightly, our lips would connect. I couldn’t help but wonder how he would taste. Sweet like the honeyed ale we’d drank? Or smoky with a spicy dash of his wildfire fragrance?
Beneath his chin, a luminous light flared. Warmth unfurled in my chest in answer, a molten thread tugging between us. Power, strength and hunger flooded my senses.
At the edge of my mind, a mighty beast stirred. Instead of fear, belonging swept through me. Mine. The growl rumbled through my bones, low and possessive.
I gasped, looking up at Thorne with wide eyes. “What is that? Do you feel that?”
He glanced down, then winced. In an instant, the flood of heat vanished, contained behind a frigid wall. Faster than I could track, he was back on his side of the bed. Only this time, he faced away from me. “It’s nothing. Let’s get some sleep.”
My muscles tensed at the sudden loss of his body heat, the odd sting of rejection a slap to the face. I shivered, hugging myself, yet the glow remained, pulsing faintly beneath my breasts.
Panic squeezed me, stealing my breath. “Thorne,” I gasped, voice shaky. “S–something’s happening.”
“What?” He flipped to his back, eyed my chest and exhaled a heated growl. “Flark, Sera.”
I rolled up onto my knees, clawing at my sternum. “What is this? Why am I glowing?”
Thorne sat up, catching my frantic hands in his. “Easy now. No need to panic.”
“How can you say that?” My voice cracked. “This may be normal for a dragon, but not for me.”
“Calm—”
“Don’t you dare tell me to calm down.” Tingles of adrenaline prickled my flesh.
“Sera, listen.” He placed his hand over the glow. “There’s nothing wrong with you. The flame inside of you…is mine.”
“Yours?” My mind fractured, bits of sanity leaking out. “Are you saying I possess a part of your dragon flame?”
He winced. “Guess you and Alaric didn’t cover this last night?”
“Cover what?”
“Here.” His touch softened, stroking over my sternum. Little by little, the light dimmed, then faded, leaving my skin cool once more.
I sagged with relief, pressing a hand to the spot. “How did you do that?”
For the first time since meeting the man, he seemed, dare I say, nervous.
“The night Alaric found you at the lake, the trogg were unable to heal you.”
“And?”
“And…” He swallowed hard, dragging the words out. “This was the only way to save your life.”
I blinked, piecing together the explanation he was so loathed to share. “So, all this time, I’ve had a part of you inside of me?”
He nodded, falling silent.
“Can it hurt me?” I clenched the front of my shirt.
“No. Never,” he said in a rush. Then, slower, he added, “My flames could never harm you.”
“And without your flame, I would have died.”
Another nod. Alaric may have saved my life, but it was Thorne who’d kept me alive.
“And you did this. Asking nothing in return.” Unlike his brother.
He squirmed, his cheeks darkening. “Alaric gave the order, and I complied. No need to make more out of it than that.”
“I don’t know what to say.” I let my eyes travel his tension-riddled features, seeing him in a new light. Was the Draconis embarrassed by his life-saving act? I found it almost…endearing.
“Thank you,” I said gently.
He studied me warily. “You’re not angry.”
“I’m uncertain.”
He cocked a brow. “You don’t know if you’re angry or not?”
Sure, I had reason to be. He and Alaric had kept yet another secret from me.
“Should I be angry?” My voice came low, uncertain. “What does it mean when a dragon shares their flame?”
“Nothing,” he was quick to bite out. “Absolutely nothing.”
I studied his expression, the muscle ticking in his jaw, the tightening of his lips. The way those blue eyes of his refused to meet mine.
“Look. We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow.” He grabbed his pillow, fluffed it, then slammed it on the bed with enough force to send several feathers shooting out. “Better get some rest while we can.”
He rolled to his side, his broad back a wall between us.
I lay down, keeping a careful distance, eyes tracing the ceiling’s shadows. Beneath my ribs, where that strange flame pulsed, a dull ache spread.
He’s lying, a small voice whispered. That wounded, desperate piece of me refused to believe it meant nothing.
In fact, I was sure it meant…
Everything.