Chapter 5 #2
He snorted. “I wonder if she did.” He gave a half shrug but moved on. “I treat women as they deserve. I’m not bragging, but I’m rather known for it. The others call me a pussy or pussy whipped, but I’ve never had a partner unhappy with that side of me.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, understanding it was because of his sexual needs.
He gave another half shrug. “Sometimes it was also they wanted to be Alpha Mate more than they ever wanted Joris Visser.”
“A pain I’ve now lived firsthand,” I admitted before realizing it.
“I’m sorry you will again and again. We know most of them coming in want to be prince or de facto king because they’re stupid.”
“But if you set the tone, that becomes much more difficult,” I muttered, studying him. “So you fake being interested in me?”
It was his turn to choke, thumping his chest. “Oh, there’s no faking, Sagan.
If you told me to please you right now, I would.
” He chuckled when my face flushed. “The interest is real, but we both know I don’t want this life.
Let me help shield you and make these assholes step up to the level they should instead of… What’s being said.”
I swallowed loudly and focused on my food. “I can only imagine.”
“Yes, I don’t want to hurt you or even—I have to be honest that some will be a problem and fast.”
“And you want time for your father to decide it’s long enough and then declare your brother as Alpha Heir?” I checked, wanting this clear between us.
“Yes, and possibly some role in your government so I don’t have to go home and be the… We know what I’ll be.”
My eyes went wide at that. “So you want to be with me but not publicly after I pick a mate?”
“That wasn’t what I meant, but I would—we’d need to see if you could handle what I want. I doubt whoever you mate would be thrilled at you keeping a side lover hidden.”
Yeah, that was more than fair.
“I understand. You want a position that doesn’t have you at court but also not at Wildcairn.” I sat back and tapped my fingers. “You’re impressive, so I cannot see that being a problem. How much flak would I receive from your father for stealing you?”
“Very little as long as the position isn’t royal horse shit handler,” he drawled.
“And the rest?” I asked after several minutes of us simply eating.
He licked his lips as his gaze locked with mine. “My bed is open to you anytime you want, My Queen. Any stress you have, I will relieve it. It would be my honor to service any and all of your needs.”
Well then.
What did someone say to that?
I was pretty sure I mumbled that I needed to think about it.
So he wasn’t just like passive or a doormat making such a bold proposition at our first meeting. He just… I had no idea, but I was all over the place when the meeting was over.
For real.
Treena and Myriam were worried, but I went right to Benson and told him I needed to fly. However, they worked it out for Father—I needed to fly. The Alphas had seen me fight now, so there was no reason to keep hiding my fire dragon.
I apologized to Eloise, but she was just happy we’d finally be flying even if she wasn’t in charge.
Fair enough.
There was a reason that there weren’t any flights allowed throughout Thovudin that weren’t from our companies and dragons flying.
A lot of other countries mocked us as being too much, but it kept us safe.
Any flight from another country that wasn’t under our control had to land at one of the airports on the border.
They could travel to Thovudin other ways, but most just hopped on a connecting flight. Connecting flights happened all the time otherwise. Visitors didn’t have to book them once in Thovudin. They could handle it like any other flights.
But dragons understood dragons, and dragons flew in Thovudin.
Sure, it wasn’t just unrestricted or a clusterfuck. Far from it.
We had to stay at certain elevations and miles away from airports. There were even lasers from the ground that could only be seen by dragons in beast form to warn us just in case.
“How bad?” Benson asked me, frowning when I did. “Do you not know the protocols for if your parents flew?” He moved his hand to my shoulder when I looked away. “Sorry, Sagan.”
I pulled away. “It’s fine. I’m not like out of control or unable—I don’t know the protocol. It has to be today but not an emergency, is that what you’re looking for?”
“Yes, exactly. Okay, let me walk you through it if you have time to come with me.”
I made the time because yes, of course I should know this.
And I was impressed.
First of all, the castle went into lockdown since there would be less guards and about half would be focused on me away from the security of it. Benson called the chief of police and they would put out a call on a secure channel to all on-duty officers to be on alert just in case.
No, dragons weren’t easy to kill in our beast forms—far from it—but it wasn’t like I was in an armored car. Everything was dangerous when you were the leader of a nation.
Duh.
Within twenty minutes we were ready. Some guards took off first from the huge courtyard and then I was to shift however I was comfortable, Benson giving the order for everyone to avert their eyes.
Dragons weren’t as chill with nudity as other shifters, but we were taught it wasn’t a big deal or to ever notice… Except with the big leaders it seemed?
No, I was pretty sure it was because I was female. I honestly wasn’t complaining, but I simply stripped down to my boy shorts and bra. I could replace them.
I probably should when I had money again.
“Avert your eyes,” Benson bellowed, shocking the shit out of me.
Glancing over at him, I followed where he was looking and locked gazes with Onyx standing in the doorway of the courtyard. I flinched when Thorn came to another doorway moments later, both of them undoubtedly hearing what was going on and… Wanting to see what my dragon looked like?
I had no idea, but I wanted to fly more than I cared to think about it.
“Avert your eyes or you will be arrested,” someone else called over. “Follow the rules of the castle or we will remove you.”
Wow, they weren’t messing around. It felt… Nice.
I changed forms, Iris cooing at finally being set free. But then I realized I didn’t know if I could just go or if I was waiting for a signal. I turned and moved closer to Benson kind of wiggling my head back and forth.
He snorted, fully understanding. “Sorry, Your Majesty. Yes, go when you like. We will adjust to you. I ask you wait for me before you go too far from the castle.”
I nodded and jumped but not with all I had so I didn’t do any damage. It was more than enough, and I wanted to squeal like always when my wings took over.
I’m sorry. I will be better. We need this. I’m sorry too, Eloise. I will figure it out with Darren. Please be patient with me and know I am trying.
“We believe you,” Iris said as I had the image of Eloise nodding. “We just worry for you. Trust us. We are not a burden.”
No, they were anything but and I said as much.
I heard a roar and recognized Benson’s dragon, turning to follow the way he was gesturing. Iris was in control, and she could be as crazy as Eloise but in a different way. She wasn’t as playful, but… My dragon was an adrenaline junkie. There was no other way to really put it.
We shot past Benson and I practically heard him cursing even if he couldn’t. I caught up to the guards ahead and then when I reached the end of them, one guided me to turn so I could loop back and stay protected.
But I didn’t want to.
Iris and Eloise didn’t want to.
We went past him, but then I felt bad and circled back, making noises when I saw them racing to keep up. At least I was giving them a good workout. One tried to be a bit more forceful with the route he wanted me to go as if he thought I didn’t understand.
I did.
I was just doing what I wanted for once.
Crazy, right?
Water hit me from the right and I turned my head enough to use fire to turn the next shot into steam. The dragon seemed overly familiar with me getting so close and then I realized it might be Thorn.
Oh, so he wants to play?
I snickered and shot up higher and faster than he could before dive-bombing back down. He was still trying to climb to my altitude when I free fell past him.
I chuffed as the guards tried to handle the change in my path and how fast I was going. I went down to the lowest altitude allowed because I’d never seen Nerthus flying like that and now I could.
A few minutes of me checking it out and a dragon came racing at me from my left. I barrel rolled out of the way and to get a better advantage. I was about to attack when I saw it was a rock dragon… Which wasn’t really common.
Onyx?
He seemed to sense my hesitation and nodded as he changed direction to circle around me. Benson and the water dragon who I assumed was Thorn caught up to me then.
And to say Benson wasn’t happy was an understatement, but at least they couldn’t do anything to me since he was a void dragon. None of our powers or abilities worked around him if he didn’t want them to.
I was pretty clear that was the case. Thorn shouldn’t have shot water at me above the city.
I huffed as I hovered by Benson and then nodded trying to say I would behave. I’d given them enough of an exercise at least and hopefully they realized they needed to step up their game.
Because if Thorn and Onyx could get close to me… My guards should have been able to as well.
Benson led the way and I knew he was racing to give me the best workout. When I could tell he was pushing too hard, I roared and turned to head back to the castle. I went slower and mostly glided to see more. It was amazing.
Nerthus was amazing… And I was the queen of all it.
How crazy was that?
Guards were waiting out in the courtyard for me to land. I figured a few of them would with me as well.
Dragons did, but they weren’t my guards.
What is going on with them?
Lydia, the female guard who I assigned to my detail after she showed she was truly on my side, had a robe waiting for me when I shifted back. “Avert your eyes!” She was pissed as she looked behind me.
I slipped it on and glanced over my shoulder to see Onyx staring at me without apology.
And Thorn was glancing between us chuffing. “So obviously this isn’t the first time you’re seeing her naked.”
I couldn’t hide my shock that he said that in front of so many. I turned to say something, but Onyx beat me to it.
“Not your business, mate,” he seethed, focused on the other dragon. “And the fact you just announced that in front—”
“Oh yeah, you’re the last person who should judge anyone’s behavior,” Thorn drawled before spinning on his heel and storming off.
What was that? I hadn’t even really talked to him since he’d left my room in a huff.
I turned and saw Joris taking it all in from the doorway. He was frowning and gave me a sad smile when he realized I saw him.
Yeah, I’d pity me too. Things were apparently going to be ugly from the very beginning. And it wouldn’t get better when more men were added.
Maybe the elders just wanted the prospects to drive me mad and then they could take over when I was crazy?
Honestly… Wasn’t the worst idea of how to take down a ruler.