Chapter 52
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Knox
Climbing onto the dragon’s back, I recalled Briar’s words about the curse being the reason the dragon existed. I hoped that breaking the curse wouldn’t make it dissipate.
I grasped its two black horns and flattened myself against its head as the dragon unfurled its wings and pushed off the ground. Wind battered me as the dragon flew across the castle and out over the open farmland.
That brown land was nowhere near as fertile as it was before the curse, but the sprites had kept some of it lush enough to keep the remaining livestock alive. I was sure Briar’s potions were helping with that now too.
I closed my eyes against musings of Briar as I breathed deeply, relishing the chill air against my skin. It helped scrub away some of the confusion and doubts plaguing me since Briar entered Wildwood… and especially since last night.
Up here, I was free of it all and one with a beast that was just like me in so many ways.
I didn’t know if the dragon had come to the castle because it sensed my turbulent emotions or if something was wrong in the kingdom.
Still, I was glad for this reprieve from everything except it, the frigid wind, and freedom.
Together, we moved in perfect harmony as my body responded to every subtle shift of the dragon’s. I knew he was going to turn before he did and smiled as he dove low before soaring high and spinning through the air.
He hadn’t come because there was danger. He’d come for me.
The dragon plunged through the clouds, past mountains with snow still on their peaks, and into a valley.
Laid out beneath us like a vibrant blue ribbon, a river cut its way through the towering mountains.
Clouds obscured the mountain peaks, but I knew their craggy formations well; I’d spent a lot of time soaring over this land with this dragon.
Somehow, though I was nowhere near Wildwood when the curse occurred, this dragon and I had become entwined with each other.
Not only was it in tune with my emotions, but I sensed its joy as its wings tilted and it banked to the right.
Its bottom wing skimmed the surface of the water, flinging droplets through the air before it rolled again.
It needed to be free right now, flying over the earth, and so did I as it dipped and spun.
I could do this too, if I fully unleashed the beast, but that creature was an ally I planned to keep hidden for as long as possible.
And I preferred being with the shadow dragon; it was where we both belonged.
The dragon soared for at least an hour before descending toward the earth. It settled on the shores of a lake we’d visited often. The crystalline blue water allowed me to see all the way to the bottom of the lake.
A colorful assortment of rocks lined much of the bottom, but some areas were a sandy basin.
The water, trickling down from the mountains, was cold even in the summer.
The warmer spring days had melted much of the lake’s ice, but chunks of it still floated on the water, creating tiny islands wherever they roamed.
Striding toward the water, I didn’t hesitate before I splashed into it and dove beneath the surface. The chill gripping my muscles tried to seize them and drag me under, but I kicked through it as I refused to let it best me.
My fingers grazed pale blue rocks as I propelled myself to the bottom. My lungs burned, and I kept my lips shut while the urge to breathe grew with every passing second.
I remained beneath the water, gazing into the blue abyss as colorful fish swam past. Some came so close, they skimmed against me before darting away.
When I couldn’t take it anymore, I planted my feet against the rocks and shoved myself to the surface. I broke free and gasped for breath before throwing my head back and bellowing.
I didn’t know who I was angrier at: Briar for her constant defiance, the casters for everything they’d done, or myself for allowing them to twist me in such a way that I’d enjoyed the pain I unleashed on my mate.
And I wanted more of it… for her and me.
Briar hadn’t betrayed me, which meant she was as pure-hearted and kind as she’d always been. She’d shown that with her tenderness toward Wildwood; she’d brought my kingdom back to life even more so than the sprites and asked nothing in return except for some freedom… something she had a right to.
If I kept her as mine, I’d stain her soul, and while I shouldn’t crave that, I did. Even now, with the icy water biting into my muscles and freezing my fingers and toes, my cock stirred at the memory of fucking her harder than I ever had before.
I could have killed her if I lost control… no, I would have stopped myself from that. At least I was certain of that. No matter how much I wanted to unleash some of my suffering on Briar, I’d never kill her.
But I could do something far worse. I could snap and take her against her will. I wasn’t so sure I could stop that; not if the beast broke free, and maybe not even if the man remained in control. When it came to her, I had no certainty about myself anymore.
If I forced myself on her, I’d be more like the casters than she was, and their blood ran through her veins.
That decided it for me… I hated myself the most. There was no competition.
I couldn’t be like those monsters; I wouldn’t allow it, but being near Briar would gradually destroy me, which brought me back to the same dilemma of having nowhere for her to go.
I’d never send her back to Nightshade, even I wasn’t that much of an asshole. And I didn’t trust the elves, especially Devnair. I knew what he wanted from her, and while she was better off away from me, I’d never let another man touch her.
I was an asshole for denying her the chance at a better life with a better man, and I didn’t care. While I lived, I’d kill any man who touched her, and even if I died, I’d find a way to stop another from having her.
But casters didn’t have mates. Until Briar, I wasn’t sure the fuckers could even love, but she was truly capable of it, and the others were too, although they loved themselves the most.
That meant Briar would stay here. It was the only safe place for her… mostly. I was proving to be a bigger threat than I’d anticipated.
I could be the one to leave. The shadow dragon kept invaders away while I was in the harem, but if the night casters learned I’d left, they’d see it as a chance to come for Briar. Her mother would do everything in her power to reclaim her.
Turning onto my back, I stared at the gray sky while floating on the lake. Fish bumped against me, and some rubbed their backs against my fingertips, but I ignored them.
Dromon, Pierce, and Lyra would protect her, as would the shadow dragon. Even that rat was a weapon. The sprites would fight for her too; they were little but mighty.
But if I left, the not knowing where she was, what was going on with her, and with Wildwood would drive me as mad as losing her. I didn’t kid myself into thinking I could stay away.
So I couldn’t leave, which meant I’d have to keep my hands to myself when it came to her.
I issued a small bark of laughter. Even I knew that wouldn’t be possible. Now that I’d been inside Briar again and felt the ecstasy of her cunt gripping me while she came, I wasn’t going to give it up.
She was the only woman I’d willingly been with in ten years, and the first one as a man again; she would be the last.
I had to figure out a way to better control myself around her. I could do it.
The beast grumbled as it rolled over inside me, sulking about my determination to keep myself restrained. That meant it couldn’t come out to play, but it would have to get used to it.
I also had to figure out a way to gain her trust. I would have access to her secrets.
Maybe you should start by not being such an asshole to her.
That little inner voice was correct, but I wasn’t sure I knew how to be anything other than an abrasive asshole anymore. I hated this shit.
Maybe I could get to know her again and do things with her that didn’t end in sex or a fight. I wasn’t sure if either was possible, but I was willing to give it a try.
I could take her for a walk; she’d love to see the waterfall near the castle. It was a beautiful spot and within walking distance. Afterward, I’d take her back to the castle and say goodbye. I wouldn’t kiss her or lose my temper… hopefully.
A loud caw broke the tranquility as two ravens flew overhead. Their wings flapped before they glided across the sky.
Birds were rare in Wildwood now. While they were once an abundant species, and some still had things to feed on, they, like so many other creatures, basked in the sun and went to the other kingdoms to find it.
Like the bees, they might be returning to the kingdom… because of Briar.
She’d strengthened the roses and some of the trees, and she attracted the bees and possibly the birds. How could I let that go?
Turning over in the water, I treaded for a minute before diving down to skim my fingers over the rocks again. I emerged at the edge of the lake and walked out to stand beside the dragon as he bent his head to drink.
I rested my hand against its neck to rub over the scales covering it. The dragon consisted of shadows, and I shouldn’t be able to feel them, but his scales were smooth beneath my palm. Edges marked the start and end of one from another.
I didn’t know this creature for the first seven years of its existence, but we were both forged on the same day. The animal I never met was twisted into a beast that only this dragon had seen. I’d revealed my secret to it, and it would keep it forever.
I suspected the reason we shared this strange bond was because we were both created by the night casters. Neither of us was supposed to exist, yet we did.
Retreating from the edge of the lake, I settled on the rocky shoreline to let the warmer, spring air melt the ice from my veins. Briar’s bite had stopped bleeding and throbbing, but the perfect imprint of her teeth remained.
I couldn’t help but smile as I ran my fingers over it. The woman’s insolence drove me nuts, but I admired her strength, determination, and courage. No one else would have dared to bite me. She was feisty, and I enjoyed it as much as I hated it.
The dragon lay beside me and rested his head against my thigh. More birds flew overhead while I rubbed the shadow dragon’s muzzle.