A Queen of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales 4)
Page 132
He moved up the bed, propping himself on his elbow and looking down at me. His eyes glowed softly, fire burning within them.
“Well, now I have my full power,” he said, a growl riding his words. “I have my wings and my freedom, both thanks to you. Most importantly, I have an up-and-coming kingdom and a vicious army at my back. I misspoke earlier about being afraid that I wouldn’t be able to protect you. That’s bullshit. I’m not afraid. I’m fucking exhilarated. This is the role I was born for. This is what I was made for, as an alpha. As your mate. No one will ever hurt you. I will protect you until my last breath. Absolutely no one will get through me to get to you.”
Everyone had always said, Give a dragon a challenge and then stand back. Given he was one of the most powerful alphas the kingdom had ever seen, I’d known fear wouldn’t ride him for long.
He put his hand on my stomach again. “And this I promise you,” he continued. “Our child will want for nothing. He or she will be cherished, and for the first time in generations, the royal heir will have parents who ardently love and respect each other. Don’t bother reading fairytales to our child.” He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “The love in those stories will pale in comparison to ours. The heroine will never compare to my warrior dragon queen. And only the villain could be as ruthless and vicious as I will be when faced with my enemies. We’re going to write our own story, in blood if need be. No one who goes up against me will live. Dolion made a grave mistake the day he imprisoned my kingdom. It is that mistake that will cost him his whole world.”
I sucked in a deep breath as my body sparked with adrenaline and desire. My dragon moved within me, incensed, ready to go to war.
“That’s all well and good, but this warrior queen can’t join in the fun.”
Humor sparkled in his eyes. “Has my mother taught you nothing? You don’t have to use your fists to fight, Finley. You can just as easily use your brain. You’ll have entire courts to manipulate, and I’m sure before the end we’ll find someone who needs poisoning.”
I laughed delightedly. Yes, dragons were crazy. “Then there will be two villains in this story.”
“You cannot appreciate the light if you don’t spend any time in the darkness.”
His humor died away.
“We won’t rest all day tomorrow,” he said. “We’ll have our whole lives to rest. No, tomorrow I will finally hear everyone’s stories of the dungeons. It is time I let my rage sharpen me into a knife. The moment we land, the games of living and dying will begin. Dolion will have spies. He might have his people working there in the shadows. We’d best get ready.”
THIRTY-FOUR
Hadriel
I’d never been so happy to see dry land in my life. Finley had promised to find a cure for my seasickness, but she couldn’t very well do that on a boat.
I climbed from the rowboat and clutched Leala for a moment, steadying myself. The faerie ship gently swayed in the harbor behind us, the evening sun glinting off its surfaces. The anchor kept it in place, just in front of the other ships our people had sailed in.
“You good, little buddy?” Vemar asked, putting a heavy hand on my shoulder.
I shrugged him off. “Stop calling me that. It’s insulting.”
“Which part?”
I rolled my eyes as Leala grabbed my arm to steady me. “Why did you guys decide to wear the same clothes?” she asked, turning to look at the few rowboats coming in behind us. They carried Finley’s trunks, containing clothes, plants, and a case full of quick cures in the event someone got poisoned. She might look really elegant with her fancy clothes and hair done just right, but she was always prepared for extreme violence.
Urien stepped out of the rowboat like he’d been holding court in it. Absolutely nothing ruffled that fucking guy. It was really annoying.
“I have no idea, Leala. Ask the fucking dragon,” I said, holding my stomach.
“I thought we should present a united front.” Vemar smoothed the lime-green blazer down his broad chest and dusted off his canary-yellow slacks, not displacing the water that had sprinkled them on the boat ride over. His pink shoes, matching the random pink lines threaded throughout the whole ensemble, were entirely overkill on him.
“You look ridiculous,” I told him, waiting for Leala and Urien to give orders to the staff about what should go where and with whom.
“I look just as ridiculous as you do,” he replied. “It’s the same outfit.”
“First, it is an ensemble, not an outfit. Second, I look eccentric. I act a certain way, I look a certain way, and I disarm people so that they are easier to manage—”