Book 3 - Chapter 22 (1/2)
VALERIAN PACED THE PARAPET. The rhythmic pounding of army footsteps reverberated in his ears. He could see the dragon army at last, hundreds of them, cresting the violet horizon. That they'd chosen to walk to the palace instead of flying in dragon form meant they were not overcome by rage - yet - and did not mean to attack - yet.
Waiting for their arrival was maddening. He was a man of action. More than that, he was a man eager to finish the fight and return to his woman.
He stumbled forward, one boot snagging on a branch. He caught himself with his hands, bracing them on the wall. He drew in a shaky breath. The wait had drained more of his strength. What he needed was s.e.x. With Shaye. His might wasn't at an optimum level, and he was now feeling its absence.
”My king,” Broderick said, concerned, suddenly at his side. ”Are you well?”
”I'm fine.” He straightened. He was not fine, and he knew it. He'd gone two days without s.e.x, without self-pleasuring, and weakness was unfurling insidious fingers through him. He was well enough to fight, he hoped; well enough to lead, he knew; but for how long?
His arm injury had increased the speed and intensity of his weakness. Had he managed to get inside Shaye earlier, he would be completely healed. ”If the dragons come within a hundred yards of the palace, shoot them down,” he said.
Broderick nodded. ”Archers,” he called. ”Prepare.”
The men knelt and pulled their bows tight. Waiting. Waiting. Time ticked by slowly. Surprisingly, Joachim stepped onto the parapet and approached Valerian. The man limped and his features were tight with pain, but he managed to stay upright.
”What are you doing?” Valerian demanded.
”Fighting,” was the harsh reply. ”There is to be a war, is there not?”
”You have yet to recover.”
”That does not mean I should remain in bed while my brothers fight.”
Valerian searched his cousin's face, seeing determination, the need to make things right. He nodded in approval. ”Very well. Take your place in the lines below.”
Joachim turned, ready to do as he'd been commanded. Then he paused. ”I will not apologize for challenging you,” he said stiffly, ”but I will tell you that I respect your skill and your leaders.h.i.+p.”
The words were unexpected and surprising. But more than that, his cousin's tone was unexpected and surprising. He'd spoken with affection, as if they were the inseparable boys they'd once been. ”Thank you,” Valerian said and clapped him lightly on the shoulder. He a.s.sumed a battle stance at the wall, overlooking the clear field that led to the palace. Ever closer the dragons came. Their armor glinted in the day's light. Trees rattled behind them, the ground visibly shaken. Colorful petals floated from flowers.
His hand curled around the hilt of The Skull as Darius, king of the dragons, claimed the lead position. He, too, clutched a sword, a long, menacing blade stained crimson from his many kills. Yes, Darius was a lethal killer, an unfeeling warrior with no conscience that Valerian knew of. A worthy adversary, to be sure.
The dragon soldiers came to an abrupt halt.
”Hold,” Valerian told his men. ”Hold until I give the signal.” To the dragons, he called, ”Welcome to my home, fire-breathers. You will understand if I do not invite you inside.”
Darius scowled. ”You know very well the palace belongs to me.”
He tsked under his tongue. ”If you wanted to keep it, you should have sent a stronger battalion to guard it.”
”What did you do with the dragons inside?”
”I locked them away, of course. They will make powerful bargaining tools.”
”I have your word of honor that you did not kill them, then?”
”You have my word of honor that I did not kill all of them.”
Darius nodded, the action clipped. ”My wife has asked that I not slaughter your entire race for daring to steal what is mine. I will heed her wishes - for now - if you do the two things I require of you.”
”And what are those?”
”Release my men and leave the palace.”
Valerian laughed. ”I'm rather fond of it. I think I'll stay.”
”You are inviting war, nymph.”
His eyes narrowed, and he gave up all pretense of humor. ”As are you, dragon.”
”Yes, but you invite the wrath of the G.o.ds, for you know not what to do with the surface travelers. Already you have allowed one human male to slip into Atlantis, a human who captured our Jewel of Dunamis.”
Valerian shrugged, unconcerned. The jewel was better off in human hands. When an Atlantean owned it, they became all-powerful, undefeatable.
”Do you know what happens when humans learn of Atlantis, Valerian? They tell others of their kind, and soon armies of humans are marching through our land, trying to kill us all.”
”I must disagree. None of my humans have been allowed back to the surface, so they are unable to lead anyone here. They are too busy occupying our beds.” Several of his men chuckled.
”So other humans have come through?” Darius growled.
”Did I not just say so?”
The dragon king's eyes glinted sharply. ”Tell me you slayed them. Or tell me you at least wiped their memory.”
”I did no such thing. I told you, we bedded them.”
”You truly do curry the wrath of the G.o.ds, Valerian.”
”The G.o.ds have forgotten us. Surely you know that. Now, we are done with this conversation. I find I am bored.”
Smoke curled from Darius's nostrils, the first sign he would soon morph into his dragon form. ”You wish to pit your army against mine, then, for I will reclaim the palace and I will take charge of the humans you so foolishly hold.”
”Try,” Valerian said, his jaw clenched, ”and I will kill you myself. The portal and everyone who has come through it belong to me. They are mine.”
Darius paused, as if he hadn't expected such a forceful response. ”Why do you want charge of the portal so badly? You cannot survive on the surface.”
He opened his mouth to give a flippant reply but stopped. Why not give the truth? ”I do not care about the surface. I care about my people, my home.” His voice rose with the ferocity of his conviction. ”The nymphs have never possessed a home of their own. Since the dawning of our time, we have traveled from one place to the other, living with one race or another, sleeping in their beds, eating their food. We were good only for pleasuring and warring. Our women deserve a home of their own.”
”As to that... ” Darius's lips curled in a gradual, arrogant smile. ”I have your women.”
Crackles of fury ignited inside him. ”What did you say?”
”They were on their way to this palace, and we captured them.”
”Have you hurt them?”
”No. They are safe.”
”Thank you for that,” he allowed. What Valerian really wanted to do was beat the dragon king until his blood flowed, a river of pain. Those women were his responsibility.
”I know your men are weak without s.e.x. And since I have the female nymphs, I can guess the lot of you will be easy to destroy. Are you sure you want to war?”
”We are plenty strong, Darius. I told you, the surface dwellers have occupied our beds.”
Darius uttered another growl, smug no longer. ”How shall we do this, then, to keep it fair?”
A fair fight from a dragon? Inconceivable. And yet, if Darius meant to fight dirty he would have done so already, sneaking in at night for a surprise attack. However, Valerian wouldn't doubt if Darius had an alternate plan of action. ”I suggest a battle of sword skill.”
”Very well. Shall we meet on the battlefield in the morning?”
”Why wait?” Valerian didn't want Shaye locked away for longer than necessary. He wanted this over and done with as quickly as possible. ”We can settle this, you and I. No others need fight.”
”I accept.” Darius grinned as if that had been his hope all along, his sharp teeth gleaming. He wore no armor, but then, he couldn't. Not if he wanted to transform into a true dragon. ”Winner takes the palace and everything inside.”
”Agreed.”
”But, my king,” Broderick said at his side, speaking in a low, whispering tone. ”You have not - ”
”Worry not, my friend. I will prevail.”
Broderick was not convinced. ”At least go to Shaye. Let her suck you or welcome you into her body, but do not go down there without - ”
”Silence.” He held up his hand. He would not have Shaye's first time be nothing more than a quick tumble meant to strengthen him. No, their first time would be slow and tender. She would be mad with desire for him. He would show her the most pleasurable place on her body, then introduce her to his. ”I will be down shortly, Darius,” he called.
The dragon king nodded.
Valerian turned to Broderick and the men even now circling him.
”This could be a trap.” Joachim clutched his sword hilt. ”Once you go down, they could close in on you and kill you. That is what I would do.”
”Keep the archers in place,” Valerian instructed. ”If a dragon warrior appears to step out of rank, kill him.”
Broderick nodded.
”There is something I must do before I meet the dragons.” None of his men said a word as he strode away from them. They knew what he meant to do - at least, they suspected. They were partly right.
He exited the parapet and found an empty corner room. While he would not visit Shaye, neither would he fight the dragon king without first doing something. He conjured his mate's pale face in his mind, saw her lips parted, saw desire in her velvety-brown eyes. As he imagined sinking inside her body, he slipped a hand inside his pants and wrapped it around his c.o.c.k. Up and down he stroked the thick, hard length.
He could almost feel her hot, wet tightness. Could almost hear her breathy moans and eager purrs. He'd increase his tempo because she'd be wild with need and would crave a hard slamming. His t.e.s.t.i.c.l.es would slap her, and even that would be arousing. Wildly so.
When he heard her shout his name in climax, he roared with his own. Seed squirted from him. And with the release of his seed came a wave of strength. Not as intense as if he'd been with Shaye, but enough.
He cleaned himself and stalked back to his men.
”Here is your s.h.i.+eld,” Joachim said. The change in his att.i.tude was remarkable, and more than Valerian could ever have hoped for. ”The Skull is inside.”
”Do you require your spear?” s.h.i.+vawn asked.