I blinked my eyes open and took a moment to get my bearings. The sun highlighted dust motes swimming lazily through the air of my room. I breathed in the familiar smells, happy to be home again. Happy to have gotten to see my family.

It took me a moment to realize Nyfain’s eyes were open and staring at me.

A shock of panic made me suck in a breath and jerk, thinking it was a sightless gaze. Thinking he’d died between the time I crawled into Sable’s bed in the early morning and now. He blinked, though, and resumed his stare.

I eased back to relax on my side, facing him.

“How do you feel?” I asked, bone-weary and my limbs aching. I’d needed stitches, salves, bandages, and rest, and I’d gotten everything but the last.

“How do you feel?”

“Great. I didn’t almost die, though. Mostly because you saved me.”

“I was the reason you ran away in the first place. The reason you even had to run away. The reason you are trapped in this kingdom—need I go on? I didn’t save anything.”

“Your surliness is back. You must be feeling better.” I yawned and stretched, flopping to my back.

“How many of those creatures did you kill before I got there?”

I thought back. “I think only one. The rest I just stabbed with a pocketknife. It didn’t seem to slow them down much.”

“And you were hurt at the time?”

“Yeah. The hellhound with the fin got me. That wasn’t pleasant. I think I’d rather take on boars. You can at least drop down on boars without worrying about being stabbed with a fin.”

“Before that?”

“A dybbuk. He was nothing.”

I turned my head to the side, meeting that beautiful gaze. The lighter gold streaks were highlighted by the sunlight filtering into the room. His wild hair and loose curls made his sharp cheekbones stand out.

“Did the curse change the color of your dragon’s scales?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Were your eyes always gold?”

“No. Close, though. Hazel. But something about forcing the shift burned my irises. Or maybe it is something baked into the curse, forcing me to remember what was lost. I need only look in a mirror.”

I nodded and then pushed to sitting. I stretched again for good measure.

“You should get more sleep,” he said. “You look terrible.”

I swung my legs over the edge and stood, my pajama bottoms—which I’d put on fresh after patching myself up yesterday—falling to my ankles. I bent over him, running my fingers over his back. The black of the poison was all but gone. I pulled up some of the bandages covering the claw marks. Only a few blackened threads wove through the puffy pink-red wound.

“Normal everlass doesn’t do much about poison,” I said, biting my lip. “We might need to chance a little more of the crowded plant later. Maybe half a leaf or a quarter. I’ll see in a few hours. You’ll need to rest anyway.”

“I need to get back to the castle.” He made a move to get up.

I braced my palm between his shoulder blades, keeping him put. “Yeah, because it’s a fantastic idea to let the demons see you like this. You’d be easy to finish off, Nyfain. This kingdom can’t have that. You will rest for a day or two, and then we can see. How’s the pain?”

“I don’t need to be coddled, princess. I can take care of myself.”

I stepped back so he could see me from his prone position on the bed. I held up my hands. “Who are you talking to right now?” I looked around for show. “Are you under the impression someone in this room will believe your bullshit?”

His lips tweaked up in a small smile. “I guess just one person.”

“Who?”

His smile spread wider. Him.

“Thought so.” I smoothed his bandage back down and sat on the slice of bed near the edge. “I will try again, and let’s try to cooperate this time, shall we? I know your weakness.”

“Everyone knows my weakness—pushy, stubborn women.”

I flattened my lips in a “you’re lame” expression, even though he couldn’t see it. “Not quite.”

I put my finger to the top of one of his wing scars and lightly trailed down. He shivered, and goosebumps rolled over his flesh. He gripped the pillow in two fists and turned his face downward. A soft groan rumbled deep in his chest.

His muffled voice came from the pillow. “No, princess.”

I felt a wicked grin cross my face. “How’s the pain?” I asked, repositioning my finger at the top again and lightly pressing down.

The muscles along his back tightened. His bottom half moved, pushing his pelvis down into the mattress.

Was that simple touch enough to get him hard?

My core tightened. That thought right there was enough to make me wet.

I glanced back to make sure the door was closed. I knew I should back off. He needed to rest.

But the guy was sexy as hell, scars and all, and he’d been tormenting me for days. He deserved a little payback. The poison was under control for now, and the bandages would catch any blood that spilled if his gashes were irritated. Plus, he had all day to rest.

I couldn’t help it. He couldn’t help it, even with his bad attitude and surly demeanor. At least my animal would be proud, though I didn’t reach for her because I didn’t want her hijacking the scene.

I pushed the covers down, exposing that muscular butt.

“Do dragons have wings when they are in human form?” I stroked a little. He groaned, and I could tell it was half pleasure, half pain as his shoulders and butt flexed, thrusting into my sheets. “I’ve never read that.”

“No, they don’t,” he growled. “They have strips of scales, though, where wings might go. They were ripped out of my body when his wings were ripped off his back.”

I flattened my palm next to the scar, above the bandages. “And that strip of scales…”

“Is incredibly erotic and forbidden.”

“Why is it forbidden?” My voice was husky. I slid my hand up and grazed the top of the scar with my thumb.

He shivered again. “It’s reserved for mates.”

My lips curled a little higher. “What else is forbidden to princes that you have absolutely done?”

“No one has ever touched those scales.”

“Oops. That’s the second question you didn’t answer. On purpose? I think so.” I ran my thumb across it again. Then down, feather soft, barely touching.

“Oh goddess—Finley, please…you shouldn’t—”

He wasn’t fooling anyone.

A memory of his thumb tracing along my asshole made a few things click together very quickly.

“The demon king has the incubi and succubi in the castle—and villages—because a lot of that kinky sexual stuff was forbidden, right?”

I stroked up the scar. He breathed in deeply, his spine bowing and his pelvis pushing forward, grinding his hard cock into my bed.

“No anal, no orgies, no…flogging, certainly, right? No one tied up? I must admit, I have always been wary of being tied up—control issues—but when you had my hands pinned the other night, I was into it. I would let you tie me up, and blindfold me, and have me.” His hips jerked forward, clearly at the image. “What about the salons? Ever visited one of those? Did you try any of that before the curse? I don’t reckon the king could thoroughly regulate the whole kingdom, but he could certainly restrict the castle. Or at least try. Did the dutiful, honor-bound son follow the laws of the land?”

When he didn’t answer, I returned the favor from the other night and ran a finger up his crack. “My ex used to like a little ass tickle and sometimes a poke when he was getting a blowjob. Did you ever try it? There’s a very sensitive spot I know how to hit—”

“Do not talk to me about other men,” he growled, and heat slithered down my spine. I felt my animal arch and purr within me. She did like when he went alpha.

“Have you ever tried it?” I asked in a husky voice as I traced a finger up along that scar again, still featherlight.

“No…” He pumped his hips forward. “Finley, please.”

“Hmm, you’re begging, Nyfain. I’m sure Mr. Big Bad Alpha was never supposed to beg.”

On impulse, I leaned forward and licked the top of the scar.

His hips bucked. He let out a long, tortured moan. “When I am better, I am going to slam you against a wall and make you pay for all this. I will fuck you so hard you can’t remember your name. You will never want another man so long as you live.”

This was a dangerous game we were playing. His dragon wanted to claim me, after all. If I lost, I’d lose big.

Sometimes you just had to take the gamble.

“Big words, for an invalid.” I licked again, then kissed softly, reaching over and rubbing his other scar.

“Finley,” he sighed, his hips jerking now, humping my mattress. “Spread your legs in front of me. Let me taste you.”

“Nah. I’ll just finger myself while you get off on my bed.”

“I’m pretending it’s your pussy I’m rutting.”

“Pretend all you want, but when we’re done, you’ll always think back on the way that common girl made you come for her in the most awkward way imaginable.”

His groan was pleasure and torture again, and I laughed as I dipped my free hand below my waist. I felt along my slick wetness before dipping a finger in. I licked along his skin, rubbing softly with the other hand.

“Hmm,” he said, then turned his head, looking at my arm dipped below his field of vision.

Rising, I knelt one knee on the edge of the bed and pushed my fingers into myself, my arm jumping with each thrust. I pulled them out and offered them to him. He sucked greedily.

I did want to position myself in front of him, to let him at my pussy like a starving man. But that would be a bit too much moving and tearing for his wounds, and besides, he hadn’t let me have access to him in the past, and I’d intended to make him pay.

I jammed my hand back into my pants and bent to his back again, licking and sucking, rubbing his other scar. He lifted his ass and tried to reach down, shaking with the effort. I slapped his hand away.

“I need to get my cock right so I can defile your sheets.”

I grinned wickedly, reached down under his body, and grabbed hold of that huge, beautiful cock. I salivated with the desire to suck it in, take it farther than I could comfortably go and then force it down even more. But not this time.

I stroked it twice in a firm grip, making him moan, before arranging it to point toward his chest. He lowered back down, thrusting immediately. I took a quick break to lock the door, then came back and pushed down my bottoms. What could I say? I’d never been great at self-control. I resumed my position, rubbing two fingers between my slick folds before dipping them into my pussy.

“Fucking hell, Finley.”

I picked up our conversation, reminding him of where we were.

“Have you tried this before, Nyfain?” I ran a finger a little more firmly down his scar. “Have you ever watched a woman get herself off?”

“No,” he wheezed, watching my fingers work, thrusting against my bed. “I need to fuck you, Finley. I need to fuck you so bad.”

“Have you ever sunk your cock deep into a woman’s ass?”

“Fuck—” He squeezed his eyes shut, pure pleasure soaking through his expression. He humped like he was rabid—big, strong movements that caught my eyes and trapped them. His body, even in pain, moved with graceful fluidity. He was quite the specimen. Powerful. Raw. So fucking hot it shouldn’t be allowed.

I stroked that fevered skin. Pounded my fingers into myself. Wished I had another hand so I could manipulate a nipple.

“Have you dreamed of me, Nyfain?” I asked, almost at an out-of-body experience. For some reason, it was so erotic holding the control right now. Taunting him. Playing with him. I knew the role reversal was driving him crazy with need. I knew he wanted to rise and steal that control back. To throw me under him and plunge deep into my wet depths. Dominate me until we were both spent and sanguine.

“Have you dreamed of fucking me?” I whispered, licking him again.

“Dreamed at night, daydreamed, fucked my hand raw replaying you arching into me, trying to force your breast a little deeper into my mouth. Or pumping against my fingers while I held you to the tree. Begging for my cock.”

His ass released and then tightened. The bed shook with the power of it. My body wound up, and I plunged in time with his thrusts as he watched, his golden gaze glued to my fingers, shining with my wetness.

I bent again and sucked in a bit of skin, massaging with my tongue.

“No… I can’t… It’s… Fuck me!” He spasmed against the bed, the whole thing shaking.

I worked a little faster, rising and closing my eyes as pleasure amplified. I took my hand away from him and ran it under my shirt, over my breast. I tweaked a nipple, and my orgasm stole over me. I moaned softly, shivering with pleasure.

When I was done, I was breathing heavily. Sweat coated my forehead.

I fluttered my eyes open, seeing that he’d risen onto his forearms, regardless of whatever pain it must have caused, so he could watch me finish.

I smiled and grabbed some clothes. I put those on before I flipped the top sheets over his bottom half.

“And now you will lie there in that wet spot until I have breakfast and come back to check on you. Take this as payback for the bouts of lady blue balls you’ve given me. Or, hell, for being a dick all those times.”

I bent to grab my pajama bottoms off the floor, and he reached out and grabbed my shirt. He yanked me to him and claimed my lips. I opened my mouth in surprise, and he filled it with his tongue in a rush, swiping it through before plunging. His taste drove me wild. The electricity of our touch sizzled along my skin. My pulse fluttered.

He released me, and I staggered back, my lips tingling and swollen. My body starting to tighten already even though I’d just climaxed.

He must’ve seen the startled look on my face, because he smiled smugly before lying back down. “If you want my come soaking into your bed, princess, who am I to say boo? I’ll need a wash later. I will look forward to you giving me a sponge bath. And no, I haven’t done many things, including visiting one of those salons, though I’ve seen them in my travels. Yes, I’ve always wanted to. Yes, when you give me a commoner’s rendition of it, I will want a happy ending.”

“Dream on, Sir Alpha.”

He chuckled darkly. “We’ll see.”


After breakfast, I checked on my father, only to replace his situation deteriorating. Hannon met me by his bedside, his face grim.

“It’s just been a couple days,” I said. “Did you mix the elixir correctly?”

“Dash did it exactly the same way you always do. You know that he does it right.”

I nodded, because he did. I ran my hand down my face, feeling sadness well up in me. “I have to get more creative. I have to think of something.”

“You’re not a miracle worker, Finley,” he said sadly. “You can’t save everyone.”

I was damn sure going to try.

I placed a chair next to the everlass plants and let my mind wander, thinking about the demons’ magic. Thinking about the creatures I’d run into in the wood. Thinking about the poison in Nyfain.

Using a crowded everlass plant had killed the lady’s husband down the lane, but maybe her elixir had been too strong. Or maybe the recipe itself needed to be tweaked to accommodate for the stronger healing agent.

It wasn’t until I heard my name that I realized someone was in the yard with me. Also that tears were rolling down my face.

Unless something changed, quickly, I was about to lose another parent.

Nyfain had his arm around Hannon’s shoulders, and Hannon’s arm was looped around his waist, supporting him. Nyfain wore sweats that were too short and no shirt, showing off that muscled physique.

I wiped the wetness from my face and stood. “What’s up?”

“Have a look at his wounds. He needs to be stitched up, but first we need to make sure the poison is gone.”

I stepped around the chair and patted its back so Hannon would walk him over and sit him down. Nyfain’s eyes stayed rooted to me as the guys moved closer, only pulling away when he had to sit. He bent forward, the bandages having already been taken off. No threads of black wove through the exposed pink flesh. Hannon had done his usual good job of cleaning it, too. No dirt, no dried blood.

“Yeah, he’s good.” I put my hand on Nyfain’s shoulder. His muscles smoothed a little under my palm, as though he were relaxing. “We’re getting to this in plenty of time, so they shouldn’t scar.”

“Let me guess, you’ve somehow managed to speed up healing or smooth out scars with your plants,” Nyfain drawled.

“Both, yeah. You haven’t noticed any scars on me, have you?”

“One at the top of your right breast. Another on your left butt cheek—”

“Right, yes, okay. Enough,” I said.

Hannon’s eyebrows shot up, and my face heated. Those scrapes hadn’t been bad enough for me to suffer the embarrassment of Hannon doctoring it. Clearly Nyfain had been paying attention.

“Well…right.” I dug my fingers into Nyfain’s skin. “Except for the places I didn’t have Hannon stitch up, obviously.”

“Let’s get him to the bucket, and you can wash him down,” Hannon said, stepping to the side of Nyfain. “I’ll stitch him up after that. Then he needs rest.”

“I can’t rest here. I need to get back to the castle. I’ll be—”

“You’ll rest here because it’s much too far to crawl,” I said, my tone infused with power and brooking no argument.

I could see the vein in the side of his jaw dance in irritation. He didn’t comment, which meant he’d do as I said.

“Also, I am not going to clean him. You’re the nurse, Hannon. You do it. I need to figure out something for Father.”

“Finley, may I speak with you?” Hannon gestured me away from Nyfain.

“What’s up?” I asked when we were a small distance away, around the corner of the house and in the side yard.

He spoke softly, his eyes assessing. “I would normally be happy to clean up a patient, as you know, to make sure it is done properly. But he asked earlier that you do it, and now you’re trying to get out of it. It’s clear you two are playing games with each other, and I do not plan to get in the way.”

“But—”

He held up his hand. “I think you need to see this through, wherever it may lead.”

“It could lead to death, Hannon.”

“More than half of your ventures out of doors could always lead to death. You’ve never shied away from those.”

“This is different.”

He studied me for a moment. “Good. You need something new in your life. Now, remember to do a good and thorough job on him.” Shivers coated my skin at the thought of what Nyfain had said about the salon. “Gashes from dirty claws infused with poison are a prime source of infection. It seems like he needs to get better in a hurry. Whatever games you’re playing, you need to concentrate on what’s important. His health. Put that first.”

I breathed out slowly and nodded, nothing more than an annoyed jerk of my head.

Hannon took a beat and then asked, “Will you go back to the castle with him when he goes?”

No was on the tip of my tongue. It was sitting there, ready to be cast out into the world. But…the truth was…I didn’t know. There were many reasons to stay in the village, and there were a few reasons to get to the castle, mostly to do with the gardening resources available to me there. That could really help my efforts to replace a cure for the sickness, especially considering the crowded plant might be the missing link, and I didn’t have much of that.

There was only one reason I was waffling, though—that big stack of muscle sitting in my backyard, covered in scars and ink, needing help protecting his kingdom. I wanted to provide that help, but I didn’t know if I’d be able to resist giving him the rest of me as well.

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