Page 14 of Brutal Dragon King (Nayara Dragon Kings #1)

Stroking my chin with my index and thumb, I stare blankly at the collection of books on the shelves while I cool down from a thought-provoking flight back to the palace.

Our discovery of the crack on the surface in the center of Wyrmwood Forest has led us to one conclusion—the Wyrm is stirring, and the cursed creature is a threat to the realm of Nyxoria.

There's nothing we can do, according to Mother. When we consulted her earlier today, she told us that the oracle had already prophesied the Wyrm’s reawakening when she revealed that my brothers and I were to sire heirs for our respective kingdoms. Putting the Wyrm back to sleep will only work against us with the rippling effect of destruction beneath the forest's surface that will inevitably roll over to the rest of the realm.

There's nothing we can do but wait this out. Wait for the Wyrm to awaken fully and come out of its tomb before we can act, and Mother can work with the oracle to put it back to sleep. It needs to be above ground for another curse. It's only a matter of time before this happens, and for now, we can only wait.

If it were up to me, I'd have gone down there and killed the creature myself. But Mother warned that the beast was too powerful, which is why she worked with the oracle to imprison the beast below the Wyrmwood Forest centuries ago when my brothers and I were toddler dragon cubs growing up.

Although I’m not allowed to go down there and kill the thing before it disrupts the current state of affairs in the Nyxoria realm, I have to be on high alert, now more than ever.

It only cements our quest to conquer Khyronia and overthrow Hestios’ ruling over the kingdom. By taking over, we gain his army of soldiers, strengthening our joint forces in time for the Wyrm’s impending escape from the undergrounds of the forest.

My brothers and I have already met to discuss further plans. We’re all prepared to rage war on the dragon king, Hestios, our armies, and resources at the ready. All that’s left is to wait for the right time, but the right time will only present itself when we decide that it will happen with calculated moves and careful plotting.

One week. That’s what we’ve decided on. Turning toward the library window, I fold the cover over the book I’d been reading about wars and make my way to the inviting silver rays that filter through the blinds.

Basking in the warm, steady glow of the clear night, the littered stars indicate that it will not rain tonight. As I lift my gaze, I begin envisioning the raging skies on the night of the mating ceremony with Althea.

Why do thoughts of her become my solace? Like a sanctuary for my overworked mind, picturing her face between the stars feels like an embrace I need for respite. No matter how hard I try, I can’t shake off these uncouth thoughts that have me wanting to close my eyes and nestle my face between her swelling bosom.

Sighing, I stick my hands into the pockets of my slack pants, then uncomfortably cross them over my chest as if I’m restless. Staying away from the human isn’t an easy feat, but it’s something I must do to remain sane.

She threatens my sanity, amongst other things. For some reason, I admire her for her impossible bravery, and her ability to stand up against me.

No one has ever been able to do that, or even had the balls to think they could.

The challenge she poses is a different one, unlike the many challenges that come with the territory of ruling an entire kingdom under the umbrella of the most powerful dynasty in all of Nyxoria—the Nayara Dynasty. Being the eldest brother and first king to step up in his rightful place has always come with challenges and duties that have kept me numb to things like emotions and humans.

Yet, somehow, the human child-bearer has managed to change my perspective about her kind. Perhaps not so much as to generalize them, since they’ll always be considered weak, worthless humans. But Althea Waters, on the other hand, has proven that she’s not like the rest.

Her resilience in the face of adversity is probably her most notable trait, igniting a fire within me with the spark of her brave spirit. She didn’t falter in the presence of other dragons—my brothers—and remained as bold as she’s always been in front of me. That temper always poses a challenge, a quest I must embark on to subdue her. Each time I have to simmer her down with bodily pleasures, she becomes pliant in her surrender to me.

It’s addicting. It’s magnetic. It draws me to her and keeps me going back for more even if I try restraining myself. No matter how badly I want to stay away, there’s no stopping my inner dragon from craving her as if her body has become my sustenance.

The thought of her abundant curves has my palms tingling with need, my mouth watering with the thought of kissing her plump lips and tasting her sweet essence. I’m suddenly fuelled with desire that rushes through my veins and settles with heat in a throbbing hard-on.

I have to have her, even if I’d humiliated her in the courtyard this morning, and she’s angry with me. It’s not like I should be fazed by her anger, but rather, I’m captivated by it, enthralled by how hot and passionate those kisses are when we despise each other so much. She despises me because I command her as my slave, and I despise her for her resistance to me.

It doesn’t stop this aching need from spilling over, like the way my cock is hard just from thinking about her luscious, delicious curves that make her body perfect. I lick my lips as I imagine what I’d do to her if she was in front of me, how I’d press her up against the wall and fuck the soul out of the human when I’m rudely interrupted by a knock on the door.

Gasping and panting as if I’m out of breath just by the thoughts racing through my mind, I grunt my frustration and turn angrily on my heel, palming my cock to let the erection subside. When I’m satisfied that my arousal isn’t visible, I march to the library door, wanting to scold whoever rudely snapped me out of these fantasies.

But when I throw the door open harshly, my breath is snatched by the ethereal, stunning sight before my eyes.

Did my sinful thoughts just summon Althea?

Meeting her eyes, I marvel at the warm depths of gold that entice me into another bout of arousal that slithers through me. Slowly raking my gaze down to her chest, I’m shocked when I notice the sheer black robe with only black lace cupping her breasts.

Shock and a wave of possessiveness wash over me when I snap my head on either side of the hallway, nostrils flaring with anger.

She could have been seen prancing around in the revealing robe that exposes her lace set underneath. I grab her abruptly, firmly, and tug her into the library before shutting the door with a loud, purposeful thud. I lock it behind me, releasing her from my grip. When I turn to face her, she’s still stumbling forward, trying to regain her footing. I catch a glimpse of her rear, not helping her so I can drink in the sight of her gorgeous curves in nothing but the most minimal set and stockings.

My anger is ripe when I realize she could have been seen in the palace, walking around looking like that. No one has the right to look at those luscious curves when it belongs to me. She’s mine. Her body is mine. I will not allow anyone to look at her the way I hungrily stare at her now as she straightens up with a deep breath and turns to face me.

Her body is meant for my pleasure alone, and though I’m vexed that she’d walk all this way looking like this, I see a mischievous glint in her eyes when she finally regains her balance and gazes up at me with seductive intent.

Something about the way she looks up through the veil of her long, thick lashes has me intrigued enough to control my urge to grab her and crush my lips to hers. Instead, I wait, folding my arms across my chest when she clears her throat as if she has something important to say.

Perhaps she’s come to chastise me for what happened this morning. Knowing her the way I do, I wouldn’t be surprised if she rehearsed her bitter words of contempt before coming here.

But then again, she’s wearing something painfully revealing, waltzing into the library looking like a scrumptious vixen ready for the taking.

She’s up to something, and my curiosity is piqued. But when Althea hesitates, tucking her bottom lip between her teeth, I decide to take the reigns as I always do and take a deliberate step forward. Innocently, she puts her arms behind her back, blinking salaciously at me.

“What are you doing here dressed like that?” I ask in a coarse tone, my eyes narrowing while something else expands in the confines of my slack pants.

“Nothing, Your Majesty…” she drawls seductively, striking me when it’s the first time she’s called me by that respectful title. When she bows her head for the first time, too, I’m shocked, a frown gripping my brows.

“... I guess I just decided to finally give in,” she continues, lifting her face to meet my eyes with her seductive gaze.

She has no idea how much control I’m exercising right now, maintaining the distance between us when I want nothing more than to grab her and take her body as mine and bury my cock in those tight walls that milked me the last time we shared passion in the crystal site.

“You’re giving in?” I ask, her sudden accordance as thrilling as her resistance was. My brow lifts when she takes a careful, measured step forward, her eyes not leaving mine as the only sound is her heels clinking on the tiles.

“Yes…” she whispers as she closes the distance between us and places a palm on my chest.

The sudden physical contact is startling, but I control my breathing while my mind and body scream to unleash my wrath on this woman. Gulping discreetly, I notice her eyes flit to my lips, and the way her breath catches in her throat before she continues to speak, her voice strained as if this is as hard for her as it is for me.

“... I mean… I must have been doing a terrible job of being your slave if you were planning on passing me on to your brothers…”

My appreciative stare turns into a menacing glare when she remarks. How dare she believe that I would ever let anyone else touch her body? It’s mine. I own her perfect curves. I’m about to prove it by grabbing her and conquering her lips when she pulls back, an innocently sweet giggle falling from her lush lips.

Frowning my confusion, my curiosity reaches extraordinary heights when she backs away, curling a finger to beckon me toward her. My feet move of their own accord as I approach her, following the human until she’s behind the chair at the desk.

“I want to make it up to you, Your Majesty,” she purrs, patting the top of the chair. “Please, take a seat,” she says as she pulls the chair out and beckons me closer by doing the cutest courtesy I’ve ever seen.

Drawn forward, I can’t help but wonder why she’s suddenly changed her mind, becoming perfectly obedient and pliant and willing to please me as I take a seat. Did she miss having my hands all over as much as I missed having her body within them?

I gulp hard as she strolls around the chair, coming before me to lean in and press a chaste, promising kiss on my lips. My inner dragon awakens immediately, wanting to greedily devour her, but I hold back my urges by gripping the armrests of the chair so tightly that my knuckles pale when blood rushes out. It’s excruciating to my primal need when she reaches out and strokes my cheek with a single, curled finger. Her touch ignites my soul, sending blood rushing to pool between my thighs with a raging hard-on.

The only reason I keep my hands to myself is because I’m interested in this game she’s playing, intrigued by the keen interest in her twinkling eyes. She straightens up, teasing me with her bottom lip tucked between her teeth seductively. Her enticing little murmur cuts through the pin-drop silence, igniting my flesh with goosebumps that spread across my arms and prickle the hairs beneath the sleeves of my shirt.

The ruthlessly suggestive glint of hunger in her eyes betrays her girlish giggle as she begins untying the knot on the flimsy string that keeps her robe together. With slow, calculated movements, she pulls it out from behind her, letting the robe part in the middle as she holds the strings up.

When her lips curl into a coy smirk, it’s like I can already sense where her thoughts are headed, where this game is going, even before she breathes a word. When she speaks in her low, seductive voice, it’s like honey filling the pots of my eardrums.

“May I tie your wrists, Your Majesty?” she asks so sweetly that I have no choice but to concede with a gentle nod.

There’s a certain thrill to watching her rip the thin string into two equal pieces before stepping forward to bind my wrists to the armrests of the chair. She’s so meticulous as she ties perfect knots to keep my wrists bound, and when she steps back, she wears the most mischievous smirk as her eyes twinkle with satisfaction.

“What are you doing, Althea?” I ask slowly.

As if in response to my question, Althea licks her lips alluringly, then slowly peels the robe from her shoulders while seductively batting her eyelids. She lets the thin thing pool at her feet, then kicks it away with a heeled foot before leaning over with an arched back. With one hand on her ankle, she runs it up the inside of her thigh, then gently skims her lace panties with a soft palm.

Woah…

I’ve never been more turned on in my life, my hands straining in their restraints. If I wanted to, I’d have broken through them and grabbed her, but this little teasing game of hers was too thrilling to put an end to it.

I have to see it through, even if it’s just to boost my ego. The human has decided to finally give in and not resist or defy me anymore. When she straightens up again, her eyes seek mine as she slowly sinks to her knees, hands resting on my thighs.

She’s watching me intently as her hands slide up to my torso, and continue traveling to my chest. She leans in, her hot breath fanning my lips with her ravishing scent as she begins to undo the buttons on my shirt. While her fingers lay sot strokes of exploration on my exposed chest, she leans in and presses her lips to mine.

I might be the one whose wrists are bound, but Althea’s pause on my lips shows that I still have command of the kiss. I take the reigns given to me on a golden platter of her radiantly hazel eyes, and hungrily ravish her lips in a brutally passionate kiss that has my toes curling and breath snatched by the time I pull away.

Althea’s creamy skin is flushed when I leave her lips, her eyes unfocused as she pants. Her chest heaves as if she’s pushing it out toward me, and my fingers curl with the need to pinch and squeeze her erect nipples. As if she’s the one who can read my mind, she lifts herself forward until her breasts are in front of my face, allowing me to bury my nose between them, inhaling deeply.

Her scent is intoxicating, the feel of her flesh addicting as she strokes my face, kissing me softly on the lips before running the tip of her tongue over my jaw. The licking and kissing are too sensational, heightening my arousal until I’m on the brink of bursting through the seams of my pants. Growling, I stifle the intense urge to rip out of the binds and turn heady eyes on Althea.

“Stop this teasing at once…” I grate, voice strained from having to control myself. “Do what you came here to do.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” she whimpers before leaning back on her heels and tending to my belt and pants. When my cock springs out, hot and heavy, a sigh of relief escapes me involuntarily. The sigh turns into a lengthy moan when she takes my cock in her hand and wraps her lips around the bulbous crown. The lewd scene in front of my eyes is the picture of perfection as Althea slides her mouth over the girthy shaft.

She slides all the way down, swallowing every last inch of my cock until her nose presses into my pelvis. When she slides up and releases me with a lewd “pop,” she’s out of breath, eyes watering, and cheeks flushed.

I want to reach out and touch her cheek so badly, but I’m enjoying this game way too much. My cock twitches as if calling her mouth back to it, and I growl, “Take it, Althea.”

She does as she’s told, taking my cock back into her mouth and beginning a steady pace of bobbing her head up and down, her tongue flattened against the shaft as she takes all of me into her mouth. She doesn’t need to be told what to do, working magic that has me enchanted as she sucks and licks my cock perfectly.

I never thought that I would become so taken by a human, but watching Althea choke on my cock is the most mesmerizing scene I've ever witnessed, her beauty shining through her flushed cheeks, teary eyes, and tousled hair. My fingers pine with the need to card them through her hair, tingling with the height of sensation, but the excitement of not having such liberties is much more intoxicating.

Perhaps it's because right now, I'm at my human's mercy when I'm the one who's always in charge. Permitting her to take the lead gives me some much-needed relief from all the stress of being the king, and I might get used to doing this every now and then.

As she pulls her mouth to the tip of my cock, she curls her tongue, driving me over the edge with her teasing flick over the slit. She gathers the precum that just leaked out, then pulls off to deliberately showcase how she swallows the stickiness, licking her lips as if to foreshadow what she'll do with my cum.

Just as I had tasted her the night of the ceremony, then kissed her so she would taste herself on my tongue, Althea moved in and kissed my lips so I could taste the salty sweetness of my precum on her lips. I've never tasted myself before, not needing to perform such a lewd act. But with her, there's something overly thrilling about such a feat, and my cock swells with heat that has the veins mapping the shaft standing out.

“Althea…” I mewl, voice hoarse from how dry my mouth has become. It’s as if every particle of moisture has seeped into my scrotum, ready to burst at any given moment.

That moment comes when Althea slides her lips to the tip, circles her tongue around the sensitive crown, and finds that one spot that drives me wild.

“Althea…” I groan, wanting nothing more than to shove her head down and force my cock into her mouth. All I'm able to do is buck my hips, and it's Althea's cue to reclaim the crown first before purposefully taking the rest of my length into her mouth slowly. My belly tightens with a familiar knot, and I give one more thrust with my hips, filling Althea's mouth with all of me until she gags, and I spill inside her.

Hot ropes of cum fill her mouth, and she doesn't move, her cheeks hollowing to form a vacuum that milks me while her eyes, glossed over with tears, stare into my soul. She sucks the soul out of me, leaving me breathless as I groan and throw my head back.

Riding out my high as she carefully slips my cock from her mouth, my head lolls back, eyes closing to enjoy the waves of pleasure rolling over my body. The high is unlike anything I've felt before, every inch of my skin tingling with sensation. I make a mental note to allow Althea to take the reins every time I'm stressed out, since right now, nothing matters outside of me except this feeling of pleasure. Not even the kingdom is a concern, or the Wyrm, or…

Nothing.

I find myself on the precipice of utter bliss. The only thing missing is having Althea wrapped in my possessive arms, where we can both experience this feeling together. I want to pleasure her and make her feel as satisfied as I do now.

When I lift my head again, eyes heady and unfocused, my neck comes flush with a thin, sharp line of metal. It's a hot, scorching line where contact is made, and my inner dragon screeches with alarm bells to signal the presence of the dragonclaw.

The Dragonclaw Dagger…

A weapon whose blade had been forged in the fires of the crystal with the powerful, lethal herb. It's the only metal that can harm an immortal dragon, and immobilize it enough to kill it.

I'm not afraid of the weapon.

The only thing that strikes me is the sadistic glint in Althea's eyes, her lips peeled back in a manic smirk as she holds the dagger to my throat.