Page 17 of Fated to the Dragon King (Alpha Dragons’ Fated #4)

Alaric

“Alaric. So good to see you again.”

We two stared at one another in the same fashion that two boxers might size one another up just before the bell rings and the fight commences. Hayley leaned against the truck, watching in fascination. I wanted to shake her, demand she leave the area, so she didn’t get hurt or killed.

I suspected she felt no fear of Fiona, and I didn’t like it. She should fear this evil creature because I might not be able to protect her.

That thought filled me with terror.

“You’re risking your life by approaching me,” I rumbled.

“You can’t kill me. I serve Da’arvass.”

I cocked my brow. “You certainly flew fast enough to escape me not long ago.”

Fiona smiled slowly. “Perhaps I should rephrase. You may kill my body, but Da’arvass will have his revenge. And I will be granted a new, mortal life, while you will languish with him for a very painful eternity.”

Hayley scoffed. “What rubbish.”

“Who might you be?” Fiona asked, her voice silken. “His fuck toy?”

“His wife.”

I smiled at the shock that flicked over Fiona’s beautiful face. “Right. I’ve fulfilled my father’s will. I have the absolute authority to sentence you to death for your crimes, Fiona. Yours and Damon’s.”

“You married a human? ” Fiona looked Hayley up and down in contempt. “Humans don’t count as wives or mates. You know that.”

“She’s also my fated mate.” I grinned. “Chosen by Lanokota.”

“Lanokota has no power over Da’arvass,” Fiona spat. “Nor over me.”

“I wouldn’t gamble on that assumption, my dear,” I replied. “It might prove to be your undoing.”

“Your threats mean nothing to me,” Fiona grated. “I will take your power. I will eradicate this pestilence called the human species. And Da’arvass will rule this world at my side.”

I sighed noisily. “Outside of your paltry boasting, dearie, what is it you want? Why are you here?”

Fiona eyed Hayley again, then visibly dismissed her. “I thought to strike a bargain with you, Alaric. Hand authority over to me, and I’ll spare your life. You can live in peace in our homeland, perhaps even mate with a dragon, instead of this sniveling thing.”

I buffed my nails on my shirt, then examined them closely. “Live in peace while you plunder the earth. Is that it?”

“Yes.”

“Where’s Damon?”

“At the moment, I’ve no idea,” Fiona answered. “He has nothing to do with this.”

“No? So, what have you promised him in exchange for his help? I expected he would rule at your side, not Da’arvass.”

“Once I have your promise, Damon will no longer be of use to me. Should he bow to me in homage, I will spare his life.”

“And if he doesn’t? You’ll kill him?”

“Of course.”

“And if I don’t agree?” I asked, smiling cruelly, “you’ll keep him around so he can inherit after my death?”

“I may not need him for that, either,” Fiona said sharply. “With the aid of Da’arvass, your kinsman may become obsolete. I may keep him as my pet, if he pleases me.”

“Ah. Does Damon know just how insignificant he truly is?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Right now, his hatred of you is useful to me. Once he kills you, should you not agree to my bargain, then his fate will be in the balance.”

“I watched that brave dragon flee from Alaric in terror,” Hayley commented dryly. “You think Damon can best him in a fight?”

“Silence, you foolish girl,” Fiona snapped. “You know nothing. You’re a gnat compared with me.”

“A gnat, eh?” Hayley smiled. “Even a gnat can be annoying. Like this.”

Before I reacted in time to stop her, Hayley stepped forward and slapped Fiona across her cheek with her open hand.

Gaping in shock, Fiona lifted her hand to her flaming cheek, staring at Hayley. “You hit me.”

Hayley grimaced, shaking her hand. “Dammit, no one said slapping someone hurt almost as much as getting slapped.”

I laughed. “Fiona, why don’t you just run along and play. The adults are talking.”

Her face twisted into a snarl of hate, Fiona reached for Hayley with her nails extended into claws. I stepped smoothly between them.

Halting, Fiona stared up at me, her mouth agape.

“If you want to fight,” I said, “I’ll oblige you. In the sky, right now. If I send you straight into Da’arvass’s waiting arms, he might be a bit pissed at you for dying so easily.”

“He’ll grant me eternal life,” she snapped.

“Uh, huh. Chained in his dungeons and suffering under his warm regard for you.”

Uncertainty crossed her face, rose in her lovely blue eyes. She stepped backward toward her car, while lifting her finger to point at me like a gun. “I’ll kill you, Alaric,” Fiona said calmly. “You and your toy. At a time of my choosing.”

“Okay, looking forward to it.” I smiled. “Thanks for stopping by, but do us a favor and don’t come back.”

Fiona got into her car. In a fit of pique, she floored the gas in reverse and left rubber marks on my driveway. She spun the car around and drove away at a high speed. Once she’d vanished, I looked down at Hayley.

“That wasn’t smart, you know.”

Hayley shrugged. “I’m a brainless bimbo, remember? I’m not supposed to be smart.”

“Aggravating a dragon who worships a black god goes far beyond mere stupidity,” I snapped. “You should know better.”

“What do you care if she kills me?” Hayley snapped her fingers. “Oh, that’s right, you don’t. I’m just your pawn in your little inheritance game.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Oh, and it’s supposed to be? All is fair in love and war, although I think we can dispense with the love part.”

“You’re trying to piss me off.”

“Is it working?”

“Yeah,” I growled. “Why you’d do it, however, I don’t know.”

“Because if I piss you off, at least you’re feeling something for me.”

“I do feel something for you.”

“Irritation, aggravation, and nothing at all don’t cont.”

“Dammit, Hayley, stop playing games with me.”

“Games?” Hayley laughed. “You’re the master game player here. Moving your little pawns and knights around the chessboard.”

“I’m warning you.”

Laughing again, Hayley moved to step past me. I didn’t know where she planned to go, and it didn’t matter anyway. I seized her upper arm, and spun her around.

“You don’t walk away from me, girl.”

Hayley yanked her arm from my grip. “You don’t give me orders.”

“I’m your husband and your mate. You’ll do what I say.”

Laughing again, Hayley snapped, “Like hell I will.”

I knew I shouldn’t grab her, but I did anyway. Pulling her to me, hard against my chest and stomach, I glared down into her sparking green eyes. I also knew that kissing her against her will was also wrong, I did that anyway. At the first touch of her lips against mine, my cock sprang into action.

Hayley shocked me by kissing me back, her tongue invading my mouth. Almost too surprised to react, I held her more lightly, relaxing my heavy hold in case she wanted to withdraw from me.

Her palm cupped the hard weight in my jeans, stroking, massaging, arousing me, making me crazy with lust. I groaned, fighting the urge to ejaculate then and there. Her breasts pressed hard against my chest, her nipples already hard little pebbles under her shirt.

Without halting our contact, I slid my arm under her thighs and lifted her into my arms. Walking while unable to see became a challenge, but I navigated the yard, the front door, and into the house without dropping her.

In too much need to take her up the stairs, I set her on the couch.

Hayley seized my jacket and jerked the shoulders back, her face rising to clamp her mouth around mine.

I busied my hands sliding her pants down her legs where she helped me by kicking them off.

With her lower body bare, I spread her thighs and lowered my mouth to her pussy.

Hayley hissed and cried out, thrashing under me as I licked and sucked her swollen clit. I held her hips as still as possible while delving my tongue inside her, tasting her arousal, feeling it ooze down my chin. My cock ached with a savage need to be free and in her.

Her pleasure came first.

I plunged my fingers deep inside her tunnel, her soft plushy walls closing around them. I teased her relentlessly, driving her wild with my mouth and fingers, feeling her body tense as she neared her climax.

I fought to not come as Hayley’s pussy exploded. She threw her head back, arching her hips upward, screaming as her pleasure ripped through her. Enclosed around my fingers, her pussy walls undulated, spasming, as she orgasmed.

“Oh, God,” she gasped, falling back as I lifted my face from between her legs. “Oh, God, oh, man.”

I couldn’t wait any longer. Rising, looking down at the pink folds of her inviting pussy, I opened my fly and shoved my jeans back. My shaft burst free, come already dripping with my seed. Spreading Hayley’s legs wider, I plunged into her welcome tunnel and began to pump.

Not wanting my anger to fuel my lust or cause hurt to her, I held my pace to a swift, but not savage, speed.

I drove in and out, my sweat trickling down my temples, my face, my neck.

Hayley locked her legs around my hips, bucking them up in a pleasant rhythm.

Her hands behind my head kept my mouth on hers, our tongues dancing the tango.

I was dimly aware when Hayley’s second orgasm arrived, making her cry out, even as her fingers gripped my hair hard enough to hurt.

I was too far gone in my own coming explosion to pay attention, however.

My cock exploded within her pussy, my head spinning behind my closed eyelids.

The dizziness failed to abate even when I lay, panting, gasping, on her body with my shaft still buried in her.

At last, I rolled off of her and tucked my now limp cock back into my pants. We lay like that for a while, catching our breath. I armed the sweat from my face on my sleeve, then glanced at Hayley.

She lay on her back, her eyes shut, her legs primly closed.

“I hope I didn’t hurt you,” I said.

“No,” she murmured.

“I’m sorry I got so pissed off.”

“Mm.”

I had no idea if that was an apology acceptance or a go fuck yourself. Not knowing what her mood was like, I opted to not hold her in my arms and snuggle. After pondering a shower and some dinner, I rolled onto my side, away from Hayley, and drifted to sleep.

***

I don’t know what time it was when I woke.

The house lay dark and silent around me, only the faint ticking of the clock made any sound. Reaching for Hayley, I discovered her half of the sofa was both cold and empty.

“Hayley?”

Groggy, hungry, I sat up. Fishing my cell from my pocket, I found the time was well after midnight. I scratched my head briskly, and stood up. Hayley most likely went to bed without disturbing me. Though my stomach grumbled, I closed my fly and ambled up the stairs.

I clicked on the hallway light so I wouldn’t wake her. I peered into the half lit master bedroom –

The big bed was empty.

“Hayley?”

Growing worried, I searched the house. She wasn’t in the kitchen, in the den watching TV, nor did she sleep in one of the other bedrooms. Not even the one she claimed when she refused to sleep in my bed.

My fear whacking around in my mind, I trotted to the front door. “Hayley!”

Maybe she went to the beach. I started in that direction, then halted, staring.

My truck was gone.