Page 179 of I Dream of Dragons

“Go meet your friend,” she says, then winks. “I’ll go to my room and take a bath alone, eat and rest alone. Maybe play with myself alone.”

“Fuck,” I groan. My cock is stiff, tenting my pants, growing harder with every passing moment. The thought of her spread on the bed, or in the tub, playing with herself… “No.”

“No?”

“Don’t touch yourself,” I growl. “I’m the one who touches you. You don’t touch what’s mine.”

“Bossy, didn’t I say so?”

“And arrogant,” I mutter, “don’t forget that.”

She laughs, the sound clearer now. “And if I disobey?”

I bare my teeth in a sharp grin. “Then I’ll punish you. I won’t be gentle.”

“Promise?”

Damn.I knew she liked Phaethon’s way, and I swear I hear him snorting in my mind.

“I liked being with Phaethon,” she says as if hearing my thoughts. Is she hearing my thoughts through the bond? “But being with you was even better.”

I swear, I hear her voice in my head and I jolt a little.You have my heart, Mars.

And I’m fucking scared she’s about to break mine.

Holding her hand, I accompany her to the door of her room, then reluctantly step away.

I hate stepping away from her. What I want is to keep her wrapped in my arms forever. Not to leave her out of my sight ever, in case she vanishes again.

But instead, I find myself asking a manservant where Tru might be. He sends me in the direction of the upper floors where our rooms are.

I stride through the palace, my mind torn in a hundred directions. Does the king know what Rae is? Does he think he could use that? Or is he only using her to control Phaethon through me?

Does he really think Phaethon is about to open a gate for him? Why all the theatrics, the power shows, the mark on my mate, the speeches and lashings? Does he just want to put on display how he controls us? Is it a political move? Is there dissent in his court? He has always kept it under wraps so far.

Oftentimes, he has used me to suppress it. Had me fighting and killing both humans and fae. An extension of his supremacy. His violent general. His right hand. His sharp blade.

Tonight, I have to be vigilant in case he tries to manipulate her. I’d expected him to try that more, but he keeps saying that it all aligns with the prophecy, so what need would he have of that, right?

Lost in thought, I see someone coming down the corridor toward me and come to a halt.

“Tru.”

He does a double-take when he sees me. “Athdara. I was just knocking on your door but got no reply.”

“Sleep has been… elusive,” I say.

He casts me a curious look. “Because of your back? The lashing?”

“I was with Rae,” I admit.

For some reason, he pales. I swear, the blood literally drains from his face. “I should get going. I only meant to see if you’re okay. That lashing was brutal.”

“It was,” I agree.

“And how is it going with Phaethon?”

“Funny you should ask that… It’s better.” I watch his face, but it’s blank, though still pale. I’ve always trusted Tru but something is off. “It’s quieter inside my head.”