Page 8 of Prince of Blaze and Embers (Emberveil Empire #1)

“My prince,” the rider in copper armor said. His professional demeanor changed immediately as he eyed us, and he raised an eyebrow. “So, this is the Gold-Marked? And why are there two of them?”

“I—I did it just to spite that bastard. Less toys for him.”

Toys? I was no fucking toy…

“We ride then?” The rider in copper turned to the side, revealing the dragon behind him, snorting with plumes of thick smoke erupting from its huge nostrils .

“We ride.” The prince glared down at me with an icy gaze. “You’re coming with us whether you want to or…”

My feet couldn’t move quickly enough. As I ran toward the monstrous dragon, thinking only of all the dreams I’d had of the freedom that came with riding such a magical creation, my legs caught.

I was so eager to get up onto the dragon’s back that I stumbled over my own two feet.

I caught myself with my hands on the sandy cobblestones, and I instantly felt the heat of embarrassment flush my cheeks.

The rider in copper chuckled, but the prince never took his stoic gaze off me. I got to my feet and brushed my knees off. “Tripped on a rock…” I said, my trying to play it off cool.

“Come.” The prince’s voice was commanding as he spun and walked toward his great dragon. I slowed my breath and walked deliberately beside him. The rider in copper waved for Bella to join him, and she walked shyly, with her hands before her and her chin tucked to her chest.

Even if I wanted to run, or escape from the wicked prince, the dragon was too enticing.

Also, the huge sword at the prince’s side was surely swift enough to catch me.

Not to mention the hidden magical staff he made appear only minutes ago.

That made me think about my own magic. I would have looked at my hands were I able to take my eyes off Krakos.

It was the single most magnificent and horrifying creature I’d ever seen, and I couldn’t wait to get up on that saddle and into the air!

I wanted to feel that air rush through my hair and smell that smoke from its mouth!

“Up.” The prince pointed up at the saddle as the dark dragon unfolded its wing before me, like a set of stairs being laid out before a princess.

You’re no princess. You’re still a slave. He’s taking you to the queen because you used magic against him, I had to remind myself. You may be about to ride a dragon, but you’re a prisoner.

“Go on,” the prince said. Before I walked up the huge wing, I looked to see Bella getting up onto the other dragon, with the rider in copper getting into the saddle behind her.

I quickly looked at the huge prince next to me in the most wicked, extravagant, expensive armor I’d ever seen, and realized he was going to be sitting behind me.

My knees buckled, and my stomach tightened. That mountain of a man was taking me for a ride, and the thought of him touching any part of me made my ears hot and cheeks flush.

I walked up the wing, feeling the sturdy scales under my fingernails, scraping as I climbed.

My leg went over the saddle, and its leather squealed under my pant leg.

I cupped the horn of the saddle in both hands, subconsciously bumping up and down with excitement.

Thrill ran so feverishly through me that I didn’t even notice the prince run up the wing, throwing one leg over the saddle directly behind me.

His inner, strong thighs cupped my hips. I swallowed hard. Both our legs were spread as we sat upon Krakos’ back. His warmth poured into me, still chilly from standing naked for so long. His raw power made me feel like a child again and strangely, like I was safe.

The prince’s arm suddenly slid under my arm and wrapped around my stomach. He pulled me into him. I nearly lost all my breath as he pulled me completely against him; his chest, his stomach, and his legs. We were close enough that I felt we were nearly one.

My lips parted, and I moaned without meaning to. He whistled. It pierced the air, echoing all around the walls of my tiny beach town. Or former tiny beach town—my smirk turned to a wide, toothy grin.

Krakos rose to its hind legs, and even more so, I was shoved back into the prince.

But he didn’t move. He didn’t move a fucking muscle.

There was so much muscle behind me, squeezing me into him.

I’d never been so hot; I swear. I didn’t care how bad he was or how mean.

I shifted in the saddle, driving my ass into his groin, and he squeezed me harder with his arm. His breath heated my neck.

“Ready?” His low voice growled.

“Abso-fucking-lutely.”

With his free hand, he flicked the reins, and Krakos’ wings flapped. The air whooshed under them, sending sand flying in all directions. One flap, then another, and then another, and before I knew it, we were hovering in the air, twenty feet above the ground.

Many came out of their homes and shops to witness the great dragons take us. But not Garris. That little weasel couldn’t even stand the sight of me or the prince who’d bought me for five measly royals.

My hands grasped the saddle’s horn as hard as I could. The thrill erupted through me as Krakos took to the sky.

I couldn’t contain my excitement anymore. All those years of watching dragon riders split the sky, and I was finally up there myself. And all of a sudden the world looked so, so small. I screamed as he lifted us up into the air.

It was the freest I’d ever felt.

I didn’t care where we were going.

I didn’t care what was going to happen to me.

All I cared about was that moment.

And I never, ever wanted it to end.