Page 188 of The Dragon Queen Complete Series Collection

Chapter 187

Was this what it would be like to fly a dragon myself? I wondered as I worked myself up and down. The wild pleasure, the flames that were fanned higher each time I slammed down, surely it couldn’t be better than this. It wasn’t just that it was Brom, that he was mine and I was his, but that this pleasure was stolen. That’s what had my nails digging into his chest.

“You marking me?” he rasped, hands going to my hips right before he threw me down on the ground. He was pulling out, then slamming back in again as soon as my hands and knees hit the ground. Brom wasn’t so careful now, didn’t make sure I was on his jacket. My back arched, craving that ferocity. I thrusted back into him, meeting him stroke for stroke. “Every time I see you walking around camp, men stopping to stare, I want to do just that, make clear to the world that you’re mine.”

“Do it.”

I didn’t even know what I was agreeing to, but his slowing strokes told me everything that I needed. My hips worked faster, forcing him onwards. One hand clamped down on my hip, regaining control, keeping me almost immobile as he forced me to take his length over and over again.

“If we flew away from all of this, we could be in our marital bed right now,” he growled. The commander had been shoved aside to let the man run free. “You could’ve stopped taking your tincture.”

That part was almost true. Madam Gilly had made sure to pack me enough of the birth control to last the campaign, but the nature of what we did meant sometimes I forgot to take it. I gasped, tilting my hips backwards, wanting him deeper.

“You feel so wet, so ripe, Pippin. You’re destroying my control. Everything inside me wants to seed you, breed you, claim a part of you that no one else can take, not yet. You’d be mine if you bore my child in your belly.” His hand slid around my hip, then dove between my legs, but not before he caressed my stomach. “No one would ever take the mother of my child away from me.”

“Yes…” I sobbed, my head thrown back.

I needed every inch of him, but this was something more. My body felt heavy and swollen, as if I was pregnant with pleasure and that would be the start. I could toss the tinctures in the bushes, or better, hand them to Lady Fast and let her dispense them to women who needed them.

Because I didn’t.

My thighs moved wider, letting him in. It hurt just a little, this angle, yet I craved that, a pleasure that raked its fangs along my flesh. I wanted him, wanted the future we’d conjured together.

Wanted an eternity spent at his side.

“Do it,” I panted out. “Give it to me, Brom, everything you’ve got.”

He complied, because that’s what males do. His fingers pinched down on my pearl, wringing waves of ecstasy out of me as he ploughed through each rippling wave until he joined me in bliss. A heart-rending snarl and then his mouth landed on my neck, nipping the skin before sucking away the pain. Those sensual pulls had my whole body shuddering as they washed through me, bringing me crashing down to earth.

And Brom with me.

I ached, he ached, as we collapsed down onto his jacket. The cold dew of the leaf litter filtered through, but I didn’t care. He held me close, his breath just as forced as mine, the two of us lying there until it began to slow.

“Pippin—”

“No.” My hand covered his, keeping it right where it was, lying over my heart, his breath shifting the small hairs on my scalp. “No, don’t say it. Don’t pull away. Just don’t.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” There was a chuckle in his voice, then a kiss was pressed to my nape. “You burned through all the noble self-sacrifice I had. I am yours.” My fingers tightened their grip. “I was prepared to be that at a distance?—”

“That’s not what I need.” I didn’t want to pull free of him, but I had to turn around. “I heard every word and acknowledge your very real fears. If I’m honest, in the still of night, I’ve felt the same, but…” My leg was thrown over his, dragging us closer and he smiled at that. “I have to believe we will find a way forward. I must. I can’t go into a fight against a maniac who is threatening to tear the country apart in a civil war, otherwise…” I studied his face, seeing lines that had been there for weeks smooth away. “What’s the point? What future is there if you’re not in it, all of you?”

His kiss was so much gentler now. The time for passion was over, so love was able to shoulder forward.

“It’s just a relief to know you feel the same way, though…” He winced when he saw the now throbbing mark he left on my neck. “That was madness. Does it hurt?” His fingers probed the mark gently.

“Everything hurts, Brom, but that least of all. I’ll wear your mark proudly, meet the eyes of any rider, any person, bold enough to stare. I might have to pretend to be something I’m not most days, but not that. Anyway.” I took his hand and placed it back on my stomach. “You might get your wish. I’ve been lax about taking my tinctures.”

“What?” He rolled up on his elbow and stared down at me. “Pippin…”

Something in my eyes had him stopping. He studied my face, but what I had to say couldn’t be done with words. I’d never thought about having children. When I was still a lady, it was my fate, when I was a herder it would’ve been a prison sentence for me and my child, but now…? He nodded slowly, his head dropping lower.

The kiss was far slower but contained a deadly intent. He’d thought to run away from us, but now? He kissed his queen, stole her breath away and then her heart, right as his mouth moved down.

It was the sound of birds calling in the morning that woke me. That and the bite of the morning air. Goosebumps formed all over my skin, my body shivering as I located my clothes and yanked them on. Brom slept on, reaching for me sleepily, his hair a dark fan around his head. I wanted to stop, to comb out every knot, but if we were to have the future we dreamed up together, I needed to play a role now.

Defeat the Duke of Harlston, retrieve the dragon eggs and return them to Wyrmpeak, then once they were safe with Cynane, I could leave Nevermere to sort itself out. My riders would come with me north if that’s what it took to stay together, but Draven…? He was always the wild card, so I’d need to ask him myself.

I brushed the dirt from my palms and stared down at Brom, not wanting to leave him to wake up alone, but I must. Instead of kissing his temple and running my fingers through that beard, I nodded and then turned on my heel, marching out of the forest.

Only to find the general waiting.

“Highness.” My title was used in a brisk, businesslike tone. “We missed you during the celebrations last night. I feared something had happened to you.”

Something had. I stood taller, noting that the man was only a couple of inches taller than me. We stood almost eye to eye as I smiled.

“I’m fine, as you can see.”

“Are you sure?” One eyebrow rose slowly. “That’s a terrible bruise you’ve got on your neck.”

Dealing with members of the court was always exhausting. No one ever said what they meant. Rex wanted to shout at me, grab my hand and give me a good shake, all while remonstrating me for being a silly girl. I just wanted to ram my knee into his testicles. Instead, we were forced to fence at the forest’s edge, the noises of a slowly waking camp behind us.

“A bruise?” My fingers touched the tender flesh and I barely resisted a shiver. Brom was like a demon last night. It was as if my reckless disregard for my fertility spurred something in him and I loved that I could still feel the aftermath of it. “Must’ve walked into something. I am terribly clumsy, after all.”

“Something we’ll need to work on when we return to the capital,” he said, moving closer. If he was a lover, this would be a welcome intimacy. Instead, my whole body stiffened as I calculated the distance between us and the camp. “Things will change when we return. The coronation and your royal marriage will ensure that you are under even greater scrutiny than before.”

I caught the sour smell of wine on his breath as it fanned across my face.

“The queen is the pinnacle of feminine perfection,” he continued. “A role model for all of her sex, one beyond all reproach as she bears the next heir to the Nithian throne. Without her, without her dragon, the king’s power would falter. Any mistake she makes diminishes the regard people have for His Majesty.”

My snort of laughter escaped me without thought. I hadn’t meant to snicker and yet I did, pulling away and staring at the general, seeing things I hadn’t before. His leather armour wasn’t so glossy, no longer polished, and the lines around his eyes, the grey in his hair, they marked the march of time. He was just a man, an ageing man, and I was a queen.

“Like fuck his best friend?” I didn’t use such foul words usually, but I’d learned them well enough tending to swine. “Or all of his wing?” The general staggered back as if slapped, though he wasn’t caught off guard for long. Glimmer came strolling through the trees, her golden eyes locking with mine. She sat down and watched everything silently. “Is that what you’re trying to infer? Because it occurs to me that my title is conferred on me by my bond with Glimmer, Darkspire’s mate.”

I nodded to my dragon and Rex spun around, obviously disconcerted by her sudden presence.

“I know you hold out hope for the other queen dragon egg.” I didn’t know this, but my suspicion was confirmed by his frown. “That someone eminently more… suitable can be found and bonded to the hatchling queen, that girl becoming the kind of queen-in-waiting you want. But…” I stepped in close now, my mouth almost to his ear. “If you do, if Glimmer and I leave, I think you’ll find some of your best riders will go with me. Hell, they might be the ones to get me clear of Wyrmpeak, Darkspire included.”

The general’s face went a dangerous shade of red, his eyes bugging, but as he sucked in a breath, another joined us. Brom, I thought for a moment before I realised it was Draven. They were like twins of the other, one dark, one darker.

“There you are.” He strode across the leaf litter, the rustling sound setting my teeth on edge until his arm went around my waist. “What have I told you about sloping off without me?”

“That you’re fine with it as long as I am in the company of one of the wing.”

I stared into Draven’s eyes, unsure of his reaction, but trying desperately to get a read on him.

“Majesty—”

“Leave us,” Draven barked, every inch the king.

“My king, we fly out within the hour.”

Rex’s tight formality was back.

“Pippin and I will be on Darkspire’s back, ready to lead everyone forward, but right now we need a moment.”

Disgust I expected to see in Rex’s parting look, but pity? That was a surprise, but I didn’t get a chance to dwell on his reaction. Draven demanded all the attention in a room and he did that right now.

“Where did you go? What did the two of you get up to? No, don’t answer that.” He shoved his hand down the front of my pants, forcing me to gasp as he parted my folds, slipping his fingers through the mess Brom had left before pulling them free and licking them clean. “I know that taste anywhere.” Those blue eyes burned with a hectic light. “I’m not sure if I’m jealous of him or you or just wishing I was there, sharing the experience.”

“You can’t insert yourself into every dalliance,” I told him. “If this it to work, sometimes Brom and I will have moments, just as you have with him.”

“Have with him?” His smile was so bitter my mouth went dry. “What do I have with him?” His expression softened. “With you? He’s your husband, and I’m just?—”

“My king!”

A rider hovered at the edge of the forest, obviously needing Draven’s attention.

“I don’t know what the hell I am.” That came out in a low mutter, but before I could tell him, he silenced me with a kiss. I knew a sad one when I felt it, having had so many of them last night. “Get ready to ride out. Say your goodbyes, because we won’t be back here until I’ve lopped my uncle’s head from his shoulders.”

“Do I have time to clean up?” I asked awkwardly, and that had his eyes sliding down.

“No.” That devilish smirk was back as he leant in closer. “You can spend the ride to Blackreach sitting in my wing commander’s seed, then you can tell me about every single thing the two of you got up to.”

He turned and then walked off to talk to the rider waiting.

Males are stupid , Glimmer informed me as we approached camp.

You’ll get no argument from me. Now, have you eaten? We’re in for a long ride today.

“So, where did you get to last night?” I was busy shoving the last of my possessions into Draven’s saddlebags when Ged appeared by my side. He leaned against Darkspire, the big green dragon grumbling in response. “Whatever you did, you put the spring back into the commander’s step.”

I looked up to see Brom looking remarkably refreshed. He was ordering around riders with a swift point of his hand.

“I could do with some extra spring.” Flynn materialised on my other side. He went to lean in closer, so I was forced to hold him off with one hand. “Prepare me for battle and all that.”

“Both of you have a lot of preparations to make,” Soren barked. “Flynn, get Glacier. We’re moving a considerable amount of the dragonfire cache today and it all needs re-icing. Ged?—”

“I know, I know.” Ged threw his hands up. “Bags ready for inspection in five minutes, but if it was Soren the other night and Brom last night, then surely it’s my?—”

“Turn to dig latrines when we arrive on the outskirts of Blackreach?” Soren clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Good lad, thank you for volunteering.”

“I… You…” Ged spluttered and then let out a growl. “Fine, I’ll come and find you after toilet digging duty.”

“I can’t wait?” I said, wrinkling my forehead as he walked off.

“Now, Pippin,” Soren said in a far gentler tone. “Are you all right? There’s no shame in remaining here. We’re riding into battle. Perhaps you could stay with the ladies…”

I looked up at Glimmer who was perched on Darkspire’s neck, remembering her oft repeated advice.

“No, Soren, I’m as ready as anyone to bring this whole mess to an end. The Duke of Harlston’s head on a spike, that’s what I want, so inspect my bag and make sure I’m ready to ride out.”

His lips twitched, the urge to smile rising and then smoothed away.

“Right you are, Rider.”