Page 117 of The Dragon's Gambit

Weston was the one who lost his cool. It was like he went off the handle. He reached his hand out and snatched Clovis by the throat. “Look at her like that again and I will eviscerate you right here,” he snarled, his dragon fangs slowly extending. He glared at Clovis and watched as he paled.

Reiya was hoping Dex would step in before there was a bigger problem, but he only chuckled.

“You see? This is what happens when you stick your nose in where it doesn’t belong. Do you really care what’s going on here? Does it really matter? How much do you value your neck?” Dex smirked at Clovis and Weston slowly released his grip, the outline of fingerprints remaining on Clovis’s neck.

“You’re the one who doesn’t seem to get it. You must be pretty dumb not to. Look at the girl. She is surrounded by the dragon kings and the first prince. She has a dragon mark on her skin. She’s been claimed. But who says she’s been claimed by one dragon?” Dex smirked, and Weston immediately engaged.

“She’s ours. We have taken the princess as our own. Do you wish to mess with our possession?” Weston’s eyes flickered black.

Suddenly, it clicked for Clovis. She was their toy. She was being claimed as their concubine. Their mistress. If she was a mistress to the kings, she was untouchable. No one could claim or touch her, as she’d been claimed by the four kingdoms. He could push back against Xander, but not against all of them. If the four kings had united in claiming the girl, then this was a problem on an even larger scale.

“Forgive me. I will not pry into your affairs anymore.” Clovis bowed and slunk away. This was a very big problem, one he never could have anticipated.

“That’ll keep him away.” Weston turned and grinned at Dex. “That was brilliant on your part, too.”

“I surprise myself sometimes.” Dex chuckled.

Reiya looked up at the two men. She had just been claimed as a possession of the dragon kings. It was mildly irritating, but she understood that it solved a problem. She just didn’t like the idea of being considered their pet. They were supposed to be her pets. She didn’t like being portrayed as the weak female who couldn’t help but be claimed by these men. It was a temporary fix, at least. Soon, everyone would know who she really belonged to. She could put up with her name being temporarily tarnished for now.

“So, am I on a rotation or something? Just so I know who I should be going to bed with tonight.” Reiya decided to roll with it.

Weston looked at her, shocked, and then turned his face up to the tent ceiling. “Please don’t say things like that, princess. I don’t want to be killed.”

Reiya giggled. “So overdramatic.”

“I’m hoping I don’t get murdered for the suggestion I just made.” Dex pulled his shirt collar nervously and Reiya burst into laughter.

“You guys are too much sometimes.” Reiya smiled up at the two men. “So, how long do you think it’ll take for this information to reach the masses?”

“It already did.” Weston smiled tensely and sipped his drink.

Reiya shifted her gaze and noticed the whispers and discreet glances coming from everyone. There were even some guys elbowing others and sharing some mental male comradery, living vicariously through their kings.Ugh… this was embarrassing.

“The conversation was overheard, huh?” Reiya said dryly.

“Yep,” Dex said with a nervous undertone. “I was hoping to explain this first.” He glanced toward the stormy eyes of the deity in the front. “I wonder if I’ll get a reprieve.”

Reiya elbowed Dex. “Don’t be so silly. He won’t like it, but he knows that what you did was for my protection.” Her voice was quiet, so as not to be overheard.

“I’ll miss you, Dex.” Weston poked at him playfully and beamed widely.

“I don’t know what you two are even teasing about. You boys won’t be touched. I’m the one he’ll be taking his frustration out on,” Reiya added quietly. Inside, she was smiling. The only frustration he might take out on her was sexual, and she didn’t mind that.

Weston frowned. “If it was Xander, we could do something about that.” He looked at the ground guiltily, since there wasn’t anything he could do about Lee.

“I can try to explain the situation as well. I’m sorry. I never thought this would turn into a problem for you,” Dex said apologetically. He felt like an ass.

Reiya turned and looked at the two men incredulously. “Just what kind of monster do you think he is?” She began to giggle and shook her head. “The only frustrations he takes out on me are the ones that you guys really don’t need to hear about.”

“Don’t mess with our heads like that.” Weston snorted, folding his arms. He was actually feeling bad for her.

“You really like to play with emotions, don’t you?” Dex smiled and shook his head.

“I would say you all should know better, but it’s not your fault, since he keeps his distance. Something I plan to rectify in the future.” Reiya’s voice quieted as she looked off in the distance. Lee must have been so lonely before Xander, always keeping to himself.

“You’ll be good for him. You’re good for each other,” Dex said warmly.

She shot him a stunning smile and nodded her head. “I think so too. And we’re all going to be great friends. So be sure to visit often, and we’ll do the same.”