Page 52 of The Dragon's Gambit

“You are too kind, my dear. I want the punishment to be as such that they will never pull a stunt like this again.” And with that, Xander nodded once again to Reese who swiftly left, following his orders. Xander looked her over. “Let me carry you.”

Reiya giggled and shook her head. “Xander, there’s nothing wrong with my legs. Besides, with the skirt I’m wearing, you’d be touching my bare bottom if you carried me.”

Xander smirked at her as he led her into the castle. “Now that’s a tempting offer you should save for the bedroom.” Lee followed closely behind them, deadly silent, while Brody and Chelsie nervously kept up.

Xander played his part well ... too well. She could almost feel Lee seething in anger over what he had just said, and she knew Xander was relishing it.

Chapter 36 Unburned

Reiya could see a small crowd in the main hall in the distance. Xander walked beside her protectively as they got closer. In order to get to the back hall, they would have to pass through the crowd, and among them was the worm, Clovis.Reiya could see he was almost sneering at her as they walked up to them.

“Oh my! What happened to your arm, dear?” a girl asked. It was the most fake sympathetic voice Reiya had ever heard. Chelsie immediately walked in front of the girl, blocking her view of Reiya.

“Easy, Chels.” Reiya gently reminded her friend not to cause trouble.

“It looks like this is a bit of a rough country for your fairy, Xander,” Clovis hissed out with venom.

“Not at all. Just some children that got into some mischief, and my sweet angel paid the price for their trouble.” Xander tried to keep walking past them. He wasn’t going to keep Reiya there in her uncomfortable condition, but Clovis kept talking, almost blocking their path.

“You’ll have to forgive the children. They’re used to us adult dragons that they can’t harm with their weak flames.” Clovis curled his lips up at her, showing off his grotesque smile.

Reiya heard him loud and clear. He was saying, look how badly she was burned by weak fire. Imagine getting hit by an adult.Well, asshole, that wouldn’t happen in a fair fight.Had she known that the child was using fire, she would have easily blocked it with her water. She was getting ready to say something when Ruby and Mason walked up.

“Get the hell out of their way, Clovis,” Ruby said, shoving the lower-ranking man aside. Clovis’ eyes flickered with anger, but he wouldn’t dare talk back to her, not with Mason right there. He knew better. Mason had no affection toward him, no responsibility. If he insulted his mate, Mason would kill him.

“Hurry and get her taken care of, Xander. After you feel better, let’s have some girl time.” Ruby smiled at Reiya and nodded for Xander to continue past.

“Take good care of my angel, Xander,” Mason said, and Xander let a small growl rip from his chest.

“She isn’t your anything.”

Mason and Ruby chuckled. “He was always the over-possessive one.” She was an angel to both of them. Because of Reiya, they could now be together, and their torture was over. They were still awaiting their chance to properly thank her.

Xander eased Reiya through the crowd and down the long corridor, taking her to the library. When they reached the door, he turned and looked at Brody and Chelsie. “I’m sorry, but the two of you will need to wait here.” They nodded without a fight, like they’d already expected this. He found this interesting, but not enough to take the time to dwell on it.

“Gramps, you in?” Xander hollered as he pushed the door open.

“Such a rude young king you have become.” Grandpa Sage clicked his tongue loudly. When he raised his eyes from his papers, he was shocked to see Reiya. “Oh, my dear, sweet child. What did you get into?” He gently rose and came over to inspect her arm.

“Tch, I see how it is. I’m the rude king and she’s your dear sweet child,” Xander grumbled in playfulness.

Now, behind closed doors in the Great Sage’s private library, Lee walked up to her side and gave Xander a hard shove.

“Well, there you have it. I’m just not appreciated around here.” Xander continued to playfully pout.

Lee ignored him and inspected Reiya’s arm closely. There was such an intimate tenderness in the way his hand caressed her shoulder.

“I think I have something in here that will fix that up in no time. I would only use something so precious on someone so precious.” Grandpa Sage winked and walked back behind his desk, looking for something.

“How bad does it hurt?” Lee gently cooed.

It was funny. Suddenly, next to Lee, the pain was forgotten. The intimacy of being near him was the only thing she could focus on. “No, I’m fine. It really isn’t that bad.”

“I can see your wound, Reiya. It is that bad. There’s barely a layer of skin left,” Lee’s voice suddenly dropped in minor irritation.

“Lee.” Reiya smiled and kicked her foot at him playfully. “It’s just a burn. It’ll heal. Stop being overdramatic.”

Xander and Grandpa Sage both chuckled. She was the only one who could get away with such actions and words with Levi, and it was interesting to see him in this state ... that of a lovesick dragon.