Page 43 of The Forbidden Dragon King (Shadow Kings #1)

We both know that we’re not only talking about the sword wound.

“The first time,” Daire’s voice is flat, “I was surprised. This sense of violating wrongness that iron was in my body, shocking, stinging, and burning. Then the adrenaline rushed through me in a whirlwind, along with the desperate need to survive. It was afterward, when it was slowly healing, that the true throbbing agony hit me. After that, however, I barely noticed the injuries.”

“How?”

He gives me a long look. “You get used to pain.”

“You’ll never have to become used to it again,” I swear, urgently. I’m shaking, and it’s not from the cold. “Aurelius can’t announce it publicly but he wants me to be his secret Queen.”

To my relief, Daire focuses on me with a sudden bright smile, as I’d hoped, fully back in the present. “My smart Omega. That’s brilliant. It means that he fully trusts you. Our plan of me playing the bad pet, while you play the good one has worked.”

Why does that make my heart ache? Something sick coil in my stomach?

I disentangle myself from Daire, carefully pushing myself out of his lap.

Confused, he watches me.

I stand, stepping around the tray.

Then I pace the small cell. “I don’t know that I want to play this game anymore. Look how much you’ve been hurt already. Aurelius too. And by ancient grudges and wars that you didn’t even start. We’re each other’s fated mates. Why can’t we end this cycle here?”

With a snarl, Daire leaps to his feet, knocking over the tray and spilling the porridge across the floor. His wings, which I stroked earlier, extend out like weapons.

He looks deadly and glorious.

“We had a deal,” he hisses, icily. “No one dares to break a deal with the Raven King. How bloody lovely that you can choose to step away from the board. Yet my people are still oppressed and their lands stolen. I am still a prisoner. Aurelius is still under the control of his uncle. Have any of the cages vanished because of love? Fate? ”

“Then we do this as a pack.”

“We try not to hurt Aurelius,” Daire concedes, “who I don’t entirely hate. But don’t go thinking that makes us two Alphas on the same side. We’re not. This is war, and you should think about how to raise your status from servant to cadet in the Shadow Military Academy.”

I blink. “Sorry, what? Isn’t that really dangerous? ”

Daire’s eyes glitter. “In this court of shadows, we’re the danger. Look, you’re the one who said it. You’re the shifter’s special Omega and Queen . I’ve been figuring out how things work in Bael, and status comes for an Omega from being trained in the academy, then becoming a dragon rider.”

“You want me to become a dragon rider,” I deadpan.

Daire winks. “You already ride one dragon.”

I flush, crossing my arms. “Not yet.”

“You ride his face.” Daire is enjoying this. “It shouldn’t be hard to con him into sending you to the academy.”

“Only if he’ll send you with me.”

Daire’s expression closes off.

He turns his back on me, curling his wings protectively around himself. “He’ll never allow me to train as a soldier again. I’m the bad pet.”

I rest my hand on Daire’s shoulder. To my surprise, he shrugs me off.

Something is wrong.

Fear shoots through me.

Daire’s shoulders are slumped. I run my fingers through his curls, but he doesn’t relax.

“Shouldn’t I try?” I ask.

“I’m already being trained by Maximinus as a courtesan.” Daire still doesn’t turn around like he’s ashamed to face me. “Do you think that Aurelius would stand up for me against his uncle?”

I tremble with rage.

I hate that Daire has to spend any time with Maximinus and be humiliated like that .

An Omega Courtesan is a respected role. A sacred one. But forcing an Alpha King to perform is nothing but cruelty.

“Maximinus is only trying to…” I bite my lip.

“Show me my place?” Daire completes for me, copying Maximinus’ sneer. “Aye, I thought that too. He has had me working with a dance and singing instructor. I am exceptionally talented at both.”

Despite myself, I grin. “The Shadow Gods themselves would give you a standing ovation.”

“Fuck the Shadow Gods. I thought that Maximinus would never parade me in public. Except, this weekend, a feast to memorialize King Tarquin is being held, and I’m the entertainment.”

“Fuck.” I tighten my hold on Daire’s curls with a growl.

When Daire said that this was war, one that wasn’t over yet, he was right. It’s simply one that we’re fighting without swords or fire, but the only weapons that we have now that we’re behind enemy lines.

How was I na?ve enough to believe that Daire could simply set aside his scheme?

I drop my hand away from his hair.

“On Saturday night, I’ll manage to get through the feast by imagining that I am dancing for you alone, love,” Daire says. “It doesn’t matter how full the Banquet Hall is or what surprises Maximinus has planned, every move, dance, and song will be for you, Spark.”

To my shock, he turns around. At the same time, he wrenches out his long, glossy pinion feather .

“Stop it.” I try to pull at his hand, but I’m too late. “You’re hurting yourself again.”

“Nothing’s worth anything, if it doesn’t require sacrifice.”

The beautiful, shimmering feather lies on his palm.

I can’t look away from it.

“This is for you, love.” He holds it up like an offering before a goddess.

I’m breathing too fast, devastated. “Will it grow back?”

Daire’s eyes are glassy with pain, as he nods. “Eventually.”

“How will you fly until then?”

“The magic suppresses my ability to fly anyway, or at least, punishes me to the point of wishing that I was dead if I try. What does it matter if this makes it harder?”

Reverentially, he slips the feather behind my ear. His magic doesn’t sear or burn. Instead, it’s like a gentle crooning, rippling through my hair and down the sensitive skin on the back of my neck.

I take a deep breath, adjusting to the intense sensation. “Thank you.”

This gift is more precious than any I’ve been given before. Daire owns nothing but he’s plucked a part of himself to weave into my hair.

Once, I was obsessed with fae rune magic.

Now, I have a feather from the wingtip of the Raven King himself in my hair.

Am I dreaming?

Daire adjusts the feather, for the first time looking contented; I can sense the same joy surging through the bond.

“This is my courting gift. Try not to lose it, aye? I only have one other right now. A Shadow Fae only gifts their pinion to their soulmate. It will protect you from attacks by other fae. When you’re in extreme danger, my wings will sense it now.

I will always find a way to protect you.

It doesn’t matter if the dragons drape me in satins and silks as their courtesan tomorrow night, I will still be the most deadly god at that feast. I will bite the hand that pets me. ”