Page 17 of The Uncrowned King (The Bastard Duology #2)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Iron Hall

As she made her way to the main area of Iron Hall, Kora’s heart felt like it would jump out of her chest at any moment. The bath and food had worked wonders in reviving her. She ran her palm against the soft, supple fabric of her black trousers. It wasn’t a material she had seen before. The stitching was so precise and fine that it must have come from a highly skilled tailor.

There had been an array of tops and trousers to choose from, and even four different styles of boots. The tunic she’d chosen was a gray so dark it was nearly black, though it changed depending on how the light struck it. The fact that it was as soft as her pants was a bonus.

She hadn’t known who would be in the hall when she arrived, but she hadn’t expected Brandr. When he saw her, he looked up from the carving he was doing on a small rock and tucked it away in his pocket.

He got to his feet and nodded in greeting. “I’m to take you to Derek.”

“Have they woken him?” she asked.

Brandr shook his head of black hair that fell past his shoulders. “No’ yet.”

Kora’s apprehension intensified as she fell into step with him. “Are they sure he can be woken?”

“They used the same magic on Earth to capture four rogue dragons. It’ll work.”

She nodded, not knowing what else to say.

“Derek willna be able to hurt you.”

Kora picked at a hangnail with her thumb. That was comforting, at least. Especially after seeing the hate in his eyes. “Good.”

“Relax. Everything will be fine.”

“You can’t know that.”

“Sure, I can,” he said, shooting her a lopsided grin. “Believe it, and it’ll happen.”

Could it be that simple? Kora sure hoped so because she was barely holding it together. She had feared they would never find Derek. She hadn’t thought too hard about anything else because she had believed their biggest hurdle was locating him and Miena. Things had seemed to happen so quickly that there hadn’t been time to consider anything else.

She followed Brandr as he zigzagged through the underground city’s corridors and hallways. She wasn’t sure she would ever find her way back to the main room if he abandoned her. That was the point, though. They had put Derek in a remote section of the city, far from others. She and Brandr passed countless doors. Some sections of the walls had crumbled, but others looked pristine.

She didn’t see any of it. Not really. She was too lost in thought. About Derek, about their time together…

About who he was now.

Brandr suddenly halted, then opened a door and waited for her to go through. Kora’s feet felt encased in rock as she forcibly lifted one to move forward. The second step wasn’t any easier. Then, she was in a room. She recognized Con, Rhi, and Merrill. There were other faces that looked familiar, but names didn’t come to her immediately.

“Follow me,” Brandr bade.

She once more trailed behind him as they wove their way through the spacious room to where Con, Rhi, Eurwen, and her mate, Vaughn, were talking.

Rhi smiled in greeting. “Nice clothing choice. How do they feel?”

“Wonderful. I may never wear anything else again.”

“Good,” Rhi said proudly. “By the way, the material will return when your flames extinguish.”

Kora’s mouth went slack. “That’s…amazing.”

“Every piece of clothing in your room is that way. You won’t ever have to stand naked again. Unless you want to,” Rhi added.

“Thank you. All of you,” she said, looking around her. “For everything, but especially for listening to me and Merrill about Derek.”

Vaughn’s blue eyes met hers. “He’s one of us. That makes Derek family.”

“Assuming we can get through whatever Miena has done to him,” Eurwen said.

Con caught Kora’s eye. “Ready?”

“Now?” Her voice broke on the word.

Con smiled softly. “The sooner we begin, the sooner his memories will return.”

He was guessing. Everyone was. The truth was that no one knew for sure. Kora felt the weight of expectation settle around her. She tried to adjust it, even to shake it off, but it wasn’t budging.

“You can go in alone, if you want,” Eurwen told her.

Kora nodded. “I think I’d rather do this without others watching.”

“Can no’ say I blame you,” Vaughn said.

Con waited until she looked at him to say, “We’ll give you a few moments before we remove the magic making him sleep.”

Everyone was watching, but she didn’t know where to go. She looked at Brandr, hoping he would direct her.

“This way,” he said in a soft voice.

He took her to a door she hadn’t noticed. As she stood outside it, she blew out a breath.

“You know him,” Brandr said. “Better than anyone.”

She tried to swallow, but her mouth was dry. “Do I? We were together for such a short time. And we both kept secrets.”

“You know him, Kora,” Brandr insisted. He touched his chest. “You two are connected. There’s no turning back for a dragon who discovers their mate. If anyone can bring him back, it’s you.”

“What if Miena lied? What if he doesn’t love me?”

Brandr glanced at the door. “There’s only one way to find out.”

Right. She needed to face Derek. But her feet wouldn’t budge.

“We’ll be right out here if you need anything,” he assured her.

Kora clasped the handle but hesitated before opening the door. When she did and walked inside, it closed softly behind her. Her legs were wobbly as she made her way farther into the room. Balls of light hung in the air, casting a wide glow over the enormous room. A gigantic cage sat in the middle, and within it was Derek in dragon form. His rhythmic breathing was the only sound she heard. She watched the rise and fall of his stomach. It drew her forward.

The enclosure barely fit around him. His wing was squished against the bars. She walked to the cage and rested a hand on his arm. The warmth of his scales was as startling as the nearly metallic feel of them.

It wasn’t her first time seeing Derek in his true form, but it was the first she’d been able to take her time looking at him. She let her gaze run over his long, angular skull where two silver horns sat. They were thick and straight. She moved to see more of his face and got a close look at the sizable teeth his lips didn’t quite cover. Large, fan-like skin and bone structures ran along the sides of his jaw.

He had four limbs, and each had six digits, which meant six very long, very sharp black talons ready to tear someone to shreds. Wait. He had one silver talon on his back left. The silver-tipped scales on the upper part of his body were wide with rows of thicker scales running along his spine. The scales on his underbelly were broader, the silver along the edges wider.

Lastly, her gaze moved to his humongous wings. There was a curved wing spur growing from each like a giant scythe. His long tail was curled around him and had a matching, curved protrusion at the end.

She was so engrossed in studying him that it took her a moment to realize something had changed. It took even longer for her to comprehend that his steady sleep breathing was gone. Kora swung her head around to find his fiery red dragon eyes open and watching her.

“Derek,” she said.

His growl rumbled the cage. She lurched backward. She wasn’t ready for this. Why had she thought she could reach Derek? Their feelings had been new, delicate. Fragile. It wasn’t a solid, sturdy bond that had endured years. What was she doing?

Kora turned to walk out but only got two steps before the memory of Derek shielding her from dragon fire with his wings stopped her cold. He had known the consequences of aiding her, and it hadn’t stopped him. He had protected her and allowed her to get to safety. That was the same man who had held her in his arms as they slept. The same dragon who had given her his cuff, knowing it would leave him stranded.

He had shown her his love at every turn.

She had just been too blind to see it.

He deserved better than her fear and worry. He was worthy of so much more. And she would give him that.

Kora drew in a deep breath to calm her racing heart. She slowly released it and turned to face him. The dragon was gone. In his place stood the strong, commanding man who took her breath away.

Derek didn’t bother to cover his nakedness. And Kora admired the stunning view. Powerful, defined sinew rippled from neck to ankle. Her palms itched to caress his broad shoulders and down his brawny arms. To stroke his thick chest and linger over his chiseled abs. She bit her lip at the cut of muscles just above his hip bones. The location was a particular favorite of hers, where she loved to lick him. Her gaze traveled to his thick cock that hung flaccid. She squeezed her legs together, recalling how his thrusts felt. Her eyes moved lower still to his muscular thighs dusted with dark hair.

Finally, she allowed herself to peer at his face. She knew every inch of his rugged visage from his thick, black brows, to the hollow cheeks, sculpted jaw, and amazing mouth. Those wide, full lips had kissed her senseless.

Kora made herself look into his pale olive eyes. Even though she knew the person looking back at her was different, it still made her heart catch to see what she did. The rage had doubled. And so had the promise of death.

How did she begin? A simple hello ? An explanation, maybe? What did one say to a former lover who didn’t remember anything? She licked her lips and noticed that his hands were fisted at his sides. If it weren’t for the cage halting his magic, she’d likely be dead now.

“I’m—” She stared, but her voice came out a cracked whisper. She cleared her throat and tried again. “I’m sure you have questions. I can answer them.”

His scowl remained in place.

“You know, the crazy thing is, I really thought you would remember me once you saw me. Remember us .” She took a tentative step closer. “I told myself it would take more, but once that hope took root, it was bigger than I realized. Until you came at me on the cliff.”

“No cage will hold me,” he stated. “I’ll get free, and when I do, your life is mine.”

“You won’t believe this, but a few days ago, you risked your life to save me. I hope to somehow return your memories to you. The ones Miena took.”

He snorted. “Is that the story you’re going with?”

Kora needed a way to reach him and get through the lies Miena had woven into his heart. No matter how many times Villette wiped his memories, he had always been the same person. There had to be something Miena’s magic hadn’t gotten to, something of the Derek who had chosen her.

But…something had to make him have such animosity. If someone hated, they also loved. And if there was love, then the Derek she knew was still in there somewhere. She would find him.

“The first time I saw you, I was leading some Stonemore soldiers into a secluded location,” she told him. “I didn’t know what you were. I simply saw a man and wanted to warn you to remain hidden so they wouldn’t come after you. I unknowingly led them to your domain in the swamp and let them kill me because I knew it was the only way they would stop. As I lay dying, something stood over me, and I looked up into red eyes. Dragon eyes. Your eyes.”

He crossed his arms over his chest, his glower intensifying.

“It was the last thing I saw,” Kora continued. “I woke alone on the top of a mountain. You’d brought me up there. I raced off it and saw the charred remains of the soldiers who had attacked me at the bottom.”

“You think I killed them for you ?” he mocked.

Kora moved closer. “I know you did.”