Dragon Wish (25 page)

bent a little to look around Paladin at the wizard’s magical

glide over the stone slab to reach them. The man awed her

with his strange behavior and capabilities. “You said we

could go.”

The smug half-smile on Bask’s narrow face irritated

Seren. “And you may. Good day to you, my Lady. Also to you,

King of the White Dragon Clan.”

Without a word, Paladin whipped around. He grabbed

the wizard by the front of his robes. “I am not the king. My

brother has taken over the reign of my clan. You will never

refer to me in this manner again.”

Bask inclined his head, eyes shadowed by his lashes. “As

you say...Sire.”

“Wizard or no, I will take your head from your

shoulders.”

Laughter from deep in his chest sprang forth from Bask.

It soon turned to guffaws. The thin man struggled to catch

his breath. “You are a good man, Paladin. Take my

head...your visits are always a pleasurable treat.”

Before Paladin could react, the wizard dissolved in a

sparkling mist. Paladin muttered a low curse that was filled

with suppressed anger. Seren, having never heard him use

foul language, stared at him wide eyed. Deciding she needn’t

add fuel to his anger, she kept her mouth shut, tucking her

lips so she wouldn’t be tempted to comment.

He faced her, his features smoothed over, his anger

seemingly ended. “Ready?”

She nodded, eager to leave the island. A hot bath sounded

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great. When he wrapped his arms around her and lifted, his

wings sprang from his back. They spread wide. Slowly, they

moved back and forth. “Are you frightened?”

“No,” she said, confidence ringing in her voice. She

encircled his neck with her arms. “Not anymore. Not with

you.”

He walked to the edge of the slab and stepped off. They

dropped for a second then lifted to the sky, rising above the

pillars. The dragons, their roars filling the air surrounding

them, took flight. They twirled above them. The wind

whooshed on either side of them.

Seren watched the magnificent beasts for several

minutes, and then raised her gaze to Paladin’s wings. They

were just like the dracs except his were longer and wider.

Thick, wrist sized bones connected the folds of scaled flesh

and muscle. Smaller bones attached to the joints of the larger

ones angled down so each wing was divided into three

separate parts.

A thought occurred to her. “Do I have wings now?”

With a half smile and a shrug, he said. “I cannot say.

Would you like me to drop you and see if they appear?”

He loosened his grip while she tightened her arms about

his neck. “Don’t you dare!”

His chuckle vibrated against her chest. “I would never

drop you on purpose, now loosen your hold before you

strangle me and we both fall.” They drew closer to the ship.

The dragons circled once more above them then separated,

flying in different directions. “They go to their own lands.

For now, their duty is finished.”

She looked at the ship. Leo and Calis paced, each crossing

next to the other, their gazes searching the cliffs. Leo froze,

eyes wide, while Calis, grinning, slapped him on the back.

The second Paladin’s bare feet touched the deck, the tall

black man rushed to meet them.

“Don’t ever do this again. We’ve been worried sick,

wondering what happened to the two of you,” he ranted.

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“You could have let us know you were all right.”

Paladin set Seren on her feet before turning to the frantic

man. “We were tied up.”

“We were.” Seren agreed with a brisk nod. Memories of

the bruises along with the broken bones Paladin had suffered

appeared in her mind. She took Paladin’s hand and gave it a

squeeze, thankful he was whole.

Infuriated, Leo placed his hands on his hips. “Too busy to

let us know you were alive? We’ve been flying around this

island for a week now, and then all those dragons started

arriving. That magical fireworks display last night could have

scared the boogie man.”

Seren glanced at Paladin. “A week? That’s impossible. It

seemed like we were there for a day, maybe two.”

“Oh, no, ma’am. Nothing is done slow when those

dragons do it. They took you nine days ago. We followed

right behind you.” Leo passed his hands over his face. “I was

scared thinking about what might be happening.”

“Leo, my friend, we are tired and filthy. It’d be best to

discuss this later.” Paladin turned to Calis. “Bring a heated

bath to my cabin.”

When the man turned to leave, he added. “And food.”

“Aye, aye, Cap’an,” Calis called over his shoulder. He

pointed to a couple of men near him. “Come on with ye, the

cap’an’s back. He’s placed his order. Step to it, me lads.”

Seren moved to a small cask and sat. She touched the

curve of her belly. A solid mound pooched out. The baby had

started to show. “Leo, there’s seven days in a week, but you

said nine. If we were gone nine days, that’s longer than a

week.”

Leo stepped to her side. He went down on one knee. “Not

on Avaris. The time on this planet is longer than on Earth.

The days have more hours and the weeks two extra days.”

“Wait, I’m lost. Okay, I arrived here four days before we

reached Master Largin’s, right? We stayed there three and

traveled for three more. Now you’re say nine have passed

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since I was taken. So it’s been nineteen days since I first

arrived,” she said. The strangeness of this world continued to

baffle her.

“Sure enough. On Earth, it’d be a longer amount of time.

There’s twenty-four hours in a day, but here there’s thirty.

The planet revolves on its axis at a slower rate.” Leo patted

the back of her hands where she clasped them in her lap.

Paladin, the wind ruffling the hem of his robe and tossing

his hair away from his face, moved to her other side. “Come,

you must bathe, eat, and rest. You will have time to discuss

these differences once we reach Durfalin.”

She brought her gaze up to meet his. He brushed the back

of his fingers over her cheek. She melted under the warmth

of his eyes and touch, unable to draw in a deep breath.

Clearing his throat, Leo said. “You two go on below. I bet

Calis has the tub ready. Paladin’s right, we’ll talk later. I’ll

explain everything to you.”

She nodded while Paladin helped her to her feet. He kept

his hand at the base of her back all the way to his cabin,

adding a layer of comfort. The tempo of her heart almost

doubled the closer they came to his room

He opened the door and allowed her to enter first. She

glanced around for a second, taking in the neutral, soothing

tones of wood on the floor, walls, and furniture before she

moved to the window seat. She reclined against the cushions,

tucking her feet under her. She faced the glass, taking in the

glistening water and cloud-dotted skies.

Seconds merged into minutes. Ears attuned to the sounds

behind her, she heard the exact moment when Calis along

with a couple of sailors finished preparing the bath. Wisps of

heated moisture floated in the air. Warmed sandalwood, rich

and fragrant, rushed through her body with each breath.

The door clicked shut behind the men, leaving Seren and

Paladin alone. Skin tingling, she closed her eyes, waiting for

him to move closer. He had to come. She didn’t believe she

had the strength to turn and rise to meet him. Anticipation of

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what would happen between them grew in her with every

heartbeat.

His footsteps approached the windows. When he stopped

next to her, a minute of silent peacefulness passed between

them. He touched her shoulder. She turned to look at him.

“Come, I’ll help you bathe.” His gentle offer brought a

smile to her lips.

Allowing him to help her stand, she moved to the tub

which sat on the opposite side of the room from the bed.

Steam rose from the water. The rich aroma of sandalwood

increased. She smiled. The scent would always remind her of

him.

He reached from behind her and loosened the ties on the

robe she wore. He slipped one side over her shoulder. His

lips followed, brushing against her skin. Goosebumps

erupted over her body. Her muscles liquefied. Eyes drifting

shut, she rested the back of her head on his shoulder. She

drew in slow, careful breaths. Heart racing, body throbbing

with a delicious, passionate beat, she anticipated his next

move.

At the feel of his lips gliding over her bare skin to the

curve where her neck joined with her shoulder, she clenched

her hands in the robe’s folds to keep from turning and

grasping him. She wanted to savor his lovemaking. To taste,

feel, and brand the spiraling pleasure he gave into her

memory forever.

His palms slid over the bare skin at her waist. He

stopped. “You carry a dragon mark also.”

Through the haze in her mind, his words registered. She

glanced at the spot near her belly button. Tanned, lean

fingers feathered along the edge of a raised tattoo. Surprised,

she touched the strange mark.

She lifted her gaze to him. “What is this?”

“It is proof you have been blessed by the dragons. I’ve

never seen such like this one nor in this place before.”

Leaning against her shoulder, he studied the way the image

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of a slender dragon circled her waist, its head and tail

disappearing into her belly button. “The colors appear to

meld with each other, changing and rippling with your

movements.”

Heated breath flowed against the top curve of her breast

in short gusts, distracting her amazement from the band

encircling her waist. His mouth was so close to the spot

where she wanted him. She twisted in his arms and arched

her back, offering her body to him. The need inside her grew

stronger, more controlling with each second.

A deep chuckle answered her change of position. He slid

one hand under her butt, and tugged her closer to where his

own need pulsed. She whimpered at the answering throbbing

between her legs.

“Easy, my sweet, we have all night,” he murmured, and

then ran the tip of his tongue over her nipple.

A gasp escaped before she could stop it. “I don’t know if I

can. I’ve never wanted someone like I do you.”

He took the tip into his mouth. A second later, he sucked,

drawing a moan from deep inside her. Her head fell back,

leaving her neck open and vulnerable. Panting, she marveled

over how his simple touch could leave her feeling boneless.

He nibbled her breast and soon buried his face in the curve

where her shoulder joined her neck. She shuddered, her

body moving of its own accord against his.

His hands clasped her waist as he lifted her off the floor

and into the tub. “I’ll bathe you if you return the favor,” he

whispered.

All she could do was moan and nod.

He removed his robe before he stepped into the warm

water after her, guiding her down to kneel in front of him.

Eyes half-closed, she watched him take a cloth and pour

shimmering liquid onto it. Paladin rubbed the two ends

together until a white sudsy foam appeared. He placed the

cloth on her shoulder, massaging the soap onto her skin.

She leaned closer, kissing the edge of his jaw, her lips

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parted to draw in his flavor. The tension between her legs

tightened, throbbing slow and long. The cloth moved over

and around her breasts, pulling at the hard tips, sending

sharp tingles through her belly.

“You’re tormenting me,” she ground out.

He chuckled, deep in his chest, before he dipped the cloth

between her open legs. At the first contact of material against

her, she cried while shockwaves flowed from the swollen

flesh between her legs. Hands gripping his shoulders,

holding on, she bucked her hips in time with his hand’s

motion. Striving to maintain control, she relaxed when he

slipped the cloth over the rest of her body.

Each touch added to her passion, demanding more. He

gave it. Once he finished passing the soap over her and