Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 69119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
I chose one…and so did he. We toasted our victory, sharing a grin before I next took him on a tour of the royal gardens, which were sprawling and overgrown, a lush testament to centuries of careful cultivation. Black bloodblooms the size of fists climbed silver trellises, vines glittered with frost-kissed thorns of scarlet, and trees with fire-orange leaves seemed to dance flames in the wind. Dragon-shaped topiaries loomed here and there, trimmed to perfection and lightly steaming, as if they might breathe fire again at any moment.
It was a chilly morning, sharp with the promise of winter, and I’d dressed accordingly: leather pants, a long-sleeved tunic belted at the waist, and a thick fur mantle tossed over my shoulders. Practical, ja, and as anti-seductive as possible. Or so I’d hoped.
“I’ve been meaning to ask,” he said, looking me over. “Did you dress like any old soldier to discourage my attention?”
“Maybe,” I replied with a little snippy-snip in my tone. “Are you complaining?”
“Yes! Even this is too much.” Taron’s gaze lingered on me, heating, branding new parts of me I hadn’t known existed. And I… well, I wasn’t exactly winning our game of “don’t ogle your enemy,” either.
Sunlight loved him. It slicked his black hair with hints of blue, deepened the golden amber of his irises, and turned his skin to sun-warmed bronze. Sweat beaded at his temples, glinting like molten gold. Kissable scars peeked from beneath the collar of his tunic, taunting me. And that shadow beard? Criminally attractive. My fingers twitched with the urge to touch him.
We reached the heart of the garden maze: a hidden courtyard where a massive stone fountain gurgled gently in the center. The basin was carved to resemble coiled dragons whose tails looped around the edges, their mouths pouring pink water into the pool below. Mist rose in delicate veils, catching shafts of morning light and turning them to flame.
“I used to spar here with my sisters,” I said, letting out a wistful sigh as memories stirred, a sweet collection of merriment and challenge.
“Used to?” He glanced sideways.
“All but Adelaide avoid me now. Apparently, I’ve been cranky the past few centuries.” I raised my fingers in exaggerated air quotes.
He chuckled, and oh, that rich, low laugh was addictive. I wanted to steal it, bottle it, and keep it on a shelf for rainy days. “You aren’t so bad. A little quick to temper but easily soothed.” Nudging my shoulder with his own, he winked at me. “Only takes a kiss or two.”
I gaped at him. “I demand you turn this boil of charm to a simmer, sir. Immediately!”
“How about we spar?” Taron shrugged off his fur cloak to reveal the full breadth of those unfair shoulders. With a wicked glint, he unsheathed a pair of short swords from across his back. The blades gleamed like twin flashes of lightning. “Maybe we’ll work some of that cranky out of you without kisses.”
Hold up. Exhaust myself with the professor whose battle skill still haunted my dreams so that our desire finally evaporated? Don’t mind if I do.
I tossed aside my own cloak, the morning air biting at my arms as I caught the sword he threw. The weight was perfect, like it belonged in my hand. My muscles flexed in anticipation, and the fire in my blood flared.
“Will you pout when you lose?” I asked, batting my lashes.
“Losing to a fierce dragon queen isn’t the worst thing that could happen.”
We exchanged grins, and then we exploded into motion.
Steel rang as our blades clashed. From the marble-ringed fountain to the thick hedges of the maze, we danced a deadly duet. I ducked and spun, laughing when he grumbled under his breath, too slow to block. But he was faster than expected, ja. Strong too, ja. The problem was, he was also easily distracted.
“I can see through your shirt,” he growled as we exchanged strikes. “And it’s cold!”
“It’s not my fault nature loves me,” I snickered, twirling out of reach and aiming a slice at his shoulder.
He caught my wrist mid-strike, twisted, and suddenly I was yanked forward, crashing into his chest. The impact stole my breath in a thousand different ways, leaving his heavenly scent trapped in my lungs.
He smirked. “Tsk tsk. Someone left herself wide open.”
“Ah, but someone else fell for her trap.” I hooked my boot behind his knees and shoved. Hard.
He went down with a grunt, and I followed, blades forgotten as we rolled across the grass, grappling for dominance. Every brush of skin against skin sent heat spiking through me. My hair spilled over his face; his hands gripped my hips. We locked gazes. Stilled.
One wrong breath, and this would no longer be a game.
He leaned toward me. I leaned toward him.
“Fight dirtier!” a voice called from above.
We both jolted.
I tilted my head slowly. Sure enough, one by one, my sisters had arrived like oversized she-lizards, perched across tree branches and mossy stone. Adelaide waved. Bronwyn, Freida and Gretchen shared snacks. The others cheered.