Concern crept down my spine when I thought further on the traps undoubtedly lining his tomb. “What will we do with the women when we go find his treasure?” I asked, not liking the idea of leaving them unguarded.
Fallon raised a brow. “We bring them.”
“Is… that safe? They’re both human.”
Fallon lifted his chin in pride. “Of course, if your woman takes to your magic as easily as Rabbit did, then in a few years they’ll both be as powerful as any wizard. With the help of their magic we should be able to take the tomb in no time. You’ve already bitten her, so if things go well then we can set things in motion in about four to five years.”
An extra pair of mages would certainly help. “Would they want to go? I didn’t think Madam Shadow enjoyed adventuring.”
“She’ll be fine,” Fallon said, waving off my concern. “Rabbit will invite her most annoying friends and start a book club in his library.” He placed the mirror down on its stand and dropped himself into his chair. “Now the real question is where do we build our new kingdom? Have you found out where your wife lives yet?”
I shook my head. “I haven’t had a chance to ask her about that.”
He nodded and clasped his hands under his chin. “I’m obviously partial to my territory. If you could convince her to move into the surrounding area, we can simply build up what we have here.”
“Fine,” I said. “On the condition that the first order of business is building a proper aqueduct system. I want running water and real toilets. If I have to shit in an outhouse like an animal for another second, I will go mad.”
“I’ve already hired the contractors. I can’t live like this anymore,” Fallon said. He slammed a fist on the table and leaned back in his chair. “We’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s pick out a gift for your wife.” He paused and looked me over. “Oh, and Dante?”
“Yes?”
“Comb your damn hair.”
Chapter 6
Cherry
Captivity was a little less of a bitch when your captor had indoor hot springs. It was still awful, obviously. But there was just something about a steaming hot bath that managed to temper your anger just a tad. Even the black stone floor beneath my feet was warmed by the water beneath. After a few moments rummaging through the dressers lining the wall, I found towels and some nice-smelling soap.
Like the rest of the castle, the hot spring was designed with elegantly carved stonework. There were no murals, most likely because of the steam, but the room made up for it in the lush flowering vines that crept up the walls. Pale pink petals fluttered down from their flowers to scatter on the water below.
“Absolutely gorgeous,” I muttered. “If Dante decided to kill or eat me, at least I’d die in a pretty place.” As morbid as the thought was, I just couldn’t bring myself to care. Escaping an island had seemed so doable in my head. I had spent each year fully believing that one day, if I could just get past the waves, I would be free.
But this wasVolsog.
Even I wasn’t brave or stupid enough to believe I could get out of here on my own. The only hope was that Dante had a bigger heart than Gideon and would take me home. But, after so many failed attempts, my hope was in short supply. So, if this was really where I was going to die, then I should at least take advantage of what I could.
I tossed my clothes on a nearby bench and took my hair out of its pigtails to wrap in a bun to keep it dry. Once the hair safety procedures were complete, I sank into the warm water and let out a satisfied sigh.
Of course, every moment of my life had to be met with contention, so the satisfaction didn’t last long. The ache in my body went from a gnawing annoyance to a ferocious need. “Stupid dragon slut venom,” I growled.
I reached behind me for the towel and folded it into a pillow. Once comfortable, I peeked around the room to ensure I was alone, then spread my legs.
My eyes fluttered closed as the image of Dante pinning me against him showed crystal clear in my mind. Slowly, I slid my hand down my body until my fingers teased at my pussy. With how pent-up I already felt, it didn’t take more than a few strokes until I was gasping for breath. My free hand slid to my chest to tease my left nipple while I worked my clit. The steam from the bath turned to dragon-shifter’s breath on my neck.
I bit my lip as the pressure built, my legs spread a little further as I dipped a finger inside me. The water lapping against my shoulders imitated his lips as he ran them across my skin. I craved the sensation of his long hair tickling my arms. Who was I kidding? I was so desperate I’d settle for the feeling of his teeth sinking into me again. As fucked up as it was. Heat raced through my core at the idea, and I worked myself faster, moaning his name.
There was a creak at the door, and my soul left my body when I saw the man in question standing in the doorway. Dante had changed from his simple clothes into more formal wear I could only assume was tailor-made to make him look upsettingly good-looking. His silver hair was draped over one shoulder to rest on a black coat with matching silver dragons coiling at the ends of the sleeves, while smoke lines rose above them. His dark blue tunic was unbuttoned, leaving a generous amount of sculpted chest in full view. White pants hugged muscled thighs before they disappeared into black leather boots.
And then there was me. Naked as the day I was born, eyes wide, touching myself in his bath while wantonly moaning his name.
Just fucking kill me.
Situations like these really made a girl question things about life. Like why didn’t this grown-ass man know how to knock, why was he holding a tiara, and why was he walking over here?
Oh Gods, he’s walking over here.
I tried to speak, hoping to form something witty to the tune of, ‘Hey man, can you get the fuck out? I was in the middle of something.’ Instead, all that came out was a jumbled mess of intangible panic noises.
