More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“My apologies, Lady Pippin.” His words were all politeness, even if his tone was now rough and raw. “I am a simple man, even a crude one. Put a set of tits in front of me, I will look, even if they’re high-born ones destined for a prince’s hands, not mine.”
“Don’t.” Just one word from Ged, but I felt his hand on my shoulder, then his warm presence, even as fury radiated out through his voice. “If only for this. The dragons aren’t happy the little queen is upset. They didn’t feel her when you were on Darkspire, but they feel her now. Spire is a big beast, as big as any, but he won’t fare well if four adult dragons turn on him.”
“You think this makes a difference.” His big palm cupped my head and he ran a hand over my scalp. “Like anything can take away your beauty.” My mouth opened to speak, but he pressed his thumb across the gap there. “Yes, beauty. Beautiful enough to draw a man’s eye, have him moving closer, wanting to catch your scent in his nose, to feel you shiver beneath him, because you are a terrible thing, Lady Pippa.”
“If I was Draven, I’d have claimed you the first night I met you, bringing you back to the king and queen and declaring you my wife before the gods, and damn them if they said no to it, but…” He was so close now that our bodies touched and somehow I found myself leaning into him. “I can’t bring myself to regret the prince’s stupidity. I’ll make you a queen, Pip. The queen of my heart.”
“Gods, you drive me mad. You’ll set me into rut.”
But it was when Lance and Jenkins and some of the other lads came out to watch us pass by that I think the prince began to wonder at the wisdom of his actions. Each of these cadets was perfectly silent as we passed and then, as Lance slammed his fist to his chest in salute, so did the other lads.
Draven had been going to say something, make an example of me and if I was a good little girl, I would’ve taken my lumps just like anyone else. But the problem was in trying to shove me right back to where I was as a pig herder, he awakened something else inside me. The part of Pippin who didn’t come out to play often. I stalked past him, past the general and all of the tables like I was the damn queen herself, not giving the prince a bloody inch.
Well, no one can make you feel bad about yourself without your permission, and, going forward, I wasn’t giving Draven anything.
“He conjured a confection of a dream, one of warmth and pleasure and the sweet scent of a woman in my nose, her dragon nestled against her breast. A lazy day, a lovely one.”
“I find I feel quite a lot when you’re around, Pippin.”
Because for some people, the worst thing you can do is to refuse to be crushed by their tyranny. You might not kick against the pricks every day, but each time you take a breath and then another, is an act of rebellion.
“But you’re not being forced to marry me. You don’t have to have anything to do with me. I’m just a cadet now. I’m nothing,” I said finally. “Gods, how I wish that were true.”
You’ve seen that I respond to you. Of course I do, Pippin. I always have. You’re beautiful and strong and you don’t let a fucking thing keep you down and I’ve never been so bloody infatuated by a woman as I have been by you. My body yearns for you.”
I might be young. I might be inexperienced, but no one can take my autonomy away from me, not without my permission. Don’t come up with pretty lies about how it would be dishonourable to pursue whatever the hell this is between us, when the reality is you’re just too scared to try.”
“That’s it. That’s it, lass. You’re taking me so fucking well.” The curse was uttered between clenched teeth, followed by a hiss. “Such a good girl.”
“I’ll never forget this.” I heard his words but didn’t reply for fear of him sensing the tears that fell from my eyes in a slow trickle. “I’ll never be able to forget you, Pippin.”
We go to our queen now? Darkspire asked.
