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  Her hand came up and Kei prepared for the slap. It never came. She stopped inches from his face and lowered her hand. Her head followed moments later. She was loyal. He had to give her that.

  “I apologize, Your Majesty,” she said though how the words escaped her tight lips he wasn’t sure.

  He had the desperate urge to kiss those lips, to taste her and soothe the lines around her mouth. To feel her mouth on him, sucking his cock…Kei inhaled deeply and closed the leathers around his hips. It was a tight fit, particularly since he was sporting an erection that wouldn’t release its grip on his cock. He didn’t understand it. She was pretty enough. Her face held none of the classically beautiful features. But her eyes were bright with intelligence. Her mahogany hair held brushes of sunlight. Her breasts were full and the nipples perfectly formed, perfect for his mouth. And her cunt…reality faded and all he could think about was tongue fucking her. He licked his lips. Her flavor was gone and he wanted more. Mine. The fog invaded the edges of his mind. He walked forward, driven by his carnal urges. She turned away and paced, her arms folded around her waist. He followed her, her words barely making sense.

  “Very little is known about the transition and what human elements, if any, remain in the dragon.”

  The word “dragon” pulled him to a stop. He was right behind her but luckily she hadn’t noticed him stalking her. He quickly spun on his heel and stalked back. With his back to her, he adjusted the trousers, easing his hard cock into the supple leather. There was surprisingly enough room. Kei ran his hands down the seam of the leathers. They were custom-made. Either Brennek had been very well endowed, or he’d followed fashion and stuffed his trousers. Either way, it allowed Kei some covering and he wouldn’t be straining against the leather.

  “The prejudice against dragons is so great,” she continued. “If people would simply stop and learn, there might be a way to rescue them.”

  “Rescue dragons? Why?” Kei couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He’d heard about dragon sympathizers before but he’d never met one. And certainly not one whose husband had changed.

  “There are places, times, when dragons and humans have lived together in peace.”

  Kei shook his head. “It’s very rare and it’s usually after horrendous destruction. The price is too great.”

  “But we need to learn about them. If we study them, maybe we can stop them from forming. Or reverse it.”

  He paused and peered at her. “Is that possible? Is there some way to stop it?”

  He saw her hesitate. Like she was deciding whether or not to lie. Finally, she took a deep breath. “No. At least not yet. But we need to know more. We need to learn about the transition. What triggers it? Why will a man go along, seemingly recovered from the dragon bite and then in an instant the dragon appears? We need to observe the process.”

  The dragon trance must have slowed his mental processes down, he decided. This was why she was polite when she didn’t want to be.

  “You want to study me.” It wasn’t a question. “Observe me while I go through this.”

  “People who study dragons rarely get this opportunity.” She hurried across the room. The slow bounce of her breasts caught his attention. In an instant, his thoughts snapped to sucking on her tits. Damn. What in the Hells is the matter with me? He forced his mind from lecherous considerations and raised his gaze. “We’re always called when a dragon is already formed,” she continued. “When the creature is tormenting a town. This is an incredible opportunity. Think of the lives you might save.”

  She stood before him a strange mix of pride and insecurity. She needed what he could provide but she hated to ask. It was almost as if she was expecting him to reject the idea. And he would. He wasn’t about to be studied like some animal in a park.

  He had things to do. He had to return to the Castle.

  No leave. Mine.

  He shook off the strange thoughts bouncing around his head but couldn’t fight the compulsion that drove him to stay. He needed to be near her. Taste her.

  “Fine,” he said, using the sharp word to drag his thoughts away from fucking her.

  “I’m sorry, what?” Her soft brown eyes glowed with a spike of surprise and pleasure.

  The muscles along the back of his neck relaxed as if his body was telling him he’d made the right decision.

  “I said fine. You can study me.”

  Chapter Three

  Lorran watched as Kei split through another log. Sweat glistened on his bare chest. The hot summer sun was finally setting, turning the sky a dusky pink. Still he continued. He’d been working for hours, almost since his awakening from the trance. Whether it was the strength of the dragon already appearing or Kei’s natural energy, she didn’t know. At this rate, she’d have more than enough wood for the winter.

  He was obviously used to physical labor. His muscles rippled as he lifted the axe and swung it down. Her palms warmed at the memory. She’d spent hours with her hands on his skin, feeling those muscles pulse beneath her fingertips. It had been twelve hours since he’d woken from the trance and twelve hours since she’d touched him. Already she was missing the sensation.

  She pressed her hand to her stomach, trying to ease the sudden ache. She gave herself a shake. She had to stop thinking about him in a sexual manner. The strange connection that had been there during the trance was gone. The man was in control, for now. And as the dragon grew, it would distance itself even more. She knew that from experience.

  Kei had agreed to stay and allow her to observe him but he knew the truth. There was little chance she’d be able to stop the transition. Some had been able to delay it, but no one had ever succeeded in staying human. Kei drove the axe into the splitting stump and straightened. A light breeze caught his long blond hair and moved it away from his face.

  But if it can be done by sheer determination, she thought, Kei is the man who will succeed.

  Unfortunately, the dragon was a powerful creature. Having seen the beasts up close, having lived with one, Lorran knew their strength. There was no way a human could defeat one.

  Lorran opened the door and approached Kei slowly. They hadn’t talked since this morning. Since he’d agreed to let her observe him as he made the change from human to dragon.

  “Are you finished?”

  Kei nodded. “That should keep you set for awhile.”

  Lorran looked at the woodpile. “For the next several years I’d imagine.”

  Kei followed her gaze and she saw the surprise in his eyes as if he’d just realized how much wood he’d actually cut. “I think better when I’m doing something.”

  “I understand. I—“

  “I need to bathe,” Kei announced with all the arrogance of a King.

  “There’s a small tub in the cabin.”

  Kei raised an eyebrow and stared at her.

  “But, that’s probably too small,” Lorran amended. “There is a waterfall a short distance away. I use it occasionally.”

  “Do others?”

  Kei would be worried about how many others knew he was here. His brother had been concerned about the same thing.

  “No. It’s too near Effron’s lair.”

  He tensed at the mention of the dragon’s name but didn’t say anything. Lorran waited. He’d only learned this morning that he would soon turn from King into dragon. She could understand why he needed time to adjust to that concept.

  “I’d like to see it,” he said quietly.

  She knew he meant Effron’s lair. After grabbing towels, expecting Kei would want a bath after visiting the dragon’s cave, she took him down the south path leading away from her cabin. She’d picked the location for its proximity to the dragon. Effron had killed several cattle and the family dog before the previous owner had moved out.

  Everyone in town thought she was insane to live so near to a dragon’s lair but if she wanted to study the animal, she needed to be close. She’d walked this path almost daily since moving into the neighbo
rhood a little over a year ago.

  Effron was a fairly young dragon. He’d been a foolish nobleman living in the north who’d taken a dare from his friends to sneak into the dragon’s lair and search for treasure. The dragon had returned. And this was the result. Another dragon tormenting a new village.

  The path twisted around and then began to climb, taking them up the hill to Effron’s lair. Kei scanned the forest with every step, a warrior alert for danger.

  “Nothing lives in these woods,” Lorran said to fill the silence. “Effron’s pretty well frightened everything away even though the woods would be fairly safe. Dragons don’t hunt in the forest. The trees don’t allow free movement of their wings. I think it makes them feel vulnerable. They prefer their prey in the open.”

  “And close enough to a village so they can terrify humans at the same time.”

  Lorran decided to let the comment go. She couldn’t dispute it. Dragons seemed to delight in destruction. And they had long memories.

  They climbed the winding trail in silence. Lorran was used to the steep hill and completed it easily. Kei followed. He wasn’t even out of breath when they reached the top. It was almost impossible to believe that three days ago he’d been carried down this mountain battered and bloodied. There was no sign of it now.

  They stopped at the crest. Kei surveyed the valley from the rock ledge. Nothing moved down below. She couldn’t decide if he was looking for something in the forest, or preparing himself to meet the creature he would soon become. After a moment, he nodded.

  “Let’s go.”

  Lorran led the way around the corner. The opening to the cave was small, smaller than it should have been considering it housed a fully grown dragon. Lorran had been there enough times to know the opening expanded into a huge cavern just inside the darkness. Somehow the dragon was able to bend his body to slip through the opening.

  Lorran stopped at the entrance. She rarely went inside Effron’s lair. She knew how territorial the beasts were and didn’t like to intrude.

  She glanced at Kei to see how he was taking all of this. The look on his face was grim. Serious and immovable. The light of his green eyes seemed dim, matching the darkness of the cave.

  She wondered what he was thinking. Three days ago he’d walked into this cave to kill a dragon. Now, he was looking at his future.

  He stepped inside the cave and waved to Lorran.

  “Stay here.”

  “What?” She stared at him in amazement. “I’m the person who studies dragons. Why would I stay here?”

  “He might hurt you.”

  “He hasn’t yet.”

  Kei paused like he was considering another order. Lorran kept her gaze steady. It went against her childhood training to defy a man, and a King especially, but after the past three days, she found herself ignoring the etiquette she’d learned years ago.

  “Fine, but stay back.” He turned and walked into the cave.

  Lorran shook her head. “I’m not the one he’s going to be irritated with. I didn’t come after him with a sword,” she muttered and followed Kei inside.

  The cavern was dark, but sunlight filtered down through crystals so there was enough light once their eyes adjusted. Kei didn’t seem to need to wait. He moved in and stopped. The cave was empty. Effron was out. Kei wandered through the open space, his mind obviously caught in its own thoughts. Lorran knew Kei had been inside dragon lairs before, but never looking at it from this angle. The grim lines of his face hardened to stone as he walked the length and breadth of the cave.

  He’d said he would suicide rather than allow the dragon to appear. She hadn’t wanted to believe it but now looking at him, she knew he was dead serious. There was nothing worse in his mind than turning into one of these creatures.

  Kei stared into the pile of metal that characterized the dragon’s riches. Lorran knew that it mainly consisted of necklaces broken as they were pulled from women’s necks and the various gold buttons from gowns and cloaks. The dragon wasn’t interested in wealth but collected items that glittered. Kei bent down, reached into the pile—and pulled out a sword.

  His sword. It must have fallen from his hand when the dragon bit him. He inspected the blade and hefted the weapon in his hand as if checking the grip. He rolled his shoulders back and continued to stare at the blank wall.

  She had to get him out of there.

  “We should go,” Lorran announced. “Effron will return soon. He doesn’t stay away long.” She’d recorded the dragon’s habits. It was getting near to dusk. Effron liked to be in his lair before the sun went down. Dragons, though they seemed to have incredible night vision, didn’t care for the dark. Even their caves were typically illuminated with some form of crystal.

  Kei remained silent, but turned to face her. The depths of his eyes glowed with anger and unrepentant hatred for the creatures he’d fought all his life. And for the damage this creature had done to him.

  Lorran suddenly felt very ill at ease. She didn’t know what would happen but it quickly became clear that Kei and Effron could not meet. Not now.

  “Kei, please. Let’s go.”

  Without responding, he turned and walked to the opening.

  Lorran stepped into the dying sunlight and froze. They were too late. The heavy flap of wings vibrated the air as they left the cave. A huge gray-green dragon occupied the shelf in front of them. The beast lowered to a crouch and growled low in his throat.

  Kei moved beside her, his sword held tight in his hand.

  Lorran felt her heart start to pound. Effron ignored her for the most part but she didn’t think the dragon would have the same reaction to Kei.

  The beast tilted his head and watched them. The black dragon eyes glowed with angry curiosity. He opened his mouth and another growl rumbled through the air. He wasn’t happy. Lorran was used to his perusal but this time he ignored her and focused on Kei.

  Kei stepped forward, his body compacting into a warrior’s stance. The dragon spread his feet wide and bared his teeth.

  “Stay behind me,” Kei ordered.

  “Kei, no.”

  “Go down the hill, Lorran. I’ll take care of him.”

  “No!” She pulled on Kei’s sword arm. He stared at her hand on his elbow and then snapped his gaze to her face.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Leave him alone.”

  Effron growled. Kei faced him. And Lorran knew she had to get one of them to back down.

  “Kei, please. Don’t hurt him. Let’s just go.“

  The dragon shifted its stance as if impatient to begin.

  “You can’t expect me to walk away.”

  “I do. We’re in his lair. He’s protective of his home just as you would be. And to be honest, he’s probably not happy to see you return with a sword.” The dragon raised its massive body up on powerful legs and took two crouching steps toward them. Lorran stepped forward to meet the creature. “Stand very still,” Lorran directed.

  Kei stared at Lorran’s back. She’d placed herself between him and the dragon and now she was giving him orders? He watched and wondered when he’d lost control of the situation?

  The answer came quickly. The moment he’d woken inside her cabin.

  The dragon continued its slow crawl forward. It reached Lorran. The dragon’s mouth opened revealing a row of white, sharp teeth.

  “Lorran—” She still had time to back away and then he would move in and destroy the beast. But she waved her hand behind her back indicating he should stay away.

  “It’s fine. He’s done this a number of times.” The dragon’s snout lowered to her feet and then moved upward, as if he was sniffing her.

  A deep growl boiled at the base of Kei’s throat. The sound was strangely animalistic. His body reacted without his command, preparing for attack. He couldn’t let that beast touch her.

  “Kei, slip around behind me and head down the path,” Lorran said softly. Her voice startled him. She didn’t move. She stood calmly let
ting the dragon sniff her body. “I’ll be fine. Go down the hill.”

  Everything inside him rebelled. His training and his honor wouldn’t allow him to leave Lorran to face a dragon.

  But she didn’t want it harmed. She would defend the beast.

  Kei took a deep breath and did what he’d never done before in his life—he walked away from a righteous battle.

  He forced his legs to carry him down the path. It took all his strength. He stopped, just out of sight and watched. The dragon continued his slow perusal of Lorran, inhaling her scent. Kei felt his chest move through a deep breath. He could smell her from the short distance. Delicious.

  His cock twitched inside the sweaty trousers he wore and he impulsively licked his lips. Hours had passed since he’d been between her legs—the memory a blend of fantasy and fog-covered reality—but he remembered her taste. She was his.

  He dug his fingers into the rock wall. His honor as a man and a warrior demanded he move to protect her. Foreign sounds echoed inside his head urging him to steal Lorran away. To keep the beast away from her.

  Effron growled and Kei felt his own lips curl back in a snarl to respond. Lorran nodded and began backing slowly away. Kei watched her hips swing softly with each step and instantly imagined the feel of her ass pressed against his hips as he drove inside her. He quickly averted his eyes.

  What was wrong with him? He was a King. He was raised to be a gentleman, of a sort. There was no reason to leer at the woman willing to help him.

  “Let’s go,” Lorran said when she reached him. “Effron might decide to come after us. He wasn’t in a good mood.”

  “He talks to you?” Kei was stunned by the idea. No one had ever been able to communicate with the beasts despite the fact that they’d once been human.

  “Uh, no. But I’ve observed him for months now. I know his moods. He wasn’t happy at finding you in his lair. Again. Dragons are very territorial.”