Page 129 of A Dance of Water

"He wanted to be the first to bring me pleasure. He asked if I had ever felt p-pleasure before. I have not. So he wanted to be the first."

Vale’s nostrils flared.

Kill him. He took what first belonged to us.

So, his dragon wasn’t upset with the idea of sharing… Just sharing her first sexual experiences?

Interesting. Perhaps Vale could use this to his advantage.

"And?" Vale prodded. He kept his focus on her, afraid if helooked away, he would burn everyone and everything in the room to a crisp.

"The way he worded his deal, I didn’t know how it would work… but he said anytime I feel desire, I will appear before him." Her mouth curled into a grimace. "Ow," she whimpered.

"Let up," Graves mumbled. "You’re hurting her."

Vale looked down, only to see he was gripping her shoulder so tightly a bruise would most likely form. He allowed his hand to linger, feeling her tender flesh under his fingertips before he realized what he was doing and ripped away from her.

The King ran shaking fingers through his tousled golden hair.

Fuck.

"Are you satisfied?" Vale paused. "With your deal?" He let his words linger in the room. Let her stew in what she had done. She grew quiet, and he grew victorious at forcing her into silence.

The mage should die.

Vale couldn’t tell if the thought was from his dragon or his own burning desire.

He had never planned to force her to lie with him in the Temples of Aedis. Vale was many things, but he would never force himself on another. It was important for those watching that he treated her as nothing more than a prisoner of war. If he allowed her to break tradition, it would become clear that she meant more to him. And that could not happen.

So, she must believe she will be forced to lie with him.

But Tharen had just upended all their plans.

"How can she sacrifice her pleasure to me in the Temples, if she is to appear before you when she feels desire?" Vale did not turn to look at them as he spoke.

There was a silence, and in it, Vale only felt murderous rage. It was taking everything in him not to lash out. His dragon rattled the bars of his cage.

"Exactly as you had originally planned," Bastian announced.

At that, Vale turned and arched a brow. "How do you propose we follow through with our plans?" He was careful with his word choice as she was in the room with them.

His eyes fell to her, small and curled on Tharen’s chest. Hisdragon demanded he touch, an impulse so strong he had to dig his fingernails into his thigh to stop himself from reaching for her.

A gentle knock on the door of Vale’s mind. He let Bastian in.

She will not give in to Tharen so easily. This could be a good thing.

How so?Vale shot back.

The vampire gave a small smirk, mirth twinkling in his red-tinged eyes.Now you will have an excuse for why you don’t force her to lie with you. You don’t want her to think you’re capable of being good, do you?

Vale exhaled, and smoke filled the room.

But the vampire… wasn’t wrong.

"Luella, answer this for me." Vale rolled his shoulders back and stared her down. Her head turned, searchingly. So soft and innocent, and even more vulnerable now.

He wanted to protect her, steal her away to that dark, warm space of his den.

---