Page 34 of The Fire Dragon's Mate
Reynard and Zelig both stripped him down and examined him. Even I could tell that, though he’d stopped himself from bleeding to death, a nasty infection was settling into the wound. He trembled and sweated, eyes wide as we watched them whisper and work.
“He needs it now,” Reynard said to me. “As much as you can get.”
Immediately, I knew Cighyss would need to be in dragon form for it, but I addressed the boy. “There’s something you need to understand and accept. A cure is available. A magical cure that will heal everything that’s wrong with you in an instant.”
“I’ll take it. Please.”
I nodded, understanding the urge to do whatever it took to live. “What’s your name?”
“Tennyson Grant.”
“And how old are you, Tennyson?”
“Eighteen.”
Young, but not so young that he might be innocent. “Tennyson, the dragon’s cum can cure you. You’ll need to drink it?—”
“And we’ll pour it on you,” Zelig added, “if there’s enough.”
Tennyson’s eyes couldn’t have gotten wider without the orbs falling clean out of his head. “The dragon’s… His… I saw him down on the beach. And you want me to?—”
“No, no,” I said quickly, thinking I knew where his mindwas heading. “I’ll procure it for you. You won’t need to do that. But there’s an acceptance and confidentially that we’ll all need from you now. We’re princes, Tennyson, and our dragon claims us regularly. And, while people know we’re here now, we need to know that you’ll never betray us.”
“Oh, gods,” he whispered, “I didn’t want to come here at all! I’m indentured to Captain Forrester. He made me come here!”
I closed my eyes and sighed, hoping the captain had done his duty and gone down with his ship.
Meeting Tennyson’s gaze, I said, “So you’ll accept us and keep everything you see here a secret?”
Tennyson nodded fast. “I swear it. I swear on the life of my sisters, I’ll never betray a one of you.”
Hagen leaned in close. “And the acceptance?”
“I’ve forever been attracted to men,” Tennyson said. “I accept completely.”
Reassured that he understood what was happening, I smiled and patted his arm. “Then I’ll be right back with your cure.”
I walked out of the infirmary only to nearly collide with Cighyss.
“How is he?”
“Not well.” I led him away. “There’s a raging infection, I think. Reynard and Zelig want as much cum as I can get out of you.”
Cighyss huffed a laugh and the little pair of wings still growing in on his back fluttered. “While I’m happy to provide you with whatever you wish, did you explain?—”
“Oh, yes, and he’s willing. Whether you can convince him to stay later is on you, but he’s accepted us and agreed to keep silent as well.”
Cighyss laughed and pulled me into a hug. “Look at you. My mate adding to my hoard.”
I shrugged and grinned at him. “He’s not a prince, but he seems sweet.”
“And Hagen’s enchanted.”
“Oh?”
“Mmm, yes.” Cighyss kissed my neck and rumbled in my ear, “Will you help me cure the boy?”
“Tennyson is his name, and yes, of course.” I took his hand and led the way. “There’s an indentation in the rock that should be able to hold it all.”
