Page 8 of The Mountain King
Chapter Four
Kailigh tensed. Some of her worry was gone now, enough for her to feel a bit chagrined she hadn’t ironed out a price beforehand. But the urgency to just get Cinvarra healed had overridden all her good judgment. At least she hadn’t requested his help or permission in going after Ruthus. After meeting the Lord—she didn’t want it. He’d want to set in and take control, and Kai wasn’t having that. So, now she would see what manner of man she was dealing with; he had the upper hand and if she really did have Dwyrkin blood, then a bargain struck would stick or she’d suffer the consequences. She wasn’t above reneging on a deal—but not with a non-human, especially a shifter.
“What do you want?”
He stared at her, gold eyes thoughtful. She didn’t like the way he watched her, as if she were a particularly interesting bug, or a missing puzzle piece. There was far too much thought going on behind his eyes for her comfort. And standing in her small home, his presence was even more pronounced. She hadn’t fully considered it before, but the man was beautiful. The bones of his face and the perfect tone of his physique—and damn it, the long hair that hadn’t snagged as much as a strand on their trek through the forest, all proclaimed his lineage. This was a Dwyrkin Lord, made even more dangerous for the dragon nature riding him.
“How old is the girl?” he asked, gesturing to Cinvarra. “I am no judge of the ages of mixed-bloods.”
Kailigh didn’t like the question for some reason. “She is seventeen. My eldest daughters, Serephone and Persia.”
He glanced at them. “Of age?”
“Why do you want to know that?”
Maddugh smiled, though there was no amusement in the expression. “Here is my price, mistress; you and your three daughters must come back to my city as guests and for three weeks you will allow the men of my people to court you—and at the end of the three weeks you will choose husbands from among them.”
Kailigh’s knees threatened to give way. She knew better than to lock them. Her fingers itched, reaching for a flintlock she’d already set aside.
“Serephone!” Kailigh snapped, catching the twitch of her daughter’s hand. A blade appeared as if by magic. Maddugh didn’t move. Kailigh saw the subtle shift of his muscles, and knew he was prepared to defend himself regardless of his seemingly relaxed state.
“That is utterly ridiculous,” Kailigh said.
“I saved the child’s life.”
“She still looks-”
“Ma?” The weakened voice stopped her heart. Cinvarra’s eyes opened. “What’s all the shouting?”
Kailigh pushed past Maddugh, nearly shoving him to the side, and dropped to her knees. But her baby had fallen back to sleep again. Though this time, the even rise and fall of her chest comforted Kai; Cin’s breathing seemed stronger, her face and lips losing the gray cast to the skin.
She looked up at him. “I probably owe you her life-”
“Probably?” His brows inched upwards.
“But you’re asking for four lives in return.”
“Mother,” Persia said, abruptly. “I’ll pay the debt. A life for a life.” Her daughter looked at Maddugh, lip curling. “Though rightly speaking, if I have children, you will then oweme. Children are extra. Why do you want us anyway?”
He folded his arms, head tilted. “We’re a small community. We… need new genes if we’re to maintain our numbers.”
“So, it’s true,” Kailigh said. “You’re exiles.”
His eyes flashed, and for a moment, she saw the shadow of his dragon cover him.
“Yes, we are. You and your daughters share some of our blood—I hope it is enough to make children strong enough to merge into our families. It will help.”
Kailigh rose after pulling the blanket back over Cinvarra. She itched to get the room aired out, her daughter bathed and in fresh linens and clothing. But the bargain must be struck first.
“Persia is right. If my daughters have children-”
His gold eyes caught hers. “And yourself as well.”
Kailigh laughed. “I’m not a young woman. I’m past my whelping years.” Ignoring the fact that, technically, she wasn’t.
He smiled. “I’m not concerned with your human age. You aren’t the first mixed blood I’ve seen. There are… ways around your mortality.”
Kailigh stared at him. “Even if I can have more children, who the hell says I want them? Especially daughters. They arefartoo troublesome.”
