Page 36 of Randall
Glancing around the circle they made, his gaze alighted on Artor and Timur. Although he was impressed with the size of the dragon-shifter holding the vampire, Darvon decided he liked the size of his mates best. Although he usually didn’t care much about nudity, there was, at the moment, a lot of flesh on display.
As he gathered the discarded tunic and turned Randall so his mate’s back was to the rest of the group, he spotted a black cat sitting in the middle of their circle and froze.
“What’s wrong?” Randall asked, twisting to look over his shoulder. “Ah. It’s fine. That’s Kat—with a K—she belongs to Valter.”
Darvon narrowed his eyes. “The cat is named Kat… This is the stowaway mentioned earlier?”
“Yes, but she’s special.”
“She better not be more special than me,” Flynn quipped, rubbing his body on Randall and showing off his tiny, sharp canines before gnawing lightly on our mate’s throat.
“Never,” Randall growled, tipping his head down to bite Flynn’s bare shoulder. He kissed his toothy impression before taking Flynn’s mouth with his own. Darvon became as breathless as they were just watching.
“We really should move this along,” Darvon said, adjusting his stiffened length to a more comfortable position. He wished Riverside was around the bend but suspected they still had hours of traveling left to do before reaching their destination, and the day was already half over.
He dragged the tunic over Flynn’s head as he spoke to Randall. “Go put him in the carriage while I check on everyone else.” Agreeing, his mates kissed his cheeks before Randall strode off with a clinging Flynn.
Darvon approached the milling soldiers first. “Don’t get too comfortable.”
Captain Lanter smirked. “We’ll be ready when you all are.”
“How far are we from Riverside, do you think?”
Lanter glanced at the sun’s position. “If we left now and kept the horses at an easy trot, we’d arrive by dusk. I’m thinking it’ll be full dark by the time we actually get there.” His gaze dartedfrom mate group to mate group before coming back to rest on Darvon knowingly.
“Hey now, mine are already pulling themselves together.”
Darvon moved on to Valter, Baron, and wolfy-Duke next. They looked up from where they had been resting on a fallen log when he approached. Baron rose to his full height.
Valter backhanded Baron’s leg. “Be nice.”
Baron scoffed. “I’m always nice.”
“So it appears we have a new addition, and since you and your sons are the biggest, do you have something he could wear? I’m sure Artor would appreciate your help in covering up his mate.”
Baron hummed as he looked over at Timur. “That man is a mountain, but I'm sure we can provide trousers and a cloak.” He raised his voice. “Connor, bring a pair of your largest trousers for Prince Timur.”
The carriage rocked, the door opened, and Connor emerged from the dark interior, swaddled in a huge cloak, a pair of trousers dangling from its folds. He crossed to Artor and the dragon. “My lords.”
Timur accepted the offered garment. When he paled and almost tipped over trying to put them on, however, Artor snatched them away and crouched to help. Timur balanced with a hand on Artor’s and one on Connor’s shoulders. Once the dragon was somewhat clothed, Darvon moved in.
“Master Artor, Prince Timur, I am Prince Darvon, a member of this motley crew.” He swept a hand to the side. “I came to offer the use of my carriage for you to recuperate in. Captain Lanter suggests we not delay here too long if we are to reach Riverside by nightfall.”
Timur gratefully agreed, and Darvon waved to Randall and Flynn, seated side by side on the bench seat. Once Timur was inside, Darvon offered the vampire a choice. “Master Artor, if you wish to ride with your mate, I can ride your horse.”
“I would.” He clapped Darvon’s shoulder before climbing in and pulling the larger man to his chest. Artor’s nod was enough for Darvon, but he still said, “Many thanks, Your Highness.”
Darvon closed the door and found Baron seated atop his horse, thrusting a water bag and wine through the window. Once Baron had his hands free, he passed the reins of a second horse to Darvon, who mounted the sleek mare and settled into the surprisingly comfortable saddle. He didn’t hold much hope that his ass would remain happy by the time they reached the city. Darvon glanced at his mates sitting on the bench seat.Theywere better things to ride.
Chapter 26
Flynn
How surreal to be traveling in the direction he’d just come from, but now on land, warm and dry, clothed, in his human form… Flynn snuggled against Randall’s warm body as his mate drove the carriage toward Riverside.
Wasn’t it just a day ago he’d floated by the docks, hiding behind the log he’d attached himself to, submerged until the water tickled his nose? He’d wished he could have snuck his nose all the way under with the overwhelming smell of rotting fish mixed with the acrid stench of urine and tar rolling off the docks. He was leagues downriver before he felt like he’d washed off the filth of the city.
Flynn hoped that on land the odors would be more tolerable. How humans could live amid those kinds of smells spoke of how poor their olfactory senses were. Unlike shifters, and maybe…
