Page 40 of The Dragon's Gambit
She looked up at Xander. “Xander, is this going to be a problem? Would it be best if I went back home?” Her voice came out a bit more pitiful than she had planned. The idea that thiswas all just one big mistake screamed in her head. She didn’t want to cause any trouble. Wait, was that why she was being led to this oubliette? Was she supposed to be kept in a secret place and held there indefinitely? This new realization suddenly made the most sense. She was to remain there. A marked outsider couldn’t just wander around freely. It would be an insult to dragons everywhere, especially when word got out that it was the dragon deity that had marked her. So instead, she would be kept locked up where no one would ever know.
Her eyes followed their movements as they approached a wooden trap door, set high in the ceiling above the stairs. The door was worn and weathered from years of use, its once vibrant colors now faded to a dull brown. But something about it seemed intriguing, almost mystical. With one powerful shove, Xander effortlessly flipped open the trap door and whisked her through the ceiling to the floor above. Once they were at the top, her thoughts suddenly seemed like reality.
As she stepped into the room, Reiya’s eyes widened in awe. The space was a grand oval, big enough to fit several dragons comfortably. On one side, a massive opening led out to the vast expanse of the outside world, inviting any dragon who wished to come and go freely. Along the walls, intricately carved designs of dragons adorned in gold and silver caught her eye. Several smaller doors on either side hinted at private chambers for sleeping and bathing.
Xander lowered her down, and she turned back to look at him curiously. He had an almost sad expression on his face.
“What is this place?” she whispered out. She had barely managed to get the words out as she felt them get caught in her throat. She watched him shift his eyes away from her. Then, he turned and walked back to the door a few feet away.
“I know you’re confused and wanting answers. Please, try to make yourself comfortable here. There is a room over therewhere you can change clothes and shower. There are also a few bedrooms, if you get tired. And over there is a kitchenette that has cold drinks and snacks. Levi will be up to talk with you soon.” Xander’s eyes flickered for a moment as he struggled with what else to say. “You won’t be able to mindlink from here because it’s imbued with magic.” With a heavy sigh, he turned and lowered himself down the stairs, shutting the wooden trap door and securely bolting it behind him.
When she heard the loud sound of the bolt clicking, the reality of the moment kicked in.Well, shit.
Chapter 27 Dirty Secret
There was an eerie quiet that swept over the place, once the sound of Xander's footsteps completely faded. She looked around the room. How long did they plan to keep her up here? She wasn’t going to lose her head over the situation.It never did anyone any good to panic. Panicking made you unfocused and unable to think clearly. This was the complete opposite of what was needed in a tough situation.Okay, self. We’re going to go and take a nice hot shower—I’m hoping the water is actually hot—and try to logically think this situation through.
Reiya walked in the direction of the normal-sized doors. The first door she walked through opened into a large bedroom. The room was actually quite elegant. Strange for an oubliette.
The bed was a massive structure, its wooden frame intricately carved with fierce dragons that seemed to come to life in the soft glow of light. Above it, a regal canopy of rich fabric cascaded down, adding an air of privacy and grandeur to the already impressive piece of furniture. It loomed over the room like a throne fit for royalty. The spacious room was flanked by two other doors, leading to different chambers. One revealed a grand walk-in closet, filled with an array of masculine garments in various colors and styles. The other door opened to a luxurious bathroom suite, complete with a marble vanity and gleaming fixtures.
The spacious bathroom boasted a luxurious stone shower, complete with multiple shower heads that were already cascading warm water in a gentle symphony. Nearby, a deep walk-in tub beckoned with the promise of a relaxing soak. The polished stone surfaces glistened under the soft light, creating an atmosphere of opulence and serenity.
She eyed the tub greedily. She might be locked up here, but it was with the most amazing tub she’d ever seen. She was going to enjoy herself with a luxurious soak.
She filled up the water and added soap so that there was a thick layer of bubbles over the top. Discarding her clothes, she slipped into the heavenly warmth. She wasn’t worried about herself. She was concerned about Chelsie and Brody, though.What would they tell them? Would they lock them up, too? Or would they simply just kick them out of the dragon kingdom? Doing the latter would probably lead to war quicker, because they would come back with help. No … if they planned to keep her up here, they would also have to lock Brody and Chelsie up. Maybe she could scale the wall outside. How hard could that be?
It didn’t make sense at all. She didn’t feel like Xander and Lee were bad. Maybe that was her problem. Even after being locked up, she was still having a hard time doubting them. She leaned her head back onto the cool porcelain of the tub and closed her eyes. There had to be a reason. This was her last thought as she drifted into a light slumber.
Reiya opened her eyes to the feeling of another presence in the room. She glanced to the side to see Lee standing there, staring down at her.
“It’s dangerous to fall asleep in the tub.” His voice was husky and low.
Reiya noticed his eyes trailing over her. The bubbles had vanished from the tub, and under the water, she was fully unveiled.
“How long have you been standing there?” she asked quietly as she slowly stood up and stepped out of the tub, a small smear of red on her cheeks as she openly walked out in front of him. She grabbed a large towel and wrapped herself in it.
“Long enough,” he said, his voice raspy and his eyes dilated, clearly affected by her.
Reiya turned and faced him. Her sapphire eyes captured his light blue ones. “How long am I supposed to be locked up here? Am I now some dirty little secret that needs to be hidden away?” She bit her bottom lip as she stared up at him. “What’s going on?” she all but whispered out.
“You aren’t a dirty secret, Reiya. I asked Xander to bring you up here for your safety until I could speak with you properly.”
“What is up here?”
“This is my private place, my own area, which is off limits to everyone except those who are invited.”
This was Lee’s place. The elegant bedroom and bathroom now made complete sense. She could understand being led up here now. She still wasn’t sure about the whole neck thing. It was definitely the elephant in the room. So, if he didn’t bring it up, she was going to have to. She needed to know. Was she marked? And if she was … why?
Lee turned around and cleared his throat. “I have some shirts in the closet if you would like to put one on.”
Reiya nodded and walked past him into the large closet. She found a long shirt and threw it on over her head. The shirt came down past her bottom, making her look like a child in their daddy’s shirt. Her footsteps echoed in the stillness of the room as she emerged from the closet, the sound resonating off the walls and filling the space. She glanced over at Lee, who stood on the opposite side of the spacious chamber. His eyes were fixed on the large ceiling-to-floor window, offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the kingdom below. The light streamed through the glass and cast him in a soft glow that gave him an almost ethereal appearance.
“I’m sorry, Reiya,” she heard him say as he looked out the window. “I didn’t mean to do it. I’m very sorry. I’ve kept my distance from you because sometimes I have a hard time controlling myself. My feral animal got the best of me this time and marked you.” She heard him let out a breath and then he turned to look at her. “I can’t apologize enough. I hope you can forgive me for this.”
Reiya quietly looked down at the ground. She reached up and delicately touched the mark on her neck. She was, in fact, marked. Her chest stung and squeezed tightly. She was marked, but the person who marked her did so by accident. He reallydidn’t want her. If she was marked, how was this going to affect her? What did this mean as far as finding her mate in the future?
“I understand,” her voice squeaked out. How could a deity take her as his own? It really did make sense. He got carried away and did something he shouldn’t have. She could forgive him, even though it hurt her heart. “What does this mean now?” Reiya rubbed her mark lightly and glanced up to meet his gaze.
