Page 65 of The Dragon's Gambit
“You can start by telling me how in the hell that demon found you,” Brody growled out angrily. This statement set off a rippling effect of growls and snorts. She felt Lee tighten his grip on her arm.
“Well, I guess there’s that,” Reiya chuckled lightly. “Abaas was mindlinking me, and from what I can gather, he has allies here. He has to. It wasn’t just about knowing that I was here. He knew about my dragon mate. Someone told him Xander was my mate. He tried to make it sound like I couldn’t trust Xander, but I know better than that.” Reiya smiled at Xander, who offered her a small smile in return. “Then ... well, he plans to take me like he had planned for my mom—”
“That bastard wants you to be his mate and to have his children?!” Brody snarled loudly. Lee’s face was tense, a lethal aura emitting out of him. No one would dare touch what was his.
“Yes. He said that I belonged to him. That I was destined to be his. And ... some other unpleasant things about being intimatewith me. He also said he would be seeing my brother soon, that he owed him for killing a few members of his pack.” Reiya paused and looked at Brody. “I don’t know what to do, Brody. I want to be with Hunter. I think we need to be with him. What if we would be playing right into Abaas’ hands, though? But if we don’t go and help ... what if something happens and we’re not there? What if they need us?”
Reiya could see Brody’s hands ball into fists as he thought about their brothers and pack. His face was tense as he tried to sort between his emotions and the right course of action.
“I can’t let you go there, Reiya.” Lee’s voice was calm yet stern.
“What if they need me, Lee? If there are traitors here, is it safer for me to be here? I can’t stand it. I can’t stand any of this. I ...” Reiya hated the inner struggle she was having. What did she need to do and what did she want to do? Were they the same things?
“We send messages to our parents and to our brothers. We will wait for their answers. Until then, Reiya, we do not move. Your parents are still the rulers of Elysia. Hunter is the Alpha of the Black Ice Pack. We don’t move without hearing from them,” Brody said painfully. It was the correct choice to make when he voided his emotions. It wasn’t his heartfelt choice, though. He wanted to be there to help his brothers.
Reiya looked at the ground. She clenched her fists together as she struggled with what she was about to say. She wanted to sound strong, but her voice came out in a whisper. “Brody ... maybe you should go to them. If you’re there, you can help protect them. With two guardians ... maybe three, if Grayson is there, too ...” Reiya looked up at Brody, who was smiling at her as she struggled to say the words.
“No, Reiya. I’m never leaving you. I promise. Not even temporarily. You need me with you, especially if there is a traitor here.” Brody knew what she was doing. Just because shecouldn’t go help didn’t mean he couldn’t. She was putting his feelings first, even though it was hard for her. She was always sweet like that. His precious baby sister. He wouldn’t leave her side. They would either go together or not at all. His place was by her side from the time she was born.
“Chelsie, can you relay everything to our parents and then to Hunter and Chasen?” Brody asked in an unusually gentle voice as he spoke to her. Reiya found it very sweet. She had never heard him speak like that to Chelsie before. She nodded her head. It seemed like he was also letting Chelsie know that he wasn’t ending things with her.
“Brody, why don’t you walk her out? Make sure she makes it to the pond okay.” Reiya wanted to give the two of them a moment before Chelsie went to deliver the messages.
“Chelsie, one moment!” Reiya pulled herself out of Lee’s arms, which he reluctantly dropped. She ran to Brody’s room and came back a few moments later, handing Chelsie a paper. “Give this to Hunter and Chasen for me and Brody.”
“Everything is going to be fine, Reiya. Your family is strong. I’ll be back soon.” Chelsie looked up at Brody and the two of them left together.
Reiya turned and walked back to Lee. He scooped her into his side, holding her gently against him. He was furious. There was at least one traitor among the dragons. And then a demon dared to claim what was his. He wanted to immediately kill them. He looked up, turning his attention to Xander. The dragon issue was technically Xander's to deal with, not his. Still, if it was a threat to his mate, he didn’t care. He had half a mind to hunt this Abaas down right now to at least eliminate him from the equation. No one dared mess with what belonged to a deity, especially a possessive one like himself.
“We have a real problem here, Xander.”
Xander nodded his head. He was trying to think about this like a leader. As much as he wanted to start head hunting, he still had to play his role as king. He had his suspicions, and obviously Clovis was right at the top of this list. But was it just Clovis? Who all was involved? And was it Clovis for sure? He needed to observe and wait for the right opportunity. Even as king, he needed evidence. He would tell a handful that he trusted so they could also keep an eye out. If something was going on, he would need the help of those he trusted the most.
He looked at Reiya and clenched his fists. She was under his protection, and one of his own was endangering her. They led the demon right to her. Deep down, his chest burned with a dangerous anger that he’d never felt before. Someone precious to him was being threatened, and this demon Abaas would soon find out why dragons were so feared.
“Reiya ... I’m sorry. I can’t believe one of my own ... I will get to the bottom of it. I assure you that you’re safe here. I will make sure of it. I need to meet with Gramps and a few others. I’m going to put things in motion and get to the bottom of this. And I also promise you that Abaas is going to die very soon. He should know better than to come so close to the dragon kingdom. There will be consequences for his actions tonight.” Xander was seething, his voice violently sharp.
“It’s not your fault, Xander. Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Reiya said, trying to reassure him. He didn’t need to apologize to her.
“I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you. It won’t,” Xander said, more to himself. He looked up at Lee. “I’ll get things started. Stay here with her until Brody makes it back. There is much to do.” Xander turned abruptly and left in a hurry, stomping down the stairs until he was out of range.
Reiya turned her gaze toward Lee. She wasn’t expecting the look in his eyes. His calm, blue eyes were dark, and they staredat her with a hunger and want that she had never seen from him before. She gazed into his eyes. The look he had was one that made her want to retreat and jump into his arms at the same time. Her breath hitched as she watched him take a step toward her.
Chapter 45 Primal Beast
Lee growled as he claimed her lips, his body trembling with barely restrained hunger. Heat flashed between them like lightning as his mouth crashed against hers, his fingers tangling in her hair to tilt her head back. The taste of her floodedhis senses, drowning rational thought. His tongue swept into her mouth, desperate to memorize every curve, every texture. She whimpered against him and the sound shattered what little control remained. He pressed her against the wall, his body flush against hers, heart thundering so violently he was certain she could feel it hammering against her own chest. When they finally broke apart, he kept his forehead pressed to hers, their ragged breaths mingling in the sliver of space between them, neither willing to surrender that final connection.
“You are mine, Reiya. I’ll be damned if anyone else touches you. I’ll kill anyone who touches you,” he snarled, leaning down to nip at the mark on her neck. “Who do you belong to, Reiya?”
The moment was so intense for her. She was doing her best to keep up with his menacing passion, a stinging pleasure that was making her head foggy. He had asked her a question, she thought. But at the same time, he was sending hot fireworks through her body and she couldn’t respond rationally.
“Nnngggh ...” Her breath was heavy as she felt him nip at the skin on her mark again.
He growled into her neck. “Who do you belong to, Reiya?” This time he paused, letting his hot breath sizzle on her mark. The possessiveness was clear in his voice.
This time Reiya smiled as she fully understood him. She also understood his reaction now. His animal side couldn’t stand the idea of someone else wanting her. It made him want to claim her all over again. To mark her again and again, though that wasn’t possible. Still, his animal nature raged at another trying to invade what was his territory. No dominant animal would give up a possession they deemed theirs. And to him, she was his possession.
She arched against him, offering her throat with a breathless surrender. “I'm yours, Lee. Only yours.” Her voice was sultry as she arched into his searing lips again. His mouth blazed a pathback up her throat, each kiss a brand against her flushed skin, leaving a trail of fire and goosebumps in its wake. When he finally reclaimed her lips, his kiss was deep and lingering. The sweet heat from his lips was intoxicating. She began to turn the tides on him, pressing herself into him, turning him so he was backed against the wall.
