49. Tori

We flew over the city, and I could hear surprised screams from below. We soared over the cliff and the ocean. Goosebumps prickled my skin as the misty sea air clung to me. Abraxas spread his wings, and we took a great, sweeping turn back towards the cliffs. I was so distracted by the sky rushing past me that I didn't notice he flew straight towards the cliff.

Um, Abraxas…

Don'tyou trust me, Tori? Hold on tight.

Iwrapped my arm around the back of his neck as best I could and clamped my legs down, feeling his massive muscles rolling underneath me as his wings beat. The cliff grew alarmingly closer, and then he tucked his wings in as we dove. I screamed and closed my eyes, and I could hear him chuckling, the asshole.

Wedove for the cliff, and Abraxas darted behind an outcropping to reveal a perfect dragon-sized cave. It wouldn't have been visible without flying or taking a very dangerous climb down from the back of the castle.

Hepassed through the rocky opening, and dust tickled my nose as we landed inside the cavern. Abraxas' ribcage expanded beneath my legs as he inhaled and let loose a spray of dragonfire. Torches along the walls were set ablaze, holding that bright green color for a few moments before settling into the soft orange of natural flames.

Islowly climbed off Abraxas' back, my mouth agape at what I saw before me. The cave was connected to the lower levels of the castle. The torchlight highlighted columns carved directly into the stone. We stood in a giant chamber with soaring ceilings, supported by high arches, holding up the weight of the castle above. I hardly noticed the grand architecture as the room was filled to the brim with gold in every form. Coins, bars, jewelry, plates, and glasses. Scattered throughout the glowing metal were precious gems, some as large as my hand. They were all thrown together in one great pile like… well, like the hoard of a dragon.

Abraxasstretched his wings, nearly filling the entire space before he dove into the pile like it was a warm spring and not a mountain of solid metal. The clatter of coins and jewels rushing every which way as he slithered through the mass was deafening until he finally settled himself. Only a few coins continued to scatter down the pile, unable to find their final resting place.

Ihiked up the great mountain of wealth and sat next to his gold eye that just barely emerged from beneath the pile. It was so similar in color that it was almost hard to see. I shifted and pulled a particularly pointy topaz out from underneath my seat before settling back against him.

"You were right," I said. He huffed out of his nostrils in question. "IfI had seen this before I knew you, I might not have cared about your personality."

Flaming-hot gusts of air flew from his nostrils as his belly shook with laughter. It destabilized the mountain of treasure, and I stood, trying to get my footing, before I was sucked under the surface, never to be seen again. He calmed himself and stretched his wings up. I covered my head with my arms as more coins came raining down. "It used to be nearly double what it is now. Imagine how you would have felt then."

"Double? What happened?"

Hisgiant slit pupil rolled to stare directly at me. "Well, it's expensive keeping a kingdom fed and an army mobilized for centuries on end, Princess."

Icrossed my arms. "I didn't know I was involved with a king who has such poor financial management of his kingdom." I was just teasing. I knew he kept his people happy and his soldiers well paid, and if that meant his personal horde had suffered, well, maybe I loved him all the more for it.

"Well then, you certainly aren't going to like that I haven't collected tithe from anyone but the nobles since I became king."

"What? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Princess." He let his long tongue snake out and wrap around my body, holding me as he shifted and the coins below my feet gave way. "I so enjoyed that delicious fantasy of yours, I didn't want to ruin it with reality." He set me down on the solid stone floor and changed back into his fae self, smirking. Before he could say anymore, I wrapped my arms around him and drew him into a deep kiss.

"So, why did you really want to bring me here?" I questioned, pushing my body into his, but to my surprise, he pulled away slightly.

"It is dragon tradition to present your horde to your mate after they have accepted your mark."

"Your mark?" I asked, but my hand shot up to the wound at my neck that still ached. It was healing slowly, just as it had the first time he had bitten me.

"Yes, this would have shown dragon society that we had accepted each other. Shown the world that you are mine and mine alone."

"Possessive male."

"You have no idea, little bird."

"You already bit me before on the ship, remember?"

Hislips flattened. "That was… reactionary. I couldn't let the mark of that other male stand, even if I knew it would not last."

Thathad been so long ago, during our journey to Xyr. I had hated him so completely then. A smile twisted my face, and I couldn't resist teasing him. "You truly have been smitten since you first laid eyes upon me, haven't you?"

Hegrowled. "You have always been mine, even if I wasn't sure if I would rather take you or throw you off the side of that ship."

"Sounds awfully monogamous, coming from you, DragonKing," I baited, giving him a cheeky grin. To my surprise, his eyes welled with sadness. "Abraxas?"

"Dragons are monogamous creatures, my love. We know at a very young age who our soul is bonded to, or at least, we are supposed to. I never did. My parents never discussed it, perhaps hoping to spare me. ButI knew it was wrong. Many whispered of it, a sign of the end to come for our people. As more of them died around me, I believed it as well. It did not leave me in a good place. And then I became trapped in my fae body, and fae are promiscuous creatures. I had to play the part. After so much time… it was no longer a mask I wore but an escape. I think you know it as well."

Inodded and ran my hand gently over his cheek and laced it through his long, silver hair.

"I would understand if you cannot forgive me for it," he confessed, crestfallen.

"Abraxas, how could I blame you for something like that? You didn't even know I existed."

"But after I did, I still continued…"

"My love, I accept you as you are. AndI accept your mark. Thank you for bringing me down here." I smiled at him and ran my hand over his bite again. "I have much to learn about dragon society, don't I? Does this mean all your old scars are from other dragons as well?"

Heaverted his eyes, and I saw his fingers trace over the scar that ran around his ribs absent-mindedly.

"Abraxas… how did you get that scar on your ribs?"

Colorrose into his cheeks. "I don't want to tell you."

"You said no more secrets, Abraxas!"

"It's not a secret, it's… embarrassing."

"Now you have to tell me."

Helet out a long sigh. "AsI said, when I was young, I assumed I had no mate. This put me in a… unique position amongst dragons. When the War of Flames began, dragons were killed, and many lost their mates to the cleanse."

"What does this have to do with your scar?"

"It's important you know the context, impatient one. Dragons are monogamous, but with the cleanse, things changed. Dragons were losing their mates, and I was a young male with no mate who was more than willing to… offer my assistance."

"Are you telling me this really was a sex injury?" I had been joking, but it seemed the joke was on me.

"One dragon, Levania, had just lost her mate in one of the first battles of the war. She was beyond distraught. I went out to comfort her. Don't look at me like that. I really was just trying to help. She was in pain. I did what I could, but she was beyond consolation. So, I did what she needed, and well… a raging dragon isn't gentle, as you know."

"It's a huge scar! She must have nearly killed you."

Helet out a soft chuckle. "That she did. But that's in the past now, Tori. She and the others are long gone."

Icould feel my face heating. "She's lucky she is." Dragonfire licked at my arms at the thought of anyone hurting him like that.

Hegave me a sad smile and pulled the dragonfire away from me, toying with it in his hand and staring deeply into its depths, like he might be able to see the past if he looked hard enough.

"I'm sorry. I should not have—"

"It is alright. I actually quite like seeing you this jealous, my love. Fae like yourself are natural wanderers, so knowing you have some loyalty to me is comforting."

Igripped his face in both my hands. "You're mine, Abraxas. You're the only one for me, now and always."