5. Xavier

Chapter 5

Xavier

E ven with Vale in my arms, I still felt as if someone would steal her from me at any moment. Idris was on his knees in the middle of this room staring at the body of his enemy, and still, I would rather clutch Vale to me than fulfill my duty to him.

I knew it was wrong, and still, I couldn’t make myself move.

She never should have been here. She never should have been without a guard. And under no circumstances should she have been anywhere near the traitors in our midst.

And yet, with all the wards and protections, I'd nearly lost her in a split second.

Again.

I knew my grip on her middle was too tight. I knew the way I was holding her was completely inappropriate in our mixed company. All it would take was Idris’ wounded pride to shatter everything. All it would take was a councilmember making a fuss, or Kian to waltz in, or Freya to start on her bullshit, and everything would go pear-shaped.

And still… I couldn't let her go.

Dorian, and what was left of the council, murmured their disbelief at Ithran’s actions, but I just couldn’t bother to give that first fuck. I didn’t care about anything but the woman in my arms, and the fact that she was breathing.

Everything else was irrelevant.

My animal warred with the blind panic in my gut for dominance, ripping me apart as my gaze roamed her body, looking for more wounds to heal. Ithran had practically tried to disembowel her, and for what? Power? Power he would get if he just waited a week? The bond would break the curse and then all this would be over.

But a part of me didn’t believe that, and I seriously doubted anyone else did, either.

How many times had we been here with her hurt and me praying this wasn’t the last breath, the last heartbeat, the last time I’d see those brilliant green eyes staring at me?

“I'm fine,” she whispered, her small hand covering mine at her middle where I had just healed her. Her words were meant to reassure me, but all they did was spark a fury that had no outlet—not here.

“You're fine, huh?” I seethed, desperately trying not to yell in the middle of this gods-forsaken room. “The only reason you're breathing is because you had the stroke of genius to put on armor—armor you shouldn't need in this castle, and yet”—I toyed with the rip in her dress—“here we are.”

Guilt flitted across her face for a split second before she wiped it clean. “I know you're angry, but I never meant for this to happen.”

“And just like I said last night: you never do.” Clenching my jaw, I made my first smart decision of the day and shut the fuck up. If I uttered another word, it would spark an argument that would burn this whole castle to the ground.

“That's not fair,” she whispered inside my mind. “I had no intention of coming here and every intention of seeing Rune. Had I not overheard your false plot, I wouldn't be in this room at all. How was I to know Idris was lying? And why did you keep this from me? Why do you insist on keeping everything from me?”

As much as she was right, she was wrong, too. And why was she going to see Rune? Why was she by herself? Why?—

“You're not where I left you,” Freya drawled as she sauntered over, plucking debris from her copper braid. “I could have sworn I warded you up nice and tight in the king's chambers. Want to tell me how you got out? I thought I told you to stay put.”

The blistering heat of fury in my gut doubled as scales rippled over my flesh and up my neck. Fangs lengthened in my mouth as my animal reached for the surface. And it wasn’t just my anger flooding my veins, it was Vale’s—her anger, her fear, her betrayal—none of it had dissipated.

Not one bit.

“And I told you that I needed to talk to Rune,” Vale replied, casting a worried glance at my scales as she worked to unclench her jaw. “I haven’t had a mommy in a very long time, Freya, and trust me, you aren’t her.” As Vale pushed from my arms and onto her feet, the scathing glare she sent Freya could have melted iron.

Didn't she understand just how dangerous everywhere was for her?

Didn't she care?

The rumble of a growl vibrated my chest as I tried to swallow down my rage. How could she have been so reckless? Couldn't she see?

Talons erupted from my fingertips, the hold on my animal slipping inch by inch. Vale gripped my hand, hiding my lack of restraint in the folds of her skirt as she pulled me from the room. I barely had the control to follow her, but we didn't make it very far.

Without consulting my brain, my feet carried us into a hidden alcove, the dark shadow of the corridor hiding us from view. I crowded her, pressing her against the wall as I breathed her in, taking her scent into my nose to remind myself that she was alive.

“Xavier? Tell me what’s wrong.”

Wrong? Everything. Absolutely everything was wrong.

Fighting off the urge to mark her with my fangs, I clutched her to me tight as I refused to think about Ithran’s metal claws in her belly—his dagger at her throat. The scent of her blood still filled my nose over everything, and I swore I could feel his blade tearing through her dress, plunging into her side.

One little garment had been between life and death.

One decision had meant I would live without her, or I wouldn’t.

I couldn’t take it.

“You could have died. I would have lost you. Again and again, you keep landing in danger, and I don’t know how to breathe anymore. Every second we’re apart, I think I’ll come back to the worst.”

Lifting her off her feet, I clutched her closer, burying my nose in the crook of her neck, breathing her in as her legs wrapped around me.

Fuck, that feels good.

“I’m alive. I’m safe.”

But for how long? How long did we have until someone else tried to take her from us? It was like I’d forgotten how to breathe without her—forgotten how to live. I wasn’t sure I could if she was gone.

“At night I dream I’m too late. I get to that room after you’d been attacked, and I can’t save you. Your blood cools on my hands, and I watch you leave this world without me. Over and over—it’s all I see.”

She pulled backward, clutching my cheeks as she stared into my eyes. “I won’t leave you, Xavier. I’ll never leave you.”

It was an empty promise—one she couldn’t keep even if she wanted to. I was a dragon, and she was a Luxa. Luxa didn’t have a good track record of staying alive in our company.

“You can’t promise that.”

Gently, she brushed her soft lips against mine, and the need in my veins turned to ravenous hunger, sparking a desire so acute, I ached. I readily deepened the kiss, tasting her tongue with mine, drinking her down as I pressed her against the cold stone wall. The heat of her center did nothing to quell the ache in my cock, did nothing but make me mindless.

I needed her.

I needed her right there and right then.

We were in the middle of a barely hidden alcove. Anyone could’ve walked by and discovered us, and still, I couldn’t make myself move one single inch—especially once her slim fingers reached inside my leathers and circled my cock.

“I need you, Vale. I need you so bad I can’t think.”

My eyes rolled into the back of my head as she ran her hand from base to tip. “ Fuck. If you don’t stop that I’ll take you right here. Is that what you want?”

Vale squirmed against me as I raked my fangs against the tender skin of her neck, her low moan of need echoing mine. “Yes. I want that. I want you. I need you.”

Lust, need, desire, it multiplied inside us, the emotions feeding off of each other until the pair of us were nearly mindless. She tore at the laces of my leathers as I reached up the skirts of her dress. The heat of her was like a beacon for my fingers, calling me home. I stroked her over her underwear before my impatience got the better of me. A second later, the scrap of lace was in ribbons as I tore it from her body.

My fingers found heaven as I plunged them inside her tight heat, loving the flutter of her pussy rippling around them. She was so wet, so ready, so hungry for me.

“Gods, I need you, Xavier. Please.”

Fuck, if I didn’t love it when she begged.

“You have to be quiet, understand? Not one sound or I’ll stop—leave you aching and needy until you can’t stand it anymore. I’ll make sure it’s hours until you come.”

Her moan of frustration was my reward as I pulled my fingers from her and brought my cock to her opening. It got louder as I hovered just outside her entrance, and I pulled back.

“I thought you were going to be a good girl. Good girls get fucked, bad girls have to wait. Which one are you going to be?”

I was so close I could feel her slick heat wetting the head of my cock, and yet, I had her exactly where I wanted her. The flush of her arousal crawled up her neck as those brilliant eyes grew heavy-lidded.

“I’ll be good. Please.”

I knew exactly how good she could be, but I liked her bad most of all.

Slowly, I pressed inside, and I had to grit my teeth, so I didn’t turn into a ravenous beast and pound into her. I wanted to. Gods, how I wanted to, but I used every bit of restraint I had to sink inside her inch by inch.

And she needed the time. She was so tight, so hot, so fucking wet. The scent of her had my mouth watering so much I wished I would have gotten a taste before we got started.

Later. I’d taste her later.

“More. Gods , more,” she moaned as she tightened her legs around my hips, pulling me in, holding me tight as she tried to take me deeper.

Vale’s brow puckered as she sucked in a whimpering gasp when I pulled all the way out. “Quiet, little witch, or you get nothing.”

Nodding, she covered her mouth with her hand. It wouldn’t help even a little, but I did love her enthusiasm.

“So fucking greedy. Have I told you how much I love how greedy you are?”

A second later, I was back inside, and already, I was close to losing control. Her hot hands on my skin, her shuddering breaths, gods, I would unman myself if she didn’t quit. For self-preservation’s sake, I held her wrists in one hand, pinning them to the wall.

It was equally the smartest thing I could have done and the dumbest. Smart because she couldn’t drive me crazy with her touch, and complete idiocy because Vale really liked being restrained, and the whimper that came out of her nearly had me losing my mind.

Driving into her, I relished every moan, every cry, every flutter of her pussy. Vale couldn’t be quiet, and I couldn’t stop. If I stopped, I’d explode. Covering her mouth with mine, I fucked into her like the beast I was.

I was too close to losing it, too close to forgetting my carefully crafted control.

“Starting the party without me?” Kian drawled, his presence both a shock and not all at the same time. His abilities made sneaking up on people his favorite hobby, and sometime over the last two centuries, I stopped reacting.

Plus, I was busy.

Vale’s breaths hitched as Kian drew closer, her pussy tightening around my cock as he enveloped us behind his veil of power. His illusion magic meant Vale could be as loud as she wanted, and no one could hear her scream.

“Gods, look at you, little witch,” he murmured, nibbling at her neck, taking her wrists from me so I could fuck her harder. “All flushed and needy. You’re going to come soon, aren’t you?”

Moaning, she nodded, and not once did I stop. Not when Kian dipped his finger into her bodice and pulled, exposing a perfect breast, not when he sucked her pink nipple into his mouth. Fuck, it was as if her pussy had gotten hotter, searing me all the way down to my soul.

“Touch her clit,” I ordered, needing her to come more than I needed air. “She’s so close, I can feel it coming. She’s going to scream.”

Kian raked his fangs against the tender skin of her neck. “Is that what you want?” he taunted. “You want to come?”

Her blunted teeth sank into her bottom lip as a fine sheen of sweat dotted her brow. “Pleasepleaseplease. I’ll do anything. Please just let me come.”

“ Fuck. You should hear her begging,” I groaned, my balls tightening at just the thought of her pleas.

“Oh, I can. I’m sure Idris can hear you, too. Is he whispering in your mind, little Luxa?” Kian asked, nipping at her ear. “Is he describing how we’ll spread you out and take turns fucking you? Maybe we’ll fill all your holes at once? Take your mouth and pussy and ass at the same time. Fuck you until you can’t think. I bet he is.”

Her breath hitched as she nodded. “H-he’s telling me to take my f-fucking like a good g-girl.”

“What else is he telling you?” I asked, needing her to keep talking. Every time we pushed her boundaries, she squeezed me so tight.

Her eyes rolled into the back of her head when Kian found where we were joined by feel alone, the call of Vale’s sex like a beacon. As soon as he touched her, it was as if she were kindling waiting for the first spark. She thrashed in my arms as her moans got louder, stronger, her release right at the surface just waiting to break free.

“Look at me,” I ordered, my talons gripping her flesh but not breaking it. “What. Else. Is. He. Telling. You?”

She shook her head as she tried to pull me closer with her legs, but neither of us would let her get very far. My thrusts slowed, and Kian removed his hand. “Tell me or we won’t let you come.”

Vale whimpered. “Okay, okay. H-he said n-next time he wants to w-watch me c-come.”

There were a million reasons that was a bad idea, and a million more why I’d make sure that happened as soon as possible.

“Let’s not keep the king waiting, then. Come for me. Let all of us feel you falling apart.”

My thrusts turned brutal, punishing, and then her orgasm sizzled through the bond. Invading my senses, she took over every thought, every breath, every part of me, enveloping me in her bliss and taking me down with her.

Kian thrummed her clit as he took her mouth, quieting her screams as I filled her with my seed, her golden light wrapping around us like a cloak. As soon as I came down, I stole her from Kian, taking her lips for my own. Sweeping my tongue into her mouth, I swallowed another moan as I reluctantly pulled my cock from her depths.

Fuck , I missed her already.

And other than a really good orgasm, we’d solved absolutely nothing.

Gently, I set Vale on her feet, keeping her steady as she got her bearings.

Kian’s gaze landed on her middle where there were five slashes showing her bare skin. The fabric sections of her corset were no match for Ithran’s metal claws. We’d need to get her a new one with full dragon scales from top to bottom instead of just at the sternum and ribs.

“Someone had better be dead.” His nostrils flared as his irises lengthened to the slits of his dragon. Blackened scales rippled up his neck.

“I took care of it,” Vale murmured, covering the slashes with her hand.

His attention moved to her ribs and the rip in her bodice. His eyes were full-on glowing now, but he kept his hold on his control. “Come on, little witch, let’s get you cleaned up before you meet the new council.”

I nearly staggered back on a foot, aching to rip her out of his arms. “What? No. Not after what just happened. We can’t trust them.”

The plan had been for the new council to get here much later, for Freya to do a bleed and read of the older members and the new to make sure they weren’t with the guild. Until that happened, Vale wouldn’t be safe.

I doubted she would be safe regardless.

“We can’t keep her in the dark, Xavier. We’ll lose her if we do.”

Kian’s voice in my head outside of his dragon form was a brand-new development. And while it was likely tied to us mating the same woman, it didn’t make me like his words one bit.

I tightened my hold on her. “The only way she’s walking in that room is with armor, you understand me?”

Vale whipped her head up to stare at me. “You’re not going to stop me?”

There was no stopping her—not really. And Kian was right. If we stood in her way, she’d find a way to leave us. I saw her in that throne room. Another betrayal, and she would never trust us again.

I was caught between protecting her body or her heart. At least if she had armor on, it would make one of those jobs easier.

“Haven’t you figured it out yet, little witch? There is no stopping you.”

I just hoped not standing in her way didn’t end up killing her.