Aspen (The Dragon Kings #2)(52)

Sid growled.

Everett laughed.





Had she died? Was this Heaven? The intoxicating smell of lilies floated by. Birds sang in the trees. A man sat next to her. He looked familiar, but Aspen couldn’t place him.

“Who are you?” she asked.

He took her hand in his, and Aspen’s heart fluttered. “Who do you think I am?”

“I don’t know. Am I dead?”

He grinned at her, and butterflies floated in her stomach. “If you are dead, then I must be an angel. That will work, hmm.”

Where was this? She felt no sense of self or identity and couldn’t even remember her own name. She felt light and happy and wanted the man sitting next to her. If this was Heaven, she was pleased.

The man stood up and walked away. She didn’t want him to leave. She followed. He paused at a patch of flowers and plucked out a lily and slid it into her hair. He moved his hand so that it caressed the curve of her jaw, and his fingers rested lightly on her chin. Her heart raced, and her stomach burned with desire.

“A flower for my angel, for if I’m to be an angel, then so will you.”

Aspen watched his mouth as he spoke. He had entrancing lips. She reached her hand up and traced his lips with her fingers. He closed his eyes and sighed. She took advantage of his sightlessness and moved closer to him. When he opened his eyes, he snaked his arms around her waist and pulled tight, his lips on her ear.

“I thought the goal was to make you want me, my dear Aspen, not the other way around.”

His words surprised her. Her name. Her name was Aspen. She lived in Yellowstone with a twin brother and her parents. She knew this man. But she couldn’t remember who he was.

He pulled away and intertwined his fingers with her, and her mind clouded once again. He led her along a path. The trees over hanged, and the wisteria tickled her nose. He glanced back at her every few seconds and smiled, her stomach flip-flopping each time. She heard the rushing of water.

The path opened to a large pond with a tall waterfall. She knelt down next to the pond and dipped her fingers in it. It was warm, like a bath. The scent of jasmine in the steam. She inhaled. Her angel sat down next her, his back to the pond. He nuzzled her neck, and the butterflies in her stomach fought to get out.

“Would you like to go for a swim?” he asked.

She wished she understood his pull, his magnetism. She’d say yes to just about anything he asked at this point.

“Of course, but I don’t have a suit.”

“No need for that.”

He stood up and began taking off his clothes. Aspen wondered how far this would go. She didn’t think sex was allowed in Heaven. She was relieved, yet disappointed, when he stopped at his boxers. He jumped in the water, and she stripped down and followed.

She dove in deep. When she surfaced, he was inches from her. His hands found her ribcage, and his legs teased her. She felt his breath on her ear once again. “Obsidian was a fool for letting you go.”

Obsidian. Sid. Her boyfriend.

The angel looked at her again, his face moving toward hers.

The angel had a name. It was Theo. He was dating Ella, and he was about to kiss her.

His lips brushed hers, and she remembered it all. This was a test. A test she was failing. She pulled away, whipped her hand back, and punched Theo as hard as she could and then swam for the shore. She didn’t bother picking up her clothes. She ran. There had to be a way out of there. The forest disappeared, and she was in the cave once again.





Aspen appeared surprised to find herself in the pit. Theo sat about ten feet behind her, sopping wet with blood gushing from his nose. Eros scowled at her.


Everett roared with laughter. I haven’t had this much fun in 2000 years. I hope she makes it. She’ll be a fabulous queen.

Fine then, Sid said. Stop the test right now and declare her queen.

Everett suddenly calmed. That is not in my power. She seems strong. She could still survive this.

Sid was very pleased that she rebuffed Theo. He was still going to punish Theo. He changed back into his dragon form, and Aspen put her clothes back on.

Eros backed up and nodded to Sid’s sister. Pearl stepped forward, placed her snout on the top of Aspen’s head, and left the room. Aspen turned in a full circle. She rubbed her forehead, then sat on the stone floor and waited.

Your sister just transferred the power to feel what others are feeling to Aspen. Pearl is on her way up here now, Everett said.

Hey, bro, Pearl said. Damien’s in love with your girl. Looks like you’ll have some competition after you get out of here. Theo followed close behind her. Sid glowered at him.

If we get out of here, Sid replied.

Don’t be so gloomy, Pearl said. She is doing unusually well. By the way, we are skipping Xanthous. He said that she passed his test when she demanded to be made the dragon queen.

What was Xanthous’s test?

I’m not exactly sure, since I haven’t witnessed it before, but it has something to do with being persuasive. Xanthous is convinced that she can persuade quite well. Oh look, here they come. Each of those five dragons has lost a mate within the last two weeks. They are grieving deeply. We will still feel some of their grief up here, but it will not be unbearable.

Pearl settled next to Everett, and Theo came around to his other side.

You are not welcome to stay and watch the rest.