Dragon Actually (Dragon Kin #1)(101)

“Everything all right?” he asked his remaining siblings.

They all nodded, but Addolgar motioned up the many stairs that led to what would now be Rhiannon’s bedchamber . . . his bedchamber.

“She’s gone up. Lots of activity with the servants since she went up there, too.”

Bercelak nodded as he stared up that long corridor. Strange how he suddenly felt a little . . . well, nervous. A Battle Lord who’d faced death on many, many occasions made nervous by one white dragon?

Then again . . . what if she’d changed her mind? True, they’d already been lovers but she coul d, in theory, make a case with the Elders. The thought that she may have changed her mind chilled the blood in his veins. He couldn’t lose her now.

Of course there was only one way to find out what she thought. And that was to face her head on, as his father had trained them all to do with every challenge.

“Worried she changed her mind?” Addolgar asked.

“It’s not an unreasonable thought.”

“Aye. Perhaps. But you’ll never know until . . .”

“I know. Until I face her.”

“The worse she can do, brother, is turn you to ash.”

Bercelak looked at his kin and his brother merely smiled.

“Bastard.”

With that last word, Bercelak headed up the stairs to his future.

Chapter 12

Bercelak walked into the queen’s chamber only to find it empty. Completely empty. Which seemed strange. He figured Addiena would at least have a treasure to rest upon.

Personally, he found lying on gold and jewels rather uncomfortable.

“Ah, my lord . . . the queen has moved chambers.”

Bercelak turned to look at who spoke to him, but he didn’t see anyone.

“Down here, my lord.”

He looked down and his eyes widened in surprise. This was no dragon in human form, but a human . . . sort of. It was actually a centaur. A female. Quite pretty—although she smelled like horse. Which made him a tad hungry.

“And you are?”

“I am attendant to the throne, my lord.”

“I’ve never seen you before.”

“I often stay in the shadows . . . as you can imagine, my lord.” She glanced at her hindquarter which was . . . well . . . a horse’s hindquarter. “It is much safer for me that way.”

With an understanding smile, Bercelak nodded his head. “I understand.”

“Please, my lord. Follow me. She’s waiting for you.”

“Is she armed?”

The centaur’s head tilted to the side. “I’m sorry?”

“Never mind.” He motioned to her. “Go. I will follow.”

She did and he admired the beauty of Rhiannon’s servant. Her hair and hide were a dark brown, but her eyes were a startling blue. Her long hair covered her chest, so she wore nothing but her skin and hide. How he’d never seen her before, he’d never know. But centaurs had strong Magicks, so perhaps she could protect herself from the dragons’ keen senses.

She stopped outside a smaller but still enormous chamber. “She is inside, my lord.”

“Thank you.”

With a small smile, the centaur said, “I will make sure no one disturbs you at least until morn.”

Bercelak chuckled and said again with much sincerity, “Thank you.”

Then she was gone. Just like that. Bercelak looked around but he couldn’t see her anywhere.

Interesting, but of no real concern. Besides, he had bigger issues at the moment.

With a deep intake of breath, Bercelak entered the new queen’s chamber.

“Rhiannon?”

He couldn’t see her anywhere. But he did see the enormous bed she had set up in one corner. That made him smile. Seemed his princess had come to enjoy the benefits of a human body.

On a whim, he shifted to human and walked toward the bed. “Rhiannon? Where are you?”

He reached the bed and looked down at the animal skins covering it. He felt his c**k harden at the thoughts of what he planned to do to his princess in this bed. What he planned to do to her for hundreds of years if all went as planned.

“Rhiannon?” he called again.

Suddenly she slammed into his back, her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist. She was human and deliciously naked.

“Ha!”

It took him a moment, but he realized Rhiannon was . . . well . . . attacking him.

Grunting, she had firm hold of his neck and actually tried to throw him on his back.

“What in bloody hell are you doing?” He wasn’t angry. Just greatly perplexed.

“What?” she panted as she did her best to drop him to the floor. “You thought this Claiming would be easy? You’ll have to fight for me!”

The fact she couldn’t get him to budge or even wind him, seemed to irritate her as she growled in his ear. Of course, the sound only made his c**k pulse in time to his heart and lust.

Crossing his arms over his chest and bracing his feet apart, “Didn’t I just fight for you?”

“No. You fought for your queen, who is me. But in order to Claim Rhiannon the dragoness . . . you’ll have to fight me.”

“Oh. Is that right?”

“Well, you didn’t think I’d just roll over, did you?”