The Last Dragon King (Kings of Avalier #1)(51)

I raised my hand, calling a ball of fire into it. “Back up, or escort me to Drae. I don’t care which, but get out of my way.”

Cal sighed, stepping out of the way. “I’ll escort you to him and then right back here,” he said.

I took off running, not bothering to wait.

If the king was going to seek revenge in Joslyn’s name, then I was going to help him.

I knew where he would be—in the stables preparing to ride with his army. I ran through the hallway, my legs still shaky from the trauma of seeing Joslyn killed right in front of me. I couldn’t get the image of her body lying in the puddle of crimson blood out of my head. Streaking across the grassy pathway to the barn, I found him addressing a small contingent of six Drayken guards, Regina included.

“I’ll shift forms and fly two of you on my back into Nightfall territory—”

When he saw me approach, he stopped talking. “Arwen,” he growled, and then looked to Cal.

“I’m going,” I demanded.

Regina sighed, whisking away the five other guards, plus Cal, and then it was just Drae and I.

“You cannot go. This is not up for discussion,” he announced.

I narrowed my eyes at him and stepped closer until our toes were nearly touching. “I’m not staying back here to be your safe little backup,” I spat. “I’m more than my womb. I’m a warrior, and I’ll fight for Joslyn’s honor with or without you!”

His head reeled back as if I’d slapped him. “I… I don’t see you simply as a womb, nor just a backup,” he growled.

“Lies,” I snapped. “That’s all you’ve seen of me from day one. Joslyn too. She was going to stay with you, you know that? She mentioned to me in the garden that even though you told her you would never love her, that she would stay and do her duty to give you an heir.”

He froze, his breaths coming in and out in ragged gasps. “I told Joslyn I wouldn’t love her… because I’ve fallen for another,” he said.

I went very still, my heart beating so fast I thought it might jump out onto the ground and show him how nervous I was.

“Who?” I asked timidly, praying I knew the answer.

“You. I want you,” he pressed.

I gulped, everything inside of me warring with the other. Joslyn. Backup. Kissing Cal. Royal womb. Heir. Backup. Backup. Backup.

“You don’t want me. You need me—you need my womb,” I clarified, unable to get over the truth of the matter. If Joslyn weren’t dead right now, and I weren’t his only option at a child, would he still be saying all this?

“You are an impossible woman!” he screamed, lunging for me.

I stumbled backwards, thinking for a wild second that he might hit me. I should have known better. His hand came around the back of my neck and then he yanked me forward, pressing his lips to mine.

I gasped, inhaling his breath. My lips opened and our tongues crashed together. Our kisses always seemed to be this way, angry, passionate, and feverish. His other hand came around my lower back and he pressed my stomach into him. I moaned at the feeling of his body flush with mine; heat built between us, and I slipped my tongue across his, feeling the world tilt.

There was a hungriness to his kiss that I loved. It was like he was starved for my taste and couldn’t get enough. I wanted to consume him all the same but one word kept playing out in my head.

Backup.

Was he only kissing me now that Joslyn was dead and I was his only chance at an heir? Did I blame him? Did I still want his affections if they were fake?

I pulled away from him, no longer drunk on his lips, and reached up to grab my mouth.

His brows dipped in concern as he watched me.

“I respect the position you are in but…” I took a deep breath. “I’m too good to be anyone’s backup plan.” I held my chin high, knowing full well that this might get me killed. This could have been the only reason he was keeping me alive, and now that I was denying him, he would do what my mother warned all along.

He grabbed his chest as if I’d stuck a blade in it. “Arwen, you’re… you don’t understand—”

“My lord!” Regina’s sharp voice came from behind us both and I jumped. “Morning light approaches. If we want to do this and get home under the cover of darkness, we must go now.”

I looked to Drae. “I’m flying. I can carry one on my back.” The only sane way into Nightfall territory was by air. Their borders were the most secure in all the realms.

His eyes glowed orange. “You’ve never carried anyone before.”

“I’m small,” Regina said, “she can carry me. I know how to remain still and not throw her off balance.”

“It’s settled,” I stated, and walked into the barn past the king to take off his tunic I was wearing and shift.

They argued a little outside but I didn’t care. I was going. I felt even more guilty now for kissing the king before Joslyn’s body had barely been dead an hour. I had to seek revenge. When I was fully shifted, I stepped out of the barn and into the open pasture, where the king had also shifted into his dragon form. I gasped as I noticed the small patches of human skin peeking through his black scales, as if he couldn’t fully shift.

“It’s getting worse,” Regina noted, and I froze, the gravity of seeing him like that weighing on me.