“Sorry, I saw the door open,” he said a tad smugly, Dovidan a bit too casual with being in my bedroom as he leaned against the corner of my balcony with a princely smile. “Did you not want my company tonight?”
“Neither for nor against,” I replied honestly, “But I’d rather not get your opinion on my plan to crush the goblins.”
“That’s rather contradicting isn’t it? Seeing as I am part of the conclave.”
I rolled my eyes. “Exactly how long were you outside my door eavesdropping, anyway?”
“You aren’t exactly quiet, princess.”
“No, you just have sharp hearing.” I looked at him up and down. “How are you recovering?”
“Quicker than expected, but that’s beyond the point. Going behind your father’s back. Lucyna, even you know that’s not the brightest idea.”
“The alternative is letting him toss valuable dragon soldiers into the abyss.”
“Do you not trust his better judgment?”
“I am not at liberty to answer a question like that from the conclave.”
He chuckled. “Why? Do you think I will tattle on you?”
I scoffed.
“Seriously, hold off on this plan of yours. I bet Saphyra would advise the same.”
“Please, I don’t need you worrying about me.”
“It’s not just you I am worried about. If we move in without his approval, we are also taking men away from their posts elsewhere. It isn’t like we have warriors to spare.”
“I don’t think you understand how this will play out if we don’t set a precedent immediately!” I bared at him.
“Don’t you think the king knows that?”
“He isn’t in a position to make any decisions. Not in his current state.”
“You’re wrong, Lucyna. He is planning. He is planning as we speak.”
“You’d have every reason to lie to me right now and keep me from taking matters into my own hands.”
“Yes, you are right. But I’m not lying. Trust the conclave. I know you think we are a bunch of pompous brain-dead braggarts, but we aren’t. Well, maybe Gabot is, but three out of four ain’t bad. While your father has the last say in the actions of our forces, we are still able to guide him toward the right direction. What happened two nights ago was an eye-opener, princess. We aren’t as protected as we thought, and it’s about high time the king sees that.”
I dropped my shoulders down, letting the tension in them roll over me. My eyes furrowed at Dovidan. My heart wanted to believe him but my brain was saying I knew my father more than the four of them combined. He’d already made one critical mistake by satisfying the parley. I just knew deep down that he was capable of more foolishness, and the next mistake could cost us this war.
“Let us do our job,” Dovidan said, approaching me with a sincere glint in his tender eyes. “I will protect you and the kingdom. You have my word, princess.”
I pondered his words, feeling the weight of the responsibility burning in my chest. If I trusted them and they were wrong, it could mean the end for us all. But if I didn’t trust them and they were right, was the outcome just as dire?
“I’ll think about it,” I finally replied, not wanting to commit to either side just yet.
Dovidan reached his hand over my chin, lifting it up lovingly. “I cannot settle for that answer, princess.” He chuckled. “You might as well have said screw you, you over-glorified, narcissistic prick.”
He got a chuckle out of me. “So you think you know me? Enough to put words in my mouth?”
“You walk around as if you have the kingdom of Dradersi sitting heavy on your shoulders, with a face as cold as a rock. The way you speak, it’s like you’re reading your words from a script.” He whispered, Dovidan brushing closer to me, feeding chills down my back. “The way you move is ever so stiff. And the way you look down at the conclave, especially your father. You try to disguise the festering disappointment, but I can feel the frustration radiating from you, Lady Lucyna. Everything you do is carefully planned out to keep your true intentions, motives, and feelings locked up, and I can’t imagine the toll that does to one’s psyche.”
I could feel the insides of my stomach getting hot as he pulled his lips closer to mine. “Tell me, do you ever tire of putting up the mask? Do you ever tire of playing this tedious charade? This life you’re leading, it must be exhausting, and someone as hardworking as you deserves a break every now and again…” he said, his thumb tracing along the corner of my lips. I had nothing to say. Not a single word as I lost myself in his wanton eyes.
The way he looked at me, his aura, his movements, his voice… even the smell of him; everything about him was intoxicating, and I couldn’t look away.
“Spend the night with me, Lucyna…” he whispered in a yearning heavy breath, Dovidan making butterflies flutter in my chest. “Let me offer you a night of freedom. A night where you can let go of all of your burdens and your bearings.”
I knew I shouldn’t say yes, but his words were like a siren song, tempting me to follow him into unknown waters. My heart was racing—I’d vowed to put all of my blood into my country, letting nothing distract me from my purpose in the kingdom. Not family, not personal desires, and definitely not love. But Dovidan was different. He’d saved me. It wasn’t my father who ran to help me in the explosion, or even my trusted titan guard. It was my crush, the pretty boy and magnet of affection to every woman in the court. He had eyes for me, and I’d ignored it for years. But he was right. I was tired. I needed a break from being the boulder that sustained the furious sea at the center of the storm. I was tired of supporting my father and cleaning up after his mess! I was done being the dragon princess for tonight—I just wanted to be Lucyna.
Wounded, I yearned for tenderness and care. I craved feeling like a woman for once, and nothing stopped me from leaning in and taking his lips into mine, letting the passion between us ignite into a blazing inferno. His lips were soft and pliant, and I felt the warmth of his body pressed against mine as our tongues danced together in a wild and frenzied kiss.
As we pulled away, gasping for breath, I looked up into his dark eyes and saw a hunger there that mirrored my own. He took me by the waist and pulled me flush against him, his hands roaming over my body as he devoured me with his gaze.
I felt a tingle of desire shoot through me at his touch, and I knew that I wanted him more than anything in that moment. As he kissed his way down my neck, I felt myself giving in to the pleasure, the weight of my responsibilities fading away with every passing moment. For this one brief night of ecstasy, I was unshackled, lost in the throes of passion with a man who made me feel wanted.
But the sensation was short-lived…
Matissa broke into my bedroom and ran toward me as Dovidan cradled me in his arms, the terrified expression on her face making his hold on me faint.
“My lady!” she panicked.
“Matissa, what is it?”
“Jezz and Redfeur have escaped their cells!”
