Page 68 of The Death King
“Because…?” Her hair was slicked down the back of her neck. The fatigue in her eyes had quickly been replaced by a spark of anger, a shine that was inherently irresistible. Her body was beautiful under the water, the rivers flowing down her skin and in the cleavage between her tits.
“Because I want to.” My eyes dipped to her arms, seeing the bruises that had already started to form. They were deep black and purple, the hits from my sword too strong even for her armor. I hadn’t tried to hit her so hard. In fact, I’d tried to minimize the impact whenever I could, but it wasn’t enough. “I’m sorry that I hurt you.”
She was too proud to acknowledge the aches and pains. Her eyes continued to bore into mine with searing confidence. “You didn’t.”
It was a bald-faced lie, but I fucking respected it. I respected the fact that she refused to acknowledge defeat or weakness. That she would rather suffer in silence and bottle her resentment than give anyone an ounce of satisfaction. The longer I was in her presence, the more I understood General Titan’s obsessiveness. “I meant what I said. You were good.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ll never be what you are. You expect me to fight alongside you, but I’m utterly useless.”
“Trust me, it’ll get easier.”
“I don’t think it will.”
“Once you’re fused, it’ll turn into mere intuition.”
Her eyes moved back to mine, the question in their depths.
“The strength will make that sword feel weightless. Your reaction time will be reduced to a fraction of a second. Speed, agility, prowess will all come naturally. But I’m teaching you the basics now so you’ll know what to do once that power comes to you.”
She listened to every word, fully absorbed in everything I said. “So you wouldn’t be powerful if you weren’t fused with Khazmuda?”
“I wouldn’t be as powerful. My knowledge of the blade and my experience remain innate. I could best most of my foes without the power Khazmuda offers me—but it certainly makes it easier. It will be a great advantage to you.”
Water continued to cascade down her body as she remained entranced by my words. “Even if we find a dragon, I’m not sure why they would want to share that power with me. I’m not sure why they would want to fuse with me.”
“Khazmuda has great affection for you. I imagine another dragon will as well.”
“And where is that dragon?”
“Its exact whereabouts are unknown. But I have scouts always searching.”
“How do you know this dragon even exists?”
“Because I’ve seen him.”
She stilled, her gaze hardening at my words. “Did you speak with him?”
“He wasn’t interested in my cause.”
“Then why do you think he’ll change his mind?”
“Because I didn’t have a dragonian to offer him. Now I do. And I suspect he’ll be as intrigued by you as Khazmuda has been.”
She returned to her silent stare, her eyes boring into mine like she wanted more information that I didn’t have.
“Once I know where he is, we’ll travel to his location and proposition him once again.”
“I don’t see how you can convince a dragon to fight a war that has nothing to do with him.”
“It does concern him, but he chooses to ignore it because that’s easier.”
“How does it concern him?”
I didn’t want to answer. Didn’t want to share. But our intimacy came at a price. She had access to me in a way she hadn’t before. “Because his kin are prisoners of the new regime. Instead of risking his freedom to spare them, he’s chosen to abandon them—a choice I refuse to make.”
“But if he and Khazmuda are the only free dragons left, that won’t be enough to challenge this regime you speak of.”
“I think there are more dragons—just haven’t found them yet.”