Page 34 of The Cursed Queen

Drayce took a long moment before deflating in resignation. "Perhaps not, but it wasn't the princess's fault. She clearly did not know what was taking place behind closed doors."

I noticed how hard he was trying to defend our mate. His natural instinct combined with the fated bond was causing him to be protective of the princess. I also felt the pull in my core. My dragon was eager to see her. He sensed her distress, and wantedto make sure she was okay, but I had to remind myself that Andriel and Virgil were with her now. Andriel was also fated to Princess Seraphina, so he wouldn't let anything happen to her.

"I'm sure that Ladon is aware of that, but right now, he's in pain. Too much pain to be thinking logically. I'm sure within time he'll realize that Seraphina isn't the enemy," I said.

"So, you believe she's telling the truth? That she never knew about the cruelty towards us shifters, and that she wants to help free the rest of our people?" Drayce asked.

"Oh, I have no doubt." I was surprised by how firmly I believed it, even when I spent no time with her. But Andriel seemed to, and he believed in Seraphina. Andriel was one of our best dragon warriors in the den, with a firm grasp on reality and an excellent judge of character. He wasn't the type to be fooled by someone obviously playing a trick on him. Then again, she was bound to us all. Would that influence our judgment? For me, my feelings were unwavering. I held onto the belief that the princess was on our side.

"So do I," Drayce muttered, then rubbed the back of his bald head. "But what about us? Where does this leave our relationship?"

My heart stuttered as that agonizing question loomed over our heads. "No idea. I don't want to say goodbye to you."

"I don't either." Drayce reached for me and gripped my upper arms. "I love you, Ryu. You're the most important person in my life."

"I love you too. In a perfect scenario, if the princess had to choose between us, she would decide to be with Andriel. Then you and I could stay together, and Ladon could go on with his life without the princess. But would your dragon be okay with someone else claiming her when you can't?"

Drayce's lips quivered as he struggled to find the right words to say. I could tell he wanted to deny it, to say it wouldn't botherhim or his dragon, but I knew the truth because I felt it, too. The mere thought of Seraphina not wanting to choose me as her mate felt like ice in my veins. As much as I didn't want to accept that she was meant to be mine, she was part of my soul now.

"No," Drayce finally let out before huffing out an exasperated breath. "Why did this have to happen? Why is she fated to us? Both of us! How is that even possible?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I wish I knew. But now, all we can do is accept it and move forward. If she chooses one of us, then we have to respect it and say our goodbyes."

"No!" Drayce charged for me, even as I feigned right and backed away. My lover moved with me until my back was against the wall. His hands shifted to his long, obsidian talons and reached out, shattering the stone beside me. I was pinned in the middle, his six-five height towering over my five-ten. His eyes were engulfed in crimson flames, teeth bared as he looked down at me.

I didn't fear him. Drayce would rather tear the wings off his back before inflicting pain on me, so I knew I was safe. But I was suffocating in the heated fog of emotions that were seeping out of his body. Anger, desperation, love, lust. My heart quickened as Drayce lowered his head down to my neck, inhaling my scent from the spot between my neck and shoulder. He stuck his tongue out and slowly licked a trail along my skin.

I let out a shaky gasp, heat flaring from my core and traveling down to my groin. My love's arousal enhancing my own.

"Mine," he growled, the voice of his human and dragon forms married together.

By the gods, how his dominance and ownership of me sent a chill running down my spine. My cock was now rock-hard and pitching a tent in my pants.

His throat rumbled with approval as he brought a hand down and took hold of my stiff erection.

My voice went up a pitch, pleasure coursing through me as Drayce began a slow steady rhythm of his hand running up and down my cloth-covered length.

"You will always be mine, you hear me?" Drayce whispered in my ear, his voice dropping lower. "If you think I'm willing to surrender you that easily, you're sorely mistaken."

"F-Fuck." My voice cracked under the influence of Drayce's hold over me.

I didn't want him to surrender me. I wanted to be his, always and forever, but he had to know that this was beyond our control now. We couldn't stop what fate had in store for us, but if he wished to pretend that we could still have this—at least for a bit longer—I was more than happy to oblige.

This moment would have to last for an eternity.

Drayce backed away, his dark eyes hungry for more. "Take them off. Now."

I swallowed and began undoing the sash around my waist. Letting it fall to the floor, I then pulled off my robe, letting it fall as well. I regarded my lover, who was watching me intently. His sole focus was on me. The desire was evident in the way he struggled to keep control. I loved knowing how much he wanted me, even when we used to hate each other. Back then, I could tell he found me fascinating. The gentle breeze that stirred his fire, as he used to say.

He licked his lips as his eyes roamed my bare chest, holding back from taking me now and devouring me like a fully cooked feast.

"Continue," he growled.

I chewed on my bottom lip as I undid the tie of my pants. Thankfully, I hadn't put on my sandals or boots, so I let the pants fall until they were in a puddle under my feet. I pulled them away from me then kicked them to the side, standing there completelynaked, fully erect, and anticipating more, for my lover to enjoy with his eyes.

And enjoy, he did. He stalked over to me with sharpened gaze before hoisting me off my feet. He carried me to my bed, where he gently laid me down, his eyes continuing to roam over my body. Drayce rested a hand on my chest, his fingers running down along my skin, his dark complexion a stark contrast to my fair features. We were opposites of one another. He was dark, rough, and quick to anger, whereas I was pale, soft, and with a clearer mind.

Despite our differences, we came together to form a love that most shifters only dreamed of having. We weren't fated to one another, a disappointment to both of us, but we loved as strongly as one would a fated pairing.