Dragon’s Temptation: Red Planet Dragons of Tajss Book Fifteen Page 14

  My quarters, my pallet have always been a place for me to recharge and nothing more. This is the first time that I’ve found either lacking. It’s because she’s not here with me.

  I do not fall asleep quickly. Thoughts of what Ashlee and I shared haunt me. Pull me toward her. A sudden urge to go to her, to throw it all away hits me, but I know I should not return.

  It’s an effort of will but I stay in place and attempt to clear my head. It doesn’t work, but eventually I fall asleep due to exhaustion more than anything else. The sleep is not a deep one. I toss and turn fitfully, my normally placid sleep cycle well and truly ruined.

  A knock on my door stops my tossing and turning. Rising, exhaustion lying heavily on my muscles, I open the door, expecting the worst.

  “Tashak wants you,” the smaller Zmaj at the door says without preamble.

  “Why?” I growl.

  He steps back, his eyes widening and his hands coming up defensively. Control slams in as he composes himself and he salutes.

  “I do not know,” he says.

  “Fine,” I say, dismissing him.

  “Second dining hall,” he says, backing away.

  “Got it,” I bark.

  He turns and races away. Rubbing my face to scrub away the dredges of my fitful sleep, I straighten my robes and head to the meeting place. When I enter the dining area there is a meal set out on a side table. The long, low black lacquer table has intricately carved legs, the designs of which match the comfortable floor cushions set out in neat rows on either side. The seats are made of supple leather, undyed so it is a natural tan color that matches the earth tones of the room. The pillars bordering the room frame the intricate, colorful tapestries hanging in each section. There are more tables, but they are unoccupied.

  Except for one where Nora, Archion, and Ashlee are sitting. The sight of her halts me in my tracks. I did not expect to see her, though I do not know if I could have prepared myself even if I did.

  The three of them continue talking while I pause to take in her beauty. Her silky hair, her soft skin, the lively light in her eyes as she gestures with delicate hands. I want to pull her into my arms, claim her as my own, but my desire is not the only thing to consider.

  It clashes directly with my sense of duty once more, a pained tangle that I do not know how to endure. No matter how I feel, I must fulfill my duties. I force myself across the room and sit down across from Ashlee, careful not to be too close. I do not trust myself.

  Ashlee looks at me briefly, but then looks away. I can’t read her face or what she is thinking.

  “I am glad to see you are well,” I say to Nora.

  “Thank you. I don’t know what happened,” she says, looking at Archion.

  He covers her hand with his own, concern on his face.

  “It is okay,” he reassures her before turning his eyes to me.

  “Do you know what this meeting is about?” he asks.

  “I was only told that Tashak needed to meet with me,” I shrug. “I did not know you would be here.”

  The other three exchange glances. Fortunately, we do not have to wait much longer before the sound of a gentle gong fills the room. Archion and I rise. Archion grips Nora’s elbow and helps her stand, just as I reach across to tug Ashlee to her feet as well. She gives me an uncertain look but follows along.

  We do not have time to explain what the gong means before the doors open and Tashak enters, resplendent in his colorful robes. Guards flank him on either side, six in total, their gazes sharp as they take in the room. I know if we make even one slight untoward move, they will be upon us.

  Dressed in the red robes of a Councilor’s personal guard, they take up practiced stances across the room, shifting to stand directly between each pillar. It is as much to separate themselves evenly as it is for aesthetic reasons. The Council is not above ceremony. Tradition.

  Tashak pauses, meeting each of our gazes before he takes a seat at the head of the table, his robes elegantly pooling around him.

  “You may be seated,” he orders.

  Archion and I give a slight bow, Nora and Ashlee take the cue and mimic us. We take our seats as quietly as he did.

  “Eat. We need to speak, but do not allow the food to grow cold,” he says, waving a hand over his plate.

  Archion serves Nora and I serve Ashlee before serving myself. Her gaze locks with mine as I hand her a filled bowl. Something passes between our locked eyes, but I break the contact. This is not the time.

  “Nora,” Tashak begins once we have settled with our food. “I am curious to know if this episode was the first one of its kind? Have you experienced others?”

  Nora looks at Archion before speaking.

  “It is the first that I know of,” she answers, her demeanor guarded.

  “Do you have any recollection of what happened?” he asks.

  “Yes,” Nora says, barely above a whisper, her gaze growing distant. “But not as if I were fully there.”

  Tashak nods, his gaze sharp.

  “Can any more of your people do the same?” he prods.

  “Nothing like Nora just did,” Ashlee interjects.

  “Really?” he asks, tilting his head. “What exactly can your people do?”

  “What Nora did was unique,” Ashlee continues, clearly skirting the subject. “But I have heard of people who have received... feelings, or visions I guess you would say.”

  Tashak leans forward, clearly fascinated as he listens to Ashlee and Nora speak on various instances. If he is interested, the rest of the Council Seers will be too. Perhaps this inquiry is the first progress toward talks centering around an alliance and trade.

  It also weighs in on Archion’s side. It is clear that everything else Archion was pitching is not as important to Tashak as what Nora did and other similar experiences that their group has had. Interesting.

  We continue eating in silence, waiting for what Tashak will do or say next. Toward the end of the meal, Tashak sits back, a thoughtful expression on his face. Archion catches my eye and I know what he’s thinking. He sees an opening and he’s going to press into it.

  “Have you reached a decision about my ranking... and about Nora?” Archion asks carefully.

  Tashak looks him over, his face still. There’s a beat of silence, then two before he nods slowly.

  “You may retain your position if you wish,” Tashak offers. “And your mate Nora is welcome to live among us.”

  I keep firm control over my expression. The complete shift in viewpoint is shocking in itself but Archion decides to take this opportunity to ask for more.

  “Would it be possible to travel back and forth to the city?” Archion asks. “My thanks for being so generous, but I ask for my mate.”

  Tashak nods.

  “I will take the matter under advisement,” he says, firmly enough to end more discussion on the subject.

  Archion nods and gives his thanks.

  “I will be recommending someone remain posted in the city. I think it would act as a good gesture on our part. An indication that we are open toward a possible alliance. And, hopefully, a unified and long-lasting peace.”

  I would never have predicted this meeting would go this well. It is more hopeful that I know any of us anticipated upon entering.

  “For now, all of you have clearance to move around the lower hall.”

  I sit up straighter at that. They’re being allowed to move around? This is my opportunity. I start planning the tour I want to take Nora and Ashlee on and I hope Ashlee will find it memorable. Maybe I can arrange to be alone with her again.

  My prime cock stiffens and throbs the instant the thought occurs. Looking across the table at her there’s an ache in my core. I know this has gone too far already. The path before us is going to be difficult even with the Council shifting their position. How far will I be able to push this?

  Will they let me have my mate? Will I have to choose between desire, fate, and my duty?

  Tashak r
ises and exits the room escorted by his guards, leaving the four of us alone. I imagine they are as stunned as I am as we all sit in silence for a long moment. Archion exhales heavily and shakes his head.

  “That was… unexpected,” he says.

  “Right?” Ashlee asks, shaking her head.

  Her brow furrows and I’m enraptured by the wrinkle that forms on her forehead, the way her nose pulls up, and her eyes shine with bright intelligence.

  “So…” Nora says, looking around the room. “This is good, right?”

  “Yes,” Archion says, his voice filled with certainty, but he looks at me and I know he’s as uncertain as I am as to what happened.

  Something has changed, but what it is or what it means, only the passage of time will tell.

  “Let’s show the females around,” I suggest, keeping my voice carefully schooled so as not to betray any of my own confusion.

  18

  Ashlee

  We rise and leave the dining area together. As we walk down the tunnel where apparently the lower warriors tend to congregate, we naturally split into two groups. Archion and Nora walk along in front of us, while Khal lingers behind with me.

  “Would you like a drink?” he asks, smoldering eyes locked onto me.

  Maybe he thinks it’s the best introduction to the lower hall, or maybe he just thinks it’s a good icebreaker.

  “The brewery is modest, but the drink is good,” he adds. “Also the atmosphere tends to be relaxed with a lot of the other warriors ending their shifts there.”

  I nod at him, smiling slightly. A bar. On Tajss. The novelty of it is enough to intrigue me.

  “Sure. I could do with a drink.”

  Why not? He smiles and the tension leaves his shoulders and face. Obviously he’s relieved at my acceptance. Did he think I would be angry or hostile? I’m not sure but he leads me off from Nora and Archion. I share one last look with her and she gives me a knowing smile before she’s out of my sight.

  Great, am I that obvious?

  Khal leads us into a dimly lit area. Small tables dot the open space and a long bar, exactly like something that would have been on the ship, makes it obvious that this is the brewery. It’s incredible. Uncanny—is the consumption of alcohol in dimly lit spaces really a universal language? The novelty of it makes me giggle causing Khal to glance over his shoulder at me. I hold up a hand, giggling harder when he looks.

  “It’s nothing,” I say, trying to keep my voice down.

  The other patrons are glancing at me, causing my cheeks to warm. Khal nods and takes me over to the bar area where there are various drinks and mixed elixirs.

  I look around the room, taking in the new space. The room is simple enough, with intricately carved symbols upon the walls, simple low tables with tough cushions to withstand food and drink, tapestries on the walls, and skins on the floor. The colors are warm in here, oranges and reds intermixed with the more natural earth tones. It’s clearly a place to come when one wants to relax, the design deliberately meant to comfort. Currently, there are more than a few warriors congregating in groups, sipping at their beverages. A few are clearly on their fourth or fifth, their eyes at half-mast as they almost slump over tables.

  The ones who are more alert watch us curiously for a moment before turning back to their friends. The novelty of humans can’t last forever, I guess.

  “You may sit here,” Khal says, gesturing toward one of the stools near the counter. “I will prepare a drink for you.”

  I slide onto the stool, one of the few in the room. Zmaj gravitate toward sitting on the floor with their tails and wings to deal with, but apparently preparing drinks is easier upon a high counter.

  “What are you mixing?” I ask, curious as he pulls a tall, slick mug from under the counter.

  “Frizzna,” he says, finding a bottle and pouring it into the mug. “It is sweet and warm.”

  I watch Khal pour careful portions, using a slim mixing stick to stir the liquid together. It forms a unique burnt-orange color. When he sets it on the counter in front of me, I can’t help but admire it.

  “Oh!” I exclaim, pulling the drink closer. “It’s so pretty!”

  He smiles broadly, nodding and motioning with a hand for me to try it. The mug is surprisingly cool to the touch. Almost frosty, which I would have thought impossible on Tajss. It can only mean one thing. Tech. Some kind of refrigeration is the only explanation, but there is no technology apparent.

  That must be the reason Tashak allowed Nora and me access only to the lower hall. I don’t know what they have, but the medical device that snotty medic used on Nora would also indicate they have working advanced tech. Probably against their protocol to tell us, just like everything else.

  I kind of understand. Information has to be guarded until we’re considered safe.

  “It is known for its color and its sweetness. Try it,” he urges, while I sit cupping the cool mug in my hands and allowing my thoughts to run rampant.

  I nod enthusiastically and lift the mug to my lips. When I take a sip, my eyes widen in reaction, then I take a bigger sip.

  “Oh, this is delicious!” I look at the containers he drew from. “Is there fruit in here? And how much alcohol is in there? I feel like there is a trailing warm buzz sliding down to my belly.”

  It’s good. Really good. I take another sip. Khal nods, clearly enjoying my reaction.

  “A mixed fruit purée,” he explains.

  I nod, setting the mug down.

  “This stuff could be dangerous,” I observe. “I could see drinking two or three of these because it tastes so good.”

  “It has been known to happen,” he admits, grinning.

  I grin back and feel the edges between us softening.

  “I appreciate the trust Tashak is showing for us,” I say, leaning closer and keeping my voice down. “This tour is how I originally imagined the Order’s outpost would greet us when we first arrived.”

  His expression turns serious. He leans against the counter, keeping his voice low as well.

  “I know we have not treated you with the best of manners,” he says. “There were a lot of suspicions for Tashak to dispel. It feels as though real progress is being made. Tashak is speaking with the Council now. We will know soon enough if they are interested in moving forward and planning a meeting with Visidion. Before Nora’s episode... I was not at all certain that would happen.”

  I nod thoughtfully. After seeing what Nora is capable of, I had ascertained that they were leaning toward a yes, but I also haven’t met the other Council members yet. Maybe they have even bigger sticks up their butts than Tashak does. What’s even more interesting to me is the idea of appointing a diplomat to the city.

  “So... Tashak mentioned the Council might appoint a diplomat to stay in the city,” I say, looking up at him through my lashes. “It would be nice to have more time to... get to know one another.”

  The words hang heavy in the air filled with invitation and implication. Nice to get to know one another, yes. Nicer to wake up with him next to me.

  But I can only imagine the conflict he’s dealing with internally, and the fact that he has obligations and duties here. It’s clearly affecting him. He leans against of the counter, his attention so focused on me that it’s boring in with an intensity I’ve never experienced. As it has been ever since we left the meeting with Tashak. His attention is heady, and I don’t want it to end. His eyes are warm as he regards me.

  “More time with you sounds perfect,” he whispers, a tinge of heat in his voice.

  His eyes are dark, filled with thoughts that send a shiver down my spine. I clench my thighs together. He moves on to other topics, describing each of the spirits that are encased in the various bottles and barrels. It’s clear the Order isn’t against alcohol at least, but he could be talking to me about anything really.

  He flirts with his eyes, with his focus, with his attentiveness. At the same time he remains deliciously mysterious. That’s enough to
have my heart opening a crack, enough to have me ready to follow where he leads.

  “Would you like to see another chamber? One I opened specifically for us?”

  His voice is low, his eyes hot, warming my skin as they drift up and down across me, scanning, drinking me in. It’s clear what he means. Good thing I want exactly what he does.

  “Yes,” I respond simply.

  He doesn’t wait—grabbing my hand he leads me out of the brewery and down the hall, away from the prying eyes.

  The chamber he leads me to is pretty. Plush rugs, one large tapestry on the opposite wall, but most importantly, there is a huge pallet with fresh white covers. Khal closes the door behind us and turns to me.

  “I’m sorry I left you alone,” he whispers.

  I know he’s referring to after...

  “It’s okay.”

  He shakes his head, stepping closer.

  “I wanted to stay.”

  I nod.

  “I know.”

  I do. I’ve been watching him struggle the whole time. He swallows, gingerly reaching out to touch my hips. When I don’t move away, he pulls me in close, his eyes searching my own.

  “I want...”

  I don’t wait for him to finish.

  “Yes.”

  I raise my arms up, wrapping them around his neck. He sighs, leaning down to kiss me. This time it isn’t the ravenous push toward completion, but rather a gentle coming together. I sink into the languorous meeting of mouths, my tongue slowly sliding against his.

  We move over to the pallet together, in no rush as we sink into the plush cushion. We touch each other gently, the kisses long and deep. I sigh as his hand slides under my shirt, the heat of it against the small of my back sending a shiver through me.

  The desire deepens and I start to feel that rush, that urge to reach the finish line.

  Our hands grow impatient, tugging and pulling off clothes as we roll on the pallet, trying to get everything off without separating our mouths. We manage to do it, more or less.