“Time to be done,” he said, wheezing through bruised ribs.
He was sure his entire body must be purple and black. Searching, he finally
found the princess on a bed, asleep as her father had supposed. She was
beautiful, more lovely than any girl he'd had in his bed. And she had the spark
of magic. Priceless. Fishing the bean from his pocket he climbed up beside her.
He
didn't hesitate, not for a second. This woman would be his. He had walked
through hell for her. His lips were forceful on hers, prying them open. When
she inhaled, his breath filled her lungs. That was what was needed. The spell
wasn't broken with the kiss, but with the vapor that filled his mouth as he bit
the bean held between his teeth.
"Ah!" she shouted, scurrying back toward the
headboard. “Where's Tabitha?”
"No," he told her, gripping her shoulders to
prevent her escape. "I moved heaven and earth for you. You are giving me
what I need. Now, would you like to do this here, in relative privacy? Or we
can take you home where my father and yours will want to be sure we do this
correctly.”
“Why did you free me just to lock me up again?” she asked,
voice hard.
“Because. I need a kingdom. You’re going to give it to me.
Now, princess, make a little room for your husband.”
Pandora stared in shock at the man pressing himself down on
her. He was covered in blood. His hair was matted with it and a crusty mass
made up the left side of his face. Could he have been less appealing?
Magnificent, she thought, her eyes watering. He'd killed
him. There was no other way he could have gotten in. He was dead. The beautiful
dragon that had so fiercely wanted to protect her.
“Oh, don't cry. I won't make it painful.”
Her jaw tightened. Had he killed Tabitha, too? Had she and
her mother finished? She still had no idea why Tabitha had gone, what her
mother needed. She hoped it was worth it.
He roughly pulled up her skirt and she nearly kicked him. Would
have if he weren't still covered in armour that would likely break her toes.
“You aren't even going to take that off?” she asked,
batting her eyes and running her hand over the links on his chest.
“Oh, uh, yes. Of course I am.”
