“Please sit,” Zallra invited Lilly and Luc. They sat, as did the knights, and plates were shuffled down the table so Hal could finish his meal. A smaller plate with sweets was placed in front of Zallra by one of the youngsters who received a kindly smile in return.

  “I once traveled to Alric’s city in my youth,” Zallra told Lilly, speaking directly to her for the first time. “His father was King, then, and Alric not even born. Of course, I was still a child, myself, traveling with my family. I will be glad to revisit the place and see how it has fared all these years.”

  Lilly looked more closely at Zallra and realized she must not age like normal humans if she claimed so many years. All that dragon magic must prolong her life and her vitality.

  “Your pardon, milady, but do you intend to travel back with us?” Luc asked.

  Zallra nodded. “I do. It was foreseen that you would come and that I would go with you. It is the entire reason I volunteered to be part of my Queen’s Honor Guard when she came to Draconia with her mate, the Prince of Spies. I don’t know why, but I need to go with you to the Blind King’s domain, though after what you just told us, I believe it has to do with the Alchemists and their evil intention of breaching the Citadel. For that is a place all dragons are sworn to protect.”

  “They are?” Lilly asked, wide-eyed.

  Lilly had thought she’d been sent by Alric to the Veil to get the fair folks’ help. She had presumed they were the guardians of the Citadel. Could it be that it was their heartmates, the snow dragons, who were the real protectors? Or were they both responsible for the task?

  Lilly decided to shelve that thought for later consideration. Right now, this woman presented an unknown quantity that might interfere with Lilly’s quest…or aid it. She needed to learn more.

  “You said it was foreseen,” she addressed Zallra calmly. “By whom?”

  Zallra looked Lilly straight in the eye as she replied. “By me. I have the gift, though probably not as strongly as your King. Among the Jinn, the Blind King’s powers of foresight are well documented.”

  “If I may be so bold, what else did you see?” Lilly asked. She knew what Alric’s visions sounded like when he described them to her. Maybe she would be able to discern whether or not this magical woman was telling the truth by her description of the vision she claimed to have had.

  “The white dragon and myself, in my dragon form, flying side by side toward the city I had known in my youth. I see threats on all sides. Enemies hiding among friends. Armies gathering all around, preparing to attack. We must stop them.”

  Everyone at the table seemed to be holding their breath as the dragon-woman spoke. Finally, it was Hal who broke the silence.

  “Do the Jinn know how far it is from here to there? Our maps aren’t that accurate, I’m sorry to say, for anything that far east.”

  “The journey by air will take several days,” Zallra pronounced. “We will start out tomorrow. I have studied the Jinn maps in preparation for this journey. I have known I would be making it for some time now, and I’ve been taking steps to be ready. My bags are packed. I was just waiting for you three to arrive. Rest tonight, and on the morrow, we will set forth.”

  Luc wasn’t sure about this woman who claimed to be a seer. Although she was undoubtedly magical, he had not been aware that there were people who could become dragons. He would consult with Shilayla before he went much farther down the path this strange woman wanted to take them on. For all he knew, she could be leading them into a trap.

  “Shi, what is your take on this?” Luc asked silently on the pathway that joined his soul to his heartmate’s. “Can we trust her?”

  “Yes,” Shilayla answered at once. “All dragons protect the Citadel. It is our sacred task, entrusted to us by our maker. Lady Zallra is half-dragon. She could no more break that trust than I could, even though her other half is of human-wizard stock. Though, the Jinn are known to be tricksters, at times. She may tease you, but her dragon’s heart will always beat true. We are made that way. We cannot go against our basic nature.”

  “Are you absolutely certain?”

  “Luc, heartmate, have you ever seen, or even heard of, an evil dragon?” Shilayla posed the question, and Luc thought hard about his answer.

  She was right. There was no such thing as an evil dragon in his experience. Moreover, he’d never even heard any hint of a story about a dragon doing evil deeds anywhere in the world. Even though all his own experience was with snow dragons, he knew that even the wild ones were, at heart, good and noble creatures.

  “So, you believe her and think we should follow her lead?” Luc asked, just to be certain, though he knew Shilayla’s answer already.

  “I believe we must,” Shilayla answered promptly. “We need some sort of guide to get us back where we need to be. I do not know these lands, and though I could fly in the general direction of home, it would be much faster and simpler to have someone along on the journey who knows exactly where we need to go.”

  Luc, Lilly and Shilayla spent the rest of the evening in the great hall talking with Hal, Jures, Candace, Zallra and a number of dragons, including Tilden and Rue, of course. Almost every dragon in the Lair, Hal told them, had come in to see the snow dragon, and the most adorable little baby dragon—Tilden and Rue’s child—had come into the hall and sat with her parents, peering out from behind their wings to stare at Shilayla.

  Finally, Shilayla reached out to share one of the melons from a big basket a thoughtful server had put near her. Shilayla rolled it over to the dragon-child, who had caught it under one of her little talons then promptly raised it to her mouth to chomp noisily. After that, the little one seemed less timid around Shilayla, and eventually, she got brave enough to sit with Shilayla and share in the basket of melons.

  Luc didn’t know what they talked about, but it was clear the little dragonet was chattering away at Shilayla for a while, probably asking all sorts of questions, if he had to guess. Dragon children were as curious, in their way, as any other children, and he’d grown up with Shilayla at his side, the both of them always asking questions of their indulgent elders.

  Eventually, Lady Candace showed them to a suite where they could sleep for the night. Luc marveled at the design of the place, as did Shilayla. At the center of the suite was an oval pit filled with warm sand. Shilayla dove in and rolled around, much to Candace’s amusement. Lady Candace pointed out the brooms kept leaning against the walls all around.

  “Our dragon friends love to shine their scales in the warm sand, so we all spend a bit of time each day sweeping it back into the wallows,” she explained.

  “How is the sand kept so warm?” Lilly asked, bending down to dip her hand into the fine sand just at the pit’s rim.

  “It’s my understanding that the Lairs were built with the use of both science and some magic,” Candace told them. “I don’t know for certain, but I think the wallows were more on the magic side of things, since they were designed by and for the dragons.”

  Lilly stood and brushed off her hand. They followed Lady Candace around the perimeter of the dragon’s wallow, on a wide ledge sized for humans. Luc noticed the many archways leading off the ledge. Lady Candace stopped in front of the first arch and opened the recessed door.

  “This is the equipment room. Most of our suites are set up the same way. We keep equipment closer to the main entrance because fighting dragons and their knights would most likely need things on their way out of their suite as they headed off to their duty.” She closed the door and moved on. The next door was open, and she pointed as they passed. “A kitchen,” Lady Candace told them. “There are a few things stocked in the cupboards if you get hungry or thirsty in the night. There is both hot and cold running water in there, as there is in the bathing chamber, which is right here.” She indicated the door as they passed it. “The next are sleeping chambers,” she said, stopping in front of one and opening it. “I’ll leave you here. If you need anything or have any questions, your dragon partner can relay through the other dragons. Otherwise, I bid you all a good night.”

  Lady Candace walked back around the semi-circle of the wallow and left them alone. Shilayla was half-drowsing in the warm sand, and Lilly looked as weary as Luc felt. He opened the door wider and entered the dim room. A small lantern had been lit by someone in preparation for their arrival. He went to it and turned up the wick to make the place brighter.

  The room was dominated by a large bed, far bigger than any he’d ever seen. He wondered about it for a moment, then remembered the trios formed by the dragon knights of Draconia and their mates.

  “You can sleep here,” Lilly said decisively, turning for the door. “I’ll go look at the other chambers. Surely, with so many, there must be another bedroom.”

  Luc reached out to stop her, his hand on her arm. She turned but seemed determined to leave. How could he convince her to stay? He had to try. His body was clamoring for hers. Even his soul wanted her near, which he wouldn’t examine too closely.

  “Please stay,” he whispered, his heart overriding his sense.

  “I won’t be a novelty or convenience for any man,” she replied, her voice hard, her gaze suspiciously bright.

  “You could never be that to me,” he insisted. How could he make it clear to her that she wasn’t just a convenient woman to bed? That she could never be just a token human notch on his bedpost? She meant something to him. Incredibly, she had worked her way into his heart from the moment they’d first met.

  He didn’t know how this would all end, and he suspected their liaison was going to be only a short-term one. He was of the fair folk. She was human. Their peoples didn’t mix—and for good reason. Tying his long life to her short one would only end in heartache for him. All the bards agreed on that point.

  She met his gaze, her expression at war with itself. As if she too, was conflicted about this entire situation. Dare he hope that she was as attracted to him as he was to her? He’d suspected as much from the way she responded to his kisses.

  He read the same yearning in her eyes as he felt in his heart. The same passion too long denied.

  It was time to act.

  They were safe for now. Nothing could be accomplished until daylight, and Luc had different ideas for the night, anyway. The time had come. He wouldn’t wait any longer.

  “Come here, Lilly.”

  She turned to look at him, questions in her eyes, but he had no answers. All he knew was that he had to have her. Now. He wouldn’t be denied this time.

  “Luc—”

  “No more delay, Lilly.” He took her hand and drew her closer, reeling her into his arms. “This is our time. Our night.”

  He sealed the words with a kiss before she could object. He could feel her resistance fade away to nothing as he deepened the kiss, taking her down to the bed with him. They wouldn’t just sleep here tonight. No, tonight, they would make love for the first time. Tomorrow would take care of itself. All that mattered now was Lilly, here, in his arms. Where she belonged.

  He’d waited too long already to claim the woman that stirred his soul as no woman ever had before. He didn’t know what could come of their attraction, but that was a worry for another time. He eased back, taking Lilly with him, her lithe body over his as he broke the kiss.

  “Luc, I don’t think—”

  He put one finger across her lips, silencing her. “Don’t think. Just feel.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Luc’s fingers swept lightly over her skin, raising goosebumps in their path. He knew just how to touch her to make her lose all sense of reason. His hand trailed down from her mouth, over to her cheek, circling behind her ear, then tracing down her neck to her collarbone. All the while, his eyes spoke promises of passion and seduction.

  Truthfully, it didn’t take much to convince her. She’d wanted him almost from the first moments she’d seen him. What woman wouldn’t? He was everything she found attractive in a man. Intelligent, strong, willing to let her be who and what she was without trying to change her. Those were all points in his favor, but more, he had compassion, loyalty and a sense of honor she admired. He wouldn’t play her false. Not if he had any control over the situation.

  But Lilly feared neither of them could control this attraction between them. And it could be their downfall.

  So easily, she could love him. So easily, her heart could be broken beyond repair.

  But could she deny herself the pleasure of knowing his possession this one time? This one night?

  Lilly didn’t think she was strong enough for that. She wanted to know what it felt like to be loved by this magnificent man. Even if all they could have was this one night. This one moment out of time.

  His lips followed the path his fingers had taken, sending uncontrollable shivers down her spine as his hot breath fanned the flames of her rising passion. His mouth was hot against her skin, his tongue wet as it traced intricate patterns over her flesh.

  “Yes, Luc,” she whispered, her eyes closing with pleasure as he sucked lightly at her collarbone.

  He stopped.

  Lilly blinked open her eyes to find him staring at her, an indefinable light in his sparkling eyes. “What?”

  “I want to remember this moment for all time.” A soft smile touched his lips, enchanting her into the moment. “I want to remember the moment you finally said yes.”

  She laughed, and saw the answering light as his smile widened. Then, his gaze deepened, and his expression grew challenging.

  “Take off my shirt, Lilly. I want to feel your hands on me.”

  She wanted the same thing. Without further prompting, she reached for the hem of his short tunic and lifted upward, enjoying the smooth muscle she revealed inch by luscious inch. He lifted his arms to accommodate her work, and when the shirt was clear of his head, he threw it aside, letting her look her fill at him.

  Lilly’s mouth watered. She knew he was a warrior and one of the handsome fair folk, but she’d been unprepared for the pure masculine beauty of him. She leaned forward and placed her lips over his heart in a soft kiss—an homage to his perfection that led her downward. Luc cradled her head in a gentle grasp, his breath increasing as she kissed her way across hard pectoral muscles to masculine nipples that were starting to bead in excitement. She pounced on one, lavishing attention on it with her tongue and the light scrape of teeth as he growled, and the hands in her hair tightened.

  “Daring wench,” he groused with humor as he guided her head away from his tempting body. He swooped in for a deep kiss, his tongue invading her mouth with hot insistence as she whimpered under the sensual assault. When he let her up for air, her head was spinning with reaction to the passion that flared between them. He grinned at her, winking as he reached for the hem of her top. “My turn.”

  Her stomach did a somersault as Luc lifted the light top away from her body. She wore nothing underneath. His smile widened as her breasts bounced into view. He lifted the top clear of her head, and there, he stopped, pinning her arms above her head, entangled in the fabric.

  “I’ve dreamed of this. Having you captive and bare. Waiting for me.” Luc stared at her breasts, and she felt them tightening in response to the admiration she read in his gaze. One of his hands pinned her arms in the cloth behind her, but the other swept upward from her ribcage to cradle one breast, lifting it for his inspection…for his delectation.

  Luc leaned in and licked her nipple, sending sparks of sensation clear to her womb. When his mouth closed over the tip, sucking lightly, she began to squirm.

  “You like that?” he asked, looking up at her while his breath caressed her skin. “Answer me, Lilly. Tell me what you like.”

  It was hard for her. Lilly had never talked much at times like these, but then, she’d been with few men in her life, and none could compare with Luc. For him, she’d try. “Kiss me, Luc.”

  “Where?” His blue eyes dared her. “Your luscious mouth?” He leaned up and placed a peck on her lips that was far too short. “Or here?” He leaned in and caught one nipple between his teeth, scraping lightly before closing his lips over the tip and sucking it deep. When he let her go with a popping sound, his hand dipped to her waist. It moved farther down as he grinned at her. “Or do you want my kiss here?” He cupped her mound through the light covering of her pants.

  “Luc!” She’d never had a man even suggest that before, much less look as if it was the most important thing on his mind.

  He laughed. “Never had a man lick your pussy, Lilly? I’ll have to remedy that. I’ve been wanting to know how you tasted there for days now. In fact, I can’t wait any longer.”

  She couldn’t answer as long fingers swept inside her waistband and over her mound to tease the wet folds between her thighs. He held her gaze as he teased the nubbin that nearly sent her to the stars then dipped lower to thrust his middle finger up her tight hole. He pumped into her a few times, as he watched her, passion rising between them.

  When she was almost at a peak, he disengaged, removing his hand from her pants and bringing it to his lips. He licked at the glistening evidence of her arousal on his fingers, all the while holding her gaze. Something smoldered deep in his eyes, daring her to follow where he led.

  “I knew you’d taste like heaven itself.” His voice was a sultry purr that only served to drive her higher. “I want to lick you and fuck you with my tongue, Lilly. I want to hear you scream my name as you come on my tongue.”

  “Luc…” The whispered plea broke from her lips, but even she didn’t know what she was pleading for.

  “Yes, like that, Lilly. Only louder.” The humor was back in his eyes, mixing with the passion. It was a heady combination.

  He released the fabric that bound her arms behind her back and sent both hands to push at her waistband. Within moments, her pants were down around her ankles, and she felt only a momentary hesitation about kicking them off onto the floor.