Elias paused. His gaze fixed on Gerard’s face. He stared.

  Since the attack, Gerard had not had sex in the light. He always ensured complete darkness. But there were no torches to douse, candles to blow out, or darkness to hide in here in the tent, not whilst the afternoon sunlight still beat down on the canvas.

  After a second, Elias released the robe. He slid his hands down along the seams. The fabric fell closed, covering Gerard’s scars. Gerard exhaled.

  Elias’s hands slid further down, towards Gerard’s groin. Elias pushed the robe open, revealing Gerard’s thighs and hard cock. He hummed and looked up and met Gerard’s gaze.

  “And what favour would you request of me, oh mighty Dragon Warrior and champion of the Tournament of Dragons?” Elias licked his lips.

  Gerard’s cock jerked. “Whatever you wish.”

  “Whatever I wish.” Elias’s soft hands slid up his thighs.

  Gerard shivered.

  “I wish to do a lot of things to you. But let’s start with this for now.” He wrapped his hand around Gerard’s thick length. He stroked.

  Gerard groaned.

  Chapter

  Twenty-Five

  Gerard groaned. Elias’s slender fingers slid up and down his cock. He thumbed the head. He teased, twisted, and squeezed. Gerard threw back his head and cried out.

  “Does this please you, Dragon Warrior?” Elias asked. “I so wish to please you.”

  “Yes,” Gerard hissed.

  “What about this?” Elias leaned forward. His hand wrapped around the base of Gerard’s prick. His tongue poked out from between his lips. He licked along the length, up and down. Then he swirled his tongue around the head.

  Gerard’s thighs tensed as his breathing sped up. Elias took the head between his lips and sucked. Then Elias took more of Gerard’s cock into his mouth. He bobbed his head up and down. Gerard gripped the wooden armrests of the chair.

  Elias pulled back, releasing Gerard’s cock from his mouth. “If you like, you can grab my hair, tug it, shove me around a little. Thrust. It’s all very princely of you to hold back on my account. But I can handle it.” He winked. “And I like it a little rough.”

  Gerard exhaled. He slid his fingers through Elias’s silken hair. “I’m learning a lot about you today. You’re … not what I expected.”

  Elias’s violet eyes gleamed. “And you haven’t seen anything yet.”

  Then Elias opened his mouth wide and took Gerard back into his mouth. His lips slid down Gerard’s dick. Warm, wet heat surrounded him.

  Gerard tightened his fingers in Elias’s hair. He gasped. Elias’s cheeks hollowed. He bobbed his head, each time taking more and more of Gerard’s dick into his mouth. His hands squeezed Gerard’s thighs.

  “Fuck!” Gerard cried out as he tugged on Elias’s hair. He guided him, urging Elias to take more and more of Gerard.

  Elias moaned around his dick. The vibrations went straight to Gerard’s balls. He shoved Elias’s head down, until Gerard’s cock slid in and out of Elias’s throat.

  And Elias took it all.

  “You’re so fucking beautiful.” Gerard flexed his hips.

  Tears glistened in Elias’s eyes. But he didn’t protest or try to move away; he just kept sucking and taking everything Gerard could give.

  Gerard thrust. He gripped Elias’s hair tighter. With every passing second, the tension coiled tighter and tighter inside him. Every nerve in his body tingled as his orgasm approached.

  “Oh!” His muscles tensed. “Oh. Fuck!” He threw his head back and shouted, burying himself deep in Elias’s throat as the pleasure rushed through his veins. He held Elias in place as he came, spurting down Elias’s throat.

  Panting, he released his grip from Elias’s head.

  Elias sat back, and Gerard’s cock slid from between his lips. Then, with shaking hands, Elias climbed up into Gerard’s lap and kissed him.

  His tongue delved into Gerard’s. Gerard could taste wine and his own spend. Elias’s hard cock brushed against Gerard’s torso.

  Gerard slid his hands beneath the robe and up Elias’s back. “What do you want?” he murmured against Elias’s lips.

  “Are you happy to return the favour?”

  “Of course.”

  Elias pushed himself up. He knelt on the chair, knees on the outsides of Gerard’s thighs. Gerard gripped his hips, lifting him slightly so Gerard could lean forward and wrap his lips around the flushed head of Elias’s cock.

  “Ah!” Elias’s hands gripped Gerard’s shoulders, nails biting through the robe.

  Elias gasped. Gerard swirled his tongue around the tip before taking more of Elias down.

  Elias cried out. Gerard sucked, urging Elias with his hands to thrust. He could taste Elias’s pre-cum on his tongue. Musk, sex, and Elias’s floral perfume filled his nostrils.

  “Gerard!” Elias’s body trembled. He thrust forward, pumping his hips, burying his cock in Gerard’s mouth.

  Gerard sucked harder.

  Then Elias shouted. His back arched. His cock jerked against Gerard’s tongue. He spilled. Gerard drank him down as Elias shuddered.

  Elias sagged. Gerard lowered him gently onto his lap.

  Elias sighed and rested his head on Gerard’s shoulder. His body felt soft and boneless in Gerard’s arms.

  For several moments they sat in silence, their heavy breathing filling the tent. Gerard reached over and picked up the carafe. It was a bit awkward, but he managed to fill both wine goblets. He handed one to Elias and took the other.

  Gerard glanced towards the entrance to his tent. He frowned. “How did you get past my guards?”

  Elias snorted, a rather inelegant sound for such a refined prince. “I’m naked in your arms after sucking your brains out through your dick and that’s what you are thinking about?”

  “Um … Well …” His cheeks heated. “I just want to make sure that the guards are doing their duty!” he said, sounding somewhat defensive to his own ears.

  Elias pressed a kiss to his shoulder. “I told them I was your betrothed and I was going to fuck you when you returned.” He shrugged. “They didn’t have any follow-up questions.”

  Gerard laughed.

  Chapter

  Twenty-Six

  Elias and Gerard strode towards a large pavilion by the edge of a cliff.

  From this distance, Elias could see quite a few monks with their shiny bald heads amongst the nobles and dignitaries gathered. In particular, he saw quite a few warrior monks. And quite a few Draconian guards too.

  There’d also been a warrior monk and two Draconian guards riding on the front of the carriage that had brought Elias and Gerard here. Ensuring everyone’s safety had clearly become a top priority since Warden Flint’s attempt to kill Onyx and Luther.

  “You don’t have to worry about today’s couple’s quest,” Gerard said as they walked. “Senta was involved in the organisation. She didn’t tell me what our quest would involve, but she assured me it was nothing too dangerous. She promised it would be safe.”

  Elias smiled. He said nothing, but his insides rankled. Gerard thought he was being comforting by telling Elias he would be safe. He thought he had to protect delicate Elias because he was weak and cowardly. Elias flexed his fingers.

  But Elias wasn’t afraid of a little danger! He was an archmage! He’d fought in the war! Fuck. He’d fought Gerard and almost killed him!

  You can’t be upset because people believe the lies you tell them.

  Still, he wanted to show Gerard the truth; he wanted to light up the sky with lightning and yell, “See! This is what I can do! Are you impressed now?”

  He wanted Gerard amazed, like Elias had been during the Tournament of Dragons. He wanted Gerard to be proud to be marrying him.

  It almost made him want to reveal the truth and break his vow. Almost. But he wouldn’t. His word did not mean much. But this was the only vow he’d ever made. He would not break it.

  And even if he hadn’t made a vow, he knew better than to trust someone so completely. After all, years ago, he’d wanted to tell his father about his abilities. If he’d done that, it would have ended disastrously for Elias.

  So just because he wanted to open up to impress Gerard didn’t mean he should.

  Also, Elias had almost killed Gerard. He didn’t know how Gerard would react to that news. And since they were getting along so well, it would probably be better to stay silent.

  Elias had no problem with the fact Gerard had almost killed him. But you could never tell how one might react to such revelations.

  So he just smiled as they approached the crowd and let Gerard believe him to be useless and gutless even as it gnawed at Elias’s spine.

  People nodded and greeted Elias and Gerard as they entered the pavilion. Tables of food and drink had been set up. People milled around. Gerard took two goblets of wine and handed one to Elias.

  Senta smiled at them. She’d smiled at Elias a lot since the tournament. It seemed he’d charmed her and Gerard at the same time. Senta stood with Juniper and Colette. Colette often gravitated towards them when Elias had duties to attend to and she couldn’t find Lord Wolf.

  As long as Colette wasn’t around the empress or his half-siblings, Elias was satisfied. Although, he still kept an eye on Lord Wolf.

  Gerard cleared his throat. “Senta mentioned that Empress Emmeline had rather … extreme ideas about the activities our couple’s quest should encompass. She wanted it to be very challenging and dangerous.”

  “I’m sure she did,” Elias muttered, flicked a glance at his stepmother and father. He lifted his goblet to his lips.

  “But Senta held firm, and the empress relented.”

  “I see.” Elias could feel Gerard’s questioning gaze on him. He gave a rueful smile. “My stepmother doesn’t like me that much.”

  “Senta and I thought that might be the case.”

  So Senta and Gerard, having known his stepmother for only an extremely short time, had picked up on something his father had not noticed in twenty years.

  “Cousin Gerard.” A monk approached them.

  “Clara.” Gerard smiled at the woman with her shaved head, beige robes, and copper chains hanging around her neck. “Have you met my betrothed, Prince Elias?”

  “Not yet.” She inclined her head. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Prince Elias.”

  “You too, Monk Clara,” Elias said. “How long have you been in the monkhood?”

  “Since the war,” she said. “I wished to work towards peace after spending so many years as an agent of destruction. It is a truly wonderful path to be on.” She smiled. “Anyway, I wanted to wish you both luck on your couple’s quest.”

  “Thank you, cousin,” Gerard said.

  “May peace guide your steps.” She bowed and withdrew.

  “I didn’t know you had a monk in the family.”

  Gerard nodded. “Father rants about it all the time. He keeps saying she abandoned her bloodline and her kingdom. He doesn’t understand it at all.”

  Elias watched Monk Clara walk away. “I don’t think I’d like to be a monk. There are so many rules and vows. But I give them lots of money so they can continue doing all their good works. That way I can tell myself I’m contributing to peace whilst not having to shave my head.”

  Elias slid a hand down his hair. Then he smirked. “And I don’t need to take a vow of chastity.”

  Gerard cleared his throat. “I, ah … appreciate that you have not taken that vow.”

  Elias sipped his wine and smiled. They’d become intimate a couple of times in the days since the Tournament of Dragons. And since their marriage was part of creating the peace treaty, he could claim he was doing it for peace.

  It was a lot more fun than shaving his head, wearing ugly robes with a silly dove on the front, and being celibate for life in the name of peace.

  Konrad stood alone by a table. He held a glass of wine and glared at Shadow Prince Wraith, the tall, lean, and deathly pale necromancer.

  “Does Konrad hate Shadow Prince Wraith?” Elias whispered.

  Gerard glanced at his brother and the shadow prince. “He hates all necromancers. And he will be required to marry one of them.”

  “Yes. I am aware that Necros required that as part of the peace treaty,” Elias said.

  Gerard hesitated. “Konrad also thinks the necromancers were colluding with Warden Flint.”

  “Does he? Why does he think that?”

  Gerard exhaled. “Honestly, he just hates them. Even before any attempt to destroy the treaty came about, he ranted about how evil they all were.”

  “So he has no actual proof?”

  Gerard shook his head. “No. Just a general dislike of them. Father thinks he is prejudiced.”

  “What do you think?” Elias asked.

  “I’m not sure. All the necromancers make me uncomfortable. The stuff they did during the war …” He paused. “But I don’t know if that means they are part of this new plot.”

  Elias nodded. He stared at Shadow Prince Wraith, the only necromancer present today. The man stared off and up into the distance, dark eyes unfocused. Elias glanced in the direction he stared. He saw only blue sky and clouds.

  He looked back at the shadow prince. He continued to stare at the sky, face blank and gaze unseeing. Meanwhile Konrad kept glaring at him.

  Grand Monk Ferdinand approached them. “Prince Elias. Prince Gerard.” He bowed. “Are you ready to begin the couple’s quest?”

  “We are,” Elias said.

  The grand monk looked at Gerard, who nodded.

  “Then come this way, please, Your Highnesses.”

  Chapter

  Twenty-Seven

  Elias and Gerard followed Grand Monk Ferdinand to a wooden podium by the cliff’s edge. The monk walked around behind it. Ornate silver shears and a small wooden crate sat on the podium.

  The crowd fell silent, gathering behind Elias and Gerard.

  “Today, we are gathered to see Prince Gerard and Prince Elias set off on their couple’s quest. This quest has been planned by their noble families.” The grand monk smiled.

  “Grand Healer Eveline”—the grand monk gestured to the tall, thin woman who was head of the healer doves and the Dove Healing Academy—“has requested you fill this crate with lorei leaves. It is a rare plant with many healing properties.”

  He paused. “Unfortunately, the supplies of the plant at the Dove Healing Academy have run extremely low. So we will be relying on you both to collect some and bring them back to the grand healer. But these leaves are extremely difficult to obtain. Lorei bushes can only be found growing on the tallest mountains in Draconia.”

  The grand monk gestured in the direction of Draconia. “You must fly there together, across the sea. Then you must locate the herbs and bring them back to the grand healer.”

  Elias tensed.

  Shit.

  That meant he’d have to fly on Gerard’s back. He should have thought this might be a possibility.

  Most dangers Elias could easily face. He could handle darkness, tight spaces, spiders, snakes, and dragons trying to kill him.

  But heights? No. Definitely not.

  His heart raced in his chest. It seemed he wouldn’t have to act today to appear craven.

  Minutes later, Gerard had shifted. The scent of smoke lingered in the air around him.

  Despite the fact that Elias’s heart was now trying to beat right out of his chest, he couldn’t help but admire the magnificent green dragon. Senta and Konrad came forward to attach a harness to Gerard’s body. Elias’s hands, which held the shears and crate, sweated.

  I’m going to be flying on Gerard’s back. I’m going to be flying over seas and mountains. And if I fall …

  His hands trembled.

  No. There is a harness with straps. I will be safe.

  Gerard turned to look at Elias, long neck swinging around as Senta and Konrad stepped back.

  Senta came up next to him. “Ready, Elias?”

  He gave her a shaky smile. “Of course.”

  She clapped him on the shoulder. “You’ll be fine,” she said, voice gentle. Clearly, she could see how terrified he was. “You don’t have to do anything. Just sit in the harness. Gerard knows where to go.” She pressed him forward.

  For a second, Elias resisted. Then he forced his feet onwards. But it was a battle within himself! He wanted to turn and run, sprint away from Gerard and the cliff’s edge. Instead, he climbed on, trying to control his erratic breathing.

  Senta pulled the straps, locking him in place.

  “Make sure they are tight enough,” Elias said.

  Senta laughed. “I will. Don’t you worry.” She took the shears and crate from Elias’s shaking hands and put them into a large saddlebag attached to the harness. Then she stepped back and away.

  “He’s ready!” Senta yelled.

  Elias opened his mouth to protest. I most definitely am not fucking ready!

  But already Gerard rose and stepped towards the cliff’s edge. Elias clutched at the pommel with his hands. He opened his mouth. But Gerard spread his wings wide and launched them into the sky.

  The air rushed into his mouth, choking him and stopping the panicked scream that clawed and attempted to break free from his throat.

  Elias’s eyes widened as the water glittered beneath them. The wind whipped around him. Elias squeezed his eyes closed. He felt light-headed.

  I need to breathe. He forced himself to suck in air.

  After several moments, he opened his eyes.

  Gerard stared back at him.

  Why isn’t he looking where he is flying? We’re going to crash into the ocean! We’re going to die!

  But then Gerard turned his head and looked forward. Elias’s fingers grew numb as he gripped the pommel. Soon they’d passed over the sea and flew over sandy coastline. Then fields, trees, villages, and farmland.

  This is Draconia. We’re flying over Draconia now.

  He’d only been in Draconia once before. And that was when he’d faced Gerard.

  Mountain peaks rose sharply in the distance. Above the mountains, heavy dark clouds congregated.