The queen slumped back against the chair, breathing heavily. “He has many broken bones. How did he survive such a beating?”

  I rubbed her shoulders. “Liam is a rock mage. Probably the one we have been searching for.”

  Yvette nodded. “That explains how he survived.”

  “We found him under a pile of dead goblins. The other goblins probably assumed he was dead,” Monica added.

  Yvette reached up and caressed my hand where I was massaging her neck and shoulders. “I have done what I can for him, but he will need further healing. When Sarah arrives, she can continue the healing process.”

  “What about Garryn?” I asked.

  Yvette shook her head. “She is exhausted. She and the other dragons will need to rest tonight. Perhaps in the morning Garryn and Ezza can help.”

  “Ezza?” I asked.

  “Ezza is the green dragon that Garryn brought back from The Furnace. Sarah and Ezza have bonded.” Yvette explained.

  I was glad to hear that the green dragon had been successful in finding a dragon for the healer from Buckwood.

  “Are you hungry?” I asked.

  Yvette stood up from her chair. She gave me a weak smile. “Starving. And in need of a hot bath.”

  “Your wish is my command, my lady.” I leaned in and kissed her.

  13

  Chapter Thirteen

  I led Yvette up to the guest room in the town hall. A wooden tub sat in the corner, and I was pleased to see that the servants had already filled it with steaming hot water. The scent of pine needles and lavender hung in the air.

  Yvette sighed as she looked at the tub. She looked truly exhausted. A slight slouch replaced her usual regal posture, and the cornflower blue of her eyes seemed a shade dimmer than usual.

  "Let me help you with that armor," I said, stepping behind her.

  "Thank you, Roman," she whispered.

  I reached for the laces of her leather breastplate. My fingers, usually steady from years of wrapping hands for fights, felt clumsy as I worked the thick leather. I pulled the armor off and set it carefully on a nearby chair. Next came her shirt. As I lifted the fabric over her head, her long blonde hair spilled down her back like a waterfall of silk.

  Standing there in only her under-tunic, she turned to face me. I felt a familiar tightening in my chest. I had seen many beautiful women on Earth- models and influencers who hung around the MMA circuit- but none of them carried the natural, fierce grace that Yvette did. Even covered in the dust of travel and the sweat of her healing efforts, she was magnificent.

  "You are staring, my king," she said, a tiny, mischievous smile playing on her lips.

  "I can't help it," I replied, reaching out to cup her chin. "I'm the luckiest man in Avalon. Probably the luckiest man in any world."

  She leaned into my hand for a moment before I helped her out of the rest of her clothes. The fabric puddled at her feet, and she stood before me gloriously naked. I picked her up and lowered her into the hot water. She let out a long, shuddering breath as the heat hit her muscles.

  "Oh, that feels wonderful," she moaned, leaning her head back against the rim of the tub.

  I grabbed a washcloth and the cake of soap. Kneeling beside the tub, I began to wash her shoulders and back. I moved slowly, watching the way the water beaded on her skin. As my hands moved over her, I could feel the tension slowly bleeding out of her.

  "I was so worried about you, Roman," she whispered, her eyes closed. "As soon as Garryn returned from the Furnace... I wanted to fly out that very second."

  "I told you I'd be fine," I said, lathering the cloth again. "Graxion and Bakaan had my back. And Monica too."

  As I moved the cloth around to her front, her hands came up and covered mine. She opened her eyes, and the dimness was gone, replaced by a hungry fire. She pulled my hand toward her, pressing it against the firm, soft curve of her breast. I could feel her heart hammering against my palm.

  "Roman," she breathed.

  I felt a surge of desire; my body reacting to her touch. "You're exhausted, Yvette. You used so much magic on Liam. It would be best for you to rest."

  She pouted, her lower lip sticking out in a way that made me want to devour her. "I am a queen, Roman Dravik. And I have decided that I will not go to sleep until I have made love to my husband."

  "Is that a royal decree?" I asked with a grin.

  "It is," she said, her voice growing firmer as she reached out to pull me closer. "Now, are you going to obey your queen, or do I have to have the guards throw you in the dungeon for disobedience?"

  “I don’t think there are any dungeons here in Blackbird Forks.”

  “Then I will have to find another punishment for you!” Yvette leaned forward and kissed me fiercely.

  I broke off the kiss. “You can’t punish me… I’m the king!”

  She shook her head and flicked some soap bubbles at me.

  I laughed and stood up, quickly stripping off my own clothes. The way her eyes traveled over my body, lingering on my hardening shaft, had me burning with desire.

  "I think I can find a middle ground," I said.

  I helped her out of the tub and used a thick towel to gently dry her skin. I savored every inch I uncovered, from the arch of her foot to the slope of her neck. Then, I scooped her up and carried her to the large bed.

  As I laid her down, she reached up and pulled me onto her. I kissed her deeply, my tongue plundering her mouth as my hands explored her body. I trailed kisses down her neck to the top of her chest, licking and teasing her nipples until they were rock hard. Yvette moaned, her body arching beneath mine as her hands gripped my shoulder.

  I moved lower, my lips kissing the soft curve of her belly before I shifted between her thighs. I blew gently across the folds of her vulva, inhaling her musky scent. When my tongue finally met her clitoris, Yvette squealed in pleasure, her legs clamping around my head. I used my fingers to tease her opening, finding her wet and ready for me.

  "Roman, please!" she gasped, her fingers clenching my hair.

  I slid back up and guided my cock to her entrance. She let out a long moan as I slowly pushed my way inside, savoring the delicious tightness of her passage. I waited for a moment, letting her adjust to my size, before I began a slow, steady rhythm.

  "You feel... so good," she whispered, her eyes fluttering shut as she began to grind her hips against mine.

  I increased my tempo, my thrusts becoming longer and more powerful. Yvette was vocal and active; her exhaustion forgotten in the heat of the moment. Her breasts bounced with every stroke as she whispered my name over and over. Seeing her face flushed with passion pushed me over the edge. I began pounding into her, driving deep as her body began to convulse.

  "Roman! Yes!" she cried out as she reached her climax, her pussy clenching tightly around my shaft.

  With a final, powerful surge, I exploded inside her, filling her with my hot load as my own body shook with a powerful orgasm.

  We lay there for a long time, tangled together as our breathing slowly returned to normal. Yvette’s head rested on my chest, her skin still warm and flushed.

  "You make me so happy, Roman," she murmured, her voice thick with sleep.

  "And you make me the luckiest man in any world," I replied, kissing the top of her head.

  A short time later, Yvette’s breathing became slow and rhythmic. She was fast asleep in my arms. I watched the moonlight filter through the shutters, casting stripes of silver across her peaceful face.

  I lay there for a long time, unable to sleep. My mind was racing. We had survived the goblins at Nander’s Pass, but the threat was far from over. If Graxion was right, the goblin chief was only regrouping. And then there were the Savonians. Twelve dragons. The number haunted me.

  I looked down at Yvette. She had spent her life preparing to lead, but she couldn't do it alone. I needed to find more mages like Liam. I needed to build an army that didn't just rely on two or three dragons. I had to be the king Avalon needed—a warrior who could not only fight but lead his people into a future where they didn't have to live in fear.

  I kissed the top of Yvette’s head and pulled the blanket tighter around us. One step at a time, I thought. Tomorrow, we would start the work of rebuilding the kingdom. But tonight, I was content just to hold my queen.

  14

  Chapter Fourteen

  Two days later, the air in Blackbird Forks was thick with the scent of wood smoke and the rhythmic clack-clack of hammers as local laborers worked to reinforce the town’s main gate. The victory at Nander’s Pass had bought us a reprieve, but it felt like the calm before a much larger storm.

  I sat in the small, stone-walled council room of the town hall with Yvette and Monica. Between us lay a detailed map of the western territories, provided by Mayor Weber. The parchment was yellowed and smelled of old ink, but it clearly marked the trade routes I was beginning to memorize.

  "We aren't going back to Avalon City yet," I said, tracing a finger along the road leading west. "We’re going to reconquer Mersylvan."

  A look of surprise flitted across Yvette’s face. Then her expression became serious and focused as she waited for me to continue.

  Monica’s eyebrows shot up. "My lord, the goblins are still in the Grey Mountains. We have a fortress with a smashed gate, and one of our villages has been destroyed. Should we not be hunting the goblin chief and his army?"

  I shook my head, my mind flashing back to the conversation I’d had with Graxion and Bakaan by the fountain. "My instinct tells me the goblins are done for a while. They suffered casualties in taking the gate. Then our attack killed many more warriors and one of their trolls. That kind of loss doesn't just hurt; it damages a leader’s reputation.”

  Monica’s mind was working as she considered my words. “The chief will be busy reasserting his dominance and rebuilding his army to worry about us. This will buy us time."

  “Striking at the goblins with the dragons instead of the trolls caught them by surprise. The goblins will be wary of attacking us anytime soon.” My smile was confident.

  If I was wrong, I could lose the critical fortress at Nander’s Pass. It was a gamble I was willing to take. The goblins were a problem, but the Savonians posed a much larger threat. A reunified kingdom would give me the strength I needed to face them.

  I leaned over the map, tapping the spot marked Crossroads. "According to the mayor’s map and what Kashko told me, Crossroads is only a three-day journey from here. It’s the second principal city of Mersylvan. If we take it, we effectively cut off their capital, Meralon, from the territories of Tallwyn and Penwyn."

  The city sat at the intersection of the main east-west road and the north-south road linking Dram to Port Meralon. If we captured Crossroads, we could use it as a base to launch attacks towards Pennwyn and Tallwyn.

  "It is a bold strategy," Monica admitted, her eyes narrowing as she studied the terrain. "If we hold the crossroads, the Countess cannot easily receive help from the other two territories. It also cuts off the major trade route to Dram and the dwarven kingdoms."

  "And the math is on our side," I added. "Kashko says Crossroads is protected by only one dragon- a blue one belonging to Lord Simon. With the arrival of Baron Marco and the healer Sarah, we’ve got six. Six to one. Even in this world, those are odds I like."

  Yvette placed her hand on my arm, and her face remained grave. "Then we must act before news of our strength reaches Meralon."

  "Agreed. But before we pull out, we need to handle the mess at the fortress," I said. "Monica, we need to send a messenger back to your father, General Blodwen. Tell him the situation at Nander’s Pass. The fortress is standing, but the trolls did a number on the gate and the curtain wall. He needs to get a crew up there for repairs immediately, or the next goblin raiding party won't even need trolls to walk right in."

  "I will see it done, my lord," she replied.

  "Good. Now... how is Liam?"

  Yvette’s expression clouded with a mix of professional frustration and genuine sadness. "Physically, the healing is complete. Between Sarah’s magic and mine, his bones are knit and the internal bleeding has stopped. But he is... hollow, Roman. He hasn't spoken a word since he woke. He stares at the wall as if the world ended at the edge of his bed."

  "He probably lost his family during the attack," I muttered, standing up. "I'm going to talk to him."

  I found Liam in the same small room on the second floor. He was sitting up, his back against the headboard, his hands resting motionless on the quilt. He didn't even look up when I entered.

  "I am King Roman," I said, pulling up a chair. "I’m the guy who dragged you out from under that pile of goblins in Boyd."

  He didn't move. His face was a mask of grief, pale and drawn.

  "I know you don't want to talk. I know it feels like there’s nothing left," I continued, leaning forward. "But I’m heading back out. I’m going to unify this kingdom so that what happened to Boyd never happens to another village. I need a rock mage to help me stop the goblins for good. I need your help, Liam."

  Still silence. I waited, counting the seconds. Just as I was about to give up, Liam’s gaze shifted. His eyes didn't look at me; they looked through me, burning with a sudden, terrifying intensity.

  "They killed everyone," he whispered, his voice like grinding stones. "My mother... William..."

  "I know," I said. "And the bastards who did it are still breathing. I’m going to change that. But I can't be everywhere at once. I need mages. I need warriors who give a damn."

  Liam’s hands clenched into white-knuckled fists on the blanket. "I want them dead. All of them."

  "Then get out of bed," I said, standing up. "We leave at dawn."

  ***

  The square of Blackbird Forks was a beehive of activity the next morning. It looked like a full-scale invasion force. We had the eighty mounted troops the General had promised, looking sharp in their armor, alongside the twenty-five additional soldiers who had arrived with the supply wagons from Avalon City. The wagons were loaded high with supplies, and their wooden frames creaked under the weight.

  But the real power sat in the center of the square. Six dragons, a sight that had the townspeople gawking from their windows.

  Graxion, my red, sat like a mountain of rubies, his scales catching the morning light. Beside him was Bakaan, the black, still sporting a fresh scar across his chest but looking as lethal as ever. Yvette’s green dragon, Garryn, stretched her wings, her emerald scales shimmering, while nearby sat Sarah’s new dragon, Ezza- another green, slightly smaller but with a fierce intelligence in her eyes.

  Baron Marco’s stone dragon looked like an outcrop of living granite, its grey hide thick and impenetrable. Finally, there was Dalk, a brown dragon with wings the color of rich earth. I was glad to see that the brown seemed more alert compared to the defeated resignation he had shown when I had last seen him.

  As I was checking the straps on Graxion’s saddle, a familiar, jaunty whistling drifted through the crowd. Kashko, the elven bard, approached with his strange guitar strapped to his back.

  "A fine morning for a conquest, wouldn't you say, my lord?" Kashko chirped, his white goatee twitching as he smiled.

  "Kashko," I said, pausing. "What are you doing? I thought you were traveling on to Avalon City."

  "Oh, I’ve decided to cancel my ticket," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "I’d much rather ride with the winning team. May I accompany your little expedition to Crossroads?"

  I raised an eyebrow. "And how do you know where we’re going? I haven't made a public announcement yet."

  Kashko let out a short, dry laugh. "My dear King Roman, soldiers always talk in the taverns when they believe they are headed toward danger. It’s a law of nature. One man mentions the western road, another mentions the trade routes, and a third mentions that the King looks like he’s looking for a fight. One doesn't need to be a mage to put those pieces together."

  "It’s going to be dangerous, Kashko," I warned. "We aren't going there to play songs at the inn."

  "Exactly!" Kashko’s gray eyes sparkled with excitement. "How can I write a truly epic ballad if I’m sitting in a comfortable coach while history is being made? I need to observe the sweat, the blood, and the look on the Baron’s face when a dragon lands in his front yard. Besides, I'm excellent company. I know all the best jokes about Savonians."

  “You know about the Savonian threat?”

  Kashko pointed a finger at his ear. “My lord, before one can become a good story teller, one must first become a good story listener.”

  Yvette stepped up beside me, having overheard the exchange. She looked at Kashko with a soft smile. "Roman, perhaps we should let him come. Your deeds are already worthy of a story, and it wouldn't hurt to have someone around who can actually tell it properly."

  Kashko bowed low to her. "The Queen is as wise as she is radiant. You see, King Roman? Your better half has spoken."

  I sighed, but I couldn't help the small grin that touched my lips. "Fine. But if a troll tries to eat you, I'm not responsible for the guitar."

  "It's a lute, your Majesty," Kashko corrected, already heading toward the line of soldiers. "And don't worry. I’m much harder to swallow than I look."

  15

  Chapter Fifteen

  The three-day march to Crossroads was a study in controlled chaos. Leading an army on Earth usually involved Humvees, radios, and a hell of a lot of paperwork. Here, it was the rhythmic thud of horse hooves, the creak of supply wagons, and the occasional shadow of a dragon passing overhead.

  By the afternoon of the third day, the horizon finally shifted. The rolling hills flattened out, and the city of Crossroads rose from the plain like a stubborn stone fist. As we drew closer, I could see the blue and white pennants of Mersylvan snapping in the wind from the tops of the high stone walls and the numerous defensive towers.