Page 33 of Breaking Briar

My heart pounds in my chest as I look about the field, watching the children race about, playing all sorts of games. They look so peaceful, so tranquil, so… happy. Despite feeling a thread of joy winding around my heart, something feels missing.

I know it’s not the lack of a child. With as much as Philip and I have been engaging in all sorts of carnal acts, it’s only a matter of time. This is something else, something that’s been gnawing at me ever since my mate rescued me from the last of the witch’s curse.

“Your Highness?” Celestina slides over, curtsying, before sitting next to me. “I cannot help but sense your unease. Are you still unhappy with being a dragon’s mate?”

Heat burns my cheeks as I hang my head in shame. Once Philip and his dragon freed me from the wall, I remembered everything, especially the anger and hatred I had towards the dragon race.

Patting her hand, I once more look over at the children, smiling at their antics. A couple of boys tug on a girl's pigtails, only to have her turn and breathe fire at them. If this was even a handful of months ago, I’d no doubt be scandalized by their actions.

“No. That was the witch who twisted my thoughts. I can’t see myself ever being unhappy about being the mate of a dragon. Not really.”

“Then what is it? If I may be so bold as to inquire?”

With a sigh, I turn and watch as men and women embrace, showing their affection out in the open, with no one to condemn them. “I’m not like you, a dragon. I’m a human. As such, I can’t… I can’t…” My words falter as my cheeks burn for a completely different reason.

Though my mate is the king, we all act more as equals than anything else, but that still doesn’t make it easy to confide in her my failings. This time, it’s she who pats my hand and gives me a conspiratorial smile.

“I hear you loud and clear, Your Highness. Allow me to set your mind at ease.”

Leading me over to a nearby house, she raps on the door, and we wait to be let in. Isobel smiles up at us and ushers us in before curtsying and shutting the door.

“How may I be of service to Your Highness?”

Celestina grins and pulls me forward, as if about to reveal a massive secret. “Isobel is a human like you.”

With a gasp, I put my hand over my heart. “Truly? I’m not alone?”

She smiles at me and nods. “We are the rare ones, but that doesn’t make a difference to my Devlin.”

“And do you… that is… I mean to say…”

“She wants to know if you fuck your husband as a dragon,” Celestina cuts in, her chuckle tempering the horror slashing through my heart.

“Celestina!” I chide, hitting her playfully, the embarrassment still making me wish I could disappear into the floor. “One does not simply blurt out something like that.”

Isobel laughs and tosses her head back, her eyes twinkling. “Fear not, Your Highness, your secret is safe with us. But to answer the question, yes. We enjoy our intimate moments together in all forms.”

The wheels in my head churn as I think about the logistics. “But how does he not crush you? I’ve seen him and Philip sparring and he’s no small dragon by any means.”

“No,” she teases, her eyes glinting. “He certainly is not.”

“I- Um. And you don’t break?”

“To be the mate of a dragon,” Isobel confides, “means your body was made for his, created for him. He would not be able to mark you if it were not so. Trust me, your body will accommodate. As for not crushing you…”

She leads us into her bedroom, where an enormous bed takes up most of the room. Next to it, an odd piece of furniture, just as big, rises to the ceiling. It looks like an elevated table with arms that stick up from the base and jut into the air.

Without saying a word, she climbs up and lies down, resting her feet against the smoothed-out points in the arms. “If you prefer to be on your back, you can lie like this. The metal will keep the bulk of his weight off of you while he has full access to everything else.”

Pulling her legs down, she turns around and gets on all fours. “It works this way as well. Whichever you decide.”

My body flushes as I take it in. “And where can I procure one of these? I- I think it would be a delightful surprise for Philip.”

Both Isobel and Celestina smile. “I suppose you haven’t had much time to really explore your new home,” Celestina says. “There should be a dragon tapestry near your bed. Pull it back, and you will find a door to a room built for such activities.”

My heart pounds in my chest, drawing Philip’s attention. Are you well? Shall I come to you?

I shield my thoughts, wanting tonight to be a surprise. All is well. Just sharing a laugh with some friends.