Page 29 of The Dragon’s Captive

“I was successful,” Vilka said, his smile broadening. “But the result was not what I’d thought it would be. I was young and foolish and I thought it would earn me admiration and respect. Instead I was denounced as everything from a thief, to a traitor—even though I did not take it for myself, but instead left it on display on the tallest spire of the king’s castle. There was talk of banishing me from the realm, but my father spoke on my behalf and instead I was sent here, to the farthest reaches. I have been here ten long years, and in that time I have not seen or spoken to my father. I had hoped to redeem myself somehow, but all I have to present him with now is a crisis.”

“Well, this is more my fault than yours,” Kate said. “I’ll tell your dad that when I see him.”

“Oh, is it? You have spent so much time denying your role, I am surprised to hear you say that.”

“Well, of course I have,” Kate sighed. “I’m not going to go around taking the blame and just… admitting I was wrong. Where would that leave me?”

“In less trouble than you are currently?”

She gave a little shrug. “I don’t think it matters really anymore, degrees of trouble. There’s a giant beast somewhere on the East Coast of the United States and I’m stuck here as the sex prisoner of a fallen dragon.”

Vilka’s eyes gleamed with good humor as he leaned in and kissed her. “I love you,” he said. “You may be my prisoner, I may have to whip your bottom frequently, and perhaps you would give anything to be free of me, but I do love you anyway.”

“Okay, seeing as you’re being so sweet, before I escape, I’ll tell your dad not to be disappointed in you,” she said with a wink. “I promise.”

“You’re such an intractable brat!” Vilka took her by the hand and twisted her over onto her stomach, his palm catching her bottom hard enough to sting, but not nearly hard enough to punish. Kate squealed with laughter as he mock-spanked her, taking out his frustrations on the rounds of her bottom. “You are never going to escape, so you can forget about it.”

“I will always escape, so you can never forget about it,” she countered at the top of her lungs. “I’m going to be freeeeeeeeee!” Her squeal reached new pitches as his hand delved between her thighs and found her wet lower lips.

“You enjoy being a terrible minx, don’t you,” he lectured, toying with her sex. She always got wet when he spanked her, some effect of her animal brain that made her body well with willingness for the one who could dominate her completely. “I think you would be disappointed if you did somehow manage to escape now. You would probably come back and put yourself in chains so you could escape all over again.”

Kate’s response was lost in the moan of her arousal as they once more fell to making love in the face of almost certain doom.

CHAPTER 11

Several hours later…

Dressed in a soft gown that she rather liked, Kate waited in Vilka’s chambers. The collar and chains had been removed, a nice touch in deference to Vilka’s parents. Apparently he did not want them to know that he was keeping her like a chained animal.

Vilka had gone to meet his parents without her, a move she did not blame him for. It must be an awkward reunion after such a length of time, and in such a dire situation. Vilka having stolen a crown was nothing on Vilka presiding over the clusterfuck that was the world eater situation.

She looked up as the door opened and Vilka came in, looking somewhat relieved, and somewhat worried.

“My father, Vyktor, wishes an audience with you,” Vilka said. “And he wishes to speak with you alone. I believe he thinks you could be coerced if I am present. I tried to explain that it is not possible to coerce you, but he will have to learn that for himself.”

“Don’t worry,” she said. “I will put in a good word for you.”

“Just try not to create more chaos, if you can possibly help it,” he said, taking her by the hand. He led her through the fortress to one of the higher towers, which led out to a landing area. Stopping before the great doors of one of the rooms, Vilka pressed a kiss to her lips and reminded her to be good.

“I’ll try,” she said with a smile. She was looking forward to meeting Vilka’s father. The man who had created him must be quite a beast.

Vilka pushed the door open and called out, “Father! Kate is here to see you.”

“Send her in,” Vyktor called from somewhere in the depths of the very large room. “I would speak with her alone.”

“Call out if she runs,” Vilka called back. “She’s a flight risk.”

“I’ve got some experience with that, son,” Vyktor replied. He came into view, turning a corner from behind a tall weapons case. Kate looked at him with intense interest as Vilka left, closing the door behind them.

Vyktor was much like Kate had imagined him, an older version of Vilka, more heavily lined, a gray beard and hair. There was a weight to his presence, an imposing agedness—though there was nothing bowed or weak about him. She could see how this man could be frightening, but there was a warmth to him, and maybe even a familiarity that made her feel comfortable talking to him.

“So this isn’t Vilka’s fault,” she said. “I mean, he is holding me captive, and he does lock me up at night in case I chew the chains off and run away, but I opened the portal that woke your dragon nightmare up, so that’s more on me, so don’t be too angry at him, okay?”

Vyktor’s lips quirked. “That’s quite an introduction, young lady.”

“I like to get the important things out of the way first, in case I don’t have time to say them later,” she said. “Like I said, I keep getting chained up places, and we might not get another chance to talk. I haven’t been gagged recently, but it’s probably only a matter of time.”

“I see,” Vyktor rumbled. “Very practical of you.”