Firedrake - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,76
be back with them, though they’ll probably be suspicious of me at first.”
“I’m glad you realize that, my prince.” Drake liked the thoughtfulness of the young man’s words. It demonstrated he had indeed grown from the impetuous boy who’d flown into the midst of battle with Queen Lana and Tor after Roland fell on the field. He’d shown bravery that day, but not a whole lot of intelligence. “I’d like to get going at first light. We’ve got a long way to go to get you back home safely.”
“But you can’t leave tomorrow,” Gryffid interrupted.
“I thought we were free to go.”
“You are, but not tomorrow. Wil’s training is complete, but yours is not, Sir Drake. I’ll expect you in the courtyard as the sun rises tomorrow morning, and I think Mace and Krysta would like to spar a bit with the warriors, if I’m not much mistaken. It would be good for you all to train just one day with Wil to learn what he is capable of. Your road back home will not be an easy one and you must prepare to face whatever comes, together. You can leave the next day, though I wish I could keep you longer.”
“We cannot delay returning Wil to his family more than we already have.”
“I understand. I would slow time yet again, but it is not such an easy thing to do. Even for me. Time will flow normally on this island until the coming crisis is past. You can tell Roland that, with my compliments.”
“I will.”
“I’ll be sad to leave you,” Wil said quietly, watching the wizard. “I’m grateful for what you and your people have taught me.”
Gryffid smiled in a fatherly way. “I know, my boy. I’m only sorry I had to take you from your family to do it. I regret that, you know, but I don’t regret your presence here these last years. You’ve brought new life to us all and we’ll miss you.”
One of the more friendly servants showed them to a guest room that had been prepared for their use. The dragons were welcome to stay indoors in the great hall if they wished. There was nothing like the suites of a Lair on the island, for gryphons nested in rocky caves on the sides of the jagged peaks that covered the southern half of the land mass. Jenet and Nellin made do with their place by the fire in the great hall, while Krysta, Mace and Drake were shown to a sumptuously furnished room with a very large bed. It was hung with burgundy velvet curtains the likes of which Krysta had never seen before in her life.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Krysta observed as they entered. She tossed her cloak on a richly embroidered chair and plopped down on the side of the bed to tug off her boots. She was tired, but it was a good kind of tired. They’d found the prince and made new friends. A good meal had gone a long way toward settling her questions about these strange folk and now all she wanted was to be with her new husbands—though the idea still took some getting used to.
Being married was strange enough, but to two men? It boggled her mind and her senses. Especially when they both made love to her at once.
The dragons would not be flying tonight, so the human side of the family was on its own. If they chose to make love, it would be without the influence of the dragons to drive them mindless. Krysta rather liked the idea of taking her time making love to them, and the men taking their time making love to her in turn.
“These velvets are from the other side of the world, if what I’ve heard is true,” Drake said, fingering the furry fabric. “But they’re hung Jinn style. I wonder if the Jinn copied the fair folk or if it was the other way around?”
“Does it matter?” Krysta stood, barefoot now, and tugged Drake into her arms. She pulled him downward for a lingering kiss.
Drake didn’t answer, too busy seducing her mouth with his talented tongue. She felt Mace come up behind her, bracketing her between the men’s heated warmth. She loved the feel of them, even fully clothed as they were, but she knew it would feel even better naked. She pulled back and smiled over her shoulder at Mace.
“We have too many clothes on.”
Mace grinned. “Easily remedied, milady.”
Drake tipped her chin around with one finger