I will never, ever harm you. It would kill me to hurt you.”
“You don’t even know me,” she objected. “Sometimes I feel like I don’t even know myself.” That last was a whispered confession as he felt her tremble against him.
Nico held her tighter, soothing her as best he could while she shook with emotion. He thought she might even be crying, and he knew that was probably a good thing. After all she’d been through, Riki needed to let a little of the hurt out.
“It’s all right, baby. I’ve got you. And I know all I need to know about you.” He kissed the crown of her head. “I know you are a good, caring, giving person. You healed me when you didn’t really need to do more than keep me alive for Lucan’s next round. You have the courage of a knight and the heart of a dragon. You, who have never flown before, trusted me enough to take a leap of faith off the highest turret in Skithdron into the black of night and never once complained.”
She chuckled then and it was a watery sound. She was crying, and it nearly broke his heart.
“That wasn’t courage. That was fear of being recaptured.” She grew stiff once more as she whispered, “I would rather have died.”
“No, sweetheart. Never think that. Where there’s life, there’s hope. And wherever you are, there I’ll be, ready to help you in whatever way I can. I promise you that. Now and forever.”
“You’re a kind man, Nico.”
“Oh, please don’t let that get around. It would ruin my reputation as a scoundrel.”
She chuckled again and this time the sound was more lighthearted and less sad.
“A kind scoundrel, then. Is that better?”
“Just a bit,” he agreed, kissing her hair and settling her into his warmth. Already he could feel their energies reaching for one another. They both needed this healing sleep more than anything right now and he was gratified to feel her begin to relax, her body finding its way into restful oblivion.
Waking hours later, Nico quickly scanned the area. Riki slept on, in the same position she’d been in when she’d fallen asleep. She was so peaceful in his arms, he hated to move, but he had work to do.
Nico knew it had been a risk for them both to sleep, but it was a necessary risk. The fatigue of the beating, then escape, coupled with the healing he’d done on her wrists had been more than even he could bear, and he had to be strong to get them both to safety, across the border to Draconia.
Judging by the sun’s position, it was mid-afternoon. Nearly perfect timing for what he had planned. Rising with more than a little regret, Nico stalked a short distance away where his dragon senses told him a rabbit was nibbling on succulent grasses near the bank of the stream. It wasn’t much, but Riki had been starved almost beyond bearing. When she woke from her sleep, he wanted to have food for her and this rabbit would do nicely as a start. The rest he would pick up in the town, if the Mother of All continued to bless their path.
Giving a silent prayer to Her for providing the rabbit and watching over their safety, Nico pounced. Just a few minutes later, with the judicious application of sharp talons and a few puffs of dragon flame, the meat was cooked and ready.
The scent of roasted meat woke Riki from a blessedly dreamless sleep. She hadn’t felt so good upon rising in years. Blinking open her sleepy eyes, Riki saw the provider of her well-being.
Nico.
He was even more handsome in the fading light of the sun than he had been in the dawn, and the smile he sent her way simply stole her breath.
“Breakfast is served, milady.” He bowed with a comical flourish, bringing over the sizzling meat, still skewered from cooking, though she didn’t see a fire.
“How did you cook that?”
“Riki,” he clicked his tongue at her with a teasing smile, “I’m a dragon.”
She had to laugh at that. It had been so long since she’d had anything to laugh about. It felt good to be carefree—or almost so—for the first time in years. And it was all thanks to this incredible man.
Riki reached out and took the skewer of meat from him.
“Thank you, Prince Nicolas.”
“Ah, it’s just Nico to you, my dear. Besides, we’re still in hostile territory. Nick the Spy is who I am when