Prince of Spies - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,48

no more on the subject. Some wounds were too painful to probe. Nico understood that.

“We’d best make camp before it gets too dark,” Drake said quietly some moments later. “I know a relatively safe place just ahead.”

The site Drake promised was as good as any and better than most in this land of skiths and hostile soldiers. Bordered on three sides by high rocks that would make it impossible for man or skith to approach, only one flank needed to be guarded and that could be accomplished easily enough by laying fires in the stone pits already in place for just such purpose.

“This is a regular stopping place for the Jinn who travel this road. I’m a little surprised we’re the only ones here now, but with the Jinnfaire so close, I suppose they’ve all moved on farther north.” Drake was busy, dragging wood from the fringes of the trees and supplementing it with some of the supply he kept stored under his wagon. Fire was a necessity if you wanted to spend the night camping in Skithdron unmolested.

When he would have set to work sparking flame off rock and blade, Nico nudged him aside. Calling up just a touch of his dragon heat, he set the kindling to smoldering and within moments a cheery blaze was going.

“Nice.” Drake chuckled as they repeated the process in the other two fire pits, set in a line in front of the wagon that was now snuggly protected on all sides—from skiths at least.

“I’d better wake Riki. She’ll want to wash up and she should eat.” Nico headed for the wagon, entering soundlessly so as not to startle his sleeping princess.

A gentle nibble on her cheek first woke Riki. Her hand rose to brush away the distraction, but it was gently captured in a warm hand and her palm placed over a stubbly cheek.

Nico.

His name ran through her mind as his lips claimed hers in a joyous, gentle, loving kiss. Riki stretched under him, enjoying the way his hands molded her waist and brushed along her thighs as his lips played with hers.

At length he pulled back.

“Good evening, sweetheart.”

“What time is it?” Riki wanted to look out the door of the little wagon, but her eyes stayed glued to Nico. He was so handsome and so kind.

“It’s just before sunset and we’re setting up camp for the night.”

“I’m all turned around. Staying up all night and sleeping all day. I don’t know what time it is anymore.”

Nico chuckled and kissed her forehead before moving back. “It’s all right. You can wash up in the nearby stream, then we’ll all have a nice dinner and settle in for the evening. It’s too risky to keep traveling by wagon at night with the possibility of skiths.”

That woke Riki fully to the continued danger. She sat up and stretched, leaving the wagon moments later. Nico kept watch for her while she washed up at the stream, then it was back to the campsite to see if she could help with dinner preparations, but the men had things well in hand.

Drake had things set up along the bottom and sides of his wagon so everything he needed was within easy reach. Riki marveled at the hidden compartments built into the blue wagon. Some of them were truly ingenious and she was certain he wasn’t showing her everything. He was a spy, after all.

Dinner was delicious and more so because of the company. Nico was attentive, filling her plate and refilling her cup when it ran empty, and the conversation was friendly and amusing. Drake told stories of his travels and some of the escapades he and Nico had gotten up to as youngsters. Riki understood better the deep bonds between the two men and she envied their tales of a carefree childhood and close friendship.

Nico was so perfect, so caring. She blessed the day he’d come to her and taken her out of her misery with Lucan. Nico was magical—a dragon of legend—and a man that made her heart beat faster with undeniable attraction.

So much had happened in so short a time, it was difficult for Riki to take it all in. Nico had swooped in at the least likely moment and rescued her from a sadistic tyrant, flying her away with him and keeping her safe. Add to that the incredible attraction she felt for him—even before she knew he could possibly free her—and Nico was a potent temptation she longed for with all her heart.

Why