Dragon Blood (Completed)

Sweet Kisses

Chapter 18

"What are you doing?" she demanded, shocked and angry.

"Lavender." He bowed to her. "Order me outside."

"You want me to do what? What is going on here?" Zane walked past her, as if she had given him an order, and she followed him out.

"Lavender, what are you doing here?" he hissed as they crossed the lawn, heading toward the castle.

"I'm looking for you. Ezra said you didn't come back last night." Her voice was high-pitched and full of stress.

"I've been guarding Paige."

"Guarding her? You were choking her."

"That was just an act. I was asking her if she was ready to come out when the prisoner woke up and found us talking. I had to make it look real so he would not think that we're working together."

"Well, you must not be doing a very good job if he was able to hit her like that."

Zane stopped to pull her into a hug, not wanting to tell her that he was the one who had hit Paige. "Don't worry so much. If she can get some good information, this will all be worth it."

"Can't we just go home?" Her voice ached with raw longing as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He kissed her, knowing that was what she was looking for. She returned his kiss with gratifying enthusiasm, with more passion than she had ever kissed him with before. Always claiming these sorts of affections was inappropriate before their Desma.

He pulled back slightly to give her an adoring gaze. "You're amazing," he breathed before he kissed her again, feeling a release of so much tension. He didn't even realize that he had been wound so tight. This was just the physical release he needed, and he was thrilled that she knew him well enough to understand.

Pulling her into a secluded alcove, his hands traveled her body, over her soft, silk dress. The thin fabric clung to her lean frame, but all he wanted was to watch the expensive garment fall to the floor. He pushed her against the wall, pressing his body against hers so he could feel the length of her against him. He snaked his hand between their bodies and up to her breast, but as soon as he touched her, she turned her face away.

"Zane, stop."

"Lavender," he breathed, pressing his forehead to hers. "I need you." He pressed his lips to hers again, hungrily seeking her jaw and down her neck. He inhaled her fresh scent, as she smelled like the sky—like the air at high altitudes. She pushed against him and he let her go.

"What's wrong with you?"

"I thought you understood." He was shocked to find her looking repulsed by him.

"Understood what? All I know is that since I got here, you have not been acting like yourself." She stepped away, leaving the alcove so she could return to the veranda. He had no choice but to follow her.

"I know, I haven't felt like myself. But we suddenly have so many possibilities to make a better future."

"It's her, the queen. She's the reason you're acting like this?"

"No—yes. Don't you see? She can change everything." He ran his hands up and down her arms, trying to soothe her. "Just the information we learned yesterday, translating those documents, and whatever she is learning from that prisoner." He halted his movement to grip her shoulders in his excitement. "Don't you see what it could mean for you, for your children?"

"Our children," Lavender scowled, giving him a disgruntled look.

"What—"

"Zane!" Ryder called out, walking up to them. "How did it go? Did she get anything good?"

"I don't know yet. She's still in there, but they talked for quite a while last night."

"Yeah? Guess she was right about the black eye. Hopefully he spills his guts to her."

"What do you mean, she was right about the black eye?"

"She asked her guard to hit her before they took her in there," Ryder said.

"And they did?" Lavender was appalled by the idea.

"You didn't tell her?" Ryder looked quizzically at Zane.

"I didn't think it was necessary to upset her," Zane said through clenched teeth.

"What?" Lavender demanded.

"Her guard wouldn't do it...they couldn't do it." Zane looked her in the eye, pleading with her to understand, but knowing in his heart she never would.

"I offered," Ryder said. "But Zane stepped in and back-handed her."

In that moment Zane wanted to back-hand his brother. The look Lavender gave him was a mixture of confusion, horror, and fear. She backed away from him as if she didn't know him.

"Lavender, please." He reached out for her gently, but she jerked away from him."You did that to her?" Her brows dipped low over her eyes, as if she was trying to figure out who he was.

"Yes," he admitted.

"Why? She's just a child."

"It was necessary." Zane shut out the emotion from his voice. Why couldn't she see that? The world was falling apart, and they had to try something different. Paige was offering them that difference. Zane was willing to do things her way if they kept getting good results and insight from such actions.

"But how could you?"

"Because she wouldn't hate me after. Because she was willing to endure the temporary pain, knowing it would be worth the outcome."

"Is this why everyone at Blackskin is afraid of you?"

Her question was like a spear to his heart. She knew the way the staff at Blackskin treated him was upsetting. He hated that they all reacted to him with fear that often bordered on hatred. She also knew he had no idea why they all treated him like they did. It was like there was a conspiracy behind his back that was designed to make him second-guess himself, and walk around without a soul to confide in.

Zane didn't try to explain anymore, since she wasn't willing to see who he truly was and accept all of him. The thought was devastating. He felt like he was losing her, like he was being forced to make a choice between the realm and her. The feeling ripped through his stomach like dragon wings beating against a hurricane. It was more unsettling than the thought of her using his experience at Blackskin against him. He had to have her in his life. He didn't know how he would one day be king without her.

"Lavender, I love you. You have to understand everything I do is out of my desperation to keep you safe." He was angry with her, but more afraid that she would turn her back on him. He reached out to her, offering his hand. She looked at it for a moment, then she placed her soft fingertips in his palm. He drew her closer until she was resting her head against his chest.

"Please, Zane, just take me home."

"Soon." He was unable to commit to anything more.

"I have to go see my aunt. Are you coming with me?" she asked, pulling away to look him in the eye.

"No, I have to go talk to Dean before he worries about Paige. Then I need to get back to the guard station."

Lavender pulled away, stood at her full height before she gave him a curt nod, then turned and strode away from him. He knew she was still angry with him, and his refusal to go with her to see her aunt had only fueled her fire, but he had promised Paige he would talk to Dean. There was no way he was going to walk away from this whole thing before he found out what Paige had learned from the assassin. He would have to find a way to smooth things over with Lavender later.