Page 59 of In the Embrace of Dragons

“You ought to get something for yourself,” Vizarios says to me as he emerges. “You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”

I shake my head, because things like hunger never even register in my mind when I work. The king dismisses me, but before I can go, he places a hand on my shoulder.

“I was not just inviting Nissia,” he says in a low voice. “I want you there, too. Tonight.”

My tail curls at the tenor of his voice. All it takes is the suggestion and I’m thickening under my armor.

“But you are not courting me,” I say. “You are courting the queen.”

“I know. And you’re going to help me do it.” He waits until Syzari passes us and departs before he reaches up to brush a clawed finger over my cheekbone. “You’ll do that, won’t you?”

“Me?” I don’t know what I can possibly do to help him in this endeavor. “I suppose so...”

“Good. Now go.” He pushes me away, calling over a different guard to escort him back to his rooms. I stand there,mystified, as he heads off down the hall with a swish of his robe.

I find my way into the kitchen and eat some of the leftovers from dinner, but my stomach is responding to my uncertainty just as my groin is eager to find out what’s waiting tonight. Surely the king doesn’t think Nissia is going to welcome him into her bed.

I’m barely able to get down my meal before I head to his rooms, still dressed in my guard uniform. Vizarios answers the door the moment I knock. He’s wearing a white robe, cinched at the waist with a heavy black iron belt. He looks good in it—strong and male, but still bearing a royal elegance. He even has on a matching black necklace with his family’s crest.

“Let’s fetch the queen.”

I don’t ask questions as I follow him down the hall, but I have a growing sense of how I might be involved. The King’s tail drifts from side to side as he walks, accentuating his narrow hips. I picture him without the robe, his ass bare, lifting up his tail so I can?—

We stop at Nissia’s door, and there, the king knocks. We wait only a few moments before it opens to reveal Zephala.

“Ah, the Queen is expecting you.” She turns and calls over her shoulder, “Your Majesty, he’s here.”

My cock was already awake, but when Nissia appears, it jumps to full attention. She’s dressed in a bright greenish blue that perfectly mimics the king’s scales, and gold hangs from her ears and throat. She looks almost... flustered, a nervous smile on her face.

This piques my interest even more. Is she, too, anticipating what he wants? This is a positive sign.

Zephala quickly extracts herself, disappearing into another room while we talk.

“You had said, my queen, that I was not to have any relations without you present,” Vizarios says.

Quite an opening. I wince as Nissia arches an eyebrow.

“Yes, I did say that.”

“Then, tonight, would you...” He leans down closer to her, letting his breath drift over her exposed neck. “Would you grace us with your presence?”

She glances from him to me, uncertainty clear on her face. Ah, this is the part that the king wanted me to play. What is he up to? Being intimate with me in front of the woman he’s trying to court... I don’t see how that gets him what he wants, not at all. But I also agreed to help him, and so of course, I will do my part if he thinks it will achieve his ends.

I step forward, so I’m now beside Vizarios, and bow my head.

“I would very much like your company,” I say. “In whatever way you see fit.”

Vizarios looks at me from the corner of his eye with an approving smirk.

The queen nods hesitantly. “All right, then.”

For a moment, I catch hurt on her face. I feel like an intruder, like I am taking something from her. I truly hope Vizarios knows what he’s doing by having me as a partner again in front of her.

Nissia calls to Zephala that she will return, and then we depart again for the king’s quarters. Once there, Vizarios holds open the door, then closes and locks it behind us.

Chapter Twenty-Two

VIZARIOS