Page 25 of Dragon Heir

“Stop laughing at me! I have literally no self-esteem left to lose.” I punch his shoulder, trying not to die of embarrassment. “I just thought one of you might be up for helping a girl out with losing her virtue, knowing I wasn’t going to expect anything else to come of it. But I got a firm hell no from him too.”

Pax finally pauses to wipe at his tears—he’s literally crying from laughter. “Nessie, you were the hottest girl at our village school by miles. You’re the hottest girl in Ricoterra by galaxies. That Sinetar asshole would sell his soul to the demons to sleep with you—if he has a soul to sell, which he clearly doesn’t. He probably just panicked when he realized that you might actually take him up on it, and he’d have to back up his words with actions. He’s obviously all talk. A guy like that doesn’t deserve to kiss your toes.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re just being—”

Pax rocks his pelvis forward, pushing his rock-hard erection into me and making me gasp. I immediately feel a stirring inside, even before I take in just how big he feels.

“Every damn time you touch me, Nessie. Doesn’t mean I can have you. I can’t. But you’ve lost all sense of reality if you think you’re not sexy. I have literally spent a decade fighting meat-brains who tried to hit on you even when I told them that you’re off limits.”

My breath is hitching, and I want to rub up and down his length, but Pax scoots away.

“Maybe let a couple guys through, Pax. I don’t want to die a virgin.”

Leaning in, he kisses me on the forehead. “I promise I’ll let someone through—When they deserve you. So, it might be a while.”

I roll my eyes again, but Pax has managed to make me feel better. Before I can get him talking about his life on campus since starting Liaison training, though, Pax rolls off the bed. He leans down and kisses my forehead, gently smoothing my hair back at the same time.

“Now how about that bath I mentioned earlier?” he asks playfully.

I groan and pull the blankets up over my head, embarrassment flooding through me when I remember how gross I am right now. Pax just laughs and ambles out of the room, knowing I’ll get myself together now. And I do.

By the time I reach the washroom, the tub is full of steaming water, a bar of soap on the side and a clean towel folded over the edge.

I glance around and see True hovering in the hallway. “I know it’s not what you’re—what you deserve,” he says, shifting on his feet and avoiding my eyes. “It’s all we have right now, and I’ve never drawn a bath for—for a lady.”

Is he blushing?

“It’s incredible,” I say, touched by his thoughtfulness. “Thank you.”

He gives a quick nod, his lips pressed together in what appears to be frustration.

“Seriously,” I say. “No one’s ever drawn a bath for me. I’d hug you, but trust me, you don’t want me lifting my arms right now.”

I expect him to at least smile, but he only scowls, and then it’s awkward so I duck into the room and pull the door closed, my belly fluttering and my core aching with need.

I actually pluck up my courage to return to class on Monday, only to be greeted with the leggy brunette in her forties who is all too familiar. I know who she is before she introduces herself as Professor Mitchel. I don’t think she noticed me while Sinetar was railing her in her office, and if she recognizes me, she shows no sign. She’s all white teeth and dimples as she tells us, “Professor Sinetar will be about the library if you have any questions, but I’ll be taking over the lecture period.”

Several students glance my way at this, but I’m so relieved to not have to face Sinetar again, I don’t even care. The week passes without further incident. I try to find snatches of time with my roommates, and we settle into a comfortable pattern between classes and homework. After the snuggle time with Pax, I thought we’d be back to our former relationship or closer than ever, but no such luck. Something has shifted between us. Pax has some kind of guard up that he never had before.

As the month winds on, decorations for Queen’s Day begin to appear around campus and around town. Folds of sequins drape around people’s doorways. Colorful banners hang between buildings. Black talons, chips of dragon stone, and glass replicas of different colored dragon eyes hang in windows for good luck and fortune. People wear empty pouches around their necks to show they’ve already paid homage to the Queen in the hopes that she will bless them with abundance, wealth, and fertility in the coming year.

My family was the only one in our village that celebrated the holiday, and that was only because my parents both trained to be Scholars at the dragon court once upon a time, though neither were chosen before they left to make a family. Here, it’s the festival of the year. Ricoterra, the walled city that includes many supernatural communities, is directly linked to the dragon court by the DLSA. Our poor village had one well where people gather to pass news. With the caravans and mail systems, Ricoterra receives news from all over the world, so they’re connected to many traditions that our isolated village ignored. It’s no surprise the metropolis where we now make our home is notorious for its Queen’s Day parades and parties.

When the day finally arrives, I luxuriate in bed all morning, reveling in the ability to sleep in for once. Of course school is closed for the festivities. Finally, the call of nature rouses me, and I stumble to the washroom, then through the living room. The smell of fresh brewed coffee draws me like a magnet, and I step into the small kitchen to find True standing over a steaming griddle iron.

“Mmmm,” I moan. “Hotcakes.”

“Thought I’d cook,” True says with a glance in my direction. His strong-and-silent routine doesn’t bother me anymore. To be honest, ever since the day with Pax where I decided to give up my quest to lose my chastity, True and I have been much more comfortable together. It makes me think that a lot of the weirdness just stemmed from my raging lady hard-on for him, and now that I’ve given that up as impossible, we can be decent cohabitors.

“Well, thanks,” I say. “Hope it’s okay if I steal some of your coffee.”

“It’s all yours,” he says.

A door opens down the hall, and a second later, Pax steps into the kitchen. He offers me a sleepy smile and says, “Happy Queen’s Day.”

“Happy day off,” I say, helping myself to coffee. “Thank you, Dragon Queen, for being born today.”

“It’s not the queen’s birthday,” True says, his unearthly, pale blue eyes meeting mine with an earnestness I’ve rarely seen in him. Actually I’ve rarely seen any emotion. “It’s the day she became queen—her Coronation Day.”