Blood Bought: Cruentus Dragons Book Two (8 page)

* * * *

Athena howled as she came awake. A piece of cloth in her mouth dulled the sound, but nothing dulled the spasms twisting inside her belly. She lay on some sort of stone table. Her hands were tied over her head and her feet tied at the other end of the slab.

She shivered in the cold of the place. It was dark and dank like some sort of subterraneous cavern. She remembered Riven telling her of the Djinn living underground. Was this one of their caves? Myriad candles illuminated the space, casting eerie shadows on the rough-hewn walls. The flickering flames lit up the icicle-like stalactites overhead. In the distance, she heard dripping water.

This was the home of the Djinn. No wonder they were so pissed off.

She turned her hands to test the bonds holding her. No dice. She wasn’t getting free, not on her own anyway. The cloth securely held her without cutting off her circulation.

Before she could contemplate escape, another pain knotted in her middle. She screamed into her gag, arching off the table. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. Tears streamed down the sides of her face. How bad would the pain get? What was happening to her body? Because of Riven, she knew the Djinn’s plan to capture, but what had they done to her? She prayed Jonah wouldn’t try a rescue. He couldn’t jeopardize the fate of his people. And she wasn’t his mate any longer…

He needed to just stay away.

“Poor, pathetic Dragon mate.”

Athena twisted to see the woman who mocked her. A few feet away, a female Djinni stood with her arms crossed over her pert breasts. Dressed in a floor-length black dress, she blended into the inky walls of the cavern—well, except for her ghost-like skin, blazing blue eyes and white-blonde hair.

“He’ll come for you, you know,” the woman said as she stepped from the shadows and glided toward the table where Athena was bound, then pulled away the gag. The captor sighed light-heartedly and gave a faint shrug. “Then he’ll come for me.”

She gave a full-bodied shudder of feigned pleasure.

“Who are you?” Athena demanded, her ire spiking at the idea that this
thing
thought to touch her man.

“Someone of more consequence than you.”

Athena fought to remain still and show no reaction as another slash of pain tore through her. “I suppose that’s true. I’m bound and you’re not. But if I were free, I’d show you some consequence,” she growled.

“Would you now?” the blonde asked, her smile lethal. Her hand glowed a faint blue. “Can you do this?”

Burning heat sizzled along Athena’s thigh where the hand touched her. She writhed, animalistic sounds coming from her throat as she fought to keep back her screams. The agony wasn’t as bad as that in her belly, but awful nonetheless.

“Who are you, bitch?” Athena managed through her teeth as she glared at the beautiful sadist beside her.

The woman tsked. “I’m the queen here. Alas, my husband Albus is more interested in the queen of the Elvish—though he can’t have her—so, I play where I can, and I find I like Dragons. They’re ever so manly and strong. I’ve had my eye on yours for quite some time.”

“No Dragon would fuck you, hag.”

“Such language. No wonder he unmated with you—yes, I know all about that. Poor thing, pregnant and unmated. If he really cared for you, he would never have left you and his offspring so unprotected. He would have united with you, whether you were willing or not.”

Pregnant? What?

The queen drew a hand along her side, emphasizing the slim figure within her satin dress. “And I’m afraid, yes, he would fuck this. What man wouldn’t? Especially if he’s nursing his wounds of failure and a beautiful woman comes on to him, promising to make the pain go away even for a little while. See, everyone thinks I want him lured here so we can get to his scion, but really, I just want him.”

“Ain’t happening, lady,” a very pissed, and in Athena’s book, very welcomed voice thundered as Jonah stepped from the shadows in his human form. Athena had never seen him more livid. Outrage lit his face with a danger she wouldn’t want to tempt.

The queen smiled then turned. “Jonah, welcome. Riven,” she said as he stepped up beside Jonah, “well done.”

“I did nothing for you, Laurinda,” Riven growled. “You’ve gone too far.”

“Too far? This is war. I’ve barely fired a volley.” She rolled her eyes. “So far, I haven’t even managed to even hurt anyone.”

Athena would beg to differ, but she settled for glaring at the queen, her vision somewhat glassy from the torment racking her flesh. She fought to stay conscious through the byplay around her.

“I want my mate released,” Jonah demanded.

Her heart leapt.
Mate
—

“Mate? Aren’t you forgetting a little something?” Laurinda taunted. Athena yanked impotently on the ties holding her as the woman eyed Jonah. Her lascivious plan was clear in the obvious lust that shone there. A nerve ticked in his cheek, his jaw rigid. Athena wanted to scratch out Laurinda’s eyes. She wasn’t going down without a fight. She’d had it with being a pawn in a war that wasn’t even hers.

“You’re awfully cocky for someone so close to death,” he replied.

“Says the man within my home, with my guards but a yelp away. I don’t think you’re in much of a situation to cast judgments.”

“I’ll fry you before they get through the door.”

Yes, fry her,
Athena thought, barely able to breathe let alone speak. Dots began to speckle her vision, but she struggled to keep conscious.

Laurinda chortled. “But then the little woman might get hurt. You can’t kill me and save her, too.”

Athena’s fingernails sank into her palms, her teeth biting into her lip. She tried to calm her gasping breaths, knowing Jonah could hear them clearly no matter what she did. She didn’t want to distract him while he sparred with the female viper at her side.

Please…
she thought.
Get me out of here.

Then as another pain hit, she almost wished the queen would just kill her. Glancing down, she saw spots of blood mark her shirt. She was bleeding!

The queen looked over, and her eyes seemed to widen slightly. “I think she’s pretty close to death already. Just save time and come to my chambers. Riven, you’re free for now. I’ll deal with you later.”

“Touch Jonah and I’ll rip your throat out myself,” Athena promised between pants. Once, pride would have forced her to keep him from knowing her feelings. Now pain and anger overrode that self-preservation. She
wanted
him to know how she felt.

“
Velree
,” he murmured, truly looking at her for the first time. His face went white as he saw her state. Athena watched the muscles in his arms tense, and she knew he forcibly held himself back. That little bit of knowledge shored up her waning strength.

She took deep breaths, determined to fight the bitch as soon as Jonah got her free.

Her arms burned from their position and her straining, but it wouldn’t stop her from ripping out a few hunks of Laurinda’s hair and using some of the self defense moves she knew from her days in
New York
. No one touched her man.

Laurinda shook her head. “Such a valiant group here. Dragon’s blood must be the elixir of fools. Fine, fine, fine…if you choose that whining snippet over me, go ahead. Free her.”

“I haven’t a doubt that would be a trap,” he replied.

The queen made a disgusted sound, a puff of air blowing though her dainty nose. “Guards!” she bellowed. “Guards!” Her hands glowed. “Free her, you moron,” she rasped in a low voice.

As one, Riven and Jonah leapt into action. Their bodies shifted, their scales sliding into place in a blink. Confusion filled Athena, and she wondered if she were hallucinating. Had the queen just…
helped?

No, Athena determined, she was imagining things. She flinched as balls of light shot from Laurinda’s hands, going wide and striking the far wall. Rubble rained down on the entering band Djinn. Several more flashes of energy followed suit, streaking through the air like sizzling bolts of lightning.

Jonah ripped free Athena’s bonds while Laurinda scurried to the side, but Riven caught her into his arms as she screeched. In moments, Jonah had Athena in his arms. She curled into him, clutching his shoulders. Blackness was closing in, and she didn’t know how long she could last.

“Relax, little one,” Jonah urged. “You’re safe, and soon all the pain will disappear.”

As if the words were a spell, and knowing she was in the arms of one who would keep her from harm, Athena surrendered to the pain that assailed her and let the accompanying weakness pull her beneath the surface of consciousness.

Some healer he was. Athena should have united with him hours ago. Jonah couldn’t stop rebuking himself. How could he have missed that he’d impregnated his mate? How could he cause her such pain?

He was sorely tempted to unite with her here and now, but to do so, without her consent was impossible. She had to agree.

“Jonah!” Riven commanded urgently. He grabbed Jonah’s arm, while he kept hold of Laurinda. Apparently, he intended to take her along for the ride.

“You told me
transporation
wasn’t safe for Athena,” Jonah argued.

“It didn’t affect her journey here.” In a blink, they were sailing though one of Riven’s wards, swirling colors flew past them. Jonah hugged Athena tight, keeping her safe in the magical miasma of energy around them.

The journey was over in minutes, and to Jonah’s surprise, Riven materialized them on the enclosed patio outside Jonah’s rooms at the Cruentus compound. Without questioning how Riven had known the location, he hurried toward the door leading to his inner chambers. Magic protected the portals, but Riven had no problem following with Laurinda since he was part Dragon.

The queen hissed in anguish as she was dragged through the magic barrier that kept Djinn and Elvish outside the Cruentus walls. Had Riven not kept a firm hold on her, his tacit approval of her entrance allowing the passage, the enchantment would have killed her rather than merely causing pain. Once inside, she seemed to recover quickly. After the energy surge she’d used on Athena’s leg earlier, Jonah couldn’t feel sorry for her discomfort, though now, after she’d helped them escape, he realized that she’d use the lowest grade power she could. Apparently, her intention hadn’t been to harm his mate. So what was her objective? Why had she helped them?

He’d dwell on it later. Athena had passed out, and he needed to attend her quickly. He placed her on a nearby settee. Transforming to human shape, except for one hand, he knelt beside her then slashed a claw over his wrist. He pressed it to her lips. It wouldn’t change her. He needed to ingest her blood within minutes of her taking his in order for that to happen, but it would take away the pain his children were causing within her womb.

Children… He was going to be a father. He’d known all along that this would happen. It was a main purpose to the mating call. Procreation. Furthering his species. The concept was far removed from the terrifying, awe-inspiring reality. His sons grew inside his mate…

He stroked Athena’s hair from her face with his free hand. He wanted to share the moment with her, to tell her how pleased he was and how much he wanted to spend eternity with her. His emotions roiled inside him, and there was nothing he could do but wait for her to wake. When she did, he’d beg her forgiveness for being so stupid and for casting that awful spell. He’d destroy it as soon as he dared leave her side. No Dragon would ever again cast such hideous magic.

On the other side of the couch, Riven set the queen on her feet, keeping her within his embrace. She didn’t appear overly upset at being ripped from her home. Nor did she seem to care she was in Riven’s arms.

“Well played, beloved,” she said.

Beloved?
Had Riven tricked him?

Her head leaning on Riven’s chest, she smiled at Jonah. “You are quite safe, Dragon Jonah. I hate this war, and I have no quarrel with the Dragons, save for certain laws…” She sighed and looked up at Riven. “Thank you for saving me from Albus.”

“I would not leave you with him.”

“You didn’t marry him for love?” Jonah asked.

“I didn’t willingly marry him at all. I wasn’t even there.”

Such a thing was a travesty!

“Yes, it is,” she agreed.

“You can read my mind?”

She nodded. “And your delightful mate’s as well. I’m afraid she may try to kill me at first opportunity. I apologize. I had to make the escape appear real. I would never have involved either of you if I’d had a choice. Riven and I had another plan…”

“Then why? She could have died.” Jonah pulled his wrist from Athena’s mouth and used his thumb to tenderly wipe away a drop of blood from the edge of her lips.

“Albus learned of her location and he was determined to cripple your clan by making you useless to your leader. You
are
his scion. He needs you, as you need Athena. Bringing her to the warren was the only way I could keep Albus’ army from killing her. He’d sent too many warriors for you to defeat.”

“It makes sense,” Athena said weakly. Her eyelids fluttered then she stared up at Jonah. Her smile warmed his soul. “Your spell didn’t work.”