Page 9 of The Final Battle

We all knew that Cassarah was struggling today, it was written all over her face. It hadn’t taken me long to learn to read her subtle expressions, helping me get a feel for her mood, but right now she wasn’t hiding anything. Other than when we met with King Thomas and Queen Catharine, all her worries had been on full display for all to see. I’m sure she feels like we are being harsh on her, but she was refusing to admit that almost dying last night was a major event. After all she’s been through, I knew she would reach a breaking point, and it seems today would be that day.

She’s been able to roll with the hits every time something got thrown her way, but even the strongest of people have that one event that pushes you too far. While I’d been in support of May’s plan of just getting her through the day and letting her fall apart once it was over, I don’t think we had that much time. The rest of them might be upset that I was stealing her away without a word, but I was her guardian and above all, her friend. Hell, she was my best friend, we had a connection to each other that I didn’t understand and when I first met her scared me. I’d been an asshole, pushing her away solely on the fact that I knew if I let her too close, I would fall head over heels with no chance of turning back.

That first month, as we fought and snarled at each other, created a kinship that we could be that honest with each other. I’d gotten her so mad during a training session that she called me a bastard. The woman who hardly ever uses curse words flat out told me I was being a right bastard, and she was right, I absolutely was. How she could think that who she’d been would ever be forgotten is ridiculous. The timid woman in her nightgown standing up to me was forever etched into my brain. Lady Cassarah was just the foundation to create Queen Cassarah, ruler of the mercenaries. Now it was my job to remind her of all that after I’d given her a safe place to fight it out with her feelings. She’d been trapped away in a room with an outlet for far too long, so I was going to give her one.

Jovid and I found this place while we’d been scouting, and I’d known right away that I wanted to bring her here. Having never seen the sea before, it made me feel so small in the world with how it stretched farther than my eyes could see. One of these days, after the battle was over, I’d love to fly out there and see if more land existed, or if this was the end of the world.

Then, a little farther down the coastline, I spotted this inlet with a small beach and a cave for shelter, almost as if a dragon had created it at one point for its home. I could hear her gasp as we crested the mountain range and caught the first glimpse of the Caleden Sea. Jovid took his time and even skimmed the surface of the water, dragging his claw, creating a spray of water around us. The sound of Cassarah’s laugh told me I’d done the right thing bringing her here.

When we reached the beach and landed, the first thing she did was run to the water’s edge. “Have you ever seen anything like it before? It goes on forever!“

“I was hoping you might know with all the studying you did with your father,“ I commented. “We didn’t know about Sheca, but Creisal butts up to the same body of water, so I wasn’t sure if it had come up.“

She shook her head, her curls wild from the flight. “No, Creisal as a whole, has kept to themselves since the last Battle of the Kingdoms. They built up their army to ensure they would never be a weaker power and with the sea at their back it was easy to do. The only thing I know is that no one who’s left to sail out into the Caleden Sea has ever come back, all are believed to be dead.“

“What if they found someplace new and decided to stay?“ I questioned as I came to stand next to her. “It seems rather small-minded to think that we are the only countries that exist.“

Turning her eyes to look at me I could see the excitement shining in them. “I’d like to think you’re right, that out there are more people living their lives wondering the same thing about us. What if we went? Think of the things we could discover being able to fly dragon-back instead of on a ship.“

“If you really want to go, I would go with you in a heartbeat, but we need to settle things here first. Leaving would be the same as handing everything over to the Lost King and giving up. You, little mouse, are no quitter. I’ve seen your determination with my own eyes more than once.“

Her eyes fell as she stepped away from me, walking towards the cave. “Of course, it would be after I’ve dealt with the Lost King. I might need a moment of peace, but I would never turn my back on these people or my own country. What kind of person would I be if I just disappeared without a word? Becoming queen and leading nations into battle might never have been my first choice, but I will see this through.“

“Mouse, are you trying to pick a fight with me?“ I asked, surprised by her overreaction to my words. “What I said wasn’t an attack on you, it was me simply stating facts about our situation. It’s perfectly normal for you to have doubts or to want to run away from this fight. You got tossed into the middle of it and told to fix it, with no say in the matter. All I’m trying to do is show you that having a moment of weakness isn’t bad, as long as you understand that’s all it is—a moment.“

Whirling to face me, she took a step forward and shoved me back with both hands. “Damn right I was tossed into this, it was your grandfather who showed up in my life and dragged me smack dab in the middle of this shit. Yes, I’m now the Dragon Queen and rule over all the mercenaries, uniting the clans after hundreds of years apart. What little girl wouldn’t want to grow up and have that happen to them?“

She paused, hands shaking as her anger and voice grew louder. “You know what they forget to tell you? Once you wear that crown, you’re in charge of every life that you rule over. Will my people still want me to rule over them when I do whatever it takes to ensure their survival? The Lost King isn’t going to hold back and I can’t either, or we’ll lose everything we worked to build. That man is willing to bring his dragon back twisted and broken from the brink of death, as a child. None of us truly know what he’s capable of Cole, but that’s where I have to go in my mind to outsmart him. That bastard of a king will die by my hands, because I won’t allow anyone else to carry that burden for the rest of their lives. Just like it should have been me to behead the Clan Leaders, not their sons.“

Finally, my sweet timid mouse was feeling cornered by the evil lion who’d been playing with her up until this point. Yeah, she’d had her moments of anger at the Clan Leaders and others around her including us.

The difference this time was the woman believed to be a mouse was never truly a mouse, but a dragon. Cassarah’s will and determination were ironclad, like the scales of a dragon, and right before my eyes the ember of her heart for justice was being stoked. Soon, her flames would be felt across our world, destroying all those who stood in her way, while protecting those she’d claimed.

“You know none of them hold that against you, and never will. They made that choice on their own, which is one of the reasons they never told you they were planning to do it. While you might be the queen, what power do you have that hasn’t been given to you by others? We, as your guardians, are placed to protect you but also to ensure your rule is never questioned,“ I challenged. “A queen and Guardians, working together in harmony to protect their people, make us a force to be reckoned with, don’t ever doubt that, Cassarah.“

Her anger was cooled until it was simmering just under the surface, right where it should stay until we needed it. It would keep her strong and sharp as we worked to end the Lost King. The glow of danger lurking deep within her eyes drew me to her and I was unable to resist the call. Wrapping my hand in her hair, I pulled her to me until we were chest to chest, noses brushing each other but I didn’t close that last bit of space between us. I wanted to know if she wanted me as much as I wanted her right now.

I didn’t have to wait long as she surged up, her full lips meeting mine as her arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me down to her. Our tongues danced as we both fought for control, refusing to surrender to the other until I pulled back, cupping her face to keep her from chasing after me.

“Cassarah, no matter how deep into the darkness you have to go, none of us will leave your side. I promise you, I’ll make sure you come back from it all, that the girl I met on the balcony is never lost or forgotten. She’s the one who stole my heart and refused to give it back, and I will always be grateful to have fallen in love with my best friend,“ I said, letting my thumbs caress her cheeks as I spoke.

“Is there a reason you’re still this close to me?“ she asked, using the same words she’d spoken to me when we first met.

“Does a man need a reason to be this close to a pretty lady?“ I responded with a grin.

“Clearly, the man addressing this lady isn’t a gentleman.“

“I’m no gentleman, only a man who’s madly in love with his queen,“ I said before fusing my lips to hers once more.

We tumbled to the ground, the need to be close driving us into a frenzy. I ripped open her laces, peeling her bodice off, giving me access to her breasts, to which I gave the affection they were owed. It wasn’t enough though, I needed to be inside of her. The last time we were together I took the higher road, but this time I couldn’t find the strength. Grabbing her hips, I flipped her over so she was on her stomach and pulled down her pants, exposing her pert ass. If I hadn’t already been hard as stone, the sight alone would have done it for me. Tugging at my own pants, I got them down far enough to free myself and crawled up her body.

“Little mouse,“ I whispered along the back of her neck as I situated myself at her opening. “I’m going to show you just how ungentlemanly I can be, because no gentleman would have the balls to take his woman the way I want to take you now.“

Cassarah moaned under me, wiggling her hips until she managed to get the tip of my cock inside her. “Do your worst, prove to me how badly you want me.“

Nipping at her ear, I thrust in until my balls smacked her clit with the force of my thrust. I wrapped an arm around her chest and pulled her up enough that I could kiss her as I pounded into her. Everything about this moment was primal and desperate. The tension between us had been building until we both reached our breaking point here on this beach.

We’d all learned from whatever happened with Abbott last night that Cassarah wasn’t a quiet woman when she was being fucked, and this moment was no different. Her moans and cries filled the air as I rutted into her. For a moment, I thought I might be too aggressive and eased up a bit, only to have her look at me over her shoulder.