Page 14 of Dragon Revealed (Dragon Kings 1)
“But you have heard of them.”
She considered that for a moment and then shrugged. “I must have. Though it isn’t something that’s discussed often.”
“Are only humans and dragons in this realm?” he asked.
“As far as I know. We don’t venture out beyond our borders. I’m still confused why a Fae would steal a human child and replace it with one of their own.”
Varek thought about the Fae and wrinkled his nose. “You’d have to know the Fae.” When she stared at him expectantly, he said, “The Fae came to our realm long ago because they warred with each other so much that they destroyed their realm and needed a place to live. There are two factions. The Light and the Dark.”
“I’m guessing the Light are good, and the Dark are evil?” Jeyra said flatly.
“Aye. All Fae are born Light. Their actions turn them Dark. The Fae are stunningly beautiful. All of them. The Light have black hair, silver eyes, and an affinity for flowers and bright colors. The Dark have black and silver hair, red eyes, and favor the color black. The Fae were drawn to our world because of the mortals—the Dark feed off them.”
Jeyra jerked back. “Eww. Are you telling me they eat them?”
“In a manner of speaking. You see, humans are incapable of staying away from any Fae. They’re drawn to them. A mortal who has sex with a Fae willna find fulfillment with anyone else except a Fae.”
“Not even a Dragon King?” Jeyra asked with a smirk.
Varek didn’t bother to answer. “The Light are only allowed to have sex with a human once. The Dark, however, have sex with the mortal numerous times, each time draining the human of life until there is nothing left.”
“Why doesn’t the mortal get away?”
“They doona wish to. You see, they experience pleasure unlike anything before. Why would they want it to stop? With each kill, the Dark’s hair turns more and more silver.”
Jeyra’s brows rose briefly. “The Fae sound…ghastly.”
“Some are. Some are no’,” he said, recalling Rhi, Shara, and even Balladyn.
Suddenly, he jerked as he realized there was someone else he could contact. Erith, also known as Death. She was a goddess who had formed the Reapers, Light and Dark Fae, who acted as executioners when Death passed judgement.
“What is it?” Jeyra asked.
Varek focused on her to find her head tilted to the side as she watched him curiously. “Just thinking about some friends.”
“Again, I don’t understand why the Fae would leave their babies in place of mortals.”
Varek ran a hand over his jaw. “My realm has Halflings. Half-human, half-Fae. The Fae leave them with mortals since they doona believe the Halflings can find a place in their world.”
“You actually think I was taken from a human family on your planet and brought here while a Halfling was left in my place to be raised by my true parents?” she demanded.
He shrugged and threw up his hands. “It’s something to consider. The few Halflings I’ve met were either raised by only one parent or were orphans.”
“How do I find out if the Fae are the ones doing this?”
“Free me, and I can get in touch with some of my friends so we can sort it out.”
Her lips flattened. “Nice try. That isn’t going to happen.”
“Lass, someone is taking bairns from their homes and dropping them here. You may be all right with what happened to you, but I doubt everyone is. I’m sure there isna a person on this realm who wouldna like to know where they came from or why they’re here now,” he snapped.
She rose to her feet and stretched her legs. “I suppose you have a point. It’s not something that’s talked about much. It’s just a way of life.”
“Maybe you should do some digging,” he suggested.
A soft curl tipped her lips. “I just might. But we’re supposed to be talking about you and the Dragon Kings. Tell me, Varek, how many humans have you killed?”
“How many have you slain?” he retorted. “You’ll reply that you’re a warrior, and that excuses it. I’ll reply that I was defending my clan as their King, which excuses mine. You willna believe my words, and I willna believe yours.”
She stared at him before sighing. “What do you suggest then?”
Varek hadn’t thought she would give in so easily. “I’ll tell you more about the Dragon Kings in exchange for you answering some of my questions.”
“Isn’t that what we’ve been doing?”
He smiled because it was. “Ask your questions, lass.”
“How many humans have you killed.”
His gaze lowered to the ground as he sighed. “Many more than I want to admit. I detested the verra sight of them for a large part of my life. It’s why I remained in my mountain, deep in dragon sleep—so I wouldna have to interact with them.”
“What changed?”
“The Dragon Kings are the strongest, most powerful beings in our realm. That brings all sorts of enemies to our door. We’re protectors of Earth, regardless of whether the threat is against us or the mortals. We defend our home. A threat emerged, and I was called to awaken, along with the other sleeping Kings. We went to war.”
She walked to the bars and bent to grab the bottle of milk. Jeyra brought it to her mouth and asked, “Did you? Win, that is?”
“Aye.” He didn’t mean to watch the way her throat moved as she swallowed, or linger on her lips that molded against the end of the jug.
His thoughts immediately imagined her amazing mouth wrapped around his cock. Varek barely bit back a groan. He ducked his head, pretending to scratch his scalp. At least he was sitting down so she wouldn’t see his erection.
She lowered the bottle, corked it, and set it back against the bars. “What kind of magic can dragons do?”
“Anything,” he replied. “If you can think it, we can do it.”
“But only Dragon Kings can shift?”
He nodded and glanced at her. “Aye.”
“How do you communicate?”
“Like anyone else.”
