Page 35 of Dragon Unbound (Dragon Kings 3)
Chapter Fourteen
“It’s insane,” Tamlyn said for the third time that morning.
Cullen stood in the great hall, watching the three women. To his surprise, Jenefer had agreed with his plan to go to Stonemore.
“This’d better work,” Sian stated, her eyes on him.
“It will.” Cullen understood her uncertainty. They barely knew him, and he wanted to go into a place they feared and hated. He could point out that he wasn’t forcing Tamlyn to accompany him. But he decided it would be better to keep that to himself.
Tamlyn pursed her lips and blew out a breath. Her nervousness was palpable. “What if they recognize me?”
“They won’t,” Jenefer said. “You were a child when you escaped.”
Cullen briefly met Jenefer’s gaze. “She’s right. You have nothing to worry about.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” Tamlyn mumbled.
Sian embraced Tamlyn, squeezing her tightly. “It’s only for a little while. We’ll be waiting for your return.” Sian stepped back and locked her eyes on Cullen. “She will be back.”
“Aye, she will,” he replied.
Jenefer smiled to Tamlyn as she moved to stand before her. “You’ve been in and out of that city multiple times. They didn’t get you then, and they won’t now.”
Tamlyn nodded before hugging Jenefer.
The Amazon quickly released her and stepped back. “You two should go. No need to tarry.”
Tamlyn looked pointedly at Cullen’s outfit.
He remembered the clothes she had described to him yesterday. Using his magic, he called brown pants made of the same material as Tamlyn’s and chose a darker brown for his shirt. When he looked up, he found Tamlyn staring at him. He glanced down to see that the deep V of the shirt showed off a large portion of his chest. Good. He wanted her to look. To feel the same fire that burned within him.
Because he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
He nodded to Jenefer and Sian, both looking a little awed at his display of magic, as he passed. When he came even with Tamlyn, his head swung to her. She took a deep breath and turned to head up the steps and out the door. Just before she stepped through, Tamlyn lingered and looked back at her friends. She lifted a hand in a wave, a small smile playing about her lips.
He paused at the top of the steps and looked over his shoulder. Jenefer had already walked away, but Sian remained, doubt and worry clouding her face. Cullen nodded to her before continuing after Tamlyn. The longer he was with these women, the more infuriated he became on their behalf. They were formidable in their own right, but they had been told from a young age that there was something wrong with them for having magic. That they were worthless. Powerless.
His promise not to start a war might be more difficult than he imagined. As a magical being, he had a responsibility not to use his powers for evil. Yet, the humans were doing that with their words and actions. All because of their fear and tiny, tiny minds.
Cullen fell into step with Tamlyn as they began climbing out of the canyon. “I wouldna take you with me if I didna think I could protect you.”
“I know you think that, but you don’t know Stonemore.”
He frowned as she used her hands to pull herself up over a steep part. “These people doona have magic. They have nothing to prevent me from safeguarding both of us and getting us out.”
“Without starting a war?” she asked without looking at him.
He sighed. “You know I fly get us to the top of the canyon in a blink.”
“I’ve climbed the canyon many times.”
Cullen let the matter drop, but he stayed near her just in case. A few minutes later, the rock she gripped loosened and fell. He easily reached out with his free hand and caught her as she started to fall, yanking her to him.
The instant she was flush with his body, his gaze dropped to her lips. Memories of the previous day, of her lips against his, her softness yielding to him, seeking him, made his blood pound in his ears. It felt good to have her pressed against him. Her heat against him made him hold her tighter.
She gasped as she gripped him. “Th-thank you.”
“I’m no’ the enemy, lass.” He barely got the words out. His desire had risen quickly. Her nearness made him forget everything but her.
Tamlyn lowered her eyes as she sighed. “I know. I’m sorry. I just hate Stonemore so much.”
“You doona have to go.”
“I do.” Her hazel eyes lifted to his.
For a long moment, they silently stared at each other. He wanted to know what was going through her mind. Because thoughts of her filled his. Cullen knew the best thing for him was to return to dragon land and send someone else in his stead, but he couldn’t. Whatever it was about Tamlyn that had him contemplating ignoring a direct order from Con kept him with her now.
“Are we going to hang here all day?” A slow smile spread over her face.
Cullen realized that both of their feet were dangling. His grip with his other hand kept them from falling. He said nothing as he moved her closer to the side of the cliff so she could find her foot and handholds. He didn’t release her until she was settled. The rest of the climb was uneventful.
At the top, he dusted off his hands and looked around. His gaze moved through the invisible barrier that kept the humans from dragon land. He spotted a dragon in the distance and could just make out gold scales. He assumed it was Brandr since he was supposed to take Cullen’s place. But it could be Con.
Cullen hadn’t checked in with Con or any of the others since he had left dragon land. He would need to soon. Once he and Tamlyn were in the city, he would let them know his progress.
“You can go back.”
He jerked his head to Tamlyn and frowned. “What?”
“You’re staring at your land.”
“Dragon land,” he corrected.
She shot him a flat look. “You know what I mean.”
“Do you see the dragon in the distance?”
Tamlyn looked to where he pointed. She squinted, her gaze moving over the sky. Finally, she shook her head. “Can you?”
“Aye.”
“Like I said, you can go back.”
He started toward Ferdon Woods, ignoring her words. When she jogged to catch up with him, he said, “For too long, I’ve no’ been able to see dragons in the sky. It’s nice to see them flying whenever they want.”
“And nice for you to fly whenever you want.”
