Rhona barely held back her scream by shoving her fist against her mouth and biting down on her knuckles. As the first orgasm swept through her, Vigholf continued sucking her clit while he pushed first one, then a second finger inside her. He stroked those fingers in and out and tugged on her clit until she came again, her body nearly twisting out of his arms.

Groaning, tears in her eyes, Rhona realized Vigholf had moved away from her, but just as quickly he was back, only now he was completely naked. Stil dazed, she let the Northlander lift her up and turn her away from him. He pul ed her onto his lap and pressed his hand against her back until her upper body was stretched out, facedown on her bedrol . He pul ed her back a bit more and she felt his c**k nudge against her.

Rhona took hold of the bedrol , biting down on it, seconds before Vigholf rammed himself inside her.

She choked on a sob, his big c**k fil ing her, taking her. He held her tight with his hands while he rocked her back and forth. He moved over her, his tongue gliding up her spine, teasing the back of her neck and al while he was stil inside her. He kissed her cheek, her throat, until his lips pressed against her ear. He was panting hard, but she knew he was saying something. She tried to focus away from the next orgasm working its way up her spine to hear him. To hear what he was trying to say to her.

“Everything, Rhona. You are everything to me.”

And that’s when that next orgasm hit, ripping in and through her, leaving Rhona lying there covered in sweat, exhausted and unable to move.

Vigholf grasped her hands in his, held them as he came hard, his whole body tight around hers until he col apsed against her back.

Vigholf forced himself to rol off Rhona before he crushed her. Her arm reached out, stretching over his chest. He pul ed her close until she lay on top, her head resting against him.

They stayed like that for a long time, Vigholf’s hands stroking up and down her sweat-soaked back, his eyes locked on the cave ceiling.

“You know,” he said into the quiet, “at some point we real y must do this while we’re dragon.” He grinned. “I’d love to see what you can do with that delicious tail of yours.”

When Rhona didn’t answer, Vigholf assumed she was asleep. But she moved up until she could rest her arms around his shoulders and bury her face against his neck. Her head lifted a bit, and she said, “I’ve grown ridiculously fond of you, and I’m not sure I can ever forgive you for that.” Then she pressed her hand to his cheeks. “And you’ve become everything to me, too.” Closing his eyes, Vigholf immediately wrapped his arms around Rhona, holding her close.

He final y had what he wanted, but now he’d have to find a way to keep them both alive in order to have even a hope of enjoying it.

Chapter 30

Rhona brushed his hair off his face and Vigholf opened his eyes. Even though they were deep underground, he knew it was morning and Rhona was already dressed and ready for what they had to do.

“It’s time,” she said.

Vigholf nodded and sat up. “Do we have a plan?”

Rhona sighed and headed out of the cavern. “We have something.”

Vigholf didn’t like the sound of that.

They dressed in cloaks provided by the Rebel King’s men that would help them blend better. Since Brannie would be the one retrieving the king’s sister, he gave her a necklace and a smal vial of liquid. “Show the necklace to my sister. If she sees this, she’l know I sent you. Then get her to drink what’s in the vial.”

“What’s it do?” Rhona asked.

“You need my sister awake and alert to help you get out of there. The effects won’t last long, so you’l need to move. But once she drinks this, she’l be strong enough to help you help her.”

“A squad of my men and I wil show you the way to the city gates,” General Varro said. “But you’l be walking in alone. Avoid the city guards. They have a tendency to question suspicious-looking outsiders.”

“And you five look very suspicious,” the king muttered.

“If you are stopped, let the Northlander do the talking. They’re more accustomed to seeing your kind and more likely to let you go. But a Southlander of any kind—you’re in trouble.” He glanced at the king. “Anything else?”

“Not that I can think of.”

Annwyl walked up to the king. One monarch talking to another. “You’re doing the right thing.”

“I hope you’re right.”

As promised, General Varro and some of his men escorted them about ten miles from the main gate. With surprising ease, they slipped into the sea of travelers flowing into the city. As the king had also promised, with so many coming and going at that time of the day, especial y with the monthlong games in progress, it was incredibly easy for them to pass the guards and soldiers without being questioned. Although they did have their stories ready should they be stopped.

Once in, they fol owed the crowds to the stadium, a large, circular building fil ed with stands that looked down over a fight-ready arena and was connected to the royal palace.

Instead of the front entrance that paying customers were going into, however, the five of them went to the side entrance that led into the dungeons, and got into the long line.

While they waited, Rhona turned to her cousins. “Are you ready for this?” And when Izzy didn’t answer right away, Rhona snapped her fingers in her face.

“Huh?”

Good gods. “I said are you ready for this?”