“Congratulations, Your Majesty. Wonderful news, I must say.”

Hours later, Cadeyra nodded as Lord Patterson, who was at least eleventy billion years old and looked every day, offered his congratulations. After the palace’s announcement of her engagement earlier, a ball had been hastily arranged, and the cream of high society had arrived to wish her and her new fiancé well.

“Thank you, my lord. I’m sure we’ll be very happy together,” she added with a smile, cutting off further questions as she moved on with the ease of long practice. The art of the mingle was one she’d had to learn early on. It was an essential part of monarch training and she’d never needed it more than she did tonight. Everyone wanted nitty-gritty details of her relationship with Sawyer, but they quickly backed down when she gave them “the look.” It was the one designed to remind them who she was and that while her life was dedicated to the crown, her private life was just that… private.

Finding herself between groups for a moment, she took the opportunity to take a glass from one of the circling waiters. The champagne fizzled on her tongue but wouldn’t do anything other than make her a little tipsy. Her dragon would burn through the alcohol before it had any effect on her body or mental capacity. Which was great for not getting trashed and making a fool of yourself at official functions, but seriously sucked when you just wanted to get merrily drunk and forget all your problems for an evening.

She’d barely managed to take a mouthful when she was accosted by another group and she had to put her game face back on. This time, though, it was a bunch of the court ladies, faces wreathed in smiles as the boldest amongst them, Marianna, held out her hand.

“Come on then, Your Majesty, let’s see it!”

Cadeyra hid her smile, putting an innocent look on her face. “What do you mean? See what?”

“The ring!” they chorused and she finally cracked a smile, extending her hand. For a moment, she wasn’t just playing at being newly engaged, it felt real. That was mainly down to the sparkling diamond solitaire that twinkled on her finger. She’d been planning to wear something from the royal coffers, but Sawyer had surprised her just before the ball by sliding a ring on her finger. It was beautiful. With a delicate rose gold band etched with a floral pattern and a clear, glittering solitaire, it was exactly the sort of thing she’d have chosen for herself.

“Oh, that is gorgeous.”

“Absolutely lovely.”

The small group of women all cooed at once as Cadie tilted her hand this way and that. The diamond twinkled and caught the lights of the ballroom, reflecting them brightly. One of the women at the back of the group, Rhadika, pushed her way forward in a rustle of scarlet skirts. Catching Cadie’s hand, she tilted it up to look at the side of the ring.

“This is a Maisano,” she said with a frown. “I recognize the pattern on the band, but it’s not a design I’ve seen in their collections. And believe me, I know them all,” she said with a sudden grin, the flash of her dragon in her eyes, and Cadie understood. Dragons always had the potential to get obsessed with something and hoard it as treasure. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t always gold… she’d had a nanny once who’d hoarded wooden pegs. Usually, it was a harmless thing, unless of course the dragon was unstable and then it got into mountains of gold territory. Obviously, Rhadika’s dragon liked pretty things from Maisano.

Cadie blinked as she looked at her ring again. She hadn’t seen a box when Sawyer had slid it onto her finger but how expensive it was didn’t matter. What did was that he’d picked it out for her. The possibility that he’d not just picked it out but had had it specially made caused a warm feeling to spread out from the center of her chest.

Down girl, she told herself. For all she knew it might not have been made for her but for some other woman. Sudden, savage jealousy consumed her, her dragon snarling and stomping within at the idea of another woman in his arms… kissing him… touching where she wanted to touch.

Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself as logic reasserted itself. Even if the ring had been intended for another woman, no other woman was wearing it. Cadie was. Which meant that something had happened between her and Sawyer and she’d let him go. More fool her. He was Cadie’s now… for the time being.

“Ladies…” a deep voice broke into their conversation. Cadie turned to find Sawyer at her side. Again, he’d managed to sneak up on her without her dragon alerting her as to his presence. He smiled at the small group of women, eliciting a small sigh from someone at the back. “May I steal my fiancée away for a dance?”

He held out his hand for Cadeyra, and everyone else in the room ceased to exist. Butterflies started up in her stomach again as she slid her hand into his and allowed him to lead her out onto the dance floor. Since this was their first official dance as a couple, the floor cleared.

“You look beautiful,” he murmured, a smile of appreciation in his eyes as he drew her into his arms. If she didn’t know it was all an act, she’d have thought he really was a man head over heels in love.

“Thank you.”

How she managed any response she had no clue. The instant he’d touched her, big hand sliding around the back of her waist to pull her up against his hard body, her brain had scrambled. They’d danced together before, of course, but never like this. It had always been very correct, a proper distance maintained between them, and his closed expression had always made her suspect he was planning the next day’s training for the blacks rather than enjoying the dance.

Usually, though, he didn’t take to the floor. Not with her. Not with anyone. Instead, he picked a position by the wall, arms folded over his broad chest she wanted to see more of out of his formal shirt and jacket, a permanent scowl on his face as he watched her every move. She’d always thought it was because he hated public functions…

Now, though, she felt every muscle in his powerful body as he pulled her against him, nestling her against the harder lines and angles of his body. She fit perfectly, as though she’d been made to be there.

She stole glances up at him as they danced. She’d been watching him out of the corner of her eye all evening. He really was very handsome, but not in the pretty boy way a lot of the younger men at court were. Instead, his was a hard-bitten look, a dangerous aura wrapping around him.

Even if she hadn’t known he was a black, it would have been easy to guess. There was an edge about him. A darkness that said he was dangerous under all the court finery. Rough. Raw. Ruthless… she shivered again, heat surging through her. He wouldn’t treat her like glass, regardless of who she was…

“Fuck’s sake, Cadie,” he muttered through gritted teeth, smile still in place for anyone watching. His thigh pressed between hers as they reached the edge of the dance floor and he effortlessly whirled her around before they set off the other way. “Smile, would you? You’re meant to be in love with me but you look utterly terrified.”

“I’m not scared of you,” she shot back immediately. She was Cadeyra the White. She wasn’t scared of anyone. “Why would I be scared of you?”

“Perhaps you’re scared of what’s between us then?” he asked, his hand on her waist sliding down a little lower. Her entire body, all her attention, was focused on the path of his hand. He wouldn’t cup her ass would he… not here in public?

“Between us?” She couldn’t resist needling him. Especially not after he’d given orders and decided he would be her fiancé. “What… you mean a fake engagement I’m not allowed to ask your reasons for insisting on… no, demanding?”

His expression tightened. The slight flare of his nostrils were the only warning she got as he turned her suddenly. Not expecting it, she squeaked and clung to his shoulders as he whirled them out of the ballroom. Using a broad shoulder, he pushed open one of the little doors concealed behind the drapes that lined the walls of the ballroom like sentinels.

The heat and music of the revelries gave way to the cool darkness of the service corridors. Before she could react, though, Sawyer shoved her backward, pushing her back up against the cool stone wall. His big body pressed urgently against hers as he grabbed her wrists to haul her hands above her head, pinning them there.

“I told you not to ask why,” he breathed against her ear. “But you couldn’t leave it, could you, bug?

His voice was soft but with a dangerous edge that made her melt against him. She didn’t feel threatened. It wasn’t a physical kind of danger he radiated, not at the moment, but a very… sexual one.

“And? What of it?” she found the courage to whisper back, holding her breath in case he backed away again and shut her out as he had been since that kiss in the corridor.

He pulled back to look down at her, his eyes glittering darkly in the dim light. Black. His eyes were as black as his dragon, a warning he was close to the edge of his control.

“Carry on like that and, queen or not, I might have to teach you a lesson.”

The hitch in her breathing gave her away, and the corner of his lip quirked up for a split-second. Heat simmered through her, his no-nonsense manner thrilling her. All her life people had leapt to do her bidding. Any request, any need she’d had, anything she’d wanted… all there immediately. That he wasn’t like that filled a need inside her she hadn’t realized was there. Even when she gave orders, she was never entirely sure he’d obey her… and that turned her on far more than it should.

“Really now?” she threw back in challenge. “And just how do you plan to do that?”

He didn’t answer, not in words anyway. Instead, he bent his head and lowered his mouth to cover hers. Her eyes fluttered closed as it did, the softest of moans in the back of her throat as he feathered a kiss over her lips. Back and forth, with a softness she hadn’t anticipated from a man with such a dangerous reputation… Then her lips parted on a soft sigh, her tongue darting out to flick against his lips, and it all changed.

With a growl, he tightened his grip on her wrists and deepened the kiss. Heat licked through her as his tongue pushed into her mouth, finding and dueling with hers. Demanding and getting a reaction as she gasped again, giving him what he wanted… anything as long as he kept kissing her with the desperate passion he was right now.

Their kisses became hot and open-mouthed as she whimpered and writhed, pressing against him as she slid her tongue along his. He growled in the back of his throat again, letting go of her wrists to pull at her skirts and yanking them up to grab her thigh and haul it up. His callused palm cupped her ass, sliding over the rounded globe. Her breathing caught in her throat, pussy clenching in anticipation…

A door banging farther down the corridor made them both jump, and Sawyer leapt away from her like he’d been burned.

“Fuck!” he burst out, agitation written into every line of his body as he shoved a big hand through his hair, sending the short spikes haywire. “I’m so sorry… I didn’t mean for it to go that far. Shit…”

“Don’t be.” Cadie straightened up, calling on all her training for the throne to ignore the flush on her cheeks as she put her skirts right. “We’re both consenting adults with no attachments. Why shouldn’t we enjoy what time we have together?”

His expression shuttered, a dark look in his eyes as he folded his arms over his chest.

“No. We won’t be doing that.”

She blinked, the sting of rejection rolling through her. “Why not?” she couldn’t help asking, wincing at the hurt tone in her voice. A tone she’d have done anything to take back.

He stepped forward, planting a hand on the wall over her head to look deeply into her eyes. “Because if I get you into my bed, little bug, I don’t plan on letting you go. Ever.”

* * *

Prince Henrick was an ass.

Seated at the banquet table the next evening, with Sawyer on one side and their guest of honor on the other, Cadie managed to hide her distaste as he cracked yet another tasteless joke. This time it was about the boobs of the matron seated a few chairs down opposite. The prince made groping motions in the air toward the unfortunate woman. If the table hadn’t been in the way, she was fairly sure he’d have grabbed a handful.

Cadie slid a glance sideways as Henrick laughed loudly, catching Sawyer’s eye as she reached for her water glass.

“Pretty household staff you have here, Your Majesty.” Henrick had gotten over his amusement as one of the waitresses filled his wine goblet, eyeing her with lust. “Gives me a good mind to bend some of them over and give them a good seeing to.”

Cadie blinked at the bold statement. Taking a sip, she put the glass back down carefully.

“I beg your pardon, sir?”

Her voice was calm and considered, not betraying her surprise. What about that comment did the prince think was appropriate for the current company?

“I was just saying… very pretty staff.” Henrick’s voice seemed to get louder the more he drank. “But they all need a good seeing to every now and then… to get the best out of them, you understand? Reminds them of their place. Of course, I only deal with the pretty ones. The rest, the ugly, fat or old ones I have my guards or my valet see to. Regular attention keeps a female from becoming hysterical. Wouldn’t you agree, General?” He leaned in and winked to Sawyer.

The look in Sawyer’s eyes and the set of his jaw told her everything she needed to know. Sawyer liked Henrick possibly even less than she did, and the stupid man was just too dense to see the fury simmering beneath the big black’s polite facade.

“I’m sure I wouldn’t know anything about that, Your Highness,” Sawyer replied smoothly before Cadie could say anything. “In my experience women tend to suffer less from hysteria than most men, and are infinitely more sensible at times.”

“Yes… well,” Henrick blustered, shooting a glance at Cadeyra. “Present company excepted, of course. I’m talking about commoner women, obviously. Poor things are addle-brained at birth.”

Cadeyra only just stopped her eyebrow from winging up. “I fail to see what difference a person’s birth makes to their intelligence levels. Recent events have proved that those of noble blood are just as likely to be lacking in wits as those not.”

The corner of Sawyer’s lip quirked at her words and she knew he’d gotten the subtle jibe. Unfortunately, it seemed to go completely over Henrick’s head. Instead, the prince smiled benignly at her.

“Of course, my dear, there are always exceptions in any demographic. But that’s not something you need to worry your pretty little head about. Such statistics and their import are best left to those who understand the nuances of such things.”

At that, even Cadeyra’s dragon blinked in surprise. No, shock, that he would speak to her in such a manner. But he wasn’t done yet, completely missing the fact that everyone at the table had gone stock-still waiting for Cadeyra’s reply to the insult, and continued talking.

“Yes… I should imagine you’re looking forward to getting married and not having to worry about all this bothersome ruling business, eh? And quite rightly so, women shouldn’t have to be burdened with the trials and pressures of leadership but should concentrate on the important things in life, like their husbands or child-rearing.”

Cadeyra blinked slowly, the fury within her burning hotter and brighter by the second. That this jumped up, second rate princeling-brat thought he could come into her court and tell her something like that… she should roast him alive on the spot. Sawyer’s hand covered hers on the table, the big general giving her a small shake of his head. It was as taciturn a warning as she’d ever received but she got the message. Their engagement was all to avoid a diplomatic incident and would be pointless if she roasted the prince in front of everyone instead.

“Thank you, Prince Henrick, for enlightening us with your opinion on the matter,” she said, her clipped voice an indicator for anyone who knew her that she was pissed off. Putting her napkin down, she made a show of smoothing her skirts before standing. Getting the hint, the guests around the table all stood, leaving Henrick seated, his mouth gaping like a guppy’s as he hurried to catch up.

“Ladies and gentlemen, if you’d like to follow me… the Council of Twelve have arranged a demonstration for us.”

Delighted chatter filled the room as Cadeyra swept from it, Sawyer at her heels.

“The twelve have arranged no such thing,” he murmured softly, as he held out his arm for her to take. “What are you playing at, Cadie?”

The sound of her name in his deep tones eased her anger somewhat as they swept into her throne room. The place was magnificent, with high-vaulted ceilings and gold-paneled walls. Her dragon, always calmed by the sight of the shiny stuff, purred a little between its growls. Sawyer’s touch also helped to calm her down.

“Fucking asshole and his misogynistic ideas,” she hissed, leaning into him with a smile. To anyone looking they would appear for all the world like a loving couple. “Get Adra in here. We’ll show him what a lady-black can do.”

Sawyer’s lips split into a grin and he seated her on the throne before breaking away. She just managed to wipe the dislike from her features and smile stiltedly as Henrick took his place on the chair placed just down from hers on the dais. His eyes were wide as he looked around the throne room. The pillared walls gave way to large open windows up near the roof, and the place was easily large enough to allow all the blacks to fly in and land in dragon form.

“Very nice,” he murmured.

“Beautiful place, as are you, my dear,” he offered with a smug smile bordering on lecherous that Cadie wanted to slap off his face. “And far too good to waste yourself on that commoner general. Only a man of good breeding would be able to truly appreciate a creature such as yourself.”

She smiled, the expression behind it cold as she imagined tearing his head off with her draconic claws. “Then I am fortunate that my fiancé is not only a decorated and revered veteran but also a man of excellent taste. Ahh, here they are… my blacks.”