Nothing like the emasculating moment when you realize the petite and curvy woman, incarcerated less than a day, had a better plan for escape than you.

As they wandered the halls of the castle—free because of her actions—she asked, “Are you sulking?”

“I’m not sulking,” he pouted, the gravity working overtime on his lower lip. “I still don’t understand how Jabba’s shit didn’t knock you out.”

“Practice, stud. I’m sure over time you’d have built up the same immunity to drugs that I have. Keep in mind, my mother is an alchemist. I’ve been inoculated and rendered immune to a host of things.”

“Did you have to go take care of the other jailor on your own before releasing me?” Despite his repeated yells, she’d sprinted off—with the fucking keys—to knock out and drag back the other jailor. They were both now locked in her cell.

Then, and only fucking then, had she released him.

The shame of it.

“Don’t pout, stud. I was just doing my honorable duty to my Sept by keeping the king’s brother safe.”

“Bullshit. You want me to owe you.”

“Well, duh. You know as well as I that it’s all about the win. Now, are you going to wax on some more about my most eloquent escape or join me in completing it?” She held out her hand. “Let’s blow this joint.”

Almost, he reached for her hand, only to recall the mind-wiping experience of it last time.

If she touches me, I might not remember what I’m supposed to do.

And that’s a bad thing because?

He couldn’t afford to be muddled right now. Freedom awaited.

Brushing past her, his body shivering in awareness as skin rubbed against skin, he stalked the hallway of his own volition.

Go back. If the suzerain catches you roaming, you’ll be in so much trouble.

Shut the fuck up.

“Who is that talking?” she asked.

“Stop listening to my thoughts.”

“Stop shouting them then. Not my fault you’re noisy. Which, I will add, I don’t usually mind when it’s about me and only me. But in this case, you are replying to someone else, and I don’t like it.”

“What are you yapping about now? I’m not talking to anyone but your crazy ass.”

“And the voice inside your head. Who is it? I warned you about my jealous side. Mind-speaking should be something for you and me alone. No one else.”

He paused and whirled. “What are you talking about?”

“That voice. You know the one that wants you to be a pussy. Who is it?”

“Me.” The shame of it burned, acid tearing at his insides.

She shook her head. “No, it’s not. Don’t tell me you thought it was?” She snickered. “Silly dragon. How could you not realize someone screwed with your mind?”

You mean it’s not me telling myself to wuss out and show my fucking belly?

Don’t listen to her. She knows not of what she speaks.

Who the fuck is in my head?

Dumb question. Only one person would screw with his thoughts.

“That fucker.” No wonder Samael kept rolling over. He wasn’t truly listening to himself. Someone pulled his mental strings. “How do I get rid of it?”

“What do you mean how?” Her lips pursed. “Did no one teach you to guard your mind?” She made a disparaging noise. “Of course, Parker and that uptight bitch priestess didn’t.”

“Tell me how to make my thoughts my own. Lobotomy? Maybe if you punched me in the face. Just try not to break my nose. It is rather perfect.”

Her lips twitched. “Almost as perfect as mine. As for owning your mind, it’s rather simple, actually. Tell yourself the world revolves around me.”

A frown creased his brow. “The world revolves around me? That’s it?”

“No, silly muffin. Around me.” She jabbed at her chest. “Although, you will meet some dragons who will try and convince you that they are the center of the universe. Totally false. It’s me. Always has been.”

She certainly was a shining light in his current existence. Still, it seemed too simple. “How is focusing on you supposed to help?” Then again, when he narrowed his view on her, everything else faded into the background: danger, his depression, wisps in the wind; however, focusing on her did make his throbbing cock and balls situation more pronounced.

“It works because, once you accept that I am the center of your universe, then you’ll know the only voice you should listen to is mine. Anyone else, you can ignore.”

Listen only to her? But she thought he was worthy of fighting for. She wanted to do decadent things to his body.

And he wanted to return that favor.

But still, making her the sum of his existence? Wasn’t that trading one prison for another?

“How about I stop listening to all the voices in my head and instead do what I want.” Because, hold on a second, as a Gold dragon, shouldn’t the world, nay the entire universe, work around him?

“Are you disobeying me?” Deka whirled, green eyes flashing, lips curved in a smile.

How sexy she appeared.

And dangerous.

“It’s not disobeying if I refuse to acknowledge you’re more important than me. Actually, I will note that you are the one being rather impertinent with a Golden heir.” The arrogance felt good slipping from his lips.

“Does this mean you’re going to punish me?”

Bend her over my knees and slap her ass.

“Yes!” she growled, reading his thoughts.

She threw herself at him, slamming him into a wall, pressing herself against his body.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“It occurred to me that while we’re practically engaged, we’ve never kissed.”

“We’re not engaged. I never asked you to be my mate.”

“Semantics. We’re meant to be together. If it makes you feel better, how about we take a modern approach. Hey, Samael D’Ore, wanna hook up?”

In a sane world, he would have said no. Then again, sanity was totally overrated. He palmed her ass and lifted her and murmured against her mouth, “I want to fuck you until you come so hard you can’t scream.”

A distinct shiver went through her body, vibrated into his hands, and trembled against his frame.

So sexy, which was why he kissed her.

He did.

First.

Finally, something he could claim as a win over this woman.

Except, while he might have started it, the mere touch of their lips rendered him incoherent. Pleasure suffused every ounce of his body. His nerve endings tingled. Golden power rushed through his veins.

He throbbed with need.

Yet she pushed away.

“Come back here,” he growled.

She danced out of reach as he grabbed. “Not now, stud muffin. We have an escape to master. But hold on to that thought for later.” She winked.

Fucking winked instead of taking care of the turgid problem jutting from his body.

He peeked down at his poor cock.

Soon, buddy. You heard what she said.

He was pretty sure someone sobbed.

Given he had reasserted some measure of dominance—I am, after all, brother to a king—he followed the pert ass ahead of him. It was only right that someone led the way and heralded his approach.

Despite having only been taken through the gauntlet of halls twice—once there, once back—she seemed to unerringly know where to turn. In short order, they’d left the cool temperatures of the basement levels below the castle for the more ornate and slightly warmer corridors of the main level.

Where they would usually turn left at the alcove with the basin of flickering blue flame, she turned right.

“Why are you going this way?” he asked.

“Because the other way went deeper into this castle and upstairs. We want a door going outside.”

“What’s wrong with a window?” He gestured.

Deka slowed and eyed the dusky gray curtain that spanned ceiling to floor. The thick material fell in heavy pleats.

“The windows probably have bars.”

The lame excuse caused him to frown. “Why do I get the sensation you’re reluctant to see the outdoors?”

“Because I have a feeling I know why my crew hasn’t come to save me. And you won’t like it.” She yanked on the curtain and drew it open.

The vista outside beckoned, and he looked upon the barren gray wasteland with its red-rimmed rifts and stormy sky to realize, even as she said it, “We’re not on Earth anymore, stud.”