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didn’t trust himself not to ravish her, and he could see from the hesitant curiosity in her eyes that she would welcome his advances—or at least he could make her welcome them with a little coaxing. It was one of the things Nico did best, coaxing people to do his bidding, but he refused to take Riki that way. No, if she came to his bed, she would come of her own volition, of her own free will.
    That was the only way he could be sure of her, certain she would be completely his.
    And suddenly, that was the most important thing in his world.
    Sucking in a deep breath, Nico puffed warm air over Riki’s wet skin, admiring the way her little nipples stood at attention. She was so beautiful.
    After a moment of shyness, Riki held the dress out to her side so his warm dragon breath could float over her whole body. She turned around so he could dry her back and he had to appreciate the sight of her pert bottom.

    There were lash marks, too, crisscrossing her back, that fired his anger.
    Lucan would pay for what he’d done to this woman. His woman.
    “Why are you growling? Is something wrong?” Riki craned her neck around to look at him and Nico knew he had to get his rage under control.
    It’s nothing , he answered in her mind, glad when she pulled the thin dress over her head. He shifted quickly to human form, pulling her back into his arms, hugging her tight. “No one will ever beat you again, Arikia.”
    The words shivered through him, a vow he would not break. His arms trembled as he held her against his chest, his arms as gentle as he could make them around her waist and shoulders.
    “It’s all right, Nico.”
    Her voice soothed the raging anger in his soul. Nico kissed her damp hair with tender desperation. What he was feeling inside was bigger than anything he’d ever felt before. His dragon soul was roaring for its mate while his human heart trembled in awe at the thought this delicate creature might actually be the woman he’d been searching for all his life.
    “I’m not much of a healer, Riki, but when we’re out of danger, I’ll do my best to see those marks are removed and every last scar healed. I only wish I could make it so you’d never suffered at all.”
    She turned in his arms, surprising him and testing his control. It was all he could do not to kiss her and take her to the ground beneath him. He wanted her desperately.
    But her safety and comfort had to come first. This was no time for Nico to let his base desires overrule his common sense. He had to remain alert for any danger. This was Skithdron after all. Danger came in many forms in this land.
    Lucan was also sure to be looking for them. The crazy king would not suffer their escape happily. No, he would send his guards after them. He would spread word throughout the land, searching for them.
    Nico had to be on guard. Certainly, in his role as Spymaster of Draconia, he’d been in dire straits before, but this time was different. This time, it wasn’t just his own skin at stake, and he refused to take any chances with Riki’s precious life. She pressed close to his chest, gazing up at him as if she could see right into his soul.

    “Thank you, Nico, but you’ve got to save your strength. We need to get out of Skithdron as quickly as
    possible.” Her words brought him back to his senses. “You’ll get no argument from me on that score, milady. But first, we have to rest. And then we need to secure some food and perhaps some warmer clothing for you.”
    “But where?”
    “We’re near a large town.” He nodded toward his left as he let her pull away from him, little by little. It

    was hard to let her go, but he knew he had to do so. “After we rest, just before sundown, we’ll go into
    the village and get what we need.”
    “But we don’t have any money.”
    Nico grinned as she moved away and sat on the rock he’d used before. “I could steal what we need,

    but as it happens,” he lifted his left foot and opened a secret