Prince of Spies

chapter Four

Riki stepped from the pond to stand before him and Nico’s mouth went dry. She was so beautiful, even skinny and hurt as she was. Her poor little, battered body touched something deep inside him. Nico knew what she would look like when her wounds were healed and she was healthy once more. He had, after all, seen her twin sister Lana naked in the bath with his older brother, Roland.

While he’d admired Lana’s smooth curves and womanly form, she didn’t stir him like this. No, there was something special about Riki. She affected him like no woman ever had before, on so many different levels. She was malnourished and bruised now, but he saw the beauty of her soul, the purity of her spirit shining through those lovely green eyes. He knew, given half a chance and some time to heal, Riki could easily make him her willing slave.

Not allowing himself a moment’s more temptation, Nico handed her the dress and shifted to dragon form. If he stayed in his human form, he’d drag her into his arms. He simply 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 thought 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, trying to be as gentle as he could as he held her around the 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 had searched 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 had never suffered at all.”

She turned in his arms, surprising him by her sudden movement 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 lightly. No, he would send his guards after them. He would spread word throughout the land, searching for them. The borders would be reinforced against their escape.

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, 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 are near one of the larger towns.” 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 things, but as it happens…” he lifted his left foot and opened a secret compartment in the sole of his boot, “…I do have some coins left.”

Riki leaned over to look at the footwear more closely. “That’s ingenious!”

Nico bowed slightly. “Thank you. I thought so too. Lucan’s men took my purse and all other items of value, but I always try to have a stash available for emergencies such as this.”

“You do this kind of thing often, then?” Her teasing smile enchanted him.

Nico shrugged. “Often enough. It’s one of the hazards of being a spy.”

He watched her reaction closely. He’d never told a woman the truth of his profession before, but this woman was different. Her reaction mattered to him.

It nearly sickened him to think she might be horrified by the idea, but he needn’t have worried. Her beautiful eyes lit with sparks of interest and a kind of daring intrigue mirroring the way he felt about the work he performed in service to his land and people.

“I knew there was something special about you.”

Her casual acceptance seeped into his heart and warmed his soul. “You’re the special one, milady. I’m but a humble soldier in service to my king.”

“You work for the king of Draconia?”

Nico nodded as he pocketed just a few of the spare coins in his shoe, leaving the rest hidden. “He’s my brother.”

“Your brother? So does that make you a prince?” She paused. “Good gods! You’re Prince Nicolas.”

He bowed his head, laughing at her stunned reaction. “The very same.”

“Lucan is a fool. He had no idea who you were.”

“All the better for me. If he’d known—”

“If he’d known,” she cut him off, her voice somber, “you’d already be dead. He hates the royal family of Draconia. He’s insanely jealous of you all and wants every last one of you dead. He rants about it, even when he’s alone. It’s an obsession of his.”

“I feared as much. We’ve learned only recently about his machinations even before he was crowned, and all evidence points to the fact that he’s been working for years to destroy every royal line in Draconia. Including yours.”

“Me?” She laughed nervously. “I’m not royal.”

“I beg to differ. Rightfully, you are Princess Arikia of the House of Kent.”

“You must be joking.”

He smiled at her, enjoying her soft manner, even when she was outraged. “I’m afraid not. Your mother was the only survivor. Her entire family was murdered when she was just a baby. I believe that was done at Lucan’s command, though I may never be able to prove it. As far as we’ve been able to determine, a maidservant took your mother and ran off the very night of the massacre. She raised your mother, renaming her and keeping her as her own. Your mother never knew of her birthright, yet she had an affinity for dragons that led her—even as a toddler—to the dragoness, Kelzy.”

“You’re saying my mother is like you? Half-dragon?”

“As are you. All the members of the various royal lines carry the dragon as part of their soul. Like it or not, you’re a princess of Draconia.” She didn’t look convinced.

“I suppose we’re cousins, then?” She seemed to be thinking out loud.

Nico moved close to her, sweeping one arm around her waist and pulling her lithe form up against his chest. He liked the little gasp she emitted at his sudden move. He liked even more that she didn’t make the slightest attempt to pull away.

“Very, very distant cousins. Kissing cousins, my lovely Arikia.” He placed a sweet kiss on her lips, hesitating only a moment before taking it deeper, claiming her mouth with his own.

She tasted of violets and springtime…and the need for possession. He would give anything to make her his own, for all time, but he couldn’t rush her. Nico knew he had to do this right. This was, perhaps, the most important seduction of his life and he would be damned sure to give her the time she needed to come to him of her own volition. Remembering his goal, he drew back, though it was one of the hardest things he’d ever done.

“You’re a wonder to me, Arikia. So strong, so feminine, so beautiful in spirit and heart.”

The blush staining her cheeks made his heart go soft. This little woman wasn’t used to compliments of any kind, he realized. He would have to remedy that and make her understand her beauty—both inner and outer—by reminding her every day for the rest of their lives. It was a duty he would not only enjoy, but relish.

Stepping back, he released her slowly.

“Any other questions?”

She seemed to consider for a moment.

“Where do your clothes go when you shift?”

Nico couldn’t help it. He burst out laughing. Of all the questions he’d expected, that one took him by surprise.

“I don’t know exactly where they go, but when I was first learning how to shift, they didn’t always come back.” He chuckled as her eyes widened and dropped down his body, giving him the once over. “It’s part of the magic Draneth the Wise brokered between dragon and humankind.”

“He was a wizard, wasn’t he?”

Nico nodded. “One of the last in this realm. He gave up his command of the greater magics to become human—and dragon—though some of his lesser magics have passed down the royal lines through his children and their descendants, for hundreds of years. I can’t conjure items from thin air, but if I have something on my person at the time I shift—like those coins in my shoe—I can summon them back when I return to human form.” Nico noted the position of the sun in the sky. “Now we should rest for a few hours.” He indicated the crevice between two natural walls of stone that formed a slight angle and would protect them. Nico motioned for her to lie down on the sandy ground.

Riki did so without complaint and it again struck Nico how this poor little waif had not had much comfort in her young life. She seemed unaware of the hardness of the ground against her body, but settled in as if she were used to sleeping on the floor. And indeed, Nico realized sadly, she probably was.

After a last check of their surroundings, Nico lay down next to her. She trembled a bit, and he could almost taste her fear, but he would protect her from all danger. Even from himself.

“Rest easy, little one.” He crooned to her, pulling her small body back against his with one strong arm around her waist. “I won’t hurt you. I’m just going to hold you and keep you safe.”

He also hoped for some of that remarkable healing energy exchange between them as they slept, making them both stronger. It wasn’t guaranteed, he knew, but they had to be touching in order for it to have a chance at working.

But touching is all he would do.

Even if it killed him.

No matter how badly he wanted—no, needed—to roll her beneath him and slide home into her warm depths. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t. No, she had to come to him. That’s the only way he could bind her to him for the rest of their lives and beyond. By her own free will.

That thought firmly in mind, Nicolas spooned her into his body, stroking her hair and soothing her as best he could. Trust had to be earned, he well knew, and this was the first step. He would hold her as they slept and she would learn she could trust him with her safety, her body, and yes, her virginity.

“Nico—”

He refused to hear her objections. This was too important.

“Hush, sweetheart. Trust me. All I want to do is hold you. That’s all. This is how you’ll learn to trust me. I promise you.”

“I’m not used to this.”

“Yet you slept nestled against me in Lucan’s chamber and came to no harm. Trust me in this, sweetheart. I will never, ever harm you. It would kill me to hurt you.”

“You don’t even know me,” she objected. “Sometimes I feel like I don’t even know myself.” That last was a whispered confession as he felt her tremble against him.

Nico held her tighter, soothing her as best he could while she shook with emotion. He thought she might even be crying, and he knew that was probably a good thing. After all she’d been through, Riki needed to let a little of the hurt out.

“It’s all right, baby. I’ve got you. And I know all I need to know about you.” He kissed the crown of her head. “I know you are a good, caring, giving person. You healed me when you didn’t really need to do more than keep me alive for Lucan’s next round. You have the courage of a knight and the heart of a dragon. You, who have never flown before, trusted me enough to take a leap of faith off the highest turret in Skithdron into the black of night and never once complained.”

She chuckled then and it was a watery sound. She was crying, and it nearly broke his heart.

“That wasn’t courage. That was fear of being recaptured.” She grew stiff once more as she whispered, “I would rather have died.”

“No, sweetheart. Never think that. Where there’s life, there’s hope. And wherever you are, there I’ll be, ready to help you in whatever way I can. I promise you that. Now and forever.”

“You’re a kind man, Nico.”

“Oh, please don’t let that get around. It would ruin my reputation as a scoundrel.”

She chuckled again and this time the sound was more lighthearted and less sad.

“A kind scoundrel, then. Is that better?”

“Just a bit,” he agreed, kissing her hair and settling her into his warmth. Already he could feel their energies reaching for one another. They both needed this healing sleep more than anything right now and he was gratified to feel her begin to relax, her body finding its way into restful oblivion.





Waking hours later, Nico quickly scanned the area. Riki slept on, in the same position she’d been in when she’d fallen asleep. She was so peaceful in his arms, he hated to move, but he had work to do.

Nico knew it had been a risk for them both to sleep, but it was a necessary risk. The fatigue of the beating, then escape, coupled with the healing he’d done on her wrists had been more than even he could bear, and he had to be strong to get them both to safety, across the border to Draconia.

Judging by the sun’s position, it was mid-afternoon. Nearly perfect timing for what he had planned. Rising with more than a little regret, Nico stalked a short distance away where his dragon senses told him a rabbit was nibbling on succulent grasses near the bank of the stream. It wasn’t much, but Riki had been starved almost beyond bearing. When she woke from her sleep, he wanted to have food for her and this rabbit would do nicely as a start. The rest he would pick up in the town, if the Mother of All continued to bless their path.

Giving a silent prayer to Her for providing the rabbit and watching over their safety, Nico pounced. Just a few minutes later, with the judicious application of sharp talons and a few puffs of dragon flame, the meat was cooked and ready.



The scent of roasted meat woke Riki from a blessedly dreamless sleep. She hadn’t felt so good upon rising in years. Blinking open her sleepy eyes, Riki saw the provider of her well-being.

Nico.

He was even more handsome in the fading light of the sun than he had been in the dawn, and the smile he sent her way simply stole her breath.

“Breakfast is served, milady.” He bowed with a comical flourish, bringing over the sizzling meat, still skewered from cooking, though she didn’t see a fire.

“How did you cook that?”

“Riki,” he clicked his tongue at her with a teasing smile, “I’m a dragon.”

She had to laugh at that. It had been so long since she’d had anything to laugh about. It felt good to be carefree—or almost so—for the first time in years. And it was all thanks to this incredible man.

Riki reached out and took the skewer of meat from him.

“Thank you, Prince Nicolas.”

“Ah, it’s just Nico to you, my dear. Besides, we’re still in hostile territory. Nick the Spy is who I am when outside the borders of my homeland.”

Riki nodded gravely, realizing all too well how important it was that his true identity remain a secret. If Lucan ever got wind of exactly who and what Nico was, he would move heaven and earth to kill him. Not that Lucan wasn’t probably already moving heaven and earth to get her back. She knew how important she was to his continued existence.

Without a healer at his beck and call, the skith blood and venom inside Lucan would begin to kill him, slowly, painfully, and terribly. She felt a slight pang for what he would suffer, but she cherished her freedom. Going back was not an option. She would never go back.

“Eat, sweetheart. It’s nearly time for us to make our move on the town.”

Riki bit into the perfectly cooked rabbit, enjoying her first taste of meat in months. Lucan hadn’t allowed her to eat well, throwing her scraps from his table only rarely. Most often, she was fed by a slave who brought her gruel once a day from the palace kitchens. It was nearly unpalatable stuff, but she knew Lucan kept her weak on purpose so she’d be more biddable.

She wolfed down the portion, savoring each bite though she couldn’t help but eat fast. She was starving. Only now, with food in front of her, did she allow herself to feel the true extent of her hunger.

“Aren’t you going to have any?”

Nico shook his head, passing her the rest of the rabbit. “I’ll get something in town.”

He crouched down opposite her, smiling so kindly, it made her knees weak.

“Please, I feel like a glutton. Won’t you have some?”

She held the skewer out to him and he seemed to consider it for a short moment before leaning even closer. He snapped at it with his teeth, holding her gaze as he tugged a piece from the skewer in her hand. For some reason, his actions made her breathless, her gaze imprisoned by his as he chewed, swallowed, then licked his lips with a slow, sensuous glide of his tongue.

“Delicious.”

Somehow she got the impression he was talking about more than just the meat. His hand lifted, covering hers gently and guiding the skewer back towards her mouth as he watched her.

“Eat up, sweetheart. We need to get moving soon.”

Nico jerked back suddenly, his head cocked toward the road a short distance to their left, behind the towering rocks. Nobody could see them from the road, nor could Nico and Riki see much unless they climbed a bit higher on the rocks, but they could hear pretty well. Sound carried over the barren landscape of this part of Skithdron.

Fright shivered through Riki as she became aware of frightening noises. The jingle of tack meant horses, and the galloping sound of their hooves indicated they were traveling fast. Metal clanks made her think of the swords, shields and light armor favored by some of Lucan’s guards.

Riki said not a word as Nico straightened. He climbed just high enough to see over the rocks to the road while Riki sat still as stone and worried. Her ragged fingernails bit into her palms as she clenched her fists in fright, every muscle in her body screaming silently in terror they would be discovered.

Nico dropped down on nearly silent feet. His face was grim, but his stance seemed mostly relaxed.

“We’re safe for now, but those were palace guards, which can’t mean good news for us. They’re heading for the town. That means you can’t be seen there, Riki, but we badly need supplies.”

“Then what can we do?”

“I’ll go in alone. There’s less chance they’ll recognize me. I have ways to blend in and I can fight them off better than you if they do catch me. But that means we’ll have to stash you someplace safe first.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

“It’s anything but, sweetheart. But we’ll make this work. Never fear.”

Riki caught movement out of the corner of her eye. It was slithering and it was huge.

“Nico!”

Her terrified whisper had him turning even before the last syllable left her lips. He faced the giant skith sliding toward them from across the small pond and morphed quickly and cleanly into his dragon form. Nico put himself between Riki and the deadly creature.

Nico breathed in a lungful of air and let loose with a torrent of flame that warmed her even from ten feet away. He advanced on the skith, giving no quarter as the giant creature tried to evade and spit its deadly venom at him. But it had little immediate effect on dragon scale. Riki knew Nico could stand against a single skith for some time before the venom would eat through even his tough dragon hide. One on one, dragons were usually stronger than skiths, or so the bards said.

But still, he had to be in some pain from the acid on his scales. The skith was wily, but Nico advanced, not allowing it to retreat or get in more shots than he could handle. With a final blast of powerful flame, he roasted the creature until it stopped moving, dead.

Nico, in dragon form, used his talons to stab through the carcass to be certain of its demise. Skiths were dangerous and hard to kill, even for a dragon. When he appeared satisfied the creature was dead, Nico immediately rolled his sleek black dragon body into the nearby stream, washing off the venom as best he could.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine, sweet. The venom just stings a little. The water will wash it away and I’ll be good as new in a few minutes.”

Riki found her feet and scurried over to help him, splashing water from upstream, where it was clear, onto his glistening scales as he wallowed in the shallow water. She saw rough spots where the venom had begun eating away at his remarkably tough but flexible hide and concentrated her work on those spots first. After a few minutes, Nico stood, shaking off the last of the water.

“How do you feel?”

Nico transformed before answering. “Good as new.”

And he did indeed look unharmed as he stood before her, dressed once again in his leather breeches and shirt. His hair was wet, but his clothes seemed mostly dry.

“That was amazing.”

Weak now with relief, Riki began to sag, but Nico caught her in his strong arms and hugged her close for a moment.

“I’m sorry to have scared you, baby.” His words whispered into the hair by her ear. “I’m so sorry to have put you in danger.”

She pulled back to look into his pained eyes. “That wasn’t your fault, Nico. We’re in Skithdron. Skiths are a common enough hazard in this cursed land. You can’t be blamed for that. But I can thank you for saving my life, yet again.”

She reached up, daringly, and kissed his lips. She so wanted his kiss after what they’d just been through. He was such a good, brave and courageous man, yet so gentle with her. If she wasn’t much mistaken, she was half in love with him already.

Oh, this man was dangerous indeed.

Riki pulled away before either of them could deepen the kiss, knowing it was for the best. She couldn’t give up her virginity for anything. Not yet. Not until she was safely away from Skithdron and out of Lucan’s reach.

Nico watched her as if he would say something, but shrugged and let her go. He made a show of surveying their surroundings and gauging the time from the sun before turning back to her.

“We’d best be going. Anyone who sees this will know a dragon was responsible. And the smell will carry. Luckily the wind is blowing away from the town, or we’d be done for.”

She hadn’t thought of that, but realized he was right. “All right then, let’s go. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can get out of Skithdron.”

“Truer words have never been spoken, milady.” Nico winked at her as they walked into the sparse trees that lined the road. “We’ll walk parallel to the road, but not on it. We don’t want to be seen until after I’ve found a place to stash you, then I’ll double back and enter from the road so any townsfolk who see me won’t be suspicious.”

“Good plan.”

“Hey, this is what I do, Arikia. Subterfuge is my job.”

“And I see you’re very good at it.” She smiled at him, truly glad for his presence on this journey. Without him she wouldn’t have made it three feet outside Lucan’s door. For that matter, she would never have escaped at all. She’d still be chained to Lucan’s bed, serving his perverse pleasure.

They arrived near the outskirts of the sizeable town before long, just as the sun made its journey toward the distant horizon. The sparse trees gave way to cultivated fields closer to town. Rows of tall corn stood against the pink-and-orange sky. Rays of the setting sun silhouetted Nico’s strong features against the bright orange and red horizon.

He was so handsome, she had to catch her breath every time she took a moment to think about how beautiful he was—both inside and out. So far he had been all that was kindness to her, and his valor was unquestioned. Nico had faced Lucan’s torture, his guards and a deadly skith without any weapon except his amazing ability to transform into a dragon.

Riki trusted him with her life and knew, deep down, she would give him her heart as well, with little protest, if he but asked. Still, she had to guard against letting him know how easily he could make her fall in love with him. Nico was a rogue. Worse than that, he was a prince of royal blood and no matter that he said she was some long-lost noble of Draconia, Riki would always be nothing more than a runaway slave. She could never have Nico in her life on a steady basis. Nor would he, in all probability, want her for more than a few precious days.

Better they remain friends and comrades. Better for her physical safety and the safety of her fragile, untried heart.

“This ought to do,” Nico mused as he looked at their surroundings. “It’ll be dark soon and these fields are probably your best bet for concealment, but I want you to have an escape route should you need it. If a skith comes along—”

“I’ll run like hell.”

Nico chuckled softly. “I like your attitude, sweetheart. That’s good. But skiths are pretty fast. Even your lovely little feet won’t carry you fast enough. But what you can do is climb.”

“Climb what?”

“See that tree over there?”

They were on the edge of the cornfield closest to the town. In fact, the field backed up to the walls of the town, which were formed by the backs of barns, houses and sheds with plank walls between each structure, built to keep the skiths out. The tree Nico pointed to was on this side of the wall, right next to a barn with a slightly sloping roof.

“I see it, but I should warn you, I haven’t climbed a tree since I was eight years old.”

“If a skith is chasing you, you’ll climb, all right. Fear for one’s life is a wonderful motivator.”

That sobered her. She had lived the last years in nearly constant fear for her life. And Nico was right—fear was a good motivator. He must’ve seen her expression in the dimming twilight because he scooped her into his arms and hugged her for a quick moment.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” He kissed the crown of her head softly, almost apologetically, and his tenderness made her want to cry. But this was no time for hysterics. They had to get in and out of here as quickly as possible.

“It’s all right, Nico. Really. So, you want me to climb that tree?”

He let her go with a final kiss to her hair. “Yes, but only if you need to. Climb the tree, then scoot back onto the roof as close to the peak as possible. No skith will be able to get you there, and you should be out of spitting range.”

“Then why don’t I just go up there now, while you go into town?”

“Because you might be seen. Even at night, some people travel the road and farmers keep odd hours to bring in their herds. Don’t go up there unless you need to, all right?”

She nodded as understanding sank in. The tree was a good ten yards from the edge of the field. “So you want me to stay here in the corn until I sense danger, then sprint for the tree and then the roof. Right?”

He beamed down at her, brimming with approval. “You’re a quick one.”

“Not really.” Riki felt her cheeks flush and ducked her head as Nico cupped her cheek.

“You’re a beautiful, intelligent woman, Arikia.” He spoke so earnestly, she had to look up into his sparkling eyes. “Don’t ever doubt that.”

He kissed her sweetly then, not taking the kiss deeper, just a tender salute to her lips that meant so much to her bruised, battered heart. Releasing her too soon, Nico stepped back and watched her, his gaze nearly burning her with its intensity.

“I have to go, but I’ll be back within the hour. I promise.”

Fear set in as she watched him backing away. “Hurry back, Nico.”

His expression softened for a moment. “I will. Stay safe and be alert. I’ll be back before you know it.”

And with that, he melted away into the darkening stalks of corn.