The Fated Curse

Chapter 3

Valencia

We made it to the Dragon capital of Yggdrasil this morning. I think I got us packed up and stocked in record time. I was looking for anything to drown the look on my mother's face out of my head. I know she was upset about me leaving, but I can't do it. I can't just sit there waiting to die. I want my last days to mean something.

We made our way to the throne room where the Dragon King Harold was waiting for us. We all bowed in respect to the king, then he and Gertrude started discussing the upcoming battle. I zoned out and hadn't been paying much attention until the sexiest man I have ever seen walked into the room. He glanced across the crowd and I looked away, so he wouldn't know I had just been gawking at him.

I caught from the conversation that he was the Dragon Prince Gideon. While they were all talking, I took the moment to examine him. He wore a suit that fit him perfectly. He was tall and packed full of muscle. While I was eyeing him up and down, I heard my name called.

"Let me introduce you to Val," Gertrude said. I took that as my queue to step forward. I gave a short bow and said, "It is a pleasure to meet you, your majesty. Anything you need, I am at your service." The word service rolled off my tongue a little too permissively. As I raised my head, we locked eyes. They were gray like storm clouds. I was mesmerized by them. I realized I must have been making eye contact for too long and was about to look down. But he averted his eyes first and swallowed as if to recenter himself. Maybe I wasn't the only one ogling?

He is yummy, Kore said in my head.

Yummy is an understatement.

Maybe we can drizzle him with chocolate syrup and lick it off of him.

Down Girl!

A girl has needs, and he looks like he could fulfill them.

My wolf was being ridiculous, and now I couldn't get the image of the chocolate syrup out of my head. I feel like I needed a shower as her thoughts kept getting more s****l.

"Miss Kavanaugh and I will meet in my office to discuss the triage system then. The rest of your crew can begin setting up the aid tents."

I had zoned out again due to Kore's explicit thoughts but snapped back at that.

Alone in the office with the Prince, Kore purred. Oh, goddess.

I nodded and followed him out of the throne room and past several hallways, stopping before large oak doors. He opened the door and gestured for me to enter. The interior was a simple office, a large desk in the middle and a few shelves around the room with books. The desk was stacked with papers.

"Take a seat Miss Kavanaugh." He said while gesturing to a chair. I sat in the chair and he went to move behind his desk. He pulled off his suit jacket and hung it on the back of his seat. He sat down and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, relieving the Dragon scale tattoo on his arms. All Dragon shifters received them after their first shift. The color of the ink symbolized the color of their dragons. His were black. The tattoos bulged at the curve of his muscles. I had to check myself and make sure I wasn't drooling.

He cleared his throat and I looked up to see him smirking at me. s**t, I was caught checking him out. He, however, didn't seem to mind.

"So, Miss Kavanaugh. Gertrude said you have been with the foundation since you were 18. I was surprised to see someone so young as a member. What inspired you to join the foundation? And from such a young age?"

"I simply wanted to dedicate whatever time I have on this earth to the service of others." Not a lie, I just left out the 'short' in that statement.

"A noble calling. Color me impressed." He leaned back in his desk chair and spread his legs apart. He leaned his head down onto his hand that was propped on the armrest. "Do tell me about the triage systems we will be looking to implement."

I began going over my methodology. The entire time he just stared at me. I noticed his eyes looking me up and down. He would periodically rub his finger across his lower lip. An action I did not fail to miss. As I continued, his eyes bore into me as if trying to see past my clothes.

He is so checking us out, Kore piped in.

Shut up and be professional!

I finished going over the plan for the triage station. "It seems like we have a lot of work to do." He said while standing from his chair. I followed his action and stood from my chair as well.

"We should get to it then, " I said.

I turned to head towards the door. The sooner I got out of here, the sooner this s****l tension would fade.

Before I had a chance to grab the door handle, I felt him right behind me. "You know, " he said while he moved my hair off of my shoulder, revealing my neck. "This is going to be a rough battle, very stressful." He leaned his head down, so his mouth lingered just above my neck and I could feel his breath on my skin. I instantly had goose bumps.

"Yes it can be," I replied.

His other hand snaked in front of me and hooked into the front of my jeans. He rubbed his thumb up and down my hip bone. "It is always good to find a... healthy means of stress relief. To help ease the mind." His intenton clear in his voice.

"Stress relief, of course," I replied. He then brushed his lips against my neck and then nipped my ear. The nip sent shock waves through my body. I could feel the heat pulling in my belly.

"So, what do you think?" He asked.

Was I about to do this? You are so about to do this, Kore purred. Most shifter girls are gungho about waiting for their mates. I, for obvious reasons, have never had such inclinations. I have had some casual flings in the past, and the Prince held the promise of a good time. Was I going to be that girl, the one who hooked up with a Prince? I mean, I know I am technically a princess, but he doesn't know that.

How many women can say they had s*x with a Dragon Prince? Kore asked.

I don't know, but what I do know is, I am going to be one of them.