Ailean took a deep breath, closing his eyes briefly. He let it out and that silver gaze focused back on Bercelak’s face. “She’s right. Whether you go to her or Rhiannon goes, whether you kill her or not, they’ll come here to destroy the rest of us. And I plan to lose none of my offspring to that slag bitch or any other. Have I made myself clear?”

Rhiannon opened her mouth to speak, but Bercelak covered it with his hand while his other hand held her in place. He nodded at his father. “Aye. You have.”

“Good. Now, you’ve got tonight. Fuck until you’re both raw, but when the two suns rise, we decide how we handle this. Together. As family. You’ve got some of the meanest, scariest, battle-ready minds at your disposal, boy. Use them.” He turned and headed to the door. “I’ll have food sent up. I’ll see you in the morning.”

The door slammed shut behind him.

Rhiannon pulled Bercelak’s hand off her mouth. “Well, that was . . . interesting.”

Bercelak’s eyes narrowed as he stared down at the top of Rhiannon’s head.

Rhiannon glared at Bercelak. “Why did you put this back on me?”

Bercelak fingered the collar around her throat and she punched his hand off. How dare he!

“I don’t want you to do anything stupid. I don’t want to wake up in the morning and find you gone. Off to martyr yourself to that bitch.”

She pulled at the chain, but it was as strong as the pillar Bercelak had wrapped it around. “This is ridiculous! Let me go!”

“You heard my father’s orders. We are to f**k.” He grabbed her around the waist and tossed her onto the bed. “It’s best we obey him. You saw how angry he was.”

“You son of a—”

“Ah, ah, ah. Watch what you say to me.” He grabbed her hips and flipped her over onto her stomach. She heard his sharp intake of breath, felt his fingers tighten on her body. “I’ve been thinking about this ass for days now.”

The flat of that palm slammed across her rear and she froze. Good gods! Some low-born dragon had just slapped her ass.

And she had enjoyed it!

As if to prove it, Bercelak’s big palm came down on her other cheek.

She kicked out, trying to strike the big bastard in the balls, but he pinned her legs down with his own.

“I can’t believe you tried to kick me. Your lord and master.”

“My . . . oh, you insane bastard!”

Another slap rang off her ass and she squealed. Like some weak human, she squealed!

“Be nice to me, Princess.”

“Get off me!”

“Interesting. I’m not actually hearing the right word. I wonder why?” His hand slid under her body, and his index finger slid inside of her. She bit her lip to keep from moaning, but Bercelak chuckled anyway.

“Why, Princess. You’re dripping wet!” Teeth nipped her backside. “I guess you like me slapping your ass then.”

“I do not!”

Another slap bounced off her cheeks and, unable to stop herself, Rhiannon moaned.

“Oh, yes, Rhiannon,” he whispered in her ear. “I love when you moan like that.”

“Let me go.”

“Not yet, Princess. I don’t think you’re nearly wet enough.” His hand returned to her pu**y and Rhiannon squirmed as his fingers played with her clit.

Fingers circled and circled and circled. One more touch and she’d come all over his hand, and that’s when he pulled away.

“No!”

“Oh. You want me to stop?”

“No!” She took a deep breath. “I mean . . . don’t stop.”

“All right then.” He slapped her ass again.

“Ow! That wasn’t what I meant!”

“It isn’t up to you, Princess. Your pleasure, like your safety, is up to me. Once we make you queen, you’ll have bigger concerns. Like making sure the dragon kingdom is safe from enemies and controlling the elders. You’ll negotiate with the kings of other races and destroy those who would dare question your reign.” He leaned in close, his tongue flicking her ear while his finger went back to caressing her clit. “But when you come to our sleeping place, when you lie beside me at night . . . then you’ll belong to me. The worries of your day will be left outside because you will give yourself over to me and I will make you scream in pleasure until all of Devenallt Mountain thinks I must be killing you.

“Do you understand me, Princess?”

She nodded, unable to speak as she desperately sought the release he kept just out of her reach.

“That’s not a clear answer, Princess.”

Another slap on her ass had her screaming into the pillow, “Yes! I understand, damn you! Yes!”

He said nothing else as he flipped her onto her back and buried his face between her thighs. As soon as his tongue touched her clit, Rhiannon screamed in release. Her entire body shaking at the strength of her orgasm. But Bercelak didn’t stop. He sent her over and over again and again, until she was sure she’d die from the pleasure of it. Then he was over her, his hard, throbbing c**k shoved inside her.

He slammed into her, making sure—she knew—that her sore ass rubbed against the animal skins covering their bed. He f**ked her with powerful, forceful strokes until she sobbed in absolute joy. Then her Bercelak roared as he came deep inside her.

“Son?”

Bercelak forced his eyes open. His mother stood at the foot of the bed, looking much too sweet to have ever spent a night—much less hundreds of years—in his father’s bed.