Prince of Spies Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: Bianca D'Arc
such sharp talons. She saved Adora, but wounded her in the process.”
Riki still couldn’t believe he was talking about her mother. Her mother!
Alive and living in Draconia, reunited with the dragon from her childhood who’d been like a mother to her. It was a dream come true, and Riki was almost afraid to believe she might be reunited with her mother and sisters—if they made it out of Skithdron alive.
Riki marveled at her healed wrists as she drank a bit more water from the flowing stream. Distracted by a whooshing sound, Riki turned toward the small pool off to her right. Nico smiled over at her, his face so handsome, it made her stomach clench.
“Your bath is ready, milady.”
Riki stared mutely, unable to move, until Nico came to her and lifted her by the shoulders.
“Are you all right?”
Riki nodded, unable to form the words for the feelings inside her.
Confusion, fear that this moment of freedom wouldn’t last, thankfulness to this wonderful, perplexing man, and more churned within her.
Nico put his arm around her shoulders and guided her to the small pool.
Incredibly, she could see little tendrils of steam wafting off its surface.
“It’s warm now and will stay that way for a while. I suggest you hop in if you want to bathe. I’ll turn my back if you like, but I won’t leave you. Not even for a moment.” He surprised her by placing a chaste kiss on her temple. “I won’t let anything harm you ever again, Arikia.”
The whispered words and the way he said her name caused a tremor to course through her. He let go and turned away, leaving Riki to decide her next move. The steamy water called to her and she realized she hadn’t bathed properly in far too long. Not even bothering to remove her thin dress, she stepped into the small pool and immersed herself in the shallow water.
It was heaven. Riki just lay there for a few moments allowing the warm water to surround her and warm her. Flying atop a dragon in the dead of night had left her chilled through and through, but she’d never complain.
The cold flight meant freedom and that was too precious to complain about.
After a few minutes of warm bliss, Riki looked around to find a plant she was familiar with from her youth growing along the pond’s edge.
Scrubweed, it was called. It didn’t lather like soap, but the sinuous blades, when wound together, made an excellent sort of sponge and emitted a slippery substance that cleaned almost as well as soap.
Looking to make sure Nico’s back was turned, Riki pulled the wet dress over her head, letting it soak in the water for a bit. First she wanted to get clean herself. Then she’d wash the dress. Riki grabbed handfuls of the scrubweed blades and wound them into hand-sized pads. Sweeping the slightly abrasive plant fibers over her skin had never felt so good. The warm water, the soothing green scent of the scrubweed and the heady feeling of freedom combined into a sparkling moment of happiness.
Riki giggled as she washed herself, uncontrollably happy and giddy as a child.
“Sounds like you’re having fun.” Nico’s voice floated to her as he sat on a rock, facing away from her. He was being quite the gentleman and she was touched by his chivalry.
“I haven’t taken a bath in so long. And not in warm water since I was a child.”
“Sometimes it’s handy to be a dragon.” His tone teased.
“I bet.” Riki started to work on her dress, cleaning it as best she could. It would be soaking wet when she put it back on, but it couldn’t be helped.
Unless…
“Nico, can you produce enough heat to dry my dress?” Her words were hesitant and shy, but also curious.
“Throw it over here and I’ll see what I can do.” His wry chuckle sounded as she rolled the thin dress into a ball and took aim.
Unfortunately, she smacked him right in the head with the wad of sopping fabric, but he only laughed as he unwound the mess from his neck and laid it out over the rock he’d been sitting
Riki still couldn’t believe he was talking about her mother. Her mother!
Alive and living in Draconia, reunited with the dragon from her childhood who’d been like a mother to her. It was a dream come true, and Riki was almost afraid to believe she might be reunited with her mother and sisters—if they made it out of Skithdron alive.
Riki marveled at her healed wrists as she drank a bit more water from the flowing stream. Distracted by a whooshing sound, Riki turned toward the small pool off to her right. Nico smiled over at her, his face so handsome, it made her stomach clench.
“Your bath is ready, milady.”
Riki stared mutely, unable to move, until Nico came to her and lifted her by the shoulders.
“Are you all right?”
Riki nodded, unable to form the words for the feelings inside her.
Confusion, fear that this moment of freedom wouldn’t last, thankfulness to this wonderful, perplexing man, and more churned within her.
Nico put his arm around her shoulders and guided her to the small pool.
Incredibly, she could see little tendrils of steam wafting off its surface.
“It’s warm now and will stay that way for a while. I suggest you hop in if you want to bathe. I’ll turn my back if you like, but I won’t leave you. Not even for a moment.” He surprised her by placing a chaste kiss on her temple. “I won’t let anything harm you ever again, Arikia.”
The whispered words and the way he said her name caused a tremor to course through her. He let go and turned away, leaving Riki to decide her next move. The steamy water called to her and she realized she hadn’t bathed properly in far too long. Not even bothering to remove her thin dress, she stepped into the small pool and immersed herself in the shallow water.
It was heaven. Riki just lay there for a few moments allowing the warm water to surround her and warm her. Flying atop a dragon in the dead of night had left her chilled through and through, but she’d never complain.
The cold flight meant freedom and that was too precious to complain about.
After a few minutes of warm bliss, Riki looked around to find a plant she was familiar with from her youth growing along the pond’s edge.
Scrubweed, it was called. It didn’t lather like soap, but the sinuous blades, when wound together, made an excellent sort of sponge and emitted a slippery substance that cleaned almost as well as soap.
Looking to make sure Nico’s back was turned, Riki pulled the wet dress over her head, letting it soak in the water for a bit. First she wanted to get clean herself. Then she’d wash the dress. Riki grabbed handfuls of the scrubweed blades and wound them into hand-sized pads. Sweeping the slightly abrasive plant fibers over her skin had never felt so good. The warm water, the soothing green scent of the scrubweed and the heady feeling of freedom combined into a sparkling moment of happiness.
Riki giggled as she washed herself, uncontrollably happy and giddy as a child.
“Sounds like you’re having fun.” Nico’s voice floated to her as he sat on a rock, facing away from her. He was being quite the gentleman and she was touched by his chivalry.
“I haven’t taken a bath in so long. And not in warm water since I was a child.”
“Sometimes it’s handy to be a dragon.” His tone teased.
“I bet.” Riki started to work on her dress, cleaning it as best she could. It would be soaking wet when she put it back on, but it couldn’t be helped.
Unless…
“Nico, can you produce enough heat to dry my dress?” Her words were hesitant and shy, but also curious.
“Throw it over here and I’ll see what I can do.” His wry chuckle sounded as she rolled the thin dress into a ball and took aim.
Unfortunately, she smacked him right in the head with the wad of sopping fabric, but he only laughed as he unwound the mess from his neck and laid it out over the rock he’d been sitting