Free Border Lair by Bianca D'Arc

as the younger knights simmered. They didn’t have to like his orders. They just had to follow them. He was the leader here and their job was to follow. Simple as that.
    “Now, if you’ll all get back to your duties, I’ll talk to our guest and learn what news he gave up his home, his lands, and his title to bring us.”
    There was muttering and shuffling of feet but the knights dispersed, leaving a few curious dragons who were being tended by their knights for less serious wounds sustained fighting the skiths. Many were being doused with water to remove small spots of the venomous skith spray from their tough hides. It was best to do that here on the ledge where provisions had been made to remove the contaminated water safely, before the dragons moved around into other parts of the Lair and spread the noxious stuff around too much.
    Jared turned to the man at his side, looking him up and down before reaching out a hand in welcome. Absently, he noticed Adora hovering near one of the injured dragons some yards distant, a strange look on her face as she watched them. She’d avoided him since that night he’d brought her to climax with his mouth and fingers, just as he had avoided her.
    “I’m sorry for their behavior, Lord Darian. They’re young and inexperienced with real war.”
    The other man sighed as they shook hands. “Would that I were the same, but I’ve seen too much in my years, Jared. I don’t blame them.”
    Jared growled. “I do. I command here and their ill behavior reflects poorly on my leadership. I apologize.”
    “No problem. I didn’t expect to be welcomed with open arms, but I had to come. I thank the gods that I got through and that you’re here, of all people, to hear what I have to say.”

    Both men’s expressions grew grim. Jared realized many ears were craning to hear what they would say to each other.
    “Come with me where we can talk privately. I’ll also ask our healer if she will see to your wounds, if you like.” He looked over at Adora and with a slight motion of his head asked her help. She waved a hand and nodded in agreement, and he knew without words that she would join them as soon as she finished her work with the badly injured dragon. He could count on the fact that she was a truly dedicated healer to bridge the icy gap that had grown between them since the night he had lost control of his senses.
    Jared winced as he watched his old friend limp down the corridor with him. Kelzy followed behind with Sandor. The break from his own people, the skith attack, being snatched up by Sandor and flown here in the dragon’s fist, and the beating from the young knights had left Darian with a pronounced limp and assorted cuts and bruises. But true to his character, he didn’t complain. Jared respected the man. Always had. Of all the Skithdronians he had met as counselor to the old king, this was the man he’d dealt with the most, and the most successfully.

    Darian winced with every step but couldn’t complain. He was alive and luckier than he had a right to be. He’d hoped to get to someone in power who might believe him and take his message higher, but he never expected to see his old friend, Lord Jared, riding atop a dragon. When Darian had lived near the palace, serving as the newly appointed ambassador from Skithdron to the old king’s court, he and Jared had formed a close friendship. As a bachelor, he was often invited to spend holidays with Jared and his family.
    Darian knew the new Skithdronian king had been behind the attack on Jared’s family but didn’t know how in the world he would ever break such news to his old friend. Besides, that was in the past and Lucan had gotten his wish—Lord Jared, the keenest of the old king’s advisors had been a broken man after the deaths of his young wife and child. He had left the old King’s service and retreated into obscurity for a long time. In fact, Darian would bet none in Skithdron yet realized just who commanded the