by Aria Winter
Though I regret that he placed her in a cell, I realize he had no choice. He could not defy my father’s wishes, and I was unconscious at the time. He could have been punished for giving her the blanket and yet, he helped her anyway. Although I know she still harbors anger against him, Tai is a good male.
As soon as I walk into the throne room, my father smiles. His sharp gaze travels over Skye. “Do you know where we can find your people?” he asks.
Skye tenses beside me but says nothing. My nostrils flare as the acrid scent of her fear suffuses the air. I hate that she is afraid, especially of my father. Instinct drives me to pull her close to my side, draping one wing around her protectively as if to shield her from his piercing blue eyes as they rake over her form.
Despite her trepidation, she meets his eyes evenly. “What do you plan to do with my people once you’ve found them? Throw them in a cell, like you did me?”
He narrows his eyes. “I thought you were dangerous.”
“And now?” she asks.
She is brave, my mate. Even though she is wary of my father, she still speaks her mind. I am blessed indeed that the Gods chose such a strong female to be mine.
My cousin steps forward. “Now, you will help us find your people. Once we bring them back here, they will be given a choice of the best of our warriors to bond with.”
She frowns. “What if they don’t want to bond with anyone yet?”
“Why would they not wish this?” Durzain asks. “They would be protected and—”
She narrows her eyes. “You make it sound like your offering us shelter and aid would mean we had to trade our freedom in return. Is that right?”
A low growl rumbles in his chest. “We do not condone slavery.”
“Well, what you’re offering my people certainly doesn’t sound like true freedom,” she counters.
“She is right,” I tell them. “The females will feel as though they have to choose a male that we place before them. And—”
“Enough!” my father growls.
Durzain steps forward. “You will lead us to your people so that we may retrieve the females from the desert and bring them back here.”
She shakes her head. “I’m not going to help you find my people. I don’t trust you.”
His brows shoot up to his forehead. “You do not trust us?” he asks incredulously. “You and your people are the reason the prince,” he gestures to me, “was so grievously injured earlier. Is that not right, my king?” he asks.
My father’s eyes lock on hers and it is easy to see that Durzain’s words are seeping into his mind. He is so lost, my father, and so easily swayed. I have known this, but never before now did I consider the danger of allowing him to remain in power until now that my cousin seeks to bend him to his will.
Father levels her with a menacing glare. “Durzain is right. Her people tried to kill you and yet she would question our intentions?”
Skye steps forward. “We thought he was attacking us. We—”
“Silence!” he snarls. He motions to one of the other guards. “Take her back to her cell while I decide her fate.”
“You cannot!” I growl.
“I am King, not you,” he pushes through gritted teeth. “I do this for you, my son. Can you not see that? Her people are a threat to our species.”
“They are not—”
Cutting me off, my father turns to Tai. “Take her back to her cell. Now!”
Tai grimaces in apology and I growl low in my throat.
Without warning, I shift into my draka form and scoop Skye up with my claws.
She cries out in surprise as I race out the door and into the courtyard. Extending my wings, I beat them furiously to climb into the air, desperate to escape with my mate.
Behind me, Tai roars a battle cry. I turn to find him chasing me as we ascend through the clouds.
With my vision obscured, I call to him. “Do not pursue us! I don’t want to hurt you, Tai, but I will if I have to! She is my fated one; I will allow no one to harm or imprison her!”
He pulls into line beside me and I spin, ready to fight.
“You should know better by now, my prince.” He dips his chin in a subtle bow as his blue eyes meet mine. “I am merely giving chase as you head for the western border. I will report your last location to your father.”
I grin, for I am heading south, and he knows it. Tai is not just my guard, but also my friend. He knows where I will head for shelter to hide my mate. “Thank you, my friend. May the winds guide you safely.”
“And you as well,” he replies, then circles back toward the castle.
Skye’s small form trembles in my clawed hand.
“It is all right, my mate,” I reassure her. “You are safe.”
“Where are we going?”
“Far from here. To a place that my father will never think to look for us.”
“Please, don’t drop me.” Her voice is tiny, barely a whisper. She probably believes I cannot hear her, and I suspect she has forgotten I can sense her thoughts through touch in this form.
“I promise I will not let you fall.”
She stills. “You can really hear my thoughts while you’re a dragon?”
“Yes,” I confirm. “Can you sense mine?”
“No.”
Her answer settles in my chest like a heavy stone. Why would the Gods gift us with the fate bond if she can neither feel nor understand its pull? Why does the fate bond mark not glow on her chest as it does on mine?
Perhaps this is a test. Perhaps I must prove that I am worthy of a fated one. Since my mate cannot recognize the bond and accept its pull, I must earn her love and prove to her that I am a good mate. I will do so gladly.
First, I must get her to safety. Away from my father and my cousin. I pray that Varus’ people have already found hers.
Myriad thoughts float through her mind untethered as we soar through the sky. Images of her friend, the strange female with fire-red hair, fills her mind. Despite my attempts to reassure her, she worries about her friend.
But I suppose her anxiety is natural. This world and its people are new to my mate. She trusts me, but my cousin and father have made her wary of me as well. This knowledge is like bitter acid in my throat, but I resolve that I will change her mind. I will show her I am worthy of her trust and that I will do anything to keep her safe and happy.
We approach one of the floating islands along the southern border and a twinge of sadness plagues me as the house comes into view. This was my mother’s favorite retreat when I was a child. We came here many times.
As far as I know, my father never visits the house. The memory of my mother is still too painful for him. That is why I know he would never think to search for me here. He does not know that I have returned to this island a handful of times since her death. I do not speak of my visits because we do not talk about her—ever. The loss is overwhelming, even after all these cycles.
The image of a strange young male floats to the surface of Skye’s mind and my nostrils flare at an unfamiliar saline scent, reminding me of the vast oceans lining the Water Clan territory. I lift my head to study her and find that she is crying.
“What is wrong?”
“I was thinking of someone I lost.” Her voice is full of pain. I wait for her to continue, but she falls silent.
An image of the male lying lifeless in her arms flits across her memories. Whoever he was, he is dead, and sadness overwhelms me that she grieves for him so deeply. “I don’t want to talk about it,” she finally whispers.
The image disappears, replaced by one of her friends again. I understand enough about grief that I will not push her for answers. When she is ready, she will tell me about this male whom she grieves.
Was he a friend? A relative? A lover?
The last thought should make me jealous, but I find that I am not. Whoever he is, she loved him greatly and I am sorry she suffered such a devastating loss.
Chapter 10
&
nbsp; Skye
Raidyn dips his wing to the left, banking in a long, slow arc over a floating island below. Covered in a forest of massive trees that rival images I’ve seen of the ancient sequoias on Earth, the landscape is wild and untamed compared to the other islands, which were covered with buildings and roads—signs of an advanced civilization. As we draw closer, I notice a small clearing with a house. Built to two stories, it looks like a rustic cabin made of the ashen wood of the surrounding trees.
This house could never be confused with the Earth cabins I’ve seen pictures of, however. With fine, silver metal accents and finishes, this structure is uniquely Drakarian.
Raidyn circles and then lands in a small courtyard in front. The house’s entrance is picturesque, filled with various flowering plants with vibrant blooms in purple and pink. The flowers’ shape is similar to roses, but larger and far more fragrant. A cool breeze sweeps in from the forest, carrying the smell of fresh rain laced with the delicate floral scent from the garden. The soft sunlight above does little to warm the chilly air but my robes provide enough warmth that I’m not uncomfortable.
Raidyn shifts into his humanoid form and I look up at him. “What is this place?”
“It was my mother’s special retreat,” he explains, and I note the strange catch in his voice. He told me she was dead; he must miss her. Dearly.
I understand his pain. I miss my parents every day. The ache has dulled over the past three years, but the hole in my chest was torn open again with the loss of my brother, Thomas.
Drawing in a deep breath, I push down my emotions as I scan the cabin before me. Surrounded by the towering forest and rich vegetation, this place is straight out of a fairytale. I glance at the woods around us, half-expecting a unicorn or fairy to step out from the shadows.
Despite all this beauty, I can’t help but ask, “Are you sure we’re safe here?”
He nods. “My father would never think to search for us in this place.”
“Why?”
He hesitates a moment before replying, “This house is filled with too many memories.”
When he doesn’t speak again, I don’t push him further. Instead, instinct tells me to take his hand. I may not understand the history behind his statement, but I can guess his mother is involved. I know enough of pain and grief to recognize its mark in someone else.
He turns to me with a questioning look and I give him my best attempt at a smile. “I’m sorry about your mom. I lost my parents, too. And thank you for saving me back there—again.”
His expression softens as his ice-blue eyes meet mine. “You are my mate—my linaya. You are the most important person in the world to me. I will protect you until I draw my last breath.”
I want to protest that I haven’t agreed to be his mate, but I hold my tongue. This man just defied his father and his king to keep me out of a cell. When he calls me his linaya, he says it with such pride, conviction, and, above all, passion. I know it’s important to him, this fate bond he claims we share, but I… don’t understand it. Not yet, at least. However, when he regards me with a softened expression full of love and devotion, I know that I’m willing to try.
And as my gaze travels down his nude form, I note again the absence of any familiar male anatomy, so there’s that. I mean, how are we supposed to…
“You find me strange.” Though his inflection doesn’t change, I recognize the question behind his words.
“Well, a little bit,” I admit as I allow my gaze to sweep over him once more. With his tall build, and strong, muscular form, he is nothing short of chiseled masculine perfection.
His scales shimmer with a pearlescent glow beneath the sun’s rays. His ice-blue eyes search mine for a moment before he reaches down to cup my face, taking great care to retract his lethal black claws. Everything about him, from his tall, sweeping horns to his wings, claws, and fangs, screams apex predator. Yet when he regards me like I’m a rare and precious gift, I know in my heart he would never hurt me.
It would be so easy to let myself fall for him, but I’m afraid. He’s almost too perfect and I worry that any moment now, he’s going to realize he was wrong. That I’m not the woman he thinks I am and we’re too different to be fated. There’s still so much I don’t know about him and his world.
With a heavy sigh, I lower my gaze again to the strange line that runs down his body where the typical human male anatomy would be.
“What is wrong?”
My eyes snap up to meet his. “Oh, um, nothing.” My cheeks heat in embarrassment and I avert my gaze. “Your, um… male anatomy is… missing.”
He’s silent for so long, I wonder if he heard me. I look up to find him frowning in confusion. “Missing? You mean my stav?” He blinks several times. “Are you ready to mate with me already?”
My jaw drops. “What? No! I just—you look different from human men, and—”
“Ah,” he says, understanding dawning across his face. “Your males must not have a mating pouch.”
“A… mating pouch?” I ask. “What do you mean?”
He gestures to the long slit between his thighs. “My stav does not extend from my mating pouch until I am ready to mate. It is this way for the males of my species, but I know there are many species’ males whose stav protrudes at all times.”
“Yeah,” I mumble. “Human men, uh… they protrude all the time. No pouch.”
“Do not worry. My stav will emerge when you are ready to mate.”
I send him a nervous smile. I’m curious what exactly his stav looks like because, depending upon what’s inside his pouch, there’s no guarantee we’d even fit together. But I know asking more questions might give him false hope, so I decide to wait on that particular concern. “Thanks. But—as I said—I might never be ready.”
His expression falls.
For a second, guilt fills me.
I understand how it feels to yearn for something only to be disappointed. Yet he doesn't regard me with anger or uncertainty, but with devotion and hope for a brighter future… with me.
Instead of arguing that we’re fated like he did earlier, he drops the conversation and gestures toward the entrance. “Allow me to show you around.”
I’m excited to explore this place. All I remember of Earth is a tiny apartment in an overcrowded, smog-filled city with far more cement than trees or vegetation. This island is everything I used to read about ancient Earth and more. I always dreamed of staying in a real forest cabin.
I smile up at him. “All right.”
He presses his palm to a panel next to the large, seamless metal door, which slides open. “Place your palm next to mine,” he instructs, and when I do, a green light flashes around my imprint. He grins. “The house is now coded to recognize you. You may come and go as you please.”
That would be more comforting if we weren’t on a floating island. It’s not like I can go anywhere, even if I leave the house. However, I appreciate his attempt to make me more comfortable. He swore I’d never be put in a cage again; this is his way of showing me that his word is good.
When we enter, my jaw drops. An enormous, gray stone fireplace takes up almost the entire wall. A row of floor-to-ceiling windows with a sliding glass door opens into a garden at the back of the house. There are dozens of flowering rose-like pink-and-purple plants, the same variety as the ones in the courtyard, and a stream winding through the backyard. The scene is inviting, as if beckoning us outside.
The spacious living area opens into what I assume is a kitchen, though I don’t recognize anything beyond the typical countertop space; the appliances are all strange to me. Plush, floating sofas covered in rich gray-and-white fabric blend seamlessly with the dark stone floor and the massive stacked logs that make up the walls. This entire space feels both rustic and luxurious at the same time. A stack of wood lies in the hearth, making me excited at the mere thought of lighting a fire.
Massive gray wood beams span the ceiling. Off to the side, I notice a wide staircase
that ascends to the second level.
He leads me up the stairs to find that the entire second floor seems to be one huge bedroom. A large four-poster bed with sheer green panels floats near the far wall. A table and chairs sit in the corner beside another fireplace. Despite all the intricately carved furnishings, my attention is drawn to the expansive balcony outside a set of sliding glass doors. It overlooks the garden, and from this vantage point, I’m able to appreciate the breathtaking beauty of the landscape below.
“Is there a bathroom?” I ask because that’s the only amenity I haven’t seen so far.
“Through those doors.” He gestures to the far wall.
As soon as he opens them, I gasp. The space is palatial, to say the least. A large sunken tub in the center of the floor looks inviting, as does the shower encircled by a clear, rounded glass wall. However, I don’t see a sink or a toilet.
“Where is the—” I start to ask but trail off as Raidyn pushes a glowing panel near the door. A sink slides out from one wall and what I’m assuming is a toilet slides out from the other.
I turn to him. “I’d like to get cleaned up.”
“Would you like help bathing?”
My mouth drifts open, but I quickly snap it shut. Judging by the earnest expression on his face, he isn’t flirting—he’s trying to take care of me. “No, that’s all right. I think I can manage by myself.”
“But it is a male’s duty to attend to his mate,” he protests. “Every Drakarian male does this for his female.”
“We’re not mates, though,” I gently remind him.
His expression dims, and he retreats into the bedroom. “If you need me, I will be out here.”
I hate the sadness in his face every time I remind him I haven’t accepted our bond. Whereas he’s so utterly convinced that he already refers to me as his mate.
“Thanks,” I reply as the door slides shut between us.
He truly is a sweet, handsome man, if I’m being honest with myself. But I’m still skeptical about his fated-mate claim. We only just met, and that was because he abducted me.
Well, technically he saved me, but I didn’t know his intent at the time.
