“I agree with Vesper.” All three Dreki turned to look at me in surprise, but Vesper looked the most stunned. He recovered quickly, though. “We need to make sure the mageri don’t hold any keys of power. Not now that we know they’ve been compromised. What does this flame do?”
“It will judge all three of us and choose the best mate for you,” Orion said. “The most compatible.”
“Sounds clinical.” I cleared my throat. “And do I need to have sex with my mate.” I met each of their gazes levelly. “To seal the deal?”
Dante’s eyes darkened with desire. Vesper looked annoyed at having the thought put in his head, but Orion’s eyes crinkled in amusement.
“It isn’t necessary,” he said. “But a physical connection does heighten the bond and solidifies the exchange of power.”
I was attracted to Dante and my heart belonged to Azazel, but if this flame chose Vesper or Orion, then so be it. “I’ll do what needs to be done to give us an edge over the Jotunn when they come. I assume Bran and the humans are safe?”
“Yes,” Orion said.
“Okay, we can work out the details about the EMP once we get this mating sorted.” A thought occurred to me. “You said Illyrian performed a mating ceremony for Anara and Eamon. Will we need a mageri to get this done?”
“It’s all in here.” Orion tapped the book. “The sacred words that must be spoken. Illyrian says that you should say them.”
“Me? Why me?”
“I don’t know.” And he looked like the not knowing bothered him. I got the impression that Orion didn’t like loose ends and mysteries, and for some reason that was comforting. “I trust Illyrian,” he said finally.
So did I.
“I’ll grab the flame and bring it here,” Vesper said. “You need to stay out of sight.” He was looking at me, and yes, there was a flash of real concern in the cobalt depths of his eyes.
What if the flame chose him to be my mate? Nah, there was no way we were compatible. That combination would be combustible.
I dropped my gaze to the bedspread. Whose room was this? “I need to see Helgi and I want to check on my father.”
“As soon as this is done,” Orion promised. “In the meantime, get some rest, you’ll need your energy for the ceremony. You’re safe in my quarters.”
His quarters. Yes, the cool blue and cream tones suited him perfectly.
Vesper headed for the door and Orion stood in a fluid motion. “I’ll speak to Primian.” He looked at me. “Our head mageri. “Make sure he’s nowhere near the hoard chamber when Vesper steals the flame.”
“You make it sound so dirty,” Vesper said. “I like it.”
And then they were out the door and Dante and I were alone. I sagged against the extremely poufy pillows.
“This is insane.” I ran a hand over my face. “Is this really happening?”
“You almost died,” Dante said. He sat on the mattress, his hip touching my thighs. “You almost died, and we would never have known.” He was looking at me as if he wanted to devour me, and a thrill shot through me.
It was insane how my body reacted to his, to Vesper too, even though most of the time I wanted to punch him. Were my Dreki genes making this happen? Was this why I’d never felt such heat and passion with a male before?
“I knew you were special,” Dante said. “I felt it the first moment we met. There was something about you that reminded me of Anara, but I never imagined…” He touched my cheek lightly, running a finger along my jaw. “You have her mouth.”
A weight settled on my chest, that awful feeling of wrongness that hadn’t been associated with Dante before, even when I’d known he’d loved Anara. But now…things were different. He was looking at me, but was it me he saw?
“I’m not her, Dante. I’m not even full Dreki.”
He looked at me with surprise. “Is that what you think? That I’m attracted to you because you remind me of Anara?”
I gave him a what-do-you-think look.
He exhaled heavily. “I can see why you’d think that, and maybe…maybe that was the case in the beginning, but then I got to know you. Your fire, your skill with the blade, and your courage on the battlefield. You’re a warrior, Anya, and you see the world in all its broken, beautiful glory. Still, it wasn’t until Vesper came back without you that I realized just how much you mean to me.” He leaned in. “I lost my mind. I would have attacked him if it hadn’t meant wasting time I could use to get to you. I was leaving to come after you when Orion found me. The flight to Sector 8 was the longest of my life, and when I saw you crumpled against the wall all reason fled.” His chest heaved with emotion and my pulse sped up. “I thought I loved Anara. I grieved her loss, but I recovered. But Anya, if anything happens to you, I know with certainty it will break me.” He cupped my face. “I thought I was in love with Anara but what I feel for you is a calling in my blood. It’s an ache in my soul, and the flame’s selection won’t stop me from loving you.”
He pressed his lips to mine in what was probably meant to be a chaste kiss, but the contact was like fire lighting up my blood. My mouth parted and he devoured my ragged gasp, sweeping it away with his tongue. His hands raked through my hair, snagging on the tangles and bringing tears to my eyes, but the pain was a distant thing; all that mattered
