Ranas is an honorable male.
The scanner beeps a few times as he examines her wound. “It appears to be mending nicely.” he tips his head to the side. “Strange, however, that your species heals so slowly. My readings indicate this is a normal progression of recovery for your injury.”
As he scans the remainder of her body, the scanner beeps again. His brows furrow deeply as he studies the readout.
Anxious, she asks, “What is it? Is something wrong?”
Her concern echoes my own as I hold my breath, waiting for an answer.
Ranas lifts his gaze, blinking several times. “You and the prince can have fledglings together.”
“What?” she asks, obviously surprised. “But we’re completely different species.”
He nods. “Yes, but your species’ biology appears to be adaptive. You most likely would require some sort of medical intervention, but it should be possible for you to conceive with the prince and carry his fledglings.”
I want to roar my joy to the skies. Not only have I found my fated one, but her species could save my people.
After the Great Plague swept through our population, we searched the stars for a species that was biologically compatible with ours but found none. Many Drakarians have already resigned themselves to the slow, inevitable extinction of our race. Yet others, like my father, have refused to accept that fate. His conviction is one of the reasons we began negotiating peace with the other Clans. We hoped that encouraging inter-mating between different Clans might help rebuild or at least slow the decline of our numbers.
Happiness brighter than a thousand stars fills me as I turn to my mate, bursting with the knowledge that our future could include fledglings.
Lilliana returns my gaze with confusion etched into her features. “You’re a prince?”
I swallow thickly. In all the excitement and anticipation of showing her my home, I forgot to mention my position.
Chapter 19
Lilliana
“You’re a prince?” I ask Varus, shocked by Ranas’ statement.
Ranas cocks his head to the side as he studies Varus. “You did not tell her?”
“No, he did not.” I pull my hand from Varus’s grip, glaring at him.
He looks repentant. “I am sorry I did not tell you. I—I thought about sharing but decided not to.”
“Why?”
With a heavy sigh, he runs a hand roughly through his hair as he shakes his head. “Because I did not know if you would like me for who I am, not what I am. Though few females remain among our people now, many have offered to become my mate. However, I have always known they crave my title and wealth, not my company. My betrothal to the Water Clan Princess was both meant to secure my title and to cement an alliance between our two Clans. I know she does not care for me beyond those gains, just as I do not care about her in that way.”
I remember him mentioning a betrothal, but that was before I knew he was a prince and how much this marriage would mean to his people.
I lift my gaze to his. “What happens if you don’t go through with the betrothal to the Water Clan Princess? Will that mean war for your people?” I ask because I have to know the answer. Even though I love Varus, I refuse to become the cause of conflict between their Clans.
He takes my hand earnestly. “The alliance was only necessary because our number of females is dwindling. But following the discovery of your people—once we find your females—we will not need such measures. We are biologically compatible. And you said there were several colony ships. We can begin searching for the rest and—”
I pull my hand away and shake my head in disbelief. “So that’s what this is all about?”
He cocks his head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“You only want me because your species lacks females. That’s the whole reason you want to help us. That’s why the Wind Drakarian was so interested in me and why you’re in such a hurry to find my people—to keep us all to yourself.” I narrow my eyes. “Am I really your fated mate? Or is that just some story you fed me, filling my head with romantic ideas to woo me?”
His mouth drifts open. “I do love you, Lilliana. I would not lie about such a thing.”
Tears sting my eyes and blur my vision. “How can I know for sure? You’ve lied so much in the short time that I’ve known you. How am I supposed to trust your words now?”
I shake my head tenderly. A tear slips down my cheek, but I quickly brush it away. I don’t want to cry again.
“All I know is that I’ve suddenly found out that humans are the answer to your problems.” I lift my gaze to meet his. “I’ve never been with any other man, Varus. And what happened between us, that was special to me. You’re a prince. Like you said, women have been practically falling all over themselves for you, I’m not so naïve as to think the last few days meant as much to you as they did to me. It just… hurts that I gave so much of myself to you and all this time, I don’t know if what I thought we had was a lie or not.”
Although he is alien, pain is easily read in Varus’s features as he stares across at me.
“I don’t even know where I am.”
Ranas interjects, “You are in the Fire Clan Castle.” He clears his throat nervously. “They may be a slightly aggressive Clan, but they are good people. I know this because I have lived among them for many cycles. The prince’s intentions are honorable, I assure you.”
Although his words sound sincere, I can’t forget that he is Varus’s friend. Of course, he would call him honorable. I simply don’t know what to believe anymore.
I face Varus. “I need some time to think.”
He gives me a mournful look. “I will take you to your room.”
I nod, reluctantly
