I meet her eyes evenly. “I will return you to your people,” I watch as her beautiful face lights with joy, “but there is something I must share with you first.”
Her brow furrows softly. “What is it?”
“Before I found you, I told you that I saw your friend with Prince Varus of the Fire Clan.”
Something akin to hope flits across her expression. “Can you please take me to see her?”
With a slight clench of my jaw, I swallow thickly. “We are not on good terms with the Fire Clan,” I reply haltingly, reluctant to tell the entire truth. Technically, we are now enemies, since I broke the treaty by attacking Varus in Fire Clan territory. “I believe that they may already be searching for your people to take them back to their capital city.”
“Please.” Her face is a mask of determination. “You have to take me to them. I have to find my friend; she’s all I have left. I have to know that all my friends are safe.”
“Varus claimed she was his mate. He even bore the mark that I wear now.” I point proudly to my chest. “You need not fear. He would never harm her. And I do not believe that his people would harm yours, either.”
She gives me a hesitant look. “This Varus guy… he wouldn’t push her to mate with him, though, would he? Against her will?”
I jerk my head back, the mere idea twisting my stomach into a knot of disgust. “No,” I deny vehemently. “None of my kind would ever force themselves upon a female to mate.”
Unlike her kind, apparently, but I leave that part unspoken. After I witnessed the human male of her species trying to force himself on her, I understand why she would suspect other males of such a horrible crime. But Drakarians are not so evil.
My father and Durzain may try to force the females to choose a male to become theirs but they would never force a female to mate with someone against her will.
She releases a heavy sigh of relief then lifts her pleading gaze to me. “Please, Raidyn. Please. I need to see her.”
Although we are not fully mated, I can already deny her nothing. If she wishes to be reunited with her people and see that they are well, I will do whatever I can to please her. “I must speak with my father about sending an ambassador to the Fire Clan. We cannot appear unannounced—they may attack us.”
Her eyes go wide. “Attack you? Things are that bad between your Clans?”
I nod. “Unfortunately so.”
I neglect to tell her that our relations deteriorated because of me—because I trespassed into Fire Clan territory to investigate what I thought was a meteorite that fell from the sky. And because I fought with Varus when he caught me. But as I study her, I realize any consequence is worth it. I have found my fated one and feel blessed beyond measure.
“Wait here. I will return shortly.”
I move to leave, but her small hand alights on my forearm, stopping me in my tracks. I spin to face her hesitant eyes.
“Please, don’t leave me here alone.”
I cock my head to the side. “These are my rooms. No one will bother you here,” I reassure her.
“Look, you’re the only one here who cares about keeping me out of a cell. So, I’d rather not be separated from you while we’re…” Her gaze travels over the room as if considering her words, “in your kingdom. All right?”
Part of me rejoices that she already trusts me to protect her and keep her safe, but another part hates that she views my palace and my Clan with fear. I want my lands to become her home if she will accept me as her mate.
With a clenched jaw, I nod. Father must accept her; there is no way around that. Surely, I can convince him to see reason. “All right. Let us go together.”
She surprises me by entwining her arm with mine, as if already claiming me. We traverse the castle and I notice the not-so-discreet stares of several guards. No doubt word has already spread about my strange fated one. After all, there has never been a fated bond outside of our race before Varus and me. I glance over my shoulder at Tai, who trails us, and Skye narrows her eyes at him.
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
