But I did not want to see him brought low—not after losing my mother nearly broke him. In our grief, at least we were united. He allowed me to rule from the sidelines while he occupied the throne.
Tai warned me our arrangement might go wrong. His was a subtle warning, but still, I should not have ignored it. I didn’t want to believe that my father was beyond rescue. And now my mate is in danger because of my carelessness—my inability to act promptly.
I could flee to the Fire Clan and seek asylum there. But what kind of life would that be for my Skye, to be bonded to an outsider?
Besides, despite his anger, my father loves me above all else. Would he truly let me go if I went to live among the Fire Clan?
I doubt it. He would blame my Skye—my linaya—for my leaving. And he would be right. He threatened to imprison her. I will not stay where she is threatened and I refuse to leave her side. Even if she does not want me as her mate, I desire only to care for her. I vow to do whatever I can to help her people make a life on our world.
As much as the thought pains me, my mate will never truly be safe until my father no longer sits on the throne.
She stirs softly, stretching her lithe body against mine. A small gasp escapes me when her backside rubs along my shaft; my stav throbs with need in response. Before I can restrain it, a low growl of arousal rumbles in my chest.
Skye stills for a moment, then slowly turns to face me, uncertainty written across her features.
I lower my gaze in shame. “Forgive me,” I whisper. “I have never been this close to a female. It is…” I pause, casting about for the right word before settling on, “difficult.”
Rational thought and even the ability to form words is difficult while she lies in my arms. Surrounded by her intoxicating scent, my entire body hums in awareness of her.
“It’s all right.” She smiles warmly. “I have never slept with a man. It’s kind of awkward for me, too.”
I am glad that she does not pull away from me as she might have done before. However, I do not want to push her into mating if she is not ready. So, reluctantly, I stand from the bed. As I do, my stav twitches, still fully erect and extended from my body.
Her eyes travel down my form and when she notices this, her lips part and her entire face flushes a deep crimson hue.
Curious about her reaction, I ask, “Do I resemble your human males?”
“Uh, I—um.” She quickly averts her gaze as she stumbles over her words. “I think you’re quite a bit larger and—uh—you have ridges.” Her voice rises in pitch on the last word.
I frown. “Is that bad?”
She blinks up at me, her expression still a mask of astonishment, before she manages a nervous smile. “No. If anything, it’s… good.” She clears her throat. “At least, from what I’ve heard.”
My nostrils flare as her delicate scent thickens and I realize that she is aroused by my appearance. I meet her deep-blue eyes evenly, my voice rough even to my own ears. “I can scent your need, my mate.”
Her robe slips off her shoulder as she stares up at me, revealing the creamy, pale skin beneath. The delicate curve of her breast is just barely visible above the hem, but the memory of her soft, luscious body when I found her in the pool surfaces in my mind, sharpening my need. I desire more than anything to touch her, to feel her petal-soft skin beneath the tips of my fingers.
Her gaze travels down my form appraisingly again. Liquid beads on the tip of my stav and my every muscle tenses; I am desperate to claim her. Her small, pink tongue darts out to lick her lips. I cautiously move toward her.
She stands and we stare across the bed at one another. I want nothing more than to pull her into my arms and bury myself in her warmth, but I will not push her to do anything she does not want. I will wait for her to decide what we will do.
She steps closer and gently reaches out to skim the tips of her fingers across my chest. My scales light, glowing with the fate bond beneath her touch as she stares at them in fascination and wonder.
“They seem brighter now,” she whispers. “Why?”
“Because you are so near,” I rasp, my entire form tense with desire.
She trails her hands down to my abdomen, tracing the dips and curves of my muscles as if memorizing me by touch. “You’re beautiful,” she whispers.
I catch her eyes with mine. “You are perfect, Skye.”
“Perfect?” She smiles.
I reach out and tuck a stray tendril of her long, golden hair behind her ear then gently cup her cheek. “Yes, you are. Give yourself to me, my beautiful mate. Allow me to worship you.”
She lowers her gaze. “I… I don’t know. I just…” She lifts her head and her blue eyes search mine. “How do you know you want me and it’s not just the bond influencing you?”
Her questions are strange, and I do not understand her hesitation. “This is the way of things, Skye. The Gods have fated us to be together.”
Something about my answer displeases her and she steps back. “Can you please put on some clothes?”
I regard her curiously. “Why?”
“Because it’s… distracting that you’re naked.”
I heave a sigh of frustration and will my stav to retract into my mating pouch. I wish I could do as she asks, even if I do not understand why. “I cannot wear clothing, as I had planned on shifting forms. My draka form is much larger than this one, so my clothing would not survive the transformation intact.”
She
