He cocks his head to the side as if he finds my question strange. “Take care of you, of course.”
I’m not sure how to respond to that, but at least I have more reassurance that he doesn’t plan to harm me. “Why did you take me from my people?”
“That creature was part of your species?” he asks incredulously.
It takes me a moment to realize he’s talking about John. “Yes.”
He looks indignant. “But he attacked you.”
“I—” I’m about to protest, but he’s right. John did attack me. I shudder inwardly at the memory. I thought John was my friend, but it seems I was wrong.
“I guess I should thank you for saving me,” I finally answer.
“You are my mate. I will allow no other to touch you.” He growls menacingly. “He is lucky that I did not tear him apart for trying to harm my mate.”
“About that,” I mutter. “I don’t understand why you think that I’m—”
He cuts me off with another handsome grin. “Your mate?”
I nod.
He thumps a closed fist to his chest. “I bear the fate mark between my hearts. Do you not feel it here? You are mine and I am yours.”
It’s obvious now that he won’t harm me, but it seems we’re still suffering from a serious case of miscommunication. So, I decide to start at the beginning.
I hold out my hand to him. “I’m Skye. What’s your name?”
He stares at my hand for a moment before extending his. Lifting my hand to his lips, he places a tender kiss to the space between my thumb and forefinger. My lips part as my cheeks heat.
That was really romantic. Knight-in-shining-armor romantic.
His ice-blue eyes pierce mine. “I am Raidyn, Prince of the Wind Clan, and you are my princess.”
My jaw drops. Prince? Princess? “What are you talking about?”
His arm extends in a grand, sweeping gesture toward our surroundings while he smiles at me. “This is our kingdom. And this,” he motions to the beautiful castle behind me, “is our home.”
The entire structure practically gleams beneath the light of the sun. The white stone walls are lined with several large windows. Thick, rope-like, green vines with glowing blue flowers climb the walls, casting an almost ethereal glow to the castle.
We’re standing in a courtyard paved with cobbled white stones and surrounded by dozens of flowering plants with blooms of red, purple, blue and orange. It’s beautiful here, but I need to get back to my people.
“I can’t stay here,” I shake my head emphatically and his expression falls. “I have to find my friend. She disappeared in the desert and—” I stop abruptly when I remember Raidyn’s murderous intentions toward John. I open my mouth to speak, but the words won’t come. Drawing in a deep breath, I steel my nerves. I need to know if Lilly is alive or dead.
“Raidyn, did you…” I pause, swallowing thickly against the bile threatening to rise in my throat. “Did you kill my friend?”
He blinks slowly. “What?”
“Did you kill another human? Like me?”
He shakes his head. “I would never kill a female.”
My shoulders sag in relief and I release the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “Well, did you see another female like me out in the desert?”
He frowns and an angry growl rumbles his chest. “Yes. Varus, Prince of the Fire Clan, had her.”
Simultaneously, hope and panic fill me. I hate the idea of Lilly being captured by a dragon, but if he Raidyn saw another woman, there’s a chance she’s still alive. “What did she look like?”
“Long hair the color of flame and pale skin dotted with several darker spots.”
“That’s her! That’s Lilly!” I cry in excitement. But I quickly sober as panic moves through me. “This fire guy—Varus, you said—he wouldn’t… eat her, right?”
He looks aghast at the idea. “Varus would never harm a female. None of my people would. Females are precious, treasured by my kind.”
That’s good to know. “Why is that?”
Sadness flits across his expression. “Several cycles ago, the Great Plague swept through our population, killing many of our females. Most who survived are barren. That is why our union is so special; the Gods have blessed us with the fated bond.” He cups my cheek, brushing the soft pad of his thumb over my skin in a tender gesture.
Something touches my foot and I look down to find his tail wrapped around my ankle. He pulls me close while his tail snakes further up my leg, winding around my thigh.
I admit, it’s not all that unpleasant.
Even as the thought enters my mind, I realize I need to get ahold of myself. I place a hand on his chest to gently push him away. “Wait a minute. What are you doing?” I glance down at his tail on my thigh.
His ice-blue eyes watch me with an emotion akin to longing. “I must touch you so we may speak. And I… never imagined the Gods would gift me with such a beautiful mate. My fated one. My linaya.” He tips his head to the side. “You say your race is called human.”
I nod.
He places a hand to his chest. “I am Drakarian, my beautiful Skye.”
As he stares at me, I realize just how easy it would be to get lost in his eyes. The way he regards me and his tender words touch something deep inside me. Why am I feeling so flustered?
Softly, I shake my head as I push down my emotions. I’ve obviously read one too many romance novels. I need to focus on getting Lilliana back. “When you saw my friend with the fire guy, what was he doing with her?”
“He claimed she was his fated one,” he replies matter-of-factly. His expression morphs into one of anger and a snarl escapes his throat.
“What’s wrong?”
“I knew he was keeping secrets from me. If I had not found you when I did, you could have been hurt.” He clenches his jaw. “I will never forgive him.”
“We never saw your friend,”
