“But Brogen—”
“Most of us. You should always still be wary. It’s the draken instincts; they scream at us constantly to find our mates and start our families. Some of us can tune it out, others can’t. It’s one of the reasons so few of us are left; we start turning on each other. That’s Benedict’s main job: to keep us in line.”
I added what looked like poached hare to my plate, along with a few potatoes. Companionable silence fell, and I loathed to break it. At least my stomach was able to keep down what I had put in it so far. Kieran shot a look at Ronan, who nodded.
“May we give you a gift?”
I wiped my hands on my napkin. “I suppose.”
Kieran unhooked something from his belt and so did Ronan. My hands twitched as they set down a pair of glittered, jeweled daggers on the table. The blades looked razor sharp, and the handle was carved from what looked like bone. It wasn’t though, was it?
“The blade was fashioned from a demon spine. Nasty things, but this knife will repel them from you and hurt twice as much when you get a hit in. I hear you like your knives."
I allowed myself a smirk in his direction as I ran one finger down the hard white surface of the blade, unsure how to act. It was hardly an appropriate gift for any woman, but it felt perfect for me. It was hard to imagine being anything other than a slave or a servant, but a slave certainly wouldn’t own anything as deadly and awe-inspiring as this.
“They’re beautiful…” I murmured.
“More deadly than they are pretty to look at,” Ronan interjected, smiling widely. I picked up the smaller one, holding it in my hand.
“Would you like to learn how to use one properly?” Kieran asked tentatively.
“Not that your way wasn’t effective with Brogen,” amended quickly, “it just lacked a bit of form."
I laughed, then choked it back. I couldn’t help but be suspicious; no one was ever kind without wanting something else in return, after all.
“Why would you help me?” Kieran looked genuinely confused, and a bit hurt by my defensiveness.
“Why wouldn’t we? It would hardly do our species any good if you weren’t able to defend yourself. Besides, you picked us, and that is something we appreciate. It is a great honor to be chosen as your companions. Being around a female reminds me of home.” His eyes went far away, and I glanced down to the knife, turning it over and admiring the way the jewels glinted.
“How long ago did it all happen?”
Ronan sighed. “Oh...probably close to seven hundred years by now.”
“Six hundred and eighty-eight,” Kieran corrected, and my jaw dropped. “Wait, you’re all that old?” I couldn’t decide how to feel about that.
“It’s part of the protection enchantments on our race, though some call it a curse. Until we find the...er, that is, until the curse is lifted, we will not die naturally. Of course, immortality seems hardly an attractive option when you’re stuck inside a hunk of rock for centuries on end.”
I grimaced; that did sound awful.
“Why are you all trapped here exactly? That doesn’t seem fair.” Kieran sighed, but Ronan leaned forward, anger in his eyes.
“Of course, it isn’t fair! Neither was winning a war by committing genocide, but here we are—"
Kieran rolled his eyes as Ronan sat back in his chair, crossing his arms across his chest. “Enough! Benedict will skewer us if we give away all our secrets!” He clapped his hands together, and I pouted. Kieran stood, wiping his hands on his thighs.
“I know we were promised the entirety of the evening, but I think it best if we leave you to rest. Again, we thank you for your hospitality, and for choosing us. We can meet later, and try out those knives?”
Ronan stood with him, and suddenly I didn’t want them to leave. If they did, I’d be alone in these large rooms again, with nothing to distract me from the thoughts of Brogen’s blood staining my body, or of the cold gleam in Benedict’s eyes when I begged him not to give me away. It was pure luck these two hadn’t hurt me, and for some reason, it felt instinctual to want them around me; these two drakens could protect me.
“Wait!”
They paused, fierce interest in their eyes. “I just...please stay longer.”
Kieran’s eyes softened. “You’re very young for a human, aren’t you? Have you been with a human male before?”
I blushed hotly, not expecting this turn in the conversation. You didn’t just ask someone that!
“No! I mean, of course not. We are encouraged to stay as ‘pure’ as possible, since it makes us worth more at auction. This...everything about this seems so foreign.”
Ronan’s face twisted in anger.
“You grew up in one of the breeding manors.”
I nodded, unsure why this angered him. It was better than growing up in the wild, wasn’t it? I’d have been dead before I reached adulthood.
Kieran scoffed.
“Wren, you need to understand that our species is in crisis. You could have any man here that you wanted, or all of them at the same time.” His gaze grew contemplative.
“Probably best to do it in small groups though, now that I think about it.” I choked, and they gave me matching grins.
“I take it things are very different in human culture—”
Kieran punched him in the gut, and Ronan shut up.
“The only one in charge of your body now is you,” Kieran began, his tone no-nonsense. “No matter what D’Arcy says, no matter what Benedict says, if you don’t want anyone here, do not submit.”
My eyes lifted to Kieran’s patient, green ones.
“What about your species? Isn’t the whole point to...to have babies?” I could barely say it without blushing, my eyes going to the floor in embarrassment.
Kieran closed the distance
