Synne said nothing and looked away as if she, herself, was guilty. Putting my hand on her arm, I tried to comfort her hoping that she would open up to me."I am not accusing you, sweetie," I said softly. "I honestly want to help.""We are charged with the wellbeing of the warriors. We cook and clean and at times warm their beds," she insisted defensively."Why are they unable to care for such things themselves?" I asked Erik in English."This is a hard gender divide. I have a feeling it is passed down through the family lines. Mothers teach their daughters to cook and care for the family. Fathers teach their boys to fight and…" his voice trailed off as he looked at Synne, leaving no doubt his unspoken words."So basically, to change this, I'll have to fight generations of tradition," I stated in frustration.Erik nodded gravely as I growled under my breath."Did I say something wrong?" Synne asked anxiously."No!" I immediately denied it. "I'm just upset that this has come about. I can
I paced the small area in front of the throne."Mar, sit down. You are making me nervous," Erik ordered me."I'm sorry! I'm just anxious. I really wish Tohr was here. This doesn't seem right without him," I stated once more.It was true. I really did wish Tohr was here. His absence was like a hole in my heart and thinking about it made it difficult to breathe. However, I also wished I hadn't let Erik talk me into having this dinner. He felt it was extremely important that I get to know the most influential Draygons in the village. And according to him it would be best done before Tohr, and I were officially mated.Whatever that meant.I ended up agreeing to Erik's request on the condition that he also invited their mates and any other Draygana that was well respected. I had expected an argument, but Erik agreed easily. Before I knew it, he had dinner planned, and here I was trying not to look uncomfortable standing in front of the thrones without Tohr there.I hugged myself and rubbed
I cleared my throat slightly, trying not to seem as awkward as I felt. I kept my eyes firmly on the window that allowed the orangish light in from the sun and pretended to study the rings and the planet that created a ghostly outline in the sky.Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the group break apart and Ethallia's cheeks still held the blush. I couldn't tell if she was still feeling embarrassed, but she seemed all too content with being kept tightly between her two men.Seeing the way that they looked at their woman caused the sad, lonely feeling to hit me once more. God, I missed Tohr, my pathetic mind whined. Feeling a bit annoyed with myself, I cursed silently and forcefully shoved those useless feelings deep inside me until I could breathe again.Voices could be heard coming from outside the door. At the first sound, everyone jumped and hurried to take their places. They all stood beside me, presenting the four of us as a united front.My heart jumped into my throat as the do
There is and never will be another for me. Nor did I want one. I missed him, like a piece of my soul, and wanted to be in his arms so badly. Just the few times I had been able to look into his mind, I could see his sweet, kind, gentle soul as well as the will of steel that he used to keep his people safe. He would do anything and everything necessary to protect his people. He stayed strong for them, and he upheld the laws for them. He was even in the process of risking his own life by going to meet with his lifelong enemy, and I knew it was for his people that he went to seek peace.Erik would not tell me the specifics. But he did say that Tohr went to speak with the King of the Blue Dragons to see if they could forgive past transgressions and finally open the channels for peace. It was truly an honorable thing to do, and it made me feel even more in awe of this king.Oh, hell, there was no point in denying it anymore.I was in love with him.The ferocious way I missed him and how his
They looked at each other than to Treddian as if to see if such a thing was permissible. Treddian nodded. "Do as your lady requests." Erik stood and helped them all move the table. Happily, I sat back down on the throne and waved to the people around the room. "Please, sit with me," I asked them. No one moved. I looked to Erik and Ethallia, pleading with them for their help. They quickly and eagerly moved around the table and sat in front of Treddian and I. To my joy, that broke the ice enough that several others sat next to them, and quickly my table was full as well. I smiled my triumph at Erik and began speaking to the people around me. Ethallia, the sweetheart that she was, introduced the newcomers. I listened carefully and tried hard to remember their names as well as their occupation. When she got to the carpenter, I leaned forward in excitement. "Are you the one who made the furniture in the castle?" I questioned. The Draygon nodded. "My ancestors and I. We originally cam
My back bristled at his tone and his condescending words. "I'll have you know that I am what you would consider a scholar. In my world, women are considered equal to men," I pointed out to him. "Truly, my Queen?" the Draygana asked me. I smiled down at her. "Yes. In fact, women are allowed to be whatever they wish to be." The Draygon hissed at me angrily as if my words were a personal insult to him. "You are telling us lies. Silence your tongue, chindralla. You will give the Draygana false hope. They cannot be anything than what they are," the Draygon snarled at me, stepping forward threateningly. Treddian stepped between us in a flash and growled in warning. I truly understood his unspoken words this time. Tread lightly. You're insulting my Queen, and I will not stand for it.Several other growls from around the room made me smile despite the dire situation; I knew they had my back. However, my pleasure was short-lived as I learned that he had allies as well. "Forgive my intru
There was a light knock on my door the next morning that woke me. I groaned and rolled over almost hissing as the sound came again and again.As I cracked one eye open, it startled me to see that the planet was shining in with its light violet hue. The orange sun was nowhere in sight, and I grumbled at the idea of raising before it. There was no way I should be subjected to being woke up so early, it was extremely not right. New law! I thought to myself as I snuggled into Torh's pillow and breathed in his scent, willing myself back into the erotic dream about him. "L-lady Mara?" Tohr whispered into my ear. No, not Tohr. Someone had opened my door and was trying to continue this whole stupid waking thing. I groaned and glared towards the door.One of the young girls from last night was standing hesitantly, shifting from foot to foot in the doorway. I rubbed my hands down my face and took a deep breath, trying to bury my irritation at her intrusion. "Yes?" I cleared my throat. "Yes,"
I jerked away from him and tried to find a place in the circle where I would be safe. But in that fraction of a second, I was suddenly surrounded by Draygonians. Dark ones by the pillars and behind me were the Golden Draygons. Every single Golden Draygon that I had pissed off since I had gotten here was there. A short step away was another Draygon looking just as pleased that I was in this predicament. "Isobel," I breathed as she stepped into view. The smile on her face was nothing short of cruel. "Hello, your Majesty," she sneered mockingly. "What is going on?" I demanded. "We are taking back what is rightfully ours," the giant Draygonian stated ominously. His deep rumbling voice would have been pleasant to listen to, especially with the strange accent so differently from Tohr's. It sort of reminded me of a Scottish accent with a few centuries of differences mixed in with it. He was as large as a Scottish Highlander, that was for sure. "And what exactly do you believe belongs