Page 66 of Dragon Untamed

She noticed the tears in his eyes as she sorted through her thoughts and emotions about that statement. It wasn't a question. It was practically a demand. Kaida felt, inside her soul, the tugging to go to him. Her dragon paced as Kaida thought this decision through. Everything inside of her told her that she needed to say no and tell him to go back to the mainland without her.

But is that really what I want?

There was no denying that having Enzo here was something that she’d wanted since she watched him fly away without her. He was right about one thing, though. Enzo was chosen for her by The Great Dragon. He was meant to be hers.

Kaida looked at each of the princes, and her heart clenched.But so are they.

"No," Kaida said as she looked at Beckett, Arlo, and Esen, "No, I will not come home with you."

"What?"

Kaida could hear the heartbreak in his voice. That was not the answer he had been expecting. But there was more to it than just the no.

"I cannot go home with you, Enzo. As much as I agree with you that you were the mate the Great Dragon chose for me, I alsoknow that everything happens for a reason. As much as it pains me to relive that moment you rejected me, it was needed. I am a Plasma Dragon, the last of my kind. As a Plasma Dragon, I am given the gift of having a mate from each class of dragon. You aren't my only mate. Beckett, Arlo, Esen, and possibly Blaze, are also my mates. If I go back with you, that means I would need to leave them here. That is not acceptable, for they are bound to me just as you are. I don't care if you find it unfair. That is my answer. I will not return with you because I will not leave them here, not when I know how it feels to be abandoned."

Enzo's jaw clenched as he sucked in a breath. She knew her words hurt, but Kaida did not care. It was the decision she had to make.

"So why don't you stay here?"

Everyone glanced at Beckett in astonishment.

What?

Enzo's growl pierced the silence, and Kaida took a step back from him. The last thing she thought would happen would be Beckett offering for Enzo to stay here. Enzo was the prince of Dragaal. He would not be able to stay here. He had duties to the kingdom, after all.

"What?" Kaida asked, hoping for an answer, because she wasn't sure why Beckett would offer such a thing.

"If you don't want to go back because of us, why shouldn't Enzo remain here?"

Enzo growled again. "What makes you think I would stay? Kaida is mine. She is to be my queen, and we should rule Dragaal together."

"Because Kaida is notjustyours if you recall what she told you," Beckett deadpanned and stepped behind Kaida.

Enzo's face became red as his eyes scanned from each prince. He tried to hold all their gazes, but it was impossible with them all standing in various places. Arlo and Esen stood with their arms over their chests but still within reaching distance of Kaida. Blaze remained on the porch and pretended he didn't care aboutwhat was unfolding in front of him. Kaida wasn't convinced he wasn't enjoying every moment of this.

"The Great Dragon chose her for me. Not for the four of you. She should come home with me and rule Dragaal."

"Do you have wax in your ears or something?" Esen asked while pointing at Enzo with his hand. "Kaida literally told you that we are her mates, too. The Great Dragon chose her for us, too. Not just you."

"That makes no damn sense. No one has multiple mates."

"Plasma Dragons do," Kaida retorted.

"I have not heard anything remotely like that in my teachings." Enzo's chest rumbled with another growl as he took another step toward Kaida.

Kaida lifted her hand and had her magic crackle at her palm as a warning. "Don’t take another step toward me. I don't give a shit if you believe us or not. It is the truth. I feel the bonds between youandthem. It's not a joke or a lie or whatever you seem to think this is."

"That is not possible. Why would the Great Dragon give you multiple mates?!" Enzo bellowed.

"So, she can start the line for other Plasma Dragons to be born. She is the only one. If she is mated with multiple dragons, it gives the chance for multiple breeds to pass the Plasma gene down to the next generation. Plasma can mate with any dragon. You Storm Dragons only mate with other Storm dragons, so now that is all that is born on the mainland. Here? That is not the case at all. There is a chance that any of the Elemental Dragons can emerge. If you paid attention enough, you would know that. I know royals are taught about things over here because, one day, they will be partially ruling here."

Arlo's explanation hit every nail on the head. Kaida glanced at him to give him a smile. He winked at her and then returned to being stoic as he stared Enzo down.

"There's not a chance in hell that my parents will allow you four to accompany her to Dragaal. There are laws. Only one King and Queen can rule over Dragaal."

"That's why I offered for you to remain here. You will be able to be with Kaida, and we can find a way to return to Dragaal and rule as one. That is the whole point of Kaida being a Plasma. She is someone that will converge Dragaal with the island."

Kaida looked up at Beckett and gave him a confused look. He smiled at her and kissed her on her nose.

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