Page 136 of The Edge of Dawn

“Naturally,” the general said coldly. “And therefore, you know we will retrieve her at all costs. Now. The location.”

Amun rattled off a series of precise, detailed, perfectly memorized coordinates. “You’ll find the portal at that exact point. I can’t predict who’s going to be there, but we can only pray to the Goddess that they haven’t already sent their killers after you.”

“Why are you doing this?” Dragek asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

“Why?” Amun shrugged. “Many reasons. Selfish ones. Pragmatic ones. Reasons that don’t concern you. Believe me, it wasn’t easy to get to a point where I was beyond the reach of their surveillance. But I refuse to be subordinate to anyone.”

“I thought you had styled yourself as the new emperor.”

“It’s easy to bestow a title. Easy to become a figurehead. But almost impossible to wield real power.”

Tch. Dragek shook his head. It was all beyond his comprehension. Perhaps this male had already succumbed to the notorious madness of the imperial family.

Whatever Amun’s intentions, Dragek didn’t want any part of them.

Best to leave Tarak to deal with him.

Right now, all he wanted was to get back to his sarien in one piece.

To finish what they’d started.

By the Goddess, he couldn’t stop thinking about her.

Dragek?

I’m fine, Jade. You wouldn’t believe the mess these fools have created.

Are you okay, though? Are you in danger?

This pure, sweet creature was actually worried about him. That alone was enough to fill him with awe and deep affection. As long as you stay with me, I’ll be okay.

The Mating Fever danced through him, making him eager to fight.

How fragile he’d become since finding her. The slightest disturbance could tip him over the edge.

Not that it bothered him in the least.

It was what it was.

Tarak gave Dragek a pointed look. “If we need to go after them—through the portal—it’s just you and me, understand?”

“Why us, specifically?”

“She speaks to you, doesn’t she?”

“What?”

“Your sarien. She’s with you, isn’t she?”

“How did you know?” Irritation flickered inside Dragek’s chest. Why did he once again get the feeling his fate was being engineered?

But he couldn’t afford to obsess over it.

Right now, the stakes were too high.

If this timeline ceased to exist, then…

“It’s vital that you hold onto that bond at all costs,” Tarak said simply, infuriatingly enigmatic. “Even beyond the boundaries of what you think might be possible.”

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