Page 88 of Heir of Draga

“Are you upset we are mates?” Kaiden asked, coming up beside her but keeping his distance.

The situation was so absurd she burst out laughing. “How can I be upset when there is no possible way we are mates?” Adelina considered her courtesan genes and instantly sobered. “There is something you must understand.”

Lightning crackled amongst the clouds, casting them in white light for a brief moment. Kaiden crossed his arms over his chest, stance wide, and wings flared, but he didn’t look angry. Somehow he appeared…ready. As though he knew whatever she had to say wouldn’t matter, but he’d listen anyway.

Adelina cleared her throat and had to look away as that tug on her heart pulled once more. “Courtesans are not quite the same as the rest of the Kalans. Much like the royals, they are a race apart. Something about their makeup has programed them to mate with one person after copulation has triggered the genetic response. It’s not a widely known fact and the courtesans prefer to keep it a secret for now.” Adelina tugged on one of her curls, feeling a film of volcanic ash settle over her skin that she didn’t particularly like.

Kaiden looked intrigued, but didn’t say anything.

“I’m part courtesan, but that isn’t widely known either. And my genetic marker for a mate has been deactivated. So this,” she waved between the two of them. “Is impossible.”

Kaiden smiled like he knew better, but didn’t make a move towards her.

Which was all well and good because internally Adelina was losing her mind. Her anxiety felt like it was going to choke her and the heat of the volcano was so stifling she thought she may faint.

“We don’t need to have sex to know who our mate is,” Kaiden told her. “It is similar in the sense that our genetics are the trigger, but I can smell it on you. When a male or female scents their mate they may begin the courting process. The bond isn’t set into place permanently until after the first time they make love, which is similar to your courtesans it seems.”

Adelina put a hand to her chest as she tried to take it all in and to understand…did this mean Varan wasn’t her mate? Did it mean if she had sex with Kaiden she would no longer want Varan? After everything she’d been through…this was exactly why she’d never wanted to know who was or wasn’t her mate.

“I have to go,” she managed, trying to go around Kaiden to find her way back to Varan…to her ship. Adelina needed Ian. She needed…space.

After what had just happened with Nash she couldn’t deal with this as well.

“Why are you upset?” Kaiden asked, genuinely confused. “Is there something I can do to help?”

Adelina whirled around and poked a finger into his chest, furious about the situation if not necessarily at him. “I’m upset because courtesans mate to only one partner. One, Kaiden. I am already married to a male I love.”

Then he understood. She watched as he made the connection. Kaiden raised his hands in surrender, but he wasn’t done. “You are not fully this…courtesan, no? Then why would you react to a mate in the same manner? It is quite obvious you and your husband are mated.”

That stopped her dead. “What did you just say?”

Kaiden frowned. “Did you not know? Your scents have merged. I can smell the bond on you two. He is still your mate, and another bond would not negate that.”

Adelina felt a ringing in her ears and suddenly the heat was too much. Everything he’d unknowingly revealed to her in a manner that was so matter of fact overwhelmed her. She put a hand to her head as the dizziness swept her up. Her knees gave out and her vision went black.

The last thing she remembered was Kaiden’s arms around her, lifting her up, and cradling her like she was something precious. His murmurs in the Drakesthai tongue were nothing more than music as Adelina lost consciousness.

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