Page 13 of Dark Prince's Mate

When reality finally returns, I register the chaos that has broken out around us.Phaelix are tripping over benches and stepping on those who have fallen to reach barges beached on the sand.After seeing what has happened to their friend, they know what’s in store for them, and they think they can escape my wrath.

With a flick of my hand, I knit the rock mass in front of the cave together and seal off the exit.The Phaelix who were headed in that direction stop in their tracks and spin on their heels to run in the opposite direction.Some of them are trying to scale the steep cliffs, using their claws to climb up the almost vertical drop.

“Aruan.”

The sound of my name on Elsie’s lips is like a siren to my senses.Her voice pulls me.Her call is undeniable, impossible to ignore.

I look at her.She’s gotten onto all fours and is regarding me as if I’m both her downfall and her salvation.

I make it to her in a few long strides and lift her into my arms.“I’ve got you, my sweet.You’re safe now.”

She trembles from head to toe.“Aruan!The mountain… It’s going to blow.”

I hardly pay the groaning soil and roaring volcano any notice.“You’re hurt.”I hug her tighter to me while examining her body with a practiced eye.“You’re bleeding.”My anger reaches a new level.“What have they done to you?”

“It’s just my head.”She grasps my shoulders.“If this volcano is going to erupt, we’ll have bigger problems to worry about.”

Itisgoing to erupt.I don’t bother reining in my power.This place needs to be razed to the ground.Any fool can see what’s been going on here.I’ve just walked into the secret location the Phaelix have been using as a slave market.We’ve been searching for it for many moon cycles.My father delegated the task of eradicating the slave trading operation to me, and as fate would have it, the opportunity has fallen into my lap.

“Don’t worry,” I say.“The portal is open.I’ll get you out of here.”

“We have to take them with us,” she cries out when I start moving, pointing at a row of naked people lined up behind the platform whom I haven’t noticed.

The humans are smaller than the average Alit, but it’s not only their meager height that gives them away.Their features are distinctly Earth-like with daintier bone structures and more sharply defined lines.I recognize a few of those faces from the barge.They’re the ones I sent on their way when I first found Elsie.Back then, I was too consumed with having found my allegedly dead mate to worry too much about how they’d get back to Earth.They study me now much like they had on that first day, looking as petrified as the Phaelix.

I don’t like to deny Elsie.Of course I won’t leave them here to die.However, a group of humans will cause havoc at the palace.The scrolls forbid all contact with Earth, and I don’t want it to be known that someone besides my mother can open portals to that world.The believers—and there are many—will consider these humans to be violating one of the principal laws of their doctrine.The result will be chaos.Plus, on a diplomatic level, it will be difficult to explain their presence without coming clean about the slave trading, which we’ve suspected for a while.The objective of letting me deal with the issue quietly was to avoid pandemonium in the kingdom.Bringing these unfortunate humans back with us will have the opposite effect.

I purse my lips.“I’m sorry, Elsie.”

A piercing shriek rips through the sky as a Phaelix loses his footing and tumbles to his death.The others climb faster, but the cliff face is too steep.A cruel smile curves my lips.Considering what awaits them, the one who fell was lucky.At least he died quickly.

When I look back at Elsie, she’s glaring at me.“You’re not suggesting that we leave them behind?”

“I’ll bring them to safety and set them free, but it’ll cause nothing short of a rebellion among the followers of the scrolls if I bring them to Lona.”

“Your mother can send them back to Earth,” she exclaims.“Why would you deny them that?”

“I won’t be able to keep their presence a secret at the palace.There are too many eyes and ears in that place.”

She crosses her arms and lifts her chin.“I’m not going without them.”

I narrow my eyes.“You’re making the mistake of thinking I’m giving you a choice.”

Panic flashes through her beautiful eyes.They glitter like gemstones as she cuts me to pieces with her angry gaze.“All right.”She clenches her dainty jaw.“Name your price.”

I turn toward the portal, tightening my arms around her.The portal has been open for long enough as it is.I don’t know how much longer my mother will be able to hold it.

“Wait!”Elsie says, glancing over her shoulder at the humans who stand uncertainly in place.“Aruan, please.I beg you.Stop.”

Dragons.I can’t deny her when she’s begging me.I pause to look down at her gorgeous face.Her cheeks are streaked with dirt, and her bloodied hair stands up in all directions, but she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve seen.

“If you take them with us…” she starts hesitantly.“I’ll…” The column of her neck bobs with a delicate movement as she swallows.

My curiosity is piqued.I arch a brow.“You’ll what?”

“I’ll mate with you willingly,” she declares in a rush.

I go still.

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