Page 85 of Ash

“Mating ceremony?” Sirki raised a brow. “Itwasa mating. Aranta is on cycle. She chose Tyrez as her mate.”

“So he had no say in it?”

“Males want to be chosen.” Sirki stared at her. “Remember when he said ‘Cycle sex is the best there is’? The Dragona’s pheromones drive them wild.”

Dani was definitely missing something here, and Sirki wasn’t helping. “So Aranta is Tyrez’s mate?”

“She chose him. All Dragonas create a short list of males to choose from. Tyrez already has two offspring from other females. That is a lot for a young Dragon. He is a hot commodity.”

Two offspring from other Dragonas? Dani stared at Sirki with wide eyes. “Tyrez has three mates?”

Comprehension dawned on the Dragona’s face. “They aren’t permanent pairings. The Dragonas pick males for the three or so days they are on cycle. Then the arrangement dissolves.”

Dani’s brain was panting to keep up, but her heart did a funny little flip. “So Dragons don’t mate for life?”

Sirki’s eyes widened. “Shards, no. For us, mating is about reproduction. A year from now, Aranta will have Tyrez’s third offspring.” She frowned. “Or, she should. If everything went well—which I don’t think it did if he’s back here without her.”

No doubt about it—Dani’s reaction, first and foremost, revolved around relief. Relief that he was not already mated? That was alarming as hell and went against her resolution to walk away from all this as soon as she could. But she heard herself ask, “So Dragons don’t pair up? Like a marriage?”

Sirki laughed. “More fun not to.”

Now Dani’s fool heart constricted, as though it were disappointed that Dragons didn’t form attachments. “Sounds kinda lonely.” The words surprised her. She was dreaming of such a life for herself, wasn’t she?

“Better than sitting around pining for a soulbond. They either happen, or they don’t. You can’t force them.”

Dani took a deep breath as her crazed emotions did another whiplash move. “A soulbond is like a marriage?”

Sirki shrugged. “Sort of. They are rare. I have only met one couple that is soul bonded.” She wrinkled her human nose. “They are really kind of disgusting. Mooning over each other. Wanting to be together every minute.” She shuddered. “Sounds confining to me. If I have an itch, I would rather scratch it, you know? And then go on my way with no baggage.”

The soulbond did sound rather constrictive, Dani had to admit. Obsessive, even. Scratching an itch sounded—

Lonely,her heart supplied again.

Dammit.Her heart really needed to have a chat with her brain.

Sirki kicked her feet as they sat and watched the brightening sky. Dani was contemplating breakfast when a dark shadow passed overhead—and a huge, purple-hued Dragon swooped onto Tyrez’s ledge.

Razir.

“What the shards do you think you are doing?” his angry voice carried down to them, and Sirki’s eyes almost bugged out of her head.

“He’s some pissed,” she whispered to Dani.

Dani didn’t require the assessment. The angry undercurrents in the shouting match that ensued were clear. Razir moved farther into the apartment, but she could still make out the occasional word. These wide-open entrances had their drawbacks.

Sirki appeared torn between listening in and giving them their privacy. Finally, she sighed and stood, gesturing to Dani. “Let’s leave them to it and go have some breakfast.”

* * *

Tyrez rubbed the towel through his hair. He walked out of the bathroom as his brother skidded to a landing on his bedroom ledge.

He was only halfway to human when he thundered, “What the shards do you think you are doing?”

Tyrez sighed. He had a pretty good idea where Aranta had gone when she’d stormed away from their mating. “It is not any of your business, Razir.”

His brother’s eyes were glowing almost violet with his rage. Tyrez couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen him so angry. “What the—of course it’s my business. Aranta was in tears.”

Tyrez swallowed. “I fulfilled my mating obligations.”

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