Page 194 of The Forbidden Dragon King
Aurelius once stood in this exact spot and had to watch as one by one his fellow students found their mates. Yet because he was marked out asdangerous and wicked, he was rejected from finding a dragon rider.
No wonder he’s as touch starved and lonely as he is, even if he pretends that he isn’t.
Who would have thought that the powerful, golden king was raised as an outcast like me?
When an instructor, a small mousy Alpha with thinning hair and beard steps forward, my breath quickens.
Here we go.
Sacrifice or mate. I’m not ready for either.
When Daire folds his wings behind his back, the rain hits me hard again. I struggle to blink it out of my eyes.
The instructor looks like he’d rather be anywhere but here. Aurelius has put the fear of the Shadow Gods into these men. Maybe fearisa good motivator sometimes.
“You will each step forward, when I point at you,” the instructor calls, barely loud enough to be heard over the rain. “You will then walk down the line of Alphas. When you feel the strongest telepathic connection and decide to accept the bond of dragon rider, walk to the dragon and climb on their back.”
The Omegas whisper between themselves excitedly.
I pull a face.
The instructor points at a tall, broad chested male Omega, Aquila.
Aquila is a quiet student, who has kept himself to himself over the last few weeks. He is powerful with a focused intensity.
I haven’t been able to work him out. He is mysterious, keeping his distance from everyone.
Aquila has a strong jaw, steel gray eyes, and snow white long hair pulled back in the standard dragon clip.
He marches forward without any hesitation down the line of dragons, as if he’s the one picking his mate, rather than fate.
I watch in interest.
Aquila doesn’t even need to walk past the rank of dragons more than once. The moment that he passes Ignatius, he falters.
Then Aquila’s eyes narrow. His nose wrinkles.
He rests his hand on the glimmering scales of Ignatius’ neck for the briefest moment like a claiming. Ignatius attempts to push into his touch, but Aquila immediately pulls back haughtily, turning away and standing in parade rest in front of him, instead of climbing onto him.
“Poor bugger,” Daire murmurs. “Livelong companionship and forever love…? This kingdom is fed on lies and propaganda. When are they going to wake up to the fact that sweet as they taste, they’re going to poison them?”
I stare at Aquila’s icy expression and the way that Ignatius is attempting to nudge him with his wing, while being ignored.
“You,” the instructor barks, pointing at me.
My pulse is throbbing fast in my neck.
I reach to entwine my fingers with Daire’s.
I walk forward through the puddles, pulling Daire along with me. “We’re soulmates. We ride together or we’re sacrificed together.”
Daire squeezes my hand. “I’d fly to heaven or hell with you, love.”
That shouldn’t be as reassuring as it is.
The instructor looks like he wants to stop us but doesn’t know how to, now that Aurelius has banned anyone from harming his pets.
I’m vibrating with anticipation as I pass the first ruby dragon, straining to listen.
