Page 52 of The Exiled Dragon

“I’m Kane, Alpha to the Crimson Shadows Pack. We have come to ask a few questions.” Heckers, he sounded like the bad cop. I’m guessing Princess Clara was the good cop. I’d rather talk to her.

“You can come with us, Odessa.” Clara held out her hand. “We will go to one of the treehouses and talk there.” My eyes looked between Clara’s hand and Kane’s stern face. There was no way I was going anywhere with those two alone.

“That’s okay. We can talk out here.” My voice shook too much for my liking. Clara glanced at Kane, who only backed up.

“Really, it will only take a few minutes, and you can come back outside. We will not hurt you. I know you must be scared by all this.” Clara’s eyes softened, still holding out her hand. How would she know?

“You’re human, taken away from your home and now living in a strange place. We only want to clear up a few things that might have happened that you don’t understand.”

What is there not to understand?

“If Creed comes with me, then I’ll go.” Daine walked over with Lura, who had him on a leash. Literally, she stuck it right around his wrist, ready to pull him back either from his mouth or Creed lashing out. Elves were weird.

“If it is all right, Princess,” Daine bowed lowly, “may I accompany Odessa? We’ve become good friends.” He smiled devilishly. Creed rumbled low, his nose grazing my neck. Even if Daine was a ‘good friend,’ I wasn’t letting go of my mate.

“Thank you, Daine, but I’d rather have my mate go with me.” The entire Elven tribe within hearing distance stopped what they were doing to stare at us. A pin could drop on the soft soil and be heard. Clara and Kane looked at each other in confusion. Creed stood beside me, standing up straighter like he had won a prize. I wanted to coo at him with how adorable he looked because he was my mate!

Daine burst into laughter, breaking the silence, holding his sides until Lura pulled the vine-like rope on his hand. Creed growled, making Elves stand back in fear. “Oh, right, sorry.” He wiped away a fake tear. “Honey, you are not mates.” Glinda smacked her son on the back of his head.

“Shh, you fool!” Glinda hissed.

“Lura can’t hit me, and you can’t hit me anymore! I’m a grown damn Elf. Only my future mate can hit me.” He waved his finger around. “Pull on the damn leash, but don’t hit my pretty head! It’s why I don’t think before I speak!”

My body tensed, coming out behind Creed. “But I have a mark here.” I pointed to my neck sheepishly.

“Aren’t you cute! That, my dear, is a hickie, not a true mark. He temporarily marked you. That’s all that is.” Glinda pulled on the leash hard enough that Daine fell backward in the grass with a yelp.

Those eyes all looking at us sent me back behind Creed, feeling the heat of the stares. Why can’t we go back to the cave where we were happy? I’ll stay in the cave the rest of my life and never come out if this is how life is on the outside.

“It’s true. He isn’t your mate. We have come to talk to you about this in private,” Kane’s gruff voice spoke. Clara only slapped his arm, causing him to flinch.

“I’ll handle this, Kane. You need to be more tender.” Clara rubbed the area she slapped. “Odessa, you don’t bear his mark. So let us figure this out together.” I grit my teeth, becoming angry. The crowd murmured, some smiling while others laughed. Why was everyone having a hard time accepting this was who I wanted?

“We’ve told them nothing.” Annabelle and Glinda approached. “They don’t know.”

“Know what? He’s my mate, and no one can tell me different!” I snapped. “Creed, can we go home, back to the cave? Let’s go.” I pulled on Creed, who was staring at the crowd with anger. His face was red, beads of sweat building on his forehead. The hands I was holding turned into claws. Clara tried to come closer, but Kane grabbed her by the shoulder.

“Listen, Odessa, you both have not completed the bond just yet…” Clara’s voice pleading.

“But I decided…” My voice trailed off. “Wedecided we wanted to be mates, so we are. I don’t care about anyone else. We don’t understand what else you want us to do because no one will tell us! Why can’t we just be happy together?” Clara sighed; Creed was shifting from side to side, his scales rippling down his arm. If I continued to show my frustration, Creed would only get upset.

“How about we all go, then? Let’s all go meet and talk privately.” Clara's smile was now sad, her face full of concern. “We really want to help, and I want to listen. This situation is more unique than what I planned on walking into, but I think we can work this out. You just need to be honest with me, and I’ll be honest with you.” The eyes of the crowd trailed back to us until Kane let out a loud growl.

“Go back to your daily lives and quit meddling with others!” The crowd dispersed, many still watching as they continued to walk away. “Do you not have a handle on your own tribe, Zaos?” Zaos stood back, biting his tongue as he bowed at Alpha Kane, obviously having something to say but not daring to speak back to the Werewolf.

“This way, your Highness and Alpha. We have a conference room that will accommodate all of us.” Zaos led the way into the forest beyond the treehouses.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Odessa

Zaos,Annabell,Clara,andKane were in front, murmuring among themselves. Two of my arms were clutched around one of Creed’s, holding him like a teddy bear to my chest. Never in my life have I ever been talked to so negatively.

Daine was scolded to leave, and Glinda took hold of her son’s make-shift-leash and pulled him away from the small trail of people. I couldn’t help but laugh as he looked back and stuck his tongue out at me.

It wasn’t fair. They haven’t told either of us how to complete a bond because they were hiding it. From what I could gather, Creed did not know either. I had already grown so attached; this bond everyone keeps talking about sounds serious, strong, and unmoving. I felt that same way now with Creed; I would die myself if I couldn’t be with him.

Zaos was giving details about Creed. Clara had never met nor knew of his history. Her prancing as she walked dwindled with each step, several times swinging her hair with her mouth open at the treatment that Creed had endured. The small, minuscule sliver of hope had me gripping onto the imaginary reins of control, but even that seemed too far out of reach.

---