Page 52 of The Dark War

“Creed! He’s a huge black dragon! He’s got big scary muscles, but his mate is super pretty. She’s as tall as you!” Kane’s fingers wrapped around my waist, pulling me back into his chest. The poor boy looked hurt as Kane glared at him.

“Don’t mind him. He’s just jealous I’m giving you all my attention,” I whispered, cupping my hand. Kane grunted behind me, putting his nose in my shoulder. “See?”

“Don’t cause any more trouble,” Zaos ordered. Leaf saluted and dashed off into the thicket.

“That’s another reason why we are here.” Kane growled louder this time, causing Zaos to back away. “A vampire is missing his human mate, and we are here to retrieve her. We are trying to keep peace with Vermillion as the new royals try to rebuild.” Zaos’s eyes widened, his heart racing.

“I see you know something,” Kane grumbled. Annabelle, his mate, walked closer, the beautiful elven silks from the silken flower plants shining against the sun. Her dark hair hung down by her hips, and she wrapped her arm around Zaos.

“Something wrong?” She noticed Kane’s glare.

“At least act kingly,” I warned Kane. His eyes softened, giving me a glance. His quick kiss on my forehead had me giddy once more until we both tried to handle this new situation. “I’m taking you know of a human girl then?” I asked.

“Human girl? You mean Odessa?” Annabelle replied. My eyes widened.

“Yes, her. Her mate is looking for her. It was a big misunderstanding and we are trying to get her to go back.” Zaos and Annabelle’s silent conversation had Kane growl in annoyance.

“We have urgent matters to attend to, and you keep staring at each other,” Kane snapped. My hand gripped Kane’s, pulling him away.

“No, you are right,” Zaos rubbed his chin. “Annabelle? Will you go fetch them?” She sweetly smiled and bowed to both of us.

Odessa wore a dress similar to mine, her smile reached her ears as she looked up at the gigantic man beside her. Kane mentioned that this dragon had issues, that he was nothing but the scum of the soil. He tried to take away the alpha position from Adam from the Toboki tribe when they were younger.

Kane had spent a lot of time with Adam before he found Amora, his mate, but once his friend had his mate, there wasn’t much point in being close friends. Your mate becomes your best friend, your one and only, your lover.

Kane stiffened, but I swatted his hand away. I had to go into this looking all queenly and understanding. He could have changed all those years ago, but for the sake of my mate, I would be wary.

“Hi! I’m Clara,” I jumped in front of Odessa who cowered away. Creed’s massive body of scars had me backing away once I saw the large scar running down his face.

“I’m Odessa, and this is Creed,” she muttered. Creed pulled her to his side, bracing his arm around her.

“I’m Kane, Alpha to the Crimson Shadows pack. We have come to ask a few questions,” he gritted his teeth.

Way to go, Kane, scaring the shit out of her.

“You can come with us, Odessa.” I held out my hand. “We are going to go to one of the treehouses and talk there.”

“We can talk out here.” She pointed down to the grass. Glancing at Kane, he only grumbled.

“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.” I softened my appearance.

“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.” Odessa looked like I grew two heads. I just needed to know what was going on, and I couldn’t have this big dragon flip out when I told him that Odessa had her real mate waiting for her.

“If Creed comes with me, then I’ll go,” Odessa challenged.

“If it is all right, Princess,” An elf with crazy colored hair and a questionable wardrobe bowed lowly, “may I accompany Odessa? We’ve become good friends. I’m Daine.” He smiled devilishly. Creed growled, his nose grazing Odessa’s neck.

Oh, we have a situation.

“Thank you, Daine, but I’d rather have my mate go with me,” Odessa spoke louder. The entire elven tribe within hearing distance stopped what they were doing to stare at the poor couple and my eyes just about bugged out of my head.

As Kane would say, we are in some deep shit.Creed stood beside her, standing up straighter, pulling Odessa in his embrace.

Oh, gods, it was so cute.

Daine burst into laughter, breaking the silence, holding his sides until another elfpulled the vine-like rope on this elf’s hand. Creed growled, making elves stand back in fear. “Oh, right, sorry.” He wiped away a fake tear. “Honey, you are not mates.” A witch smacked the elf on the back of his head.

“Shh, you fool!” Glinda hissed.

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