Page 40 of The Lost Nation

“So you don’t think he’ll attack then?” I asked, curious.

Thad snorted, pausing at the door to turn back to me. “He’ll attack, but it’s not the children he’ll come for.”

I frowned, confused. “Then what?” I asked. He deflated then, his eyes tired. I felt a throb in my core when his gaze turned hungry. Heat flooded my body, and I didn't understand why my pulse continued to race.

Thad held out a hand, one finger reaching out to my cheek. He hovered over my skin, not quite touching me. “He’ll come foryou.”

I rolled my eyes, breaking the spell. “Unlikely. I’m damaged goods—an unmated female who can’t have children. No one wants me."

My voice broke on the last sentence, and I realized it was the first time I had ever said it out loud. Hot tears appeared at the corners of my eyes, and I realized I’d been pushing the truth away ever since I’d been rescued. My throat closed up, and my chest felt tight.

“That’s not true.” A voice spoke, puncturing through the sorrow that clenched my heart.

It took me a moment to realize it was Thad. I looked up and he was inches away, his expression so intense I wanted to cry all over again. He physically vibrated with the urge to touch me, but restrained himself.

Because he was trying to let me heal. Like I’d asked.

I wasn’t sure how long we stood like that, close enough to embrace but just breathing and existing next to each other. My forehead made contact with his chest, and I realized I’d leaned forward until I finally fell against him.

Thad’s hands moved to my shoulders but hovered without touching. That respect—thatrestraintbroke something in me, and I buried my face in his chest and wrapped my arms around his neck. I sobbed, and he gently set his arms around me, tucking me into him.His dark wings flared around us, another layer of protection.

He sighed. “What is it about me that renders female drakens into such a state?”

Ipulled back alarmed, but there was a slight twitch of his lips. I wiped my eyes, embarrassed.Warriors didn’t cry like little draklings.

“You aren’t at all what I expected.” I admitted, wiping my face and attempting to regain my composure.

“I exceed in that, I will admit.” Thad’s eyes were sad, and I wondered what he meant by that. Clearly there was more to him than anyone else had thought. Except for Wren, perhaps.

Wren.

Thad kept her alive (albeit chained in his bedroom) throughout the duration of her imprisonment here. My face flushed as I thought of it, and I turned away from him. Why did the very thought send a flash of jealousy through my body? What waswrongwith me?

I'd spent centuries as a prisoner. What if something inside of me was irrevocably damaged and broken?

“You must know a lot of draken lore, being one yourself.”Thad offered.

I blinked at him, my thoughts broken. "What? Oh...yes. Obviously.”

Thad put a hand behind his head, and he lookedbashful. “I find myself in need of someone to help me navigate being a leader. My two advisors will always advocate for their demons, either the full-blooded ones or the half breeds. You're an unbiased third party, and were a warrior yourself. If you don’t wish to go back to Lyoness, allow me to hire you to live with me, and be a...consultant.”

The warrior in me preened at a chance to once again be a useful, contributing individual who earned her keep. The unmated draken in me practically salivated at any excuse to get closer to him.

“That...could be arranged." I managed. "I am curious as to how you were even born. No offense.”

He waved me away. “I was hoping to ask you about that. The demons here told me that my father took a liking to my mother...to her strength.”

I wondered again who she was—I likely had known her. So many females had died here, and after the first few decades time ran together in my head. I couldn't keep track of who was next to me, and who never returned.

“She was the only one to escape, wasn’t she?” I clarified. Wren had told me that much.

Thad sighed. “One of the full-blooded demons told me the story. She didn’t escape...my father ran away with her. They only got to the forest before vampyres caught up to them. He fought them while she ran.”

I was shocked. Ademonand adraken? What an unlikely love story. Animpossiblelove story. And yet here Thad stood, living proof that joy could be found even in the darkest depths of hell.

He continued.“I would also like advice on how to...handlethe situation with King Benedict. We aren’t exactly friends.”

I shot him a wry grin. “No,you certainly aren't."

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