Page 59 of The Lost Princess

King Alfred (because this monster wasn’tmy father anymore), huffed in disdain. “No need for any of that. I had Selena stick you with poison before you got here.”

I backed away, panic pulsing through my body. My legs stumbled, and the world was going dark. My muscles wouldn’t move. My inner draken shrieked, telling me to do something. Call for help, anything!

I refused to do it. I wouldn’t bring Nasi here. They would kill him, and it would be my fault. I forced down the urge to let out a distress call, and instead fell into darkness.

ChapterEighteen

NASI

Iknew the moment she arrived. I’d been dosing lightly, but her scent caught my attention immediately. I jolted awake, my body on instant alert. My nose drifted into the air, trying to follow her scent in case I lost sight of her. She was approaching the main gates of the castle with an older man, and she was dressed like a human. I bent as far forward as I could while still clutching onto the rock. Kaida’s scent was polluted by the other males, and I huffed. What else had I expected? Of course she would need to pass among them.

Nevertheless, I had to restrain myself from flying down to her. The urge to protect was overwhelming, bile rising in my throat as I savagely shoved it back down. This was Kaida’s choice, and I would respect it. Even if the ache in my chest made it difficult to breathe.

Kaida must have detoured to the mountains to sleep. That was the only way I could have missed her. No matter; I was here now. It would be tricky to watch over her from beneath this large, stone overhang, but I would manage.

She calmly disappeared into the castle, the small old man at her side. I rolled my wings and stretched my muscles. I would wait. I would watch.

Anything for Kaida. Everything for Kaida.

I settled in, expecting a long watch. My thoughts drifted back toward Kaida.

She would get her answers, and then come back to me.

She promised.

Even so, something didn’t feel right. It was the same tang of uncertainty that had hit me the day of the eruption back on Lyoness.

I blinked. That had been the first time I thought about it without any reaction from the darkness. Kaida had done more for me than she could ever know.

Her scent wafted toward through the air, but much closer this time. Two figures caught my eye, moving on the large balcony on the west side of the castle. Half of it faced toward the mountain, the other half out toward the city.

Voices pricked at the edge of my ears, the wind too loud for me to hear clearly. I needed to get closer.

I was just about to jump from the edge when a regiment of guards came out of the castle, marching in my direction and facing me. Growling, I backed further under my rock. If they saw me, I’d be of no use. I strained my ears and nose, trying to pick up what I could.

Her human scent disappeared, replaced by her draken one. A bolt of longing and arousal hit me suddenly, and I breathed through it. I needed to focus.

Her voice was high. She was arguing, then yelling.

My anxiety sky rocketed. I couldn’t move until the soldiers were gone. They were quickly approaching a curve in the road that would take them north, and out of vision of where I crouched.Move faster!I snarled, my claws leaving gouges in the rocks around me. Black spots dotted my vision, growing thicker and more numerous as I struggled to keep my instincts in check.

Kill them all. Do not hesitate. You will get to Kaida quicker.

I shook my head violently like an animal in its death throes.No. There were nearly one hundred soldiers. If I attacked, they would hunt me down and kill me. And that was only if I survived.

Phantom pain from the last time I fought humans spiked through my back and I flinched. I’d thought I was going to die that day. If not from the wounds themselves, then the sheer agony and sight of my wings in tatters behind me.

There was a reason drakens weren’t solitary creatures. I was only alive because of Kaida. Perhaps I would have survived, but I wouldn’t be able to fly. Imagining such a travesty was harder than thinking of my own death.

So I wouldn’t fight the soldiers. I would grit my teeth. I would wait for the soldiers to clear.

It was the most agonizing few minutes of my life. The voices and scents from the balcony had ceased. This was either a good thing, or a very, very bad thing. As soon as the last soldier rounded the corner, I scented fear.Her fear.I barreled off the mountain and flew directly toward the balcony. Foolish, but I was past caring.

I landed on the side of the wall, claws digging into the worn stone and finding whatever hand hold I could to grab on to. Kaida’s scent lingered in the air, only recently departed. One other male was with her. It could be the king.

For a moment I hung there and planned my next move. On the one hand, there was an instinctual need to find Kaida and make sure she was alright. I may have rejected a mateship bond with her, but the reasons why were quickly slipping away. The first time had been correct; she wasn’t able to consent. But the second time?

I was a fool. If we were mated, I would know if she was alright. I’d sense her general wellbeing through the bond. I could give her energy to heal if she needed it.

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