Page 29 of The Lost Princess

Desperation. Fear. Loneliness. The urge to throw you up against the wall and—

Focus, Nasi. Come on.

I got a grip on myself and answered her. “Drakens smell injuries. Outside and inside,” I managed, trying to keep my voice level.

Her eyes zeroed in on the fang marks on the side of my neck. “Why won’t you heal them?” she asked. “They look painful.”

Because I’d lose control if I tasted your blood again.

“You need all your blood. It looks worse than it feels,” I protested, taking a half-step back. I resumed skinning the sheep. “Can you check the fire?” I asked her. “We can roast soon.”

Kaida blinked, then turned abruptly toward the dying flames. Together we worked in silence, until I handed her a large stick with a chunk of meat on it.

“Roast on the fire.” I gestured, moving it above the flames, but not in them. “You want to cook the meat inside, without burning the outside.”

Her gaze flicked up to mine. “Trickier than it appears.”

She wasn’t looking at where she was putting her food. I got the strange feeling we weren’t talking about meat anymore.

“Where is this land?” I asked, deflecting the conversation away. “I am sure that I grew up on an island, and though there were mountains nearby, the ones here don’t look right.”

Kaida focused her attention back on her meat, the sound of sizzling filling the cave along with the aroma of fresh meat. “I don’t know if the land itself has a name. I’m from Tarta where my father is king. Well, the man who says he’s my father.” Her brow furrowed. “The mountains we are in are referred to as the Panging Mountains. I’d never actually seen them up close before I was brought here. In fact, I’ve never been anywhere outside my palace before.”

That seemed strange to me, but I didn’t say anything. Perhaps it was a human custom.

Kaida’s eyes lit up suddenly, her head whipping back toward me. “An island you say? By the sea? I’ve only ever read about the sea. I would like to see it one day.”

My chest puffed out, my inner draken seizing the opportunity to impress my female. “I will take you one day,” I declared. “We will both strengthen our wings and fly together. I will teach you to swim as well.”

My heart hurt at the wonder on her face. Our females proudly protected our island with their potent voice magicks, and my poor Kaida hadn’t ever even seen the sea!

I wondered again who her sires were.

Kaida’s face darkened suddenly, and she pulled her meat from the fire, glaring at it as if it had offended her somehow.

“Is it not to your liking?” I asked. I knew the lack of spices would make for a boring taste, but the meat should be perfectly fresh.

“My father would never give his permission to go to the sea. He’d say it’s too dangerous, and forbid me.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Your father is not here.” I paused, then plunged ahead. “What would he say if he saw your true form?”

Her shoulders hunched, her body folding around her stick of meat as though it could protect her from the world.

“I don’t know,” she whispered. “He might change his mind about me being a blessing from the gods. He might say I’m a demon, or some kind of monster.”

I bristled. “Demon? Monster? Have your people never seen a draken before? I know lykoses and vampyres have never had good relations with humans, but—”

I stopped short, catching sight of her shocked expression and hanging jaw. I also realized it was the most words I’d said all at once since reclaiming my sanity.

“You mean … you’re telling me that all those creatures I’ve read about in books and legends arereal?” she asked, her voice full of awe.

“Am I not real?” I fired back, a slight edge to my voice. What kind of land was this that there were no magickal creatures? No wonder the land was desolate and dry. Magick helped regulate the weather, as well as water cycles. How did the humans manage?

I tried to explain further. “I … there are many magickal creatures where I am from. I am guessing my home lies over the mountains,” I finished lamely. To distract myself, I ripped off a hunk of lamb meat and tossed it in my mouth.

Kaida nibbled at the corner warily as if the meat would come back to life and start bleating at her. After a small noise of joy, she ate in earnest. My inner draken purred in satisfaction at feeding our mate. I ignored him.

It would not be as easy to ignore the lingering tension between us. I wanted it gone, even if it meant ruining a nice meal.

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