“I don't know,” I said softly. “It's a powerful relic, and it did predict the trouble with the nobles. But I'm not sure if it told me the truth about the outcome of the war. It could have been trying to keep me under its control. Make me need it as much as it needed me.”
Aras nodded. “Your soldiers outnumber the nobles, and you've trained them well. The odds are in our favor.”
“The nobles have centuries of combat training. Some of them have been warriors for thousands of years. I can't condense that kind of experience into a few weeks.” I took his hand. “Aras, when word comes about their army approaching, I want you to take the Tiger's Claw out to sea and—”
“The fuck I will!” he snarled as he jerked his hand away. “I am not the only non-Dragon who will be fighting, Ly.”
“I know, but—”
“Do you think that after I risked my life for you today, I'd just run away and leave you to face a Dragon army alone?”
“No, but, Aras—”
“I'm not going anywhere! You swore to me that you'd be mine until the moon fell from the sky.” Aras leaned in to narrow his stare at me. “Thatis when I'll abandon you, Lyrandir. When the moon falls from the sky. I know I'm not your mate, but Idon't care. I'm with you. I will always be with you, even should you—”
“Aras, youaremy mate!” I shouted.
Aras froze. Didn't even blink. No breath, no sound at all. Not the tiniest movement to betray he was more than a statue.
“Aras?” I whispered. “This is what I've wanted to tell you. This is what the Eye forced me to keep a secret. It's been tearing me apart. I—”
“When?” he whispered.
He didn't have to clarify.
“Do you remember those days we spent locked up in here?” I asked as I took his hand. “The way I, uh, came all over you?”
Aras's jaw dropped. He made a squeaking sound.
I rushed into the silence. “That wasn't ejaculate, love. That was mating essence. It was a conduit for my soul—a way to merge a piece of it with yours. I put myself inside you. That's why you can feel my emotions, why you sense things about me, and why you're stronger than you were. You're not merely a Hulfrin anymore, my love. You're part Dragon. But you weren't born a Dragon so you can't reciprocate. If you had been, you would have known what was happening and responded in kind, giving me a piece of you. Because of this, you might be able to leave me without much pain. You would survive my death. But it's different for me. I am bound completely. Yours utterly. I could never leave you. You are my everything. If you die, I die, Aras. That piece of me inside you would pull me down into my grave. And that is why I need you to leave before the battle begins.”
Aras made a choking sound.
“Aras?” I cupped his cheek. “I'm so sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I wanted to. So badly. The Eye stopped me every time I tried. It swore to me that if I told you, it would set into motion a series of events that would lead to me losing the war. It forbade me from confessing my love. And that damaged me, Mate. It was excruciating. But what hurt the most was seeing you struggle, seeing your pain.” I grimaced and shook my head. “And knowing I caused it. That I could end it with a few words.” I dropped my hand. “I have been a terrible mate. Can you forgive me?”
“You . . . I'm . . .” Aras blinked. Then he roared, “I'm your fucking mate?!”
I jerked back.
“All those times when I laid in bed wondering what was happening between us.” He shot to his feet and snarled as he walked away. “I thought I was bewitched! I thought I was mad with lust.” He swung about to point at me. “I thought you were a fucking asshole! Then I thought that I was the bigger asshole for putting up with you.”
I cringed. “I know. I'm so sorry, Aras. Believe me, I didn't want to keep it from you. It went against every instinct I have.” I got up and went to stand before him. “I needed you. Every time you walked away from me, it tore me apart.”
He blinked. “Holy fuck! That's why you attacked Fren. You had just mated me. It's no wonder you behaved like that.”
“The wonder is that I let him live,” I muttered.
Aras looked horrified.
“I'm sorry, but it's the truth. A freshly mated Dragon does not respond well to a rival for his mate's affections. It takes a few days to settle the mating bond but then up to several months for the mated Dragon to stabilize his instincts, especially that of his dragon.”
“What stopped you?”
I lifted a brow. “From killing him?”
Aras nodded.
“You, of course. You stopped me. No one else could have. The only one who can calm a freshly mated Dragon is that Dragon's mate.”
