“I did.” Tor'rien nuzzled my nose. “And I haven't finished yet.”
“I seem to remember you refusing to have sex with me in a carriage.”
“That was our first time.”
“And this is our mating.”
“Yes.” He chuckled. “If I'd known it was our mating, I would have waited until we were in our apartments.”
“Our apartments?”
“Yes. This is your home now too, Tekhan.”
“Call me Tek.” I kissed his cheek. “Do you think we'll be able to make it to your apartments now?”
He growled and bit my lower lip. “Doubtful.”
“All right.”
“No protests?”
“I'm rather enjoying this.” I slipped out of his embrace to lift a little corner of the curtain and peer out the window. It was indeed as I thought. “Your knights are guarding us. There's a good fifty feet between us and them. The castle guards are very curious.”
“I'm sure they'll figure it out.” He pulled me back into his arms and kissed me.
After a few seconds of that, I felt him hardening against my thigh. I jerked away and lifted my brows. “Already?”
“Don't worry. You'll soon have my immortality boosting yours. You won't tire.”
“I wasn't worried. Just excited.”
“Ah.” His gaze lowered to my lips. “And thirsty?”
I paused.
Tor'rien cocked his head. “What is it?”
I thought to question him about the rumors that Dragons could sense things about their mates. Because if he could, he might be able to sense that I could control him after taking his blood. But I reconsidered the question. It would alert him to my deception. If I confessed after that, he'd assume I only did so because I had to. Better to just tell him now and pray that our mating bond would keep him from doing anything to hurt my people.
“I have to tell you something. Before you give me blood again.”
Tor'rien's stare shifted over my face. “What is it?”
“You must promise me that you will never tell anyone else about this. The survival of my race depends on it.”
He sat up and then helped me up. “Tekhan, I would never hurt you or your people. Tell me. Now.”
I hesitated.
“Is this part of the reason you were reluctant to be with me?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
Tor nodded and took my hand. “You can trust me. Especially now.”
“The blood . . . when an Eljaffna takes blood from someone who isn't of our race, we can temporarily control them.”
“You canwhat?”
