She hurried to add, “Yes, it’s been tens of thousands of years, many generations, and the feud has only grown stronger, the divide between our races wider, but perhaps it is time for all of that to end. Think about it. And while you do… think about the power the titans could bring to our cause. A force of dauntless warriors, stronger than most of you, second only to elves.”
She let that sit for a moment before finishing.
“We’ll need all of you to win this fight, but our time is short. Myself and Sa Eofine Olinara — who was once a close confident of Queen Leastrine, her Inamora — will be organizing the forces. We’ll be speaking to leaders of the various factions on campus to organize you. And as you heard, our true princess will be on the front lines, leading this fight. We can win this, if we learn to overcome our differences and work together. Any questions?”
There werea lot.
Luckily, I was spared that drawn-out debate as Bayn detached himself from the others and came to me.
“May I speak with you… privately?” the huge man asked, tone firm but respectful. His voice was deep and smooth like silk. He sounded like Barry White only somehow even sexier.
“Koar never leaves my side, but otherwise we’ll be alone,” I said, wanting the dragon there with me for this.
Bayn nodded and once we were off stage, a pixie functionary led us to a private room.
“What did you want?” I asked.
“It’s time I told you the truth of why I’m here on campus and what Valnea is planning.”
IZZY
This should be good.
“Hit me,” I said. Then quickly realized that turn of phrase might not be a thing in this world as Bayn raised one bushy brow. “Tell me,” I amended.
He nodded.
And not for the first time I marveled at howhugehe was. Koar was big, almost seven feet tall and built, but Bayn was a full head taller and evenmorebuilt. As tall as the tallest basketball player, and as filled out as a strongman, thick everywhere.
“First—” he looked at Koar, “—I want to thank you for freeing my sister. She has no part in any of this, a pawn used by my parents and Valnea.”
His parents?
“You didn’t give us much choice,” Koar rumbled.
Bayn shrugged those massive shoulders. “Still, thank you.” Then he turned to me. “I want you to know… I did not join your cause lightly. I strongly considered fleeing with my sister, finding some place safe to lay low and live out our lives.”
“I wouldn’t blame you,” I said evenly. He raised a brow, perhaps not expecting me to agree with him. “If I didn’t have to fight this fight, I wouldn’t. I’m no warrior. I’d happily sit this out, but I can’t. I’m hip deep in this and no matter how much I want to run away, I can’t.”
His lip twitched. Had that been the flash of a smile or a tick?
“I wish to join with you because you have proven your strength,” he explained. “You defeated Saldrea, which is no small feat. What’s more, you broke the binding collar you were wearing. I’ve… never seen anyone do that before.”
Yeah, that was me, the breaker of chains. Call me Khaleesi… only not insane like she turned out to be. I really hated that they’d done that to her character. Can’t a woman be strong and fierce without being a crazy bitch?
“I respect strength,” Bayn continued, but his jaw tightened and twitched as he struggled to go on. “Almost as much as I hate elves.”
Koar tensed, but I laid a hand on his chest, reminding myself how firm and sexy it was. I focused back on Bayn.
“He’s not going to hurt me,” I said to Koar, then to Bayn. “Are you?”
“No.” He cocked his head, studying me. “You don’t act like an elf. And you’re a mixed breed so… somewhat more tolerable.”
“I’m flattered,” I deadpanned.
Another twitch of his mouth.
I wondered when he was going to get to the point, but didn’t say anything, letting him continue.
