Scarlett frowned while an objection formed in Ransom.The idea of a handsome Elevenoss male escorting Scarlett anywhere yanked at his temper.
Kane stepped forward, a male in his prime with a too pretty face that Ransom instantly wanted to dent with his fist.Jealousy.A new concept for him, and not one he celebrated.Women threw themselves at him—apart from Scarlett.A fact that galled.Instinct on her behalf, perhaps, because he intended to betray her.He swallowed hard and closed his eyes, not wishing to witness Scarlett’s interaction with Kane.
A tap on his shoulder had his eyes opening again.Scarlett bent over him, and he breathed in her fragrance—a combination of the wild outdoors and flowers.An unusual scent for a humanoid alien, but it reminded him of one he’d sniffed before.The answer would come to his damaged mind one cycle.Not that it mattered.
“Are you comfortable here with Mistress Aelene?Is it all right for me to go on a tour?”
His dragon objected so loudly that Ransom winced.
Scarlett didn’t react but regarded him with concern.
“Of course.”He had difficulty shoving out the words, but he’d done the right thing.He should take comfort from that.
Daenys left with Scarlett and her people.Mistress Aelene remained.
“Try to sleep,” Mistress Aelene said.“The prince cannot reach you here.You’re exhausted, and you need to regain your strength.My potions can only do so much.”
Ransom closed his eyes, experiencing exhaustion in every muscle.Yet his mind refused to settle.Guilt plagued him because of his chosen course.He had no option.No choice.No alternatives.A big, fat no to every angle his mind conjured to fix this problem he’d landed in the middle of when he’d insisted on accompanying Nanu into the mountains.He twisted his body and groaned at the pull of fatigued and achy muscles.
“I can mix you a sleeping potion,” Mistress Aelene suggested from her spot near the fire.She held two wooden tools and twisted and turned yarn to create a purple and white tail of color.
“Yes, please.”He pushed himself to a sitting position.
“Does the prince come every blacklight?”Mistress Aelene asked.
“Most.”
Mistress Aelene nodded.“Daenys said they’ve almost made the local Trolleris extinct.You are a mighty dragon.No doubt, he requires your energy to boost his own.He might siphon off some energy to keep the members of his court alive.”
“He’s threatening to latch on to my family and friends.He threatened to destroy them on a whim,” Ransom said.
“Aye, ‘tis something wrong with his line.”Mistress Aelene tapped her temple to emphasize what she meant.
“I keep hoping I’ll discover a way to defeat the prince.I only have contact with him.The rest of his people never touch my mind.”
“There will be a pecking order with the prince at the top since he’s their ruler.His sire had his people invent the resonance.He must’ve died in the epidemic that followed.We never understood why the Maphra people died off.”
“It’s not as if your remaining people could investigate.”Ransom accepted the sleeping potion and drank it in two gulps.
As he welcomed the healing slumber, he fervently wished there was another way.
5.Secrets Upon Secrets
Scarlettenjoyedhertimewith Kane.She’d thought he might resent spending his break acting as her tour guide, and she’d asked him point blank.
He’d grinned and winked at her, saying that spending time with a pretty female stranger might jolt the women of his race into seeing his worth.
The village was compact and functional, and the way they’d integrated their buildings with nature impressed her.Saber was talking about extending the resort to cope with demand.Maybe they could do something similar.
“And that’s everything,” Kane said, ushering her out of the communal lounge.
“Thanks for the tour,” Scarlett said.“If you’re ever on Tiraq or in the vicinity, let me know.I’d love to show you around our resort.”She winked at him.“Our guests would adore you.”
“I might take you up on that,” Kane said.“Between assignments, we have a lot of waiting.”
“What exactly do you do?”
“Guard our royal family.”
