“Where?”Scarlett blurted.Had each purple box contained a body rather than a man or woman ready to awaken?
The prince waved his hand as if it were of no consequence.“They made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Ransom’s facial muscles formed a frown.“The ultimate sacrifice?”
“They fed me when I required food.”His tone was matter-of-fact as if it was no big deal that every single one of his people was dead.“Why did you bring him?I have no use for a youngling.I can’t feed on him because his brain is underdeveloped.”
Talon cowered, acting the ninny, and Scarlett narrowed her eyes at his odd behavior.She glanced at Ransom, relieved she could move her head at least.If they could figure out how to break free, they could take this little purple squirt without breaking a sweat.
Scarlett willed Ransom to glance her way so she could attempt to communicate her plan.The lava heated the chamber, and the temperature had risen since they’d entered.Somehow, they’d best His Royal Purpleness and get the hell out of here.
Meantime, they’d keep him talking.He gave off pompous vibes—a man who enjoyed hearing himself talk.
“What did you mean you don’t like the crying ones?”Scarlett asked.What was Talon doing?The wee beastie had a plan.She could tell.So, she’d do her bit and distract the prince.
“His mother.”Prince Kalim jerked his head in Ransom’s direction.
Shock blasted over Ransom’s features.
Damn.What had she blundered into with her nosy questions?
“What are you talking about?”Ransom demanded.“My mother died.”
“Yes,” the prince said.“Rotations ago, I captured your father’s mind.I was initially cautious because my advisors couldn’t predict how their trap would work on a dragon.We knew it killed the Elevenoss race, but dragons are stronger in mind.”
Scarlett glanced at Ransom and understood the glassy shock in his eyes.He wasn’t up to yanking answers from the purple moron but she could.He hadn’t mentioned his mother, and she’d assumed she must’ve died when Ransom was a child.
“How did you capture Ransom’s mother?”she asked.
“I wanted a breeding female.Our women are few, and our scientists failed to discover a method to make women in our labs.”The prince stretched his arms and paced, seemingly enjoying an audience.
Scarlett bit back her urge to order him to get them out of this chamber, or it’d become their burial site.Did he not sense impending danger?Hear the pop of the rocks in the distance?Feel the rising temperature in the chamber?Instead, she forced herself to deliberate before voicing her questions.Nothing too confrontational.She needed to pull answers from him, and the second Talon did whatever he intended to do and freed them, she’d kick the prince’s skinny purple butt.
No way, no way was he getting that little purple dick near her.Heck, perhaps it was a remnant of previous rotations, and the Maphra race didn’t use them.
“How did you get Ransom’s mother?”she asked.
“I did a deal.Baron Drake could continue to feed me or give me his wife.He didn’t value her much.”Prince Kalim tut-tutted.“I liked her fine until she started weeping.Cry.Cry.Cry.That’s all she did.She made me lose my temper.Before I knew it, I’d sucked her dry to shut her up.Unfortunately, I’d kept my word and released your father’s mind.A mistake I won’t make again.”
The prince ceased his pacing and turned to stare at Ransom.“I’ve learned much while my body has slept.”He tapped his head.“The knowledge of generations of my people resides here.I have survived despite—in spite—of our enemies, and now with you, beautiful Scarlett, I shall repopulate this planet.We will build our empire on the dragon’s backs.Their hard work shall be our gain.”
Pompous, much!Scarlett glared at Ransom when he started to refute the prince’s plans.
Talon climbed up her leg, his sharp claws digging into her flesh.She ripped her gaze off the prince to remonstrate, but he shook his shaggy head and made a shushing gesture with his clawed hand.
“How will you do that?”Scarlett asked.“They will fight you.”
“They won’t see me coming,” the prince boasted.“You are under my control.We shall travel to the dragons.I can skim the brain energy to remain alive and contain my powers.Nothing will stop me.”
“Me.I will stop you,” Scarlett snapped.“You can’t force me to breed your offspring.”
“You have sentimental feelings for this dragon.”Prince Kalim had resumed pacing, but he paused to point an accusing finger in Ransom’s direction.“I’m not stupid.He thinks he loves you.Mawkish, sentimental rubbish.”
He loved her?Something inside her melted at the knowledge, and she closed her eyes to savor the warmth that filled her.She opened them to glance at Ransom.It was easy to tell his brain was busy.Her feline stirred beneath her skin.Ah!Could she shift and force her body out of this frozen spell?
“Bah!”The prince glowered at her in distaste.“I shall order the dragons to build a lab where I shall harvest your eggs.”
“Well, that’s a relief,” Scarlett muttered, flexing her feline and relaxing her guard.
