“Daughters?” The bitch twins were next to me, one on either side like they were ready to capture me should I run. “You’re the daughters of the dragon king? How is that even possible?”
They had been born years after he had been decapitated. Speaking of, how the heck was his head back on his body? Someone needed to check their sword, because head and neck looked to be firmly attached.
Larkspur decided to answer me. “When I went into battle, I had their mother hidden away and put into a sleep stasis to hide her energy. I did not want her used against me. I planned on releasing her from the spell when I returned.” A cold anger washed over him, freezing the brutal planes of his face. “I never returned, so the spell lasted a very long time. Eventually it wore off. She was pregnant at the time.”
I curled my lips at the pair. These lying hags had been doing their father’s duties for too many years now. “You also called me ‘beloved.’ You had a mate … and I already have a mate. I am not your anything.”
I spat the last lot of words at him. My dragon roared at the same time; she did not like the dragon king. I wasn’t sure when it had happened, probably a long time ago, but she was attached to Braxton. She had chosen him and so had I. And as if I had summoned him, there was a shout from behind me. The spot on my stomach pulsed and I knew help had arrived.
But I was afraid now. I couldn’t let him hurt my family.
When the king’s gaze finally lifted from me, his cold eyes trailing across the powerful group which were moving along the tunnel toward us, I took the opportunity and lunged for him, pulling a blade from my boot. The king’s gray eyes flicked back just in time. He rolled backwards, catching me in his arms, my knife buried to the hilt in his chest.
“I knew you couldn’t resist me.” His tone and smile was all charm, but it didn’t reach his eyes, and I found the lack of dimples disconcerting.
“Jessa!” Braxton’s roar shook the foundation of the stone around us. “Get away from him!”
Easier said than done, Larkspur had me firmly locked in his muscular arms and he was making no move to release me. I kicked out, aiming for his balls, because that might be my one chance to cause him pain. Judging by the lack of reaction to the dagger, he was immune to most hurts. But testicles were sensitive for even the toughest of males.
He laughed as I struggled, his hold tightening until I couldn’t breathe.
“Let her go, Larkspur,” said Louis, energy gathered in his hands. I noticed that my dad had shifted into a wolf.
Maximus stepped forward. He was all vamped out – wait, what were the other Compasses and Grace doing here? My eyes flicked down to Mischa … Grace was here and she could save her.
Jonathon must have had the same idea. He sprinted forward, his four legs faster than any of us on two, bit down on Mischa’s jacket, dragging his daughter back to safety. No one stopped him. The bad guys did not care for that particular twin anymore, she had no further use. Me, on the other hand, well, I was the king’s freaking mate or something.
Not in this fucking lifetime
The king loosened his hold again. “I am not your mate, I already have a mate,” I repeated as soon as I had enough breath. I couldn’t take my eyes off Braxton. He looked like he was about to tear apart the entire place. He was ten feet from us, I think afraid the king would hurt me if he moved closer.
“You mean the shifter?” Larkspur eyes turned the color of a stormy night sky, dark with flickers of starlight dotted around. “If you forsake that mateship and stay with me, I will spare their lives. As the only dual shifter in existence, you have to make a choice. You have two mates, but there can only be one.”
How did he know I was a dual shifter? Was my ability something to do with the king?
“I choose Braxton,” I spat at him. “Always and forever.”
I locked in on my Compass, his blue eyes were hard and so bright I almost couldn’t look at them.
The dragon king laughed. “It’s not as simple as that. The fates expect you to give us equal time to determine true mates. You have had twenty-two years with Braxton, so I deserve the same chance.”
Lie. He was lying about that, and I was astonished he didn’t have the power to mask the fluctuation of hormones.
Louis strode forward, spells gathered in his hands. Tyson was right by his side and I knew they were combining their power to create a bigger spell. I didn’t even care if they killed me to get to the king, the supernatural community needed to be protected.
I locked eyes with my best friends – I included Louis in that group now. “Do it. Take him out.”