"Never mind. I don't think Brenna would care about testimonials." Shivawn's voice was a little slurred. "I think she would still fear me. Females," he said, growling this time. "We don't need them."
"Don't need them." Valerian seized another flask. "Except for Shaye. Need her always and forever." And he wasn't ashamed to admit it.
"At this rate, I'm going to become as weak as a babe," Shivawn admitted. "Earlier I tripped and fell in the hall like a clumsy dragon hatchling." He rubbed the spot just over his heart. "Theophilus's human bedmate isn't giving him any problems. Why is that, do you think? What's he doing that we aren't?"
As he leaned back, Valerian linked his fingers at his nape and cast his gaze to the ceiling. He blinked in surprise. Two shell-less mermaids pressed against the crystal, staring down at Shivawn and him with lusty smiles.
Both females waved. One even licked her lips.
He returned the greeting simply to be polite, not to encourage. But the mermaids banged against the crystal in an attempt to shatter the dome.
Once Valerian would have laughed. Now he worried about Shaye. If the mermaids succeeded, Shaye could drown. He shooed the two away.
Shivawn slapped his arm to gain his attention. "Do you not have an answer?"
"I've forgotten your question," he admitted. "My apologies."
"I wished to know why Theophilus's human bedmate has given him no trouble."
Valerian, too, would have liked to know the answer. He pictured the woman in question-a timid little bird, plain and yet she possessed a deliciously plump body made for a man's hands.
Theophilus had spotted her while passing through the Outer City. She'd put up no fight whatsoever as he lifted her into his arms to carry her away, had simply clung to him while smiling.
Next Valerian pictured Shaye. She wanted him to believe her arctic and untouchable. No, she wanted to be arctic and untouchable. Poor darling would never get her wish. Too much passion burned inside her.
"Perhaps our women have secrets-sad, painful secrets-allowing them to fortify themselves against us," he said.
Actually, he knew Shaye had secrets. Unlocking them became an obsession. A necessity, like breathing. No, a necessity greater than breathing. Like sex.
Shivawn jerked a hand through his dark hair, the beads at the ends clanging together. "I'll try to unearth Brenna's secrets. Maybe then she'll accept me." He paused, his head canting to the side. "How do you unearth a woman's secrets?"
"Hard work?"
"Hard work," Shivawn echoed. "Where's the fun in that?"
Valerian believed he would have a lot of fun. Already anticipation fizzed in his veins. Learning more about Shaye? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.
"Females," Shivawn grumbled.
"Females," Valerian agreed with a grin.
They clinked their flasks and drank deeply.
A soldier rushed into the room. "My king. A dragon army marches toward the fortress."
Valerian jumped up-and swayed. He cursed the dragons, and he cursed himself. He shouldn't have drunk so much. He should have stayed ready for action.
Well, no help for it now. He would have to fight. He would protect Shaye, whatever the cost.
A WEEK PASSED. Shaye spent a lot of time in Valerian's room, alone. For a man who'd professed his desire to be with her, he'd certainly seemed to enjoy his time away from her.
Typical!
Often she'd found herself wondering where he was, what he was doing-who he was doing.
Had he decided to be with another woman?
She wasn't worried. Or obsessed. She wasn't! She'd told him how silly the mates-for-life thing was; maybe he'd decided to believe her.
Her nails cut into her palms as she plopped in front of the vanity.
Love heals; it doesn't hurt. Love is the answer, not the problem.
The voice drifted through her mind, and she sat up straight, her brow knitting with confusion. She'd heard that voice before. She'd heard those words before.
Heart racing, she stood. One second, two. Her mind remained her own.
Her imagination? Magic?
Chewing on her bottom lip, she eased into the cushioned chair.
Love heals; it doesn't hurt. Love is the answer, not the problem.
Argh! There it was again.
This time, she stayed put. "Is someone here?" she whispered. Like, someone trapped inside the mirror, maybe? Here in Atlantis, anything was possible.
"I can't love him," she said. "I don't know him."
And she couldn't get to know him if he wouldn't freaking come around her!
Love heals; it doesn't hurt. Love is the answer, not the problem.
Enough! "Screw you," she muttered, stalking away.
All she'd done these past seven days was think about Valerian, bathe in the pool, think about Valerian, try on the array of pink gowns he'd bought her-she wore one even now-think about Valerian, sleep, dream of Valerian, and spend time with Brenna and the other women. At least once a day, a guard had come to escort her to a hobby room. Oh, and she'd thought about Valerian.