Page 91 of Anaki

Anaki brushed my hair from my face, but I didn’t look away from the scene unfolding. Caelen came into view with a woman on his arm. She had fair skin and hair. Her voice was soft and gentle when she laughed at something he whispered in her ear.

Oh shit! This wasn’t good.

Young Anaki, being the sweet, innocent dragon he was, still had hope in his eyes when he strode over to them. Caelen kept his arm around the woman and hardly looked Anaki in the eye.

Anaki’s head tilted, and a thunderous growl left him. “Who is this?” He reared back his head. “Why is your scent all over her? You must know—”

Caelen lifted his hand to silence Anaki. “Anaki, I’m glad you got my letter to meet us here. I know it’s been some time, and I haven’t returned.”

Anaki stood his ground, and I could see his blue dragon scales ripple down his back.

“But it is because I have had both of our interests at heart.”

I growled on my own accord and tried to leave Anaki’s arms to storm over. How dare someone try to break my man’s heart? How dare anyone try to reject such a sweet and wholesome, caring man such as him?

Anaki pulled me back and held me in his arms. I grunted and tried to remove myself. “Love, it’s alright.” He petted my hair. “It’s okay.” I shook my head.

“You see, I realized we were mates before I left for my journey to the market. While dragons have issues with producing more fledglings, it is only proper that we put our bond aside to try to produce more of the dragon species. Besides, a same-sex bonding is rare, almost unheard of.” Caelen chuckled to himself and stroked the female’s cheek.

Young Anaki’s mouth dropped, and a whimper escaped him.

“And only growing up around you, Anaki, my body just grew accustomed to a male. Now that I have been around Desani, I prefer a female. They smell nice, especially since she is an air dragon. She smells of wildflowers.” He lifted a lock of her hair to sniff it.

“Bastard!” I whispered and gripped my fingers onto Anaki’s biceps.

Anaki chuckled. “He’s lying, you know. At the time, I didn’t realize he was. All I thought about was the betrayal. He didn’t truly care for thefemale.”

“How do you know? Why would he do this?”

“He cared what others thought of him. He wanted status, to be looked up to. A male mating wouldn’t put him where he wanted, since it would be considered different. He wanted his cake and to eat it, too.

Me with a male, or a female, it doesn’t matter. I care for who I care for. The emotional connection, the bond, is what I long for. That is why I had never done it with anyone else. I’m not even sure if Caelen had kissed this female. He had only scented her to anger me.”

I ground my teeth. Caelen doing this to Anaki was damn terrible. Soul-wrenching. Caelen lied to a bond for his own selfish reasons. He didn’t deserve Anaki, anyway.

“This”—Caelen waved his hand to the side—“is Armeleo, Desani’s eldest brother. He has been without a mate for many years and grows impatient. I’ve told him about you and your preferences and he wishes to keep you as his.”

I didn’t think things could get worse, but they just did. I let out a gasp of horror when Armeleo stepped forward. Though not overly muscular, he was tall and shared features with his younger sister. He gave a wide, fanged smile, and the blue sarong he wore matched young Anaki’s.

When Anaki saw the sarong, he sneered. “No. Absolutely not. And how dare you!” Anaki took a step back and pointed to the wrap around Armeleo. “Those are my colors. That is my wrap, I gave it to you!”

I watched in horror as Caelen frowned and let go of Desani. He stepped closer to Anaki, his voice low when he approached. “You really thought we would have a happily ever after? That we could be mates, Anaki? You’re delusional to think that this would actually work. It’s funny how you were a water dragon, with your head always in the clouds.”

“You, your actions...” young Anaki’s voice broke. “You would come tome, we held each other in the night—”

Caelen backhanded young Anaki in the face, and I screamed. He fell to the ground but stood up quickly.

Anaki held me tight and kissed my forehead to keep me still.

“You told me you loved me,” young Anaki whispered.

Caelen, flustered, looked back at Desani. She tilted her head and gave a small smile. “Her father is a clan leader; I’ve been given a title to help with their food resources. I’ll be able to hunt in their waters on their territory. As for you, I’ve secured your protection since I do hold some regard for you.”

Anaki held his hand to his chest, like a knife had been pierced through his heart. I have never seen such betrayal in all my life. The betrayal broke his heart and soul. I felt tears well in my eyes and my body nearly collapsed, feeling his past.

“Elena,” the Anaki who held me in my arms whispered to me. “I never loved him like I love you. I didn’t know real love until I had you. You see me. You accept me. I hope you know that. I don’t even feel him anymore.”

“He hurt you, it makes me want to…”