Page 109 of Exquisite Monster

They met us halfway down the hill. Sirrus pulled me into his arms like even this was too much time apart. One hand tipped my face up so he could kiss me, no hesitation despite our audience. His amusement bled through along with his possessiveness. He was putting on a show for the Zastean prince.

“I think being mated removes the need for jealousy,” I murmured against his lips.

I think not.

One look in their direction showed me that Isaelle and Dalas were close, their heads together. They didn’t even look at us.

“You have nothing to worry about,” I told him in the barest whisper. “Both princes are entirely taken with someone else.”

His low purr had me leaning into him harder as he led me back to the courtyard.Varíaimed straight for the mortar bowl and curled up with his tail over his nose.“You’ll tell me about the other plan?”

“Of course. But you won’t need to know the details.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“We’ll have you somewhere safe.”

“No.” Pulling him to a stop, I made him look at me before we reached the table. “If the three of you think I’m not going to be involved in this, we need to have a discussion.”

“There’s no need to put you in harm’s way.”

Anger rose, swift and boiling. “Iamin harm’s way. As soon as we leave this place. We all are. You know that. I didn’t let Gleym teach me for nothing. I will help how I can, and I will not be reduced to sneaking behind your backs to help.”

Sirrus grinned. A true, real smile that melted some of the anger. “Very well, princess. You would have made an excellent queen.”

“I only ever would have been a queen in name only. I would rather be a dragon’s mate. But I am not merely a treasure to hoard. Iwillhelp.”

He dropped his lips to my neck, surrounding me with his embrace. “And we will not stop trying to protect you. Feel free to push, and we will push back and find our way through. You are not the only one with nightmares.”

“I know. And I too, see you taken from me. So, I will make sure I do everything I can to protect all of us.”

Sirrus kissed me one more time, deepening it until Idroal cleared their throat. My mate had no shame nor remorse. He simply pulled me to stand in front of him where he could hold me and we began to plan.

CHAPTER FIFTY

________

KATALENA

Every piece of clothing I had was carefully folded and put into the recesses of the magical bag Gleym had given me. Every dart and every potion.Varítook great care in making sure everything was where it needed to be before he growled something in dragon language at my mates and flew out the window.

“What was that?”

Endre laughed softly. “He’s going to stay the night with Belleo so he doesn’t have to witness us.”

“Presumptuous,” I said. “That he thinks there’s going to be anything to see.”

My final task was to lay out my clothes for when we left at dawn, and that was finished now. All that remained between us and leaving the safety of this island were the nighttime hours.

“I think there might be,” Sirrus said.

“You need rest.” I turned to them. “You’ll all be flying. Maybe carrying someone.”

Zovai picked me up, took me over to the bed and tossed me on the mattress so I bounced. “Fucking my mate is resting. Tasting her is resting.” Then, lower, “making her moan is resting.”

“But—”

Endre was suddenly there. “Let us worry about how tired we are, Lena.”