Page 14 of Treylon (Soldiers of the Ardannan #1)
Trey stood inside the closed door, devastating in a military uniform, bare headed, sleeves rolled up to display his impressive biceps. His face reflected nothing but concern for her and he rushed forward as she tripped, catching her before she fell and carrying her to the bed.
“Did the doctor say you could get up?” he demanded.
“No one said I couldn’t.”
“It probably never occurred to anyone you’d try. You weren’t supposed to be left alone.” His frown was epic.
Rosalie caught his hand. “I asked them to give me a moment. Are you all right?”
“Only you would be thinking of my welfare when you’re so battered,” he said, tucking a wisp of hair behind her ear. “How can you ever forgive me for getting you into such a deadly situation?”
“You got me out of it too,” she said, unwilling to let him blame himself. “And if I’d told you about the weird handyman sooner, you would have taken precautions to protect us, so I’m at fault as well.”
“There is no fault,” he declared.
“You’re being high handed again,” she told him with a smile to soften the remark, gesturing at the room. “Having me brought up here?—”
“May I kiss you?” he asked, interrupting her rambling.
“I’d like that very much.” She closed her eyes as he gently placed his lips on hers. The kiss was tender and Trey hugged her to him, loosening his hold after she winced in pain.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered as they parted.
“Not today, I’m not.” She fingered her damaged hair. “Have you seen my face?”
Trey shook his head. “I’m sorry for your pain and suffering and I’d give anything to take it away but those marks are all on the surface. I mean you’re beautiful here, inside.” He tapped her chest exactly where the odd bruise was located. “Do you want to know what the mark over your heart means?”
Surprised, she stared at him. “You know?”
“It’s a fated mate mark,” he said, holding her hand. “It means you and I had the potential to become fated mates.”
“Had the potential?” His use of the past tense gutted her.
Stroking her undamaged cheek tenderly, he said, “Only because I’ve fallen completely and utterly in love with you.
The fact I’d accepted you as my fated mate is what gave me the ability to transform into the dragon, as I’m told you refer to my other form.
There are certain bloodlines on Ardanna who carry the potential to shift into other beings but only if they’ve met and bonded with their fated mate. ”
“Maxxil said something about that earlier but he was vague. He told me the last one who could do it was your great grandfather?”
“Yes. Our family’s ability to become teomiku or ‘smiters with fire’ is part of why we rule over Ardanna, even though not every king or queen has been able to do so.”
“But how can that be?”
“The legend is a spaceship crashed on Ardanna Prime thousands of years ago and the alien crew intermarried with local men and women.” He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “We have proof in the royal vaults but it’s kept top secret.”
“I see. It was incredibly impressive, whatever the reason for why you can do it.”
“Only because I have a fated mate—you.” He went down on one knee, holding her hand and used his free hand to pull an ornate golden box from the pocket of his utilities.
“Rosalie Lenox, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” He flicked the catch on the box with one finger and the lid slowly rose to reveal a huge ring with an oval center stone, faceted like a diamond, with dancing points of light inside, but also opalescent colors flickering.
Diamonds surrounded it and the golden band was a coiled dragon.
“I had a whole elaborate evening planned for us, where I was going to ask for your hand in a much more romantic manner. I’d ordered the family engagement ring sent out here by the fastest royal courier because gods only know what disasters would befall if we didn’t have the ring. ”
Rosalie touched the ring with her fingertip, barely managing not to cry with joy. “Are you sure? Fated mate or not, I’m probably not the princess anyone expects you to marry.”
“You’re the woman I choose to marry and make my princess,” he said firmly.
“I won’t lie, there will be challenges ahead but we’ll face them together.
You’re kind and beautiful and smart, sexy as hell and perfect for me.
The damn IDA algorithm got that right.” His grin was infectious and she had to smile despite her worries.
She gazed into his eyes. “And you swear you’ll stand with me? Back me up? No matter what your parents or your people say about us?”
“Absolutely. Anyone who dares to question you, challenges me. You’re a strong person as I’ve observed but together we have an unbreakable strength. And don’t forget, I can become a teomiku if all else fails. Please, Rosalie? Make me the happiest man in the Sectors?”
She launched herself off the bed into his arms and he caught her as she knew he would, rising to his feet with her in his arms. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you.
I’ll even wear the gigantic ring to make you happy.
” The mate mark on her chest tingled and warmth spread throughout her body from the spot.
He kissed her with passion and she answered his need, heedless of the aches and pains in her body, although Trey pulled back a bit to be mindful of her injuries.
“I wish we could put this bed to good use right now,” he said regretfully.
“Seal our engagement in the proper manner but I can tell you’re not up for it yet.
Did Maxxil tell you we have a rejuve resonator here in the medbay?
A short session in there and you’ll be good as new and we can use the bed in our shared quarters to celebrate tonight and every night thereafter. ”
“I can’t wait,” she said. It was unheard of in the Sectors for a civilian to be treated in one of the rare and incredibly expensive medical machines, which were officially reserved for the military.
Recalling Trey was a soldier of Ardannan and the ship she was on right now was probably a military vessel, she was thankful for the opportunity.
“Delain sent you a new wardrobe, by the way,” Trey said. “It was the least he could do. I had the clothing and accessories unpacked in my quarters here. I sent Sannami and the other girl on a shopping expedition to get you whatever else a lady might need and that’s been delivered as well.”
“I’ll have to thank them profusely,” she said. “I suppose Delain had my sizes from my shopping trip with the gift certificate I won. I’ll be glad to change out of this hospital gown for sure.”
Trey got a funny look on his face, almost embarrassed and he pinched his nose as if in pain. “About that.”
“Yes?” She got a cold feeling in her gut, as if she wasn’t going to like what he had to say.
“I actually put Delain up to it. I wanted to do something nice for you and I noticed you’d hardly brought any clothes at all. I figured women enjoy shopping.”
“Were you embarrassed by my thrifted clothes? Reluctant to be seen with me?” she asked, pain in her heart.
Eyes wide, he blinked. “No, not at all. I thought your style was fresh, eclectic, completely you. At that point remember we were going to maybe have a fling and be done when the week ended, if anything, and I wanted to provide a happy memory when you returned to Earth.”
“So there weren’t two other winners?”
“No there were. I told Delain to pick two women at random and award them gift certificates of the same amount. I paid for all three from my personal account. He had his assistant draw the names. I was sent a full accounting and I’m told the other ladies were ecstatic.”
“I have mixed emotions about what you did, as far as the gift for me,” she said honestly. “I accept your motives were good but no more surprises of that nature, all right? Secrets can make or break a relationship. Trust is important to me.”
“I give you my word. I completely agree about unbroken trust which is why I’m telling you now, to clear the ledgers. I’ll try not to be high handed in the future.”
She laughed, unable to help herself at his penitent tone. “Don’t make impossible promises either, prince. High handed is your middle name.”
“But you love me anyway,” he declared, kissing her.
“I do.”
“The staff have the rejuve resonator fired up and waiting for you, if you’re ready,” he said.
“And then we can go to my suite and do whatever you’d like for the rest of today and tonight.
I’ve cleared my schedule. I’ve also resigned my commission in the active duty military, by the way, which my father has been after me to do for the last two years.
I’m going to concentrate my energies and my time on the issues facing Ardanna and being the best husband to you I can be.
” He picked her up from the bed. “You make me want to be the best version of myself I can be, did you know that?”
“I’m glad to be a good influence,” she said with a chuckle. “I thought you were pretty great before actually.”
As they emerged into the corridor, there was a flurry of activity and the ship’s chief physician bustled up. “We have antigrav litters, your highness, no need for you to carry Ms. Lenox personally.”
“I’ll carry my fated mate and future wife if I damn well wish to,” Try said. “Lead the way to your magic machine, doc. We’re impatient for this to be done. We’ve got plans for our evening.”
Rosalie blushed as the people around them suppressed their mirth at the prince’s statement.
She supposed they were going to shock a lot of people as time went on, definitely not being the conventional royal couple Ardanna was used to seeing but she was going to be herself and Trey had vowed to support her.
She in turn would have his back at all times and they’d carve out their own bubble of happiness ever after.