Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“I see you’re bristling with excitement to learn about the locket you’ve been wearing for a decade,” Preston teased.
“Wouldn’t you be?” I asked back with more snark than intended. The locket was supposed to be opened, but Mom had ordered me not to open it until it was the right time. I’d never known what the “right time” was, so it had remained firmly closed.
All of the Dragonkin had gathered, sitting in their chairs that I knew would fall through the floor to take them to an exit where they could fly out into space.
Something that still made me wary, so I stood before them with my back to the transparent wall, the vastness of space a backdrop behind me.
“That locket contains a powerful magic that will activate once you open it,” Preston explained.
“What kind of magic?” I asked. Would it be dangerous?
No, Mom wouldn’t put magic in a locket on my body that could hurt me.
We hadn’t had much magic on our planet, but I’d been exposed to some from allies who visited, and it always amazed me.
Probably because it was something that I couldn’t do or use.
Gage answered, “The magic, once released, will bind you and those near you together.”
“What? How?” That didn’t make sense to me. “Like physically stick you together?”
Preston turned away with his hand over his mouth, trying, and failing, to hide his laughter at my question.
“It creates a permanent mental bond between all parties, so that you can communicate telepathically, no matter the distance that separates the individuals, and allows you all to share emotions,” Zeke answered.
What?!
“So, if I opened it right now, all five of us would be connected by telepathic communications and emotional sharing?”
They all nodded.
“And … that’s something you would want?” It seemed odd to me that these four, powerful, Dragonkin Princes would want to be tied to me and each other in such a manner. They would want to know my emotions and thoughts?
Surprising me even more, all four nodded without hesitation.
“You want to share my emotions and thoughts?” I asked again, dubious.
“Once we have this connection, we will be able to know as soon as something happens to you or each other. So, if you got kidnapped or attacked, we would immediately know and be able to come to your aid,” Zeke explained.
“And what if I don’t want that? What if I never open it?”
Wayne’s face immediately twisted into a cross between shock, disbelief, and hurt. Zeke and Gage scowled and glanced at each other in uncertainty.
Preston remained stoic as ever. “That’s up to you, pet. However, a pack with a non-Dragonkin isn’t complete until this is done and we want to have this bond with you. So, we will do our best to prove our loyalty and try our hardest to convince you to, hopefully, eventually accept it.”
Interesting. And terrifying. Mostly interesting, and exciting, that Preston just said they want me to be part of their pack fully.
“Can I take some time to think about it? That’s a pretty big step when I haven’t known you that long and just learned you are my betrothed.” Not that I doubted them, especially since they did have the seal on the contract.
“Of course, you can take as much time as you need.”
Nodding, I turned to leave, but Preston called me back.
“We’d like to begin teaching you about our planet.”
“Can that wait until tomorrow? My brain is already overloaded as it is.” There was a pressure behind my eyes that was a prodrome to a terrible migraine that would force me to lay in a dark, quiet room and try not to let the pain overtake me for the next twenty-four hours at least.
Preston smiled and it was the first, tender smile I had seen on him. “Yes, go ahead and rest.”
“I’ll bring you food in a bit,” Gage promised. “Anything specific you’d like?”
“No, but if you have any pain meds, I’d appreciate those,” I answered as I headed towards the door.
“Pain? What pain are you in?” Zeke asked, worried.
“Just a migraine, Giant. No need to get worked up.” I gave him my best smile, but the pressure behind my eyes had doubled just in the short time I’d advised them of it.
My hand fumbled towards the button to open the door and I tripped over my own feet.
Wayne rushed forward and caught me as I started to fall. “You sure it’s just a migraine?”
I nodded. “Can you take me to my room? I’ll need to turn all of the lights off and ensure it stays quiet in there.”
Wayne easily picked me up in his arms and headed towards my room. Even though he wasn’t as strong as Zeke, he was still capable of carrying me easily. “I’ll take care of you, don’t worry.”
After opening my door, Wayne immediately turned off all of the lights and lay me on my bed.
Shortly after, the door opened again, admitting Zeke who held out two white pills. “Pain meds,” he explained and held out a glass of water.
I quickly took them, draining the entire glass because I realized I was also really thirsty.
“I’ll get more water,” Zeke said and disappeared out of my door.
Wayne had gone into my bathroom and when he returned, he carried a damp washcloth, folded into a rectangle that he draped over my eyes and forehead. “Better?”
The washcloth was cool and immediately helped soothe some of the pressure. “Yes, thank you.”
“Anything you need, you just tell us and we’ll get it for you. One of the many perks of being mated to four of us is that one of us can stay with you while the other three run whatever errands you send us on.”
I had a feeling he was smiling like a loon right now, but didn’t want to remove the washcloth to check.
“I feel like you all are getting the short end of the stick,” I admitted.
“How?”
“You’ll only have one female to share between you while I get four of you to share. Aren’t you going to want … more female companionship?”
I felt the bed dip as he sat down next to me and then his warm hand was holding one of mine.
“No, we definitely aren’t getting the short end of the stick.
Our parents already tested our compatibility and found that you’re perfect for us.
Plus, you understand what it means to be a royal, even if you don’t know about our people yet.
I have no doubt that the lessons your parents gave you were more than adequate and similar to ours. ”
That was an understatement. I’d spent every day of my life, until they’d sent me away, being taught everything I needed to know as a royal. By the time I was nine, I could have taken over ruling for my parents with ease.
However, finding out that I would be ruling a planet and a people I knew nothing about was stressful.
“We’ll be with you every step of the way,” he said as he continued to hold my hand and began rubbing his thumb across my knuckles. “If there’s anything you’re not certain of or if someone tries to challenge you, we will be at your side to assist and murder whoever challenged you.”
I laughed and squeezed his hand. “You talk of murder so calmly.”
“When it comes to the safety of my family, murder is always on the table.”
My breath hitched. “F-Family?”
“You’re our mate, Xoe, which means you’re our family. Our most precious family member.” He paused. “Well, at least until we have children.”
Children.
“If you decide you want them, of course,” he added quickly. “Absolutely no pressure.”
Laughing softly, I relaxed and felt the pain meds starting to kick in.
Zeke returned with water and I drank some of it, but immediately put the washcloth back on my eyes, and relaxed on the bed.
“Do you need anything else?” Zeke asked softly.
“No, just to relax here in the dark and quiet.”
“Would you like us to leave?” Wayne asked.
I shrugged. “As long as you’re quiet, you can stay.”
The bed dipped behind me and suddenly, I was surrounded by the warmth of two Dragonkin.
I moved my head closer to the body to my right, trying to lay my head on their chest.
Wayne hissed, making me jerk back, but he wrapped a warm hand around my head and guided it back to his chest. “The cold cloth startled me. I’m fine.”
“Sorry,” I mumbled into his shirt, which smelled delectably like him.
“Get comfortable, Xoe, and tell us what you need from us or where you want us. We are here for your support,” Zeke said softly. He was trying to keep his voice quiet, which was nearly impossible with his deep voice, but I appreciated his attempt.
There were so many things I wanted to ask. So many questions and uncertainties, but I tried to push it all to the back of my mind to allow myself to rest.
“You were going to give me a surprise,” I whispered to Zeke.
He laughed softly. “Your surprise can wait until later. Rest.”
Wayne started humming something, a song that sounded vaguely familiar, and it vibrated through my head and entire body.
Zeke pressed his chest to my back, cocooning me in their warmth and his chest started rumbling. Was … was he purring?
I’d heard Wayne make a sound similar to a cat purring before, but thought I had imagined it. Now, I knew for certain.
Dragonkin purred!
And that purring was absolutely calming to me.
A yawn escaped my mouth before I could stop it, but the guys didn’t seem to mind, continuing with their humming and purring.
It wasn’t long before I felt the deep, welcoming pull of sleep.
I jolted awake what felt like only moments later as the entire ship shuddered violently, nearly causing us to fall off of the bed. Only the strong grips of Wayne and Zeke kept me in place.
“What was that?” I gasped and dropped the washcloth from my face.
“We’re under attack, everyone to the main deck!” Preston ordered.
Before I could protest, Zeke picked me up in his arms and he and Wayne ran down the hallway.
Once back on the main deck, I stared at the ship on the screen before us with their weapons glowing red as they prepared another shot.
“Frak. That’s …” I swallowed hard, fear coursing through me.
“Who is it?” Zeke asked.
“That’s Tarkar’s ship, leader of the mercenary guild, Tartarus. He’s definitely here to try to take me. He’s been hunting me ever since my planet blew up.” The last encounter with him, I’d nearly died escaping from him.
Zeke transferred me to Preston despite my attempts to stand on my own, and Preston held me tightly against his chest.
“Destroy them,” Preston growled.
Wayne, Zeke, and Gage sat in their chairs, to go out into space to fight them, but before they got the chance, Tarkar sent a volley of strange looking torpedoes at us, glowing a bright orange.
“Brace for impact!” Preston shouted and sat down onto his Captain’s chair, holding me tightly in his arms on his lap.