Chapter 73 Dragon’s Pet
She heard the gentle trotting of feet approach her side. “Where do you think you’re traipsing off to without your escort?”
She tilted her head to see Dex grinning at her. “So, is this the new thing now? Since Xander has a mate, you get stuck on patrol with me?”
“Haha, who got stuck with what now? I volunteered. I get to spend time with an interesting young lady. Besides, I look at it as getting to spend time with a new friend. Maybe get on her good side for future gain …” He smirked at her, and she giggled.
They walked over to the punch table. The other men had returned to the tents as well. Lee took his place standing in the front of the tent off to the side. Xander and Mason were both leading their mates out on the dance floor to kickstart the celebration, and Weston was approaching Dex and Reiya.
“Is three a crowd?” Weston asked as he walked up to them, a small frown resting on his face as he gave them puppy dog eyes.
“Well, I guess, if you don’t have any other friends.” Dex sighed and shrugged, playfully rolling his eyes at Weston.
“Come on, Reiya. You can tell I’m more fun to be with. I’m arguably the most fun out of all the kings,” Weston said smugly.
“Which is exactly why she shouldn’t be in your care,” Dex said pointedly. No telling what trouble the two of them would get into.
Reiya felt Dex’s arm slide around her waist as he drew her between him and Weston. She glanced at him, but he continued talking to Weston. It wasn’t until she caught a glimpse of purple that she realized why he’d moved her.
“My Lords, how is your evening going tonight?” Clovis asked, his eyes flickering over to Reiya.
Dex looked at him with little interest. “The accommodations are good, the food is good, and it’s been relatively peaceful. So far, the evening has also been fine. My sister found her mate and is happy.”
“Yes, speaking about her finding her mate. Who exactly is YOUR mate, princess?” Clovis asked, looking pointedly at Reiya.
Reiya scoffed. “This again? Look, I can see you have a fascination with purple. That’s fine. But your fascination with my life is old hat. Please find someone else to bother.” Reiya rolled her eyes and saw his temper rise.
“What does it matter to you anyway?” Weston looked at Clovis, mild irritation in his voice.
Reiya looked at the man in front of her. Really … what was his deal with purple? Did he own any other color of clothing? She watched as his eye slowly began to twitch. He was obviously angry and couldn’t express it in front of the present company. Wow, is he pathetic.
“I’d like to know what kingdom the dragon is from ... the one who marked her,” Clovis said as he struggled with his composure.
Dex chuckled. “I don’t see where it’s any of your business. Who are you that you need to know this information? No one. You’re nobody.”
“Dragons do not take non-dragon mates. It’s as simple as that. None do. Someone did something they shouldn’t have. I can’t believe all the lords are fine with this. It’s an outrage!” Clovis’s voice hissed with bitterness as his eyes flickered angrily at Reiya.
Weston was the one who lost his cool. It was like he went off the handle. He reached his hand out and snatched Clovis by the throat. “Look at her like that again and I will eviscerate you right here,” he snarled, his dragon fangs slowly extending. He glared at Clovis and watched as he paled.
Reiya was hoping Dex would step in before there was a bigger problem, but he only chuckled.
“You see? This is what happens when you stick your nose in where it doesn’t belong. Do you really care what’s going on here? Does it really matter? How much do you value your neck?” Dex smirked at Clovis and Weston slowly released his grip, the outline of fingerprints remaining on Clovis’s neck.
“You’re the one who doesn’t seem to get it.
You must be pretty dumb not to. Look at the girl.
She is surrounded by the dragon kings and the first prince.
She has a dragon mark on her skin. She’s been claimed.
But who says she’s been claimed by one dragon?
” Dex smirked, and Weston immediately engaged.
“She’s ours. We have taken the princess as our own. Do you wish to mess with our possession?” Weston’s eyes flickered black.
Suddenly, it clicked for Clovis. She was their toy.
She was being claimed as their concubine.
Their mistress. If she was a mistress to the kings, she was untouchable.
No one could claim or touch her, as she’d been claimed by the four kingdoms. He could push back against Xander, but not against all of them.
If the four kings had united in claiming the girl, then this was a problem on an even larger scale.
“Forgive me. I will not pry into your affairs anymore.” Clovis bowed and slunk away. This was a very big problem, one he never could have anticipated.
“That’ll keep him away.” Weston turned and grinned at Dex. “That was brilliant on your part, too.”
“I surprise myself sometimes.” Dex chuckled.
Reiya looked up at the two men. She had just been claimed as a possession of the dragon kings.
It was mildly irritating, but she understood that it solved a problem.
She just didn’t like the idea of being considered their pet.
They were supposed to be her pets. She didn’t like being portrayed as the weak female who couldn’t help but be claimed by these men.
It was a temporary fix, at least. Soon, everyone would know who she really belonged to.
She could put up with her name being temporarily tarnished for now.
“So, am I on a rotation or something? Just so I know who I should be going to bed with tonight.” Reiya decided to roll with it.
Weston looked at her, shocked, and then turned his face up to the tent ceiling. “Please don’t say things like that, princess. I don’t want to be killed.”
Reiya giggled. “So overdramatic.”
“I’m hoping I don’t get murdered for the suggestion I just made.” Dex pulled his shirt collar nervously and Reiya burst into laughter.
“You guys are too much sometimes.” Reiya smiled up at the two men. “So, how long do you think it’ll take for this information to reach the masses?”
“It already did.” Weston smiled tensely and sipped his drink.
Reiya shifted her gaze and noticed the whispers and discreet glances coming from everyone. There were even some guys elbowing others and sharing some mental male comradery, living vicariously through their kings. Ugh … this was embarrassing.
“The conversation was overheard, huh?” Reiya said dryly.
“Yep,” Dex said with a nervous undertone. “I was hoping to explain this first.” He glanced toward the stormy eyes of the deity in the front. “I wonder if I’ll get a reprieve.”
Reiya elbowed Dex. “Don’t be so silly. He won’t like it, but he knows that what you did was for my protection.” Her voice was quiet, so as not to be overheard.
“I’ll miss you, Dex.” Weston poked at him playfully and beamed widely.
“I don’t know what you two are even teasing about. You boys won’t be touched. I’m the one he’ll be taking his frustration out on,” Reiya added quietly. Inside, she was smiling. The only frustration he might take out on her was sexual, and she didn’t mind that.
Weston frowned. “If it was Xander, we could do something about that.” He looked at the ground guiltily, since there wasn’t anything he could do about Lee.
“I can try to explain the situation as well. I’m sorry. I never thought this would turn into a problem for you,” Dex said apologetically. He felt like an ass.
Reiya turned and looked at the two men incredulously. “Just what kind of monster do you think he is?” She began to giggle and shook her head. “The only frustrations he takes out on me are the ones that you guys really don’t need to hear about.”
“Don’t mess with our heads like that.” Weston snorted, folding his arms. He was actually feeling bad for her.
“You really like to play with emotions, don’t you?” Dex smiled and shook his head.
“I would say you all should know better, but it’s not your fault, since he keeps his distance. Something I plan to rectify in the future.” Reiya’s voice quieted as she looked off in the distance. Lee must have been so lonely before Xander, always keeping to himself.
“You’ll be good for him. You’re good for each other,” Dex said warmly.
She shot him a stunning smile and nodded her head. “I think so too. And we’re all going to be great friends. So be sure to visit often, and we’ll do the same.”
Weston smiled and glanced at Dex. She really was a warm soul.
Her beauty wasn’t just on the outside … she was the complete package.
All joking aside, he could look at her how he should, though maybe a bit more endearing.
She had the ability to draw you in and captivate you.
And before you knew it, you needed her in your life.
“So, are we going to stand near the punch bowls all night, or are one of you going to ask me to dance?” Reiya turned and looked at the two uncomfortable men.
Xander laughed as he walked up behind them, grabbing Reiya’s hand. “Come on, I’ll dance with you.” He winked at the two guys.
Lila smiled. “Come on Dex. Come and dance with me.”
Xander twirled Reiya around on the dance floor and she giggled. “So, the buzz is that you belong to all the kings.” Xander smirked and Reiya rolled her eyes.
“The information spread to you already? Geez … dragons are blabbermouths.” Reiya shook her head as Xander swayed with her to the music.
“I think someone else heard the news and is pretty grumpy about it.” Xander smiled as he watched Reiya’s reaction.
“The others seem pretty scared of him. I told them they’re overthinking his temper.”
Xander frowned a bit. “They aren’t, Reiya. The guy you know and the one they know aren’t the same.” He smiled as she looked at him curiously. “You’ve tamed him down more than you know.”
“I hear you, Xander. But still, he wouldn’t kill them over something like that and you know it.” Reiya smiled, and he nodded.
“No, but this whole situation is taking great restraint on his part. Our animals are very primal. The more dominant we are, the worse it is. Not being able to keep what is yours close, well …” Xander glanced at Lila, who was dancing with Dex.
“Let’s just say that I’m not sure how he does it.
I guess it probably has to do with the difference in our statures. The restraint he has is amazing.”
Reiya looked at Xander and then glanced at his hand holding hers. “Something’s going to happen soon, isn’t it? I can sense it. There’s a buildup happening, out of sight.”
Xander studied her quietly, a bit of curiosity in his eyes. There was a warm, buzzing feeling in their hands again. “Do you feel that?” he said in a hushed voice.
Reiya nodded. The warm energy in their hands was tingling through her body. It was like something was trying to join together or unify them. It was as if their souls recognized the impending danger and were calling out to the other. She squeezed onto his hand as her chest burned.
There was no escaping the destiny that was coming. There was no denying the fact that her soul recognized Xander's, either.