Nodding, I scoot over and draw her down to my side. “I dream of a lovely age mate, one who understands the heart of a true warrior.”
She draws her legs up and turns to face me. Her face has the sweetest of smiles. “I dream of the same thing.”
“Tell me more about how you wish to be my mate. This is the only story worth telling this day.”
“It’s actually night.”
Tugging her closer, I cover her with one wing. “Even better.”
“We’re traveling to Onello right now.”
My claws tighten around her form. “That was the plan. I am pleased Mathadar adhered to his timetable even after all the controversy about whether to wake an old warrior or let him sleep.” I know my voice is filled with sarcasm, but I care not.
“You’re wide awake right now, aren’t you?”
“Yes. Stop stalling and tell me the words I wish to hear.”
“I do think we’d be good together.”
“I’m old blood.”
“I never said I didn’t like old blood warriors. I only wanted Chantel to think carefully about her options. I know everyone looks at us and thinks we’re very similar, because they only see the uniform.”
“Your Chantel likes pretty things, and old blood warriors are not pretty.”
Her eyes fly open, and she nods. “Once you delve beneath the uniform, Chantel is very feminine. She likes nice clothes, beautiful hair styles and all the best things in life. Before she was old enough to join the military, she liked to blog and take pictures of all the places she visited.” Blowing out an exasperated breath, she continues. “There are a lot of different types of men in the world, and I just wanted her to open her mind and make the best choice for herself.”
“You think she would wish to make beautiful babies?”
“I know that sounds kind of shitty, but I was half asleep and didn’t know she had already fallen for your son.”
I allow this beautiful queen to charm her way right back into my heart. “Would it interest you to know that I was drawn to you and your daughter in part because of your beautiful humanoid features? I longed for little ones in my clade with your appealing hairs and expressive eyes that are so much warmer than ours.”
“Are you serious?” Though she sounds shocked, she also seems relieved.
“Indeed I am. Draconians have historically been obsessed with becoming more humanoid. We believe our future is in cohabiting and establishing trade with your kind because they are most like us on the inside. We do not consider it rude to be obsessed with bloodlines, for it has always been our way.”
She relaxes into my arms. “I really like you. You’ve always been easy to talk to.”
“Thank you. I must admit that many times I did not think you understood what I was attempting to convey.” Taking a moment to think about what I wish to say, I find the correct words. “Would you like to know the positive aspects of creating old blood hatchlings?”
She nods, her hand gently petting the inside of my wing. “Anything you want to tell me, I’d be happy to hear.” It feels like we are simply two warriors talking and learning about each other.
“Many Draconian clades have dark brooding magic in their veins. Some have what we call the knowing. They can sense when danger is near. Others can sense only when members of their clade are in danger. Others can track a being over vast distances simply from inhaling its scent or tasting its blood. Others can sense when a being is lying with uncanny accuracy. My clade may be rough and tumble, but we intuit the feelings of others so deeply that at times we cannot tell their feelings from our own. That has proven to be a great survival advantage when pleasing our queen meant life or death. We are now discovering it is a useful quality to possess when luring a mate. When we are close like we are right now, I can sense what a queen wishes of me, how to best please them and what words of comfort they need to hear.”
“Wow that is a lot to take in all at once.” Wiggling closer, her expression turns heated. “What do you think I want from you right now?”
Drawing one sharp claw down the front of her shirt, I realize she no longer wears a uniform. She bites her bottom lip when my claw begins to rip through the front of her