Can't Get Enough (Dragon Kin) - G.A. Aiken Page 0,41

until Ailean, shaky from the loss of blood, stood.

He couldn’t speak, not with his vocal chords sliced in half and still trying to mend, so he motioned to the twins’ mates to follow Shalin and her father. To keep them safe. They understood and did as he bade. While his cousins continued to rant and swear blood oaths to Shalin’s death, Ailean placed his blood-covered claws on each of his brothers’ shoulders.

They’d grown up together. Fought together. Killed together. He didn’t need words for them. Never had.

They knew they’d be going after Shalin themselves.

And then, Ailean would settle all of this.

12

Shalin waited outside the queen’s meeting chamber. Soon she would have to enter and plead her case. Unfortunately, she really didn’t care.

“I’ll speak for you, Shalin.”

She shrugged. “As you wish.”

His claw brushed her cheek. “Look at me, daughter.”

She did, but she quickly tried to turn away, unable to bear his gaze. But her father’s other claw came up and gripped her other cheek.

“Do not turn from me.”

“I’m so sorry, Father.” Tears began to flow and she couldn’t stop them. “I know I’ve disappointed you.”

“Och! What is this? How have you disappointed me?”

“Ailean,” she said simply.

“Because you tried to kill him?”

“No.” Her tail nervously swished across the stone floor. “Because he and I…um…”

“You and he what?”

“I’d prefer not to spell it out, Father.” Although she had no doubts their story would become known throughout Dark Plains before the next full moon.

“Spell it…oh. Oh!” He absently patted her head before brushing nonexistent crumbs off his chest. “Yes. Of course you did, dear. You’re not made of stone and he is quite a virile specimen.”

Only her father could make it all sound so…medicinal. “And you’re not ashamed of me?”

“Ashamed of what?” He quickly combed his claws through his gray and brown hair. “What were we talking about again?” he asked. It wasn’t that he was confused, merely not interested. But when this was all over and settled, then he’d want to discuss it in complete detail and she didn’t look forward to it. Nothing was worse than her father turning to her after a day, a decade, or even a century, after something she’d thought had long gone away and suddenly demanding, “Wait. What just happened?”

Stepping back, he motioned to her eyes. “Dry those tears, little one. This queen detests weakness. And when you are called, come in with your head high. Understand?”

She nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Good.”

“Baudwin the Brown,” one of the heralds called out.

Her father patted her cheek and gave her a quick smile before entering the meeting chamber.

Once his tail disappeared after him, Shalin took several soothing, calming breaths and wiped the tears from her eyes and cheeks with the backs of her claws.

Her father was right. She needed to get her emotions under control, but it would not be easy after that rage she’d let loose on Ailean. Unlike many of her brethren, Shalin kept her temper under control with a will of iron. In her mind, to show rage was the same as showing sadness, which meant showing weakness. She’d learned during her time at court that to show emotion of any kind merely gave Adienna what she needed to destroy those who crossed her.

Then Ailean came along and he had this uncanny ability to get all sorts of emotions out of her—irritation, affection, rage. Even worse—love.

“As lovely as I remember,” a voice said near her. She turned and blinked. It took her a moment to recognize him in dragon form, though the purple hair and scales were clear enough. But it was the eyes. Such a startling blue. Simply beautiful.

“Are you here to drag me away while I scream and cry?”

He laughed. “No, no, dragoness. That had been my father’s idea. He still follows the old ways. I have, however, come here today in the hopes of convincing you to come with me of your own free will.”

Now Shalin laughed. “I barely know you and you expect me to become your mate?”

“No. But I would love for you to come with me so I can show you my home. It’s a rugged land, but you’ll find more beauty there than any other place that you’ve seen.”

Shalin looked away. “And if I don’t come? There will be war amongst our people?”

The herald called to the dragon and, with a sigh, he headed toward the meeting chamber. “That I do not know. My brothers have different ways of dealing with females.” He glanced at her over his shoulder. “They may not