I shall do all in my power to protect our people.”
“We are grateful for your protection,” Yulik said, bowing his head. “Your presence here will make our tribe strong.”
Katrien nodded. “Strong blood, strong tribe.”
“You are welcome to take your pick of our huntresses as brides, dragon. As many as you wish,” Nelke said, turning to move back to her rug. “Our women would be proud and sing their thanks to Mother Eurynome to be chosen by a dragon.” She cackled as she eased herself down on the rug. “I know I would, were I younger.”
Yulik grunted. “Hag.”
“Ah, but you enjoy me, old man.”
Despite the elder’s lighthearted banter, Leyloni’s heart ceased to beat, and her breath hitched. She dropped her eyes to the floor as she struggled to breathe, but her chest was too tight and wracked with pain.
This…this was it. This was what she’d feared would come to pass. Males were too rare for her to be so selfish. Yet everything inside her screamed that Arysteon was hers and hers alone. She’d never felt the urge to harm any of her tribe sisters, but just the thought of other women touching Arysteon intimately, of pressing their mouths to his lips—lips that had kissed Leyloni so passionately, so tenderly, so lovingly—made her want to draw blood.
“I am already mated to Leyloni,” Arysteon proclaimed. “There will be no others.”
Leyloni glanced up, the tightness in her chest only strengthening. Heat crept across the surface of her skin. The elders were staring at Arysteon with looks of startlement and confusion.
“That is not the way,” Yulik said. “You are a dragon. Your seed must be strong, and it would gift us many males.”
“You must share it with the tribe so that our bloodlines may be strong, as well,” said Katrien. “That is your role as male, as it is for all males.”
Leyloni lifted her gaze and turned her head to look at her mate. Serek, having awakened, had placed one little hand on Arysteon’s face, while the other was tangled in the dragon’s long hair.
With great patience and only a hint of agitated stiffness in his movements, Arysteon gently broke Serek’s hold on his hair and turned to face Leyloni. There was fire in his eyes as they briefly met hers.
Though Serek attempted to cling to him, Arysteon passed the baby to Leyloni and whispered, “Just a few moments, little dragon.”
Serek offered a bit of angry gibberish in response, but his annoyance was short-lived, having faded by the time he turned to Leyloni. He smiled. Leyloni’s heart melted a little, but her anxiousness did not fade.
The air seemed suddenly charged as Arysteon stepped toward the elders. “Hear me, humans, for I will not repeat myself.” He spoke through bared teeth, voice rough and rumbling. “Leyloni belongs to me. She is mine in every way, and she will be for eternity. And I am hers—hers alone. There will be no others. My heart beats only for her, my heartsong sings only for her.”
Arysteon swung his gaze back to Leyloni, his violet eyes even brighter than before. “Her womb alone shall be gifted my seed, and her womb alone shall carry my offspring.” He returned to her side and put his arm around her, drawing her close. His chest vibrated with a low growl. “I give this tribe my protection, my loyalty, my strength, but only she receives all of me.”
Leyloni’s heart fluttered, and her core was hot and needy. His words, spoken with such vehemence and unwavering certainty, destroyed any doubts she might have had about what would happen here. The will of the tribe did not matter in this. Arysteon was hers, and he would be hers alone forever.
“Hmm.” Katrien tented her fingers on her lap. “It is not our way, but…”
Leyloni tore her eyes away from Arysteon to look at the elders. Worry gnawed at the back of her mind, but it was greatly diminished. If the elders denied Arysteon’s claim, if they demanded he take other females in order to stay here, Leyloni knew she, Serek, and Arysteon would leave without hesitation. Serek needed more people in his life, but he also needed to be with his mother and father—with Leyloni and Arysteon. They were a clan of three, and they would remain together.
“We will accept this,” Nelke said. She eyed Leyloni. “You have brought us two males this day, and good fortune along with them. We will accept the dragon’s protection and the sons you will bear within our tribe. You are