Tropical Dragons Series Box Set - Naomi Lucas Page 0,144

He wants nothing from you or me.”

Drazak remains tense. So very tense.

Everyone is staring at us.

Another dragon male, I get it. They are rare, beautiful, and deadly beyond belief. They are everything to our tribe of females.

Zaeyr’s eyes sharpen on us. “You are right. I want nothing from either you, and especially a strange male of my kind,” he barks.

We have no relationship, but I’ve trained his daughter. Despite predicting it, his rejection stings.

“I told you we found a dragon, Father!” Haime quips, and I treasure the sound of her voice.

“So you did…” Aida inhales, staring at us, wiping her cheek with the back of her hand. There’s awe and something else in her gaze… Concern? Uncertainty? Fear? It worries me.

Drazak’s chest rises and falls, his breaths growing rapid. This time, when he tries to tug me into his arms, I drop my legs and let him. It allows me to get between him and my tribemates. That barrier might help him also.

“Drazak, please,” I whisper, cupping his cheeks to bring his face to mine. “No more fighting.”

“You didn’t tell me there were others like me,” he says, his gaze still locked with Zaeyr’s.

“I forgot. I truly forgot.”

Drazak’s eyes finally find mine. “I will not live with another dragon male,” he says.

I can see that now. It was idiotic to hope.

“Nor will I,” Zaeyr mutters. “He has proven he cannot hold his ground. I will not have an unknown alpha in my midst, one so near my offspring. My alliance with Kaos tries me enough.”

Drazak stiffens.

“We won’t stay,” I say, placing my hand on his chest and turning toward the others. “We came for Haime.” I look at my ward and smile sadly. “To make sure she made it out of the cave—”

“You touched him in a cave with my daughter in it?” Zaeyr snaps.

I flinch. “It was a mistake.”

“So, you risked my daughter and yourself. I had hoped that what Haime said wasn’t true.”

“She risked everything for your youngling,” Drazak barks.

“Zaeyr, this is Milaye. She would never risk Haime,” Aida warns, but Zaeyr speaks over her.

“I do not care! You have found your answers. My daughter is safe. Now you will go.”

Aida protests. “Zaeyr! The tribe is her home.”

I step forward. “No, Aida. I will go. This is all my fault.” I glance back at Drazak. “We weren’t going to stay anyway. I just needed to know… know that Haime was safe.” The half-lies come easily, but now that I’ve seen Zaeyr with Drazak, I know this is our best way forward.

But Ola interjects, “How did you get out of the cave? We went to the entrance but it was gone.” Her voice grows heavy. “We’ve been searching for you for days.”

“I—we—Drazak and I were hurt. The cave didn’t fully collapse, and once we recovered, we found another way out,” I tell her.

“Hurt?” Ola asks.

I shake my head, suddenly exhausted. “It’s a long story.”

“Did the boy make it out?” Haime pulls from her father’s grasp.

Aida and Zaeyr turn to their daughter. “What boy?”

“A naga boy.” I’m thankful for the change of subject. For good news, at least for Haime. But in the corner of my eye I see the sun hit the horizon line, a reminder of the coming night. “He made it out.” I manage another smile for her. “We left the cave together.”

Haime smiles back. “Where is he?”

“That’s enough,” Zaeyr orders. “We all have our answers now, and darkness is near. Haime!” He is stern. “Boy or not, it is time to tell the elders the news.”

I turn to Drazak.

“Milaye and—and her dragon will join us,” Aida states.

“They will not!” Zaeyr sneers.

“You are not the leader of us. The elders are. And as future matriarch, I will not turn my tribe’s sister away before nightfall, not when she has no supplies, has recently gone through a traumatic experience, and is hurt!”

“Female,” Zaeyr warns.

“Aida, it’s okay—” I begin.

“Enough! We have much to catch up on.” She scans me and Drazak from head to toe. “And I know you would never harm Haime. We all know how precarious she is. You will speak to the elders and tell us how you found each other.” She waves at us. “And have a cooked meal. A raw meal for you,” she says to Drazak. “When you are both rested, tomorrow we will decide what comes next.” When she is done, she turns to her mate. “She will need her belongings if she chooses to leave. I will not deny her all