Page 58 of Dragon Me Through Space

I smiled and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “Thank you for protecting me.”

“Always,” he said and returned my smile.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“We need to talk,” Preston said as we sat at the table eating dinner. Everyone had separated to shower and clean ourselves of the Exostalon stench before meeting back up for food.

“Okay?” I said hesitantly and set my fork down.

“Your re-engagement, do you know who it was to?” Preston asked.

I shook my head. “I don’t.”

“Is that what you’re searching for?” Zeke asked.

I shook my head again. “No, my search is for something my mother said would unlock my future. That I had to find the ones to activate it. She said it was a gift from an alliance that had been forged and that it would secure my future.”

“And it has to do with your necklace,” Preston said.

Fear coursed through me. “Perhaps.”

Wayne frowned. “You’re still doubting us even after today and all of the time we’ve spent together?”

I felt like I should apologize, but also wanted to argue that we hadn’t known each other long enough to truly trust one another. Their actions today went a long way in building that trust, but I still had doubts.

Preston slid a folded piece of paper across the table. The paper slid to a stop right before my plate.

Hesitantly, I picked it up and unfolded it.

Immediately, my heart plummeted and I leapt to my feet. Scout chirped in worry and shifted into its drone shape, though they hadn’t let any guns out yet.

“Where did you get this?” I demanded. Had one of them seen my necklace when we’d been fooling around? I’d destroyed the paper Troya had given me before I made it back to the ship, so they couldn’t have seen that. I knew I should have taken my necklace off during our dates, but I’d been worried one of the others would go snoop around in my room while I was busy!

“Easy, pet. We aren’t your enemies,” Preston said.

“Quite the opposite,” Zeke muttered.

My brows furrowed. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Please, sit down,” Wayne said in a soft tone.

I sat, but with my chair farther back, so I could run out of the room if necessary. Not that I had much of an escape available as we were flying through space. The escape pod was always an option, though that would mean landing back on Exostalon since it was the only planet nearby, which was far from ideal.

The four Dragonkin watched me, Preston and Gage looked amused while Zeke looked bored and Wayne looked worried. What were they about to tell me?

“This is what we’re searching for,” Preston said. “Our leaders gave us this drawing of a necklace with a symbol that has a special meaning to us. They told us that the person with this symbol was of utmost importance, in danger, had to be found as soon as possible and … is our betrothed. The knot is the symbol for Dragonkin mates, a knot tying hearts together, no matter the race.”

“Perhaps we should introduce ourselves properly?” Gage suggested and stood. He bowed at the waist and said, “Good evening, Princess Xoe. I am Prince Gage Thren of the Eastern Dragonkin and your betrothed.”

Wayne stood and bowed next. “I am Prince Wayne Solvex of the Southern Dragonkin and your betrothed.”

Zeke stood. “I am Prince Zeke Rhyx of the Western Dragonkin and your betrothed.”

Preston smiled from his seat. “I am Prince Preston Vorthal of the Northern Dragonkin, son of the High King and Queen, leader of this clan, and your betrothed.”

Had I been the type to faint, I would have certainly fainted at their introductions and statement.

I was their betrothed? Me? They were princes?!