Page 61 of Israel

Oh, hell. This was going to turn so bad, so fast.

“My cousin Larik,” she said. “Try to be polite. We had a disagreement about…family business.”

Like whether he was going to abduct her and force her to mate with him. But she couldn’t tell Israel that. He’d go berserk.

“You attacked me unprovoked, Wolf,” Larik said. “Kneel before me and hear my judgement.”

Israel laughed. “In your dreams, Larik,” he said. “I kneel to no one. Not even my alpha.”

Larik’s face darkened like a thundercloud. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with,” he said.

“I do, actually,” Israel said. “Draken prince of the House of—Akkabi, is it? Good for you.”

Ashley gasped. How on earth had he found that out?

Larik turned on her. “You told him?” he hissed. “No wonder you were so desperate to find out how to break the compact that keeps us silent and hidden. You have already done so. Do you have any idea what you’ve done? When the Elders learn of this, both your lives could be forfeit.”

“Relax, Draken,” Israel drawled.

Ashley shut her eyes. Don’t taunt him. Don’t taunt him.

Apparently her mental communication with him was gone, because he went on,“She didn’t tell me anything. Here’s a tip, though—if you don’t want anyone to know Draken are out in the world, maybe don’t weld jewelry around their necks that has your royal symbol on it? Just sayin’.”

Ashley’s hand went to her necklace. How did he know?

“And as far as your Elders? They might be a little annoyed that you’re parading around in our world sporting a Draken crest on your cloak. What with the compact and all. Why don’t we call it even, and we both walk away and keep our mouths shut?”

Larik’s gaze darkened, and he raised his hand again, fire once more crackling around the edges of it. Gods. Did Israel have any idea how much danger he was in? Larik could burn him to ash without breaking a sweat.

“Go ahead,” Israel said, staring him down. “But I’m not the only one who knows what she is, and what you are. If anything happens to me…well, let’s just say the Draken could come to regret it.”

Larik gave a snakelike hiss. “Don’t threaten me, puppy. We made a pact with your Shifter Council, long ago, but they want no part of a war with us. Your threats are empty.”

“Is that so?” Israel asked. “What about a war with the ki-rin? How do you feel about that?”

Larik hissed again. “The ki-rin have not allied with your kind.”

“Maybe, maybe not,” Israel said. “I understand you all have been just a little out of touch in recent years. But in any case, I personally have a friend or two among the ki-rin. So I’d step carefully, if I were you.”

Larik gazed at Israel intently, and Ashley knew he was reading Israel’s aura. She prayed he wasn’t lying about the ki-rin, because Larik would know. Hell, how did Israel even know about ki-rin? No one had heard from them for centuries. No one even knew where they were.

Larik’s eyes widened, and he dropped his hand. “You speak true, Wolf,” he said, sounding shocked.

He did? Holy hell.

Larik continue to gaze at Israel’s aura, and then he began to laugh. “I see now,” he said to Ashley. “This poor, pathetic animal has lost its heart to you.” He frowned. “And such is the nature of the beast, it will never love another.”

Ashley’s hand went to her mouth. Israel had told her that, but that Larik could see it in his heart…she really was his true mate? His one and only?

Israel stood quietly, his head high. “It’s true,” he said. “I knew from the very first moment I saw her. She’s the only woman I’ll ever love.”

Tears filled her eyes. “Oh, Israel,” she murmured helplessly.

Larik laughed again—a harsh and mirthless sound.

“Then your love is doomed,” he said, “and you shall die alone, your heart broken. If you know what I am, then you know what she is. A Draken princess of the House of Akkabi. You are as far beneath her as the insects that crawl the ground are beneath you.”

Israel shrugged. “Maybe,” he said. “But my whole heart, such as it is, still belongs to her. Whether she wants it or not.”