AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes.”
“And will your people accept me? Being there, I mean.”
“I am the king, and you are my T’kara—my Fated One,” he says, an edge of menace in his tone. “To disrespect you in any way would be treason.”
At least the bond will offer me protection in his realm, although it could still cause problems as well. Especially since he’s done nothing to hide his people’s low regard for humans. Just because I’m his Fated One, does not mean everyone will simply accept me.
Severing our connection would be the easiest way to avoid problems for him and for me. I had not wanted to bring it up yet, but I suppose now is as good a time as any.
I want to simply ask outright, but the words get stuck in my throat. Instead, I try a different approach to ease him into the conversation.
“Were your parents fated to each other?”
“No,” he replies. “There are very few among my kind who find their fated mates.”
“Has anyone ever already been married to someone else and then found their T’kara after?”
“Yes.”
My ears perk up. “What happened then?”
“They are given the choice to have a priest dissolve the bond.” Hope flares inside me, before he adds, “But none have ever chosen this.”
“Why not?”
“As I said: The bond is sacred. A gift from the gods.”
I turn in his arms to face him. I rest my hands on his chest, pushing back just enough that I can tip my head up to his, acutely aware of the thick muscle beneath my fingers and the feel of his hands at the small of my back, holding me close against him. “What if we asked a priest to sever our bond?”
His head jerks back, but I continue. “You said it yourself: Dragons do not like humans. You don’t want to be married to me anymore than I want to be married to you. So it’s the obvious choice, then, is it not?”
His brow creases in a deep frown. “It would be sacrilege. The bond is a blessing of the highest order.”
This is not going how I planned. I thought he’d be glad of my suggestion, but it seems I was wrong. “What if the gods made a mistake?”
“The old gods do not make mistakes,” he counters. “As for your new gods… I would not put it past them.”
I purse my lips. “Just because I’m human does not mean I worship the new gods. My family has always kept to the old ways.”
“That is good news.”
His statement baffles me. “Why?”
“I’d thought I would have to build a temple to new gods in my kingdom, specifically for you. It is good to know I will not.”
I huff out a frustrated breath. This is definitely not how I imagined this conversation would go. I thought he’d be glad to be rid of me, but it seems I was wrong.
Despite his arrogant manner, Aurdyn is good to me. And while I can think of far worse situations to be in, than to find myself bound to him, I spent enough time in a cell to know that I’ll never be trapped again. If I stay with him in his kingdom, it will be because it ismydecision, and I have not come to one yet. I’ll not have my choices taken from me ever again.
“What if I choose not to stay with you?” I ask the question I have dreaded bringing up most. “Will you try to force me?”
Anger darkens his features. “Do you truly believe that I have such little honor, that I would force you to do anything you do not wish?” He relinquishes his hold on me and stands from the bed, his expression hard. “Is this what you think of me?”
“I—” I start, but hesitate as I sit up in the bed, trying to choose my words carefully. I had not meant to offend him, but it’s easy to see that that’s what I’ve done. “I did not mean offense. I know you are honorable, but I—” I sigh heavily. “I had to ask.”
He crosses his arms over his chest, waiting for me to continue as I stand and meet his gaze evenly. “I was betrayed by the only person I had left in this world after my parents died. And being locked away in a dungeon for weeks… it was—” My voice catches, but I swallow hard against the lump in my throat. “I take nothing for granted now, and I will not have my choices taken from me. Do you understand?”
His expression softens, and he dips his chin in a subtle nod. “Yes.”
