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rubble.
Without waiting, Lucan grabbed Meda and ran for the light. Their only hope for survival
was to get out of these caves. They couldn t wait for Riven to find them if the halfling had
even been located.
Lucan refused to fall to the Djinn. He wouldn t let them have Meda. They had too much
to live for and she d agreed to stay with him. It annoyed him that he hadn t been able to enjoy
the moment, but instead had been forced back into combat. They would get away from here, and
they d celebrate their union. He d make Meda completely his, once and for all.
Even without the mark, Lucan?
Behind him, he heard the rock shifting above the Djinn. He whirled and blasted a spiral
of fire, sealing the stone before the Djinn pushed free. It wouldn t stop them, but it would slow
them.
The light was just ahead. A few more yards and he could fly. He d be out of the Djinns
reach. He skidded to a halt and Meda screamed as three vortices opened before them. Tawren
and his lackeys stepped forward, eyes and hands glowing. Meda buried her face in Lucan s chest.
I love you, Lucan. Leave me. Let them have me, and run. Don t let them hurt you.
No fucking way.
At such close range, all he could do was protect Meda with his body and blast fire at the
trio. He d leave them as simmering pools of muck. No one was touching Meda.
He held her tighter lest she try to do something stupid like run between him and the
Djinn. Behind him, he heard another vortex open and dread plowed through his middle. Four to
one. Surrounded.
Two heavy thuds echoed as the travelers stepped free. Before Lucan could turn to
confront them or get better battle position, a blast of fire flared over his shoulder and incinerated
one of the Djinn guards.
Maks!
Lucan glanced back to see Maks and Riven both in Dragon form.
Thanks for the calling card, Riven called taunting the attackers. I was having trouble
finding them.
Lucan backed toward the open portal, watching Tawren as he moved. They weren t out
of this yet. Tawren looked genuinely confused. Dragons didn t possess the skill of
transporation not that he apparently knew of. His look would have made Lucan laugh if not for
the fiery white-blue glow swirling around the man as he prepared a full body attack. He meant to
missile into them.
Riven grabbed Lucan s arm. Hold her tight so we don t lose her inside.
With Riven s yank, the vortex closed around them, just as Lucan heard a screaming
whistle hurtling their way. Then there was nothing but the rush of air as Riven s portal dragged
them home at least that was where Lucan supposed they were going. His attackers couldn t
follow because they lacked Dragon blood. By now, Janos would have seen to the repair of the
wards.
He gasped, his head throbbing as the tunnel dumped them out in Maks living room, the
four of them landing in a heap.
Maks! Amara exclaimed, leaping on him as the Dragons shifted back to their human
forms. Maks dragged her mouth to his, the two kissing and moving against each other as if no
one else was in the room.
Excuse us, Lucan said drily as he picked up Meda, who d fainted on the way through
the portal humans usually did. Amara and Maks didn t respond.
I see the mating call s in full swing.
Fuck off, Lucan.
Lucan laughed. Thanks for coming to get us.
Any time. Now, get the hell out unless you want an eyeful.
Oh that s just& Riven trailed off as he stared at Maks and Amara. Wait. Is that a
Djinn?
Lucan prodded him toward the door with Meda s legs. He really didn t want to see his
scion in the throes of passion, and he didn t want Meda waking to it either. She was already
stirring. She d probably come to before they reached his quarters.
Hmm& Riven muttered as they stepped into the main corridor and closed the door
behind them. Maks and a Djinn
Her name s Amara.
Interesting.
Lucan pressed his face into Meda s hair, not nearly as interested in the others as he was
his own woman, though he knew Riven s fascination stemmed from an attraction to his own
Djinn woman.
He paused and looked at Riven. You don t bear the mark.
No. I noticed you don t either.
I m not giving her up. His arms tightened around Meda.
You know if you try to join with a woman who isn t your true mate, it will kill her.
I know. And he d thought of it almost as much as he d thought about his future with
her. Unfathomable times. When I gave her my blood to heal her after the attack at the school,
she heard Maks voice in her head. I don t know of any mate who s had the same happen. Meda
and I are closer than most.
They entered his dwelling. Lucan knew he should put Meda on the bed to rest, but after
her kidnapping, he didn t want her out of his reach. He sat on the couch and drew her head to rest
on his shoulder. She made a small noise and cuddled close. He smiled, knowing she d wake
soon.
Riven sat opposite them. Look, he said, resting his elbows on his knees and leaning
forward. I get sent all over God s green earth in search of mates. I ve been to all the large
Dragon compounds, and some of the smaller settlements, too. I ve been able to get a bigger
picture of things than most others of our race. I ve seen a few oddities our doctors don t note.
So you don t think it s dire that Meda and I haven t been marked?
No, the halfling snorted. Rinda is my destiny. I don t have a single doubt, he said,
speaking of the woman he loved. I ve known her since we were both babes in our mothers
arms. It nearly killed me when she was claimed by the Djinn king and forced to marry him. I
wanted to kill him. It wasn t just jealousy; it was instinctual rage probably a lot like you felt
when you thought of Tawren touching Meda.
Anger and pain so strong it almost made me sick, Lucan agreed.
It was my hatred that sent me to the Dragon council with the idea of acting as their spy.
He shook his head to push away history he obviously didn t want to discuss. Neither Rinda nor
I are marked. We don t suffer from the mating call, thank the stars. I believe it s because I was
close to her for so long before I first molted.
Meda made a small sounds and rubbed her face against Lucan. Like an allergy, she said
sleepily. Like an immunity built from exposure.
Her voice triggered Lucan s desire once more, though it didn t feel abnormally strong or
out of control. His cock stirred beneath her leg, and his reptilian senses picked up on her
heightening arousal.
He pushed back her hair and kissed her behind her ear.
It s& um& exactly like that, Riven replied. He stumbled to his feet and knocked into
the table as Lucan turned and pressed Meda to the sofa. Newlymates, he muttered.
Riven, Lucan called as the man rushed for the door. Thank you for finding us and
for assuring me this is normal.
No problem. I owed Tawren a thing or ten. It was my pleasure.
The door slammed behind him, and Lucan looked back at Meda.
You& gave me your blood? she asked. Thankfully, she didn t appear disgusted or
outraged. She wiggled beneath him to align his cock to her pussy. Fire vibrated through his
veins, rushing the heated lust through all of him until he shook with the desire to fill her once
more.
He pushed her dress to her hips, baring her.
I should be mad you did that& she sighed. Her eyes closed and she arched. Her knees
bracketed his hips as she rubbed against him. Her nails scored his arms through the thin tunic.
It s what healed you.
She nodded, seeming more engrossed in their bodies than their words. That was cool.
So, faker, how long were you awake?
Not long. I heard things, but I wasn t really with it. Her teeth gritted and she moaned.
Lucan, I m so hot. I need you& please.
Scooting away, he tore off his clothes. Kneeling over Meda, he grasped the wretched
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