Page 13 of The Ruby Dragon Prince
Tovey’s mouth dropped open and his eyes shone with emotion as he gazed up at me. “I don’t know whether that’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard or the most terrifying,” he said in a breathless voice.
“Love is terrifying,” I said.
I was serious, but Tovey burst with laughter. I was about to demand what he meant by his laughter when he said, “You have no idea how charming you are, bluntness and all.”
“I’m not blunt, I’m just right,” I said.
That made him laugh more.
“You find that amusing?” I asked, frowning.
“Yes,” he said, remnants of his laughter still circling around him. “I most certainly do.”
“It was not intended to be funny,” I said. “No one has ever called me funny.”
“No, I don’t suppose they ever have,” he said, still smiling, much to my aggravation.
“I will teach you not to mock me,” I said in my most sultry voice. “I will teach you to offer yourself in whatever way I want, and I want you in a lot of ways.”
Tovey’s breath hitched, and although the laughter remained in his eyes, something dark, sultry, and a touch terrified joined it. “And what if I resist?” he asked. “What if I refuse to give you everything you want?”
I leaned closer to his ear as I pulled him closer and growled, “Then I will take it by force.”
I felt the shiver pass through my omega’s body. I could feel him in my soul. I was right in my initial impression that he was feisty, and the feisty ones often liked a bit of intensity in their mating.
Even as I thought those words, Tovey seemed to grow warmer in my arms. He had been on the verge of saying something, probably taking our banter as we danced to anotherlevel, but he grew suddenly silent. I spun him through the steps of the dance, but his body was no longer loose and agile. He’d gone stiff with some sort of worry or alarm.
“What is wrong?” I demanded. Whatever it was, I would solve it.
“I….” His mouth hung open, but no further words came out.
I knew then what was wrong. It was the reason his body felt warmer in my arms, the reason his sweet lemon scent was suddenly overpowering. It was the reason I could see his pulse in the veins of his neck, though I knew no one else would be able to see it.
“No,” he whispered. “It’s not time. Not by far.”
“You see?” I told him with a smug grin. “Nature knows that we belong together, that we are fated for each other. It cannot be denied.”
“But this is impossible,” Tovey said, breaking out of my embrace and rushing to the side of the pavilion. “I’m not ready for this. My brothers….”
He glanced back over his shoulder at the throng of dancers. I turned to look as well, trying to spot any of the other omega princes among the swirling, happy couples. If Tovey was worried what they would think of him or whether they needed him, he need not be concerned. They were as safe as could be as long as they were in the protection of my kinsmen.
“You needn’t worry,” I said turning back.
The rest of my reassurance died on my lips. The space in front of me was empty. Tovey had run.
Chapter
Four
Tovey
Ihad to run. The allure of the magical world I’d danced in and my handsome, brash, slightly terrifying, massively tempting alpha prince were almost too difficult to resist. So alluring that my body had betrayed me by going into heat during that scintillating dance.
Rufus wanted me. He wanted to claim me and keep me. I was shocked to feel just how much I wanted that, wanted him. I wanted to give myself to him in ways that stunned me, but I couldn’t. I had my brothers to think about. I couldn’t bear the thought of escaping into bliss if the five of them were still prisoners of our cruel father.
I did the only thing I could, though I didn’t truly think I’d get away with it. I dashed away from Rufus, dodging through the other revelers to reach the edge of the pavilion. I was surprised he didn’t simply reach out and grasp my arm, holding me to him. His one moment of hesitation had given me the opening to escape that I needed.
But I knew that opportunity wouldn’t last for long.
