Page 6 of The Gold Dragon Prince
The sound of Diamant snapping his fingers to get my attention pulled me out of delicious thoughts. When I blinked and focused on Diamant, he laughed.
“We’re all ridiculous when we’ve found our mates,” he said. “And since it’s common for dragon kin to find mates in the same family, Mother should relieve us all of our duties now, since we’ve discovered King Freslik’s sons.”
I balked at the idea. “I love the work I do for Mother,” I protested. “I love Mother with my whole heart, and I want nothing more than to give my life in service to her, keeping her and this kingdom safe from those who think they can disrupt her peaceful rule.”
“You love Mother with your whole heartnow,” Diamant said, pointing at me like he’d made a point. “But you’ve met your fated mate. Someone else will have your heart in no time.”
I didn’t dispute the fact. Diamant was exactly right. My mother had been highest in my heart so far in my life, but my fated mate would inevitably and naturally take her place.
But what did that mean for me? I’d been her agent since I was a young dragon. My whole life was about service. Golds were highly effective and fulfilled when they lived their lives in service to a higher cause, but when they lived for themselves, they could turn into the worst sort of creatures possible.
“I may have found my mate,” I told Diamant, “but that won’t change who I am. My first duty will always be to Mother and this kingdom. No omega will ever come between me and my mission.”
Diamant laughed. “I know you believe that, but just wait until you’re in rut to match his heat, your bodies twined as you follow dragon instinct and breed your beloved. Love changes things.”
“It will not change me,” I insisted.
Diamant smirked at me. “Oh, of course,” he said, dripping with sarcasm. “Love never changes anything.”
I frowned at him, and then, to prove that I would never forsake the mission Mother had given me, I said, “There’s an entire clump of ogres that has gone missing. They up and abandoned their caves several days ago. No one has seen hide nor stumpy hair of them since. I suspect Saoirse has something to do with it.”
“Saoirse?” Diamant asked, his brow shooting up. “Is she up to her old tricks again?”
“Apparently,” I said. “Mother has had me infiltrate the staff of her estate in disguise to learn her intentions and to stop them before too much harm can be done.”
“I see,” Diamant said, nodding sagely. “So I suppose Saoirse will be your priority when I tell you that the omega princes have just arrived in our world to attend the dance tonight.”
“They have?” I asked, jerking to sit straight and glance toward the window. “Selle is here?”
I reached through the silken threads of the beginning of our bond, trying to feel him for myself.
At least, until Diamant laughed at me.
“Being happy that my omega is in this world instead of the cruel world does not mean I’m choosing him over mywork,” I insisted, though I stood and moved closer to the window instead of returning to my research. “King Freslik treats his sons terribly, or so I hear. I’m only concerned for my omega’s health and wellbeing.”
“Of course, of course,” Diamant said, pushing himself to stand as well. “I’m heading down to the pavilion. Are you coming?”
“Yes,” I said without a moment’s hesitation.
As we headed across the library and into the hall, I glanced back at my table and the pile of research I’d just abandoned. I told myself that I’d reached the extent of what the books could teach me, that I’d only be able to discover Saoirse’s intentions and defeat her on Mother’s behalf by returning to her estate and finding proof of her treachery. And since I wouldn’t be able to do that until morning at least, a little dancing with my fated mate wouldn’t hurt.
“We’re all the same,” Diamant chuckled as we walked on through the palace, shaking his head.
“I don’t know what you mean by that,” I feigned innocence and picked up my pace as we reached the palace’s front door.
I knew, but I didn’t want to admit it.
I’d never felt the allure of the pavilion or the dances that were held there nightly before. As far as I’d been concerned, the dances were frivolous things designed to keep Mother’s simpler subjects happy. They were usually packed with fae and fawns, nymphs and unicorns, all of whom were interested in finding mates, or at least mates for the night. I hadn’t really considered how much the people of the magical kingdom exchanged information or kept each other informed on the comings and goings of their fellow subjects until I’d attended the dance the other night.
When I reached the pavilion, I transformed my ordinary clothing into a fine suit fitfor a ball, almost without thinking. It had nothing to do with wanting to impress Selle and make him fall in love with me. The way I searched the as yet sparsely crowded pavilion, looking first to the musicians who were tuning their instruments in the hidden balcony above and then to the attendants who prepared tables of masks and refreshments wasn’t a search for my mate, it was just a normal dragon’s curiosity and intention to make certain everything was perfect.
I couldn’t continue to fool myself when a peal of laughter yanked my attention to the far side of the pavilion and I saw Selle crossing over one of the magical grass bridges with his brothers. My heart beat twice as fast, and the blood-deep urge to take and claim surged through me as I caught sight of his smiling face and his adorable glasses.
“Best of luck, brother,” Diamant said, clapping my shoulder and grinning at me. “I hope you woo and win your omega as quickly as possible.”
“And you?” I asked, hoping, perhaps, to turn the joke around on him.
Diamant laughed. “I plan to toy with my mate for a while before making him mine. Life is meant to be a game, after all.”
