Page 7 of The Sapphire Dragon Prince
“But what can we do about it?” I asked, my frustration growing instead of lessening. “I don’t know how to make my mate happy.”
That was the crux of it. I didn’t really care how much magic I had or lost. My purpose as an alpha was to make my mate happy and to give him the most wonderful, love-filled life I could, but with things the way they were, I didn’t know how.
“Could you take Misha to see Queen Gaia?” Selle asked, adjusting his egg in his arms and glancing between me and Emmerich. “Your mother was very helpful when Gildur and I needed help with Lady Saoirse.”
“We ended up in Mother’s throne room because I was in trouble,” Gildur reminded him with a sheepish, sideways look.
“Yes, but she helped us,” Selle argued. “She was so good and loving and…and wonderful. She made me feel so much better just by being in her presence.” He glanced at me. “I’m sure your mother would know exactly what to do to make Misha better again.”
My first reaction was to deny it. Mother was far too busy with the numerous important things she did to take time to help me and my mate.
Then again, Mother was the essence of love above all else. This was exactly the sort of problem she would know how to solve in an instant. And the way I felt about things, I was growing so desperate that only Mother would be able to calm me down.
“It’s worth a try,” Emmerich said, shrugging. “Mother will know how to help.”
That settled things for me. Emmerich was not just my brother, he was the leader of this part of the magical world. I went to him for help in most things, and if he was telling me to go to Mother, that was a sign that it was time for the last resort.
“Alright,” I said, blowing out a breath and rubbing a hand over my face. “Since nothing else seems to be helping Misha to feel better, I guess it’s time to do what needs to be done.”
“I know Mother will be able to find a solution to your mate’s sadness and fear,” Diamant said with a supportive smile. “She knows all when it comes to these things.”
“I suppose I should find Misha so that we can set out at once,” I said.
I nodded to my brothers and their mates, then turned and headed out into the garden. I wasn’t certain how Misha would feel about being taken to visit the queen of the magical realm, but if there was even a small chance that Mother could fix whatever had become broken in my fated mate’s soul, then Iwould carry him every step of the way there so that she could heal him.
Chapter
Three
Misha
Ifelt wretched for running away from Azurus, my brothers, and their mates. They were only trying to help. I knew they were trying to make me feel better and remind me that I was loved. But it was like I was surrounded by a high, cold, brick wall, and even their best efforts couldn’t break through that shell.
The kindness and love everyone had shown me wasn’t what had me fleeing the cozy company of the others in tears, though. That was all on me. I was embarrassed and ashamed that I couldn’t be the happy, sweet omega they all wanted me to be. There was something profoundly wrong with me that I couldn’t shake the fear and anxiety that wrapped around me like the robe I couldn’t escape in my nightmare, not even for them.
I found myself back in the water garden, though I couldn’t bear to face my reflection in any of the fountains again. There were a series of stone benches carved into the cloister that surrounded the garden. They were meant for people who wantedto come to the beautiful place to bask in the sound of gurgling fountains and to take in the beauty all around them. I slumped into one, but it was as if the beauty I knew was all around me couldn’t penetrate the curse of gloom my father and my life in the cruel world had cast over me.
I knew Azurus would follow me, but instead of feeling relieved and grateful when he jogged into the garden and glanced around for me, instead of feeling joy that my fated mate would leave a happy company to come after me, I felt nothing.
When Azurus finally spotted me huddled on the bench in the shade, his tight, tense body relaxed as he blew out a breath of relief. He smiled, or at least he tried, but he couldn’t hide the look of despair that pinched at the corners of his eyes.
“Oh, Misha,” he said, coming straight to me.
That was all it took for me to burst into tears. I couldn’t stand the way I felt. I didn’t want to be the person I’d turned into.
I did feel marginally better when Azurus reached me. Instead of merely sitting on the bench with me, he scooped me into his arms and sat so that he could hold me close. I clung to him, even though it was undignified for a prince, and buried my face against his shoulder, breathing in his rain-soaked scent.
Actually, that did make me feel better. I could tolerate myself and the black emotions that hung over me when I was touching Azurus, when I felt his arms around me. It wasn’t exactly going into heat or bonding, like I should have been doing, but it was a tiny shred of hope when I really needed it.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, fighting not to sob as I hid against him. “I don’t know why I’m like this. I don’t know why I can’t just be happier.”
“I don’t know either,” Azurus said, stroking a hand over my back. That felt good, too. Azurus then surprised me by saying, “I don’t know, but I think I know someone who can help us.”
I lifted my head so I could stare at him. Two things he said gave me pause. He knew someone who could help? And he considered us an “us”, despite how wretched I was?
“My mother,” Azurus said before I could ask any of my questions out loud. “She is all-knowing and full of love. She lives to help her people, to help people everywhere. I know that she will have the answer to how to break you out of this darkness you’ve fallen into.”
I swallowed hard. “Are you certain that Queen Gaia would stoop low enough to concern herself with me?” I asked in a quiet voice.
