Page 17 of Treylon
Rosalie caught his hand. “I asked them to give me a moment. Are you all right?”
“Only you would be thinking of my welfare when you’re so battered,” he said, tucking a wisp of hair behind her ear. “How can you ever forgive me for getting you into such a deadly situation?”
“You got me out of it too,” she said, unwilling to let him blame himself. “And if I’d told you about the weird handyman sooner, you would have taken precautions to protect us, so I’m at fault as well.”
“There is no fault,” he declared.
“You’re being high handed again,” she told him with a smile to soften the remark, gesturing at the room. “Having me brought up here?—”
“May I kiss you?” he asked, interrupting her rambling.
“I’d like that very much.” She closed her eyes as he gently placed his lips on hers. The kiss was tender and Trey hugged her to him, loosening his hold after she winced in pain.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered as they parted.
“Not today, I’m not.” She fingered her damaged hair. “Have you seen my face?”
Trey shook his head. “I’m sorry for your pain and suffering and I’d give anything to take it away but those marks are all on the surface. I mean you’re beautiful here, inside.” He tapped her chest exactly where the odd bruise was located. “Do you want to know what the mark over your heart means?”
Surprised, she stared at him. “You know?”
“It’s a fated mate mark,” he said, holding her hand. “It means you and I had the potential to become fated mates.”
“Had the potential?” His use of the past tense gutted her.
Stroking her undamaged cheek tenderly, he said, “Only because I’ve fallen completely and utterly in love with you. The fact I’d accepted you as my fated mate is what gave me the ability to transform into the dragon, as I’m told you refer to my other form. There are certain bloodlines on Ardanna who carry the potential to shift into other beings but only if they’ve met and bonded with their fated mate.”
“Maxxil said something about that earlier but he was vague. He told me the last one who could do it was your great grandfather?”
“Yes. Our family’s ability to become teomiku or ‘smiters with fire’ is part of why we rule over Ardanna, even though not every king or queen has been able to do so.”
“But how can that be?”
“The legend is a spaceship crashed on Ardanna Prime thousands of years ago and the alien crew intermarried with local men and women.” He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “We have proof in the royal vaults but it’s kept top secret.”
“I see. It was incredibly impressive, whatever the reason for why you can do it.”
“Only because I have a fated mate—you.” He went down on one knee, holding her hand and used his free hand to pull an ornate golden box from the pocket of his utilities. “Rosalie Lenox, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” He flicked the catch on the box with one finger and the lid slowly rose to reveal a huge ring with an oval center stone, faceted like a diamond, with dancing points of light inside, but also opalescent colors flickering. Diamonds surrounded it and the golden band was a coiled dragon. “I had a whole elaborate evening planned for us, where I was going to ask for your hand in a much more romantic manner. I’d ordered the family engagement ring sent out here by the fastest royal courier because gods only know what disasters would befall if we didn’t have the ring.”
Rosalie touched the ring with her fingertip, barely managing not to cry with joy. “Are you sure? Fated mate or not, I’m probably not the princess anyone expects you to marry.”
“You’re the woman I choose to marry and make my princess,” he said firmly. “I won’t lie, there will be challenges ahead but we’ll face them together. You’re kind and beautiful and smart, sexy as hell and perfect for me. The damn IDA algorithm got that right.” His grin was infectious and she had to smile despite her worries.
She gazed into his eyes. “And you swear you’ll stand with me? Back me up? No matter what your parents or your people say about us?”
“Absolutely. Anyone who dares to question you, challenges me. You’re a strong person as I’ve observed but together we have an unbreakable strength. And don’t forget, I can become a teomiku if all else fails. Please, Rosalie? Make me the happiest man in the Sectors?”
She launched herself off the bed into his arms and he caught her as she knew he would, rising to his feet with her in his arms. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you. I’ll even wear the gigantic ring to make you happy.” The mate mark on her chest tingled and warmth spread throughout her body from the spot.
He kissed her with passion and she answered his need, heedless of the aches and pains in her body, although Trey pulled back a bit to be mindful of her injuries.
“I wish we could put this bed to good use right now,” he said regretfully. “Seal our engagement in the proper manner but I can tell you’re not up for it yet. Did Maxxil tell you we have a rejuve resonator here in the medbay? A short session in there and you’ll be good as new and we can use the bed in our shared quarters to celebrate tonight and every night thereafter.”
“I can’t wait,” she said. It was unheard of in the Sectors for a civilian to be treated in one of the rare and incredibly expensive medical machines, which were officially reserved for the military. Recalling Trey was a soldier of Ardannan and the ship she was on right now was probably a military vessel, she was thankful for the opportunity.
“Delain sent you a new wardrobe, by the way,” Trey said. “It was the least he could do. I had the clothing and accessories unpacked in my quarters here. I sent Sannami and the other girl on a shopping expedition to get you whatever else a lady might need and that’s been delivered as well.”
“I’ll have to thank them profusely,” she said. “I suppose Delain had my sizes from my shopping trip with the gift certificate I won. I’ll be glad to change out of this hospital gown for sure.”
