Page 30 of Claimed by the Savage Dragons
‘He needs something to show the others that he’s worthy, more than just killing Morcai. Once, that would have been enough, but the world has changed, and we’ve changed with it. He needs something that will ensure the clan’s loyalty to him.’
‘But what?’
‘Females perhaps. If he could entice some factionless ones to join us, or some from other factions, perhaps that would be enough. The last youngling born to the Stormriders was overtwenty years ago. There haven’t been any viable pregnancies since then. We only have a few females in the entire faction, and they aren’t breeding. Why? There must be a reason.’
‘The toxins in the air, perhaps. The fallout from the humans’ temper tantrums?’ Tor murmurs. ‘Many of the humans have the same problems. There are far fewer of them now, and it wasn’t just the bombs that killed them. It was the aftermath. Perhaps their numbers are waning as well, we just haven’t realized because there were billions of them to our few thousand before the Fall.’
‘Perhaps,’ I murmur, looking down at the human.
I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, to start to panic and realize that what I’m doing will have lasting and acute consequences, not just to my life, but to Tor and Drey, to our entire faction potentially, and of course, to the girl herself. But I’m not worried, not even about turning up with her in tow, irrevocably bound to us according to our laws. In fact, I can’t wait to see the look on Aziel’s face when he finds out she won’t be his to bend and break and use as leverage. He’s been looking forward to demanding the Tribute, I know he has, and it’s been far too long since he was taken down a peg or two.
‘What’s her name?’ I ask.
‘Mari.’
‘Mari,’ I echo, and she groans at my use of her name, her eyes fluttering a little.
Anticipation coils through me. If she knew our plan, I have no doubt she’d feign sleep for a while yet. I should try to get to know her a little. She’s about to become what in human terms would be a wife to two dragons. But the truth is, there isn’t time. If Tor wants her safe, we need to do it as soon as possible to give our scents time to mingle with hers enough to settle. Then, there can be no argument from Aziel, or the others. There will be no going back.
‘Who are you?’ she asks, and I find her eyes on me, looking her fill.
I almost preen at the way her gaze moves over me. She likes my appearance. I’m sure of it.
That should make this go easier.
‘We need to talk,’ Tor says.
Chapter Four
MARI
Isit up, trepidation making my stomach churn as I take in the second mandragonleaning over me. His eyes don’t leave me.
‘Is it time to go already?’ I ask in a small voice, hating that it quivers.
Tor shakes his head. ‘Not yet. There’s something we need to discuss with you.’
The other one snorts. ‘Discussdenotes there’s a choice to be made. There isn’t.’
Tor gives his friend an annoyed look. ‘This is Abraxus. Brax. He’s Dreythos’ first lieutenant.’
‘Dreythos?’ I ask.
‘Our faction’s leader.’
Oh.
‘He was sent to find me because…’ Tor trails off, seeming to be grasping for what to say.
‘Because Orin said he was hurt,’ Brax finishes for him, and he nods, looking relieved though I’m not sure why.
They both glance at each other for a moment and something passes between them.
‘Just tell her quickly. Like ripping off one of those… A Band-Aid.’
Tor frowns at his friend, but when he opens his mouth, Brax beats him to it like a little kid who can’t keep a secret.
‘Tor would rather not bring you with us, but that’s not an option.’
