Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
He claimed a spot equally distant from the two men in front, with the women enclosed between them. Before she could whisper a question to Ciel or Aurora, one large shifter ordered everyone back to their original spot and asked Khadar to guard them from the rear.
She didn’t have to worry about whether she was invited to go. Aurora and Ciel each took an arm and drew her with the group. Lalani couldn’t resist the urge to glance over her shoulder at the man following them. When she found him watching her, she shivered at the feel of his gaze fixed on her—was this how prey felt in the presence of a hunter? Quickly, she focused on the path ahead.
The crowd separated, allowing them safe and easy passage through the crowd. Ciel grabbed the arm of the woman who had clothed her and pulled her into the safe zone. The group reached a raised dais in the room's corner. Lalani stepped up, grateful to have some division from the main floor. Pausing to focus on the Wyvern town folk, she relaxed. The mood of those passing was jovial and excited. There were just so many of them that the massive surge was hard to withstand.
Movement caught her attention, and she watched one large dragon shifter lift Ciel into his arms. He whispered something into her ear, and color flooded her new friend’s face. What was he telling her? She turned to check with Aurora that everything was okay and found herself face to face with Khadar. Unable to stop herself, she scanned his powerful body, marveling how his clothing failed to conceal his chiseled muscles.
“Little one.”
She looked up at him, feeling her face heat in embarrassment. Stop checking him out!
His eyes flashed green, wiping all thoughts from her mind.
It didn’t scare Lalani. In fact, she took a step closer to him. Her mouth rounded in an O of surprise as he lowered himself smoothly to kneel on one leg. He reached out a hand in a silent request for hers. Unable to resist, she placed her palm on his.
When his fingers closed around her hand, she felt a flash of pain and tried to yank her arm back. “Ouch!” she said when he held her hand, trapped.
“I’m sorry, Little one. The discomfort is fleeting. I hope it’s better now,” he said and squeezed Lalani’s fingers lightly before releasing her.
Surprised to find he was correct, she looked at her hand, trying to see what had hurt her. She saw a vague pattern of dots. “What did you do to me?” she asked, moving her hand behind her back.
“It wasn’t just me. It’s the combination of both of us. I’ve been searching for you,” he shared. “I am Khadar. What is your name?”
He’s been searching for me? When he looked at her as if he was waiting for an answer, she seized on the last thing she remembered him saying. “I’ve never met a Khadar before.”
“It’s ancient, referring to a lush green land. Who are you?”
“I’m Lalani. I know it’s a really sexy for someone like me.”
“What do you mean by someone like you?” he asked. She watched his eyebrows draw together in concern, like he didn’t know what she meant.
“It’s Hawaiian. My dad loved it. It means royal child of heaven. That’s a pretty lofty name for someone ordinary.” Lalani didn’t know why she was still talking. She never said anything—especially not to strangers.
“You are not to speak poorly about yourself.” Khadar looked at her sternly, and her heart skipped a beat at his stern tone.
That shouldn’t make me hot.
Dragging her thoughts back to reality, Lalani didn’t argue with him. He was just being nice. There was no way this handsome man would be interested in her, despite his elegant manners in kneeling before her. She’d probably never see Khadar again.
“Sorry to waste your time. I’ll let you get back to the celebration,” she said quickly and dashed into the crowd, feeling bad that she didn’t take time to thank Ciel and Aurora for coming to her aid.
“Wait, Lalani.” Khadar’s voice followed her.
She looked back to see the concern on his face as he rose and started after her. Lalani ducked around a group of tall men and tried to fade into the crowd. She didn’t get very far before pain lanced through her chest. Pressing a hand to her heart, she mentally begged, Please don’t let me be having a heart attack. It felt like her heart was being torn in two.
Warm arms wrapped around her and pulled Lalani close. Lalani knew his identity without looking but glanced over her shoulder to see Khadar. Her body recognized him by feel alone.
“Princess. You will hurt yourself. The mate bond will demand that we’re in close proximity until our mating.”
“Our m—mating?” she stuttered.