Call of the Dragon (Return to Avalore Book 1) (33 page)

“You did what needed to be done to protect our people, Rhia. There is no shame in it, only honor.” His warmth enveloped her, soothing her frayed nerves as no words could. Sitting on the bed next to her, Drake took her hand.

When she opened her mouth to speak again, Drake raised his other hand, stopping her.

“I have to talk to you about something, but you have to promise you’ll listen to everything I have to say before you make a decision.” Rolling his shoulders as if trying to release some tension, he waited for her to agree.

His nervousness swamped her. “Okay, I promise.”

“Yesterday, when you told your father you’d seen us dancing in your dreams, I remembered something my mother once told me. It was a long time ago, and I was just a child, so I had to do some research to see if any of it were true.” Raking his fingers through his hair, he stood and began pacing. “A few generations ago, there was a queen who’d claimed she’d had a vision where a young queen would be torn between the old traditions and her own free will. From what I’ve gathered, Queen Elyssa, your great-great-great-grandmother was able to convince The Elders the women of Avalore should be given the freedom to choose their mates.”

Her heart raced. Was he telling her he’d found a loophole? Was there a way out of this mess?

“I would have come to you with the information sooner, but by the time I’d verified its accuracy, you’d already left.” The bitter tone in his voice told her he still wasn’t happy, but the pain behind it made her breath catch.

“I was coming back. I was lost and I’d gone too far to reach you. I was waiting for you to connect with me again when Bethania showed up.” He
had
to believe her. Yeah, she’d run away. She was hurt and scared, but once she’d let go of the grief and calmed down a little, she’d decided to come back.

“I can’t talk about that yet.” His jaw clenched. “For now, I have to tell you the rest. The Elders eventually did agree, but they did not make it easy. They imposed stipulations—steep stipulations.” Shaking his head, he started pacing again.

Whatever they wanted, she’d do it if it meant she could be with Drake. How bad could it be?

He hesitated, shaking his head again and sighing before speaking. “To even try to do this, Brody first has to agree to it. If he says no, then there’s nothing more we can do. We’re done.” He stopped pacing to look at her again.

“Fine, I’ll meet with him in the morning and explain the situation to him. I’d like to think he’d be reasonable about the whole thing.”

“The bond between mates is strong. They want his decision rendered free of guilt or pressure, so you can’t be the one to talk to him.”

She couldn’t even talk to the guy about it? “Okay, fine. Markus can do it, then. He told me they were good friends, maybe he can convince him.” She hated leaving her fate in someone else’s hands again. Talk about feeling powerless.

Taking a deep breath, he continued. “Even if Markus speaks with Brody, you won’t know his decision until it’s time to attempt the joining.” A low growl rumbled deep within his chest.

“What do you mean, until it’s time to attempt the joining?” She swallowed hard and sat a little higher in the bed.
Tell me I don’t still have to go through with it.
She hadn’t realized the sheet had slid down to expose her bare shoulders until she saw his eyes drift down and heard his soft moan. His Adam’s apple bobbed before his gaze slid back up to hers.

“Even if he agrees, they’ll still try to join you. The Elders will not believe they were wrong. If the ceremony is unsuccessful, as it would only be if he weren’t your true mate, then, and only then, can you invoke Elyssa’s Clause.”

“Wow, they really didn’t make it easy, did they?” The sheet slid further, exposing a good amount of cleavage as it did.

“Rhia, where are your clothes?” His choked words had warmth flooding her body, making her nipples harden against the soft linen.

“Umm, they’re over there.” She didn’t bother to try to cover up as she pointed to the chair where she’d laid them.

“You’re killing me.” The immediate shift in his attention had her moaning right along with him as his heat enflamed her body before he turned to pace away from her again. “I have to get through this.”

She’d planned to seduce him after their talk. It wasn’t her fault if the sheets weren’t cooperating. “Go on, I’m listening.”

“Once the joining is deemed unsuccessful, you’ll have to find Brody’s true mate. Considering you can’t ask for help, and you don’t know Brody, it’ll be next to impossible for you to know who she is. The woman you decide is his actual mate then has to agree to be joined. Remember, the woman always decides when she takes her mate.”

She should be worried by now, but deep inside, she knew it wouldn’t matter if they asked her to walk on water. She’d do it. Whatever it took, no questions asked. “What else?”

“Let’s say your joining is unsuccessful, and by some miracle, you’re able to figure out who his true mate is, and she agrees to be mated, then you and I could be joined.”

Her heart leapt. Okay, it wouldn’t be easy, but she could do it. When his whole body tensed and his head hung so low she couldn’t even see his eyes anymore, she got worried. There was more, and by his reaction, it wasn’t going to be good.

“Elyssa’s Clause is a one shot deal, Rhia. If we aren’t successful in joining, then that would be it. There’d be no other mate for you. The Elders won’t reconvene.” His resigned sigh spoke volumes. “Think about it, Rhia. If we’re not true mates…” He swallowed hard, shaking his head. “If we’re not true mates, then you won’t be able to have children.” He paused again and lifted his head, looking her straight in the eye. “Considering you must bear a female child to carry on as Queen of Avalore after you…”

“I see.” Okay, that was a biggie.

“It’s an enormous risk. If we’re wrong, then all this will have been for nothing. If you can’t be joined to your true mate, then you won’t be able to produce the next queen for our people.”

She could barely hear herself think over the pounding of her heart. “Wow, no pressure, right?” She puffed out a breath before continuing. “So, if we’re wrong, I’m sentencing the entire species to extinction?” The pitch of her voice rose with every word.

“Yes.” In that one word, she heard both hope and fear, but it was the hope that made her heart soar. He
wanted
her to choose him. He wouldn’t come out and say it, his loyalty to their people wouldn’t allow it, but he wanted her to choose to invoke the clause.

“Well, now that’s just all kinds of messed up.” She took a long steadying breath. “So, no matter what, if he’s not my true mate, the joining won’t work, right?”

“Yes, but-”

“The way I see it, there’s no risk at all. I’m not Brody’s mate. Every fiber in my being tells me he’s not mine. You are.”

“Rhia.”

She smiled, unable to contain the hope budding inside her. “Trust me in this. I wouldn’t take the risk if I thought even for one second that I was wrong. I wouldn’t do that to the people of Avalore. I know it’s a huge decision, but I also know it’s the right one. Speaking of joining, do you think perhaps I might be able to convince you to come to bed now?” Wiggling her eyebrows, she allowed the sheets to slide down to her waist.

Stepping closer to the bed, he pulled his t-shirt over his head and tossed it to the side, making her mouth water at the sight of his rippling muscles. “I could be persuaded, though I have to warn you, worrying me like you did today isn’t without consequence.”

Heat pooled low in her core, making her heart race as he climbed onto the bed. “Oh?”

“You’re just lucky I’ve waited this long before putting you over my knee.”

“Is that right?” A soft feminine growl rumbled in her core, surprising him, making his breath quicken, and his pupils dilate further. “Let me introduce you to someone. I think you’ll like her ideas on how to work out your aggression a lot better.”

Covering her with his hard body, he sniffed the length of her neck, his deep, masculine growl answering her softer one. “I have a feeling this
someone
you want me to meet is just as feisty as you are. I think you both need a good spanking.”

Giggling, she tried to squirm away, but she was no match for Drake’s strength now that his dragon was aroused and had set its sights on her.

“Drake,” her giggling intensified, “you can’t spank me, I’m the Queen of Avalore.”

Chapter 27

A million butterflies took flight in Rhia’s stomach as The Elders climbed up the steps to the raised platform where the joining ceremony was to take place. The dais, built generations ago, was made of white stone. Flowers grew everywhere around it, blessing the area with their sweet scents. Many of her ancestors, including her own parents had joined their mates at this exact spot. She could only hope she’d find the same joy and happiness they all had.

This was it. If Markus hadn’t convinced Brody to let her invoke the clause, she was royally screwed. So much depended on the decision of a single man, one who she’d never met, no less. She hated being at someone else’s mercy. It just wasn’t right.

Heart pounded so loud she was sure everyone present could hear. It took everything in her just to keep from wiping her sweaty palms on the silky fabric of her gown. She just hoped she could pull it off. No, hope had nothing to do with it. She
had
to pull it off. It was one thing to doom herself to a solitary existence, but to sentence these people to extinction if she couldn’t produce a female child was more than she could bear.

Her trembling fingers rested against her belly as she smoothed the fabric of her gown. It clung to her figure in all the right places, hugging her curves with just enough modesty to be elegant, yet close enough to entice her mate. The strapless bodice fitted to her, but the bottom flowed in a cascade of soft silk around her legs, ending in a train of delicate lace.

Katie and Chantelle had outdone themselves, pinning her hair and lacing tiny flowers through it, the color of the little blossoms matching her eyes. Now, if she could just remember how to breathe.

The same elder woman who’d announced Brody as her mate stepped forward, lifting her hands to hush the gathered crowd before she began. “We are pleased to join you all today for this momentous celebration.” Gold, flowery vignettes adorned the cuffs and neckline of the woman’s vibrant red robe, making it shimmer in the sunlight.

Turning towards Rhia, she motioned for her to come join Brody where he stood at the center of the stage. “Rhiannon, Queen of Avalore, you have requested to be joined with your mate and have come here today to fulfill the joining. Is this your wish?” The woman’s strong voice carried over the crowd for all attendants to hear.

“Yes, it is.” She almost succeeded in keeping the tremble from her voice.

Brody had yet to meet her gaze. He was handsome enough with his dark blond hair and piercing blue eyes, but he wasn’t Drake, and she couldn’t imagine spending her life with him.
Please, please, please agree.

“Then let us begin.” The woman raised her arms in the air in front of her, weaving a pattern with her hands as she spoke. “Rhiannon, Queen of Avalore, this man has been brought forth as your predestined mate.” She turned to Broderick, her hands weaving a similar pattern in front of him. “Broderick Gardiner, you have been selected to be joined to this woman. Do you wish to be joined on this day?”

“Yes, I am prepared to be joined this day.” His face flushed red as he spoke the traditional words. His gruff voice made it sound like he was being sentenced to a long jail term rather than wedded bliss.

The woman turned to her again. “Rhiannon, do you accept to join with this man who has been determined to be your mate?”

All other sounds disappeared as she prepared to speak the words she’d practiced. Heat stole up her neck and onto her cheeks, her breaths coming in short, quick gasps as her heart galloped at full speed.
Please don’t let me pass out.
“I’m ready to take my true mate today, yes, but with all due respect, I believe an error was made in his selection.” Holding her breath, she waited for the woman’s reaction.

The woman’s icy blue eyes narrowed. “No error has been made, child.”

The silence of the crowd was deafening. Confused glances passed from one to the other as they waited to see what was to come.

“I know you’ve all gone to a lot of trouble to bring Broderick to me, but he is
not
my true mate.” She turned to Brody. “I’m so sorry. I hope you can understand. My heart and soul have chosen my mate for me. It wouldn’t be fair to either of us to be joined when my heart already belongs to someone else.” She took a deep breath before plowing forward. “I invoke Queen Elyssa’s Clause.”

She heard the collective gasps as everyone realized what she was proposing, but she didn’t care. She needed to know what Brody’s decision was. Her heart stuttered when he still wouldn’t meet her gaze.
Oh God, he can’t say no.

Katie and Chantelle both smiled at her, while most everyone else, other than Drake and her own family, frowned. They all knew the ramifications if she failed.

“Are you absolutely certain, Queen Rhiannon, this is what you wish to do?” The woman’s lips pursed as though she’d taken a bite of sour lemon. “You must know there are some very difficult tasks to perform in order to fulfill this clause, and the consequences, should you fail, are immense.”