Read Online Broken Heart 08 Must Love Lycans by Michele Bardsley - Free Book Online Page B

it seemed finely cut and expensive, yet her feet were as bare as mine. On her head rested a crown that seemed to be woven from both polished wood and gold; in its center was a bloodred ruby the size of a kiwi.
    “I am the Moon Goddess and this is my mate, Tark.” My gaze was drawn to where the woman’s hand rested on the scruff of a very large black wolf. His collar was made of the same materials as the lady’s crown, with the same size and shape ruby. His jade green gaze assessed me in such a haughty manner that I immediately felt unworthy of his scrutiny.
    He reminded me of Damian—not only that familiar green gaze, but the proud stance, the arrogant tilt to his head. He didn’t look too thrilled with me, and I took a step back.
    “You’re frightening her, darling. Be nice.”
    Tark snorted and raised his snout. Hoo-kay. Was that wolf gesture for “I won’t eat you now, but watch it”?
    “Where am I?” I asked.
    “I redirected your consciousness. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to visit Damian’s intended. You are an unusual choice for a lycan bride,” she said, her brown eyes assessing me. “But I approve.”
    The wolf barked, turning his visage to the lady, his head cocked in a silent query.
    “What else can we do?” she asked him. “Damian has been lost to us for so long. He must reclaim his rightful place as the crown prince. He must heal the wounds of his past and look to the future.”
    “I know I’m dreaming,” I said. “And I know I have this very inappropriate … er, thing for Damian. But maybe you could explain. You know, everything.”
    “There’s no time to explain it all,” she said. “I’ll try to cover the basics. Damian and his brothers are royal lycanthropes—the only ones. You see, they can trace their bloodlines directly to me. They are different from the other lycans, just as the full-bloods are different from the Roma.”
    I blinked. I latched on to the last of her words because the rest made no sense. “What’s a Roma?”
    The lady sighed. “I’m going about this completely wrong. We have so little time and there is much you must know.”
    The wolf yipped, putting a paw onto her thigh. She leaned down and planted a kiss on the wolf’s snout. “Yes, darling. Of course.” She looked at me. “Damian abandoned everything he once held dear because he believes that he failed his people. He also believes that I abandoned him. Neither he nor his brothers will talk to me. Not anymore. I used to hear their prayers every night. After Danielle died, they stopped.”
    The wolf at her side whined and she tugged on his ear.
    “Who’s Danielle?”
    “His adopted sister. She was orphaned when she was only an infant and she was raised as royalty with the triplets. She was killed, and her death broke Damian’s heart. He couldn’t forgive himself for not saving her.”
    Damian had said his sister died. Was this … No. I was creating this fiction. I was dreaming, and wow, my mind was working overtime to fill in the blanks of Damian’s life.
    “The full-bloods are dying, their numbers dwindling. They have no faith,” she said sadly. “They are lonely for the old ways, the times when they had a real community. Damian believes that his time is past, that another rules that which belongs to him. This is, of course, incorrect.”
    Tark barked in a way that seemed to convey annoyance.
    “They are still werewolves,” she admonished. “And you know they have a different destiny from our dear ones.” She drew in a breath and offered me a dazzling smile. “Damian has chosen you.”
    “Chosen me for what?” I felt a vague panic swishing around inside me.
    “To be his mate.” Her tone had gone quiet, serious.
    This was the craziest dream I’d ever had. I wasn’t the mate of anyone, much less the schizophrenic who’d attacked me. “Damian thinks he’s a werewolf. You’re saying he bit me so he could … uh, marry me?”
    “I really wish we could skip the ‘convince