“Mira stays until the Caller bonds her to a rider.” He smiled and patted Marissa’s hand.
“But I raised her—”
“And you did a fine job, but Critons are not pets.”
“To call Mira yours would be selfish,” Marissa added with a solemn nod.
Regin’s voice lowered. “This conversation is over. That Criton should’ve been part of the negotiation if you wanted her.”
As if Mira knew she was the topic of discussion, the little beast issued a low, plaintive wail before slamming her tail against the metal hitching post.
Marek could only see Carina’s profile, but he noticed her cringe when Mira’s tail smacked the rail. Although Carina stood tall, the single tear that bubbled over her eyelid and tumbled down her cheek betrayed her. Seeing her pain and McKay’s indifference ignited a primitive urge to protect what Marek now considered his. He couldn’t explain the irrational feeling coursing through his blood, but it gripped him with a strength he was powerless to resist.
He stepped in close and placed his hand on the small of Carina’s back. She jumped at his touch, but held her ground and looked at him with large, sorrowful eyes. With forced restraint, he struggled to maintain a measure of decorum. “King McKay, since Carina is fond of this Criton, maybe we can come to an agreement.”
The sparkle in Regin’s eyes at the prospect of increasing his wealth at Carina’s expense turned Marek’s stomach.
“Of course, everything is open to discussion. I’d hate for Carina to leave her precious Criton behind.” Regin tapped his finger against his lips in contemplation. “Because Mira hasn’t transitioned yet, she still has great potential and deserves a high price.”
Of course. Marek thought. Since he’d started the negotiation, he was obliged to continue, but Carina turned and stayed the words in his throat by placing her hand on his chest. Wrapped within his arm, she molded perfectly into his embrace.
With a small, amazing smile, she whispered so only he could hear. “You honor me, but my father enjoys tormenting me in this manner and his offer will be unreasonable.” She lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. “Please, let’s leave now so he cannot demean me further.”
Marek enfolded his hand over hers, keeping both their hands on his chest. Her eyes widened as if she just realized they were touching. “Are you certain?”
Tears loomed, but she blinked them away. “Yes, Marek. Please, take me from this place.”
Using his name to make her request whispered through him like a soft wind, but commanded him with the force of a hurricane, and he could not deny her. “Then so shall it be,” he murmured.
“Never mind, King McKay. Carina has changed her mind.” Marek almost smiled when Regin’s mouth dropped open in a momentary lapse of composure.
Marek guided Carina to FireStrike. After securing her newly acquired weapons, he stepped into the stirrup and swung his leg over the saddle. When Carina secured her foot in the stirrup, he pulled her up so she could sit behind him.
“Ready?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
With a gentle nudge, FireStrike’s muscled hind legs hurtled them off the ground as his powerful wings propelled them upward. FireStrike huffed out a massive roar and his band of Critons answered, jumping into the air to follow their Alpha.
After the bellows subsided, Mira’s screams pierced the countryside. Knowing that the animal’s pitiful wails were ripping Carina’s sensitive heart apart, Marek urged FireStrike into a blistering pace grateful to be leaving King McKay, his horrible daughter, and Mira’s shrieking behind.
12 – FIRST NIGHT
Marek didn’t slow down until they were far beyond McKay’s border. Carina remained a silent shadow at his back, her hands resting on his waist the only indication she sat behind him. Her confidence around the large, intimidating Critons fascinated him. He’d never encountered a woman like her—strong and independent,
“But I raised her—”
“And you did a fine job, but Critons are not pets.”
“To call Mira yours would be selfish,” Marissa added with a solemn nod.
Regin’s voice lowered. “This conversation is over. That Criton should’ve been part of the negotiation if you wanted her.”
As if Mira knew she was the topic of discussion, the little beast issued a low, plaintive wail before slamming her tail against the metal hitching post.
Marek could only see Carina’s profile, but he noticed her cringe when Mira’s tail smacked the rail. Although Carina stood tall, the single tear that bubbled over her eyelid and tumbled down her cheek betrayed her. Seeing her pain and McKay’s indifference ignited a primitive urge to protect what Marek now considered his. He couldn’t explain the irrational feeling coursing through his blood, but it gripped him with a strength he was powerless to resist.
He stepped in close and placed his hand on the small of Carina’s back. She jumped at his touch, but held her ground and looked at him with large, sorrowful eyes. With forced restraint, he struggled to maintain a measure of decorum. “King McKay, since Carina is fond of this Criton, maybe we can come to an agreement.”
The sparkle in Regin’s eyes at the prospect of increasing his wealth at Carina’s expense turned Marek’s stomach.
“Of course, everything is open to discussion. I’d hate for Carina to leave her precious Criton behind.” Regin tapped his finger against his lips in contemplation. “Because Mira hasn’t transitioned yet, she still has great potential and deserves a high price.”
Of course. Marek thought. Since he’d started the negotiation, he was obliged to continue, but Carina turned and stayed the words in his throat by placing her hand on his chest. Wrapped within his arm, she molded perfectly into his embrace.
With a small, amazing smile, she whispered so only he could hear. “You honor me, but my father enjoys tormenting me in this manner and his offer will be unreasonable.” She lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. “Please, let’s leave now so he cannot demean me further.”
Marek enfolded his hand over hers, keeping both their hands on his chest. Her eyes widened as if she just realized they were touching. “Are you certain?”
Tears loomed, but she blinked them away. “Yes, Marek. Please, take me from this place.”
Using his name to make her request whispered through him like a soft wind, but commanded him with the force of a hurricane, and he could not deny her. “Then so shall it be,” he murmured.
“Never mind, King McKay. Carina has changed her mind.” Marek almost smiled when Regin’s mouth dropped open in a momentary lapse of composure.
Marek guided Carina to FireStrike. After securing her newly acquired weapons, he stepped into the stirrup and swung his leg over the saddle. When Carina secured her foot in the stirrup, he pulled her up so she could sit behind him.
“Ready?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
With a gentle nudge, FireStrike’s muscled hind legs hurtled them off the ground as his powerful wings propelled them upward. FireStrike huffed out a massive roar and his band of Critons answered, jumping into the air to follow their Alpha.
After the bellows subsided, Mira’s screams pierced the countryside. Knowing that the animal’s pitiful wails were ripping Carina’s sensitive heart apart, Marek urged FireStrike into a blistering pace grateful to be leaving King McKay, his horrible daughter, and Mira’s shrieking behind.
12 – FIRST NIGHT
Marek didn’t slow down until they were far beyond McKay’s border. Carina remained a silent shadow at his back, her hands resting on his waist the only indication she sat behind him. Her confidence around the large, intimidating Critons fascinated him. He’d never encountered a woman like her—strong and independent,
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