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“I’m not some gold digger! I wasn’t looking for him. He found me. And I still don’t know if I’m even going to accept any of this.” I wave a hand around in the air.
Cyrus ignores me and looks at his brother. “Don’t do this.”
I poke him in the chest. “What if you’re wrong? What happens then? What if I am his mate? You’d kill your own brother for nothing. You’d rob me of my mate and your people of their King. Is that what you really want?”
For a moment, there’s a flicker of grief in his expression. He doesn’t want to do this any more than Midas does. An idea tugs at the back of my mind, hazy, but hopeful.
Then Cyrus’ face hardens. “I want what’s best for my people. An heir to the Ra line. A king who will defend our people and avenge our parents. A Ra’a who deserves the crown.”
I swallow, knowing I don’t. But I want to. And I think the first step towards being worthy of this horde is to stop this challenge. That’s what I need to do in order to prove to myself, Cyrus, and all the others that I can be the Queen they need.
I just have to figure out how.
“Go,” Midas says. It’s clear he’s barely holding himself back from attacking his brother right here and now.
Again, that tortured look momentarily flies across Cyrus’ face. “Don’t do this, brother. Just come clean and abdicate the throne. You can stop this fight.”
“I could say the same to you.” Midas snakes an arm possessively around my waist and pulls me into his side. “I don’t want to fight you. But I will. For Jeslyn. There is no part of me that can go on without her.”
I look up at him and see so much love reflected in his gaze that my knees go weak. I entirely forget that Cyrus is in the room. All I see is my dragon.
“I’ll see you at the challenge,” Cyrus says, disrupting our moment with the slam of a door and retreating footsteps.
“I’m sorry you had to hear that.” Midas kisses my forehead, holding me close. “None of what he said is true, Ra’a.”
I don’t argue with him. I just silently plan how I can live up to his belief in me, how I can stop either of these brothers from killing the other. Because it’s clear neither of them wants to do this, and I think I might be the only one who can stop it.
I just need to get Cyrus alone.
Chapter 23
It’s difficult to find time alone when you have an over-protective, possessive dragon mate glued to your side and making you come at all hours of the day. Not that I’m complaining—there’s nowhere I’d rather be than with him—but the closer we get to the end of the week, the more my anxiety grows.
I need to meet with Cyrus and the only way I can see to do that is to get another dragon to help me. Midas won’t, and I don’t think Lennox will either. He’s too loyal to Midas to be my ally in this.
On the fifth day of Goddess Week, I finally spot an opportunity. At least, I hope it will provide an opportunity.
There’s a Transformation Ceremony happening today. A human male found his dragon mate and has decided to go through the transformation to be with her.
Midas and I ride to the temple on Lennox's back this time. When we land on the island, I pause, looking through the open archways at the crowd. It seems like the entire horde has turned out to watch. At least this time, everyone is dressed.
Midas hasn’t told me much about what will happen during the transformation, and my curiosity is almost outweighing my need to talk with Cyrus.
“So,” I say. “This is what will happen if I decide to become a dragon?”
“Yes,” Midas answers slowly after handing a bundle of clothes to Lennox.
He turns and starts to walk into the temple, but I stop him with a palm on his chest. “What aren’t you telling me?”
He takes my arms in his hands. “Most likely, your transformation will be exactly the same as today.”
“Unless?” I prompt.
“Unless someone calls for a test. If the horde has reason to doubt that the human in question is the dragon’s fated mate, they can call for a Ro’ta’da.”
“Is it like the challenge to the throne? Will I have to fight someone like you have to fight your brother?”
“No.” He cups my chin and looks deep into my eyes. “It’s—”
