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Ignoring his hand, I glance over at Matitus. “Eat,” he orders. I suddenly don’t feel like eating and certainly don’t trust my stomach to keep it down. My hands tremble slightly as I pick up the fork and push the food around the plate. Matitus starts eating, Dragus using his hand that wasn’t on my leg, picks up a bread roll and bites into it.

“Why am I here?” I ask cautiously.

Dragus squeezes my thigh making me look at him. “Enough questions. Eat,” he says pointing at my plate.

“I’m not hungry, can I just go back to the room?” I ask, not liking the way he is watching me. Dragus sighs and Matitus speaks up.

“Eat Elora, I will answer your questions once that plate is empty,” he says tapping my plate with his fork. I look at the plate. There is no way I am going to be able to eat all that, there is way too much roasted vegetables and meat. My grandmother and I could have made what’s on the plate last three days between us. I pick up the fork and stab a piece of potato, popping it in my mouth and chewing slowly. The entire meal continues in such a way. They ate theirs and I picked at mine. When they finish, they watch me, making me nervous. I can’t stomach anymore and know if I do continue to eat, I am going to make myself sick. Them watching me wasn’t helping my sickly feeling.

“You barely touched your food, Elora,” says Dragus.

“I can’t eat that much. It is too much,” I tell him. He growls low, making me shift uncomfortably.

“Leave her be, Dragus, she can’t eat it. Silas will deal with her when he gets home. Let it go for now.”

I peer up at the mention of Silas’s name. I didn’t like how they kept mentioning him and it made me curious as to what he wanted with me. Everyone fears the Dragon Kings for obvious reasons but Silas… No one even liked mentioning his name. I have heard it whispered over the years, the entire city is aware of who he is. He is the worst of the three Dragon Kings, known for being the cruelest. He kills without hesitation just for someone glancing in his direction.

Dragus sighs, his grip on my leg a little too tight.

Abigail steps out, glancing between the three of us before lowering her head. She clears the plates quickly, never meeting my eyes until she reaches the door.

Just before leaving, she gives me a sad smile—a look that sends a ripple of unease through me.

“Do you know about Dragon Mates?” Matitus asks, pulling my attention away from the door Abigail left out. I nod slowly

“Yes, most creatures have mates except humans and Fae,” I answer. He nods. I think his question is strange until he speaks again, making my blood run cold.

“We believe you are our mate, and we will know for sure once Silas is back. The mate pull will be stronger when he arrives, and we will know for sure.”

I look between them; knowing my shock must be on display because I see Matitus smirk cruelly. I shake my head. This can’t be happening. I feel nothing, only fear for them.

“When Silas gets back, we will mark you and start the mating process. Once you’re marked, you will feel the mate bond,” Dragus says beside me, making me jump to my feet. Dragus growls, reaching over and grabbing my hand and ripping me back down into my seat.

“You wanted to know why you’re here and we answered. Now stay in your seat, you haven’t been dismissed yet,” he growls, making goosebumps rise on my skin.

“I will never mate with any of you,” I say, my voice shaking with fear at the thought.

“Who said you had a choice?” Matitus says, raising an eyebrow.

“You will willingly or not but you are ours now,” Matitus says.

Dragus grip on my wrist tightened, and I hiss slightly at the pain shooting through my wrist and arm.

“Silas will be back in the morning. It would be in your best interest not to provoke him,” Dragus mutters menacingly. I shake my head, words failing me for a few moments. I can’t believe the shit show my life has become. Surely no one is this cruel to make me a Dragon’s mate let alone three. Now come to think of it, Dragus is a Werewolf, isn’t he?

“How can I be all three of your mates? You aren’t even a Dragon, are you?” I ask, looking at Dragus.

“I am a Dragon hybrid. My mother was a wolf, my father a Dragon,” he answers, letting go slightly, making my wrist stop throbbing from his intense grip.

“So, you are both?”

“Yes, I can’t shift into either, but I get some of both their traits.”

I try to pull my wrist back, and he pulls my hand onto his lap. Not wanting to anger him, I let my hand rest there and he let me go, nodding approvingly.

“So, all three of you are mates?”

“Yes,” Matitus says, watching me carefully.