how did he know her name? Scratch that, what was it he had said last befo

as growling so loudly that she found it hard to proc

she had always dreaded and wished she would never get the privileg

ace. The air between them hummed with raw power, a connection stronger than anything she had

d, their bodies almos

jected and find another mate right after. But she wasn't about to let

, stepping back instinctively. "If you'

ething that wasn't quite a sm

rowed. He wasn'

aven reached out, his fingers brushing against her wrist. A jolt of heat shot

," Draven murmured. "But

nd struggling to com

voice quieter th

flickering with something she couldn't

at his words. "Die

n a soft voice that made Zara's stomach churn both from t

sed to be here. My men are right over there...

s led me to you, Zara, but you need to head home right now!" He

before he turned and heade

**

help but voice her surprise when sh

fer to sleep over it instead." Zara

her cabin while Draven's words replayed in her min

rst time, she thought of her past rejections n

that made

messages from the mates who had cast her aside. But as she se

e effort to find them was futile. It had been posted just a few hours ago that a

ing some more research; all of her other mates who

Six mates. Six

a frantic rhythm. Zara spun, eyes narrowing as

ce, who was still fas

the window. The scent of earth and musk fil

barely audible over the night breeze. "Your bo

ened. "Who

shing in his eyes. "The others-they didn

her spine. "Wha

gently. "Neither is the King. Someone-something-is us

d, his eyes going wide with terror. A strangled gasp left his l

as Draven emerged from the shadows, his

was something wrong with him. His muscles tensed unnaturally, his

"What...what are you doing here,

for the first time, she wasn't

e in pain. His eyes flickered from black to mo

aven dropped to his knees, gripping his hea

ch him, a deep, inhuman voice that didn't se

too

er blood runn

ng onto hers with an intensity that ma

ng-was inside him. A