“No?” Her shocked tone would have been laughable had the situation not been so dire. “You dare deny me?”
He glared at her. “I’m just a dumb animal, incapable of understanding the complexities of how your society works. In my world, the rules are simple. I have a mate and I belong to her, and no one else.”
“And she would be the first to lead you naked to my bed and chain you there if I asked it of her. Are you too stupid to comprehend that?”
Even more furious, he’d started to deny it. But deep down in his heart, he knew Nala was telling the truth. At every turn, Sera had shown him that she would submit to her queen, no matter how ridiculous or mean the command.
How humiliating.
Still, he wasn’t going to accept this. Not without a fight. “Then get Sera’s permission. But without it… I won’t do this. She is my dragonswan. My loyalty and heart go first to her.”
Nala had backhanded him. “And hers go to me, you stupid bastard!” She reached for him again.
This time, Max had grabbed her arm and forced her back, toward the opening of the tent. “I will not fuck you, bitch! I don’t care who you are. You are not my Sera and I don’t want your human ass in my bed.” He’d shoved her away so forcefully that she’d stumbled and fallen through the opening, outside the tent.
Knowing if he stayed, he’d probably kill her, Max had immediately gathered his sword and a few supplies, and left the village to head for his cave to wait for Sera’s return. This was the only place he ever felt as if he belonged. Where no one mocked or belittled him.
He’d turned to his dragon form as soon as he could and flew to the safety of his only haven. Sera would be furious over this. He knew it. She never liked it whenever he angered her queen. There would be plenty of screaming to come later.
But he wasn’t a whore to be bartered. And while he’d do anything to please his mate, this was where he drew the line. He would deal with Sera’s fury. But he was through being treated like an inanimate object with no will of his own.
Yes, his heart was that of an animal. Loyal. Fierce. Protective. He didn’t understand the duplicity and lies of her people. Most of all, he didn’t understand the betrayal and sneakiness.
Honestly, he wished Sera could understand why he didn’t want to stay home without her.
These are my sisters. We take care of each other.
Do I not care for you?
It’s not the same, Maxis. You don’t understand the bond of sisterhood we share. I have an oath to uphold.
And what of our bond? Your word to your mate?
The Fates forced us together.
The same Fates who put you with your sisters. Your ties to them are no stronger than your ties to me. So no, I don’t understand your loyalty to them over that of your own mate. Why will you not come away with me?
I can’t leave everything I know to be with you.
Why not? I left my world for you.
It’s not the same.
Because I’m not human?
And there the argument always stopped, because it all came down to that one fact. He was an animal unworthy of her human’s heart.
She’d dreamed of finding a man to love. Max would never be anything except a disappointment to her. No matter what he said or did. When she looked into his eyes, she didn’t see a man there.
She saw an untamed beast. One who embarrassed her.
Heartbroken over the anger he knew she’d unleash on him when she returned, he’d lumbered into his cave where he’d gathered all the items that fell under his aegis and damned every one of them. With his tail, he whipped at them, hating what he was.
Hating the fact that his dragon’s heart loved a human woman who was incapable of loving him.
And that was why he stayed, in spite of the animosity and challenges.
Because deep inside, where he hated it most, was the hope that one day Sera would look past his heart and see his soul that belonged to her. That she would learn not to despise him for something he couldn’t help any more than she could help being born into a group of mean-spirited bitches.
But hopes and dreams were for humans.
And so it appeared, was love.
Seraphina pulled away as she came back to her own body. For a full minute, she couldn’t move or breathe as she listened to the steady beating of Maxis’s heart. As she replayed his memories and felt a blinding rage consume her.
This time, it wasn’t at him. It was for the ones who truly deserved it.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she whispered.
“You never listened.”
He was right. Pushing herself up, she stared down into those wounded eyes and traced the line of his lips with the tip of her fingertips. “I’m so sorry.” For the first time, she saw humanity through his eyes and understood exactly what Aimee had meant.
All her life, she’d focused on the clan of Katagaria that had attacked her village and killed her mother. She still didn’t know why they’d done that.