Authors: Paulette Miller
Tianna let out a large breath. “But I didn’t ask for this. Don’t I get a say?”
Marcus understood how she felt. “No one picks their destiny, destiny picks you. Your path brought you to us. We don’t know exactly what you’ll face in your future, but we do know that you aren’t alone. We’ll be right by your side.”
Gabriel added, “We’ll help you bring out the talents that are hidden within you and train you to use those skills to the best of your ability.”
For the next hour they tried desperately to calm Tianna’s reaction to her new reality. After her voice was almost hoarse, she said as a statement of fact, “I’m not human.”
Nathaniel leaned in and kissed her head. He whispered to her, “Neither are we. Welcome to our magical family.” He continued to hold her tight and couldn’t help but breathe in her scent. He loved having her safe within his arms.
Tianna had enough talking for a while. Her head was spinning and she was emotionally worn out. “I need time alone to think this through. May I go take my bath now?”
Gabriel answered. “Only if someone comes with you.” She knew there was no point arguing so she agreed.
Nathaniel cautiously and reluctantly released her from his hold and she picked up the pile of clothes and supplies she had set down earlier. She grabbed the first hand she touched and said, “Come on. Let’s go.” Feeling the strength within the hand she held, she knew who it was without having to look. It was Gabriel. The two of them walked hand in hand down to the lake. Nathaniel watched them silently until they were out of sight. An unexpected pang of jealousy welled within him.
Within a few minutes, they arrived at the edge of the lake. Tianna turned to Gabriel and requested, “Turn around while I take off my clothes and slip into the water.”
Gabriel took security to a whole new level. He shook his head. “Sorry my lady, but I’ll not take my eyes off of you for a second. We must be on high alert.”
Tianna put her hands on her hips. “I know you Draaks are comfortable with nakedness, but I’ve never stripped naked in front of a man.” She now knew Gabriel well enough to know that, when he made a decision, there was no point arguing. After pondering on the situation, she asked, “I know this may sound silly to you, but can you just look at my head and promise me that you won’t look anywhere else unless you truly sense danger?”
Putting his hand over the heart on his dragon mark he said, “On my honor, I won’t look unless I sense danger.” His eyes flashed at the same time as the eyes on his dragon mark. He gave her a low bow.
Tianna’s eyes opened wide. “Your eyes flashed. What does that mean?”
“It means I’ve given you my Draak oath.”
Seeing her confusion, he continued his explanation. “My lady, when a Draak gives a Draak oath, it’s binding. These aren’t given lightly for if I were to break it, there are consequences.”
“What kind of consequences?”
“Pain. With some effort I could break an oath, except it would cause me excruciating physical pain. Depending on the oath, it could cause death.”
She hated to question him, but she wasn’t completely sure she should trust an oath. She reluctantly turned away from him and started to undress, blushing the whole time. Feeling completely vulnerable, she quickly got into the water. Once safely covered, she began her bath, facing away just in case he peeked.
Gabriel watched her as her hair floated on and around the water. It reflected the sunlight and shimmered like diamonds. A couple of times he thought he saw her hair move of its own accord. He thought it was caused by a breeze, except that he felt no air stir around him. His mind drifted to another thought. He wondered why she didn’t fear him. He knew his appearance had the ability to intimidate other males. She never even flinched once when examining all of his marks. When she had touched them, he felt her touch throughout his body. Her strength was very attractive to him.
Tianna finished her bath and turned so she was facing him. “I want to apologize to you for last night and for the resulting sleeping arrangements. That must have been uncomfortable for you. I overreacted to my dream.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “After all you’ve been through, you’re worried about me?” After a brief pause he continued, “I’ve been without a mate for over a hundred years. I miss having someone in my arms. You’re a beautiful female and have the scent of my Sett. Holding you reminded me of what it’s like to be home with a mate and family. For that I’m grateful.”
Tianna was puzzled. “I smell like your Sett? I don’t understand.”
He pondered on the best way to describe it. “Every Draak has a unique scent, but part of the scent is unique to the Sett. The scent is part of the way we know who’s from our Sett and how we find a potential mate.” He stopped.
“Please don’t stop. I want to hear more,” Tianna said with obvious interest.
He knew she had Draak in her so she needed to be aware of what her scent meant. He took a breath and continued. “When a female Draak reaches the age to be able to mate, she starts to give off a stronger version of her scent. A male doesn’t just mate with any female. They need to be from their Sett and there needs to be a chemical compatibility for the mating ritual to work.”
Tianna was fascinated. She moved closer to the edge of the lake, being careful to remain covered. “You mean that you have to find a female that you are both physically and chemically attracted to?”
“Yes. Without it, you could physically mate, but you could never achieve a full bonding. To determine if they are chemically compatible, the couple tastes each other’s blood. Once a Draak tastes the blood of their match, they bond. Bonding drives away the urge to hunt for another. They could physically take another, except it would have little to no meaning. They would only desire their match. Even if you are chemically compatible, the magic of the bonding won’t occur unless both Draaks are totally committed to the mating. The magic will know. Once they take their rightful match to their bed and are fully mated, they won’t take another. When a couple goes through the mating ritual, there are physical changes that take place. Sometimes, you may share talents you have with your mate. Without the bonding children wouldn’t be possible. Even with a perfect mating, it’s hard to conceive a child. That’s why our numbers aren’t great.”
A look of sadness came across his face. “I lost my third mate while she delivered my son Aryyn. He’s my only child with her, so he’s quite precious to me. I think you and he would get along well. He’s a captain in my Royal Guard and has been leading my Guard while I’ve been away.” His face beamed as he spoke of his family.
“But you’ve told me that you have many offspring. You don’t seem to have problems having children.” She giggled.
He shrugged. “I do seem to be an exception to normal rules. I love all my children and would welcome many more.”
Gabriel’s smile turned more serious. “Mating shouldn’t be taken lightly for the bond is permanent. Once mated, you may be attracted to another but you lose the urge to act on it. You desire only your mate.”
“Is it hard to find the right match?” Tianna questioned.
“It can be. Our numbers are few, so we have to hunt. Anything good takes time, and the hunt can be quite pleasant.” He gave her a big smile.
His look became serious again. “I need to be honest with you.” He shifted back and forth on his feet nervously. He wasn’t sure if he should tell her everything. In the end, he knew that there must be no secrets between them. “The scent I speak of, well, you carry the mating scent to me.”
Tianna’s eyes opened wide.
“You should also know that I believe you carry the proper scent for Nathaniel as well. When we first encountered you in the woods, your scent was very pleasant but you smelled mainly as human. That scent is almost gone now. Every day that we’ve been together, the clearer your Draak scent is becoming. I think being around magical creatures has awakened what has been hidden inside you.”
Tianna wasn’t sure how to respond. She sniffed her arms and didn’t smell anything. “What exactly does this mean? I could be a potential mate for you or Nathaniel? I’m not really from either of your Setts.”
Gabriel gazed into her eyes, “It means that you carry both Warrior and Healer Setts within you. I’m not sure about Tracker and Architects Setts yet. Seth is still too young to mate, so he won’t be able to sense a Draak mate for several more years. Marcus is already mated, so his desires lie in his bed in Haven. You’re unique, and I’m not sure how your uniqueness will affect us. Don’t fear. Draaks don’t take a mate by force. To force a female is punishable by death. Decision to mate must be mutual.”
Tianna was a little uncomfortable with the idea that she gave off a mating scent. She thought that whatever scent she had couldn’t possibly be affecting her companions that much. What she didn’t realize was they all had to focus very hard on keeping her scent from making them take her into their arms.
Since Gabriel was being so open, she decided to confide in him as well. “I also pick up a scent from the four of you. Each of you gives off a different aroma. Is this because of the Draak that you claim is in me? I’ve never had this type of reaction to any human men.” She didn’t volunteer that both Nathaniel’s and Gabriel’s scents were both very strong and quite pleasant to her.
Gabriel nodded. “That’s how Draak females find their potential mate as well.”
He paced a little at the edge of the water. “Can I ask you something?”
She nodded, feeling very comfortable talking to Gabriel. “Ask me anything.”
“Why don’t you fear me?” He motioned up and down his body.
Tianna was completely confused. “I find you very attractive. I don’t understand others’ reactions to you. I’ve never felt as safe as I did when you held me last night.” It was Tianna’s turn to fidget within the water as she asked, “I could ask you the same question. Why don’t you fear me? I’ve never had men look at me like you and the others do. Normally, men and women stare at me with fear in their eyes and treat me like an outcast. It’s been this way all my life. I imagine you’ve had similar reactions.”
He nodded. Even in the magical world, many pause when they see him approach.
She smiled sweetly, “Although physically we may look night and day different, we are very much alike.” She laughed. “We would make an odd but perfect pair.” Knowing that her words could have been interpreted that she might possibly want to pursue a relationship, she added, “I should tell you that I don’t see myself taking a husband.” Realizing she needed to start using non-human terms. “I mean mate. I’ve given up on that idea a long time ago. I just don’t belong to anyone or anywhere. In human villages, many marry before they turn 16. I’m 24. In their eyes, I’m already labeled an old maid. I’m someone no one wants to marry.”
Gabriel sighed. “Your life hasn’t been easy, but I just want you to know that there are those of us that would welcome you into their home.”
Gabriel noticed Tianna was starting to shiver from the cool water. He motioned her to come forward saying, “Our friends will be getting worried. Let’s get back to the camp. My oath is still in play so don’t fear.” He kept his gaze just above her head as she got out of the water and dressed. She quickly braided her hair and they headed back to camp.
Tianna had another question burning in her mind. “You tell me that I’m part Draak.”
He nodded.
“Well, do you think that I’ll shift?”
Gabriel had to ponder on her question for a while. “You smell like dragon and you have some Draak skills, but I don’t know if you’ll shift. Shifting takes your whole body’s focus. With your body being split into so many variations, I’m not sure that you’re enough of any one Draak Sett to allow your body to shift. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Tianna was surprised that she was upset by his answer. She wasn’t sure she wanted to shift but, if she did, she would know how to refer to herself. She would be Draak. If she didn’t shift, she wasn’t sure what to call herself. “So, as I feared. I’m not enough of anything to belong anywhere. I’m a bunch of leftovers.”
They stopped walking and Tianna stared at Gabriel with a very serious look on her face. “It’s just another reason why I can never mate. I’d never fit in anywhere. I’d imagine that if I did, by some miracle, mate with a Draak, I wouldn’t be enough of his Sett to have his children. No Draak is going to want to mate me knowing there was no hope for children.” Her voice broke. “And I really want a family.”
Gabriel took her in his arms and held her tight. He didn’t know what to say since her words may be true. “None of us know what the future will bring. You’re very special and were brought to us for a reason. Let’s just take one day at a time and see what unfolds.”