Kael stepped between Maddox and the direction Guinevere and Blair were standing, positioning himself there for no tactical reason that Maddox could identify.
"I can explain, Maddox. She's my mate."
Maddox heard 'my mate' leave his brother's mouth, and for one full second, the Dragon King had no thoughts. Just certainty that Kael was lying, and the equally primal certainty that if he wasn't, he was going to lose his mind in front of five hundred people.
"She merged with my flame," Kael continued. "The Drakencrest flame, which is why you were able to call it from her."
All the whispering stopped. Jaws dropped in sequence like dominoes falling down both sides of the hall. Every brain was doing the same calculation and arriving at the same conclusion, which was that this evening had peaked three times already and was somehow still climbing.
Maddox's dragon slammed against his ribs.
LIES. She is ours.
