The Naga's Mate: A Fantasy Monster Romance (Naga's of Protheka Book 1) by Celeste King

Author:Celeste King [King, Celeste]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Protheka Publishing
Published: 2022-05-23T16:00:00+00:00

18

Uzha

“I’ll take care of you,” I assure her. “Just trust me.”

She nods, though I can see the uneasiness on her face. It’s not a look of distrust, but discomfort. It occurs to me how intimately I’ve come to recognize her various expressions. How once I couldn’t tell even the most obvious emotions apart on a human face.

It’s a new knowledge, but one that I treasure.

Holding her leash, I try to smile reassuringly as we shut the door to our suite. My suite, I mentally correct myself. It will never do for them to see me treat her as an equal, even if I think of her that way.

I lead her to the Great Hall, where we will meet with King Ulrug. The corridors are lined with Naga. Some are extended members of the royal family. Others are, while not royal, of noble birth. Many of them have no authority or responsibility, and they spend most of their time hanging about the palace in idle recreation.

When we get closer to the heavy brass doors of the Great Hall, the atmosphere changes. This is a space reserved for those waiting for their audience with the King. The crowd is, unlike the spoiled rich we just passed, here with intent and purpose. They are serious-minded, focused on the task or job that has brought them here.

My own mother and father are among them. As I approach, they rise from the plush velvet chairs that they are resting in. They both hurry over.

I tend to be defensive around my parents. The agitated look on their faces tells me that this time will be no different.

I greet them, politely but wary. Luckily, our visit is cut short, as a guard almost immediately calls me for an audience with the King.

The guard holds the thick metal door open, ushering us through. I give one last glance to my parents and their disapproving eyes. Then, with a deep breath, I walk inside the Great Hall where King Ulrug waits.

I fist the leash nervously in my hand, and glance over at Jemma. Her head is bowed demurely. The King is seated, centered between two humans. They are standing, held in place with chains.

I stop abruptly, a few feet away, and reflexively stiffen. She must sense the change somehow and lifts her head to observe.

“Mary!” she exclaims suddenly. “Joshua!” She’s startled by what she sees, enough to drop the pretense and forget her surroundings. They turn to her with tearful eyes. She runs toward them.

I wince but tug her leash firmly anyway. My chest tightens, stabbing painfully with a long-buried emotion that I’d be unable to put into words. But I feel it deeply within myself.

I feel everything deeply inside of myself now, for the first time in a long time. Ever since meeting her.

One of the princes, standing with the rest of the court on the side of the room, sneers at me. “Your training is lacking,” he chides me. “You must punish the animal if you expect obedience.

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