~33~

I was much happier after talking with Jose about her captivity. It was enlightening to know how she was strong, when and where she broke, and that she has always turned to me for comfort and safety.

We slept that night without nightmares, without a cry from her. And when we woke the next morning, Jose was hyper and ready to explore. I made her food which she ate then waited as she dressed. While I waited, Cam visited. "How are you?" she asked.

I sit down and smile, thinking about Jose. "I think we'll be okay."

"She's better?"

The door to the bedroom opened and Jose came out. I laugh and stand. "See for yourself!"

Jose spins around in a dark purple dress, watching the skirts billow around her. "Jose like! Jose dress?"

I twirl her around again, making her squeal with delight. "It's yours! You will have many dresses!"

Jose spins again and finally notices our guest. She sobers up and shyly goes behind me, hiding. Cam chuckles. "Don't let me stop your joy, Jose! I love dresses too!"

I roll my eyes. "You got Thelia into wearing them! I'm sure Zargis is regretting making you her female companion!"

Cam grinned. "Zargis would never regret that! After all, who else told her about the hidden compartment in the carriages?"

I shrug, then spin around quickly and swing Jose up into the air, spinning around. She laughs, her arms out and her head back. "Jose fly!"

Three hours later, Jose and I meet Thelia and Zargis near the castle entrance. Jose runs to Thelia, talking quickly in a whisper. I shake my head and smile. "What happened to her?" Zargis asked.

"You and Thelia."

Zargis gaped at me. "What?"

I nod. "Whatever you said, she listened. We talked. She's closer to her old self, happier and full of life."

Zargis chuckled as the females began walking. We followed, and I notice a green head peeking out of a pocket of her dress. I narrow my eyes and speed up, catching her around the waist. She smiles up at me. "Little Kesar is in your pocket."

She nods. "Kesar like talk Zargis. Jose Thelia walk No Kesar. Jose take little Kesar."

I frown. "But I don't want you to rely on that one."

She turns in my arms and hugs me. "Kesar only. Jose like kesar real. Little Kesar no like real Kesar."

Smiling, I kiss her, then let her catch up to Thelia, who was going into a jewelry shop. Zargis scowled. "Females and their bling!"

I snort. "You still buy it."

"Because she's happy. She never had goods before."

I shrug and step into the shop when I see Thelia waving at us. I look around for Jose and see she's eyeing a necklace with and emerald stone, surrounded by sapphires.

"She won't take it!" Thelia hissed. "She keeps looking at the tag!"

I roll my eyes and walk up behind Jose, snap the necklace box shut, and go to the counter, buying it instantly.

When I turn back around, Jose is staring at me with a scared look. I look at Thelia who shrugs. "I told her you can afford it."

I go to my mate and embrace her. "All you need is to point and I will buy. No price tag is too large," I whisper.

She still looks at me with fear. "Kesar happy?"

I frown. "Why would I not be?"

She looks down. "Elan no happy ever."

Now I scowl. "Who is Elan?"

"Dead."

I soften my gaze and my voice. "Jose, my money is yours. My food is yours. My heart is yours. Do not worry about a thing." I kiss her, then step back to open the necklace. "Turn around."

Jose blushed and turns, sweeping her hair over one shoulder. I put the chain around her neck and clasp it, pulling her hair back in place down her back. She turns back to me, admiring her new accessory.

"Do you like it?"

She nods. "Jose no know pretty. Necklace more Jose have ever!"

I smile and walk her outside. She returns to Thelia and they enter another shop. Zargis and I wait while they look around, then come out empty handed. I made sure there was nothing Jose liked, and Thelia shook her head.

We continued until Jose looked at me with a hand on her stomach. We go to a nearby restaurant and eat. Jose asks what a lot of it is and Zargis ends up getting one of everything, smiling as my mate tries a bite of it all.

That night, I carry Jose up to my room. She had fallen asleep while the rest of us discussed human matters. I lay her down and smile, seeing she still had little Kesar in her pocket. I take it and put it in her hand, wanting her to feel somewhat safe if she woke and I was showering.

When I returned to the bedroom, she was still asleep, holding the toy dragon to her chest. I got in beside her and fell asleep, content.

Three days later, Cam is knocking on my door. She runs in, looking for Jose. I tell her exactly where she is and shake my head as she takes off. Five minutes later, both girls return and head for the door. Cam turns to me and says hurriedly, "Sorry Kesar, but I need your mate right now. It's urgent!"

Jose seems excited, so I wave them off. While they do whatever they're doing, I go to the training yard and then go flying. Otreg and Einnig join me in the sky, and we soar over Korgenyegia, over those we have sworn to protect.

When I return to the castle, Jose is still with Cam, so I shower then go see the king. He's in his own chambers with Thelia, having a conversation, which stopped when I arrived. "Where's Jose?" the queen asked.

"She abandoned me this morning when Cam dragged her away," I say with a sigh.

Thelia giggles. "Don't look so glum, Kesar! They're preparing something special!"

"What is special?" I cross my arms. "She's never just left unless it was the bastard Gideon!"

Zargis chuckled and put an arm around Thelia's shoulders. "We're getting married."

I blink, then smile. "Congratulations! When?"

"A month."

I nod, then scowl at them. "You're the reason my mate willingly left with Cam all day

They nod, joy radiating off them. Thelia said, "I told Cam Jose would love to do something like this, and figured it would distract her from her demons."

"She's distracted from me," I mumble.

A knock sounded, but Zargis hadn't even stood before Cam and Jose glided in, fabrics and bags of a bunch of stuff on their arms. They paused, looking at the three of us. Then Jose set her stuff down and grabbed Zargis's hand. "Out!"

He scowled at her. "This is my chambers!"

"Jose no care! Out! Zargis no see!" With that, she slammed the door in his face, leaving him in the hall. She came back and hugged me. "Kesar go Zargis? Zargis no happy. Zargis no see Thelia pretty."

I chuckled. "And you said you were weak!" I kissed her sweetly, then looked to Cam. "Don't get too carried away. Jose must sleep."

"This will only take an hour."

Four hours later and half the night gone, Zargis was allowed back into his chambers and I took Jose to bed.

The next day was the same. As were the next three weeks. Jose was helping Cam with wedding preparations and returned late at night. I hardly saw her. Cam wouldn't let me have an hour of Jose's time and by now, I was frustrated. Yes, Jose was happy and safe, but she was my mate. I haven't seen her except when asleep. It was making me moody, which Zargis noted and took me away for a few days to seek out any other dragon-nappers. We didn't see any, but I did get to let off some steam. So, when we returned, and Jose was still not waiting for me, I was mildly irritated.

Two days before the wedding, and we were supposed to have a dinner together: the king and queen and their closest advisors and friends. I was able to sit next to Jose, which I was pleased, and she told me all of what she has done, all that she has learned. I was content.

After the dinner, Cam took Jose aside, whispering. I scowled, resenting the females' likes for perfection. Just as I was about to leave, believing Cam would have Jose for another few hours, I felt a hand slip into mine. "Kesar no happy?"

"I am happy."

Jose shakes her head. "Kesar no happy. Jose help Cam. No see Kesar. Kesar no happy."

I shrug. "I am just more protective than a regular male, and when you're gone all day, everyday, I get restless."

Jose nodded and we entered our chambers. She heads to the couch, curling up as I clean up a little. When I join her, she says, "Jose help Cam wedding. Jose Kesar go fly have fun be happy?"

I smile. "You're cute!"

She scowled at me. "Jose serious."

"Yes, after the wedding I will be happy to have fun with you."

"Days?"

"Maybe a few. But Zargis will want to take his bride on a vacation, and some of us will have to guard them."

She frowns. "Kesar?"

"Maybe."

"Jose help Kesar?"

"You have to stay here," I say. "You have to help Cam keep the castle organized."

"Jose no see Kesar. Days?"

"It might be a few weeks." She grumbled and glared at the wall. I shake my head and we go to bed soon after.

The day of the wedding, I help Jose into a light purple dress , then got into a suit and tie while she did her hair into a braid. She didn't speak much, and I had a feeling she was anxious about everything going right. I knew she and Cam would have thought of everything, but she had to see it for herself.

When she came out of the bedroom, she blushed and averted her eyes as I looked her over. "You look beautiful," I whisper, wrapping my arms around her.

"Jose happy. Jose like."

We headed down to the throne room where Zargis would crown Thelia and the couple would wed. Jose stayed close to me, not liking the amount of people that have showed up for this event. I kept an arm around her waist and greeted several others while I saw Otreg speaking with the priest. I noticed Cam was fluttering around, adding finishing details.

When the bell tower struck eleven., we all found our seats, me and Jose near the front. Zargis appeared in front of his throne, his front bare so his wings were on display. I knew Thelia would be delighted, for everyone knew she was the only one who touched those wings, just like Jose only touched mine.

Music began.

We all stood and turned.

Waited.

Marythelia glided out into the throne room in a beautiful white dress with pearls making an intricate design on the bodice. The veil was short, only flowing halfway down her back. The bouquet of flowers were a mixture of whites, blues, purples, and sublet pinks. Her face glowed with happiness as Juskah walked her down the isle towards Zargis.

Later that night, after the ceremony and the party and the food, I led Jose back to our chambers, chuckling as she made incoherent comments about Otreg. She was a little drunk off wine, and half asleep on her feet.

When I sat her down on the bed, I grabbed some pills Verah left, predicting the events. I handed them to Jose before slotting my wrist. Sitting beside her, I held my wrist up to her lips. "Take some of my blood, Jose."

She stares at me for a long moment before pressing her lips to my skin. She takes my blood, then pulls away quickly, giving a moan of pain. I held her to me, let my blood take affect as she whimpered. She did not scream, so I concluded that the worst pain comes with the worst poisons or injuries. Soon, she quieted. Soon, I dressed her in a night gown and we went to sleep.