In a way, it was like the big Kindred had asked her to marry him in a stadium on the Jumbotron or in some other very public place, she thought. Only he hadn’t actually asked at all—he had just told everyone in his life that he was marrying her and she had no say in the matter! God, what a mess!
“Son, thank you for sharing your news,” Komendant Vizlar said from his spot in the middle of the head table. “It’s true, none of us thought you would ever find a female to your liking.” He shot his Advisor, Rep Yariz, an intense look as he spoke before turning back to Dragon. “But of course, we all share in your joy that you have finally found the right female to take as a wife and carry your sons.”
“Thank you, Sire.” Dragon nodded his head respectfully and finally sat down.
At that point, everyone raised their glasses and drank. Bobbi drank too, draining her glass in her nervousness. The sweet wine had a bitter aftertaste she didn’t like very much but she was so overwhelmed that she drank it all, even the gritty dregs at the bottom, hoping it would calm her nerves. However, it almost seemed to have the opposite effect. After finishing it, she felt more jittery than ever.
When she sat her glass down, she saw that someone else had risen to make a speech or an announcement.
And that someone was Zerlix.
29
“Sire,” Zerlix said formally to Komendant Vizlar, “I wish to make a request.”
“Of course, Son and Heir. Speak on.” The Clan leader nodded and there was clear pride in his voice as he spoke to his biological son.
He has no idea what a sadistic dick Zerlix is, Bobbi thought, frowning to herself. Or else he won’t let himself know.
Zerlix tilted his head arrogantly and looked at her and Dragon.
“Many of you know that my Little Brother, Dragon, found his new female on Avria Pentaura when we went to get the eggs for tonight’s feast,” he drawled.
Of course, this made everyone look at Dragon and Bobbi again, which made her incredibly uncomfortable. But worse things were to come.
“What many of you don’t know is that I saw her first,” Zerlix went on. “I was reaching for her—was just about to Claim her—when Dragon snatched her from me and took her before I could formally stake my claim.”
There was a low murmur in the banquet hall and Komendant Vizlar spoke up.
“Son, what are you trying to say?”
“That the mammalian female should be mine.” Zerlix’s forked tongue lashed as he spat the words. “I was reaching for her with a clear intent to Claim her when my own brother stole her from me!” He turned to Komendant Vizlar. “Sire, I formally request that you take the mammalian female from Dragon and give her to me. It is my right to have her since I was reaching for her first and since I am your heir and will soon be leader of the Crimson Blades.”
The murmuring in the room grew louder and Bobbi felt as though someone had just dumped a bucket of ice cubes into the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t believe this was happening—couldn’t believe that Zerlix was asking his father to take her away from Dragon and give her to him instead! It was ten times, no, a hundred times worse than the big Kindred saying he would marry her.
Beside her, she could see that Dragon’s face was white with fury. Though he was perfectly still, she thought she could hear a faint rustling sound and there was a feeling as though something enormous had displaced the air around the two of them.
Almost like two invisible wings spreading, she thought and then realized she must be imagining it. Probably it was all the wine she had drunk—she was normally a teetotaler so even one glass was enough to make her tipsy.
But I don’t feel tipsy—I feel scared to death, she thought. Her heart was hammering in her chest as she waited to hear what the head of the Clan would say. She had an awful feeling that he would agree with his sadistic son and give her to Zerlix without hesitation. Would Dragon defend her against his own father? Would he go against his entire family to keep her?
He only met me yesterday, she thought. We haven’t even known each other forty-eight hours yet. Why would he risk his entire future for me? Oh God, what is Komendant Vizlar going to say?
It seemed they were about to find out, because at that moment the leader of the Clan rose in his place and looked at his Saurian son.
“Zerlix,” he said heavily. “I am surprised at you. For years your Little Brother has gone without finding a female he deems worthy to be his wife. While you have had dozens, if not hundreds of Pleasure Girls in and out of your rooms. Now, when Dragon has finally found the one female he wants to bear his sons, you wish to take her away from him.”