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and they love you for it. I think the Mother of All put you in our path for a reason, and I don’t want to frighten you, but knights often know immediately when they meet the right woman.” His eyes sought out Kaden’s over her head. He took a deep breath, as if for courage, then went on. “I felt something when I first saw you, but the danger to Rey and the revelation that Linea was his mate had my head spinning. But it feels right to have you here, with us. I think you were meant for us, Lucia. I think I could spend the rest of my life loving you.”

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    Bianca D’Arc
    Lucia caught her breath at the tender revelation. No man had ever said such things to her, and she realized from any other man, the declaration would have been wrong. But from Marcus…it felt right, but altogether too scary. He still reminded her of the life she’d been forced to leave behind. He’d tried to show her other facets of his personality, but when she wasn’t caught up in his passion, she still saw his polish and poise, his rich garments and cultured background. They’d have to work on that before she could ever be truly comfortable in his presence.
    Kaden squeezed her waist, claiming her attention. “I owe you gratitude, no doubt, but this feels like so much more. I want to get to know you better and see if you could fit in with our little family. You could complete us, Lucy, and make us the happiest of men—and dragons.” He winked at her.
    “But there’s no pressure.” Marcus’s words belied the very real pressure she was beginning to feel. He knew it too. The irony in his tone spoke volumes. She liked Marcus’s dry sense of humor, and the fact he acknowledged the depth of the position they put her in made her feel better somehow. Unable to deal with much more, she shook off their hands and stood, looking down at them both. She drew on all her childhood lessons of deportment to face these two with a dignity she wasn’t feeling at the moment.
    “Gentlemen,” she tried to sound stern, “I have no idea why you’re teasing me this way.”
    “Sweetheart,” Marcus spoke for both, “we’re not teasing. We’re in earnest.”
    “Then,” she sniffed and blinked back the tears welling in her eyes, “I have no idea what to say to you. Please,” she grabbed the sides of her rough skirt, “give me time to think. I wasn’t raised to expect anything like this.”
    “Talk to Rey and Linea,” Kaden advised, catching one of her hands when she would have fled. “Let them explain how it is between knights and their mates if you cannot ask it of us.”
    Swallowing, she refused to look at either of them as she nodded, though she discovered Kaden’s concern was easier to bear than Marcus’s. Kaden was rough where Marcus was smooth and he didn’t remind her of the painful past, but rather of the protective Jinn warriors who’d put their lives on the line to save hers. Kaden let her go and she took off across the room to the area behind the bar, where her small room—and safety—was located.

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    Wings of Change
    “She’s magnificent,” Marcus said as they watched her flee with a grace few tavern wenches ever achieved.
    “And beautiful,” Kaden agreed. “Too good for the likes of me, though with your highbred manners, she’s a perfect match for you.”
    “You sound jealous!” Marcus rounded on his friend, teasing in his expression, though underneath there was serious thought behind his words.
    “I am, dammit.” Kaden swiped the glass off the table and finished his wine in one swallow. “If not for Rey, she would never look at a rough soldier like me. I don’t know how to talk to her, how to handle her, how to—”
    Marcus cut him off. “But you know how to love her.”
    That stopped him cold.
    He did. He knew very well how to love her. In fact, the seed of love was blooming even now in his heart. He looked at Marcus—the man he’d share Lucy with, if she