I Married A Dragon (Prime Mating Agency)(6)

“Forcing me to play wife to a stranger?” I exclaimed.

Kayog raised an appeasing hand. “While it would indeed be a legal marriage, in this specific case, we would void the intimacy clause. Cedros has agreed to it. He only requests the peace and healing that only you can provide him.”

I nervously tucked a strand of hair behind my ears, a million thoughts firing off in my mind while I wondered why the heck I was even considering any of this.

“He is a very good male who you will definitely grow very fond of. Once that temporary period is up, I suspect you may be the one unwilling to leave.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “How temporary is temporary?”

He gave me a sheepish expression. “According to the Prime Mating Agency’s rules, it is six months. However, I will never lie to you. And I can already say with conviction that the Derakeen Council will try to challenge your potential desire to leave once that time is up.”

“Challenge or stop me altogether?” I insisted.

“Challenge. They cannot coerce you to stay,” he specified.

“But they are coercing me to marry him,” I argued. “Once my six months are up, or however long I take to complete the mission, I will absolutely want to leave. Cedros’s problem still won’t be solved, if he cannot find a replacement Ejaya.”

This time, Linsea intervened in a gentle voice. “You are correct. However, while they demand for you to go to Dramnac now, you will have six months to build a friendship with Cedros. Six months to come up with a solution that will allow you to reclaim the life you choose, while also catering to his needs.”

“Such as what?” I insisted.

“Such as him coming to you whenever he needs a hug,” Kayog said in a teasing voice. “After all, he can open portals to pretty much anywhere in the galaxy. You wouldn’t even have to leave your house.”

I scratched my nape and slowly nodded. “Okay, yeah, that could work. Assuming he doesn’t show up needing a ‘hug’ right in the midst of a mission. But what exactly are we talking about in terms of hugs?”

Kayog laughed. “The Shadow Lords need contact with their Ejaya. Typically, they will hug you, rub their faces over you, and just cuddle a lot with you. Although there is absolutely nothing sexual about it, the more direct the contact, the more effective it is.”

“Why does it sound like you mean naked?” I grumbled, frowning.

Kayog grinned while his mate chuckled.

“Because he does,” Linsea said.

“Indeed, I do. After all, like us Temerns, Derakeens do not wear clothes. So, for now, I would suggest you pack bikinis, short shorts, and crop tops for all the cuddling until you feel comfortable enough to do it without clothes.”

My brow further creased. “You’re assuming I’m going to accept.”

“I know you’re going to accept. I can read your emotions, remember?” Kayog said smugly. “Do not glare at me, my dear Kaida. Your sacrifice will allow us to avert a war, provide the UPO with a local detective that could prevent the proliferation of a dangerous tool, and bring peace to a kind male and protector of multiple realms. You will have six months to get to know him and find the perfect solution for the long term. But after talking to both of you, I can tell you with absolute certainty that you will not want to leave Dramnac or Cedros… ever.”





Chapter 3





Cedros





Four days. Four long and excruciating days since I’d last held my Ejaya… since I’d smelled her divine scent. Every cell in my body ached with need. Even my scales hurt from the brutal withdrawal. Holding her in my embrace had given me such peace, such delightful peace, like I’d never felt before.

But a human?

I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that my Ejaya belonged to a different species. In all the history of the Shadow Lords, none had ever been paired with an off-worlder.

Then again, some of my brothers died insane from never finding their Ejaya.

Could theirs have also been a human or born of a different species altogether? I didn’t even want to contemplate such a terrible thought. There are infinite worlds, physical and ethereal—countless shadow realms whose existence the dwellers of the physical worlds couldn’t even begin to imagine. No Shadow Lord could explore them all in a lifetime to find his Ejaya, if she truly could be from any species.

I could only praise the gods to have finally put my little human in my path. I had begun to believe I would die insane, for I had explored every phase and area of the fragmented world of Dramnac, never finding the one meant for me.

It still chafed that Kaida had required a couple of days to wrap up her previous life and pack her things before she came to me. While reasonable, it had prolonged my agony. Once she arrived, it would take every shred of my willpower not to throw myself at her and bask in the ecstasy of her embrace. She wasn’t Derakeen. She didn’t know the ways of an Ejaya. I had to be careful not to scare her and drive her away with my constant needs.

Although Kaida’s delay in coming here was so that she wouldn’t have to leave again, she’d only committed to stay with me for six months. Her departure after that was simply unacceptable. I would find a way to bind her to Dramnac. I held little hope that I could make her love me. On top of being nothing like her human males, I was awkward and socially challenged. But I would spoil Kaida, see to her every need, and make her fall in love with Dramnac. I could only hope she wouldn’t find my appearance too off-putting.