I Married A Dragon (Prime Mating Agency)(9)

My scales darkened with embarrassment at the sight of the other people present staring at the spectacle I’d just made of myself. Councilor Gavyr seemed excessively bored and annoyed. Priestess Biondi looked mightily uncomfortable, keeping her eyes averted. But Kayog had tilted his head to the side while giving Kaida and me an assessing look. Although I couldn’t read his expression, I got a strong and distinct impression that whatever his empathic abilities had perceived from us pleased him.

Isobel Biondi cleared her throat and took a couple of hesitant steps towards Kaida and me, while extending some kind of tablet. “If you would both be so kind as to press your thumbs in your respective signature box, we can complete the final formalities and give you… privacy.”

Kaida’s cheeks reddened, and my eyes widened in sudden understanding. Of course, the human priestess would have interpreted my behavior as an uncontrolled libido. I couldn’t decide if that thought amused me or made me feel even more mortified. My Ejaya pressed her thumb in the appropriate box, and I did the same.

“Well, that concludes it,” Kayog said while tapping something on the interface of his armband, putting us all out of our collective misery. “We will now leave you both to get better acquainted. As a reminder, a Derakeen wedding ritual isn’t required.”

“Be that as it may, I’m sure a binding will take place between them before the six months are up,” Councilor Gavyr interjected in a tone that spelled trouble.

“Time will tell,” Kayog replied in a non-committal fashion.

He turned to look at the portal with an expectant expression. To our shock, a human male came through carrying a medium-sized crate that he placed on my Ejaya’s hover cart.

“Thank you, Culvert,” Kayog said in a friendly fashion to the man, who nodded in response before leaving through the portal. “My dear Kaida, this is your dowry. I hope you will find these few items helpful in making your new life here more enjoyable. Do not hesitate to reach out to me if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Master Voln, for everything. Please give my best regards to Linsea,” Kaida replied.

The face of the Temern melted in a tender expression I instantly guessed was in response to the name Linsea. His mate?

“I most certainly will. I wish you the best as well, Cedros,” Kayog continued.

“Thank you, Kayog.”

After exchanging farewells with Councilor Gavyr, the Temern and the human priestess left through the portal. At the same time I dispelled it, Gavyr took flight, leaving me alone at last with my Ejaya.

My gaze immediately locked on her, my body still aching for sustained contact with her. Kaida shifted uneasily on her feet and wrapped her arms around her waist while eyeing me warily.

“You look like you want to eat me,” she said with a nervous laugh. “You guys don’t eat people, I hope?”

I swallowed hard and shook my head at her obvious attempt to defuse the tension with humor. “Apologies if my stare makes you uncomfortable. I just really want to hold you.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “But you just did.”

I snorted. “I need more… A lot more. The aqrats inflicted many, many wounds on me during that battle, and I’d already been on the verge of falling to jokraz before it. I have a large amount of toxins left to eliminate.”

“Oh, okay. Hmm… Can we get my stuff inside first, and then you can hug me again?” Kaida asked.

I didn’t know how to read her response. Her voice didn’t sound annoyed or resigned, but it also lacked any type of enthusiasm.

“Of course,” I replied.

To my relief, she gestured in a way that set the hovering platform in motion. While we had similar technology, I had no clue how hers worked. In truth, we hardly ever used ours since most of us simply moved objects with our telekinetic abilities.

I stole glances at Kaida as we approached the massive glass doors that led into my lair.

“How much do you hate being my Ejaya?” I blurted out, immediately kicking myself for it.

Kaida’s jaw dropped, and her steps faltered as a strange expression laced with guilt flitted over her features. “Wow, you’re blunt.”

“A Shadow Lord and his Ejaya openly discuss any topic. But I can try to adjust, if it isn’t the way of humans,” I replied.

“No, it’s fine. I like honest discussions. I guess you took me by surprise,” she said as the doors parted before us onto the large open floor plan kitchen and living area. She stopped to face me. “And no, I don’t ‘hate’ being your Ejaya. I love the idea that my mere presence can heal someone and bring peace to them. But I’ve just been uprooted from my life. I’m on a foreign planet, with a complete stranger, who needs frequent, very close contact with me. It’s… a little overwhelming.”

A sense of guilt washed over me. “I understand. I am sorry for the inconvenience but not for finding you.”

That same odd expression crossed her features. Her gaze then roamed over me before locking back up with mine.

“Are you in pain? You are trembling,” Kaida asked in a soft, slightly worried voice.

“Yes. I’m going back into withdrawal.”

“Withdrawal?!” she exclaimed.

“I’ve already used up the nezarone hormone that holding you earlier had produced. I need much more to fight the infection,” I explained.