Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66405 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66405 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“Of course. Why else would they name it ‘Crimson Moon?’” Drago said reasonably. “I’m guessing the ‘Crimson’ part of the name comes from the water,” he added, nodding at the dark red blotches on the silvery surface of the moon.
“Yes—Lx Sambla told me something about how a mineral in their water makes it all red,” Addie remarked. “Isn’t it beautiful?” she added.
Drago just grunted noncommittally which was extremely irritating to Addie.
“You know, if you really don’t want to go you can just stay in the ship,” she told him. “I don’t mind attending the ceremony by myself.”
“And leave you alone with that untrustworthy reptile of a male? I don’t fucking think so,” Drago growled. “Just sit tight and let me land this thing.”
Addie shut her mouth but she couldn’t help cutting her eyes in his direction and studying him. Why was her usually stoic Protector so against this mission? He claimed he wasn’t jealous but he’d never called her “gorgeous” before Lx Sambla entered the scene. Could it be that this visit to Crimson Moon was forcing him to finally show some emotions he’d been hiding for the past two years, the same way he hid his Drake from her?
Or maybe he’s right and this place is actually dangerous, whispered a little voice in the back of her head. Have you ever known his instincts to be off before? He has a nose for trouble, Addie—you can’t deny it.
Addie actually entertained the thought for a moment before pushing it firmly away. Commander Sylvan wouldn’t have allowed her to come on this mission if there was any danger involved. Of course, sometimes unforeseen circumstances arose but that was what Drago was for. And besides, she couldn’t imagine what could possibly go wrong—especially if everyone on Crimson Moon was as kind and polite as Lx Sambla.
Stop worrying, everything was going to be just fine, she told herself.
She had no idea how wrong she was.
2
DRAGO
Drago tried to keep a lid on his irritation as he contacted the surface of the silvery-red moon and asked for landing coordinates. It frustrated him that Addison couldn't seem to understand the danger she was putting herself in. He didn't trust that fucking ambassador—he was too smooth and soft-spoken. Drago was willing to bet there wasn't an honest bone in his entire oily body. But for some reason, Addison seemed to think he was charming.
Maybe it’s because he paid attention to her and gave her compliments which you never do, whispered a voice in the back of his head.
But I can’t give her compliments or pay her attention—I can’t fucking risk it! he argued with himself. If I do, my Drake will want to Claim her! I can’t fucking have that! I can never have her—no matter how much I want her.
He had known from the first minute he met Addison that the diminutive redhead was his Fated Mate—the one woman the Goddess had set aside just for him. And yet, he could never Claim her because of the beast he held prisoner within him.
Drago had what was known among his people as a "Primal Drake"—that is, a Drake that had no words or reasoning skills. Most Drake Kindred could reason with the beast they kept inside themselves and control it to some extent. But to his shame, Drago had no way to communicate or reason with his beast—he could shout at it mentally as much as he wanted to but it refused to listen. It was like they were speaking two different languages. Or more like the Drake inside him simply had no speech at all—the only language it knew was destruction and chaos.
He had found that out the hard way the first and only time he had allowed his Drake to come out, during his Coming of Age ceremony on his home planet. The beast that had erupted from him the moment he loosed control of himself had been wild and chaotic. It had caused enormous amounts of chaos and destruction and there was nothing Drago could do to stop it because it had taken over completely.
Most other Drake Kindred could guide their Drake when it emerged from them—not so with Drago. He had tried to rein his beast in and had failed. Then, to his shame, he had blacked out completely, shortly after his Drake took control. He didn’t know until later, when it finally tired itself out and retreated back inside, what had happened or how much destruction it had caused.
It didn’t help that the beast inside him was huge—as big as one of the humans’ largest airplanes—the kind that carried hundreds of passengers across their oceans. He was told by those who had observed his Drake that it was the largest anyone had ever seen—and the most wild and vicious.
Apparently during his Coming of Age ceremony, other Drakes had attempted to contain it and reason with it but they had failed miserably on both counts. It had burned the closest village to the ground and then it had started a forest fire which wound up consuming huge swaths of the wild lands his people held dear.