Her Elemental Dragons: The Complete Series

The walls of this inn were way too thin. Much worse than at the palace, where I’d only heard a few brief moans. Now I heard everything.

I tossed and turned, even put the pillow over my head, but nothing helped. In the other bed Reven seemed to be asleep, but who could tell with him. If he was awake he probably didn’t care, since he seemed to have no feelings for Kira at all.

Eventually Kira and her two lovers quieted down, though it took forever. But even then, sleep was elusive. I couldn’t stop picturing her with both Jasin and Auric, torn between wishing I was with her too and wanting her for myself alone. I replayed our kiss in my head a dozen times, but all it did was make me frustrated. With myself, with the situation, with the other guys for being with her tonight. Somehow I had to get a grip on myself and my emotions.

In the morning, we got back in the carriages and continued on through the Air Realm, where the landscape started to become sparse with trees and the ground became rockier. I hated being in the carriage almost as much as being in the boat, and it didn’t help that I was stuck with Jasin and Kira either. Every time they touched or giggled like lovers my teeth clenched and I glared out the window.

“Are you all right?” Kira asked me. “You seem…tense.”

“Didn’t sleep well,” I said.

“I know a good cure for that,” Jasin said with a sly grin. “Maybe we should invite Slade to our next ‘lesson.’”

I crossed my arms. “Not interested.”

Except I was, just a tiny bit. It was curiosity and nothing more, I told myself. We didn’t share lovers in the Earth Realm, and I couldn’t imagine doing it now either, even if the thought did rouse some lust within me. Probably because it had been many years since I’d been with a woman. I tamped those feelings down since I would never act on them. The others could have their fun, but my plan was to bond with Kira at the Earth Temple and that was it.

When we stopped at midday to relieve ourselves and have a bite to eat, I practically launched myself out of the carriage and away from Jasin and Kira.

Kira started to follow me and called out my name, but I kept going until I’d found a bit of privacy behind some bushes and a group of olive trees. All I needed was to be alone with the ground under my feet and then I’d feel better.

Footsteps padding in the dirt told me my solitude wasn’t going to last. Kira stepped into the shade under the trees with me. “There you are.”

“Just needed some space after being in that carriage all day.”

“I can understand that, but you’ve been distant for a while now.” She reached out to brush her fingers against my hand. “Is something bothering you?”

“No, I…” I stared down at the spot where we were touching. “It’s nothing.”

“You can tell me anything, Slade.”

I scowled and ran a hand along my beard, choosing my words carefully. “I know sharing partners is common in some parts of the world, and in our situation it’s unavoidable, but it’s hard for me to accept. When a woman is mine, I want her to be all mine.”

She swallowed, her eyes widening with what I thought might be desire, though that made no sense. “I’m still getting used to the idea of having four lovers too. I’m sorry it bothers you though.”

“Ignore me,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ll do my duty, just as you will.”

Her face fell. “Is that all I am to you? A duty?”

“Not at all. I care for you a great deal, Kira. I will protect you until my dying breath. And when the time comes, I will bond with you. But please do not ask me for anything more than that.”

“I don’t understand. The other night we kissed and I thought…” She sighed. “I do want to be yours, Slade. And I want you to be mine too.”

Longing stirred within me, along with the desire to haul her into my arms and kiss her again. I wanted nothing more than those soft, sweet lips on mine and her supple body pressed against me. But giving in to those desires would only make this more complicated. I couldn’t get hurt again the way I’d been hurt before. The best thing to do was to end any pretense that we would become romantically involved. She had the other men, and that would have to be enough.

I stepped back out of her reach. “I’m sorry, Kira. I’ll give you my body and my soul, but I can never give you my heart.”

As I headed back toward the carriage, I told myself it was for the best, even if I hated leaving her there like that. She deserved better, but I was the one the Earth God had chosen, and we’d both have to find a way to live with that.