“You fulfilled your obligation with this sunrise, but I will not grant you another. I will seek my mate elsewhere for the completion of my cycle. Rest assured, I will be taking my complaints straight to the Matriarch.”
He winced. His mother would hear her out, and then fret at him until she ferreted out the truth.
The truth was, he was losing his fool mind.
* * *
Dani sat on Sirki’s ledge, wrapped her arms around her bent legs and stared at the sunrise.
From here, she could barely see the valley below. The dawn painted snow-capped peaks and clouds alike with a spectacular orange and crimson light.
She spotted Tyrez the moment he dropped from the clouds, his scales gleaming blue and his wings trailing vapor. He banked for the ledge above, but then corrected when he noticed Dani.
She tucked her legs in close as he landed with barely a sound, only the tiniest scrape of talon on rock. His body shimmered as he began the shift, first shrinking in proportion, then writhing its way to human.
Dani now knew the pain of transformation. The Dragon’s shift looked far worse with that extra set of limbs to deal with. When it was done, he mimicked her pose, leaning his broad back against the opposite wall of the ledge.
“The sunset is beautiful from the palace, is it not?” His voice was a slow, deep rumble.
“It is,” agreed Dani. “Did your mating go well?”
It came out snarkier than she’d intended. So perhaps she deserved the edge to his voice. “As well as expected.”
A voice piped from the neighboring ledge. “Hey. Why aren’t you with Aranta?” Sirki appeared from the other side of the half wall, her red and gold striped hair forming a disorganized halo around her head and shoulders.
Dani was sure she didn’t imagine Tyrez’s flinch. He also avoided his sister’s inquisitive gaze. “She’s returned to her colony.”
“She—returned? Is everything okay?” Sirki’s confusion told Dani that this was unusual.
His turquoise eyes flashed. “That is between her and me,” rumbled Tyrez.
“But—”
“Sirki. It is none of your business.” He rose and rubbed a big hand over his face, causing Dani to wrench her gaze away from what was so suddenly at eye level.
“I need a shower and about twelve hours’ sleep.” He glanced at Dani. “You are doing all right here?”
Dani avoided his eye. “I’m fine. Don’t let me interfere with your mating.”
“You have nothing to do with it.” The words were almost a snarl.
Sirki’s red brows had dropped low over her eyes as her gaze followed Tyrez through the apartment until he disappeared out the front door.
“Something is very wrong,” she muttered.
“Why do you say that?”
“Usually once a mating starts, the two stay together for the entire period. The pheromones are pretty damned strong.” Sirki slid down to dangle her feet off the ledge, something Dani hadn’t yet been brave enough to do. “For him to be back here, alone, means things didn’t go well.”
Dani’s heart accelerated. She gritted her teeth; what kind of bitch was she, to be happy things hadn’t gone well between Tyrez and his mate? “He didn’t seem enthusiastic about mating her,” she admitted.
Sirki shot her a look. “Really? The guys are usually sharding keen. Cycle sex is the best there is.” She waved a hand. “I mean, so I have heard. I have not yet had my first cycle.”
“Cycle sex?”
Sirki smiled. “Yep. Epic sex every twelve to fifteen years.”
Dani struggled to understand. “So—this wasn’t a mating ceremony?”
