Prince of Flight by Mandy M. Roth Page B

happening to him on her account only moments before.
    It broke her heart. He was no threat to her. She understood that. She lowered her head and confessed to him. “I was thinking of running away. Of taking off and leaving without telling you goodbye. The idea of leaving you hurt me, Keon. It made my body ache. You felt that. My fear of leaving you.”
    He tightened his hold on her and she whimpered. He released her and she faced him, seeing the hurt evident on his face. “You wished to run from me?”
    “Maybe. I don’t know,” she said honestly. Her thoughts were scrambled. “I can’t help the way I feel about you, and all of this was so intense all of a sudden. Then I started to worry about them finding me again and what they’d do to you.” She snorted. “I didn’t know you were one of them. You don’t smell like them to me, so I didn’t recognize it on you—and I think the little bits I did see, I chose to ignore because I’m attracted to you. I’ve never been attracted to one before. Ever. Normally, they make me want to vomit. They smell of death, evil, rotting flesh. They’re monsters.”
    He just watched her, saying nothing, the pain still showing.
    “What others?” asked Sachin.
    “Perhaps my kind,” said Lazar. “The falcons have been known to be viewed as monsters.”
    She glanced at him. “No. You smell sweet to me. Almost too sweet, but sweet all the same. Well, not Keon. He doesn’t smell sickly sweet to me. He smells perfect. They don’t smell sweet at all. They smell like road kill. I’m not great with scents like they are. It takes me longer to smell things.”
    “I know not what roadkill is,” said Sachin.
    Rossi gasped. “She’s talking about vultures. Lucy made the same comment when I came home after looking into a recent attack. I had engaged with a vulture, getting his blood on me, and upon my arrival home, Lucy said I smelled like roadkill to her.”
    All the men stepped closer to her, and Keonae didn’t look like he was planning to attack them. He still looked hurt by her confession she’d been thinking of leaving him.
    “Keonae, I thought about going, about taking off, but the minute I took one step toward that door with the intent of vanishing, everything on me hurt, and I thought I was going to be sick. You touched me then and it all went away.”
    Sachin rubbed his chin. “Your pull to him is great?”
    She nodded.
    “As is his to you,” said Sachin, still worrying his jawline.
    “True mates?” asked Lazar, sounding concerned.
    Rossi nodded. “I’d wager yes. We could also consult the Oracle. Though, I have my suspicions it enjoys toying with us all.”
    She shook her head. “What are you all talking about?”
    Sachin offered a reassuring look. “We believe you may be created for Keonae. His match in every way. The woman he is destined to be with. The woman he will sire children with.”

Chapter Seven

    Keonae looked upon Lark, the need to wrap his arms around her and spank her at war within him. How dare she think to run out on him! Did she not understand the pull he had to her? The craving he could not seem to sate?
    He glanced to Sachin, thinking on what he’d said. Keonae’s eyes widened. He took a giant step back. “She cannot be.”
    Sachin grinned. “We all suffer the same reaction, old friend. Denial simply wastes time you could be spent loving her. Would you rather not be in bed, filling her with your young ones?”
    “You would be an expert on denying your feelings for your mate,” said Rossi. “And on little ones. You have how many now?”
    Sachin offered a cross look.
    Rossi laughed. “Hey, I’m not wrong.”
    No. He wasn’t. Sachin had denied his feelings for his mate far longer than Keonae. None of that changed the fact that Lark could not be his mate.
    “She is not my mate.”
    Lark crossed her arms over her chest and lifted a brow. There was no mistaking the clear offense she’d taken at his comments. “I may not understand