I wake with the memory of Uri's mouth on my sex. I groan as I stretch and smile, ready for another day with my mates. The mission my brother, Admiral Sysko, has set for me still weighs on my mind, but my mates have given me something more pleasurable to think about.

I giggle as I slide out of bed, pulling off my sleep slip on the way to the washroom. Taking a long shower, I enjoy the cool of the water. My inner dragon puffs out a long icy breath and purrs behind my eyes. I arch my back as memories of my mates wash through my mind.

I decide on a sleek white suit with slim pants and a collared jacket. It fits snugly over my curves, accentuating my breasts, hips, and long limbs. I pair it with patent leather ankle boots, and a thick gold chain around my neck. I wear my white hair back in a tight twist at the nape of my neck and decorate my face with red lips and dark lashes.

I take the antigrav lift to the ground floor and make my way to the dining hall. Expecting to find my mates already there, dishing up the plates from the morning buffet, I am doubly shocked at what I find.

As I step into the dining hall, my mouth drops open. The place is in shambles. Scorch marks line the walls and the furniture has been burned into the floor.

There is no morning buffet. There is nothing but the smell of cinders and ash. Why has no one told me about this?

I turn angrily from the charred dining hall and slide my finger over my wrist com to ring for my butler Quintin. I hail him repeatedly with no response. Trying to keep my calm, I remind myself I must stay in control.

My butler approaches quickly, wringing his hands. He bows at me deeply and begins to speak.

"My Queen," he starts. "I can explain."

"Please do."

"Last night at the evening meal, the four males present in the dining hall got into an argument. Two of them shifted and that is how the dining hall was scorched."

"Uri did this?" I ask.

"Yes, My Queen," he says, casting his eyes down.

"And then he had the nerve to insist on a date last night," I mutter to myself, crossing my arms and stomping my foot.

I feel betrayed, and I’m growing increasingly irritated.

"We’re serving the morning meal in a secondary dining room closer to the kitchen," he says.

I follow Quintin to a small dining room that is far more intimate than the grand hall. There is a smaller table under a window that looks out onto the fields and dunes behind my house. I find the customary morning buffet laid out, and I begin to dish up my food.

I angrily scoop delicacies onto my plate, barely moved by how extravagant my life has become. Quintin watches me, wringing his hands as the crease between his brows grows deeper each time a serving spoon smacks my plate. My emotions are overflowing and it isn’t poor Quintin’s fault.

I dismiss him apologetically and sit for my meal. After I pour a cup of black tea, I sip, closing my eyes. I take several deep breaths. Feeling more in control, I slice my fork into a sea egg pastry.

“Good morning, my little female,” I hear a deep voice purr.

I look up to find Uri standing in the doorway, his muscular arms crossed over his mountainous chest. He has one eyebrow cocked and his thick sexy lips pursed in a smirk. He’s looking at me like he wants to eat me up like he did last night. Why does he have to be so infuriatingly delicious when I’m so angry at him?

"Well," I say in a sharp voice.

"I can explain what happened."

"Please explain why you saw fit to jump in line ahead of Reese right after you burned up our dining hall?" I ask him.

“Our dining hall?” he says, reaching out to grasp my hand.

I let him take it and stare at him as he gazes down at me with that same sexy look on his face.

“Don’t change the subject.”

"My thrall is impossible to control. I needed to taste you and now I am better."

"Let's hope," I tell him. "I have important work to do, Uri. I’ve also been tasked with deciding which of my five mates is to live and which of you is to die. Do you intend to distract me like this forever?"

"Of course not, little female." Uri sits beside me. "What we shared last night was highly satisfying. All I want is to pleasure you…” He stops, lost for words. “I’m afraid I’m not a poet like Reese."

"That is the most intelligent thing I’ve heard you say, Uri," Reese says as he walks into the dining room.

Uri slams his fist on the table and growls. He turns to the buffet and slaps food onto his plate. When he sits back at the table, he grumbles and shoves food in his mouth, not even using a fork.

My water prince walks to me and kisses the back of my hand, bowing at the waist and putting his hand on his heart.

"My Queen," he says as he stands. “You grow lovelier with each new day.”

Heat rises in my cheeks as it usually does when I receive Reese's complements. But today I feel delighted with his form of appreciation. After dishing up a plate, Reese takes a seat beside me, and begins to eat.

"The thrall is a whole new kind of pain to endure,” Uri says, dropping an empty rib bone onto his plate. “I’ve seen bloody hand-to-hand battle against the cyborgs. I’ve been blown nearly to death and come back from it. But this thrall, my lady, it cannot be contained.”

I let out a deep sigh. Of course, I understand. The same thing is happening to me. Perhaps to a lesser extent. However, my desire is aroused and cannot be quenched until I am claimed by at least one of them. I press my eyes closed tight. I know I want them all, even Uri. I just haven’t told them yet.

"We both lost our tempers last night,” Reese says. “There is just as much water damage in the hall as there is fire.”

I turn to him and smile, remembering the water covered floors. I’d assumed he’d used it to put out the fire. I’m glad he confessed.

My other three mates file into the dining room and stop at the sight of Uri, Reese, and, me sitting at the table together.

"All is well," I informed them. "The servants are attending to the problem in the grand hall and it will be repaired shortly."

Everyone sits and we chat amicably through the rest of the meal. After we have finished eating, Reese reminds me that we still have a date.

I want to run back to the lab and stick my head into the databases, but I know I must prioritize relieving the pressure of my mates’ thralls.

Reese has already been pushed aside once.