Zinc was done arguing with his father for the day about insurgences, problems with the kingdom, and upstarts in the court who were getting restless.

He didn’t have time for any of that. He had to work things out with this mate, help her see that she was the one for him, despite the rushed, difficult nature of their relationship so far.

He had to help her see that he wanted her by him as much in a regal palace as he did in a dark, lonely dungeon. Just thinking of her beautiful brown eyes brought him hope.

When he’d been on Earth, he’d thought a lot about coming back to Drakkaris. About the problems he’d dealt with as the heir to the throne, about the constant unrest as the dragons fought to stay on top.

Now that he was here, it was ironic that he didn’t seem to care quite as much.

He just wanted to be back with Leanne.

He swept his robe behind him so he could walk quicker down the hall toward the room that held his mate. He still had so much to explain to her, and if his dad didn’t stop bothering him…

Not that he blamed the king. After all, everyone on Drakkaris thought Zinc had returned because he was ready to rule. That he had come to introduce his mate and state his claim to the throne.

No one knew they’d only come to escape an angry dragon.

He reached the door and took a deep breath, looking himself over before he knocked. Then he waited, hoping his appearance wouldn’t disappoint her.

His mate was beautiful, an absolute dream with her curves and soft skin and beautiful hair. True, the real prize was her brave and caring heart, but it didn’t hurt that she was also the most exquisite creature he’d ever seen.

When the door opened and she stood there dressed in a long, flowing white gown shimmering with embroidered silver flowers, he had a short vision that made him catch his breath.

Leanne in the throne room. Leanne as his queen.

He blinked, trying to clear it as he focused on Leanne’s face. Her curls were pulled back by a metallic headband but still cascaded down to brush her shoulders. He wanted to wrap his hands around one, pull her closer…

“How do I look?” She grabbed the skirt in both hands, pulling it out. “Fancy enough? I mean, everything in the closet was kind of fancy.”

She was being so adorable in showing off that he couldn’t resist pulling her in and kissing her, holding her gently by the arms as their lips met, reassuring himself that she was his.

When they pulled apart, she stared up at him vacantly, then ran her little pink tongue over her lower lip.

“That was nice,” she said. She looked down the hall. “To keep up appearances?”

The dress had long sleeves but was cut to bare her smooth shoulders, and the temptation to place kisses over every bit of exposed skin was almost unbearable.

“No,” he said. “I just wanted to.”

She looked up at him, embarrassed, and then put her hands behind her as they began to walk forward. “Oh. Nice.”

He put out a hand. “Can I escort you?”

“So old-fashioned.”

“Actually, it’s something I’ve seen humans do on TV, but I like it.”

“That’s right. You spent some time on Earth,” she said. “That makes me feel a little bit better.”

“Yes. I won’t be totally lost to your customs.” His eyes grew teasing. “Though, I wasn’t quite aware of some of the things Cobalt mentioned earlier.”

She ducked her head slightly. “Stop. It was so awkward.”

“Was it okay, though? He didn’t do anything to make you uncomfortable?”

“Of course not. He was wonderful.”

Zinc raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“I just mean that he was really nice.” She walked down the hall, looking up at the intricate windows. “So how many people are we going to see at dinner?”

“You’ll see,” he said.

They took a turn just before the main hall and went down a little corridor until they reached a small room at the end. When he opened the door, a woman reached a hand out with a basket, handing it to him.

“What’s that?”

“You’ll see.”

“Such a tease,” she said, still holding his arm as he opened the door to a tall, winding staircase that led up to an outdoor exit. They walked up the stone steps carefully, and then Zinc opened the door to outside, letting humid air that was the perfect temperature sweep in.

He loved the smell of Drakkaris, which was technically a tropical planet. During the day, it was a little too warm, but at night, it was cool with a soft, floral scent combined with fresh spices that seemed to sparkle in the air.

“Wow,” she said, stepping out onto the walkway with him. It was one of the many balconies from which one could get a good view of the kingdom. The green mountains, purple oceans, pink moon already rising in the sky. “It’s so beautiful.”

“I think so.” He opened the basket to take out a tablecloth and spread it over a table that he’d had someone set up for them. “I thought we could just be together tonight.”

“Oh.” She looked surprised as she took a seat on the tall, cushioned chair he pulled out for her.

The sunset was blue and pink in the distance, far beyond the purple ocean, and she stared at it open-mouthed as he got out their dinner.

Cobalt had told him what she liked from lunch, and he’d used that to make recommendations to the chef for things that were similar.

“Wow.” She had to fight to pull her gaze from their surroundings in order to pay attention to her food. “It still feels unreal.”

“That’s how I felt about Earth at first. You’ll adjust to it.”

“I don’t plan to be here long.”

Zinc’s heart sank slightly. He’d figured as much when he found a human mate, but hearing her reject Drakkaris felt a little like she was rejecting him.

“Don’t get me wrong; it’s gorgeous. And the people seem amazing. It’s just that I have family on Earth. A life there. Dreams.”

“What kind of dreams? Tell me about them. And your family.”

So she did, and Zinc let the dreamy air wash over him, enjoyed the familiar food of his childhood, as he learned all about Leanne’s life.

Her father had been a surgeon in the military, and though he’d always worked hard, with five kids, there hadn’t been a lot of money. She’d always been encouraged to get an education and make something of herself.

So different from life on Drakkaris, where propagating the species and finding the perfect mate was the main order of business.

Still, he wouldn’t ever want to force that on Leanne. He’d always known an Earth mate might want to stay there. He just hadn’t really had to face the reality of it before.

“So yeah,” she said. “This place is wonderful. You’re wonderful. But I’m sure you’ll find someone who was meant to be a princess. Someone more suitable for the throne.”

But I only want you.

And besides, even though she didn’t know it, their situation was permanent. Was she going to hate him when she figured it out?

Hopefully, he could win her heart first.

“Anyway, how long do you think we’ll have to stay here?” She put her fork down and let out a relaxed breath, hair lifting beautifully in the Drakkaris breeze.

“I don’t know.”

“Seems like your parents are really happy.”

“They are,” he said. “Though, they obviously don’t know the whole story.” He fidgeted nervously and was surprised when she reached across the table and put her hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“It’s going to be okay, Zinc. Everyone is probably just glad you’re alive. I know I am.”

He pulled back, raising an eyebrow. “Are you? Because it seems as if you want to get rid of me.”

She sat back in her chair, somewhat nervously. “No, it’s not like that. I just… I didn’t know you were a king, and I really wasn’t planning for all this. I just wanted to save you.”

He set his napkin down and walked over to her chair, setting one hand on the table, one hand on the back of her seat, and leaning over her.

“And what would you have done if it was permanent?”

She bit her lip, heat rising in her face as she slowly raised her eyes to his. “I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do,” he said quietly. He could sense so easily this thing between them. There was no way she was unaware of the tension.

She squirmed slightly. “I still would have saved you, okay?” She looked up at him, frustrated. “I couldn’t let you die.”

He leaned in even closer, their faces inches apart. “And that’s all it was? Pity?”

She sputtered a bit, flustered, and tried to push away from the table, but he kept her trapped, refusing to move.

This was too important of a conversation with his mate.

“Yes,” she blurted out. “It was just pity.”

He bit down on his lip and slowly released it. “Then why did you come while riding me?”

She gasped and pushed on his chest, trying to escape him again, but he simply covered her mouth with his, stifling her resistance as she went limp in his arms.

Then her hands came up, resting on his chest then curling around his neck, pulling him closer, begging for more.

She opened her lips and her tongue met his, swirling softly as she tried to tug their bodies even closer together.

She liked when he was dominant, and that suited him fine now that he was feeling well.

He was a future king, after all. He sort of liked being in charge of things.

He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her out of her chair and up against him, pressing her warm curves into his hard muscles, letting her feel the hardness forming just at even a kiss.

She ground her hips against him in response, and he knew that despite them coming from different planets, at least they had this.

This intense chemistry that seemed to ignite instantly whenever they touched.

When the finally pulled apart, both were breathing heavily, and he could see fire in her eyes rivaling that of any dragon.

Her small hands balled into fists and then relaxed as if trying to release tension, and he tried to look unaffected as he folded his arms and stepped back.

“Well, princess? What do you want from me?”

He waited as she looked around somewhat angrily, cheeks reddened, body stiffened, and then threw herself into his arms, reaching up to kiss him.

He lowered his lips, claiming her again, feeling just how right it was whenever he touched her.

Like destiny flowed through every embrace.

He swept her up in his arms and kept her close to his chest as he walked back to the staircase and opened the door.

His mate might not feel everything he did, which made sense because she wasn’t a dragon. But she definitely wanted him, and that gave him every reason not to hold back.