Everything.

"We're not fighting. You are stupid to even want to give up your life for that female." Blaze's nose was almost against his. "She means everything to you. Everything? Are you sure?"

Coal hadn't realized that he had said the words aloud. "Yes," he almost whispered.

Blaze took a step back. He huffed out a breath and ma.s.saged his neck. "I will have to speak with Torrent. He won't be happy."

Coal felt his spirits lift but his hopes were quickly dashed.

"You have twenty-four hours to-"

The door creaked open and Julie walked in. She looked angry. Her eyes were blazing. Her fists clenched. She looked from Blaze to Coal and back again. "So it's all true then. If I'm not pregnant in the next twenty-four hours you're sending me back?"

Coal shouted "No!" and Blaze nodded yes.

"No." Coal repeated... with just as much ardor.

"Yes." Blaze murmured, a hint of irritation in his voice. "I want you mated and pregnant or-"

"Or nothing," Coal growled.

Julie shook her head. Her hair flew wildly about her face. "I just need to know one thing. Did you have plans to mate with Scarlet before I came?"

Blast and d.a.m.n. How did Julie know? He had planned to tell her himself. "Yes, but..."

Julie clutched at her chest. She grimaced, it looked like she was in physical pain.

"It's not what you think. I can explain..."

"Did your brother, the king..." She sniffed and her eyes were filled with tears.

His heart hurt just looking at her. There were sharp pains inside his chest.

Another sniff. "Did he"-she pointed at Blaze-"command you to win me, for lack of a better word, to go after me and lie to me and..." Her eyes locked with Coal's. "Twenty-four hours. Is that why you're being so nice even though I'm a lowly human?" She made a noise that only someone in pain would make.

"No. It's not like that. I was tasked... yes... but it isn't like that... It was but-"

"I don't need to hear any more." She shook her head. Her eyes looked wild. She wasn't listening to him. "You'll just say whatever it takes, won't you?"

"No." The word came out sounding agonized. It matched the pain he was feeling inside his chest.

"Yes, you will." She glanced at him.

"I..." He needed to explain, to make her understand. He had kept some things from her but she had kept many things from him. He'd told her everything that was important and planned on telling her more as time wore on. She wasn't ready to take in everything at once... clearly. "Julie, I-"

"Save it!" She yelled. Julie turned and walked out the door which was standing wide open.

"Wait. Let me explain. We need to talk!" He shouted after her, feeling helpless.

"Let her go," Blaze said.

"No!" Coal shouted. "I've listened to you enough. I need to..." He growled and followed his female. His dammit. He needed to make her understand.

"Let her calm down first." Blaze called after him but Coal ignored him. "Save it for behind closed doors."

"Julie!" He shouted, putting every bit of anguish he felt into her name. he sprinted after her, catching her easily. "We belong together. Please let me explain."

"There is no we!" She shouted, without turning back.

"Don't say that." He felt his heart rate pick up. Maybe his brother had been right about waiting to confront her. Adrenaline surged. He looked around the room.

Torrent stood calmly in the corner.

No!

h.e.l.l no.

Coal roared. He had to work to suppress his flames for fear of harming his female. His.

Julie turned so sharply, he almost walked into her. "Let me just tell you something." She pointed a finger at him.

"Not now," Coal ground out.

"Oh, I'm only permitted to talk when it suits you?" She stabbed him with her finger. "Well sorry for you. It doesn't work like that."

"Julie, listen to me-"

"No d.a.m.ned way am I listening to you. I've listen to you enough, don't you think?" She didn't wait for a reply.

He was tempted to grab her and to lock a hand over her mouth or to throw her over his shoulder and to carry her off.

Julie put her hands on her hips. "You are an a.s.shole. A jerk of the highest order. I'm done listening to you. All you seem to be able to do is talk a bunch of bulls.h.i.t." She swallowed thickly.

"There were a couple of things I kept from you, but they-" Weren't the most important things.

"No!" She yelled, cutting him off. Making him swallow his words. "There were more than just a couple of things."

"I have never lied to you about the things that truly mattered. I swear. Please." He tried to touch her but she pulled away with a sharp jerk. "Let's go back to my chamber, we can discuss it."

"There is nothing to discuss. I want to leave. I've already packed, although, the stuff isn't mine. Where is my backpack? I'm leaving." Her eyes welled even though she didn't shed so much as a single tear.

"No. Don't say that. Please."

"No, Coal. There is no we or us. There never will be." She snarled. "Do us both a favor and let me leave. We are done."

"I'm glad to hear it." Torrent pushed up off the wall. "I'm glad you're packed. We are leaving right away." The male's gaze was on Julie. On his female. Coal clenched his teeth so hard he felt a molar snap. Thank the lord for advanced healing. Torrent had wanted her during the hunt. The male still wanted her.

"Who the h.e.l.l are you?" Julie looked Torrent up and down.

"I'm the water king and you are quite lovely."

Coal snarled. It couldn't be helped. "Touch her and I'll-"

"You'll what?" The b.a.s.t.a.r.d king took a step towards them. "You'll do nothing. Your female has renounced you. Your king has already given permission for me to take her... not that I need it after that display, but..." he shrugged. "It's good to have anyway."

"What is he talking about?" Julie stepped in behind him. Not close enough to touch him but enough to put Coal between her and Torrent.

"You publicly announced that you no longer wish to be with the fire prince, that makes you available. Free for someone else to claim you." His bright blue eyes sparkled with... not excitement like he expected. In fact, the water king looked... not entirely under control. He looked angry. He looked... upset. There was no excitement. No smug grin.

"I'm not available." Julie tried to step from behind him but he gripped her waist and pushed her back.

"This female does not understand our ways. She does not wish to go with you."

"Her wishes are no concern of mine." Torrent spat, he shook his head.

"Stop this, Torrent." Blaze tasked. "Don't do this." He stepped in between them. "When I said that you could have the female, I didn't realize what she meant to my brother. He just told me that he has feelings for her."

Torrent laughed. "Feelings. How unimportant. Their feelings do not concern me." He growled. "The female renounced Coal and I am stepping up. You"-he pointed at Julie-"are coming with me. Now."

"No. I'm not. I want to go home." There was a slight quiver to her voice but she also sounded angry.

This elicited another laugh from Torrent. "Not happening." He finally ground out. "You're coming with me and that is final."

"Be reasonable," Blaze said. He took a step towards the water king. "There will be another hunt next month. Coal and the female are having an argument. They care for one another." He grimaced as he said the word care. "Don't do this." His voice took on a harsh edge.

Torrent shook his head. "I tried to be reasonable but look where it got me. I don't have a female to show for it. She left." He looked beyond angry. "I will take this one in her place. This is the one I wanted from the start." Torrent reached past Coal.

No d.a.m.n way. Coal lunged at the male but Blaze pulled him back, taking him in a headlock. "Don't do this, Torrent!" His brother shouted.

"It's already done." The male grabbed his female. He put his hands on Julie. On his female.

Mine.

Coal roared. Flames erupted. Do. Not. Hurt. Her. No! He roared a second time as Torrent gripped a kicking Julie to his chest. She punched him in the face, screaming in both pain and rage. She squirmed so hard, he was sure she would fall. Torrent only gripped her tighter.

"Stop," he choked out. "Behave," the water king growled.

Julie fought harder. So did Coal but Blaze held him tightly.

Julie sank her teeth into his neck. Torrent growled in pain and rage as he strode from the room. Coal could already hear the male's clothes ripping as he shifted.

"Stop him!" he screamed. "Julie!" His female called his name and it felt like his insides were being ripped apart. She sounded afraid. Like she was in a full blown panic.

"I'll come for you!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Calm down," Blaze said. "She renounced you publicly. Torrent is well within his rights. You would've been wrong to stop him with force. We will work this out."

"How?" he yelled, trying to free himself.

"We'll find a way." Blaze spoke calmly. It didn't help one bit. The turbulence inside him only grew worse. Although Blaze was the strongest king, their lores still needed to be obeyed. There were things even the fire king couldn't change.

"Julie!" He screamed, even though she was long gone.

Chapter 17.

Torrent dropped her onto a balcony. It was similar to that of the fire dragons, only, their view was of the ocean. The vast blue sea. The cliffs into which their lair had been built were chalky white instead of volcanic black. Her legs gave in and she fell in an unladylike sprawl. Julie jumped to her feet and ran inside.

It was stupid because she couldn't hope to outrun him. She also didn't have anywhere to go. "Let go of me!" She yelled as he grabbed her from behind. Julie twisted, there was a slapping noise as her hand connected with his face.

The water king's head didn't give an inch despite the impact. Her hand felt like it was broken.

"Feel better?" the shifter raised his brows.

"No. I wish I was stronger." She nursed her hand. "I would punch the snot out of you. What the h.e.l.l is wrong with you?"

"I'm going to kiss you now, female." He looked angry and upset. He seemed agitated.

Kiss her? Yeah right. "Touch me and I swear to G.o.d I will hurt you!" She yelled, keeping her eyes firmly on his. She pulled away from him and he let her go. Julie turned to face him, sure to keep a few feet between them.

"We just established that you are not capable of hurting me." His ice blue stare bore holes through her. His mouth was pulled into a semi snarl.

Julie swallowed thickly. "I'll just have to find a way." She glanced down at his nakedness. Not to admire him but to check if she could lift her knee high enough to get him where it hurt. Namely, in the junk.

"Don't even think about it." He shook his head.

"Let me go, you big... horrible... disgusting ape." Way to go with the insults. Her brain wasn't functioning at full capacity. She'd just been kidnapped for a second time in a short time, so sue her.

Torrent frowned. "I'm not a primate, I'm a dragon."

"You're an a.s.shole of epic proportions."

The king Torrent, what a weird name sniffed at her.

"Stop that!" she shouted. She was tempted to slap him again but refrained. Only just.

He ignored her and sniffed harder.

Julie kicked him in the shin. It felt like all of the bones in her foot cracked on impact.

His eyes narrowed. "Stop that. You do know that dragons heal at an alarming rate, so even if you were to harm me..." He pulled a face like the possibility was too remote to contemplate. "I would heal too quickly for it to mean anything?" His nostrils flared. "You're nearly in heat."

"Don't even think about it. You barbaric piece of s.h.i.t."