“This explains so much,” he said, punctuating each word with a slight jab of his finger. In his world princesses were delicate, fluffy things meant to be protected and cooed over. They were not warriors who could disarm three thugs in a dark alley or throw around men twice their size. And yet, of course Yenni was a princess, and not simply because she was clueless about the value of money. It was in that irresistible confidence of hers, the way she unthinkingly commanded respect. The way she assumed she would be obeyed.

Yenni turned her head to the side and squinted at him. “Do you see now why we cannot be together?”

“Nope,” said Weysh, and he smiled at her. “Princess or not, we’re still Given.”

“This is not a laughing matter!”

“Who’s laughing?” he said. “I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. We’ll work this out together.”

“Dragon—”

“Of course your intended will be disappointed to lose you, but surely he’ll see reason. A Given bond trumps any other union.”

“Dragon—”

“And if not, well, I’ll just have to make him see reason, en? By whatever means possible—”

“WEH-SHEH!” Yenni shouted. It was a voice he had never heard her use before, high and desperate. “How?” she continued in that same tortured tone. “How am I supposed to take you, a man of no political standing, and a Creshen no less, back to my family, my tribe? My intended is a prince, the second son of our most powerful ally and you, Weh-sheh Nolan, are nobody.”

Nobody? Did his Given, the woman he was bonded with, the one he was meant to build a life with, the one person in this world who was supposed to unconditionally accept and love and support him, just call him nobody?

As he took in her glare, cold fury rose within him. He closed his mouth with a click of his teeth and stared down his nose at her. “Apologize.”

“No! It is true.”

Weysh felt even his dragon-mind stir from slumber at the back of his consciousness to growl in righteous anger. Perhaps that was why he placed his hands on the table, leaned forward until their faces were inches apart, and snarled at her. “You will apologize to me, Yenni. I would never treat you with such disrespect.”

“It is Yenni Ajani!” she fired back. “And haven’t you already? Assuming I would fall at your feet simply because you are a dragon and because you say I am your Given. What was it you said you had in store for me? ‘Women’s duties’? How are you different from any other man? Why should I spurn a prince, risk war, for you?”