Coal gave a quick jerk of the head to show affirmation. He would like nothing more than to fill Julie’s womb with his seed. To see life grow there. To raise children with this female but she was as timid as what she was fierce. Julie would need time. Like Flame had said, he needed to cherish her and to show her what she meant to him. He needed to prove himself as a potential mate. It wasn’t going to happen overnight. It would probably take weeks, maybe even months, heaven forbid but it might take years. Days. He had a few lousy days. No way in hell. He may as well forget it.

“Let me have until the next hunt.” He blurted, his blood rushed through his veins.

Blaze shook his head. “You have until the end of her heat. I am doing this for you.”

Coal roared in anger and irritation. Most of all, he roared in frustration. Maybe it would work out for them. Julie slept in the same bed as him but the agreement was that he wasn’t allowed to touch her. They stayed in the same chamber. It was more than he had hoped for and more than she normally gave.

Coal would do everything in his power to make it happen. He could not fail. Blaze had tasked him with finding a mate this hunt and he would deliver. He had to. It was just a matter of convincing Julie that a life with him would be good. That a life filled with the laughter of children would be wonderful. His heart warmed just thinking about it.

Without saying anything more, he turned and left. Coal followed her scent and soon arrived in the great hall.

Julie’s eyes were wide. She looked like she was afraid. He began to walk towards her. “Coal!” Julie yelled as she caught sight of him.

“What is wrong?”

Flame’s female was with her.

“What happened to Candy? I heard that she isn’t happy. Some bastard king has her.” Her brow was creased. Her eyes were filled with concern.

“Torrent won the female but she didn’t want to stay in the water kingdom so the male sent her home.”

Some of the tension left her. “Oh, thank god. Did he hurt her or force her? What happened to her?”

He’d come to realize that Julie had trust issues. It wasn’t personal. He had long since realized that. Coal held the air in his lungs for a beat. “No, he would never do either of those things. She wasn’t happy. It is my understanding that she didn’t care for him.” He shrugged.

“You said that he’s an asshole.” She turned back to the other female who nodded.

Coal had also come to realize that calling someone after that particular orifice was considered to be a slight. “He is a king. If you think I’m arrogant you should—”