Blaze nodded. He looked like he was deep in thought. Coal couldn’t believe that his brother was actually considering this. Human mates. It was absurd. Humans were far lesser beings. So far below the dragon shifter species. They were small and weak. Coal had never once contemplated going on a stag run. Why, when there were two perfectly good females in their tribe and several more scattered across the kingdoms? He was lucky to have been born a prince. Human females for the lessers maybe, but for the royals, it was a travesty.

Lately, he and Scarlet had been spending more and more time together. The female had hinted about wanting to become his mate. They were discussing the possibility. The only downside was that she was infertile. The female had never gone into heat and probably never would. Granite was right when he said that they had a built-in need to reproduce. Coal wasn’t immune to this drive but neither did he want a human. Scarlet would make a good mate. She would keep his bed warm, his hearth lit. He enjoyed rutting her and… making conversation. She was adequately attractive. No sparks flew when they were together but that wasn’t important. What more did a male need?

His mind immediately moved to thoughts of emotions. His sister had often spoken of love. Of long lingering looks. Of one’s heart beating faster when in the presence of another. Of lust so all consuming that it was impossible to keep one’s hands to themselves. She spoke of wanting to know everything about another person. What nonsense. He didn’t believe that love truly existed. He certainly didn’t need it.

No. Once they got out of this meeting, he would discuss mating Scarlet with Blaze. Surely his brother wouldn’t refuse him. It wasn’t like he planned on taking her for himself. As the fire king, Blaze was destined for a fertile female. There was no other way.

“Yes,” Granite paused for a beat. “The hunt. Tradition and lores cannot be refuted.”

Blazed laughed. He shook his head. “You speak of taking humans which is completely against our lores to begin with. Diluting the blood of our species is wrong. Diluting our royal blood is a sacrilege.”

“It cannot be helped!” Thunder boomed. “Offer another alternative if you have one. We have no choice.” He looked down at his lap, refusing to meet Blaze’s gaze for a few beats.

“I agree.” The water king leaned forward. “We need to follow this path. Our warriors deserve mates, as do the rest of us.”

“Agreed,” Granite added. “We are becoming desperate.” He gave a humorless chuckle. Sweat dripped from his brow. There was a nervous tension in the air.