Torrent had to smile. His brother was strong and intelligent but he was also naïve. Not that Torrent had much of a leg to stand on himself. Not after falling for everything that Coal had pulled.

“What?” Tide narrowed his eyes.

“Blaze will also be taking part.”

Tide pulled a face like he had a screw loose. “The male didn’t even feature. He doesn’t want a human mate. It was clear. Blaze will not be a problem.”

Torrent choked out a laugh as he unlatched the gate that formed a part of the railing and stepped onto the very edge. “It doesn’t matter what Blaze wants. He is the fire king. The male has to take a human mate. He needs heirs. Mark my words, he will be major competition and so will Thunder.”

Tide’s expression became stormy. “I had forgotten about the air king.”

Torrent nodded. “Thunder will take part. Blaze won’t be able to stop him a second time.” Thunder had made a pact with the fire king, one of the fertile air princesses in return for Blaze’s sister, the fire princess, who was also one of the last fertile she-dragons.

Blaze’s sister mated a vampire, forcing him to break the agreement. In a moment of rage, Thunder had given his sisters to the second prince’s of the water and earth kingdoms. It was how Sky had come to them.

Tide had obviously been thinking about the whole affair as well. “I still think it’s unfair that Lake got to mate Sky. I would give anything for a fertile female of my own.”

“I tried to get Thunder to agree to allowing his sister to mate with you but it would have strengthened our kingdom too much to have a she-dragon mate with the first prince.”

Tide gave a one shouldered shrug. “Oh well.” He grinned. “I prefer human females anyways. After seeing them, being up close to them.” His eyes glazed over and he made a humming sound. “I want one. I want one real bad. I only wish I had gotten a better look at your mate.”

The bastard’s grin grew wider. “My interest has been further piqued because you seem to be hiding her away. The only thing I could see was that she looked like a tiny thing.”

It was true, Candy was tiny. The need to protect her rose up in him. It was an irrational emotion, brought on by his need to claim her. He almost turned and ran back to her chamber. It was wrong that they were separated. It was something that would be rectified as soon as he blew off some steam. The female was going to sleep with him from here on out whether she liked it or not. Let her try and resist him, he could be very persuasive if need be.