Free Protector of the Pride (Lions of Pride Island Book 3) by Terry Bolryder Page B

all day?”
    He nodded. “Just in case. I don’t think anyone will recognize me, though. I mean, I don’t go out much anyway, and my brothers are more in the news. Contrary to popular thought, I just work all the time.”
    “I know that,” she said. “Maybe after you take a mate and officially take the throne, you can revamp your public image a bit.”
    “Maybe,” he said in a deep voice, his hand squeezing hers.
    It was a pleasant, sunny day, with a nice cool breeze as they paid admission and went into the park. It wasn’t very crowded because they’d just opened for the season and most schools weren’t out yet. But there were teens and young adults and even older couples around.
    It was just one of the places to go in the summer when you lived on the island.
    “Where do you want to go first?” he asked.
    “Fire dragon,” she said.
    He frowned. “Cain said that one is dangerous. Old.”
    “That’s what makes it fun,” she said. “It’s so rickety. You kind of feel like you could die at any moment.”
    He raised an eyebrow as she tugged him down the main street toward that area of the park. “You don’t see the problem with that statement?”
    “I said it feels like you could die. Not that you actually could.”
    “Hmm,” he said. But he let her pull him along.
    “Hey, Lucy,” he said as they reached a short line that wound around to the Fire Dragon.
    She turned around to look at him and could tell from the serious look in his eyes that he had something to ask her that was important. “What is it?”
    “I just… Have you thought about the possibility that you could be my mate?”
    She blinked as they moved a little forward in the line. Of all the things she’d been expecting to come out of his mouth, that was not one of them. “Uh…”
    He took one of her hands and pressed it to his lips, drawing her closer toward his warm, tall body. He lowered her hand to their side again now that they were close. “I mean, if you were picked, would you want to?”
    She bit her lip. “Would I have a choice?”
    “Of course,” he said, but his expression cooled. “No one would force you. When the oracle picks someone, it’s our job to win them over. Not to let anyone force them.”
    “Good,” she said, feeling reassured. For a moment, she’d felt total panic. But why was he asking? Was he thinking it would be awkward?
    “Would you need to be forced to pick me?” he asked as they took a few more steps forward to close the gap in front of them. “Would it be so bad?”
    “Stop it,” she retorted. “It wouldn’t be that. It’s just that I never really pictured myself mated. I’m a free agent, you know? And there are a lot of… responsibilities.”
    “And they wouldn’t be worth it?” he asked, too serious.
    She sighed and tugged him forward. They were almost to the ride. “Come on, Axel. Let’s just have fun today. Don’t ruin it by worrying.”
    He tugged back on her hand, stopping her with serious gold eyes that twinkled in the sunlight. “Some things are worth worrying about,” he said. “Some things we have to worry about.”
    “You, not me,” she said stubbornly, because she couldn’t comprehend what he was saying. “I told you I just want to have fun while we can. I never said I wanted anything else.”
    “After last night, I guess I just thought maybe you did.”
    “Your assumption,” she said, dropping his hand and moving forward in the line.
    It hurt her slightly to do so, but it also hurt to discuss this when neither knew if it would be a possibility. She’d honestly never thought it was possible. Why would the oracle choose someone with her lineage?
    She liked having no past and no future. It made things easier. And sure, giving up Axel would hurt like hell, but she was prepared for that.
    She wasn’t prepared for all of these complicated questions about mating the future king.
    She faced away from him and felt his hand on her arm.
    “I’m sorry,” he said. “I