Caspian's golden eyes flickered, the embers in his throat dimming completely as her words sank in.
Hearing himself named her first mate—the father of the child growing inside her, and that he had too much relevance to be cast out—struck a cord deep within his draconic, prideful chest.
His large hand slowly reached out, his touch incredibly gentle as he rested his palm over hers, feeling the steady warmth of her belly.
She looked at him, and then at his hand on top hers, and she did not pull away.
Caspian still looked thoroughly annoyed by the thought of the snow leopard, but the heavy, suffocating weight of his possessive rage had melted away by those simple words.
"If he is part of your plan, then I will tolerate his presence," Caspian rumbled softly, his thumb lightly brushing against her hand. "But he will respect the hierarchy. I am the first, and if he forgets his place, I'll melt the stripes off his tail." [1]
