of this anger, this pure, unlimited chaos raging through me, swirling without purpose and needing to be let out.
Because of her.
Dawn grins, resting her forehead against mine. I can feel the others in the room staring, but I do not care. I finally have her in my arms, after everything, we are finally together. She feels so good in my embrace, her lips against mine like the touch of gold against my skin. There is nothing compared to her, our dreamscape was a pale imitation of the beauty of my mate.
“You told me—” She exclaims, kissing me again before pulling away. “That you would tell me what neriso means.”
“I did, didn’t I?” I whisper, staring into those stunning eyes. “Beloved, mine.”
She shivers and wraps her legs around my waist, holding me close, need and happiness warring in her eyes. I feel the same. I have waited so long to feel her touch, to feel her close, and now I have her.
“Draya,” comes a voice, and I growl, tucking her closer as I snarl at the others. A big man with a nose ring holds his hands up and looks from her to me. “I mean no harm, dragon, she is my mate too.”
I run my eyes over him and the long-haired man standing next to him, noticing a tired-looking Griffin leaning against the wall. “Wing man.” I nod seriously.
He snorts and shakes his head. “Didn’t kill you, did they? What a shame. I was hoping they would,” he taunts, but his voice is almost flat, his eyes sad.
“They could try, we both know they wouldn’t succeed.” I puff up. “Where is the god?”
He shrugs. “Upstairs.”
Dawn sighs and Griffin’s face eases. “Vasculo, I will go find clothes for us both and see what havoc you have caused on the other cells, you can…welcome your dragon,” he addresses her softly, then looks at me, his eyes narrowed as some life returns to them. “I will still kill you.”
He rips open the door and leaves. The other two nod at me and look to Dawn, their gazes softening. “Be back soon, Draya,” the big man calls, before following Griffin.
“Try not to kill anyone without me,” the other man tells her with a wink, before closing the door behind him.
We are finally alone.
She runs to me, her eyes holding questions, but staring into that gaze I am wordless. “You and Griffin seem…”
“He is confused on how to act around a king. It is okay, he is learning, he will make a fine servant,” I declare seriously, and she giggles.
“Oh God, you two are going to kill each other.” She laughs. “Then I would have to bring you back.” She shivers, her eyes locked on mine. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she whispers.
“Nowhere else I would rather be, Neriso,” I state, pulling her closer, noting how she fits so perfectly in my arms. “I am betting we do not have long until your other mates come back.”
“Then we better make the most of it.” She grins, wiggling her eyebrows. I kiss her tenderly before fluttering my lips over each eye.
“Neriso, I have waited thousands of years for you, I can wait a bit longer. Our first time together, my first time with my mate, will not be rushed in a dungeon. It will be on silk sheets when I can show you just why dragons are worshipped.” I cup her cheek. “I want everything between us to be perfect. You have things you need to do, my dragon and I understand that, we will wait.”
“What if I don’t want to?” she whispers, searching my eyes. “What if we don’t survive and I never get to have you?”
I grin, flashing purple eyes at her. “You do not get to die, my beloved. We will survive this because you are too strong not to, too stubborn to die, and you have a king at your side. A minotaur, a fallen, a vampire, a god, and now Lucifer himself. We can handle this.”
“Wait, Lucifer?” She blinks, pulling back, and I roll my eyes.
“Don’t scream that, he won’t let you live it down, and if he offers to hop you somewhere, say no, he’s a mean bastard.”
“I mean...he’s the devil, right? Kinda makes sense.” She huffs and I scowl.
“If he wasn’t, I would have killed him,” I grumble, and she grins.
“Okay, but after…after?” she asks, intently regarding my expression. “Unless you don’t want me anymore?”
“Do not be foolish,” I growl, my dragon leaking through, scales flashing across my body.