Lord of Destiny (The Dragon Demigods #6) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,65
see she’s doing the same. “I bit you.” She bites down on her lip. “I was going to scream and…” She mouths, “I tasted blood.” She winces.
I look down at the top of my hand, and sure enough…a bite mark. Raven did a good job of it. That warmth inside my chest ignites further. Raven marked me.
“I’m so sorry,” she mouths, looking like she means it. “It wasn’t like that. It wasn’t mating behavior, I swear.” It’s a dragon thing. They like to bite their partners during sex. Biting is at the same level as telling someone you love them. No wonder Raven is freaking out.
“I understand. I know why you did it. I, um,” I make a face, “I might have come on your leg. I’m blaming you… If you hadn’t bitten me, it wouldn’t have happened.”
She chews her bottom lip, looking appalled.
“I’m sure we could wash it off, and—” I start to say.
“It’s fine. I don’t mind. We had sex…I don’t plan on pretending we didn’t.”
I nod and smile at her. “Okay, then. I just need to warn you that if West tries to knock my head in, I’m going to defend myself. I’m not going to just sit there and take it. I’m sorry about his brother, but that’s not going to happen.”
I see her eyes cloud.
“Unless you would prefer it if I let him beat me up?” If I was talking normally, there’d be a growl to my voice.
She gives me a dirty look. “I just feel bad for him. He didn’t have the best childhood, and then Raider died. I wish he’d move on.” She shrugs. “I don’t expect you to let him beat on you. Just try to go easy on him. Especially if I’m not there.”
If she’s captured. Fuck! I feel a pang. I’m nervous about what we need to do, but I realize that there’s some jealousy there as well. I’m irritated by the emotion.
“What does that look mean? What’s going on inside your head?” Raven touches my jaw, and my light stubble catches.
“Nothing.” I shrug.
She lets me go. “I’m over West. I still care about him. If it weren’t for all of this,” she gestures around us, “I would be very interested in exploring us. It won’t work, though. My life is a mess. Look what I’ve gotten you into. If we get out of this, the guys and I need to leave…we need to get far away. We’ll need to stay away for a good long while.” She sighs. “I have no idea how my weyr even found us, since they’re completely off the grid.” She’s frowning.
“Maybe that changed after you left. Maybe they’re connected now. They have to be.”
“I doubt it.” She shakes her head. I can see she’s thinking it through. “It would be too risky. Tarek is very much against technology in any form. I think he’s worried that the outside world – and social media especially – would give his people ideas. He’s been brainwashing everyone for years and years. All of that would be undone if the weyr had access to the outside world.”
“How, then?” I say.
“Maybe by chance.” She shrugs. I can see she isn’t buying it.
“Has to be via social media. Or tracking one of your phones...or something along those lines.” There is no other explanation, even if she won’t see that.
She shakes her head. “I didn’t see any kind of technology when I was there. No towers or wires. Nothing. I don’t buy it. It doesn’t matter right now.” I can see it isn’t sitting well with her. I can see it’s been playing on her mind.
I’m feeling an ache inside me all over again. We’re putting off the inevitable. We need to make a break for it. “Raven,” I say.
She must see the concern in my eyes. “I know,” she mouths. “We’ll wait until after the next patrol passes.”
I nod. “As planned. No chances. No risks.” I widen my eyes.
“Don’t come back for me.” She puts her arms around my waist. “No matter what.”
“Try not to get caught.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“If you are,” I put my arms around her, “know that I will come back for you. Hold on until then.”
“I know.” She reaches up and kisses me.
“Do you want to get cleaned up first? We could go back to the river.”
She shakes her head. “Too risky. I’ll do my best with leaves and moss. Besides, if I’m captured, I want to be handed over to whoever wants to mate with