Vector clenched his jaw.No. And I won’t.
Even now, when every fiber of his being burned to claim her, to taste her, to drag her beneath him and show her exactly what she did to him, he held back.
For her. He was a wretch. Out of control. The powerful elven chains around his neck and his wrists the only things keeping his dragon from attacking everyone in Erik’s home. Killing them all.
Not hurt her. Mine.Dragon’s snarl of rage had dragonfire gathering in his chest, burning his lungs. The pain did nothing to curtail his dragon’s wrath at being contained. Imprisoned. Unable to take what was his, claim his mate. Or protect her from the others. So many males here. Unmated Draquonir.
Kill them all.Dragon was fucking adamant. Vector found it more and more difficult to disagree with the sentiment. Except, Raven was here, with him. Close. Her scent filled his lungs like a cool breeze. He clenched his hands into fists, desperate to touch. Test the softness of her skin, the silkiness of her hair, taste thewet heat between her legs. Make her beg. Whimper. Give herself to him. Surrender.
He looked up to find Erik and Talon gone. He was alone with her.
He should kill Erik for putting her life at risk, for believing that Vector had control of his dragon. Yet, he could not bring himself to protest the king’s choice.
Raven was his, even if she didn’t know what that meant. Erik was giving him a chance to save his mate’s life.
Fuck. If he’d died that night, her fate would have been sealed as well.
Raven’s gaze flicked down to his bare chest, her brows pulling together in confusion. “How did you heal so fast? I don’t even see any scars.”
His throat worked, muscles tightening. He shoved dragon down and fought for control. Told her the truth even though he knew she would not believe him. “Magic.”
She scoffed as she dared speak to him in a teasing tone. “Seriously? That’s what you’re going with?” The cool cloth rubbed the remnants of dried blood from his collarbone as she stood on her tippy toes to reach him.
Her disbelief was expected, but he had no choice. If she was going to survive this, she had tostartbelieving. He couldn’t lie to her. Not about what he was.
He exhaled slowly. “Yes. I have no other explanation.”
Her fingers tightened on the cloth. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“As am I,” he murmured, shocked to realize he spoke the truth. Hours ago, he’d been prepared to end the torment of his existence, the relentless agony of dragonfire building in his veins, the centuries of loneliness with no reprieve. No relief. No hope.
Now he had her.
She didn’t move. Didn’t speak.
The air between them thickened, charged with something unseen. His dragon magic surged through his skin, rippling just beneath the surface, desperate to touch her.Claim her.
Vector couldn’t stop the heat of his dragonfire from floating through the air, seeking her, finding her, soaking into her body. Making her burn for him.
Didn’twantto stop it.
His power swelled. The ancient magic reached for her, seeping into her skin. A soft, reddish glow sparked between them, so faint it could have been a trick of the light. But itwasn’t.
Raven gasped.
Her breath hitched as the energy curled around her, sinking into her flesh, her bones, deeper. Itrecognized her. Claimed her.
Her pupils dilated, her lips parting on a soft exhale. Her pulse fluttered at the base of her throat, wild and erratic. The scent of her arousal filled the air, made his aching cock strain to be inside her.
Vector felt the moment the magic took hold of her.
The way her fingers trembled against his skin.
The way her breath quickened, her body swaying just slightly toward his.
The way her heartrecognized his,raced to match his pounding pulse.
A dark satisfaction coiled deep inside him.
