She didn’t care if he was a man or a dragon or something else entirely.
She loved him.
And she was getting the hell out of here.
She stood.
Her limbs were shaky, her breath ragged, but she didn’t hesitate.
Vector lowered his colossal head, glowing green eyes locked on her, watching—waiting. Then, in a slow, deliberate motion, he extended his front leg, bending his massive wrist to create a platform for her to climb.
The movement was so human, so deliberate, it nearly shattered her.
Even in this form, even as a beast of war, he was still Vector.
Her Vector. Taking care of her. Protecting her. Offering her everything he had. His wealth. His touch. His protection. His life.
Love. It pulsed between them with an ebb and flow she was beginning to recognize as magic, the inexplicable, undeniable bond between them. The connection that drove her wild when he touched her, that melted every defense around her heart asif her past hurts, her doubts, every struggle she’d ever faced was nothing more than wisps of paper tossed into the fire of her dragon’s heart. He burned it all away until there was nothing left to hide behind, nothing left to fear.
Raven hesitated only a second.
Then, she reached out, fingers brushing over scales still warm from the fire he’d unleashed moments ago.
The texture was smooth, like polished metal, but hot, like the surface of a sun-warmed stone. Power pulsed beneath her palm, as if something alive ran through his very bones.
She swung herself up, gripping one of the thick, ridged spines along his back.
A sudden rush of something electric coursed through her—hot and overwhelming.
She gasped, eyes widening as a strange warmth wrapped around her, through her, inside her.
And suddenly?—
She was part of him. One flesh.
Part of his essence, his soul, his very being. Whatever her gorgeous dragon was doing, he was making her feel like they had melted into one being. She was almost dragon now, part of his form.
Like his wings.
Like his beating heart.
It was impossible to fall, impossible to be anything but his.
She sucked in a sharp breath, her pulse hammering. "Vector—what?—?"
His voice rumbled, a deep, ancient sound that vibrated through her entire being as the dragon spoke to her inside her mind.You are mine.
Then—
He moved.
The massive, ruby-scaled dragon twisted, his talons crunching through glass and stone as he turned back toward the shattered window.
The night outside was alive with war.
But Vector had her now.
And the moment his enormous body cleared the wreckage, he lifted his head and roared.
