His emerald eyes searched hers, his heart pounding with something dangerously close to fear. Because if she hesitated now—if she doubted, if she looked at him with fear? It would break him.
He swallowed hard, his voice low and raw. “Raven.”
She blinked up at him, breathless, cheeks flushed from their kiss. “Yes?”
He took another slow, measured step back.
Then another.
Her brows pulled together, her lips parting, as if to ask why he was stepping away.
Then he let the shift take him.
Magic rushed over his skin, a crackling storm of heat and power, twisting through his veins like a wildfire finally breaking free.
His bones stretched, shifted, expanded?—
And then?—
He was dragon again.
Massive. Towering. Wings stretching wide, talons digging into the earth, scales catching the moonlight, his shadow swallowing her whole.
The earth shook beneath his weight.
She didn’t run.
Didn’t even flinch.
She just stared up at him, lips parted, breathing hard.
His chest tightened, a deep, raw pain twisting inside him.
Gods, she was so beautiful. So strong.
She was everything.
His wings settled; the night silent around them.
Then, his dragon’s voice thunderous, ancient, absolute as he spoke directly to her mind.
Do you trust me?
A slow breath. Then— “Yes.”
No hesitation.
No doubt.
His dragon exhaled, the sound shaking the very air, sending warm winds curling around her body.
Then stand still, my mate. Do not move.Dragon instructed.
She swallowed, eyes flickering with understanding, with realization as he opened his maw and took a deep breath, allowed the flames to build in his throat.
Her eyes went wide with shock, but she braced her feet on the damp earth and stared directly into dragon’s eyes. Unflinching. With so much courage, he fell in love with her all over again.
Dragon sent her an image, a vision of her body engulfed in dragonfire. In pure, red flame. She didn’t move. She knew what he was about to do. She knew what the fire meant.
