Malcolm had been a cold but accomplished lover, and I'd never known the difference, I told myself, grazing my fingers over the now sensitive spot on my throat.
"It's silly," I murmured, catching Torion's eye in the glass.
"I know," he said, shrugging. "But I like it."
Ignoring the soft heat that bloomed in my chest, I turned away from the mirror, stepping into the shelter of Torion's wing and following him out of the room.
"What did you mean about going to the alphas?" I asked, trying to sober myself from the giddy high of release.
Torion's head tipped as he led us through the halls. The keep had been cleared out, everyone moving outside to where we'd set up the stages and tents for the ceremony. My legs were still weak from the unexpected and swift lovemaking, and Torion was warm, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and tucking me close to his side.
"The flight of the alphas," he said, catching my eye, saying the words as if they ought to have meant something to me. "Didn't I mention?
I shook my head. "Weren't they just here?"
"For my rising, yes. But this is an event that takes place regardless. We try as a group not to step on each other's toes, keep our laws and our trade agreements equitable. It gets sorted out after we fly together. But it takes place between here and Skybern this year, so it's a quick trip."
"If your rut is near, and the nest isn't finished?—"
"Brace yourself," Torion warned before throwing the doors open.
We stepped out of the keep together to a rousing cheer from the crowd, and I caught my breath, blind in the sudden bright sunshine, blinking at the mass of people ahead of me with blessedly no clear faces. Torion led us easily through, bodies shifting out of our way, and a bite of relief rushed through me when we turned away from the stage, walked past the risers of dragonkin nobility, and over to the smaller platform where a private seating arrangement I'd planned for just the two of us waited.
To the left, hovering near the high stage, a cluster of young women perfumed the air, tittering as Torion and I passed near them. My good sense warred with my curiosity, and I leaned around Torion to study them. They were a pretty bunch, and afew had keen gazes as they eyed us, but mostly they looked…young. Fang's fire, some of them looked like children, and it made my heart pang.
"Do you know who you would've chosen?" I whispered, looking up at Torion, who seemed to take no notice of the group.
His brow furrowed as he gazed down at me, and I wondered if he could hear me over the murmuring roar of the audience around us, but then he looked briefly over to the girls. One real beauty, a tall and gloriously curved creature with long black hair curling down past her waist, smiled with too much knowledge and tossed that wealth of hair.
Torion shook his head and smiled at me. "Haven't the faintest, really. I made sure to steer clear of them," he said, an easy grin on his face. Then he bowed his head and whispered against my ear, his breath hot and stirring inside of me. "I'm going to shock them, Brigid. And in truth, I wanted to surprise you. But be united with me, yes?"
We stopped at the foot of the stairs. I'd requested two chairs for us to sit in and watch whatever proceedings Torion had planned, but found instead a cushioned bench waiting for us. Torion was taking my hands in his, staring down at me, waiting for my answer. All around us, humans and dragonkin watched us. Had the rumors, the truth, and everything in between reached them all by now? Was there anyone who didn't know that Torion had claimed me in defiance of Malcolm Barr? Was Malcolm here today? Would I watch him claim my replacement?
My eyes slid to the gathering of young omegas, wondering who it might be, when I caught the eye of the dark haired beauty once more. She was looking at me now, not Torion, and I didn't understand the expression on her face, only that it wasn't jealousy or spite but something like…admiration.
Torion's fingers squeezed mine, drawing me back.
Be united with me.
My heart hammered. With fear. With hope.
"Always," I said, nodding.
He beamed at me then, releasing one hand to cup my jaw and lift it higher to accept his lips as they lowered to mine. I did, and the gentle warmth, the tender press, blocked out the cheerful cries that surrounded us.
Chapter Thirteen
TORION
My omega was rattled. It had started in our bedroom… No, it had started the morning we'd finally woken in bed together, but I'd certainly caught Brigid off guard with my desire today. Her gazes were shy and wary, occasionally faltering into an open wonder that made me throb head to toe.
Yet she stood at my side, proud spine straight and demanding little chin high, the hidden clutch of her hand at my back the only outward proof of her nerves.
I wanted to gather her up into my arms and fly us back to my room, bury her in blankets to make our nest, and then bury myself inside of her. Presenting her in front of so many, especially so many betas, made me want to roar a warning. I searched the crowd in front of us and found Malcolm Barr on the farthest edge of the risers of dragonkin, but he watched us every bit as much as the rest of the audience, with a sneer on his lips and narrowed eyes.
You lost her, I thought, gleeful and furious at the same time.You lost her, and I claimed her.
And soon, once this was done and I'd done my duty by the rest of the alphas, I would make her mine even more fully. If I was lucky, I'd give her the time to build our nest first, butin truth, I wasn't sure I cared if we only had the bed. I was constantly swollen and aching with my need for her. The base of my cock had a constant pulse, like it was just biding its time before I could tie her to me with my first knot—an alpha's gift to his omega. We'd make our heir together.The first of many, I thought, offering a grin to my omega, who blushed and returned my smile with a scolding glance.
