But with Lila...
His pen hesitated before he continued writing thoughts that definitely weren’t meant for therapeutic review.
With Lila, I feel like the man I was supposed to become. Strong without being brutal. Powerful without being destructive. She sees something in me that I’d forgotten existed.
The way she looked at me today when I leaned closer—like she wanted me to kiss her as much as I wanted to claim thoselips. The professional boundary she’s clinging to isn’t about lack of desire. It’s about her ethics.
Which means I need to show her I’m worth breaking a few rules for.
Draven’s dragon stirred with approval, sending warmth through his chest that had nothing to do with fire madness.
He glanced toward the window where Nova Aurora’s twin suns painted the sky in shades of amber and crimson. Hours had passed since their session, hours he’d spent trapped in this room doing homework like some schoolboy while his mate wandered his castle.
Enough.
His alpha instincts roared to life, demanding action over passive meditation. Lila needed to see the real Nova Aurora, and experience the beauty and power of his world. And he needed to explore this connection between them outside the sterile confines of therapy sessions.
This isn’t crossing a line. This is being a proper host.
Even as he told himself that, Draven’s grin turned predatory. He knew exactly what he was doing.
Standing abruptly, he strode toward his closet and selected a midnight-blue shirt that emphasized his build without looking like he was trying too hard.
She’s going to love the view from the cliffs.
The plan crystallized in his mind as he made his way through the castle corridors toward her guest suite. Dinner at his favorite restaurant overlooking the pink sea, then perhaps a walk along the volcanic ridges where the aurora danced overhead like liquid starlight.
Romantic without being obvious. Charming without being pushy.
His steps quickened with anticipation, the mate bond humming stronger with each stride that brought him closer to her.
When he reached her door, Draven paused to smooth down his hair and straighten his shirt. The gestures felt foreign.
When had he ever cared about his appearance for anyone?
Since we met our mate,his dragon roared with certainty.
He knocked firmly, his knuckles rapping against the wood in a rhythm that matched his accelerated heartbeat.
Silence.
Where is she?
“Draven?”
The sound of his name in Lila’s melodic voice sent heat coursing through his veins. He spun around to find her walking toward him with Nyra, the corridor’s lava-lit sconces casting amber highlights across her dark hair. That green dress—the one he’d specifically chosen to complement her eyes—hugged her curves in ways that made his dragon roar with possessive satisfaction.
Mine.
The primal thought hit him with such force that he had to clench his fists to keep from reaching for her immediately.
“What are you doing here?” Lila’s brow furrowed with curiosity as she approached. “I thought I’d be eating dinner with Nyra again and wouldn’t see you until morning.”
Draven’s jaw tightened at the reminder that Nyra had been monopolizing his mate’s time for the past two days. Yes, he’d requested the arrangement, but that was before he’d realized how desperately he needed Lila’s presence to feel whole.
“I wanted to show you some sights and take you out to dinner, if that’s acceptable.” His voice came out rough around the edges, his alpha authority bleeding through despite his attempt at casual invitation.
Nyra’s knowing smile made his irritation spike. The hybrid woman stepped forward with obvious amusement dancing in her eyes.
