Her words from moments before,“Draven, we need to talk,”were the words every man dreaded hearing from the woman they wanted to be with. His jaw clenched as he prepared for the bombshell that would shatter what little control he had left.
“Sit down,” she said gently, gesturing to the plush armchair near the windows.
“I’d rather stand.” His voice came out sharper than he’d intended, his alpha instincts already preparing him to bolt if she delivered the crushing blow he expected. Standing gave him the illusion of power, of being ready to escape before she could see how completely her rejection would destroy him.
Only Lila can truly anchor me. Without her, I’m lost.
But then she moved closer, her bare feet silent on the thick rug, and his breathing began to steady despite his fear. Shereached for his hands, her smaller fingers intertwining with his, and the simple touch sent warmth flooding through his entire body. His dragon practically purred at the contact, settling down after the last hour of being restless.
This is a good sign. She wouldn’t touch me if she was about to leave.
“I’m willing to explore this fated mate thing,” she said quietly, her eyes searching his face. “See where it goes.”
Draven’s knees nearly buckled with relief. It wasn’t a complete yes, but it wasn’t the total rejection he’d been bracing for either. He squeezed her hands, unable to suppress the fierce smile that spread across his face.
“There’s something else I need to confess,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know how you’ll react, but you deserve the truth.”
Her eyebrows drew together in concern, but she didn’t pull away.
“The reason my fire madness has gotten so bad is because I hadn’t found my fated mate. And the only true cure...” He took a shaky breath, knowing this revelation could send her running faster than anything else. “The cure is for me to claim you completely. To have sex with you and mark you as mine. Once our bond is fully completed, the fire madness will disappear.” He paused for a moment and searched her face for any sign of disgust. “That’s exactly what happened with my father when he found my mother.”
Lila’s hands slipped from his as if he’d burned her, and she sank into the chair behind her like her legs could no longer support her weight.
Shit. I’ve terrified her.
Draven immediately dropped to his knees in front of her. His hands hovered near her knees, desperate to touch but not wanting to crowd her when she was clearly overwhelmed.
“I’m not trying to pressure you into anything,” he said urgently, his alpha nature warring with his need to give her space. “That’s just the truth of my condition. I’m willing to try your therapy and see if that works. But the cure is right here if you’ll accept me.”
Lila stared at him with wide eyes, her breathing shallow. “So I’m not just your fated mate. I’m literally the cure to your mental health condition. But only if I sleep with you and let you mark me forever.”
The clinical way she said it made him wince, but he nodded. “I know it’s a lot to process.”
“A lot?” She let out a breathless laugh that held no humor. “Draven, this morning I was a trauma psychologist from Earth trying to help a patient. Now I find out I’m his fated mateandthe magical cure to his hereditary mental illness that requires me to essentially commit to him for life to activate.”
Her words stung, but he could see the conflict in her beautiful face—fear warring with desire.
“Lila, I’m running out of time,” he admitted, hating how vulnerable he sounded. “My condition is getting worse by the day. You’ve seen it firsthand.”
Lila leaned forward, studying his face with those perceptive green eyes. “Draven, I want you,” she said softly, and his heart nearly stopped. “I want to explore this feeling I have when I’m with you. In my heart and body, this feels right. But my mind is struggling to process everything.”
Draven reached up and cupped her face, his thumbs stroking across her soft cheekbones. The simple touch sent electricity through his veins, and he could see her pupils dilate in response.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to make you feel comfortable,” he said fiercely. “Whatever you need from me to trust me, to want to stay with me. I’ve waited eighteen years for you, Lila. I can wait a little longer.”
Even if it killed him.
She leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment before opening again with new determination. “Okay,” she said, standing and smoothing her yellow dress. “Why don’t we start with taking a nice walk in the castle gardens for our therapy session today? We both could probably use the fresh air.”
Draven rose to his feet, towering over her but somehow feeling like she held all the power in this moment.
“The gardens it is.”
Draven’s chest swelled with fierce satisfaction as he soon guided Lila through the ancient stone archway that led to the castle gardens. The morning sunlight cast dancing shadows through the twisted branches of the volcanic ash trees, their silver leaves shimmering like scattered coins in the breeze. His dragon hummed with contentment at having his mate beside him, even if she hadn’t fully accepted him yet.
She said she’s willing to explore this. That’s more than I dared hope for an hour ago.
“This is absolutely stunning,” Lila breathed, her green eyes wide as she took in the terraced gardens that cascaded down the volcanic slope. Crystalline fountains bubbled with mineral-rich water that glowed faintly blue, and exotic flowers in shades of deep purple and molten orange bloomed despite the harsh terrain.
