He helped me stand, water sluicing off my skin. Wrapped me in a towel so soft it felt like clouds. Dried me with the same careful attention he'd used washing, making sure every drop was gone before leading me back to the bedroom.
The clothes he'd laid out were simple. Storm-gray pants that fit like they'd been tailored specifically for my transformed body. A matching top that draped softly across my shoulders, leaving my arms bare so the lightning scars were visible.
"Nothing elaborate," he said, dressing me with his own hands. "You won't be wearing them long."
Heat flooded my face. He smiled, pressing a kiss to my flushed cheek.
When I was dressed, he changed quickly—dark pants, a shirt in midnight blue that made his storm-gray hair look almost white. Then he took my hand.
"Ready?"
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
The walk through Sky-Spire Citadel felt surreal. Staff moved with purpose through the corridors, securing loose items, closing storm shutters on lower levels. They bowed to Zephyron as we passed but their eyes tracked to me with curiosity and something that might have been awe.
The dragon lord's mate. Finally completing her transformation.
We climbed. Higher than I'd been before, beyond the public levels, beyond his private quarters. Spiral stairs that seemed to go on forever, each step bringing us closer to the building's peak. My enhanced senses tracked the electrical potential building above us—the storm Zephyron had been calling since midnight, gathering strength, waiting for his command.
Finally, we emerged onto the highest platform. The wind hit immediately, tearing at my clothes, whipping my hair into a frenzy. The clouds above were dark and massive, rotating in a slow spiral that centered directly over Sky-Spire.
"Watch," Zephyron said quietly.
He released my hand and walked to the platform's edge. Raised his arms toward the sky. Through the bond, I felt his power surge—electricity flowing from his body in invisible currents, reaching up to touch the storm he'd built.
Lightning answered.
Not just a single bolt. Dozens. Hundreds. They struck in cascading patterns across the city below, each one precisely controlled, none causing damage. The thunder was deafening, rolling across Tempest Reach like artillery fire. The clouds spiraled faster, tightening their rotation, rain beginning to fall in sheets that turned the air silver.
I watched in absolute awe. This was dragon magic. This was the power I'd bonded to. He was conducting a symphony of weather, bending atmospheric forces to his will with the same precision he applied to engineering problems.
The wind intensified until I had to brace myself against it. Rain soaked through my clothes in seconds. Lightning struck so close I could feel the heat, could smell ozone burning.
And through it all, Zephyron stood with his arms raised, completely in control. The Storm Master calling his element. Creating a cathedral of weather just for our bonding.
When the storm reached some threshold only he could sense, he lowered his arms and turned to me. His eyes were pure electric blue, crackling with contained power. Rain plastered his hair to his skull, ran down his face in rivulets.
He looked mythic.
Ancient.
Terrifyingly beautiful.
He crossed back to me in three strides. Took my hand. Electricity jumped between our joined palms, arcing and multiplying.
"Ready, little lightning?" His voice carried over the howling wind.
I looked up at the massive storm swirling above us. At the lightning dancing through the clouds. At the rain falling so hard it created a veil between us and the world below.
At him. At the certainty in his eyes that said we were going to walk into that chaos and emerge transformed.
Through the bond, I felt his absolute confidence. His fierce protectiveness. His hunger to complete what we'd started.
"Yes, Daddy," I whispered. "I'm ready."
His smile was pure satisfaction. Thunder cracked overhead like the sky was applauding.
Then he led me forward, into the heart of the storm he'd built just for us.
