“No further reports of incursions have been noted since. I think the strength of that response shocked them. They must be wondering what we’re up to over here. There’s no way for them toknow it was sheer coincidence we were nearby with such a strong force.”
Caz grunted. “Finally, some good news.”
“The other project you assigned is also finished,” Florian said, gesturing at Dirk.
“All done,” Caz’s brother chimed in, winking at him. “The room is locked in preparation for the events of tomorrow, if you wish to see it.”
“I do. Thank you,” Caz said, excitement building in him.
I could feel the nervous but happy energy boiling off him like heat from a fire. Whatever this “project” was, it meant a lot to him.
“Secret projects?” I murmured as he dismissed the other dragons. “Just what are you up to, mate of mine?”
He grinned and pulled me in for a kiss. I didn’t fight it, leaning up into him and pressing my breasts against his chest as I succumbed fully to his demands.
“Come with me, and I’ll show you exactly what it is.”
He took my hand without having to look for it, our mate bond guiding his fingers exactly to mine. I was forced to run after him as we descended down the flights of stairs and then down a side passage to his private wing. There he showed me a secret passage that led to the throne room itself, emerging hidden behind a tapestry just to the rear left of the throne itself.
It was dark in the room. All the lights save one were turned off.
“So what is it you have to show me?” I asked.
“This,” Caz replied, reaching down to grab something and pulling it free of his throne.
Except it wasn’thisthrone.
“Oh, my,” I choked.
The throne, a towering edifice of ice chiseled to look exactly like a looming dragon head, had been replaced.
In its spot sattwogleaming dragons’ heads. Two seats. Side by side.
“Do you like it?” Caz asked.
“This is … the workmanship is incredible,” I whispered.
The chairs themselves were engineered to look like the occupants were resting against the dragons’ chests. The backs of the chairs were the neck and head while the armrests were to be its talons.
“Only the best for you,” he growled. “But do you like it?”
I ran a hand along one arm-talon. It was so realistic I expected the dragon to roar to life at any moment.
“There is no way you had this done in a day.”
He snorted. “I had the work on this started the day after I kissed you for the first time. I knew then that, eventually, once I had proven to youthat this was real, you would sit there. I had no doubts.”
Something stirred in me at that. He’d believed, from so early on, when I was just trying to survive, that we were meant to be together. When I had pushed him away, he’d responded by having a new throne made. Forus.
“The audacity,” I murmured with a sharp expelling of air.
And the confidence. That was damn hot.
Caz didn’t know what hit him. I bore him to the ground under me, my hands tearing at his clothes, frantic to get them off him. I needed him. Right here.
Right now.
I hadneverfelt more desired in my life.
