I took a breath. "There's no magic spell, no fucking soulmate lottery. But if my dragon picks you as his mate, that's it. It's you, or nobody. The pull doesn't fade. Not ever. It's possible for me to walk away, but it would be the hardest thing I've ever done or ever will do. And I haven't picked you because he did. That's not how it works. If we weren't right for each other, neither of us would've picked you."
She didn't speak, but her eyes were wide, glued to my face.
"Most dragons can survive if their mate leaves. It hurts like hell, but you don't die. Unless you finish the bond. That's, well, that's where a bite comes in. That part the romance novels get right. If we do that, we're
locked together for life. No take-backs. No divorce. You get the powers, you'll either become a witch or a dragon. You'll get the strength, all that. I get—" I shrugged and smiled. "Everything I could ever want. You. Forever."
"Bite?" She made a little face. "Like, literally?"
"Yeah. Back of your shoulder, usually. Near the crook of the neck. I'd never do it without your consent, though. But if you wanted… It's not just sex, it's more. It changes stuff. You'd live as long as I will, for one."
She sucked in a breath so sharp I felt it in my bones. "How long is that, exactly?"
I tried not to laugh, but the tension in the room needed breaking. "A long-ass time. Most dragons can live three, four hundred years easily, if nothing takes them out."
She blinked. "So, I'd turn into a dragon?"
"Probably. It's my understanding that happens more than turning into a witch. Once the bite sets, you get the perks, faster healing, crazy strength, senses through the roof. You wouldn't be human anymore, not fully."
She was breathing slowly now, digesting every word. "The girls? Would it change them?"
"No. Though, they were born hybrids. I don't know of any others. As far as I can tell, they're exactly like any pure-blood dragon and witch. The bond only changes you. But it'd give you an edge in protecting them, more than you already have. And most humans who are bitten by dragons don't end up being able to have dragon babies. It's magic, it doesn't always follow logical patterns or rules." I blinked a few times. "My mother has been looking into how and why you were able to get pregnant, as it's otherwise unheard of. So farall she's come up with is a big shrug and that magic is unpredictable."
Tash snorted. "Comforting."
I couldn't help but laugh at that little sound she made. "Lucky for me, though."
She dropped her eyes, lashes trembling. "Does it hurt?"
"The bite?" I hesitated. "Yeah. I only know what I've heard, but it's only supposed to hurt for a short time. They say the rest of it, the bond part, feels better than anything we can either imagine. The best orgasm of our lives. And after that, if we bite each other during sex, it's the same feeling."
She went silent, chewing on it. I could see her brain weighing angles and risks. Tash the scientist. "What if I don't want to? Am I screwing something up? For you?"
I shook my head. "It's your call. I want you, even without the bond. Having it dangling won't be fun. Caden hates it. He wants you all the way. But I'm not pushing you. I'm just laying it out."
Her lips pressed together. "So if we just stay like this, nothing bad happens?"
"Nothing." I'd have to fight the grumpiness from Caden,but that's all.
That earned me a look. A glare, almost. "You're an idiot if you think I believe that."
"Yeah, but I'm your idiot, apparently."
She tried to crack a smile, but it wobbled at the edges. Then she asked, "What if we did it? Would I wake up different? Would it freak the girls out?"
I thought about it. "Your powers might come on slowly, or all at once. You could have your first shift within hours of the bite or it could take days or weeks. Everyone is different."
She nodded and sucked in a deep breath. "Okay. If I changed my mind, could we undo it?"
I didn't sugarcoat this, either. "No. Once the bond is complete, only death breaks it. And if you die, my dragon would follow. It's a hardwired thing."
She looked at me for a long time, silently, contemplating.
So I kept going.
"You've got questions. Ask them."
She inhaled, then rattled them off. "Why me? How does your dragon even know? And what if you're wrong?"
