“I'm going to fucking tear that sea worm apart!” Shale roared.
I grabbed Shale's shoulders before he shot to his feet. The other Dragons pulled back, even Shale's mother gasped, but his dad laughed boisterously.
“That's a freshly mated Dragon for you,” Duke Naven said. “Don't worry, reason will return. Just give him a moment. Maybe kiss him, Sebastian. That should help.”
I took my new father's advice and kissed my mate. Shale remained tense for a few seconds, then melted around me, his arms limp at first, then tightening into an embrace. When I eased back, he was smiling.
“You good to hear the rest or should I wait until you're less volatile?” I asked.
“I'm good,” Shale whispered. “You obviously denied King Vaxarion.”
“Oh, good! You're back.” I kissed the tip of his nose. “And yes, I refused him and held onto you. I'd rather live a mortal life with you and without your love than live forever loved by another man.”
Several people, including Duchess Thera, made soft, mewling sounds, but I couldn't look away from Shale.
“That's not what you said yesterday.” Shale smirked.
“Shaleros!” his mother gasped.
But I just laughed. “I would have realized it on my own if you hadn't gone crazy and locked me up.”
“You did realize it.”
“Yeah, after you had a breakdown.”
Shale snorted. “I never break.”
“You broke,” I whispered and leaned in to brush my lips over his. “And it broke my resistance.”
Shale smiled against my lips, then rubbed his way into a kiss. The Dragons applauded.
“All right, enough!” Duke Naven said. “They've been through a lot and have just sealed their mating bond. Let's not put them on display. You've all come to congratulate my son, and he appreciates that, but it's time for the family to be alone.”
The Dragons bowed to their King, even as he continued to kiss me, and quietly left the terrace. I admit, I breathed easier once they were gone. This wasn't the first time I'd been around that many Dragons, but it was still unnerving.
“Is that everything?” Shale whispered once we were alone with his parents. Our parents.
“You know the rest. Mostly. After I denied him, King Vaxarion turned into Ranu. Then, when I refused to let go of you, you turned into Ranu. That's when he told me that my body wasn't there, only my soul, and he offered me the choice to either return to you and live as we were or give myself to him and free you.”
“Give yourself to him?” Shale growled. “He threatened to eat your soul.”
“But he didn't, Son,” Duchess Thera said. “It was just a test.”
“It fooled me,” I muttered. “I could feel myself dwindling. I thought I was . . . nothing.”
Shale made a wounded sound and pulled me into his arms. “You have never been nothing, Sebastian. I suspect you were born wondrous, and you will only get more so as the centuries pass.”
“Centuries,” I murmured and snuggled in against him. “I can't even conceive of living that long.”
“Don't worry. I will show you the way.”
I looked up at him and brushed away a tear. “Don't cry, Shale. I know I'm not nothing. I've never let bullies diminish me.”
“But you would have let a god do it. To give me back my love.”
I nodded. “I would have done anything to make you happy. I told you from the start; I just want to see you smile.”
Shale started to get that soft look again.
