“Not unless you're a noble,” Aras muttered.
“Yes.” I grimaced. “Dragons are an elitist bunch. We think our race is better than all others on Serai, but even if you're a Dragon, you're not immune to scorn. There is still a hierarchy among us. I've heard it's not the same in every dread, but I can'timagine an enclave where the wealthy don't look down on those with less.”
“So you got tired of feeling their scorn and decided to become King?”
I nodded. “Anyone can enter the tourneys. Dragons may be elitist, but we respect strength above all else. If you can prove yourself to be the strongest, they will bend the knee to you. But I am the first commoner in my dread to ascend the throne.”
“But the common Dragons must outnumber the nobles,” Aras said.
“Oh, we do. That's why I can say that my entire dread doesn't hate me. The Dragons in the lower classes might enjoy having one of their own on the throne. Or they might think that I've reached too high. I don't know. When I took the throne, I installed Dragons I could trust in positions of power. But I still have to deal with the wealthy and nobles. They give me the minimum of respect I'm due, hiding their derision behind backhanded compliments. Still, they obeyed, and they accepted my rule. Until now.”
“What's happened?”
“Nothing yet. But I believe they plot to overthrow me.”
“Can they do that?”
I shrugged. “Not legally. But there are ways, I'm sure.”
“That's why you want the Eye!” Aras jerked his hand away from mine, but only to lift both hands in revelation. “You need it to defend yourself. To keep your crown!”
“Yes. And now you know my weakness, Aras. You know that I rule alone, barely holding control over my dread. Is that enough to assure you that I want more than sex from you?”
His expression softened. “It is. Of course, it is.” He stood up, took my hand, and pulled me to my feet, right into a kiss.
As much as we had established a need for more than lust, desire could not be banked by sweet thoughts. And then there was the mating magic that still rode me. I needed to do some riding of my own.
Our mouths bashed together, fangs drawing blood, and Aras growled appreciatively. The taste of him spiked my arousal as well. I guess we were both animals at heart and animals know that blood is life. Sex is also life-affirming. It seemed natural for the two to go together. So natural to go from savoring that primal taste to savoring the feel of Aras's bare body against mine. The softness of fur over hard muscles. The alluring buds of his nipples. That damn tail. I wanted it all, wanted to touch it all and learn every dip and plane of my mate's landscape. With a growl, I tossed his belt aside.
Fabric tore in our haste, but I didn't care. Not when more of my mate's primal form was revealed with every removal. I pushed aside cotton and leather until he stood before me as he should—bared for my pleasure.Ourpleasure.
Touching wasn't enough. I wanted to taste him. I grabbed Aras by the waist and shoved him against the door. With a growl, I bent my head to bite his neck.
And came up sputtering fur.
Aras stared at me for two seconds, then burst out laughing. I started laughing with him, and then we were on thebed, in each other's arms, still laughing boisterously. Crying with it.
Then the laughter subsided into a tingling warmth. Smiles shared. Eyes twinkling. Gentle touches. Happiness came then. Joy unlike any I'd experienced before. I trembled with it. It filled me to my fingertips and vibrated into Aras. He sighed and arched into me.
“You're magical,” Aras said.
If only I could tell him how true that was.
“You're rather magical yourself,” I said. Another truth.
“No, really.” He pressed his palm over my heart. “Can you feel that? I . . . fuck, Ly. It's as if I can feelyou. Your touch goes deeper than skin. Is this a Dragon thing?”
My breath caught. I had to bite my tongue to keep from confessing. I just stared at my mate, everything about him reeling me in like a hooked fish. I couldn't draw back. Couldn't look at all of him at once. It might kill me. It would certainly stop my heart. Or burst it. Aras was that beautiful. That genuine. And that amazing.
“Ly?” Aras wrinkled his forehead, putting furrows in the sleek fur.
I stroked them away and smiled. “No, it's not a Dragon thing,” I lied. “It's an us thing. And yes, I feel it too. Will you think I'm crazy or clingy if I say I think we're meant for each other?”
His eyes shivered. His whole body did. I covered his hand with mine and pressed it still.
“Do you think . . . ,” Aras trailed off, swallowed, then tried again. “Do you think I could be your mate?”
Oh, fuck me. Fuck this!
