Grinning, he shook his head. “No, you're part Dragon, but you have no beast inside you.”
Smirking, I teased, “I had a beast inside me earlier.”
Raven's grin went lascivious. “And you will again soon, but it won't transform you.”
Going serious, I said, “You're wrong. You've already transformed me, Mate.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Five days later, I was fully mated to the Dragon King of Tabaa. I woke to Raven setting up our breakfast on a small camp table, dressed only in a pair of pants. Immediately, I knew it was over. Raven's expression and body language were back to normal, lacking the tension and lust that had driven him during our mating. Plus, he was wearing clothing.
“Good morning.” I sat up. “It's done?”
Raven smiled as he motioned me to the table. “Yes, the mating is settled. Come and join me.”
I got up, comfortable in my nakedness around him now—five days of wild lovemaking got me over my issues—and went to sit across from him at the table. With my wings fully healed, it didn't bother me to curl them behind me on the rug, bending the tips. I sat cross-legged and looked over the meal—fresh fruit, toasted bread, poached eggs, and sliced meat.
“This looks wonderful.” I accepted a mug of steaming tea from him.
“Vanoak brought supplies back with him.” His expression went grim.
“He's back? What happened with the spy?”
“It was one of my courtiers. An Okon. He's in a palace cell now, waiting for my return to decide his fate.”
“Are you all right?” I slid my hand over his on the table.
Raven took my hand, looked up at me, and smiled. He'd always been of a positive nature, but this smile was beyond any he'd ever given me. It was serene and joyful at the same time. “I'm more right than I've ever been. How are you, Mate?”
I laughed. “It's been the most wonderful, erotic days of my life.”
“You're not sore?”
“After all the massages you gave me in between sex? No, I feel incredible. Are you sore? You were . . . vigorous.”
He burst out laughing. “That's what the mating magic does to us. Although I suspect I will always be vigorous with you.”
I drew my hand away and shook my head. “The magic controlled you so thoroughly. There were times when you couldn't speak.”
“I remember.” Raven nodded. “It was the dragon rising in me. We mated you together.”
“Raven, how did you manage to think clearly enough to come after me?”
His smile faltered. “I wasn't clear-headed at all. I was in a blind rage. Need clenched in my gut. Nothing could have stopped me from finding you.”
“Because you had to complete the mating?”
“Because I had to see you safe, Eliel.” Raven let out a long sigh. “I went wild. Transformed. My knights barely had time to shift and follow me. But I had your scent. That bastard couldn't hide you from me. Then I saw you. The mating urge blasted through me, and my dragon nearly took over. But you were on your knees, terrified. You were trembling. Then you looked at me, and a calm came over you. Your calm calmed me, my foundling.” He reached across the table to stroke my cheek. “Even though you had run from me, I saw the relief in your eyes. The trust. You had faith in me to save you. And my beast bowed to it. It allowed me to stay in control.”
“I was so scared,” I whispered and angled my face into his hand. “Thank the Gods he wanted to seduce me, not just rape me.”
“What?” Raven growled, his hand clenching.
I took his hand. “Nahel said his people used to abduct their spouses. It was traditional—a way to keep the tribes from inbreeding. Part of the tradition was a knowing period. I think it was meant to calm the captive by giving them the illusion of control.”
“How so?” Raven's face had gone vicious.
“Raven, I'm fine. He didn't touch me. Not intimately. It was the opposite. He wanted me to touch him. It was to familiarize me with his body.”
