“Then I will have signed your death warrant, yes, I’m very aware of that. It’s why I haven’t wanted to bite you until today. Dylon, when you first saw me, I was hanging on by the merest of threads. You came in, took control, gave me a place where my mind could heal. Then you filled me with your love and by doing so, chased all the darkness away. I promise I’ll always protect you and guard your life.”
“Thank you,ma moitié,as I will also. Now, how about a day in the forest?”
“Absolutely, but one other question.”
“What, my pet?”
“I know what my gift from the Fates will be and it won’t involve having children. Are you all right with that?”
“Ma moitié,I never expected to have a mate who could have pups so there’s no disappointment there. But if you want them, there are other ways we can have them.”
“Like adoption?”
“Like adoption, yes.”
“Do you want pups?”
“Yes, if it is meant to be. But not having any will not diminish my love for you. You and me…this is our family. And it is the best family in the world. Not everyone is as fortunate to have found the other half of their heart and soul. But we did. By some twisted, perverse route, we were thrown together at the exact moment we needed each other most. You and I are one with each other, closer, and tied more firmly together than anyone else I know. And whatever our future holds, I will be happy because I have you to love.”
Cody smiled through his tears. “Thank you, love. I have been so blessed by the Fates when they picked you for me. You complete me in every way possible and have given me a future. Once our bonding is complete, the love and happiness I feel right now will be with me…with us…for the rest of our lives.”
“Come here my pet,” Dylon said, patting his legs.
Cody rose, and then sat on his mate’s lap. Wrapping his arm around Dylon’s neck, he began kissing and licking the strong jaw of his mate, occasionally nipping at it.
“My pet, how do you feel about continuing my rules in our bedroom after you bite me?”
Cody stopped, looking at Dylon with concern on his face. “What do you mean?”
“Shush, don’t worry, my pet. Just that I intend to keep my rules in place afterward and I wanted to know if you agree.”
Cody sighed, relieved to know Dylon understood his needs so well. “Yes sir, I do. I know I have a lifetime of visions ahead of me and they will cause me pain but when I am in our bedroom, everything disappears except you and your love. I need to know I’ll always have a place where I can retreat to find my inner peace. You do that for me with your rules. I knew I had submissive traits…I mean I always was a bottom and I liked to be ordered about during sex,” Cody said, then stopped as he heard Dylon growl. Smiling at his mate’s possessiveness, Cody continued, “But I never knew I was a submissive in the bedroom.”
“I can’t put into words how much I admire you, my pet. Your mental strength is unbelievable and it helps to explain why you are submissive.”
“Really? How?”
“I’ve seen your visions and they almost brought me to my knees. But you my pet, after you have the visions, you return to this world knowing your mind will suffer the pain that appeared in them. Not once, not twice, but endlessly. How many men do you know who’d willingly go to a place knowing they will face relentless pain? Yet, you kept returning. Why? Because you care more about your brothers then you do about yourself. It would have been so easy to remain in your vision world, cocooned in an endless, painless environment.
“But you never did. Even when the pain in your mind was unbearable, you fought it and struggled to stay in this world. Mental strength…you have it in spades. The Shaman taught me only the strongest can be submissive because they are actually in control, my pet. The rules and punishments are for your benefit so you will be able to do what needs to be done outside our private world. And I will be at your side, always.”
Cody threw his arms around Dylon and rested his head on his mate’s chest. Inhaling his mate’s enchanting scent transported him to a place of love and security, quieted his soul, and healed his heart of all its painful cuts caused by his foresight.
Dylon returned the hug, holding his mate tight as he inhaled Dylon’s scent. He knew he had finally found what he’d been looking for his entire life—not his father’s power, position or connections—no, someone who needed just him and his special skills. Someone he could protect and someone who would truly be his partner—tied together forever, never alone again.
Together they sat, lost in their own world as their love swirled around them.
~/~/~/~/~
Slate looked at Arald and the men surrounding him. Behind them he could see his enforcers trying to keep more shifters out. “Good morning, Alpha Arald. Glad you could make it. Why don’t you go in and find your seat, while my men clear the hall?”
“These men are with me,” Arald said.
“Yes, I can see that. However, you have nothing to fear here. My enforcers will keep this building safe from any attacks so all the Alphas will be safe. Trust me, I have taken every precaution. Alpha Ulfric is inside by himself, without any enforcers.”
Arald’s laughter barked out. “Of course, he is. But I’m an important man…not like him,” he said derisively. “My position demands I be guarded at all times.”
“I understand. And you will be guarded…but by my men.” Slate gave his head enforcer a nod after which he said to Arald, as he held the door open, “Please Alpha, I assure you, your men will be looked after by mine.”
