Keir moves me to stand in front of him, positioning me like a shield. His hand still rests at my throat, and his arm curves around my wing and shoulder protectively. He nuzzles my cheek, his stubble rough against my skin, and I roll my head to the side, exposing his bite mark. The scar is raised, visible even in the lantern light. I feel what he’s about to do through our bond, and I can’t help but smile. Klauth is watching this exchange with rapt attention, almost amused by what’s happening.
Before I can give it anymore thought, Keir bites me. His canines sink in over his original mark, breaking through skin and muscle. The pain is sharp and immediate, followed by a rush of heat that floods through my entire body. The mate bond flares to life, burning bright enough that I gasp.
He had told me he might have to bite me in front of his pack for them to believe it was real. For whatever reason, they refused to believe that a dragon would ever love one of their kind. My canines lengthen in response to how long he’s holding me, my dragoness rising to meet his claim. Carefully, he removes his canines from my shoulder, and I feel the wet slide of his tongue as he licks the wounds closed. “Raven is my only mate, my only love,” Keir says loudly and clearly for all to hear, his voice carrying across the silent courtyard.
The beautiful female—all blonde hair and curves and fury—comes up onto the platform and reaches for me to pull me away. Her fingers close around my forearm, and the second she touches my skin, she becomes violently ill. She doubles over, vomiting on the stage, the acrid smell filling the air. My scales repel her touch like poison.
“I, Raven Mrithrun, Princess, and heir apparent of the Marzana Empire, banish you from my family’s lands. Never lay claim to something that isn’t yours.” My dragoness roars inside me, wanting to melther flesh, turn her into a puddle of goo on the spot. The deep rumble starts in my chest as she fights me for control. I can feel my scales pressing beneath my skin, wanting to break through.
Keir moves into my line of sight and smiles down at me, blocking my view of the female. “Raven, I love you and only you. She isn’t worth ruining the beautiful dress you’re wearing for me.”
I glance from my mate to my other mates—Corvis with his silver eyes steady and supportive, Hemlocke with his pink eyes bright with protective fury—then over to Klauth, giving him a nod to continue. Several of Keir’s pack mates escort the female off the platform, their hands firm on her arms as she struggles and sobs.
Maeba and Klauth take turns speaking over Keir while I stand off to the side with my other mates, watching. They speak of bloodlines and the power of the pack, their voices blending into a ritual older than memory. The value of family and strong bonds. Looking to the right, I see my siblings and the rest of my parents in my birth nest. Orpheus catches my eye and nods, his expression fierce and proud. The blood bond is the strongest.
They also announce my ascending to take over as flight mother until it is my turn to rule. The transition will be slow over the next three years. By the time I graduate Dragonis Academy, I will be in full control of the flight and the lands of my ancestors, totalling two-thirds of the continent.
The weight of the diadem feels less heavy now, the pressure of my station less suffocating. Because I’m not carrying it alone. I have my mates, my family, my nest. And together, we’re unstoppable.
But even as I think it, a prickle runs down my spine. Someone in this crowd is watching me too closely. Someone who shouldn’t be here. The stalking hasn’t stopped—they’ve just been waiting.
And now, surrounded by hundreds of witnesses, might be the perfect time to make their move.
I scan the crowd, my dragon eyes sharp, looking for anything out of place. Any face that doesn’t belong. Any threat to what’s mine.
Because I may be adjusting to my new station, but one thing hasn’t changed.
I protect what’s mine.
Always.
Chapter 44
Corvis
Keir’s now an Alpha,Raven is becoming a flight mother then one day queen. That leaves me and Hemlocke without a title or a greater purpose. The thought sits heavy in my chest as I walk across the training circles in Shadowcarve, my boots crunching on the gravel. The afternoon sun beats down on the ancient stone, making everything shimmer with heat. I head to the lower offices where Vaughn is. I knock on the door frame and wait for him to look up from the paperwork scattered across his desk.
“Hey Corvis! How’s mated life treating you?” He motions to the chair before the desk with a broad smile.
“It’s real good. The date book and erasable calendar has been amazing.” I smile at him and look down at my folded hands, seeing the silver scales that pattern my knuckles. “I have several questions for you. If you don’t mind.”
Vaughn pauses and sets his pen down, the click loud in the quiet office. He looks at me, his expression shifting to concern. “Is something wrong? Is Raven okay?” He gets ready to slide back from the desk, and I raise a handto stop him.
“She’s fine. I just need advice.” He arches a brow, waiting for my questions. “How did you deal with not being as important as your mate? Or bond brothers?”
“Ah...” Vaughn stands up and starts pacing around the room, his footsteps heavy on the wooden floor. “It took me quite a few years to be okay with everything. Let’s face it, we have a pair of royals and a war hero general in the nest.” Vaughn pauses and leans back against the closest wall, his arms crossed. “The weight of feeling insignificant never quite goes away.”
“Raven will be a queen. Keir is an alpha. I’m...” I look down at my hands again, unable to finish the sentence. Just a dragon. Just ordinary.
“You and whoever else Raven takes as a mate will be a King Consort like I am. You are no less important than the next mate. It was a struggle I had for a long time.” Vaughn forces a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes, then smirks. “It’s still an issue occasionally. It’s why we use the question bag. It’s where we put our questions without anyone knowing who asked. It’s a trust thing—no one asks who asked the question. Everyone has to answer honestly.” Vaughn walks back over to the desk and reaches down, pulling out a cloth bag that looks like a pillowcase, worn soft from use. He slides it across the desk to me, the fabric whispering against the wood.
I take the bag and stuff it in my satchel, feeling the weight of possibility of something so simple. “Thanks for the help.” I reach across the desk and shake his hand, his grip firm and reassuring.
Turning slowly, I leave his office and cross the courtyard to observe the training. The sounds of combat fill the air—steel on steel, grunts of effort, instructors calling corrections. Today is the first day Raven is allowed to spar like before her injury.
Raven is leaning against the wall, watching everyone fight. Her black wings are folded tight against her back, and her sapphire eyes track every movement in the ring. Orpheus is within reach of his sister,watching everyone from behind his lenses, his basilisk nature coiled and ready. “Next!” Abraxis calls, and Raven and Orpheus step away from the wall in perfect sync with each other. Every move a mirror image of the other, right down to drawing the same sword at the same time. The blades sing as they leave their sheaths. They spar, and it’s like watching a choreographed dance between them—each strike anticipated, each parry flawless.
“It’s eerie how they move, isn’t it?” Mina says from behind me, and I jump slightly. I didn’t hear her approach.
