“You’re hurt.” She races over to me, her hands searching my body frantically, looking for the wound.
I raise my arm, showing her the cut I made in my own skin. Dried blood, leaving trails running down to my wrist. “It was the only thing I could think of to get you to focus on me. You were close to killing your mom.” Raven winces, the words hitting her like a physical blow, and looks over at Corvis and Keir.
“I couldn’t see Mom anymore.” Her eyes lower to look at the sand as she pushes it around with her feet, like a child caught doing something wrong. “She threatened the nest,you, everything and everyone I love.” Raven’s voice is so sincere, so raw with emotion that it makes my chest ache.
Corvis closes the distance between him and Raven and pulls her into his arms. She melts against him, and I can see her shoulders shaking. “I have classes to teach. Stay with Hemlocke and Keir for the afternoon. I’ll reschedule the doctor for you.” He kisses her lips—soft, lingering, reassuring—before patting me and Keir on the shoulder. Then he leaves, walking to the cliff’s edge. Corvis leaps off and shifts mid-fall, his silver form shooting up into the sky like a missile.
I watch him leave, and I turn slowly to find Raven stepping into the water. Her clothing lies discarded on the beach—shirt, pants,undergarments in a careless pile—leaving Keir and me to watch her, speechless. The water laps at her ankles, then her calves, as she wades deeper.
My head’s clear this time, and I can really see my mate for the first time. She has so many scales in her human form—black armor that covers her shoulders, runs down her spine, patterns her ribs and thighs. The scales catch the sunlight, some matte like mine, others with the harder gleam of basilisk armor. Black dragonesses are the most dangerous creatures in all creation—volatile, powerful, deadly. Yet I am mate to one.
I must have a death wish.
But as I watch her sink into the water, the tension finally leaving her body, I realize I wouldn’t change it for anything.
She’s mine, and I’m hers.
And I’ll face whatever danger that brings.
“Can you get us food?She’s going to be hungry.” I whisper to Keir. Our eyes haven’t left Raven since she waded into the water, her black wings dragging slightly in the shallows before she submerged deeper.
“Yeah, steaks? Or wings and ribs?” He has his phone out, the screen glowing in his hand, ready to text someone.
“Both would be best. Usually Corvis handles Raven post-aggression.” I arch a brow at Keir, wondering if he understands what we’re dealing with.
“You can armor yourself. Good call.” Keir smirks and shakes his head, his storm-gray eyes knowing. “Wait until her heat. Your stamina is going to be vital to our survival.” Keir gives my shoulder a squeeze—firm, reassuring—then vanishes. One second he’s there, the next just empty space where he stood.
I glance away for two seconds, and Raven is missing. Not really missing—I can feel her still here through the bond, a warm presence beneath the water. Slowly, I strip out of my clothing, feeling the warm air against my skin. I watch the water, looking for any sign of movement. Black dragons were originally a swamp-dwelling or cave-dwelling species. It makes sense that when she’s stressed; she seeks deep water or a dark cavern. The interior of her lair has both—the pool, and the shadowed caves beyond.
My feet sink into the sand as I approach the water’s edge, the grains warm and fine between my toes. Raven can be anywhere in this body of water. Most of it is shaded by the overhanging cliffs, and with her black wings, it’s easy for her to hide in the darkness. I step in slowly, feeling the lukewarm water creep higher up my legs with every step. It’s not cold like I expected—heated by the sun and the volcanic rock beneath.
There’s a disturbance in the water—ripples that don’t match the gentle lapping of waves. I watch the small wave coming from the other side of the small island in the middle, creating a V-shaped pattern. Soon, hands rest on my upper thighs, gripping them with familiar strength. I look down, and Raven is looking up at me from underwater, her sapphire eyes bright even in the dim light. Her black hair floats around her face like seaweed. She rises slowly, water streaming from her body, and I smile at her.
“That’s twice you’ve entered the water even though you hate it.” Her eyes flicker between human and dragon for a moment, the pupils contracting and expanding.
“I know you feel safe in the water and in the darkness.” Cupping her cheek, I feel the smoothness of her skin, and pull her to me. I kiss her lips—soft, tasting like mineral water and Raven. The bond pulses between us, warm and reassuring.
“You’re a good male, Hemlocke. I’m a very lucky female.” Raven wraps her arms around my neck, her wet skin sliding against mine, then hops up, wrapping her legs around my waist. Her weight settles against me, and I automatically support her, my hands under her thighs.
The water laps around us, creating gentle sounds that echo off the cliff walls. Her heartbeat is steady against my chest now, no longer racing with adrenaline and rage. This is what she needed—the water, the darkness, the safety of knowing her mates are here.
“I would do anything for you,” I murmur against her temple, tasting the salt and minerals on her skin. “Even face my fear of water.”
She laughs softly; the sound vibrates through both our bodies. “My brave unicorn.” She nuzzles my cheek several times while moving her hips, trying to line us up. I grip her hips harder and adjust the angle of her hips and then slip her down my length.
Raven flexes her wings as her head rolls back. Carefully, I lie her back in the water, letting her upper body float. Each slow roll of my hips makes her moan softly. It’s music to my ears watching her muscles flex as she rolls her hips to meet my strokes. Moving to wrap an arm under her hips, my free hand moves to use the pad of my thumb against her clit. The reaction is instant; the gentle pulse of her core around my length tells me all I need to know.
“More Hemlocke, don’t hold back.” Raven purrs, and my stallion obeys immediately.
I thrust harder into my mate, sloshing water in every direction to the point I scoop her up in my arms. I slide my arms under hers, holding onto her shoulders, pulling her down hard to meet every thrust. She shatters around me, crying out and wrapping us up in her wings. I crash over the edge shortly after basking in the glow of my mate. Raven kisses me as if I am the very air she breathes, her lips desperate and hungry against mine. Every beat of my heart is for my mate—thundering in my chest, racing with need and love.
Carefully, once my length falls free, I walk us out of the water and to the patch of grass on the island. The soft green blades are warm from the sun. I set Raven down gently and lay beside her, watching the wind blowing through the leaves above us. Dappled sunlight plays across her skin, highlighting the scales that pattern her shoulders and arms.
“I can’t believe Mom pushed me that hard today.” Raven’s voice is soft, almost tentative, carrying a vulnerability I rarely hear from her.
“She has a good reason.” Keir says from behind us, and I smell him before I see him—hot chocolate and marshmallows mixed with charred meat. The scent of the different foods he brought with him fills my senses, making my mouth water. Steak, ribs, something sweet.
“I know. But she has to realize black dragonesses are dangerous. I am the progeny of two great wyrms and a basilisk. I’m not like the others.” I follow her gaze as she stares out over the land below the oasis—the forest stretching for miles, the distant mountains purple against the horizon.
