“And yet it demonstrated the fucking invasive nature of it, the ongoing supervisory intensity coming off them all, especially Mom and Dad. Pops is more relaxed about it, largely because he’s wild at heart with his wolf-vampire nature. Father believes in the wholecoming-of-age-cruciblething, that I need to experience and overcome things on my own as a rite of passage.”
Vax nodded along, getting it, then even voicing the root cause, “Because of your special makeup, the fact that you’re one of a kind, your family believes it’s painted a target on your back. Now you’re an adult, they believe you’re finally strong andcapable enough to protect yourself. But they only accept that to an extent.”
“Yes,” I told him, and eyed Zayn pointedly. “And it’s not just about the possibility of me being pulled from Loxley Academy or being locked down at home if my family was made aware of this situation. It’s what it would do to them. The danger it could pull them into in a bid to protect me. They spent so long fighting, even before the Hybrid Liberation War. So much pain and trauma was piled upon them. Even after the war, when things settled, they never fully did because of me, because of what I am. They went out of their way to protect me. It needs to end. I need to take that on now. They need to be at peace.”
Zayn shoved a hand through his hair. “Look, I get it. I do. But you going to Ketheron is gonna out you anyway. He hates keeping secrets. So... you’re just telling us you’re gonna do that without actually really planning to?”
“He’s actually kept secrets before. We both have for each other. Because of his emotional age during my childhood, we were more like brothers rather than him being an uncle of sorts.”
“And you’re not actually going to tell him the full situation?” Vax asked.
“I trapped some of that gooey substance in the chaos of my freakout before I took off on you on Mordrek Mountains. I’m going to show that to Ketheron, claiming I discovered it in my travels, or something, and take it from there, have him inspect it.”
Zayn shook his head. “You’re gonna need a better cover story than that, Win.”
“Look, I understand that you’re not exactly on board with my refusal to clue in—”
“I’ll help you figure one out.”
“I… you’ll… what?”
He came to me and grasped my hand. “I might not agree with it, but I do understand your stance. And I’m here with you, to help you. So if this is what you need, thewayyou need it done, you’ve got me, all right?” He squeezed my hand. “No matter what. I’m here now. I’m fucking here now, Win.”
I lifted our joined hands and brushed my lips over his knuckles. “Thank you, fireball.”
Vax grinned out at us. “Very nice.” He rubbed his palms together then. “So, as for this morning, I suggest we prepare breakfast for our lovely dragon princess. She endured much last night with Torvek and the Dracoryn Realm political ramifications that will come to pass all too soon. And she was also incredible last night when she took us all so very powerfully and courageously. She deserves to be pampered.”
“Damn, yes. She really did. Just thinking about that pleasure-fest last night is getting me hard,” Zayn uttered.
I eased my hand from his, chuckling. “Then any extra stimulation for you needs to be avoided so you don’t suddenly jump her the moment she wakes up, hmm?”
“I do have some self-control.” Off both our looks, he added, “When it’s called for.”
“Which it should be now,” Vax spoke. “Although she’s dragon and can recover in moments, there’s still the emotional toll of taking us together like that and enduring that level of sexual intensity.”
“Agreed,” I said.
“And you?” Zayn asked Vax. “You’re really new to it all as well.”
“Yeah, how are you faring with it?”
“Invigorated. Ecstatic. Thankful. Enamored. Astounded. It was primal, chaotic, filthy, yet also loving and comforting at the same time.” He smiled. “I truly never imagined experiencing anything like it.”
Because of the fear instilled in him concerning his Basilisk nature.
“Your petrification and venom didn’t come into play at all,” Zayn commented.
“I was at peace, I suppose,” he mused to himself.
I went to him and wrapped my arm around him, giving him a squeeze. “I’m glad.”
“Wow, this whole after-sex assessment is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard,” Evira’s voice sounded, just before she came into view and stepped out onto the balcony.
In my hoodie.
Her stunning naked body wrapped in my hoodie, only partially zipped up and reaching to just mid-thigh level. Her long hair was all wild and in very much a just-fucked state.
Jeez.My body reacted, and I had to ease from Vaxan in order to avoid any physical stimulation. So much for me warning Zayn about it.
