Frowning, Race mentally searched within himself when it struck him. There was none of the usual clawing darkness that choked him—no rattle of chains, no tortured screams—only incredible warmth.
Breathing hard, he reached for it with his mind, and like a flood it coursed through him, sunlight thawing every inch of his darkness.
Ash.
It was as if her very essence had been embedded deep into his soul.
A flicker of memory surfaced—Nik talking about the white light during intimacy that had transformed his life. Souls joining, he called it. And his heart hammered.
Dragons didn’t experience soul-joining.
They mated through heat and venom, nothing more. He’d always thought the pull to Ash was just primal instinct, someone he was drawn to on an innate level.
But a soul-joining?
This was the gift from Gaia.
Ash wasn’t just his mate. She was hisdestiny.
“I know I’m your destined mate,” she murmured, combing his hair away from his face. “You said so.”
He lifted his head and stared at her.You heard that?
“Of course I did. Wait…” She blinked, her irises still glowing a luminescent white. “Did you just speak in my mind?”
“Yes.” He carefully shifted them so she lay atop him, their bodies still joined. He tucked a lock of her hair back behind one ear. “The white glow in our eyes? It was our souls joining. It means now you’ll share my lifespan.”
“I will?” Her eyes grew wide. “I get forever with you? Not just a few mortal decades?”
He nodded, his chest tightening at the thought she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
He caressed her hips, unable to stop touching her. “Being soul-joined opens up our minds and gives us telepathy, too. It means you can talk to me anywhere, no phones required.”
“Oh, that’s good to know.”
He kissed her brow, and she settled on his chest again, a pleased smile on her mouth. Then her stomach rumbled.
“You’re hungry.”
“I know,” she groaned. “And we can’t even move.”
He chuckled. “It should be soon now.”
“So, what’s the reason for knotting?” she asked. “I know why animals do… Oh, no!” Her head shot up. “Please, tell me you didn’t just get me pregnant?”
“I won’t lie, my heart. It’s possible. Mating heat increases the chances.”
She gaped at him, the cutest sight in his mind. “You’re joking, right?”
He shook his head.
“Fuuuuuck!” She flung out her arms and just lay there on him.
“Don’t you want a babe?” he asked, curious, angling his head to see her face.
“Yes, but not right this minute! I want more time with you,” she moaned. “Tell me you feel the same?”
“I’ve never thought about it,” he admitted, stroking her back. “Mostly because I was too fucked in the head to care. But now that I have you? A few decades, just us, sounds good. Though I should warn you. I was one of three.”
