She crawls to me next. “Ronyn…”
“It’s a scratch,” I say, though I'm shaking from the pain as my blood runs hot and fast from my wound.
She presses her lips to my temple, her magic weaving through my skin and sealing it effortlessly.
“Kelan,” she gasps, crawling to heal his wound with urgent care.
When she finishes, she stands, hands trembling. She wears only a gold shift, her body glowing in the moonlightas her runes shimmer like distant stars.
Kelan steps forward with tears in his eyes and places a reverent hand on her stomach.
A soft golden light answers from beneath her skin.
Darial joins him, and then I approach. We fall to our knees before our mate and queen, awestruck.
The warmth we feel islife.
Three lives exist in the belly of our mate.
Black. Gold. Scarlet.
We embrace Aura, breathing a collective sigh of relief.
She is our miracle and our future.
She is home, and no one will ever take her again.
34
AURA
Ronyn carries me inside, holding me close with one arm under my knees and the other supporting my back. His chest is warm from the fight, and now that it’s over, he’s trembling. The adrenaline has nowhere left to go.
The penthouse doors close quietly behind us, blocking out the city noise. This place isn’t as fancy as the last one. It’s clean and modern, almost like a model home, but the big windows still show off the sparkling skyline. Maybe the view gives my dragons a sense of freedom, even when they’re inside.
“Can you put me down?” I murmur.
Ronyn hesitates before lowering me gently to my feet. Kelan is there immediately, hands hovering as if afraid I might fall over. Darial moves behind me to provide his gentle assistance.
They don’t ask if I’m hurt.
They check me over with worried eyes. Kelan gently lifts my wrists, staring at the red marks left by the silk tether. Hissilver eyes grow darker. Ronyn lightly touches under my collarbone, searching for bruises. Darial crouches and lets his fingers brush over my ankles.
“You’re shaking,” Darial says softly.
“It’s relief,” I admit. “I was so scared you wouldn’t find me. That I wouldn’t have a chance to be with you again… that they would kill our children.”
I swipe at my face as tears spill.
Kelan kisses my tears away, one side and then the other. When we’re alone, my strong alpha is gentle in a way that always surprises me. He breathes in against my skin and goes still. I remember the ritual oils are still on me.
My mate undresses me slowly, but this time it’s different. Instead of hunger and urgency, there’s only gentle care. He leads me to the shower without saying anything else. The warm water spray quickly fogs the glass, making everything softer.
My gold nightgown slips from my shoulders. Ronyn kisses the spot where my neck meets my collarbone. Darial takes my hands, kisses each palm, and winces at the marks on my wrists.
“It’s time to heal yourself, Aura,” he whispers, encouraging me as I place a palm over my left first, then my right, coaxing the magic that knits my skin and leaves it unblemished.
Kelan’s hands move over my ribs, hips, and back, making sure I’m okay everywhere else.
