“Where are we?”
“I’m not sure, but someplace away from them. There are trees and a huge grassy area. There’s no one but you and me.”
“I am all for that,” I mutter.
He lets out a rumbling purr, pleased with my agreement.
“Is this a lake?” I sniff, smelling the stagnant water. I can’t understand how people like these shit-filled lakes, they stink.
“It…I think so.”
Leaf sounds confused.
“Are we alone?”
He makes an affirmative sound.
“Do you want to race around for a bit? I can just sit here on the grass and keep watch,” I laugh at my own joke.
Before I can repeat my question, Leaf bursts into his dragon form and races around. I can see a teal blur in my mind as he winds through obstacles that I can’t see. But within minutes, he’s sitting beside me, and there’s something unsure and so happy about him that it hurts.
“I want to stay with you forever,” he murmurs.
“I’m going to break you, Leaf. Perhaps even get you killed.”
“I am the Leviathan. I don’t die. I kill everything.” He pauses. “Except you.”
“Except me. Why except me?”
“You were mine. I was racing to feast, and the current slammed your essence into me. All my life had been about hate and destroying anything and everything, but then there was you, and all I wanted to do was protect you.”
“But I left.”
“Time is irrelevant. You are mine. I am yours.”
My mind boggles at his calm acceptance of the situation.
“Just like that?”
“Of course, just like that. We are mates. We are forever.”
“You don’t want me; I am-”
“Perfect.”
I curse under my breath because there is just no getting through to him.
I lay down, pretending I can’t hear him. “How long before they find us?”
“Who cares?” Leaf says and lies down beside me.
He reaches out, and then, taking his courage, he strokes his fingers over my collarbone. I moan and turn towards him, giving him more access. He leans down and sniffs my skin.
My body prickles, and I arch up, causing his lips to press against the spot. He opens his mouth, and his hot breath bathes my skin.
“You taste good.”
He sounds surprised by it, but his voice is deeper and darker than ever. His fingers slide over my hip, squeezing as he presses me towards him.
