Fuck.If he was, then it would make things even harder for them, even with his brilliant lass and her serums. “Anything else? I’d rather just know it all now, love.”
Emily told him about the dragon hunters now trying to silence inner dragons on purpose, and how close they’d been to losing Cam. Once she finished, he said, “They tried, but you saved me, my clever lass.”
Her face heated. “I had help.”
He caressed her cheek. “I don’t doubt it. But you’re brilliant, Dr. Emily Davies, and I want to love you forever. But can you be happy on Seahaven? We’re remote, don’t have all the fancy equipment you probably have here, and it gets bloody cold in the winter.”
She smiled as she ran a hand back and forth across his chest before stilling it over his heart. “Antony is already ordering some equipment for me to have on Seahaven, and I don’t mind the cold when I have a warm dragonman to curl up against.”
He searched her eyes, his pupils flashing. “And the remote part?”
“Well, there are these things called mobile phones, as well as the internet. Have you heard of them?” He rolled his eyes, and she laughed before kissing his cheek. “But in all seriousness, I’ve been trying to find a place that felt like home ever since my parents left and disowned me. Cardiff, London, Stonefire—none of them felt quite right. However, Seahaven welcomed me, your family especially, and I love it there. Although, to be fair, I think home is more a person than a place—and that person is you.”
“Emily.”
“But there’s one thing I have to know before we start planning our future.” She took a few deep breaths before gathering the courage to ask, “If it turns out that I’m not your true mate, will you still want me?”
With a growl, he took hold of her face and gently pulled her closer. “You’re mine, Emily. True mate pull or not, I want no one but you. I’m grateful the other bastards never saw how bloody wonderful you are so that I can claim you as mine. You’re my home now, too, lass. And as soon as you want, I’ll claim you as my mate in front of the entire clan.”
Her eyes heated with tears. “Cam.”
Stroking her face, he murmured, “Don’t cry, love.”
She shook her head. “I’m just happy, that’s all. To think I’ll have a dragonman I love, a new family that’s brilliant, and even friends like Kaya and Roman, is just more than I ever imagined.”
He grunted. “Just don’t get too cozy with Roman.”
“Silly dragonman, he has nothing on you.” She stroked his cheek. “I can’t wait until we’re back home so I can finally kiss you.”
Cam pulled her close until her head lay on his chest, and he stroked her back. “Me, too, Emily. I’m going to be dreaming of kissing you and claiming you every second until I can finally do it.”
“I hope not. Because then I’ll be talking to myself, essentially.”
He chuckled. “I’ll try my best to focus when you’re talking, I promise. But with others? Not so much.”
“Wait, so you’re going to imagine me naked as Antony gives you an update later?”
“Hmm. Maybe. Then I can say I don’t remember what he said and therefore won’t be held to any bargains or promises, such as if he tries to call in a favor.”
“Cameron Alexander, I would strongly advise against angering Antony Holbrook. That man has fingers in everything.”
“I know, and I won’t. Most of the time.”
“Well, I think he sometimes needs others to treat him as if he’s not a god, so I suppose that’s fine. I know Iris does it, but his head is still too big sometimes. So maybe he needs you a bit, too.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.” He yawned and hugged her tighter against his body. “I love you, Emily, and I want to talk with you forever. But it’s getting harder and harder for me to stay awake.”
She nuzzled his chest. “Then sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Only if you get some sleep, too.”
She peeked up to meet his gaze. “I’ll try, but I keep thinking I’ll lose you if I don’t watch over you.”
Cam’s pupils flashed a few times before he replied, “My dragon is back, I have a future with you to look forward to, and Ihave no doubt my mum would also find a way to bring me back to life to scold me if I died. So don’t worry, I’ll wake up again. Besides, I have the world’s best doctor and researcher at my beck and call, if I ever do need some help.”
“I hope you never need my serums again, Cam Alexander, apart from the preventive one I nearly have completed.”
“I’ll do my best, lass. I vow it, and you know how dragon-shifters take their vows seriously.”
