I nodded, rather eagerly, my eyes glued to his exposed skin where the hidden jewelry hung across his thighs. “Perfect,” I rasped, clearly forgetting how to speak properly.
“Then let’s go,” Ember said, letting the fabric fall down again, hiding away the jewelry I was planning on fucking him in.
A knock sounded at the door, making me hurry to answer it. Our whole kingdom had been informed of our mating ceremony and many had shown up outside the palace, eager for a look at the first Taov in centuries. Ember was also going to shift in front of them, something I knew he was nervous about. It was tradition, though. Once I’d said that, Ember had seemed less against it, trusting that our people wouldn’t hurt him once they knew what he was. It helped that there were a lot of dragons here in the kingdom, which were still considered a rare shifted form in his home kingdom, and no one was treated differently for who they were born as.
“Are you decent?!” Midos called from the hall. “We have ten minutes until you need to be there!”
I hurried to open the door, smiling sheepishly at my brother. He could without a doubt smell the lingering scent of arousal in our rooms, but I wasn’t about to apologize for wanting to fuckmy omega at every opportunity. He was simply too delicious to resist.
“Good, you’re dressed,” he said, glaring at me like I was the reason for us being late. “Go.”
Ember grabbed my arm, holding on to it firmly and then smiled at me. I felt his nerves and excitement. He was also a little self-conscious only wearing the skirt and jewelry, but I found him absolutely divine.
We followed Midos as he made way down the hallway and up to our office/meeting room. It had the biggest balcony which the townspeople could see us from. I already knew thousands would be out there, looking up at Ember with both envy and excitement. Mates meant babies, and even though it would be many years before we could have any ourselves, it still showed our people that they would come, even if Ember and I might never have them, I was certain my brothers would.
“There you are!” Ciris fussed, rushing over to us from where he’d hid from our people, peeping out over the balcony railing but staying out of sight. “Do you have any idea how many people have shown up?!”
“Um, no?” I answered, giving him my best smile, the one that radiated innocence.
“I was confused if I’d put on my outfit correctly,” Ember smoothly interjected. “River’s clear arousal told me everything I needed to know.”
Midos choked somewhere in the room and Ciris gaped, then threw his head back and laughed, all the tension andstress leaving him. “Gods, I needed that. “ He then wiped his eyes. “Thank you, Ember. Now, please take my brother out on that balcony and wave.”
“I’m here!” Reinos called out, rushing into the room. He was once again hurriedly dressed, a state he seemed to always be in lately.
“We won’t go out there until after Ember and River have had their moment,” Ciris reminded him, giving his clothes a once-over. “You haven’t even buttoned up your pants, for goddess’s sake!”
“Sorry!” Reinos turned around so as to not face us and then promptly got himself under control.
“I swear…” Ciris grumbled then said some words we pretended not to hear. “Go, before my headache worsens.”
I led Ember out onto the balcony already seeing way more people than I had imagined. The streets were filled with cheering crowds and more than one yelled their congratulations loud enough for us to hear. With our fingers laced, I held up our hands, showing everyone that Ember was mine.
Ember’s emotions were all over the place, but mostly he was excited and relieved as our people welcomed him with excitement. “There are so many of them,” he breathed, eyes wide as he took in the scene below us. “And they’re happy.”
“Of course they are,” I said, tugging him into my side. “Their prince has found his mate.” I then kissed my omega, right there in front of our kingdom. Their cheering grew louder, more exuberant, and I smiled into the kiss. I felt like I was right whereI was supposed to be, with my omega mate. “Ready to fly?” I asked, my forehead now against his, like we were sharing a secret.
“Fuck yes,” he grinned, shifting in front of me.
And then, weflew.
Chapter Twenty
Ember
River and I soared through the skies, the cheering crowd underneath us growing distant as we left the town and headed for the mountains. It was freeing, being able to shift like this, so openly. Not once did I feel afraid to show them my phoenix. It was rather the opposite, really. I feltproudof my form, like it should be.
“I’m so fucking in love with you,” River said, his dragon form gliding through the air effortlessly next to me. I turned and met his gleaming blue eyes, then felt how happy he was in this moment with me.
“I love you, too,” I laughed, circling him in the air, letting my feathers flick off some embers for effect. I could also create smoke, something I was more than excited to show my alpha.
Rings of water appeared out of nowhere in front of us and I caught my mate smirking next to me, showing off his powers as well. We flew inside the rings, and I wanted to play as well, creating rings of fire and that was how we moved through theskies, the other flying shifters allowing us to take over the skies as we showed how in sync we could move.
“I need you,” River rasped next to me. We were heading back to the palace, both of us high with adrenaline and extremely turned on as well. I could easily feel just how much he wanted me and that only made my need for him grow as well.
“Then fly faster,” I snapped, my own need now a constant ache as we moved through the skies, nearing the palace. Our room was dimly lit and it was like a beacon to me. We just needed to get there and then I would have my alpha’s cock inside of me.
My mate growled next to me, butsomehowflew faster. I upped my speed, determined to get there at the same time as him. I was officially his omega, his mate and it was like our bodies knew that and needed to “seal the deal”. Which of course meant fucking until neither of us could move.
