Page 112 of Beautiful Beast

Stone loomed above us. I had no hesitations or regrets about my bonds to these dragons, but the thought of being the center of all of it was daunting. Especially knowing how fraught that attention might be.

Endre turned to me. “Come here, Lena.”

I released Zovai’s hand and joined him in the center of the arch, in full view of the Elders and every other dragon coming and going in their finery. “Yes?”

He smiled at me—that rare smile that lifted him and made him feel lighter both inside and out. “No entrance.” His voice was quiet. “No announcement. But I will not let you or anyone else doubt exactly what you are. So…”

The next breath I was in his arms with his mouth on mine. One hand wove up into my hair, grip desperate. Just the feeling of him made me want to tear both of our clothes off, and the connection between us told me he felt the same. Somewhere outside the two of us and the feeling of his lips I heard sounds of shock, some of anger, and the responding growls of my mates telling those dragons exactly how far those feelings would get them.

Smiling into Endre’s mouth, I played along. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. He was claiming me in front of more dragons than had been present last night, and the others were setting the expectation of how the news should be taken. It wouldn’t work with everyone, but it would with some.

I pressed my lips together when he pulled away. “You can’t do that too many times tonight.”

“Because you won’t be able to control yourself?”

“Yes.”

“In that regard, mate, you’ll have to get in line.”

My cheeks flushed as he pulled my arm through his and guided me into the celebration. Varí huffed, annoyed to have been pinned in our kiss but unwilling to leave his place on my shoulder. I curled the end of his tail around my finger and tugged. It earned me a small purr.

Every eye was on us now, including the Elders. Not an official entrance, but one that had been needed. “What do we do now?”

Music already floated through the air, dragons in their human form dancing across the polished stone. Above us, dragons danced as they flew in entrancing circles. I’d never seen anything like it.

What I wouldn’t give to be invisible and simply observe.

“Now,” Endre said, lifting Varí from my shoulder and passing him to Sirrus, “I dance with my mate.”

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

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ENDRE

Katalena’s shock gave way to pleasure as I towed her toward the center of the marble slab that formed Doro Eche’s grand circlet. She couldn’t care less about the recognition of such a thing. Her pleasure came from the idea of dancing with me.

I hoped she felt how much it honored me—that she would be so happy to dance with me.

Of course there were plenty of dragons who would have come to our bed. Soza was one of many who tried. But it was never because of who we are. Only our station and the power we held, even with mine crippled as it was.

“I shouldn’t have walked away from you before.”

Her eyes softened as I turned her under my arm in a human custom I’d seen long ago. “I was the one who brought up your pain.”

Still, I shook my head. “You are my mate. I will not hide from you.”

Lena’s cheeks turned pink the way they did whenever we reminded her what she was to us. I could barely keep my eyes off the marks she bore. Especially mine—pale and fiery at once—curling up her arm like a delicate glove she would never take off.

And there were no words for the dress.

She pulled me closer, and I made sure to hold her there, pressed against my body for everyone to see. “I should have kept the dress they tried to trick me with. Tonight would have been the correct night to wear it, right?”

“It would have been, yes.” I leaned closer to whisper in her ear so no one else heard. “But I much prefer you in clothes made for you with care and respect, that I can tear to shreds later.”

Lena’s cheek pressed against mine. “I already told you. No tearing this one, though I have no doubt Belleo will make as many dresses as you want to rip apart. But if Ellemar objects to you destroying the fabric in her hoard, don’t blame me.”

“Already thinking like a dragon.”

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