Page 38 of Fallen for the Two-Headed Dragon

She was his because she chose him, even after all he’d done to push her away. She had stayed, not because he forced her to, but because she saw right through him, saw his fear for what it was. He hadn’t lived a single day for two centuries until she came along to wake him from his daze. He’d been a shell waiting for the spark of a mortal who would teach him how to be whole again.

He was made for her. He belonged to her, mind, body, and spark.

Dana roused slowly. He kissed the drowsiness of sleep from her eyes until they opened, her luscious mouth curving at the corners. He shivered as she touched his cheek with feather-soft fingers, trailing them up his temples to skim the top of his spiked crown.

“Good morning, my treasure.”

“Good morning. What were you just thinking about?” She giggled as he kissed her nose. “You had your thinking face on.”

“I have a thinking face?”

“Yes. And a concentration face. And a brooding face.”

“I don’t brood.”

She snorted and rolled her eyes. “Just answer the question.”

“I was thinking about how wrong I was for ever staking claim to you. I’m lucky you stayed around.”

“You weren’t wrong. Well, you were, but it became true.” She slid her hand into his and kissed along his knuckles. “You just didn’t know you belonged to me too.”

While dragon-kind had more fluid ideas of decency, it seemed the kingdom had adapted to accommodate the sensibilities of the different species now living among them. The ball would be a mixed bag of party guests and therefore required a certain level of care.

Besides, Rathym was used to wearing a drape of fabric over his lower half by now. Although he and Dana spent most of their time nude while at home, he’d attended her to the human law office a couple of times, and even a family game night, which had been fun after her mother finally quit fainting.

The loincloth he wore now was more extravagant than he cared for, but Ana had sneaked it to him when the two women returned from their morning trip to the shops. While Dana was busy getting dressed, Ana had hissed that he had to wear this one to complement Dana’s new ball gown. He’d relented and even allowed his friend to adorn his crown with glittery jewelry while he grumbled.

“Just wait until you see her dress. Then you’ll get it. You would’ve looked like a schmooze next to her,” Ana whispered with a laugh.

When the door to the guest room squeaked open, Rathym’s breath lodged in his throat.

Anabraxus was right. Dana was a goddess. The pattern of the dress shimmered like a frozen lake in the sunlight, their transient colors bleeding and swirling with every rustle of the garment. It hugged her trim body in the most alluring way, a slit of fabric revealing one leg from mid-thigh to ankle. The gentle gold undertones and purple orchid-colored embroidery enhanced her radiant skin, which looked even more enticing with the blush gracing her cheeks.

“Do you like it?” Dana asked timidly.

Rathym clamped his hanging jaw shut and reached for her. He was speechless. He nodded and shook his head helplessly.

“I cannot—I now understand why Ana felt the need to spruce me up.”

Dana laughed with him and met his lips for a tender kiss. He cradled her head gently, not wishing to disrupt any face paint she might have on, but she threw herself into his arms.

The New Illuminated Ballroom was at the farthest edge of the kingdom, on the land bordering the decayed remains of Elvendale. Rathym understood why the elves had chosen this location, but it was still difficult. It would remind everyone of the great loss, and the exceptional failure of the Great Flame Kingdom to protect and assist their allies. For Rathym, it was painful for those reasons and more.

“Are you all right?” Dana inquired from her spot on his left head. He hadn’t realized he’d started hovering in the air above the ballroom building. From here, he could see the spire of the old Illuminated Ballroom, all the way in the center of the barren, charred land, its walls crumbled and foundation destroyed by the rot.

“It’s difficult to bear,” he admitted as he downshifted, swiftly maneuvering her to his arms as he touched ground. “I haven’t had the courage to come here since…”

Dana kissed his chest, then laid her cheek against his palpitating hearts. She stayed there silently, her touch soothing and understanding, until he was finally able to rip his eyes away.

“Shall we join the party, my treasure?”

The ballroom was enormous, much larger than the old one, and yet Rathym was sure it would feel empty without Luvon’s vivid spark if not for Dana’s presence beside him. Couples danced and swayed to the grand sound of the orchestra, which filled the room from polished floor to painted ceiling. The beauty of the ballroom was only rivaled by the stunned look on Dana’s face, her reaction to the lavish theater more enchanting than anything in all the realms.

Rathym was out of practice with dancing, but his feet found the rhythm quickly. He twirled and spun with his treasure on his arm, following his lead. The twinkle in her eye blazed straight into his inner flame. It was as though her brown eyes were a window to her spark, her life-force brightening the very colors of the room.

During a particularly intimate song that coaxed dance partners closer to one another, Dana pressed her warmth against him, her body encased in his. The feeling of her so close made his cocks twitch, eager for attention, which they could typically expect when his mate was this close. Rathym tried to ignore them, but Dana nuzzled his chest, which only made things worse. Not to mention the scent of her desire, which wafted up to his nostrils and sent his thoughts spiraling through images very inappropriate for the very public setting.

“Careful, treasure, or I will take you right here on this dance floor.”

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