Page 76 of Gift from the Tree

“Okay then, I’ll message you later. Thank you for being here for me,” I tell her genuinely.

“Always,” she says. Tears mist her eyes, making mine water as well.

“Okay, none of that. I can’t take it. We’re going home,” Draken announces with no warning before transporting us, leaving the others to follow.

Eighteen

Draken

I was so worked up about everything that had happened, I didn’t consider how transporting was going to make Willow feel. I just wanted to get her out of the healing wing without crying again.

“Fuck, Draken,” she groans as she lays her head against my chest.

“Shit, sorry, little wanderer. Hold on.” I know the rest are right behind me and either Corentin or Gaster will have a healing vial for her on hand.

Sure enough, they both pop in at the same time, both taking a step toward us, shooting each other looks as they have a silent stare off. Gaster won whatever that was, stepping forward and handing me the vial, and I press it to Willow’s lips.

“Thank you. I need a shower. Badly. I can make it to my room,” she says, patting my chest, signaling for me to let her down.

“I’ll take you to your room,” I argue, holding her tighter and walking forward so she doesn’t try to stop me again.

All I can think about while walking through her door, carrying her beaten and bloodied, is the first night she arrived. We entered her room the same way, only she was passed out and I didn’t even know her name.

Now, I know her name, her laugh, her little sighs, and her happy moans when she appreciates a new food. I now know how her kisses taste, and I plan to taste every inch of her body. I’m going to map out every detail of her skin with my lips and tongue over and over until she’s begging me to stop. Then I’m going to continue until she’s so delirious with pleasure she can’t speak.

Fuck, if I keep thinking about that, I’m going to explode in my pants.

“You don’t have to do that, Draken. I can do it.” She insists as I sit her down on her bed and kneel in front of her to pull her shoes off.

“Let me take care of you, sweetness,” I whisper low. She has no clue how much I need this. How restless my dragon is in my chest right now, wanting to burst free and destroy everyone who dared to hold us back today from her. Only touching her and being near her will keep me at bay.

Helping her stand and walking over to her closet, she picks out some pajamas to change into after her shower, and I stand at the bathroom door after she declares I can’t come in with her. I don’t like that.

“I’ll be right out here when you get out.” That’s the only compromise I’m making. She doesn’t argue with me about it, just shakes her head, laughing, and shuts the door on me.

I make my way over to her bed and sit on the edge so I can watch the bathroom door, planning on being by her side as soon as she opens it. I’m tempted to just sit in front of the door honestly. Gaster’s pacing on the side of her bed, laying out vials for different tonics, fidgeting, just a nervous ball of energy. I’ve never seen him so out of sorts.

Corentin’s also pacing around the room, typing away rapidly on his communicator. Probably taking care of the fucking mess Claven created by allowing this to happen. I should fucking eat him for this. He shouldn’t continue to breathe. And Vander’s a dead man walking if I get my way.

“Where’s Tillman and Caspian?” I ask, only now realizing neither of them is here.

“Tillman’s about to leave the training field and Caspian’s in his room,” Corentin says, finally putting his communicator back in his pocket and sitting down.

“Why’s he in his room and not here?” I can’t help the anger in my tone. I’m tired of his shit, acting like this toward Willow when she doesn’t deserve it.

“Leave him be, Draken.” Corentin sighs, always defending him.

“That’s bullshit, Corentin,” I growl. I can’t talk about him and his opinions about her right now. I’ll shift and take this whole side of the fucking house out.

Tillman walks in not a second later, with Willow’s bag and clothes from earlier today in one hand and a communicator that he hands over to Corentin in the other before he sits behind her desk, not speaking a word. His eyes still hold a wild glint to them. It’s rare to see the almighty, unshakeable Tillman lose his shit, but it’s so beautiful when he does. He’s a fucking machine.

“How long has she been in the shower? Has anyone checked to make sure she hasn’t fainted?” he asks.

In a panic, thinking about her lying on the shower floor, I jump up and run to the bathroom door. “Willow, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Draken. I’ll be about ten more minutes. Come check again then.” Her light but alert tone calms the claws trying to rip through my chest.

This awakening is just going to add to my dragon’s feral fucking instincts over her.

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