Page 27 of Clash of Kings

“I have so many questions.” Dakota tentatively brushed her fingers through Sebastian’s beard.

“And I’ll answer them all.” Sebastian’s beast didn’t want to talk. It wanted to take Dakota somewhere private and claim her, but that would have to wait. Dakota pointed out a small cabin, and Sebastian guided them to the front yard. When he touched down, he lowered Dakota to her feet, keeping a tight grip to ensure she was stable.

Dakota took a step back, but instead of heading inside, she reached out and ghosted her fingertips across the scars on his torso. While she did so, Sebastian stared at his mate’s face. He couldn’t believe he’d found her.

“It really is you. I would ask how you survived, but I guess being a Gargoyle explains it.”

“Not exactly.” Sebastian gently removed her hands from his chest. He brought her fingertips to his mouth, kissing each one. “I promise I’ll explain everything, but we need to hurry. I don’t trust King to not retaliate."

Dakota tugged her hands free and wrapped them around Sebastian’s neck, pulling his head down to hers. She pressed their lips together, and Sebastian gasped. Dakota took advantage and slipped her tongue inside. Sebastian had kissed women before, but never in his life had it rocked his entire world. He placed his hands on her waist, the bare skin under his fingers smooth and more enticing than anything he’d ever encountered. His dick hardened, but he resisted the urge to pull Dakota’s body against his. Barely. The need to take her was almost more than he could handle. Sebastian wrenched his mouth from hers and pressed their foreheads together.

“I really need you to get dressed,Cucciolina.As much as I want to take you inside and claim you, we need to meet my cousins so we can get out of Panther. Where are the clothes you had on?” he asked, putting a step between them.

“Somewhere between the pack house and the woods. I really liked those boots,” she said, staring off in the direction they’d come from.

“I’ll buy you new ones.” Bas tugged on her hand, and Dakota tilted her head to the side.

“What?”

Dakota didn’t respond. Instead, she led him up the steps to the porch. “My keys were in my jeans, so if you’d do the honors?” She gestured toward the door.

Sebastian raised his leg and placed his boot against the door beside the knob. With a hard shove, it came open. Dakota entered the cabin and padded to a ladder. She paused at the first step. “I’ll just be a second.” As she climbed, Sebastian couldn’t help but admire her form. Dakota was lithe. Her breasts were on the average size, which was perfect for him. Her long hair bounced against her back as she climbed, drawing Sebastian’s attention to her perfectly shaped ass.

Go up there and claim her now.

I’m not rushing this. When we claim her, it’s going to be somewhere private where I can take my time.

Sebastian hadn’t been a saint over the years. He was a young Goyle with needs, but his lovers had been few. Random strangers when he traveled who knew the score – one night only with no promise of anything more. And the next morning, Bas hated himself for giving in to his baser needs, feeling as though he had cheated on his mate. The only positive to come from those trysts was that Bas had experience in how to please Dakota. He adjusted his dick behind the zipper of his jeans as he looked around her small home. Was this how she wanted to live? Or would she be happy with the larger home he planned to build?

“Should I pack a bag?” Dakota called out from the loft.

Sebastian looked up at his mate who was staring down from the railing. “A few things for now.”

Dakota smiled at him, then disappeared. Within seconds she tossed a duffel at him. Bas almost dropped it because his focus was on the female as she made her way down the ladder. “I hadn’t unpacked from my trip, so I’m ready to go.” Dakota was now dressed in a worn pair of jeans over a pair of black moto boots and a red tank top with a flannel shirt she had knotted at her waist. As nice as her sweater had been, Bas preferred this casual look. Would it be too cheesy for him to get them matching flannel?

A car door slammed, and before Sebastian could take a step toward the door, Dakota grabbed his hand. “That’s probably my family, so let’s sneak out the back,” she whispered, dragging him the few steps to the other door. She eased it open, and as soon as they were outside, she took the bag and hugged it to her chest. “Let’s fly,” she encouraged.

Sebastian lifted his mate into his arms, unfurled his wings, and shot up between the trees. When an angry voice yelled from below, Dakota looked down. “Yep. That’s my dad. Maybe I should’ve let you have a go at him.”

Hovering over the trees, Bas asked, “Do you want me to talk to him?”

“Goddess, no. I want you to take me away from here. I’ll call my mom later when we’re far away from Panther.”

Bas kissed Dakota’s cheek, then took off. She rested her head against his shoulder, remaining quiet as they flew over the trees and out of Panther. It didn’t bother him though. He didn’t know his mate. Didn’t know if she normally talked a lot or was always quiet. He had all the time in the world to find out. Bas flew as far as possible, then landed at the edge of town. The trees opened to a narrow two-lane, and Sebastian texted Anthony a pin of their location.

“My cousin will be here to pick us up in a few.” Bas took Dakota’s bag and set it beside her feet. He grabbed both her hands in his, placing them on his chest. “Since we have a few minutes, I’ll tell you what happened after our first encounter.” Bas explained how Luna, Solara, and Lilly healed his wounds, then he told her about being a half-blood and how meeting his mate – her – initiated his transition. “My parents took me back to Utah a few times looking for you. Honestly, I never thought I’d find you. I thank the gods I did.”

Dakota had listened with rapt attention, her eyes never leaving his. “My father was furious at me for denying King, but there was always this hope in the back of my mind I would one day be reunited with you. My family thought I was crazy for holding onto the notion considering we left you for dead. I’m sorry about that, by the way. Phoenix has always been hot-headed, but that day he just lost it. I don’t know if it was because his Wolf sensed other shifters in the area. He never gave a reasonable explanation for it, but it was the last straw for the Alpha of our pack.”

Sebastian’s phone pinged, and after checking the message, he said, “That’s our ride.” Bas waited in the cover of the trees until Anthony pulled to the side of the road and stopped. Bas snagged Dakota’s bag and placed his free hand on her back.

When they got to Bas’s Jeep, Dakota whistled. “And what a ride it is.” Bas grinned as he opened the back door, tossing her duffel over the seat. He helped her climb in, then got in beside her.

Anthony put the Jeep in gear and took off. “Everyone okay?” he asked, handing Sebastian a shirt over his shoulder.

Sebastian slipped it on. As he was threading the buttons through the holes, he answered, “For now. I don’t trust Kingston.”

“How about you, Dakota?” Anthony asked. “You know him better than we do.”

---