Page 69 of Kidnapped Plus-Size Mate

“Did you not hear what any of the other ladies said today?” Stryker chuckles. “They all found themselves pregnant soon after their first time with their dragon men.”

I can’t help but blush, memories of our first time together flashing into my mind while Stryker gets on his knees and plants a soft kiss on the top of my belly.

“I know what you’re thinking…” he reveals calmly, lifting his eyes to meet mine again, a heady swirl of lust darkening the green depths. “... But I think it’s unfair that you’re always one step ahead of me.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, feigning ignorance with a frown.

“You know exactly what I mean…” he muses as he presses more kisses on my belly. “I wanted to be the first to say the words, Camilla.”

Carding my fingers through the silky locks of his strawberry-blonde hair, I giggle again. “I already knew how you felt, Stryker,” I smile warmly. “I knew the words were on your mind. Call it intuition.”

“Well, just so you know, I don’t justthinkI love you. I do love you, Camilla Torres.”

My heart is swept in a whirlwind of emotions, feeling more whole than it ever did before. Not even the completion of the mating ritual could bring about such wholeness, and I realize that it’s more than just the decree of the gods that binds us together.

We’re not only supernatural beings, but we’re humans, too, with human emotions that make it impossible not tofeelour bond. We have emotional needs that have to be met, and we found that in each other.

“I love you too, Stryker Vulkan,” I profess, wrapping my arms around his neck and drawing him onto the bed to lay beside me. “I know I love you. Ifeelit.

Epilogue - Stryker

Two Weeks Later

I knock on the door, waiting for confirmation that it’s safe to go inside the room that’s been reserved for Camilla’s training.

Last week, a freak incident had me paralyzed on the floor for two hours before Camilla figured out how to undo the effects of the Agony Potion, she learned how to brew that day. With Abuela’s insistence, a high dose of dragonclaw was plucked from the gardens of Aurora Island and used in the mixture. Along with a bunch of other herbs and plant essences, the potion was potent enough to work on me.

As a dragon shifter who isn’t usually susceptible to ordinary potions, it rendered me immobile while I writhed on the floor from the torment it presented

Though I can handle anything thrown my way, and I’ve willingly volunteered, Camilla has been adamant about not using me as a test subject. She claims that she can’t see me in pain, and she’s kept me away from her experiments, using my brothers as subjects instead.

“Come in!” Camilla calls from inside the room, and I breathe a sigh of relief before heading inside. I love seeing her at work, her tongue pressed in her cheek while she focuses and measures her ingredients. Watching her as her aura exudes strength and determination while she practices her craft is refreshing.

Keeping me out of her “potion room” is one thing. But I barely see her these days, except for the nights when she returns to our bedroom when she doesn’t need a specific moon phase to make a certain potion.

It’s been hellish trying to get her alone, but I’ve spoken to Abuela and begged her to give her granddaughter the night off.

I open the door to find Camilla leaning over the silver cauldron on the burner, hot blue flames licking at the base of the pot while she stirs it with a golden spoon. The subtle scent of aloe vera fills the room, along with sweet notes that hint at almonds.

Ever since Camilla has been practicing making potions, I’ve been learning how to decipher different scents. But her own sweet scent of jasmines remains the only one that beckons my senses.

“Thanks for letting me in,” I offer as I join her at her workstation.

“I’m only letting you in ‘cause I’m not afraid you might get hurt,” she giggles. “I had you in mind when I mixed this one. It’s a chilling potion,” she explains. “It counteracts fevers and fires, and helps soothe burnt skin.”

“Hm…” I hum in recognition of what she’s referring to—that time I fought Rakon in the mortal world, and he burned my face. “Although, that won’t happen again.”

“I hope not,” Camilla laments, taking her spoon out and turning off the heat on the burner. “Have you heard any news?”

I shake my head. “Rakon is still at large,” I sigh discontentedly. My only consolation is that he won’t be after Camilla now that he was last seen consorting with a different coven of witches. It seems he wasn’t after my mate to exact his revenge on me. He wants more than revenge—he wants the whole bag by taking over the Fire Force clan.

At least, that’s the conclusion we’ve arrived at. Today’s meeting with the Council only had us coming to a dead-end.Rakon is out there, still posing an unknown threat to the dragon clans, but we’re all on high alert, waiting for him to strike again.

“I hope you guys find him soon,” Camilla laments as she wipes her hands on her apron. She sighs, and I feel the air shifting with her grievances.

Stepping forward, I place my hands on her shoulders and perch my chin there. “You have nothing to worry about, Camilla. I won’t let any danger come to you.”

“I know,” she sighs sullenly again. “But I know there’s something more I can do to help the Aurora Dragons.”

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