Page 24 of Claimed By the Drakarn Warrior Lord

“Rath,” I said simply, crossing the room to stand beside her. “A warrior. And a nuisance.”

She laughed softly, a sound that sent a pleasant hum through my chest. “I figured as much,” she said, stretching languidly. “He came to poke the bear.”

I tilted my head, frowning. “What? What is a bear?”

Her lips twitched into a grin that was part teasing and part affection. “Large, furry predator. Very grumpy. Not unlike you.”

A low growl rumbled in my throat, but there was no heat behind it. I leaned closer, bracing one hand on the platform beside her, my wings shifting slightly to block out the faint glow of the heat crystals. “Grumpy?” I murmured, my voice a dangerous purr. “You think I am grumpy, little warrior?”

Her smile widened, unafraid of the dark promise in my tone. If anything, she seemed to enjoy provoking me. “Absolutely,” she said, her voice laced with humor. “Don’t worry—I like it. In a terrifying, ‘don’t-mess-with-me-or-I’ll-breathe-fire’ kind of way.”

I couldn’t help the faint smirk that tugged at my lips. Her courage, her sharp wit—it never failed to catch me off guard. “I don't breathe fire.”

She reached up, her fingers brushing lightlyagainst my jaw, her touch soft yet electrifying. “No?” she asked.

The air between us crackled, charged with something stronger than the mating bond. The heat of the room, the glow of the crystals, the distant hum of the geothermal currents—it all faded into the background.

There was only her. Her fire. Her defiance.

I caught her hand in mine, my claws brushing against her smaller, softer fingers. The difference between us—her fragility, my strength—should have been stark. Irreconcilable. And yet, it didn’t matter. Because in that moment, she wasn’t fragile. She was unshakable.

“You are a menace,” I muttered, though the words held no bite.

“And you love it,” she countered without missing a beat, her grin widening.

I didn’t respond, but the look in her eyes told me she already knew the answer. She always seemed to know.

She shifted slightly, pulling herself up to sit cross-legged on the platform. Her copper hair caught the flickering light, turning it into a halo of flame. “So,” she said, her tonemore serious now. “What’s the plan?”

I raised an eyebrow. “The plan?”

“Yes, Darrokar, the plan,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You don’t strike me as the kind of guy to just wing it.”

I flicked my wings just enough to let them catch the light. “Winging it has worked well enough for you so far.”

She smirked. “Of course.”

I growled softly, though the corners of my mouth twitched. “I make no promises.”

Her expression softened, and the humor faded, replaced by something quieter. “I’m serious,” she said, her voice quieter now. “This bond between us—it’s … intense. And I can see it in your eyes. Is there something I'm missing here?”

“It’s my responsibility to protect you,” I said simply, as if that could encompass the depth of what I felt.

She shook her head, her expression firm. “I can take care of myself.”

"You are mine,luvae."

Before she could start to argue, I captured her lips and lowered her back to the sleeping platform. We had no need for more words.

ELEVEN

TERRA

If there was one good thing about dating—could you call it dating? —the scary Drakarn leader, it was that I no longer had to sneak around to find my people. I just had to ask.

But as one of Darrokar's warrior trainees lead me through narrow passages and down deep into the caverns of Scalvaris, my wariness grew. It wasn't just because of the attack. After training sessions with Darrokar, I had more than one way to get away from an attacker, but my brain still had to catch up with that.

It was dark down there, the crystals in the walls glowing so dim I had to squint to see, and I didn't spot the door until my guide came to a halt.

---