Page 24 of Unexpected Mate

We watched as Tia and Ivo swirled and danced through the clouds, their dragons creating a beautiful contrast of light and dark. Occasionally we would see Leo fly through the air as Tia tossed him playfully, rushing to catch him as he laughed. Once she let him free fall toward the ground. He made no effort to slow his descent and his face showed no concern that she wouldn’t get to him on time. They were both crazy.

The sun was setting as the two large dragons landed gracefully. Leo slid down Tia’s wing, obviously planning to make a cool dismount, but as he went to stand, he tripped and landed on his butt. Tia chortled a laugh and even Ivo shook his massive head in amusement.

The dragons shifted back to their human forms, and we moved inside to eat the deer that had been roasting over a fire. Ivo’s cave didn’t have modern amenities like a kitchen, so we had been managing as best we could using a fire pit. I had some mean skills with a grill, and I’d quickly ended up being in charge of all our meals.

“I need to go to the castle to handle some business,” said Mithraheal. “I’ll be back in the morning.” He nodded goodbye, kissed Tia gently on the lips, and then teleported himself away.

I stretched out on the furs, stuffed full and ready to sleep. My eyes closed and I started drifting off immediately. I jerked when I felt someone jostle my body. I cracked open one eye and watched as Tia settled herself along the length of my side.I turned my head and pressed a kiss to her nose. I closed my eyes and began to doze again, enjoying the feel of my mate snuggled against me.

“Luke.” Her soft voice had me opening my eyes again.

I looked at her with a raised brow, only then realizing that her pupils were round as she studied my face. Hope fluttered in my heart. Was she back in control?

“I never hear you speak, not since the battle,” she said. “Are you able to speak?” There was a quiver in her voice, a gentleness that I had missed.

I hesitated. Finally, I shook my head.

“Oh, Luke!” She clutched me tightly as she began to sob. I shifted her so she was laying on top of my chest. Her tears soaked my chest as she continued to cry.

I felt for the mental bond in an attempt to speak with her telepathically. I hadn’t been able to connect with her since she merged with Beasty. This time, however, I felt her mind and the connection glowed.

Darling, I’ve missed you.

Her sobs turned to hiccups. “I am sorry I failed you.”

Don’t let me hear you say that again! You did not fail me. You were magnificent! We were set up, the odds were terrible and we should all be dead right now. Are you able to tell me what happened that day?

She nodded against my chest and then slowly told the full story; how she had defeated Draven, and how terrified she was when she realized that she wasn’t going to be able to save us. My eyes watered as she explained what Beasty had been trying to do for her, and then how they had merged, eventhough they didn’t know if it would work. She was still grieving for her best friend, and my heart throbbed painfully for her.

You were both so brave.

“I’m not. I’d never been so scared. And then, once we merged, the power was so overwhelming. It burned like someone had poured acid inside me. My insides melted and reformed. It hurt worse than catching the lightning bolt—”

You did what?

“I grabbed the lightning that Draven called down to strike me.”

Nothing had been normal since the day I had met my fiery little mate, but I was still dumbstruck at the visual of her snatching lightning like it was no biggie. And she thought she was weak? Ivo had taught us enough over the past week for us to realize that, while she was still young and just coming into her true power, she was going to bring the world to its knees when she learned to master her abilities. I was thrilled to get a front row seat to watch her transformation.

You take my breath away.

She huffed, her fingertips drawing invisible lines on my skin. “I’m tired, Luke.” She sighed. “I have to fight to control my instincts every minute I’m awake. My instincts are so strong, and combined with the frantic energy of my power, it makes everything inside me volatile. I want to make love to you, not be driven to mate you by my instincts.”

You seem to be in control now.

“I don’t know for how long.” She sighed again, her warm breath tickling across my chest.

Ivo sat at the foot of the furs, shifting Tia’s legs so that her feet lay in his lap. “You have to learn to leash the dragon instincts,” he said. “You must be stronger.”

She was so still I thought she must have fallen asleep. But then she spoke. “I’m not sure. I think I have to learn to work with these instincts, not try to force them into a box. This is me, not a separate entity. When I merged with Beasty, I was gained her memories from her life long ago, as well as the abilities she possessed and the knowledge of how to use them. That is the only reason my full, unleashed power didn’t destroy me. She is gone, but even now, her knowledge is guiding me as I learn how to handle my energy.”

“I have never personally known a dragon shifter who merged fully with their beast, so perhaps I am incorrect regarding the best way to learn control,” admitted Ivo. He was thoughtful, mulling over her words, his hands massaging Tia’s feet.

Levi crawled onto the bed and took Tia’s hand. Her smile was sleepy; her eyes began to droop. I was so proud; this was the first real conversation we had shared with Tia since the battle, and it had happened much sooner than Ivo had estimated. She was adapting and changing, whilst taking it all in stride, just like she did with everything else that came her way.

I slept like a rock that night.

Iwoke slowly, blinking the sleep from my eyes. I was in one of my favorite places, smooshed between the twins. I felt the energy surge up within me, my instincts telling me I needed to be like an archaeologist and start searching for large bones!

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