Page 55 of Devoted to the Dragon

We finish all the food, and I return to petting my pup. The reality of our visit to the Council sits heavy in my chest, the bond between the serpent and me a dull, throbbing ache that seems to be worsening with time.

Fennik cleans up and joins me, checking over Gunnar. “He’s healing much faster today. I don’t think it will be long before he wakes.”

I hum idly, lying back and looking at the ceiling, feeling adrift. When I close my eyes, I see the riverbank from my dream. It causes a whole-body shiver that is matched only by the tug in my heart trying to yank me back to the serpent. My hand rubs my chest, trying to work out the sting.

Fennik shifts on the bed, his solid weight hovering over me. He studies me for a moment, then leans in, rubbing against my cheek to scent mark me. The bristles of his three-day beard tickle. He licks the seam of my lips, and I open for him. I get lost in the sweeping of his tongue against mine. For the moment, there is only him and his dizzying kisses.

In one smooth move, he cages me in his arms and flips us so that I’m resting on his chest. I wiggle around until I’m comfortable, nuzzling into his warmth. His purr starts, a deep sound that drumshomeinto my bones, and his hand rubs up and down my back.

“Tell me.” He follows his command with a sharp pop to my ass. “Don’t let it fester.”

I squirm at the heat of his palm, but the worry tumbles out of my mouth without further thought. “I don’t even know his name, but there’s an ache in my chest that won’t go away. How can I ever trust the serpent after what happened?”

Fennik thinks about that for a moment. “What happened with the serpents? You’ve told me before in bits and pieces, but let me hear it all.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and blow out a long breath. It takes me a minute to gather my thoughts. This time, I start with Erik and our early-morning flight, telling him about the boy I thought would be my mate. I explain about my village, my grandmother Ava, and how I would sneak out to avoid her lessons. The story morphs into another about my sister’s horde and how happy she was for those three months when they were together. When I get to the part in the story about Erik realizing we were betrayed, Fennik sits up and pulls me to straddle his lap, hugging me tightly.

He holds my face between his big hands, his expression so tender that I close my eyes.

“No, baby girl, eyes on me.”

I swallow around the lump in my throat. When I meet his eyes, they’re filled with compassion and understanding. The two emotions rip me right open.

“I meant what I said. I’ll always keep you safe. If you don’t want to mate the serpent, we’ll find another way.”

His blind faith is staggering, and I relish it. That doesn’t change the fact that I’m torn, my heart pulling in two directions.

“He and his people worked with the king to try to capture me. But he saved me. And us. He let me go. He killed the king.” I crawl over him and grab the fang I stashed on the dresser, holding it out for him. “I woke up with this in my hand. I think it’s the king’s. It’s been spelled, embedded with memories or lies. I can’t be sure. But what I saw made it seem like he has been trying to protect me.”

Fennik takes that in stride, the understanding never wavering in his gaze. “However you feel, it’s okay. He’s your fated mate. The pull between you is strong. But just because he’s got the mark doesn’t mean you have to trust or give yourself to him.”

I give a quick jerk of my head, trying to believe that, but I don’t know what to do with my warring desires. “My sister’s mate Jor had a bond mark. Was it real, or did he fake it with his magic? How can I know anything is real with a mate who spins illusions?”

He plants a kiss on my forehead, and I cling to his neck, resting my head on his shoulder.“It’s hard to know what’s true. Two things can be true, and they can be equally at war. You have to decide which truth will be yours.”

I sit with that for a while, trying to sort through the complicated web of emotions and past hurts. One thing I’m sure of is that I can always count on this man to have my back. He’s my landing spot, somewhere solid to come back to. “I know one truth.”

“What’s that?”

“I love you, and I want a bond with you.” I rub my fingers through his stubble, scratching his jaw, and his purr stutters.

“I’ve loved you most of my life. But even without a bond, you’re mine.” He rubs his nose against mine and kisses me so hard that my questions go quiet.

Gunnar’s croaky voice startles me from our kiss. “Can my truth be that I need, like, a dozen sandwiches? ‘Cause I’m obsessed with you both, but I’m famished.”

I scramble off Fennik’s lap, tears of relief escaping as I launch myself at Gunnar. “Thank you for protecting us, you brave, wonderful, trusting man.”

“Omph. Easy there, little dove, he’s recovering,” Fennik chides.

Gunnar doesn’t seem to mind that I’ve plastered myself onto him. He’s still shifted, and his furry body, warm and solid underneath me, lessens that throbbing ache in my chest.

I smother his snout in kisses. “Don’t ever scare me like that again, or I’ll flog your ass.”

His long tongue licks a wet stripe across my cheek, and his tail flicks between my legs. I laugh, not even bothering to try to stop him.

I’m torn about what to do with my newest mate and all the danger surrounding us, but the two men in this room? They’re mine—no matter what happens.

Chapter 27

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