Page 97 of Devoted to the Dragon

“Go shower. When you come back, I’ll have food for you.”

“Mmm, I could get used to that,” he teases, his hand striking my ass on his way out.

It doesn’t take long for Randi to join me, yawning. She’s wrapped in a nest blanket, her hair half stuck to her face.“It smells so good it woke me. I’m freaking starving.”

I open my arms, and she snuggles into my side, leaning over to dip her finger in the hot sauce. “Watch it,” I warn.

“I’m a dragon. I like it hot.” She gives me an easy smile and licks her finger, letting out a little moan.

I kiss her forehead then busy myself by making her cups of water and coffee. I hand them off with a soft kiss, patting her ass in send-off. “Go join Fennik in the shower. It will be ready soon.”

She yawns again. “It may require more than one.”

“I like you being covered in our scents.” I shrug, a pleased smile on my lips.

“Scents, yes. This much cum? Hard pass.”

I laugh at her horrified expression all through finishing the pasta.

Knox is still asleep when I peek my head in the nest, but I leave some water for when he wakes and head to her dragon’s entrance to the cave. It’s a carved spot in the rock big enough for her dragon to land and enter.

The fresh air is cold, and the stars are out. I have no idea what day it is or how long her heat lasted, but the world feels new, the air charged with magic.

Everything we were worried about has been settled. I’ve got three new bonds, and she’s finally got her horde. The outside threats are still there, but we’re strong enough to handle them. Even I can admit that the serpent will be able to help with that. A week ago, this looked impossible, but we made it, and that gives me an idea.

I find what I need in the library and by the fireplace near her nest. My haul isn’t much, but I set it up on the landing.

A few minutes later, Fennik emerges from the bathroom with Randi in tow, and I nudge them outside.

“You made a candlelight dinner? Gods, you’re cute, little wolf.” Randi leaps for me, tackling me until we roll into the blankets. She wiggles around until she settles in my lap.

Fennik joins us under our shared blanket, the three of us digging in and watching the stars. We’re too hungry and worn out for this to be a big date or anything, but it’s nice to sit with them on the cliffs, eating together and watching the wide-open lake against the backdrop of a beautiful sky.

A throat clears, a hesitant Knox running his palm over the back of his head. “Am I interrupting?—”

Randi is in his arms before he finishes.

“No more of that shit, man. We’re family now.” I get that hesitation. Before the Thunder, I worried about how we would all fit, but he doesn’t need to worry now. The heat changed us, cemented our bonds.

I hand him a bowl, and Fennik lifts the blanket, inviting them back in.

We end up eating all the pasta and returning for more sandwiches. After we’re stuffed, we don’t bother to move, everyone snuggling. Fennik and I shift to our wolf forms to keep everyone warm. We drift back to sleep under the night sky, the scent of our horde smelling like a home I can’t wait to build.

Chapter 46

Randi

My dragon soars over the lake, and I can’t help but get lost in my reflection. The magenta color is shocking, as is how my claws taper out to a frosty blue. Each time I see myself, it takes me a moment to remember that the colorful creature is me.

I waited and wished for so long. Now that it has happened, it’s taking a hot minute to sink in. I’ve really awakened. Purple-pink hair, blue eyes, strong scent. None of it is what I imagined as a girl, but it’s also kinda perfect. Even with that, it’s a lot to take in. But besides the weird body-snatching color change, the foundational stuff feels really good.

I’m an omega with a bonded horde. My wolves are protected, my serpent is really mine, and I’ll never face an endless future alone again.

My dragon does another pass of the lake, stretching her wings and checking in on her territory, but all is well.

We slept all day yesterday and most of today. This evening, we finally ventured out of my nest to get some fresh air down by the lake. I expected the guys, maybe even me, to have some lingering feelings about what happened with Knox, but so far, it’s been easy—easier than I would have ever guessed.

Watching him get so sick and feeling helpless about it really reinforced the need for me to get over my shit. My dragon knew what she was doing when she issued the challenge. I’m a little spiteful that she couldn’t have given her girl a clue, but I don’t think it would have mattered. Magic is a tricky thing. But the guys delivered in such a big way that I can only be grateful.

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