Page 13 of Flight Risk

My mate. Always asking the tough questions, gathering all the details. “Even then.”

He bit his lip and lowered his gaze.

I hooked my finger under his chin and lifted it back up, using my thumb to gently pull his lip from between his teeth.

“What has you worried, mate?”

“You. Us.” Kier sighed. “I have always felt somewhat out of place with the clan. I’m an outsider. Not a dragon at all.”

“Has anyone been rude to you? Just say the word, and I will—”

He put a finger to my lips. “No one has done or said anything, not directly. I’ve heard whispers, but they’re no big deal.”

“There should be no whispers about you among the clan. You are part of us. Whether you are my mate or not, you belong with us. No one should treat you any differently.”

“In theory, yes. But dragons are a proud species. Their legacies are deep-rooted. Having a wolf around or humans isn’t as accepted by some.”

“Give me their names and I’ll have them dealt with post haste. Our bond transcends their small minds. You are my mate. You are a valuable member of the clan.” I growled

Kier pinched his lips together to keep from smiling, and his eyes filled with laughter. “Smoke comes out of your ears when you’re angry. Did you know that?”

“I had suspected as much. It’s not the first time it’s happened, though it has been years. You are my mate, and as the next in line to be Lord of this clan, you will be treated with respect. Actually, you should be treated with respect simply because you are, not because of who you’re mated to.”

Kier kissed my cheek. His lips lingered over my skin for a long moment. His breath whispered against my skin. “Thank you, Tav.”

“We’ll face whatever concerns anyone has together, all right?”

“Your father probably—”

“My father will love that I am mated and that we likely have dragonets on the way.”

Kier’s hand flew to his stomach. “So soon?”

“That is the nature of things, mate. You have a heat, then there are dragonets.”

Kier blinked in surprise. “Oh, fuck. I didn’t realize it would be so soon.”

My jaw clenched. Yet another thing I wished we’d been able to discuss prior to him going into heat. I couldn’t bring myself toregret the situation; after all, it was a magical time that we had together. If only I had approached him sooner and courted him correctly.

“I’m sorry—”

“Don’t be sorry, Tav. I want children. Your children. It’s just... a lot. And I worry. I want to be worthy of you. You’re important to the clan, and I’m just a wolf—”

“You are not just anything. You are magnificent. I do not even deserve a mate as perfect as you.”

Kier rolled his eyes. “Okay, big guy. Easy there.”

“It is true, Kier. “

Instead of arguing anymore, Kier climbed into my lap and rested his head against my chest. “Did you know you’re the only one who says my name correctly?”

“I have noticed that many people say your name so quickly it sounds like one syllable rather than two.”

“I like that you say it right. This is all so exciting. And to think, I thought the most exciting thing to happen to me in a while was being able to go to the Dragon Flight Games.”

“Well, that was fun too, even if you did spend the whole week avoiding me.”

Kier rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t avoiding you. I was simply behaving in a way that matched my station.”

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