Page 110 of Dragon Unhinged

I want to talk to him, to just be with my mate, like Syrena suggested, but we’re not alone in the car, and I have no way to know if anyone else can hear my thoughts, or if it’s just Declan.

Instead, I just focus on him, on touching him, making sure that he knows he’s not alone. Hoping that he knows we’re going to make it through all this together.

I’m okay, mate. Or, at least, I will be.He gives me a tentative smile, but it doesn’t quite make it all the way to his eyes, and as he squeezes my hand, I squeeze back, leaning over to kiss him gently, slowly.

The SUVs park at a club near the beach, The Sea Glass, and Ash quickly ushers us into a basement where Pru is waiting. “Iknow the accommodations aren’t the best, but I need to monitor you both, after everything you’ve been through, and this is the safest place to keep you until we can make sure there are no lasting effects from the magic.” She glances at Declan. “Or the craze.”

He nods stoically, and heads deeper into the basement, as if he expected this.

Before I can say anything else, I see Ash and Gavin carry Malcolm’s body into a room near the bottom of the stairs. “What’s going to happen with him?”

“I really don’t know. From everything I know about dragon death, it doesn’t look like this. But if he’s not dead, I don’t know what is going on. For now, we’re going to have to wait and see, and add it to the already too long list of things that are changing for all dragonkind since the tourmalines were chased from their home.” Pru shakes her head. “Why don’t I take care of this little one for a while, so that you and your mate can have some alone time?”

I bite my lip, a little wary of letting go of the baby, before she even has a name. But at the same time, ever since he bit me, my entire body has been aching for more time with Declan, time to be together in every way. “Can we…” I shake my head. “Never mind.”

“You want to know if it’s safe to have sex, since you just gave birth?” Pru smiles and continues to coo at the baby. “Being a dragon comes with perks, and one of them is super healing. Listen to your body, and if something doesn’t feel right, we’ll be right upstairs. But otherwise, consider yourself medically cleared for all activities.”

I can feel my cheeks heat, and I look away from her, down the hall to where Declan’s disappeared.

“You should know, though. The basement has been spelled to keep any shifting from happening. We’ve had to rebuild beforebecause of dragons losing control, so if either of you need to stretch your wings, take it to the ocean, and try to wait until dark.”

“Either of us?”

“You haven’t shifted yet, and that’s not surprising with everything you’ve been through, but it’ll happen. None of us are worried about that. It can come on quite suddenly, so don’t freak out but definitely listen to your body.”

“Oh geez, I don’t know if I’m ready for all of this yet.”

Pru just laughs and shakes her head. “Buckle up, Brianna. I promise, you’re going to love it,” she says as she carries my daughter’s car seat back up to the main level of the bar.

Chapter

Forty-Six

DECLAN

Ican feel the magic coating the walls, and it takes everything I have to not run right back out into the hot Miami sun.

I can’t be held captive again. I can’t live my life in a basement cell. Even my shirt feels too confining, and I rip it off, throwing it onto the floor as I start to pace the room.

“Hey.”

I turn at Brianna’s voice and let out a deep, calming breath when I see her leaning in the doorframe. My mate. All mine. Wearing my bite like she was born for it. My heartstone wrapped around her wrist and finger, claiming her for all to see.

Without a thought, I cross the room quickly and pull her into my arms, lifting her right off her feet as my mouth crushes against hers, claiming her lips hungrily.

Brianna’s legs come up to wrap around my waist, and her fingers slide into my hair, raking her nails over my scalp as she kisses me back, just as needy, just as hungry.

I don’t break our kiss as I carry her over to the huge California king bed, laying her down on the soft comforter, fully intent on keeping her until we’re both exhausted and nothoughts except for memories of her body, her taste, her feel, consume my brain.

She lets out a laugh and half-pushes me off her to look me in the eyes. “I think this is the first time we’ve ever done this in a real bed.” She scratches her nails down my shoulders, her heel digging into my ass to keep our pelvises aligned, even as she says, “But don’t you think we should close the door first? Maybe talk about things?”

“We can talk later. Please, I need you.” I have no doubt I sound like I’m begging, but I need to feel like myself. I need to know this is real, that she’s really mine, really claimed. I need to know without a doubt that she’s not just one more trick, one more way to torture me.

As if she’s listening to my thoughts, she takes my hand and slips it under her shirt, up to cover her bare breast. Then she wraps her arms around my shoulders, tugging me close again, arching into me as I rub my thumb over her nipple, just before I fill her mouth with my tongue.

The moan she lets out vibrates all through my body.

Screw the door. If anyone’s dumb enough to be down here right now, it’d be their own fault if they get an eyeful. Besides, I don’t need another reminder that I’m basically being held captive in another basement until Ash can figure out what to do with me.

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