Page 17 of The Monster at the End of This Molt

When I'd kissed him last night, I promised myself I would only kiss him goodnight, but here I was, breaking my new rule. I sealed my mouth over his and slid my tongue inside. He tried to squirm closer, but I held him in place, taking my fill while leaving him high and dry. He'd already come once. Now, it was my turn.

The thought doused my ardor like an ice bath. I inhaled sharply and took a step back, breaking the kiss. "I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry."

He groaned. "I want you to kiss me. I need your kisses like air. Whenever you stop, it feels like I'll die." He raised the back of his hand to his forehead like a fainting southern belle. I didn't have to think twice to know who had taught him those theatrics.

"Has Clementine found her mate yet?" I asked. "With moves like that, she'll have all the betas swooning."

Robin scoffed. "Excuse me? Those are my moves. I played Scarlet Ohara in my school's production ofGone with the Wind."

"Did you go to an all-boys school?" I realized my mistake too late. He was a kobold-human hybrid. Before his sister was born, there hadn't been another girl in thirty years. "Godsdamnit. Of course you did. I'm sorry."

He laughed. "No, you were right. Clem played Scarlet. I was Melanie. And it wasn't for school. We got into our parents' vintage movie collection."

"Vintage." I laughed. "You mean the stuff they brought with them from Earth?" Once, it had been my dream to make our own movies here on Ignitas. I should have given Lark a video camera before I left. "Wait. Did they record the production?"

Robin clasped his hand to his chest as though I'd said something scandalous. "Never. Gods. They would have blackmailed us for years!"

He looked so cute like that. No, not cute. Robin was one-hundred percent adult omega, and he was sexy as hell. I pulled him to me for another quick kiss before letting him go.

"Two more hours, and then I'll break for a long lunch."

He nodded. "I'll have it on the table for you." His cheeks tinged with pink. "If that's all right? I can't cook, but I can magic vegetarian meals from the big house like a champ."

I caressed his cheek. "I'd like that."

My mate was a magic user. I had to get used to it sometime, so why not start today?

ChapterSeven

Robin

While I waitedfor Weld to break for lunch, I searched for Tim. I found him in the dragonet stable. He led a pretty pink dragonet around the ring with his head held high.

"This is Trickster," he introduced.

I bent to grab a handful of jerky treats from the bucket by the door and marched over to greet him. "Hi, Trickster."

"Uh—"

The dragonet delicately nibbled the end of the piece before snatching it from my fingers.

"Wow. Do you always walk up and feed strange dragonets? You could have lost a hand."

"Sorry. It's habit. My friend Mac is our dragonet trainer back home. I've been feeding them since my third molt." I walked over to Kermit's pen and reached between the wooden slats. "Hi Kermie! How are you? Do you want a treat?"

He head-butted my left hand and licked the two treats off my right palm.

"Well, now I think you're a dragonet whisperer," Tim joked. "That's it. You and Weld must stay here forever so you can help me out."

I laughed. "We will visit often, I'm sure. Weld loves it here."

Tim shook his head. "I wouldn't say that."

"Oh?" I kept my voice light and curious, even though I had insider information. With my connection to Weld, I was pretty fucking sure he loved this place and regretted leaving it.

"He's never really been a part of our village," Tim said. "It didn't make sense to me when he pushed us all away. You've answered several questions we had about him around here."

I grinned. "Glad I could help." I remembered the skulking omega who had turned and run after trying to take what was mine. I wondered if Tim could answer some of my questions, as well. "What can you tell me about Lemon?"

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