Page 72 of Killian
“I suppose I was.”
“He understands you already,” Killian said with a smile, allowing the last of his magick to fill the air so Dravyn could hear the lovely bass tones of the gigantic tree getting to know his new friends and joining in their harmony.
Dravyn captured Killian and the tree in his arms for a warm embrace. “You both have my gratitude.”
“All he asks for is love in return,” Killian said, not knowing at that moment if he was still speaking of the tree or himself.Perhaps a combination of both.
“He shall have it.” Dravyn kissed Killian’s temple. “You have it too. My dragon and I both offer our hearts.”
It was foolish to be scared despite their unknown future, and Killian was ashamed of his doubt. Dravyn was a simple man. He played no games and offered no pretense. While things would not always be easy, Killian could depend on him.
“I trust you, Dray.”
“I will give you no cause to doubt that decision.”
Although it was a tight squeeze, Killian managed to turn in Dravyn’s arms and smiled up at him. “My soul is pleading with me to offer the same promise to you, but I fear I may scandalize you and you may regret your decision to build upon Fate’s choice for us both.”
“Your tongue has run away with you in recent days.”
Killian glided his hands over Dravyn’s thick cloak and imagined he could feel the warmth of the dragon’s thickly muscled body through his layers of clothing.
“You must take the blame for that,” Killian teased. “How can I resist such manly temptation? I never knew I had such an appetite for men built on such a grand scale, but you tempt me beyond reason.”
“Are you casually putting the responsibility of your reckless words on my shoulders?”
“Fate decided upon your appearance. I suppose we can blame her.”
“For the first time since we met, I am unsure if you are well in the mind.”
Killian laughed. “I am shocked it has taken you so long to figure out how odd I am.”
“We D’Vaires have decided that being odd is a most good thing.”
“If only everyone had such an open mind to things that were atypical.”
Dravyn kissed Killian’s nose, making him grin. “We should like to find other odd dragons and allow them to come live on our land. No one should be punished for a gift from Fate or anything else marking them different from the norm.”
“You are hiding out here on your unmapped land,” Killian reminded Dravyn. “How could you spread the word or locate struggling people like yourselves?”
“I do not know. It would be unwise to advertise our location. We are hunted, Killian. It does not matter that Bernal is dead. Others share his hatred of the supposed D’Vaire curse. We do not even know who, for we were not privy to everything that went on in Castle Draconis. Zane and Marcus have educated us about several dragon Kings we would not find friendly, but there could be more.”
“I was not suggesting you seek other dragon Kings,” Killian assured Dravyn, soothing the dragon with long strokes of his hands. There was tension in Dravyn’s big frame, and Killian despised anything that made his mate uncomfortable. “All I want is for you to help as you wish. In the end, we must trust that Fate will lead others in need of understanding and unconditional friendship to find their way to your land.”
“Sometimes I wish life were easier.”
“I understand completely.”
“But I am grateful for the good things. I thank Fate for you.”
“You are the best of all the gifts Fate has offered me.”
Dravyn ducked his head, and Killian met him halfway for a kiss. Under the leaves of the newly grown ash tree, there was no war between magickind and cruel beasts. It was a druid and a dragon enjoying the matebond Fate had given them and the warm kisses of two men in love.
Chapter 28
In the Great Hall of Castle Leolinnia, Killian and every other Council leader lounged as Kaedan started their daily meeting. They created the rules for their people in that room, but they also strengthened the friendships that had sustained their cooperative government for so many decades. That was why it was so easy to feel the tension amongst the occupants.
“Let us discuss what has everyone so uneasy before we begin anything else,” Kaedan stated, frown lines marring his face.
