Page 99 of Beneath Scales and Shadows
“I could get used to being pampered and cared for by my dragon king,” she called over her shoulder, a playful smile curving her lips.
A sudden flare of sweetness in her scent hit him like a physical blow—her heat beginning to rise again, moonflower and cinnamon intensifying with renewed need. Ignis purred low in his chest, recognizing the signs. Soon she would burn for him once more, desperate for his touch, his claim, his essence.
But first, he must not get distracted from his duties. She needed food, hydration, tenderness.
“Don’t think you can escape me, my little Luna,” he growled playfully, spreading his wings wide as he stalked her into their chambers. “I know what my treasure needs.”
Sora’s laughter echoed through the room as she darted away from him, a delicious game of chase that inflamed his instincts. Her giggles rang like crystal chimes, a sound he’d protect with his life.
“Good thing I enjoy making my treasure shine bright,” he called after her, his scaled lips curving into a smile meant only for her. “And this game of chase.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT
SORA
Sora sank into her makeshift bed—a sprawling, ever-growing nest—cocooned in blankets that carried the faint, comforting scent of smoke and spice. The silken robe draped across her skin felt impossibly luxurious, caressing her silver scales with each breath. She watched through heavy-lidded eyes as Ignis moved about their chambers with surprising grace for a being his size, his wings folded neatly against his back, tail swaying in a hypnotic rhythm behind him.
He’d been attentive beyond measure since they’d returned to their chambers—bathing her in the hot springs while she recovered from the first wave of her heat, massaging fragrant oils into her scales to prevent chapping, and now, feeding her by hand from a platter of delicacies she couldn’t have imagined existed days ago.
“Another?” He held out a glistening purple fruit, its flesh so translucent she could see the pink, heart-shaped core inside—a gentle reminder of those old Valentine’s Day candies tucked deep in her memory of her other life.
Her lips parted, accepting the offering. Sweetness burst across her tongue, reminiscent of honey and starlight, if starlight had a flavor. Juice trickled down her chin, and before she could wipe it away, his scaled thumb caught the droplet, bringing it to his own mouth with a rumble of satisfaction.
The simple gesture sent heat spiraling through her core, a reminder that her body’s demands had been temporarily sated, not extinguished.
“How do you feel?” His question carried genuine concern beneath the possessive edge.
“Cherished,” she whispered, the word escaping before she could consider it. Her cheeks warmed at the admission, but she didn’t deny the truth of it. “I’ve never been taken care of like this.”
His crimson eyes softened as he lowered himself beside her on the bed, his weight causing her to roll slightly toward him. “It’s an alpha’s duty to tend to his omega during heat. And my pleasure to worship you, my treasure.”
Her gaze wandered past him, catching on a large leather-bound tome resting on the bedside table. She frowned, struggling to recall when she had left it there—her last memory was placing it atop one of the many ornate chests scattered through Ignis’s chamber.
“Did you move that there?” She nodded toward the book.
Ignis followed her gaze, a knowing rumble vibrating from his chest. “Yes. I thought you might want to understand what’s happening to your body. The changes, the heat cycles, what to expect from me, your alpha king.” His tail flicked with what seemed like nervousness. “You were a scholar on Earth, after all. Knowledge brings comfort, does it not?”
Her heart swelled at his thoughtfulness. Even through the wild haze of their mating, he remembered the way her mind worked—how she needed to understand as much as she needed to feel. She’d always been a prepper, driven to collect every scrap of knowledge she could, especially when the weight of responsibility pressed on her shoulders.
Countless sleepless nights spent wondering if she’d prepared enough, studied enough, to face what was coming.
“Thank you.” She sat up, drawn to the book by an irresistible pull—one that had nothing to do with the ache of her heat and everything to do with the hunger of a researcher’s soul. Ignis had warned her that his true form might make things... complicated, given how different their bodies were.
She wondered what could make her alpha king so worried about what was to come. She wasn’t naïve, but something deep inside her ached to experience all of him. If thisThe Biology of Artaniaheld the answers Ignis couldn’t bring himself to voice, then she would do what she did best—research.
Abandoning the food platter, she crawled across the bed and knelt beside the tome. Her fingers brushed over the embossed cover, feeling the careful craftsmanship etched into every line beneath her touch. With reverent care, she cracked the cover, the heavy pages falling open as if they had been waiting for her.
The script danced across parchment yellowed with age, forming words in a language she shouldn’t understand but somehow did. Her eyes widened as she began to read a passage about dragon mating rituals:
“Unlike other species whose omegas submit passively, dragon omegas command their worthiness to be proven through Chase. Only the fastest, most cunning, or most determined alpha, beta, or delta may claim the right to mate. The omega leads the pursuit, testing endurance and cleverness, for only those worthy of carrying their bloodline should succeed in capturing them...”
Heat bloomed between her thighs as she read, a slick wetness gathering there. Unconsciously, she pressed her legs together, seeking friction to ease the sudden ache.
“The Chase may span days, across mountains and valleys, through dangerous territories that test not just physical prowess but courage and dedication. Some omegas enjoy taunting their pursuers with displays of agility. Others hide their scents, forcing alphas to rely on wit rather than instinct...”
A low, rumbling purr interrupted her reading. Ignis had shifted closer, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled her sweetening scent. The air between them thickened, heavy with pheromones and unspoken desire.
“Your scent changes when you read,” he observed, his voice dropping to a register that sent shivers racing down her spine. “It grows richer, sweeter—like moonflowers drenched in dew. What has you needy?”
