Page 101 of Cast By Flames (Dragon's Breath)
“It’s okay, misanna.” Aidan pulled her into his chest. “I couldn’t have asked for more from you.”
“I just need…”
To kill, but he stopped her with a kiss before she could say it. There were ways to distract a slayer’s urges temporarily. She opened her mouth to him, and his tongue tangled with hers. In seconds, it became hot and fierce.
Bailey clawed at his bare arms. He didn’t mind the pain or the blood she drew. Her heartbeat thundered in his ears as her need grew and her violent instincts took an intimate turn. In no time, he had her pressed against the castle’s stone wall. They were wild for each other, only removing enough clothing to join together. Neither of them cared about the outside world. His fierce mate needed him, and he would do anything for her.
They exploded, Aidan smothering her screams and his growls with a heavy kiss. Both could hardly catch their breath afterward as they righted their clothing. He’d known their lust was too great to last for long, but this was only meant to calm the slayer until later tonight when they could be alone to do much more.
Bailey pulled up her pants. “That was…hmm, effective. I feel much better.”
She looked so tempting with her long, black hair in disarray that he had to fight the urge to take her again. Instead, he smoothed it back down for her.
“We need to go on a walk and visit our people,” he said, hating that they still had more duties to fulfill before returning to their chambers and spending time with their son.
Bailey’s cheeks pinkened. “They’re going to smell what we just did.”
She wasn’t wrong. Any shifter who got within a dozen feet of them would know.
“Good.” Aidan grinned. “I want them to know I claim my mate regularly.”
“We can’t go wash up first?” she asked, panic in her expression.
He pulled her into his arms, enjoying her embarrassment. “No, but later, I promise to wash you myself—thoroughly.”
She glared at him. “You’re an ass.”
“But you love me anyway.”
She huffed. “And you take complete advantage of it.”
While her gaze showed a hint of annoyance, there was also amusement there. He couldn’t catch any sign of her killing urges left. Aidan had pacified that side of her for now, and the discomfort she’d feel at shifters scenting her would only keep those instincts at bay for even longer. He had succeeded at what he set out to do and enjoyed himself in the process.
“Come,” he said, pulling back and taking her hand. “We’ll meet with my people, bathe, and then spend time with our son. It will be fine. Your scent will make them happier that you keep their pendragon sated, and they’ll love you more for it.”
She rolled her eyes. “Okay, you win—this time.”
Aidan led her out of the garden toward the nearest section of shifter homes close to the market quarter. He had never been prouder of having his mate by his side, and he wanted his whole toriq to see that they were united. It would only instill moreconfidence in them on the eve of war. That was their job for the next few hours, after all. They would speak with anyone they saw to calm and allay fears, inspire them, and prepare them for the battles ahead.
Chapter 30
Aidan
Owen Field suffered fire damage when dragons first arrived on Earth over six years ago, but it hadn’t been destroyed. All the lower-level stadium seats and some of the upper levels remained. The town council had it cleaned and repaired for large gatherings.
Today, it was being used for a pre-war speech.
It wasn’t something dragons did in any elaborate form, but the humans had requested they assemble. They said it would help unite the various fighting factions on their side. While some couldn’t attend if their fighting positions were more than a few hours traveling distance, everyone else had spared some time after lunch to attend the gathering. He was surprised by how many showed up to sit in the stands or perch at the top for those in dragon form. Thankfully, their feet ran on the cooler side and wouldn’t melt the surfaces below them.
Aidan, Bailey, and other members from their inner circle arrived twenty minutes early. He’d been getting an account of the attendees in the run-up to the speech time. Over one thousand shifters were seated in the stands on the western side, including most of those fighting for the Taugud, Craegud, and Straegud. The Faegud couldn’t make it since the flightback would be too long before the battle began. The coalition commander had sent a reconnaissance aircraft shortly before dawn this morning. They confirmed the enemy waited directly behind their shield wall, resting for the day.
Almost three thousand humans sat in the eastern section of the stadium opposite the football field from the shifters. They were a cluster of local fighters and support personnel from the Norman, Moore, and Oklahoma City area, as well as the much larger group of soldiers from the New American Coalition.
Several pure dragon toriqan had sent leaders and dozens of their warriors in a rare show of solidarity for the event. The Shadowan, Bogaran, and refugees from the Thamaran had the most significant representation since they wouldn’t have to travel far. They took up positions wherever they could find them at the tops of the stands.
Aside from Bailey, who sat with Aidan, nearly three dozen slayers sat in the section to the south, and about twenty sorcerers took the stands to the north. Most of them were either from Javier’s group or Aidan’s fortress, but there were solo individuals like Danae and Verena, along with a few from other territories who voluntarily showed up for the war. Even the elderly Xanath managed to make it, currently stooped in his seat with a cane in hand. Only the thirty-three coalition sorcerers stayed with their people in the other section of seats.
A stage sat in the middle of the football field. Bailey explained earlier that the strange equipment he saw included a microphone, speakers, and many wires. Colonel Melvin had just stepped up there a few minutes ago, speaking with another human. It was too far away from Aidan to make out what they said.
