Page 83 of The Exiled Dragon

Nicholas yelled my name, and my body shivered, feeling much lighter than I ever had. The stars shone brighter above me, and the leaves' stems became easier to see. My fingers grazed Nicholas’ shoulders, and furious fire traveled across them.

The world was stronger, and brighter than I could have ever imagined. I sighed, satisfied, and felt the bond between us strengthen by the second. My Dragon growled and purred within my body, causing Nicholas to lift his heavy body from mine. “My mate.” He kissed my cheeks. “How do you feel? Are you alright?”

I hummed, now looking at this beautiful Dragon in front of me. All those years wasted the mate I should have had for so long. We would make up for our lost time. “I feel wonderful, for the first time in my life. I didn’t even feel the previous bond break,” I sniffed.

Nicholas’ smile brightened, his forehead touching mine. “I’ll protect you. I’ll kill that bastard for hurting you.” His eyes narrowed. “I wish I could have known.” Nicholas turned his head away, only for me to pull him back to face me.

“Neither of us knew, but we have each other now. That’s all that matters.” Nicholas laid his head on my bare chest, his hand tickling the sides of my body.

“I always thought you were extremely sexy, though. I might have snuck to watch you bathe a few times,” I giggled shyly, smelling his hair.

“And I always knew you were watching, so I always gave you a show. Don’t think I wash my cock that much.”

We both howled in laughter, entangling our legs together while we watched the blinking stars look down at us between the branches of the trees until we really explored each other’s bodies for the rest of the night.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Under the Moon

Thewhispsintheair surrounded Nicholas and Amora. Their bodies continued to tangle through the night. The softness of Amora’s hair, and the fire-like touches she traced on his tribal tattoos had Nicholas’ Dragon purring. Nicholas was over the blue moon. He had long awaited his mate.

Nicholas couldn’t understand how his mate had been right under his nose the entire time. He had spent many years with Amora, always thought of her as attractive, and wanted to give her more than her supposed mate ever did. Adam was a busy Alpha, always putting the tribe first, but when his demands for Amora came to a head when he needed her most, she complied, but almost hesitating.

Nicholas saw it from the very beginning. The light-colored Dragon head on her shoulder should have been his first clue, but he wouldn’t have questioned his Alpha, so he let it be. Now her shoulder was covered with his mark, the light-colored mark from Adam’s fangs washed away with his stronger venom for his mate. Now, a beautiful tattoo of his Dragon’s head lay on her shoulders.

Nicholas traced her mark with his finger. He couldn’t see Amora’s bite on himself, not being around the surrounding water to see its glorious reflection, but he knew it was there. The radiant warmth he could feel with his palm was enough evidence for him.

Amora stared into his eyes lovingly. For the first time, her smile was genuine. It held no hesitation, no question. For that, he was thankful, for she was the light source in his life, and he would do everything he could to avenge the life she suffered under the hands of Adam.

“We should head back to the palace,” Amora whispered, laying her head on Nicholas’ shoulder, tracing his chest with her claw. “It isn’t safe to be out here with,” Amora paused, too upset to say the Alpha’s name.

“I’ll protect you. I will keep you from him,” Nicholas growled. “Besides, he is feeling too much pain to come for us tonight. I would rather spend it with you under the stars.” Amora hummed. She had forgotten Adam would feel the bond break. Amora didn’t feel it at all. In fact, she felt better than she ever had..

As the minutes passed, her Dragon moved within her body with powerful movements. She was bursting with excitement, able to feel her true mate just beside her.

“I forgot.” Amora nuzzled closer to Nicholas. He pulled her close, their naked bodies covered by the overhanging leaves. Many humans would find it strange for anyone to lay naked in the woods, but this was all but natural to Dragons and Shifters and the like. They were part animal, their bodies comfortable with their nakedness and their oneness with nature.

“Yet, it is not near enough pain. He will suffer later for his brutality against you.” Nicholas growled under his breath.

***

Earlier, Adam strode back into his tribe. Many eyes lingered on him, watching their Alpha’s Dragon blaze with fury. His body felt weak after dealing with Duke Mortus, putting him in a foul mood. His jagged movements didn’t go unnoticed. Many whispered in each other’s ears as Adam stomped to his tent to drink the black magic potion laced with Dragon’s blood. It was his only source to keep up the façade of being the fiercest Dragon on this side of the mountain.

“All warriors and Elders, gather in the meeting hall!” Adam thundered as he drank the last bit of the flask. His body strengthened instantly, his Dragon roaring loudly in his chest. His Dragon wanted blood, and it didn’t matter who. He was going to kill someone this night, hoping it would be Creed.

The Elders gathered in the hall's front while warriors of the tribe sat behind. Adam stomped to the front of the stage that held him so much higher than the rest of the tribe. “My mate is missing.” He rubbed his chest, feeling a twinge of pain. “The Vampires of the south are out to find her and want to kill your Alpha female. They are angry that my warriors have not found the human girl that the Duke wants so badly.” The warriors murmured, several shaking their heads.

The warriors had searched high and low; their Dragons had no clue where the girl could have gone. It was like she lived as a ghost in the mountains or there truly never was a human girl. One warrior grunted, looking around.

“Where is Nicholas? He is her bodyguard. Wouldn’t he know Alpha Amora’s whereabouts?” Adam growled noisily. Nicholas was her bodyguard. He pledged his life to protect her after he had the Elders cast a spell with Dragon’s blood to block their bond. Once he saw the both of them look at each other, the Elders immediately threw the memory powder to their faces. Since that day they had never known the difference.

Adam didn’t mind this too much. Even if Amora somehow felt the bond, she would have been repulsed by the idea of cheating on him. Adam was her mate, and he had been completely devoted to her despite the lies he had told.

“Well?” Adam growled. “Where is he?” The warriors all shook their heads, the Elders sitting quietly in their corner. “I don’t appreciate…” Adam grabbed his chest. His heart felt like it was being cut in two. Unbearable pain ripped through his body, his mark set ablaze. Steam flowed upward from his shoulder, screaming for someone to help him. Elder Naho, the Elder who had started all of this mess with Witches, magic, and Vampires, put his hand to Adam’s mark. Adam screamed again, pulling his legs up to his chest to hide from the pain. Elder Naho’s fists gathered tightly, his claws puncturing his palms.

“She knows,” he hissed. The other Elders gathered, a worried look on their faces. Adam’s body cracked, his Dragon trying to heal him, but the combination of black magic and the bond breaking had Adam half shifted and unable to go to a more permanent form. The smoke that tried to arise around his body to keep the pain of the shift at bay, slumped to the floor.

Warriors looked on in confusion, and the Elders stood back, unable to help their Alpha. “What is happening?” His teeth lengthened, only to pierce through his jaw, causing his own blood to pool to the floor.

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