Love Bites Extra Hard (Mated to the King #5)

Chapter 12

twelve

TALON

My heart pounded in my head so loudly I couldn’t hear a fucking thing. I pressed my scale-covered body to my mate’s, pleading with the sky, my fallen scales, and the magic in my veins to spare her.

To let her live.

To help her through.

Her breathing was faint, but she was breathing. In any other situation, I would’ve needed to get off of her to let her breathe deeper, but not this one.

A dragon’s scales had power when it came to his mate. They didn’t have a ton of magic, but they had some. Enough to help the dragon’s mate sleep better, and deeper. Feel more confident. Recover faster from injuries.

It wasn’t a miraculous amount of magic, but all I could do was hope it was enough.

My lips moved in silent commands against her hair.

Heal.

Recover.

Come back to me.

Heal.

Recover.

Come back to me.

Heal.

Recover.

Come back to me.

I hadn’t even fucking told her what she was to me. Would she have made a different choice if I had? Chosen not to risk her life?

Had the choice been hers at all?

Had Stella been so obsessed with taking the fucker down that she asked Avery to risk everything?

I didn’t know.

I couldn’t find out.

Not yet.

Every ounce of energy I had was focused on her.

My mate.

My world.

“I don’t smell any fresh blood,” someone in the room whispered, and I snarled at them.

I wasn’t sure why I was snarling.

I was far more beast than man in the moment.

Everyone fell silent again.

I didn’t even know how many people were in the room. That was a risk to my female—but her wounds were a far bigger one.

“Water could help her,” Stella said, her voice quiet and wobbly. “She’s a siren. The hot springs could?—”

“No,” I nearly roared.

She wasn’t leaving the bed. She wasn’t moving away from the scales on my body, or the ones surrounding us.

I should’ve made her a blanket with them, like dragons usually did for their mates.

I should’ve told her exactly who and what she was to me.

I should’ve announced to the entire castle that she belonged to me, so no one in their right mind would help her risk herself.

I should’ve held her tighter in my bed.

I should’ve fucking told her .

Minutes passed. Maybe hours. Hell, maybe days.

It felt like a lifetime.

But slowly, her wounds closed and her heartbeat steadied.

“Talon?” she finally whispered, her voice raw and hoarse.

My entire body trembled. “I’m here, Ave.”

She let out a soft, shallow breath. I wasn’t sure what emotion was behind it. “Is Stella okay?”

“I’m fine,” my sister said. “Focus on getting better, okay?”

Avery let out another soft breath. “Can you get off me?”

Someone behind me chuckled, and tried to cover it with a cough.

I ignored them, and carefully started to pull my body off hers. Her skin immediately paled, her breathing went uneven, and she made a soft sound of pain.

My body was pressing hers back into the blood-soaked mattress instantly.

“Guess not,” she croaked.

“Rest,” I commanded her.

She didn’t even try to protest, simply closing her eyes and doing as I said.

Her breathing evened out. It was still nowhere what it should’ve been, but she was okay.

Or she was going to be, at least.

I lifted my head off the pillow and turned it to the side so I could see part of the group around us.

There were so many people. Too many.

“She’s healing. Everyone but Stella, get out,” I growled.

Avery stirred, and I tried to quiet myself so I wouldn’t wake her.

Everyone made their way out quietly, until the door was closed between us and them. My gaze finally narrowed in on my sister. “What happened?”

Stella’s face was nearly as pale as Avery’s. “Sylvester was frazzled without feeling her magic all day. He was getting worse. I asked her to hit him with a wave of her magic, to see if he would shift. He almost did, but not quite. She said she wanted to go in and try to seduce him from the inside. I agreed, and we went in together. I wasn’t prepared for how strongly her magic would affect me, and I was too slow. He got her. I freed her and got us out, but the damage was done.”

I had to clench my jaw and lower my forehead back to my mate’s to prevent myself from saying something I would regret.

I was fucking furious, but Stella was still my sister. And Avery had undoubtedly played a role in their plan. She’d been trying to convince me to let her in his cell from the beginning.

“You’re too partial when it comes to him,” I finally said, my voice low.

“I know.” Stella’s was soft.

Bitter.

Sad.

“When Avery’s recovered, you need to be done in the prison. I can’t risk this again. I almost lost her, Stell.”

“I know.” Her voice was so shaky, I knew she was crying. And my sister so very rarely cried. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

The edge of the mattress dipped, and I tried not to growl at her for invading my mate’s territory. My territory.

I mostly succeeded.

Stella caught Avery’s hand. “She’s the only friend I’ve had in more than a decade. I thought I could protect her. I’m sorry.”

I clenched my jaw and nodded.

I couldn’t keep talking about it. Not without saying something my sister didn’t need or deserve to hear.

We sat in silence for a long while, listening to Avery’s breathing grow stronger. After more time had passed, I carefully rolled her over with me so she was on top, rather than trapped between me and the mattress.

Knowing there was nothing between her and more injuries made my chest tight. Breathing was difficult, too, but I couldn’t protect her from everything.

Not from the air.

And not from my life.

I needed to take her home, to let her go… but I couldn’t.

It wasn’t even an option.

She was mine.

And there was nothing else I could say or do about it.

Eventually, she stirred again.

There was more color in her cheeks, and her wounds had to have been doing better. With the dried blood now sticking us together, I wouldn’t be able to release her without some warm water to separate us. But that was okay. I didn’t want to let go anyway.

She slowly peeled her face off my chest.

When she winced, I growled.

“I’m fine,” she whispered, patting my arm lightly.

“You’re not fucking fine.”

She ignored me, looking at Stella.

The scent of my sister’s tears flooded the room, and Avery squeezed her hand lightly. “It wasn’t your fault. It was my idea, remember? Don’t blame yourself.” Her voice was light and soft as she confirmed my suspicions. “Next time, we’ll get him.”

I snarled. “There’s not going to be a next time.”

Stella dashed away a few more tears. “We can’t do that again.”

“Sure we can.” Avery tried to pull more of her body off mine, but there was too much blood sticking us together. “I’m fine.”

I snarled again. “You’re not fucking fine.”

“We almost lost you, Avery.” Stella’s hand trembled as she squeezed my mate’s. “Let’s just table this topic. You both need to eat—I can go grab food.”

“You need a shower first.” Avery gave her a small smile. Stella was covered in almost as much blood as I was.

“So do you,” Stella pointed out.

Avery laughed softly, wincing in pain when she did.

I growled, and she swatted me on the shoulder to hush me.

It didn’t work. Obviously.

“I’ll wash up fast, then bring you food,” Stella said, looking at me. The humor in her eyes faded fast.

I jerked my head in a nod.

She squeezed Avery’s hand one more time. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

With that, she slipped out of the room.

When the door opened and shut, I heard voices in the hallway. Some of our people were still outside. Waiting to make sure my mate was healed.

They’d have to keep waiting, because I didn’t want anyone else’s eyes on her until she was better. Even then, I didn’t want their eyes on her. She belonged to me.

“After Stella stops blaming herself, I’m going home,” Avery said, trying again to peel her chest off mine. Between the blood and her weakness, she still didn’t budge.

“We’ll visit your sisters,” I gritted out.

The thought of taking her back to them made me want to lock her in a room and refuse to let her go.

I had almost lost her.

Permanently.

Stella would’ve had to kill me, because I would’ve lost my fucking mind.

“I’m not visiting, Talon. I’m going home for good.”

“Like hell you are.” I sat up carefully, holding her to my chest with a hand against her back.

“Stella told me what I am to you. You lied to me. I’m not staying with you.”

“If you know that you belong to me, then you know damn well that I won’t let you go.”

I carried her to the bathroom, adjusting her position to keep her as comfortable as possible. Though her wounds seemed mostly healed, the way she’d flinched earlier told me she wasn’t all the way there.

Even if she was, I was going to be far too careful with her for the time being.

“My sisters are mated to the other kings. You can’t force me to stay without starting a war, and you won’t do that to your people.”

“The two dozen dragons in the hallway waiting to find out if my mate is okay beg to differ. Fated mates are the one thing all of us would go to war for, Ave.” I stepped into the shower with her and turned the water on. It would be uncomfortably cold for me, but I didn’t want to burn her.

“Don’t A me. You lied, while we were screwing, for an entire month. You let me believe we were just friends with benefits.”

“We were just friends with benefits. Being fated doesn’t change that. I didn’t lie. I left out details that would’ve made it clear what we were. All of the evidence pointed to the truth, and you would’ve figured it out eventually if she hadn’t told you.” I carried her back out of the shower to let the water warm up.

“I did figure it out, with my sisters’ help. And we aren’t anything. I might be your fated mate, but that doesn’t make me yours.”

“My scales are the only reason you’re alive right now, Avery. If you weren’t mine, you’d be lying on the mattress, cold and dead.” I turned us sideways, so our shoulders pointed toward the mirror.

“That’s bullshit.”

“Look in the mirror, Ave.”

She turned her head, looking at the place our bare chests were connected. We couldn’t see the blood functioning as glue, but it was all over both of us anyway. Our arms. Throats. Faces. Hair. Backs.

Her face paled slightly.

“You were moments away from death when Stella put my scales on you. If she hadn’t, you wouldn’t have survived. Everyone in that room heard your heart pause. It restarted the moment the first of my scales touched you. Our connection is the only reason you’re alive right now.”

She let out a shaky breath.

I lowered my nose to her hair and inhaled her scent. It was clouded with blood, but it was there, and it was perfect. “Your sisters and their mates would have to carve you out of my arms to take you from me. They might be able to manage it, but we both know you don’t hate me enough to let them. So stop arguing with me, and let me take care of you for a few minutes.”

Her protests fell silent, her eyes still on our bodies.

“All of that blood is mine?” she finally asked.

“Yes.”

She lowered her cheek to my chest.

She wasn’t agreeing to stop arguing with me, but she was putting her weapons down for the time being. And that was more than enough for now.

I carried her back into the shower.

“How’s the water?” I asked her, ignoring the sting of it against my skin.

“Cold.” She reached out and adjusted it.

Thankfully, the temperature raised to a manageable lukewarm.

Her eyes closed as the water rolled over us. Neither of us spoke or moved as we waited for the dried blood to soften.

Finally, she murmured, “I’m still furious with you, and I’m not letting go of the way you kept the truth from me. But thank you for saving my life.”

Some of the tension in my chest eased, just a little. “Thank you for not dying on me.”

I grabbed the bar of soap nearby, and rubbed it between my hands before I ran one slowly over her back. She sighed as I cleaned her skin.

“You need to feed,” I said, still rubbing her back.

“I don’t want to feed from you.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

“That’s rich, coming from you.”

“I didn’t lie.”

“You misled me. Repeatedly.”

I made a noise of disagreement.

“You let me think I could end up fated with the unmated guys if I met them.”

“I would’ve had to kill them if they flirted with you.”

“That was literally misleading. And you told me that you would throw anyone who hit on your mate out the window, which clearly insinuated that I wasn’t your mate. Not to mention all the times I said we were just casual, and you didn’t correct me. Or all the times you said we were casual. I recall something about casual biting .” She lifted her narrowed eyes to mine.

I eased her chest away from mine, letting the water run over our skin as I grabbed the soap again.

She stole it from me. “You don’t get to touch my tits anymore.”

“I was going to take whatever you were willing to give me, Ave. We were casual, because you weren’t committed to me, and I didn’t expect you to be.”

“You said you would let me go back to Vamp Manor.”

“I would’ve,” I growled.

“ Would’ve ?”

“Yes, I would’ve. Before I fell in love with you, and before I almost watched you die. Now, I’m not letting you go.” I grabbed the soap back and scrubbed the bar over my chest. “And I am going to wash your tits, because you can’t see your own wounds. When you’re fully healed and I have the physical proof that you’re okay, I’ll respect the distance you want to put between us.”

She glared at me, but didn’t argue as I set her down on her feet and began slowly cleaning her skin.

Her legs shook, so I set a hand on her back for support. She gritted her teeth against the pain, but finally grabbed my arm to hold herself up.

“How did you see this playing out?” she asked, her jaw still clenched. “You must’ve had a plan.”

“I didn’t. You thought I was going to abduct you to force you to mate with me. Telling you the truth right off the bat would’ve destroyed my chance from the beginning. After we were solid, I wasn’t sure how to break the news. And I didn’t want to lose what we had.”

“We were solidly casual . That’s nowhere near the same as being mates.”

“What would a mate bond have really changed? You know I wouldn’t force you to do anything. You wanted to sleep alone, so I let you sleep alone. You wanted it casual, so I kept it casual. You wanted to avoid difficult topics, so I avoided them.”

“Basically, you’ve been doing anything you can to win me over, and disregarding everything you felt and wanted.”

Her voice was calm.

Too calm.

But lying to her obviously wasn’t the way to go.

“Yes,” I said.

“That’s not a relationship, Talon. That’s you doing whatever it takes to convince someone that they belong with you, to the extent of ignoring what feels right to you.”

“Bullshit.”

Her gaze was hard, though.

Unyielding.

She wasn’t interested in discussing it.

I’d just have to figure out a way to prove the truth to her.

“I want to go back to the Manor,” she said.

“I’ll set up a visit.”

She clenched her jaw tighter.

“Stella will want to come,” I added, knowing she would soften with the mention of my sister. They were close. “We agreed that she’s done in the prison.”

Avery’s eyes widened. “What?”

“It’s controlled her life for a decade, and she clearly can’t stay neutral when it comes to Sylvester. She needs time to disconnect from the situation.”

“So you’re kicking her out of the castle?”

“Of course not,” I growled. “I don’t have the power to do that, and even if I did, I would never force her out of her home.”

Avery closed her eyes tightly as I cleaned between her legs carefully. We both knew I wasn’t trying to turn her on. There was just dried blood everywhere.

“I want to see them today,” she said.

“We can go after you’re healed.

“After I’m clean ,” she said sharply. “I’ll bundle up so your scales don’t hurt me.”

“They can’t cut you anymore. That’s why they fell. As soon as a dragon meets their fated mate, their scales start to drop. It takes about a month, but they’re all replaced with smoother ones.”

“Of course they are.” Her voice was bitter. “I just didn’t ask enough questions.”

“That’s not what I said.”

“We’re going today.” She ignored my comment.

I probably deserved that.

“If you want to go, you need to feed. You’re radiating magic, and you’re not strong enough to stay on my back right now.”

“Fine.” Avery gritted the word out.

I crouched down to clean her legs.

She was so fucking beautiful, my chest ached.

I’d nearly lost her.

I would do whatever I had to, to make sure it didn’t happen again. Whatever it fucking took.

I stood up and scanned her body for more blood. She looked down at herself, and made a quiet, strangled noise.

Though she was mostly healed, the skin was still recovering. You could see the wide wounds, pink with recovery as her body continued fighting.

The claw marks tore through her entire abdomen and chest, and were on her throat, too.

“Fuck,” she whispered.

I bit back a retort that wouldn’t do a damn thing to help.

Fuck was the tamest possible response.

“I thought I was strong enough to control him,” she said softly. “If I knew this was a possibility, I never would’ve risked it.”

“That fucker raped and murdered seventeen women, Avery. You may damn well have the strongest seduction magic on the planet, but seduction isn’t enough to keep that bastard at bay.”

“He didn’t hurt Stella.”

“She was the one woman in the castle he couldn’t have gotten away with attacking. She was too powerful. And sleeping with her kept him under the radar.”

“You think he used her?”

“We know he used her. He said as much, in the beginning.”

“Shit,” she whispered.

I scrubbed a small streak of blood off her hip, then stepped around her back to see if I’d missed any there.

Finally, she was clean.

She released my arm and eased my hands away from her skin. “I’ll get dressed while you wash up. Afterward, I can feed on you.”

When there was clothing between us.

She didn’t have to say the words for me to hear them loud and clear.

“Be careful,” I warned, my fists clenching slightly with the effort of letting her go.

We’d only be apart for a few minutes, at most, but it still scared the shit out of me.

“I’ll be fine.” She slipped out of the shower, her movements slow and uncertain. I gritted my teeth against the need to go with her.

She’d be okay.

She had to be.