Chapter Fifty
Raevar
Por Amarte Asi – Cristian Castro
It’s been three dayssince Abue told me that in order to form the mate bond, I need to bite them both.
In the last three days, it’s also been hectic, and there hasn’t been a moment for an intimate conversation. The festivities are all day tomorrow and into the evening. When it gets dark, we have the bonfire. I want to ask Dulce and Vera if they’ll bond with me then. Then maybe I”ll be brave enough to ask Vex. They make me anxious because I want to respect their journey with me.
“Whatcha thinking about, big guy?” Dulce asks, prancing around me. She’s been such a ray of sunshine since she and Vera had their day together. Even Vera—dare I say it—seems over the moon and in the clouds.
If the absolute fire in the bond told me and Vex anything while we were away, it’s that these two have a lot of chemistry and they smelled like they bonded in a more carnal way when we got back.
Since then, I’ve watched them kiss and hug, and seen the little touches they probably don’t even realize they’re offering each other.
When my expression doesn’t change, she stretches as much as she can, attempting to rub the wrinkles from my forehead.
“Thinking of the dragon races we won’t be having,” I solemnly admit, which isn’t entirely a lie. I’m wondering how else I was going to show Vex that riding a dragon is nothing like riding a horse and that they’ll definitely like the former more.
“What do you mean?” she asks, concern etched on her forehead. I lean down, trying to kiss that expression away. Behind her, Vera comes up, wrapping her arms around Dulce’s middle, eliciting an excited hum from little sweet.
“Unfortunately, we’re a little short on dragons this year. The less pollination there is, the less they migrate here. They too start families during the fertile window,” Vera explains, her voice tight as if she’s trying to hide how truly upset this whole ordeal makes her.
That solemn expression is back on Dulce’s face and I want to erase it again. She shouldn’t have to feel that kind of sadness.
As soon as it arises, it’s wiped away with bright eyes and a renewed optimism. “What is it?” I nudge, feeling hope in the bond.
“Dormir,” she enthusiastically says, almost jumping up and down with her excitement. My expression must show my confusion because she settles to explain. Vera still holds her waist, her head on Dulce’s shoulder in one of the softest shows of affection I’ve ever witnessed from her.
“He came here because fate made it so. Maybe him being a dragon could communicate what is needed?”
Vera seems checked out, her eyes a bit lost. And that makes sense. Whenever the Pollination is brought up, it’s tough on her.
“I think it’s a good idea,” I say, pressing a finger under Dulce’s chin and smiling.
“What’s a good idea?” Vera asks, coming back to the conversation. I wink at Dulce and lean to kiss her before reaching for Vera.
Leaving a chaste kiss on her lips, she seems to be speechless, so I finally answer. “Nothing for our queen to worry about.” If she caught the fact that I didn’t use my language for her pet name, she doesn’t object.
Instead, she kisses Dulce’s temple and then mine before heading toward the throne room where everyone prepping for tomorrow’s events will be.
***
Dulce
IT DOESN’T TAKE A GENIUSto realize that I’ve diluted myself into thinking this pollination subject wasn’t bothering Ver.
She’s hurting, and the fact that I’ve only truly recognized it when talking to Raev hurts my heart. Something that I struggled with for a long time while being a Cupid daily was failure.
Oh, wow.
A Cupid. I’m a freaking Cupid and I almost forgot.
Rushing toward the room Vex and I’ve been staying in, I wonder if they’re here. They’ve been busy, doing a lot, and I’m unsure if that’s a positive thing or not.
They seem happy for me—for us, really.
Yet they’ve been distracted.
Or maybe I’m an anxious pleaser who worries about everything before it’s a problem.
Hitting the room, I note that everything is clean. Immaculate, and I just know they were in here tidying up.
They like cleanliness, made beds, and washed sheets. Even when they’re on vacation away from home, they tidy up all their own stuff.
“Vex?” I call out, knowing they’ll hear me if they’re anywhere near.
“In the bath, my little dove,” they call out, and my ears twitch as I realize the water is running.
Hurrying to undress, I tie my curls back in a silk sash several times to keep them from getting wet. Rushing into the bathroom, I nearly fall over at how beautiful Vex is.
I feel like they’re statuesque, like the gods built them based off the memory of perfection.
Their horns and perfect jawline... I’m obsessed with looking at them.
“Are you going to join me, dove, or are you going to stand and gawk?”
With a giggle at their exasperated posh accent, I walk over and hop into the tub, leaning my back against their chest. It’s unfair how they get to hold me, and I don’t get to return the favor.
“What’s on your mind, love?”
I crane my head back to look at them. Their gaze automatically jumps to my throat and then my eyes.
“Do you think Arson or Pyro have connections to any magicks that can bring dragons here?”
They hum this low sound before grabbing a cloth to soap up my skin. As they drag the lathered remnants over the material and slather it down my arms, I try to patiently wait for their response.
One thing I’ve learned about Vex is their need for patience. I’m sure it has to do with living as long as they have. Ruminating over thoughts and thinking before answering must be second nature to them now.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think so. While Draegyns are part dragon—the closest thing to the creatures who have been mostly lost to history—I don’t believe they have magicks for summoning.”
I pout, feeling my smallest ambitions dwindling away.
“What brings this up?” they urge, and I just know they’re worried about my shifting mood. Other than the bond, they always could read me well.
“I’m worried about Vera. She’s really withdrawn and upset about the pollination.”
“Ah,” they muse, and I wonder why their tone seems unbothered. As if reading my thoughts, they continue. “I think pollination hasn’t happened because she’s scared.”
“What do you mean?” I question, wondering if that’s what Solera tried to tell me when she was lost to lust. Which reminds me. “The other day, when Vera and I...”
“Fucked?”
My cheeks flame, thinking of the way our bodies came together before literally coming together.
“Yes. That.” My voice is nearly squeaky. I’m still getting used to this entire sharing thing. Regardless of if my “fuck it” list has nearly been thrown out the window as I’ve lost myself to my mates, I’m still unused to being able to want more than one person.
“What about it?” Their voice is soft, a reassurance that everything is okay.
“She went super possessive on me. It’s like she was under a spell, and I felt like I was taking advantage of her.”
Vex cups my throat and kisses me swiftly. “That was the discomfort I felt in the bond that day. I knew it was on your end. Uneasy and hesitant.”
I nod. “It felt wrong to take, until Solera came into my mind and told me to go forward and help her. That she was denying what she needed and mentioned the pollination.”
“Hmm.”
They don’t say anything else, but continue their pursuit of lathering me up and kissing my shoulders as they go.
“I think Solera may be right,” they admit after they rinse off my chest and stomach, the cloth proceeding to my thighs. “Vera has had this notion in her mind for over two decades that the pollination hasn’t existed simply because she does. Imagine what that does to a person, let alone a queen whose entire life has revolved around her kingdom’s success and not her happiness?”
My heart hammers, making my vision a little blurry as I think of Ver all alone and sad, simply out of fear.
Raev was here the entire time and she never saw him like that. He’s loved her from day one, it’s obvious.
“Do you think we can help her?”
They nip my shoulder, then that nips turns into a bite, and while it doesn’t break skin, it makes me shiver at the possibility.
“I believe that if anyone in this realm can fix our queen’s woes, it’s her pretty princess.”
I sigh as they bite along my shoulders, and my pulse begins to beat elsewhere. Like between my thighs.
“Vex,” I whisper, my body ramped up and ready for them to do whatever they please.
“Yes, little dove?”
“Bon appétit,” I tease, and they chuckle, pinching my clit before their teeth elongate and pierce my skin.