CHAPTER TWO
Taveris was standing with other unbonded dragons, all waiting for the wall to open, and he could hear his blood pumping, could feel the group's excitement and nerves. He hoped his face didn't show anything, but he also knew that there wasn't much he could hide from fellow dragons in a high-stakes situation like this. He wasn't any calmer than they were, he just contained it better. He didn't walk around or try to distract himself by gossiping with other candidates. He just stood to the side and stared at the wall separating him from his future.
Possibly. There was a chance he wouldn't find his companion on his first try and although the idea brought a heavy weight to the pit of his stomach, he needed to be prepared for that, just in case.
"I heard Master Dorrat ordered the Prince Heir to repack when he came in with more luggage than allowed," Padyell was saying right behind him. "That's a lesson on how things are run around here, if you ask me."
"I wonder how the prince felt about that," Jaylyn retorted. "I heard he's even more handsome in person, but if he's a—"
"Be careful with what you're saying, since you don't know where you'll be in ten minutes' time," the deep voice sounded right to their left and Taveris turned to see Master Dorrat come up to Padyell and Jaylyn. "You may regret it then."
Taveris looked back to the wall, losing interest in the other dragons. He'd tried not to imagine who his companion might be, at least in terms of titles or positions. He wanted someone he would be able to understand, with whom he might grow and change, and become the best warrior he could be. The best companion.
He did wonder, though, if the bond would be a romantic one or not. He found it hard to believe than in a bond that was supposedly that deep, sexual attraction didn't play a part at all, but older dragons swore by it, so who was he to argue with them. He at least hoped he wouldn't be left with unrequited feelings for his companion, because that would be just cruel.
Then Master Dorrat moved to the front of the group and gave them all a hard, assessing look. He got into a speech about what to expect and what to do, but Taveris was barely listening.
His heart sped up again and he straightened as the wall started to move.
This was it.
He didn't rush through the opening as some of the dragons did. He knew the speed didn't matter. If there was a human out there for him, no other dragon would get to him first.
He stepped onto the center of the arena and looked around, the weird sensation along his spine growing with each passing second. He's here, Taveris realized. His companion was here, now he just had to—
The man was staring at him when Taveris turned, and as their gazes met, everything else fell to the background. The noise, people, everything. Taveris's heart stopped and started again in the space of the few seconds it took for him to cross the distance between the two of them.
"It's you," he whispered and watched the man—his companion—nod. There was no doubt in Taveris's mind, none at all. And, oh, yeah, the sexual attraction was through the roof.
But he needed more than sex from the man in front of him.
He needed everything.
He moved before he thought it through, and laid his hand on the side of the man's neck. Hook, there was a protocol for this, but Taveris couldn't remember it now.
Names, he figured. Start with names.
"My name is Taveris," he told the man whose rapid pulse he could now feel beneath his palm. "I come from Paryada, the Land of Southern Skies."
"My name is Caleen, the Prince Heir of Kingdom of Teranea and sworn protector of those who live within it," his companion said in a low voice as he extended his right hand with his palm facing up.
The invitation, Taveris's brain registered. He'd touched his companion without the invitation.
But he had it now. Freely given.
He slid his hand over Caleen's palm and further, until he curled his fingers right below Caleen's elbow. The man did the same and Taveris almost gasped with the pleasure he could now feel wherever their bodies touched.
He hadn't known it would be like this. He'd tried to imagine it, but he'd never come up with such an overwhelming reaction. Everything in him was calling out to his companion. He'd forgotten about his usual reservations and logic, not to mention rules. Everything came down to the man in front of him.
Caleen.
They were still staring at each other, gripping each other's forearms, when the headmaster found them. Taveris knew he was there, he could see him in the corner of his eye, but he couldn't look away from his companion.
"Congratulations," the headmaster said. "The spark you share is a great honor and privilege, but it's also a source of great joy. Now that you are on the brink of the journey that will bind you together, please come with me. There are things we need to discuss."
Neither Caleen nor Taveris moved, at least not until the headmaster sighed and reached out. To do what, Taveris wasn't sure. He registered another dragon wanting to put a hand on his mate for unknown reasons and he reacted. He used the grip he had on Caleen's forearm and pulled him behind his back as he faced—
Hook. His shoulders slumped and he took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry, sir. I acted without thinking."
Fortunately, the headmaster didn't seem angry. He inclined his head.
"Do not worry. It happens. Companion instincts are the most volatile at this stage, when the connection hasn't had enough time to settle. That's one of the things we have to discuss, so again, please, follow me."
This time, they listened, but Taveris kept Caleen as close as possible as they crossed the arena and then the chilly corridor leading to an empty office room.
Inside, the headmaster pointed them to the couch, where they sat pressed against each other, with Taveris's arm around Caleen's back. He just couldn't not touch his companion right now.
The headmaster sat in front of them and covered the basics of the companion bond. The words that Taveris had known for years suddenly meant something different now, when he could feel a real person next to him. His own companion. Protecting and supporting each other seemed to be instinctual, not something he needed to be told. But he listened and nodded, and exchanged glances with Caleen, whose small smile had the power to undo him, Taveris could already tell.
Finally, the headmaster got to the end of his speech.
"By tradition, we also invite a bonded pair to advise you, each of you, so if you have any questions you prefer to ask them, that's your right. Taveris, your brother volunteered to be your guide, and his bonded volunteered to be yours, Caleen. I will fetch them right now." He looked like he wanted to say something else but then decided not to. He only said, "Be careful. I'll be back in a few minutes."
As soon as they were alone, Taveris turned to Caleen, who was staring at him with those big, bright eyes and half-opened mouth, and that was more than Taveris could take. He leaned in and captured Caleen's lips in a kiss—one that shook and realigned everything inside him, creating something new.
And he wanted more.
Caleen moaned and Taveris greedily swallowed the sound, vowing then and there that he would do everything in his power to bring out more of those from his companion. His mate.
He pulled him closer, and Caleen went easily, straddling Taveris's lap, pressing his entire body into him while barely breaking their kiss. Taveris caught Caleen's face in one hand and licked into his mouth, tasting, and learning, and breaking apart under the onslaught of this man who was somehow, inexplicably, his.
Taveris pushed his other hand under Caleen's shirt, and it was his turn to moan when he ran his palm over Caleen's back, nothing but warm, soft skin.
Or maybe they'd both moaned, he wasn't sure. All he knew was the intoxicating taste and smell, their bodies pressing close to each other, and the overwhelming want.
He tightened his grip around Caleen's waist and flipped them until Caleen was on his back on the couch cushions and Taveris was leaning over him, pressing a kiss onto his neck, right over the pulse point which seemed to be pounding right under the surface. He licked over the skin there and sucked a little, wanting to feel the sensation on his tongue, and he brought his hips down to press against Caleen's erection.
Then he heard the door opening, and his instincts were apparently still sensitive, because he immediately moved between Caleen and whoever was there at the door.
It turned out to be a young dragon, too young to attend the Academy. He was probably visiting for someone else's searching ceremony, then. He stared at them for a second and then pointedly looked at the ceiling.
Taveris didn't even want to imagine the sight they had to make. Hook.
"I'll just—" the boy said, waving towards the door. "Go. I didn't mean to—interrupt."
He went to leave, but Taveris scrambled to his feet. He needed to fix it, somehow.
"Wait!"
The boy paused but kept his gaze to the floor.
"Please don't tell anyone about—"
"Of course not!" The boy shook his head. "It's no one's business."
Taveris's shoulders relaxed slightly. "Thank you— What's your name?"
"Soryan."
"Mine is Taveris." He probably should introduce Caleen as well, but he also wanted to play it safe. If Soryan hadn't recognized the Prince Heir, there was no reason to tell him. "Thank you, again."
"Nothing to thank me for," Soryan assured him, heading for the door. "I wasn't even here."
When Taveris was once again alone with his companion, he turned to face Caleen, who was sitting in the corner of the couch, with his legs pulled up and his face hidden against his knees.
What a mess. Taveris had never gotten so out of control. He just… He hadn't expected the need to be so strong, the pull so irresistible.
He sat back on the other end of the couch and faced Caleen.
"Hey," he started quietly. "Are you okay?"
Caleen raised his head and looked at Taveris. His face was bright red, but his lips were still puffy and wet from their kisses.
"I've never been so embarrassed in my life," he admitted, grimacing at the end. "Hook, if it was my father or—" He shut his mouth and lowered his head again.
Taveris froze at the mere idea of being caught by the king himself. Or the headmaster.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm sorry, I got carried away."
"No, no," Caleen protested quickly, straightening in his seat. "We got carried away. If anything," he added, his blush darkening, "I even more than you."
"Not possible," Taveris told him. If he'd gotten carried away even a little more, he wouldn't have stopped, Soryan or no Soryan.
"I got—" Caleen's glance down onto his lap was enough of a clue for Taveris to know what his companion didn't say. And hook if Taveris didn't love the combo of innocence and daring Caleen represented right now.
He smiled and extended his hand but left it on the couch so it would be Caleen's decision to touch him. "So did I."
That caught his companion's attention. His gaze swept over Taveris, pausing at his groin before quickly moving away.
"Oh."
"Exactly." Taveris couldn't stop smiling. "That's normal. Sure, we shouldn't have done that here, but— But when we're alone in our room—"
Caleen's eyes shone brightly as he met his gaze again, curious and eager, but before Taveris could say anything else, the door opened again and the headmaster walked in, followed by Paeveris and his companion.
Later, Taveris silently vowed, to Caleen and to himself. Later.