Chapter 36
CHAPTER
THIRTY-SIX
“Where are we going?” Elara asks with a rare smile as I tug her after me. I stole her away from the others after dinner, otherwise we would not get any time alone. This is important. I’ve been working on it for over a week with Samantha, and I can’t wait any longer.
“Frost.”
“Surprise.” I pull her outside and into the grounds behind the court, where I step back and unveil what is waiting. She eyes it with confusion.
“A . . . saddle? Do we have horses?” She frowns.
Smiling, I cup her face. “No, but you have a dragon.” Her eyes widen, making me chuckle.
“It was fashioned to fit me so you don’t have to hurt yourself when you fly with me.
Come.” Stepping back, I transform and grab the saddle, tossing it on my back then wiggling to get it settled.
The lock drops into place, something we had to play with to make it happen, and then I wait with my head lowered.
She looks from the saddle to me before smiling widely and stepping on my leg.
She lets me lift her, then she clambers onto my back and into her seat.
When I’m sure she’s holding on and strapped in, I shoot off into the sky, flapping my wings until we catch the air, and then I soar above her court and the forest. She gasps, holding on at first before releasing her hold, and I fly higher, swooping and circling to show her how safe she is.
She begins to giggle, which turns into laughter as her arms fling wide.
Her laughter is so free and loud that I go faster, diving and spinning as she laughs, embracing her flight and freedom.
We fly for hours, until she’s lying across my back. “Thank you,” she says loud enough for me to hear. “I needed this. Thank you, Frost.”
“Anything for you, little mate.” Circling, I settle down on the ground, and she slips free. I catch her with my tail when she stumbles. Her hair is messy, but she’s smiling widely. Her smile fades a little as she steps closer, stroking my muzzle.
“Thank you, my dragon, for being by my side since the night I met you in the woods. You were the first person to ever save me, and I will never forget it.”
Staring into her eyes, I crave her touch. “Any time you need to escape, I am here. I am yours.”
I expect her to simply agree, but she steps closer. “You call me your mate. I ignored it until now, not ready to look at it, but tell me . . . what does it mean, Frost?”
Shock reverberates through me, and I change back, standing before her as a man. Elara waits patiently, not backing down.
“It means my dragon recognises only you, in the entire world, as his equal. He smelled you years ago. That’s why I was here, waiting.
It means I am yours and always will be. It means if we wanted, we could create a bond so thick, nothing could ever sever it.
I’ve heard tales of dragons and their mates who are able to communicate over long distances and borrow each other’s powers. It means . . . I am yours.”
She nods like she expected that. “I am not a dragon.”
“You are my Elara,” I reply since that is all that matters, and my dragon roars in agreement.
She smiles like she senses it. “Then let me be your mate.”
“Elara—”
“I’m sure of this. I wasn’t ready before, but I am now.”
“I can wait. Even if you never want to, I am content to be at your side,” I promise, letting her hear the truth in my words.
“But I’m not. I want my mate.” My dragon roars at her calling me that. “Would you deny me?” Her smile and arched eyebrow tell me she knows I wouldn’t.
“You do not know what it means to formally mate a dragon,” I warn, my voice more of a growl.
“Then tell me, or better yet, show me.”
My eyes narrow, and I give her five seconds to take it back, but when she continues to wait with an arched brow, I cannot resist. My hand darts out, fisting her dress, and then I tear it from her skin.
Her tiny pants and bra go next, so her golden skin glistens under the sky.
Her eyes are wide with desire, and her skin flushes with need.
Pushing her back, I follow her down and blanket her body on the ground. She’s quiet as I suck my fingers into my mouth before sliding them down her perfect body, feeling her shudder below me.
“My essence in every part of you,” I explain as I slide my saliva into her tight cunt, watching her eyes blow as she lifts her hips for more.
I can’t resist thrusting a few times before pulling out.
Sliding them into my mouth, I take her essence into me before pressing my lips to hers while I slide my wet fingers into her tight little ass.
I’m in her everywhere, and now only one thing remains.
As she reaches for me, wrapping her legs and arms around me, I press my length against her heat, feeling her rock against me.
Pleasure travels down my spine, and my dragon roars, demanding we claim her.
I try to slow down, to give her time, but he doesn’t let me, and we bury ourselves inside her in one vicious thrust. My cock is half changed, bigger than ever and covered in scales.
She screams into my mouth, writhing below me.
I slam my hands into the dirt at her sides and start to move. “Scales . . . Scales,” she whines, her eyes rolling back.
“Made to pleasure my mate,” I hiss. Smoke flows from my nostrils as the change rides me, my body growing impossibly large. When her eyes reopen, lust flames in those depths, and she tightens her fleshy thighs around me, determined to hold on as I pound her into the earth.
Magic boils through my blood and into her with each thrust, wrapping around us in visible arches of light, which grows in intensity and pulses with our heartbeats.
I take her in the dirt like my ancestors before us, covering her skin with my connection to the land, and as the magic wraps around us, we begin to rise. She gasps, holding onto my shoulders and looking up at me with wide eyes.
“You don’t have wings . . . . How?”
“A bonding between a dragon and its mate is sacred. If we do not trust one another, we will fall and it will break. If we do, the bond solidifies with release,” I explain. “Trust me, little mate, I would never let you fall.”
“I do.” She relaxes into my embrace, her arms dangling in the air.
Her eyes reflect my magic as her skin begins to glow from the inside, flashing with scales that fight to settle on her skin.
Snarling at the sight, I hammer into her body, my lips finding hers as we float higher, until we are one with the sky.
The magic pulses faster, urging us to complete the bond.
Her pleasure becomes my own, my love and dedication become hers, and before we know it, we reach our release together.
Our mixed cries flow into the air, and the glowing magic stills before slowly lowering us back to earth. Once there, it settles into our skin.
Our joining fluids seep into the soil, confirming our bond as the heavens welcome our cries of pleasure and love.
When the last of the magic dissipates, our bodies are still joined. Stroking her chest and shoulders, I grin at the glittering marks. They are not quite scales, and they look more like elaborate jewels or makeup, but they are there.
My marks.
Our bonding.
They’re beautiful, just like her, and for the first time since I awoke in this world, my dragon and I are in total harmony and relaxed.
“These are yours?” She trails her fingers across them, lifting her head to see better.
“They are my marks, our marks. We are bonded,” I vow, kissing her softly as I pull from her, seeing her wince in pain. Sliding down, I kiss her core, and for a moment, I catch her thoughts.
Fuck, I could go again. He feels so good. He’s so fucking handsome, and now he’s all mine.
Smiling into her sensitive flesh, I slide back up.
I knew our mating would be glorious, and I have no doubts we will defy all mating expectations and be the strongest pair in history.
I don’t tell her any of that, though, since it will be fun to explore it.
For now, I’m content to settle into the welcoming earth at her side.
Curling into my arms, she sighs happily as I hold her. “I’m glad it was you that night and you were waiting for me.”
“I will always wait for you, always come for you. You are my entire world, little mate, and now we will never be apart.” I expected that to scare her, but I feel her smile against my skin and cannot stop my own from beaming across my face.
My little mate is now mine forever.