Epilogue
Epilogue
Emma
Several months later
I knew the truth without having a healer look at me.
I was pregnant with Azar’s baby. I’d have a half-human, half-Dragao baby in the coming months, and I was terrified… and so happy I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading over my face.
My fear wasn’t from anything but the knowledge that I had no idea what I was doing, that I’d have someone vulnerable and small to care for. Is this how Azar feels where I’m concerned?
Of course the pregnancy wasn’t a shock, seeing as Azar was insatiable with me and we were together at least once, sometimes twice a day. But it wasn’t just his need for me… but mine for him. I’d sought him out plenty of times. That thought and the images it conjured had my face heating.
At first he’d been mindful of my soreness because of his size and my inexperience, and even though there was always a shock when he entered me, the pleasure and ecstasy overshadowed anything else.
My neck tingled as if my very thoughts brought about the remembrance of the dragon mark he’d given me. Although my flesh was healed, I felt the twin marks on my neck that would forever say I was his. They would forever let anyone know I was the mate of a fearsome Dragao dragon shifter.
I looked back down at my belly. My once too-flat stomach because I hadn’t eaten enough was now filled out and slightly rounded. I hadn’t thought about pregnancy until I realized I hadn’t started my monthly cycle. My breasts were ultrasensitive, and then there was the sickness and throwing up… and of course my belly growing.
I smiled again and pulled my tunic up enough that I could see my bare skin. I rested my palm over my flesh and ran my hand over the tiny bump. I felt this swelling of happiness consume me.
I was going to be a mother.
I wished I could tell Tilly, but after she’d clearly gone willingly with that Draco male, I hadn’t heard from her. We didn’t know where she was or how she was doing, but in my heart I knew she was safe. During that one time I’d spoken with Ryezan all those months ago, I’d been able to tell a mate was the most precious thing to him, like it was for Azar.
Like I was for Azar.
And that knowledge that Ryezan would cherish Tilly was what kept my worry and fear of the unknown at bay. I also knew I’d see her again. I didn’t know when or how, but I had no doubt about that. Yet trying to search her out could cause more issues with encroaching on other Dragao and Draco territories.
And as I kept looking at and rubbing my belly, I knew it was now far too dangerous with a little one on the way, not just for me to travel, but with Azar too. I didn’t want him possibly getting hurt looking for Tilly when we had to assume Ryezan was hidden away.
I thought about the last few months, how things had been going so well that I was worried something bad would eventually happen. Because my life couldn’t be this wonderful after it had been filled with so much despair. So much loneliness. So much emptiness.
But I didn’t feel any of those things anymore. I hadn’t ever since Azar had come into my life.
We lived a simple life, one where Azar hunted for us, and I was learning how to cook for him—without burning half the meat. We just enjoyed each other's company. And it was perfect.
He’d taken me in the air to see the world I’d only been able to see from the ground level of the fields. I’d seen massive bodies of water, greens and blues, and trees that were rich and lush with orange and yellow foliage. The world past the Pit was rich and not as desolate as I’d always thought.
Or maybe it just seemed like things were more beautiful because I was in love.
I was close enough to the entrance of the tunnel that led outside that I heard Azar land on the outcropping of the cliff, the pebbles being scattered away from his massive dragon claws and falling down the side of the mountain.
My mind was so muddled with thoughts that by the time he shifted into his human form and made his way down the tunnel to where I stood in our den, I was still standing there with my tunic up and my hand on my belly.
He held a lifeless animal in one hand, the creature frightening with gray-and-black-colored fur, serrated teeth, and six legs.
He stopped right inside the cave, glancing at me and down to where my hand rested on my belly. Judging by his expression, I could see he was confused, but then realization exploded out of him. His big body shuddered, and he tossed the carcass toward the fire, the creature landing with a thump on the ground.
“Emma?” he whispered, his voice so deep and filled with so much emotion.
I said nothing, just smiled and rubbed my belly as I nodded. I started making my way to him, but he held his hands out, stopping me. I felt my brows lower in confusion. And then I saw how dirty he was.
He came up to me, kissing me softly on the forehead before murmuring, “Give me one moment,” and then he was heading to the grotto.
He was only gone for a short while before he was back and wrapped his arms around my middle, pulling me toward him so my back was to his chest. For long moments we just stood there, Azar’s hand resting over mine, which was still placed over my belly.
“A young,” he said softly with clear awe in his voice. “Our young.”
He sounded so happy, which in turn made my happiness even greater. But I wanted to share my feelings too. “I’m afraid,” I said honestly, and he turned me around instantly so I was now facing him. His expression showed worry, and I lifted my hands to cup his face, marveling anew at how different our species were, yet with so many similarities.
“I’ll never let anything or anyone hurt you or our child,” he said fiercely.
I couldn’t help but smile again. “I know. But when I say I’m afraid, it’s because I’ve never done anything like this before. I’ve never been a mom, had somebody look at me as if I have all the answers.” I exhaled and rose on my toes at the same time Azar leaned down, our kiss gentle, whisper-soft. “I’m just worried I’m going to screw something up.”
He made a deep sound of protest in his throat. I knew in Azar’s eyes I could do no wrong. And that definitely had encouragement filling a girl; that was for sure.
I looked at the male I’d already fallen head over heels for, my dragon-shifting mate that I was madly in love with. I knew that no matter how afraid I was, he would always be by my side. He’d have my back, defend me, and forever protect me and our children. He’d always make sure I and our babies were taken care of. And in return I would try to be a supportive partner, a loving mate.
I’d try to be half as wonderful as he was.
My love for him grew until it took up every single inch of my body, until there was no me anymore.
There was now Emma and Azar.
Our lives were forever entwined, and I was so very thankful.
My body heated instantly from his close proximity, wetness gathering between my thighs, a heavy ache settling right at my core. I watched Azar’s nostrils flare as he inhaled, taking in the scent of my need for him, my desire that was always at the forefront, a flickering flame ready to be stoked.
Before he could take the lead—because he would always be the ultra-dominant male—I sank down to my knees. I kept my head tilted back so I could look into his face and reached out to grip his cock, which was already thick and very hard.
I watched as his abdomen flexed and threw off shadows from all his raw power and his defined muscles.
“My beautiful female,” he murmured, cupped the side of my face, and ran his thumb along my bottom lip before pulling the flesh gently down. His mouth parted as his gaze was latched to what he was doing, and when he let go of my flesh, letting it pop back into place, another groan was torn from him.
“I could come just by looking at you.”
A shiver went through my entire body, and I lowered my gaze so I was staring right at his cock. The slit at the tip was already glossy with beads of pre-cum, so much that it was dripping off the head and landing on the ground between us.
I exhaled at how much that sight turned me on.
I didn’t do this very often, mainly because Azar was a very generous lover and always wanted to pleasure me and not the other way around. And although I was hardly an expert by any means, I also knew it didn’t matter. Just touching Azar had made him come before. It was a very heady sensation to know I held that much power over him.
I opened my mouth and dragged my tongue along the underside of his cock, paying close attention to the tip, knowing he was sensitive there. I ran circles around the bulbous head before gently pressing my tongue into the slit, lapping up all that salty male essence that spilled from him. It was an intoxicating flavor on my tongue, something that had my pussy becoming even wetter.
He made a distorted sound above me, and then his hand was tangled in my hair, his fingers pressed against the back of my scalp. I didn’t know if he thought I was going to pull away, but the only plan I had right now was sucking him off until he filled my mouth with his seed. I grew hungry just thinking about his cum washing down the back of my throat.
I sucked the head of his erection into my mouth, bobbing my head up and down slightly, not taking more than the crown right now. I knew the teasing drove him mad with lust. With my other hand, I gripped the heaviness of his sack underneath, rolling the twin weights in my palm. He was so big that he overflowed my hand, and I clenched my thighs together, as that turned me on even more.
“Fates, my Emma,” he growled above me, and his fingers tightened even further on my hair. I took a little bit more of him between my lips, and inch by slow inch, I sucked on his erection. The tip hit the back of my throat, and I gagged slightly before retreating. I did this over and over again, my eyes watering before tears slid down my cheeks. I was so aroused, the throbbing between my legs fierce and strong, wetness coating my inner thighs embarrassingly.
Azar started using the leverage he had on the back of my head to bring me in closer, then pulled me back, sliding his cock in and out from between my lips. I already knew he was close to getting off by the rough sounds he made above me, how his abdomen clenched tight.
I lifted my gaze up to look into his face, not surprised to see his focus trained right on me, on what I was doing to him. His mouth was slightly parted, his gaze riveted to the sight of his cock disappearing into my mouth and reappearing. His fangs flashed long and sharp, and my neck tingled at the memory of him sinking those long, white points deep into my throat, forever tying us together.
I started moving my head faster, back and forth, taking as much of him as I could. When the tip was lodged in the back of my throat once more, I swallowed and let the muscles clench around his crown. He was making fearsome sounds above me, his hand still tangled tightly in my hair, his claws pricking my scalp in the most delicious way.
“Emma,” he snarled, his dragon rising up to take his pleasure too.
His hips started thrusting in and out faster, harder, and I placed my hands on his muscular thighs to steady myself as he fucked me like this. And when he came powerfully, I made sure to swallow the hot thickness of his cum.
I loved his flavor, the spicy muskiness of his seed flowing down my throat and causing me to hum in pleasure. He slowed his thrusting, breathed out roughly, and I pulled back, sitting on my heels as I stared up at him. My lips felt swollen, and his orgasm had been so powerful that some of his seed spilled out the corners of my mouth.
Before I could wipe it away, Azar was running his thumb over the first corner, then the other, collecting the droplets before pushing the digit back into my mouth and making me take all of it. I eagerly—greedily—sucked on the pad of his thumb, running my tongue over his skin and licking it all clean.
His expression was so tense and filled with so much raw desire. Before I could tell him to take me to the furs, he had me off the ground and lifted into his arms. I wrapped my legs around his waist, my arms around his shoulders, and let him kiss me like he was starved for me. His cock was a rock-hard rope right between my legs and pressing against my pussy.
And when he lay me on the furs and pushed my inner thighs open, I felt heat flush through me at my eagerness. I was so ready to have him fill me up. He gripped his still-hard cock, remnants of his orgasm dripping out of the slit and sliding down the underside of the stalk. He aimed himself at my entrance, and in one swift move, he buried all of himself inside my pussy.
I moaned loudly. He cursed harshly.
And then he fucked me, holding on to my waist as he made me take all his massive dick, as he thrust back and forth into my willing body and kept his gaze locked on mine.
He fucked me. He made love to me. Azar showed me with his body and touch and kiss how much I meant to him.
“Mine,” he roared.
Yes. I was only his.
And as my mate claimed me, as he loved me and kissed me and held me close, I knew my future was forever sealed.
There would never be me or him. We would never be singular. I knew in my heart, my soul, the very makeup of who and what I was, that until we both took our last breath, it would always be us .
The End.