Chapter 4
Despite his vow to never ride a dragon again, Brooks clung to the red dragon’s neck as he flew toward the old city center of Wyvern. He focused on the beauty of the view. Everything looked so small below him.
Brooks hugged Rogan a bit harder at the thought of tumbling from this distance. Thank goodness heights had never scared him. Not that Rogan would let him get hurt. His hand smoothed over the glistening scales that protected the dragon’s hide. Rogan was beautiful.
An image of Rogan’s chiseled body popped into his mind. Pure power. It boggled his mind how attracted he was to the dragon shifter. Brooks would never have even fantasized about any of the changes that had occurred. First mated, then a male/male relationship, and finally finding himself dominated by a force he craved more than Brooks wanted to admit.
Are you okay, Adventurer?
Rogan’s deep voice inside his mind made Brooks shiver. Even his voice was sexy. I’m fine , he thought back, still testing their connection. All the changes are tumbling around in my mind.
Change is hard. I hope you’ll decide this is a positive branch in your path.
Brooks didn’t answer that. The ties that connected them grew stronger with each moment that passed. His feelings also deepened. His mind just needed to catch up.
A wave of reassurance floated over his thoughts, making him smile. Brooks savored Rogan’s mental caress. Interacting with him showed Brooks the emptiness in his life. Perhaps that unfulfilled part of him had caused his roaming.
Had he always been gay? Could he have not known himself to that extent?
You thought that strongly, mate. I think you’re worrying about something that’s easily answered. Perhaps our sexual parts aren’t the important component here. The connection supersedes everything. You could be purple and me from the moon. Our mating bond would still tie us together.
That thought struck Brooks between the eyes. Nothing was important except for their fated union. His self-questioning faded away.
Thank you, Rogan.
I’ve been around a few more years than you, Brooks. That has given me a lot of time to consider the mate bond from different perspectives. The most important thing for you to remember is that I treasure you.
A comfortable silence fell between them until Brooks spotted his grandmother’s home. There, Rogan. Ahead of us. That’s weird. The door is painted red now. Where should we stop so you can shift?
Thanks to no traffic, I’ll land at the front door.
Rogan trumpeted a warning before landing smoothly in front of the red door. Elenore opened the door and stood with her hands at her heart as Brooks slid off to land on the cobblestones. A round of enthusiastic applause sounded, surprising him. The neighbors had gathered to celebrate.
Not sure what to do, Brooks froze in place until Rogan’s powerful arm wrapped around his waist.
“Thank you, everyone,” Elenore called to those celebrating with them.
“Yes, thank you,” Brooks echoed.
“Come, mate. Let’s go inside,” Rogan suggested and guided him to the entrance.
“Red dragon, as the Guardian of the Battlefield family, I welcome you into our home. Please come in,” Elenore said politely.
“Thank you, Elenore of Battlefield. I am pleased to be mated to your family,” Rogan told her as they stepped inside. “Thank you for declaring our union at your portal.”
“Of course.” Elenore rushed forward to hug her grandson. “Brooks, are you okay?”
“I’m confused, but happy. Rogan is helping me adjust. Becoming a dragon’s mate was not on my radar.”
“Of course not. It is very rare. May I make you some lunch?”
Brooks glanced at Rogan, hoping his mate would pick up that he wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible.
“No thank you, Elenore. I would prefer to guard my mate at home,” Rogan answered.
“Of course. Brooks will show you his room where his things are,” Elenore said with a smile.
Stepping toward the hallway, Brooks took Rogan’s hand. “It’s this way.”
When they were alone, Brooks told him, “I’ll get my stuff together. I don’t have a lot.”
Walking to the closet, Brooks grabbed a couple pair of jeans hanging inside. He threw those on the bed as Rogan stepped closer to the bookshelves. Keeping an eye on his mate, Brooks grabbed a satchel and filled it with underwear and T-shirts. He grabbed his one button-down shirt and added that to the contents before stashing jeans inside as well. Taking advantage of his mate’s distraction, Brooks grabbed a soft item from under his pillow and tucked that under his clothes before zipping the bag closed.
“You have many mementos from your travels,” Rogan observed.
“Yeah. I never bring home anything big or valuable. Only special things that remind me of places I’ve been.”
“I’d guess this red rock came from Arizona,” Rogan guessed, holding up a small pebble.
“Yes. I liked its shape. It feels good in your hand.”
Rogan closed his fingers around the stone and smiled. “It does.”
He replaced it on the shelf and picked up a black velvet box. “And this?”
“The ring I never gave to my long-time girlfriend. She gave me an ultimatum, and I went to buy her an engagement ring.”
“You couldn’t give it to her?”
“Something stopped me. I couldn’t understand it then. Maybe this was why?” Brooks guessed.
“Something inside you, definitely. Individuals who take another path before meeting their fated mate can have happy lives.”
Brooks nodded. “I kept it to remind myself that I need to do what my heart tells me is right. Maybe I should take that with me,” he suggested, holding out his hand to take it.
Rogan put it in his hand. “Remembering to pay attention to the voice here,” he said, pressing his hand to Brooks’s heart, “instead of heeding what the outside world says you should do, is wise.”
His fingers curled to capture a handful of Brooks’ shirt. Pulling him close, Rogan lowered his head to kiss him hard. When he lifted his head, Brooks clung to him. “Thank you for listening to your heart, Adventurer.”
“I made the right choice,” Brooks said, feeling that conviction inside. He smiled at Rogan before pulling his head back toward him.
That kiss became more as the heat swelled between them. Rogan ripped his mouth away finally and set Brooks away from him.
“If you don’t want me to take you on that bed, you’ll stay over there,” Rogan warned.
The growl of his low voice made Brooks smile. Who knew that a dragon’s self-control could be challenged? He enjoyed having the power to affect Rogan.
“Let’s go talk to your grandmother. She needs to know you’re okay,” Rogan told him.
“I know. She’ll worry. She raised me when my parents passed away young.” Brooks grabbed his sneakers and his journal. After stuffing them into his satchel, he fastened the buckles and slung the leather bag over his shoulders.
They found Elenore in the kitchen in front of a large tome. It started glowing as soon as Brooks entered the room.
“It recognizes you. I’ve updated our family information to reflect our honor in contributing a mate,” she said, waving a hand at the enormous book.
She stood and walked toward Brooks, studying his face. Brooks hoped his lips weren’t as swollen as they felt after Rogan’s kisses. “Are you happy?”
“Yes, Grandma. It’s a lot to get adjusted to, but Rogan is helping me. This feels right,” Brooks assured her.
Elenore cupped his jaw. “Let me get you something.” She disappeared before Brooks could stop her. He shrugged his shoulders as he met Rogan’s gaze.
When she returned, she handed Brooks a small jar. “Put this on your abrasions. Your skin isn’t used to Rogan’s beard.”
Can the floor open up and swallow me? His cheeks heated, and Brooks looked helplessly back at Rogan. His mate stepped forward to tuck the jar into the satchel slung over Brooks’s shoulder.
“Thank you, Elenore. I will bring him back to visit you,” Rogan promised.
“I would enjoy that.” Elenore rushed forward to hug her grandson. “Be happy.”
Brooks nodded and walked to the front door. Once outside, he stood on the curb as Rogan shifted back to dragon form. He noticed the neighbors peeking out their windows and stepping outside. He couldn’t fault them. Rogan was magical.
Climbing up on his back, Brooks celebrated he was getting better at mounting the dragon. Just then, his boots slipped on a scale, making him slide. Brooks grabbed for a better handhold. A powerful wing pressed against his back, balancing Brooks in place and allowing him to recover.
Careful, mate.
Quickly, he scrambled into place and wrapped his arms around Rogan’s neck. The red dragon launched himself into the air without delay and soared into the sky. The faint sound of applause reached Brooks’ ears.
Wyverns had returned to their celebration of the dragons who guarded their city. Brooks had experienced life outside the protected city. He’d also heard the stories of new arrivals. As supplies grew scarce, the worst of people appeared.
Think happy thoughts, mate. Want to enter through the fire ring or the front lawn?
The memory of that scary plunge through the waterfall and into a fiery ring ricocheted into his mind. Brooks shook his head to rid himself of that visual image.
Front lawn, it is.