Chapter 11 The Dragon’s Promise
The Dragon’s Promise
Angus
Iloved holding my mate. His body molded perfectly in my arms. How could anyone hurt him?
Embry was sweet and soft-spoken. He was shy and had a stutter, but his voice was beautiful.
I grinned, thinking of how he’d touched my hand.
I was never one for hand-holding, but it felt good to hold his.
I felt at peace. Even my dragon settled for the first time in weeks.
“It’s okay, Angel,” I said, still soothing Embry.
I had felt his fear as James asked who had hurt him. I had a feeling he not only knew who the person was, but was terrified of them. Whoever it was had better have their affairs in order. For what they’d done to my mate, they were living on borrowed time.
I felt him relax and snuggle against my chest. “Tom,” he whispered.
James growled low. He’d heard the soft word.
Who is Tom? That doesn’t matter. Tom is a dead man, I thought.
“Were Rick and Chad a part of it, too?” James asked.
I felt Embry shake his head. “No, j-just Tom. He g-grabbed me when I was walking to Haventon’s and slammed me against the w-wall next to Mike’s Diner. He told me I’d caused him to lose his status in the pack, and Rick and Chad weren’t talking to him. Then he—”
Embry burst into sobs against my chest, cutting off further explanations.
“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” I said, closing my arms tighter around his tiny frame.
Our embracing was the only reason my dragon hadn’t taken control and started hunting the one who had hurt our mate.
As it was, he was pacing in my mind, and if I could have breathed fire, I’d have smoke coming from my nose.
My brothers, on the other hand, were a different story.
I heard them rumble deep and saw their scales form. They wanted justice for Embry.
Embry’s dad and James also growled low, but they were holding back, likely not wanting to upset Embry further. James pulled out his phone. “Brian, I need you and Jackson to pick up Tom and bring him to me,” he growled into it.
“Yes, Alpha,” I heard come through the line.
James disconnected and looked at me. The room remained silent. I knew what James was asking. I subtly nodded. Yes, I would enact retribution. Tom would die at my hand.
A tiny rumble from Embry’s stomach broke the silence. His face reddened in embarrassment as he raised his head from my chest. The sheepish grin he wore, and his mussed hair, couldn’t stop my chuckle. He was so adorable, and it made my heart soar.
“You’ve been out of it for two days and haven’t eaten. I know you’re hungry, but you can only eat bland food until your stomach works properly again. I’ll go make you something,” Lydia said, rising to leave.
“I’ll help you,” Embry’s mom said.
The room started clearing out after that, leaving me alone with my mate. I knew the others had left so that Embry and I could have some time alone and get to know each other. I was grateful to them.
As they exited, Embry adjusted on my lap. His movement and his scent caused me to harden. He smelled amazing. His slim body rested and molded perfectly into my larger frame. I wanted to take him and claim him as mine, now. I desired to plunge my cock deep into him.
My dragon was on board with that, but I knew I had to take things slowly. He’d need to know me before we bonded.
“I know you’re a dragon, but I don’t know m-much else. Can you tell me about yourself?” he asked shyly. Embry’s soft words brought me out of my thoughts.
“Of course, Angel. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, and I hope you will tell me things about you. I desire to know all about you,” I said.
He nodded his head in agreement and gave a small smile. I smiled back.
“I was born and raised in a small town in Scotland. However, I’ve lived all over the world. Since I’m over a thousand, I’ve had to move several times, creating new identities—” I said.
“You’re over a thousand? I thought that was as long as we lived,” Embry said, cutting me off, eyes wide.
“While most paranormals do only live to a thousand, dragons are different. We’re immortal. This doesn’t mean someone can’t kill us, though. It just means we don’t die of natural causes. Once we bond, you’ll become immortal, too,” I explained.
“W-wow, I’m only twenty-five. Is…is that okay? I know I’m young and…and I’ve never…” Embry paused. He looked nervous, as if he were unsure of how to say what he wanted to say. Although I had a good idea of what that was. I was thrilled. I felt my cock harden even more.
“Angel, I always knew I’d be older than my mate, unless he turned out to be another dragon.
As for you never having had sex before, I’ll teach you everything you’ll need to know.
I’m ecstatic that I’ll be your first and last,” I assured him.
I closed my eyes for a moment, thinking of his untouched hole and my taking him.
It was all mine. My dragon growled in pleasure.
It would be the most prized treasure in our hoard.
Opening my eyes again, I saw him looking at me as if weighing my words. He must have smelled and felt my arousal, because before giving me a small smile, his eyes rounded, and he blushed. “I’d l-like that, but I’m nervous, and I don’t know you. Do you m-mind waiting?” he asked.
“We can go as slow as you want,” I assured him before continuing. “There are some things you need to know about mating with a dragon, anyway.”
“Like what?” he whispered. I could hear the trepidation in his voice.
“Nothing bad. Mating with a dragon differs from with other paranormals. To bond, we must exchange blood, and when you take my blood, it will start the mating heat. We’ll both be affected, and it will push us both to complete the bond,” I said, pausing.
How did I tell him this next part without him freaking out?
“That doesn’t sound too b-bad,” he said. “Wolves bite. So, I would need to bite you when we b-bond.”
I smiled. “I look forward to your bite. Dragons also give a bite. After the bite, magic will flow, binding our souls together, and my dragon will give you a piece of himself—forming into a tattoo on the bite mark. I’ll also end up knotting you.”
“Oh, wolves have a knot, too. It helps to ensure p-pregnancy for our females. Other than the mating heat and the mark, it sounds very similar to a wolf m-mating.”
“There’s more, Embry,” I said, taking a deep breath. “Dragons can get their male mates pregnant. In fact, the mating heat will last until you are.”
“P-pregnant? I can get p-pregnant. I-I-I—” he said, not finishing his sentence.
“We will take our time, Angel. We don’t have to rush,” I said, hugging my mate. My dragon rumbled his disapproval at the thought of waiting.
“I-I-I—” he tried saying again.
I broke him, I thought. I needed to get his mind off pregnancy. So, I did the only thing I could think of—I kissed him.