Chapter Twenty-Five
By the time Raven carried me out of the forest—me dressed and him still naked—I was utterly his. Without regret or fear. Because he was mine in return. My body and being vibrated with his soul, and though I was tired, I looked forward to our next round of mating.
The Dragon King's knights, who'd guarded us through the night, moved in line with us, keeping the perimeter until we met in Nahel's camp.
Although Raven was sated, they kept their distance, moving beyond a border of carriages and wagons that now circled the camp.
It looked as if our human drivers had caught up with us.
And the camp had been reassembled—tents back in place.
Showing no surprise over this, Raven carried me to the largest tent.
I winced, thinking it was Nahel's, but it was only the canvas exterior.
The inside had been gutted, and anything with the Okon's scent on it removed.
Only the rugs remained to cover the grass.
Upon them were our pallets and a small camp table with iron dishes on it.
My mate set me on my feet near the table.
“Aren't we leaving?” I asked.
Raven shook his head. “We need to stay here until our mating bond is settled. Then we can return to our hunt.” He sat cross-legged on the rug before the table and motioned for me to sit. As I did, he lifted the lid on an iron pot. The scent of stew came forth.
My stomach rumbled.
The King laughed and dished out the stew. “I've been remiss in my duties, I see. Eat, Mate. I need to see you fed.” He unwrapped a stack of warm flat breads and put one beside my bowl. Then he poured two large mugs of water.
I gulped the water first.
“Go easy, or you'll sour your stomach.” Raven put a spoon beside my bowl. “Eat something.”
I smiled at his fussing and then took a bite. It was amazing. Although that could have been due to my hunger. We ate in silence but shared many loving looks and touched often. I could hear his people at work outside, but it was distant. They were still giving us space.
“Would you really attack your knights if they got too close to me?” I asked.
“I'd like to think I wouldn't.” Raven scowled. “But when the mating magic has me, my dragon is in control, and he will see other men as a threat until our bond is settled. Even after that, it will take me years to return to my pre-mated calm.”
“Pre-mated calm,” I mused. “You lifted Nahel's tent with one hand. His entire tent.” I waved my spoon at it. “It's a big tent.”
“I was in dragon form. I transformed while I tossed it aside so I wouldn't scare you.” He swigged some water and leaned back, utterly comfortable in his nudity.
Glancing down his body, I understood his comfort. There was nothing for Raven to be ashamed of. I, however, was glad to be clothed. Although I knew he found me pleasing, I had spent too long with my body revealed to be comfortable with nudity yet. At least when we were out of bed.
“As soon as our bond is secured, I'm taking you back to the palace.” Raven scooped up some stew with a piece of bread and chewed with a look of satisfaction.
My head jerked up. “What?”
“It's too dangerous for you here, Mate. Nahel has proven that he'll do anything to have you.”
“He wanted me because he thought I knew Bara's procedures. He even questioned me while I was wearing the ribbon to be sure I told him the truth. He was furious when he found out that I knew nothing more than him.” I blinked, suddenly remembering what Nahel said.
“Oh, dear Gods! He has one of Bara's notebooks!”
Raven scowled, trying to follow me. “Nahel has Bara's notebook?”
“Yes!”
“That's impossible. It's back at the castle.”
“That's what I'm trying to tell you!” I leapt to my feet. “You've been betrayed, Raven! Someone in the castle stole that notebook and gave it to Nahel.”
“What?” He surged to his feet. “Who?”
“I don't know. He didn't tell me much, only implied that he had a spy in your court.”
“No.” Raven slashed his hand down. “No, that can't be.”
“It's true. I saw the book myself. It was the same one you showed me.”
“Fuck me,” he growled and ran a hand over his hair. “Stay here.” He pointed at the ground and then left the tent.
I grimaced. “At least put some clothes on.”
But he was already gone.
I returned to my meal, but my stomach churned with worry, and I couldn't get much down. There was movement outside, but I didn't dare look. I knew he needed me away from his men. If I showed my face while he was already upset, it could go poorly. For all of us.
So, I waited.
When he finally returned, I lurched to my feet.
“Finish your food, Mate.” Raven waved me back down.
“But what are you going to do? Are we going back to Ahanu?” I sat down.
“I sent Vanoak. He's good at finding the truth. He'll discover who's been helping Nahel.”
“Then we're staying here?”
“Yes, until the bond is settled. Then I'm taking you—”
“No, Raven!” I cut him off. “I need to finish this! I'm not going back to hide in your castle like a scared rabbit. I liked helping those people. I want to—”
Drumming came from outside the tent.
I paused, turning to look at the flap.
“It's, uh, they're . . . it's traditional for Dragon mating in Tabaa.” Raven cleared his throat.
I lifted my eyebrows. “Are we supposed to have sex while they drum?”
“Yes, precisely.”
I rolled my eyes. “Didn't you tell them that we need a few minutes?”
Raven chuckled. “They know, Mate. They're trying to give us privacy for when we are ready.”
“Privacy?” I frowned, but then my expression cleared. “Oh! So they don't hear me screaming your name?”
He burst out laughing. “Yes. Or me roaring yours.”
“Well, I suppose that's rather nice of them.” I pushed my stew around with my spoon. “Please don't take me back.”
Raven sighed. “My primary duty now is to protect you.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but he held up a hand to stop me.
“But I can't deny you, my foundling. You deserve to finish this, and I'm delighted that you want to help people. You will make a good King's Mate.”
“A King's Mate,” I whispered. “Great Gods, I haven't even considered what that means. I just wanted to be with you.”
The Dragon King grinned. “That pleases me greatly. And don't worry about your duties as my mate. They will come naturally to you. When this is over, we can have your presentation and start our life together.”
“My what?”
“Your presentation to my dread.” He winced. “I keep forgetting that you don't know our ways.” He pushed my bowl toward me pointedly, then said, “When a king takes a mate who is not of his dread or race, they must be presented to the dread for acceptance. But don't worry, they will accept you.”
“What happens if they don't?”
“Then I would choose you and step down.”
“Wait.” I leaned forward. “What do you mean, you'd choose me?”
“If they don't accept you, I would either have to give up you or the crown. I will not give you up.”
“So, you could lose your crown because of me?”
Raven chuckled. “Eliel, rejection is unlikely. My dread will accept you, and you will become a duke of Tabaa and a Dragon of the Tabaa Dread.”
“I'll be a Dragon?”
“You have a piece of me inside you now. You're part Dragon.”
“I . . .” I glanced at my wing. “That's why I healed. It was you!”
“My immortality, yes. You have increased healing and strength now.”
“Increased strength too?” I thought about how I had fought Nahel and lost. “Not enough.”
“It will increase once the bond is settled.” Raven picked up my spoon and handed it to me. “Now, must I feed you myself, or will you eat?”
I scooped some stew into my mouth and chewed absently. Satisfied with that, the King went back to his meal.
“I'm a Dragon,” I whispered.
“Yes, Mate.” Raventar grinned.
“Can I shapeshift?”
Grinning, he shook his head. “No, you're part Dragon, but you have no beast inside you.”
Smirking, I teased, “I had a beast inside me earlier.”
Raven's grin went lascivious. “And you will again soon, but it won't transform you.”
Going serious, I said, “You're wrong. You've already transformed me, Mate.”