4. Chapter 4
My entire body vibrated with excitement as I waited for Damon to meet me at breakfast. After Headmaster Wren had sent us straight to bed, we’d agreed to meet up.
This time, Damon would join my table and officially be introduced to my family as my mate.
My lion’s pride was evident in the smug way he prowled inside of me, eager to show everyone at the academy that Damon was ours.
I’d purposely avoided my table, knowing my family were nosy and would need details.
They would have to wait, though. I stayed by the opening to the dining hall, eagerly searching through each student who passed; waiting for the moment a tall blonde hunk of a man would step through, making my heart flutter.
When the sweet scent of vanilla hit me, my eyes scanned in the direction it came from and there he was: my Damon.
I hurried over to him, ignoring the scowls from the students I passed.
Yeah, I was going the wrong way leaving the dining hall and not entering it, but I had a mate to kiss good morning.
Damon smiled shyly as I approached. I pulled him into my arms, hugging him tight as I felt my lion purr inside of me, content now that Damon was in my arms again. I then tugged at his neck, pulling his lips down on mine, humming in satisfaction when he eagerly kissed me back, making me swoon.
We ended the kiss, sharing a look that made those flutters erupt inside of me. I took his hand in mine, lacing our fingers. “Come, I know my family is dying to hear what happened yesterday.”
He blushed and I knew he still felt guilty over dragon-napping me, but I found it romantic, and I was sure my family would think so as well.
Myve was returning to our table with two plates, making me frown. She was rarely that hungry. Then I broke into laughter when I noticed she’d placed them at the two empty spots. She didn’t want to wait on us grabbing our own food it seemed.
We stopped next to the table, all their eyes on me and my lovely bunny. “I got a mate!” I exclaimed proudly, hugging Damon into my side. “Isn’t he just perfect?”
Myve snickered. “You’re so cute when you’re all in love, brother.”
“I know,” I sighed dreamily.
“Sit down,” Nym said, gesturing to the empty spots. “And tell us everything.”
I eyed my cousin with a raised eyebrow. “Since when are you into gossip?”
Nym just smirked. “You weren’t the one who had to listen to Myve and all her theories. It will be nice finally knowing what really happened.”
“I’m not that bad,” Myve grumbled, crossing her arms and sticking her tongue out at Nym.
“I have to agree with Nym,” Casey said, leaning against his mate, my cousin Jamie. “You even talked about them never showing up again and leaving to be together forever, school be damned.”
Myve nodded. “Yeah, I do admit I went a bit too far on that one.”
“Or when you mentioned they would be put in the dungeon for staying out too late?” Harpy added.
“Do they have a dungeon?” I asked.
“Who the fuck knows,” Myve shrugged. “Now spill, and eat the food I so lovingly picked for you.”
I tugged Damon down with me, giving him the spot at the end of the table. I wanted him to feel like he could escape if he wanted to, not that I’d let him, but it might’ve helped ease his nerves a bit if he thought that escape was a true possibility.
“Well,” I began, gesturing to Damon. “This is my lovely mate Damon. We mated last night and are both very happy.”
“We know,” Myve sighed irritably. “I need the details, dammit!”
Nazuss cut in, looking wide-eyed. “No details!”
“At least one sibling knows boundaries,” Nym muttered.
Myve cut him a glare. “I don’t want those details, Nym. Gods.”
“No, only when it involves our cousins,” I added with a smirk.
Myve glared my way. Fine, be that way, then I just won’t update you on my mate situation.”
That had all our attention. “Did something happen?” Nazuss was the first one to ask.
Myve sent a smug look my way. “See? I’m not the only one who wants details regarding mates.”
Damon spoke then, “I couldn’t hold my dragon back any longer and grabbed him,” Damon said, looking at me with that guilty expression again.
He’d spoken softly like he wasn’t quite sure how to behave around my family yet.
I felt a tad guilty for basically forcing them on him, but I was simply too excited to keep him all to myself.
My lion wanted to prance around, purring that he was mine and wanted each and every student to scent me on him, staking my claim in every way. Damon belonged to me and only me.
“I told you, I loved it,” I reassured him, pecking a kiss on his cheek. Our fingers were still laced, so I squeezed his hand, wanting him to know I meant my words.
“He was beaming when you flew off with him,” Myve said, her smile kind. “He really loved it, that much was obvious.”
“You were?” Damon’s eyes looked so vulnerable then, I couldn’t help but kiss his lips.
“I was,” I said, nuzzling his nose with mine. “My bunny,” I whispered into his ear, making him shiver.
“Gods, another couple that’s nauseatingly cute,” Nazuss grumbled. He was the only one of us that had yet to find his mate.
“You’ll find your mate soon,” I said kindly, remembering headmaster Wren’s secret. Nazuss would live with his mate soon enough.
Nazuss waved that off casually. “I’m fine with waiting, as long as I have him in my arms when the school ends, then I can be patient.”
“So, tell us,” Myve said, ignoring our brother as she looked straight at my mate. “What is your second form? I’ve been dying to find out.”
I smiled as I recalled how cute his bunny form is.
I couldn’t wait to try out my own bunny form.
Perhaps we would try each other’s forms later after classes.
I’d already tried my dragon form, but I longed to try my bunny form as well.
And to see Damon in his lion form. I was practically purring just from the thought of it alone.
“A bunny,” Damon replied, blushing shyly.
“That’s so cute!” Myve gushed.
“He is,” I agreed, sighing dreamily. “He fits so perfectly in my lap and his fur is the softest thing ever.”
Damon gave me a small smile, looking relieved. “What form of mine is your favorite?”
I just blinked at him, utterly confused. “How can I pick one over the other? That’s like being asked what I love most, your laugh or your eyes? I can’t pick one over the other, Damon! That’s like impossible.”
He looked stunned. Had he no idea just how perfect I found all parts of him? “You really mean that,” he whispered, looking awed.
“Yes,” I said. “I love everything about you, Bunny. Everything.”
He grabbed my neck and slammed our lips together.
He was trembling and I swore I could feel how close he was to shattering against me.
My poor mate. I hated that others had ruined how he saw his bunny.
Had he only been a bunny shifter, then he wouldn’t have this fear of everyone hating the form.
I loved both of his forms, like I’d said, how could I pick when they were both a part of him, each of them unique and perfect in their own way.
“Classes are about to start,” Myve said, interrupting our delicious kiss.
I leaned my forehead against Damon’s and whispered, “I want to see your lion later.”
He chuckled, his breath fanning over my wet lips. “I can’t wait.”