Chapter Nineteen
Lissa: The Claiming Ritual
The night was heavy with anticipation, the air thick with the scent of pine and earth, mingling with the unique musk that was Vince. We were finally alone, away from the chaos and the threats that had loomed over us for so long.
At this moment, nothing else mattered but him and me.
Vince lay beside me, his body warm and solid against mine, breathing steady but deep with the tension that crackled between us. His hand traced soft patterns along my arm, each touch igniting a fire within me that I could no longer control.
My dragon stirred — fully awake now with Mason’s help — urging me towards the inevitable. We finally surrendered to the deep bond that had been pulling us together since we met.
The room was charged with the intensity of our emotions as we stood on the brink of fully claiming each other as mates. This was more than just a desire; it was a need. One that resonated deep in my bones, in my very soul.
“I want you,” I purred, leaning in to tease the shell of his ear with my breath, my voice dripping with hunger.
I could feel him shiver in response, the anticipation between us growing thicker with each passing second.
“You have me,” Vince replied, his voice low and rough, full of lust and promise.
He pulled me up, his lips capturing mine in a tender and demanding kiss. It was a kiss that spoke of everything we’d been through, every fear, every moment of doubt, and every ounce of love that had brought us here.
He pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, his gaze dark with desire. “All of me.”
My heart pounded in my chest, a wild rhythm that matched my roaring need. I sat up, straddling him, and felt my canines extend. The primal urge was too strong to resist, and I knew what I wanted and needed to do.
“All of you?” I echoed, feeling the heat of my dragon pulsing through me, merging with my own.
My voice tinged with the ferocity of my dragon. I felt it now deep inside, more than ever. I was prepared for everything we were about to do. I was ready to be his mate. My dragon and I were on the same page. We not only needed him in our lives, we wanted him completely and irrevocably. Every part of me, human and dragon, craved and needed him.
“Yes, all of me,” Vince whispered, his voice thick with emotion, his eyes glowing with the truth of his words.
He placed his hands on my hips, grounding me in his presence as we stared into each other’s eyes. I could see his wolf within him and knew they were on the same page as my dragon and I.
“You are mine, and I am yours,” he said in a deep voice.
Our bond was palpable, a living, breathing thing that tied our souls together. I leaned down, pressing my lips to his, then pulled back with a wicked grin.
“Shut up and mark me already,” I growled, my voice thick with anticipation and longing. The primal urge taking over completely. “I need you.”
Vince’s eyes darkened, his wolf flashing in them as he responded to the challenge in my voice. In one swift motion, he flipped us over so that he was above me, his body pressing me into the soft ground beneath us. His lips claimed mine again, this time with a fierce possessiveness that made my heart race even faster as he sheathed himself inside me.
When he pulled back, his gaze was locked onto mine, his expression tender and commanding. He lowered his head to the crook of my neck, and I felt the heat of his breath against my skin.
My body tensed in anticipation, my dragon chuffing in approval. Then, with a sharp pain that quickly morphed into intense pleasure, Vince’s canines sank into my flesh, marking me as his mate with his bite.
The sensation was overwhelming, a flood of emotions and sensations that left me breathless. I bucked my hips, wanting him to plow me again. But even as I reveled in all the sensations rushing through me, something inside stirred, natural and instinctual. I didn’t know I was supposed to do that, but when he bit me, my dragon knew I was supposed to return the gesture.
Without thinking, I bared my own canines and bit down on Vince’s neck, marking him in return. My bite left not just a mark but also a little searing burn mark in the shape of a dragon, branding him as mine—the symbol of our bond. Our souls were fusing, locking us together in an unbreakable bond as he rutted himself between my thighs.
After what felt like an eternity, Vince groaned, the sound vibrating through my body, and he knotted me, sealing our bond in the most primal way. I clung to him, feeling everything he was feeling as every fiber of my being attuned to the connection we had just forged. This was more than just physical; it was spiritual, emotional, a binding of our souls.
Our eyes locked as we pulled back, glowing with the power of our newly formed bond. As the moment’s intensity ebbed, Vince’s lips brushed against my ear, his breath warm and soothing.
“You are mine,” he murmured, his voice a soft rumble.
“And you are mine,” I whispered, feeling the truth of those words settle deep within me.
As we lay there, wrapped in each other’s arms, our bond complete, a sense of joy washed over me. The pain of the bite quickly faded, replaced by an overwhelming sense of completion and love. We were now one, bound forever, each other’s true mate in every sense.
Our bond was like a tether tying us together, and it was interesting to feel Vince through it. I glanced over at him. His eyes were closed as if he had drifted off to sleep, but he was smiling. Through the bond, I could feel that he was genuinely happy, which warmed my heart.
The world outside might still be dangerous, but here, In this moment, we were invincible. We had found each other, and nothing would ever tear us apart again. I felt safe knowing that he would always be close no matter what. Closer than anyone would ever be.