Chapter 45 Ashwiyaa #2
My heart thumps hard as I stare at the back of Seraphina’s head. I didn’t realize the dragon shifter had taken a liking to me. I mean, I did rescue her from those bitch witches, but I never asked for anything in return.
“That’s why I’ll have your back.”
My eyes widen. “Stay out of my head.”
“Stop shouting your thoughts and I will,” she snaps back.
“I didn’t realize you could hear them.”
I will myself to mist and reform at Seraphina’s side, crossing my arms over my chest.
As Alexander shifts, his brothers seamlessly move to flank him, forming a united front. I smirk as I watch each of them gawk at the alluring female dragon shifter. They didn’t even bother to hear me out before attacking me, ready to crucify me without any explanation.
“You all owe me an apology,” I say, raising an eyebrow.
Alexander’s jaw clenches, and for a moment, it looks like he’s about to argue. His brothers, though, seem less certain. They weren’t expecting this—weren’t expecting the dragon shifter to stand beside me like this.
Seraphina, as always, is unfazed. Her head turns slightly, and she gives me a sidelong glance, a flicker of amusement in her eyes.
“Don’t let them off too easy,” she whispers into my mind.
I straighten, my smirk widening. “I’m waiting.”
My gaze sweeps over the three brothers, their eyes shifting and contorting with a mix of emotions. It seems Seraphina has a profound effect on them.
“What, are you all pussy whipped already?” I chuckle, and Seraphina frowns at me.
“What does ‘pussy whipped’ mean?”
Outright laughter bursts from my lips, and I double over, all my magic retreating. I sense Kai, Lukas, and Nesrin arriving a moment later.
Exiting the SUV, the three of them start jogging down the hill in our direction. Kai shifts mid-leap, positioning himself between me and the Kotov brothers. A deep, menacing growl echoes through the air, causing my heart to race. I grin and step forward, sinking my fingers into his fur.
I cock my head to the side and stare at Demitri. “You owe me my freedom.”
“And if I refuse?”
Kai steps forward, lowering his head, his ears pinned back.
I sense Alexander’s intentions, and before he can attack, I materialize right in front of him.
My dagger is poised over the volatile dragon shifter’s heart, and I’m ready to strike before he can even react.
My vision tints gray, so I know my eyes are pools of inky black, making everything appear dull and muted, as if the world has lost its vibrancy.
I lean forward and lower my voice. “If anything happens to him, I will kill you.”
Alexander’s eyes are hard, his jaw clenched so tightly I swear his teeth are about to crack.
“Okay, let’s all take a step back. There are a lot of death threats flying around, and I’m the one with the raging pregnancy hormones, so don’t make me kick all your asses,” Nesrin’s voice rings out over the group.
It’s accompanied by a wave of magic, her magic. Its soothing nature gently eases the frayed edges of my nerves, and I let my dagger disappear. Retreating a step, I’m suddenly pulled into an embrace by powerful arms, followed by the warmth and strength of a solid chest against me.
“I will not have you coming onto my pack lands and causing trouble. I don’t care who you are or how powerful you claim to be.” Lukas’s rebuke is hard and firm.
With a quick glance over my shoulder, I see Nesrin, her hand firmly holding Lukas’s and the other affectionately caressing Talon’s head. Seraphina stands on Talon’s other side, her arms crossed over her chest as she glares at the brothers.
I turn back to them and grin. “Looks like you’re all going to be doing some wooing.” I laugh. “Ready to grovel, boys?”
Alexander and Demitri looked pissed, but Penn just grins and shakes his head. A warmth fills my chest, though the hurt from his betrayal still stings.
“I’m sorry for doubting you, Ash,” Penn says, stepping forward.
“You know me better than most. What did you think? I just ran away?”
“No, not at all.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Okay, yes. But when you didn’t return, I went looking for Kai—”
I step forward, poking him in the chest. “That’s another thing. You found my mate and sent him after me! What were you thinking?!”
“I was thinking he was the only one who could find you.”
“If anything had happened to him . . .” I draw in a deep breath and close my eyes.
Kai’s hands slip around my waist, and he kisses the top of my head. “Nothing happened to me, baby.”
I turn abruptly in his arms. “But it did. If Sera—” I cut off my words. Not sure it would be a good idea to out her blood magic.
I don’t care who’s watching, who might see this moment of vulnerability.
All that matters is him. I rest my cheek against his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breath beneath me.
The rhythm of his heartbeat echoes in my ears, a comforting sound that drowns out everything else.
With my eyes closed, I let the world around us fade into oblivion.
There’s nothing but him and the overwhelming sense of peace that comes from being in his arms. My love for this man knows no bounds—it’s a fierce, unyielding force that consumes me entirely. He is the most important person in my world, the one constant in the chaos of my life.
“If you had died, my anger and heartbreak would have shattered the very foundation of this world.” I’m not ashamed to admit it.
My life had no meaning until Kai came along—before him, I was nothing more than a disposable assassin, a tool to be summoned and used at the whims of the Kotov family.
Kai kisses the top of my head. “Glad it didn’t come to that then.”
Seraphina’s soft voice breaks us apart.
“Ashwiyaa, are these the men you spoke of?”
“Yes, they’re like you, dragon shifters. You will be safe with them.”
“They don’t look very happy,” Seraphina says, looking past me.
“Well, they’re male, and dragons. Broody goes with the territory.”
Kai lightly pinches my side, and Penn chuckles behind me.
“We aren’t all broody,” Penn states.
“Yes, some are pompous asses!” I retort.
“Enough!” Demitri barks. “Ashwiyaa, you wanted your freedom. It’s yours.”
With a wicked grin, I let my dagger materialize in my hand and wink at Seraphina.
As I make my way over to Demitri, he extends his hand toward me, and with a swift motion, I slice a deeper than necessary cut across his palm.
Slicing my own palm, a tingle of magic moves across my skin, and I clasp his hand, an incantation falling seamlessly from our lips.
A wave of magic falls over me like a bucket of cold water.
“It’s done,” Demitri says gruffly.
Penn’s massive form engulfs me, and I feel the warmth of his embrace as he tucks me under his chin. “I’m going to miss you,” he whispers into my hair.
The tension in my shoulders slowly melts away, replaced by a gentle warmth that spreads through my body.
As I allow myself to soak in his familiar comfort, a wave of nostalgia washes over me, tugging at the corners of my lips, causing a subtle smile to form.
Penn was a guiding light for me during the darkest moments when I first became part of his family.
The weight of those trying times feels palpable still, even after two hundred years—as if the memories themselves carry a heavy burden.
At the time, my five-year-old mind struggled to comprehend the loss of my tribe and the haunting whispers of ancient voices.
Penn’s presence had the power to ease the knots of anxiety that plagued me during those challenging years when I struggled to accept my fate.
His unwavering support was my lifeline, providing solace and strength when I felt consumed by my own demons.
He saw me at my most vulnerable, witnessed the depths of my pain, and yet he never hesitated in his unwavering commitment to stand by my side.
That was until they sent me to the Valley of the Dead for a girl.
I snort and Penn pulls back, raising an eyebrow in question.
I wave him off. “Nothing. Just look after her. She knows nothing of this world or men.”
Penn’s gaze goes over my head, and the heat in his eyes leaves no doubt that he’s focused on Seraphina. When he finally diverts his attention back to me, I wink and gently jab him in the stomach. “I mean it.”
Penn grins, his green eyes lighting up. “I promise.”
Spinning on my heels, I quickly plant a gentle kiss on Kai’s cheek before making my way over to Seraphina.
“Are you sure this is what you want? You are free to make your own decisions.”
Behind me, Alex and Demitri growl in perfect harmony, and a wide grin spreads across my face.
Lukas’s answering growl has my heart racing.
These dragons aren’t used to people putting them in their place.
It makes me giddy. Especially because the Daughter of Light will kick their asses in a second if they try anything.
Seraphina takes my hands in hers, her onyx hair gently swaying in the breeze. “I will be fine.”
“Give them hell, okay?”
Seraphina’s eyes sparkle with mischief. “I can do that.”
As Nesrin approaches, a smile spreads across her face, and she reaches out to embrace Seraphina in a heartfelt hug. Seraphina freezes for a moment before returning the hug.
“If you ever need anything, just call, okay?” Nesrin says.
Seraphina nods, her bright-golden eyes lining with tears. “Thank you. I’ve never had—” She cuts herself off and pulls her shoulders back. “I will remember that.”
Lukas steps up to his wife’s side, extending a phone toward Seraphina. “This is charged and has all our numbers in it. Should you need help or a friend.”
Seraphina’s eyebrows furrow in confusion as she blinks down at the phone, but she eventually reaches out and takes it from him. She glances up and smiles in thanks, a blush working its way over her face.
Kai slings an arm over my shoulders and plants a kiss on my head. “Well, baby, I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to go home.”
A wave of warmth washes over me, causing my heart to constrict. “Home?”
“Yes, home. Where I plan to tie you to my bed, and—”
Lukas clears his throat, slapping Kai on the shoulder and making Nesrin burst out laughing. “We don’t need to know what you plan on doing when you get home. You do have an eighteen-hour drive, though.”
Kai groans and tips his head back.
I pat him on the chest reassuringly. “If I drive, we can make it in twelve. Plus, we can stop along the way.” I give him a wink. His ocean-blue eyes heat, and if it wasn’t for the audience, I know we’d be naked right now.
Surprisingly, Demitri, Alexander, and Penn remain silent, allowing us the time and space to say goodbye to Seraphina.
“Penn will show you how to use the phone and set up the passcode,” I say.
Seraphina nods, her gaze shifting past me to the brothers, curiosity sparking in her eyes.
I can see the wheels turning in her mind, the unspoken questions flickering just beneath the surface.
She will be fine with them, I reassure myself, but the situation is layered with complexity.
The dragon shifters are planning to court her, driven by the fact that she’s the only known female dragon we know of.
Their intentions are clear—they want heirs.
But the real question hangs in the air, heavy with intrigue: will she choose them?