Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
TALIANA
Everything hurts.
Yet I’ve never felt more alive.
More pleased.
The strawberry Oros places at my lips pleases me even more, as does the warm water around us.
He poured me a bath.
I officially know what utopia feels like.
He presses a kiss to the mark he left on my neck, his chest vibrating at my back. Then he feeds me another berry as he asks, “Feeling any better, printesa mea?”
His knot throbs beneath me, making me wonder if that’s the reason he’s asking. “Are you wanting to do that again?”
He chuckles. “Yes, very much so. But not tonight. I want to ensure you’re recovered before I knot you again.”
I shiver at the thought of his knot inside me, how amazing it felt to just let go and allow him to take full control. “It felt… really good.”
“Mmm,” he hums, kissing his bite mark again. “I would say it felt incredible.”
“That, too,” I agree, relaxing against him and enjoying another strawberry. He’s already washed my hair and skin, having taken us to the shower before drawing this bath.
At first, I didn’t understand the purpose.
But now I do.
Because this is divine.
I close my eyes and just let him hold me. Feed me. Purr for me. Caress me. Kiss me. Claim me.
Drakonian bonds are unique in that the Omega has to accept the Alpha, too. I know some wolf breeds require it as well.
The claims also need to be done while an Omega is in heat. So although he’s technically marked me, it won’t be official until my estrus. And it won’t be permanent until I accept him back.
What he did was announce his claim. Even though my body is immortal, the crescent scar will remain as a symbol on my skin. He’ll either deepen that symbol when I go into heat, or he’ll create a matching one somewhere else on my body.
I kind of like the idea of a second bite, one somewhere else, so I can always wear them.
But I want to mark him, too.
Declare my intent.
I just haven’t figured out where to bite him.
Sitting up, I spin in the water and straddle him, intent on finding a place. Because I don’t want to wait. I want him to be mine just like I’m his.
“Taliana?” he asks, his eyebrow arching upward. “Are you done with the strawberries?”
“No,” I tell him, my eyes searching his upper torso. He’s like a sculpted masterpiece, all muscular lines and hardness. Will my teeth even be sharp enough to cut him? I wonder.
Then I grunt.
Because I’m a wolf.
Of course my teeth will be sharp enough.
“What are you—”
“Shh,” I hush him. “I need to focus.”
Because this is important.
I need to ensure my claim is seen. He’s a desired Alpha. And after that knotting experience, I’m certain other Omegas would be willing to fight for his attention.
But I’m not sharing.
He’s mine.
Mine.
Mine.
Mine.
Now, where shall I declare that claim?
My wolf paces inside me, curious and eager. She knows what I’m doing, how important this decision is. We want something everyone will see. And we want it to please our Alpha, too.
He chose my neck.
But I want somewhere that’s all mine.
He never wears shirts, I think, eyeing his muscular chest. Hmm. My lips curl. Yes. I press my hand to his heart, feel the steady rhythm beneath my palm, and lean forward to brush a kiss just over his left pectoral. Then I move down to where my touch rests against him.
My wolf’s excitement nearly makes me yip out loud, her eagerness to taste our mate driving me to sink my teeth into his skin before I can even process the movement.
He purrs in response, his hand going to my head to hold me against him as I deepen my claim. His blood touches my tongue, making me moan.
Everything feels light. Perfect. Warm.
My soul is satisfied.
My animal calms.
And I feel alive. Complete. Content.
I release him and lick my lips, his essence an aphrodisiac that makes me want to do so much more. Yet my body is too replete to try.
So I simply wrap my arms around him and hug him. My prince. My Oros. My mate.
“Thank you,” he whispers against my ear. “Thank you for being mine. For trusting me. For forgiving me for not telling you who I am. For giving our future a chance. For letting me worship you. For being the perfect mate.”
I melt into him. “You haven’t even met my wolf yet, so you don’t know if I’m perfect or not.”
“I don’t need to see her to know she’s perfect,” he tells me, his palm finding my cheek as he eases me back to meet his gaze. “Your wolf is more than accepted by my dragon, Taliana. He sees her worth, and I’ll spend eternity ensuring you know how accepted you are here.”
He kisses me, his mouth reverent against mine.
“The entire sector knows we’re courting,” he adds against my lips. “And not a single shifter has commented negatively. You’ll soon see that they find you just as worthy as I do, and they will embrace you as their Princess of Gold Sector.”
I shiver. Never in a million years could I have dreamt of such a title being bestowed upon me. “I feel like I’m dreaming,” I admit aloud. “Like this is all just some glorified fantasy that I’ve created to cope with my reality.”
He chuckles. “No, little diamond. It’s just a fairy tale come true.”
My brow furrows. “Like the one you told me? Where she cheats and guesses his name?”
His laugh grows and he shakes his head. “Not quite. There are some fairy tales with happy endings.”
“Oh? Give me an example.”
“Our story,” he murmurs. “That’s a good example, don’t you think?”
“But our story has just begun,” I argue. “This is a happy beginning, not a happy ending.”
“Hmm, that’s fair,” he agrees. “Then perhaps we’ll just have to create our own fairy tale, one with lots of gold and endless nights of passion.”
“Is that your idea of a happily-ever-after?” I ask him, curious.
“My ideal happily-ever-after is anything that involves you, printesa mea,” he says, a hint of humor in his voice.
“Why does that sound like there’s hidden meaning in your words?” I ask slowly, catching on to the subtlety underlining his words.
“Because you’re a fast learner,” he murmurs, kissing me on the nose. “But if you like, I can indulge you in a tale. A pleasant one.”
I consider the offer and him, then slowly shake my head. “No. I’m content with simply continuing our story.”
Amusement flirts with his lips. “I like that idea, printesa mea.”
“Good.” I place my lips against his. “Then let’s write a new chapter in the nest.”
“You’re not too sore?” he asks.
I shrug. “I suspect there are other things you can teach me.”
His grin grows. “Oh, little diamond, you have no idea…”
“I think I have some idea,” I say as I rock against his hips. “But let’s go see how fast I catch on.”
He kisses me long and hard, then pulls back, his golden gaze swirling with intent. “As you wish, Omega.”
“As you command, Alpha,” I return.
He growls, approval radiating from his expression. “You really are the perfect mate.”
My heart skips a beat, my wolf preening inside.
Because for the first time in my life, I wonder if he might be right. If perhaps I really am worthy. And if maybe… this really is… a fairy tale.