Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
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Raj’s mouth falls open as he stares at me, searching my eyes. ‘But… your dragon was at the surface. Beautiful red eyes and everything. And it was the best sexual experience of my life. How…?’
I can’t bear his disappointment. I swing my legs off the bed and sit on the edge, elbows on my knees, face buried in my trembling hands.
I was so sure. Everything about the way I’ve reacted to him since the moment we met has been different from anything I’ve experienced before, and I’ve had a four-year relationship.
He lightly tugs my wrist, encouraging me to lower my hands. I’m not sure how to face him right now but I also can’t deny him anything, so I reluctantly meet his gaze, my stomach in knots.
There’s a soft look in his eyes, with no hint of the dismay I was expecting. He grips the back of my neck, brushing his thumb over my skin to scent me even though we already smell like each other, then leans in and presses his warm, soft lips to mine.
I close my eyes and kiss him back a little desperately, my heart thundering in my chest in a way that’s definitely over the top for something so chaste. Raj is it for me, no matter what my dragon side thinks, but that doesn’t mean my treasure will feel the same.
He pulls back, a smile on his lips. ‘I’m falling for you.’
I suck in a sharp breath. ‘But my magic…’
His hand movements are gentle. ‘I know we both hoped—assumed—that would go differently, but for me nothing’s changed.
I still want to be your boyfriend, continue to get to know each other better, argue and make up like any other couple, and become fluent in your language.
I want my pack to be your pack, and to get to know your brother and sister until they feel like family.
I still want all the same things with you. ’
I search his eyes, wanting to believe he means every word but needing him to be honest. ‘Even though it might not be forever?’
‘Who says it won’t? We were ready to begin the process of mating tonight. There’s nothing to stop us from creating the bond with my bite whenever we want to.’
Well, that’s true. Dragons typically only bond with their fated mates, but I know from Harley that it’s not like that for other species, where fated mates are less common.
He told me that many couples choose to bond anyway, and I’d be on board with that if it meant I got to keep Raj in my life permanently.
I take my treasure’s hand in mine, exploring it with my fingertips. I reach out to my dragon side, noting the lethargic response with frustration. Is he sulking? For fuck’s sake.
Raj tips my chin up and gently withdraws the hand I captured. ‘I don’t want to give us false hope when it doesn’t really matter, but could the disconnect you mentioned between you and your dragon have prevented your magic from starting the bond?’
My chest tightens even as my dragon perks up. ‘I suppose… it’s possible.’
If that’s the case there’s still hope, but it also means that even now, I’m suffering from the consequences of a single decision I made years ago. I will never regret what I did, but I wish the punishment would finally end so that I can fully move on with my life.
‘I’m not giving up on us,’ he signs emphatically, his eyes flashing amber, ‘whether your dragon magic agrees with the decision or not.’
I nod, still feeling tangled up inside, but his determination eases the niggling worry that I’m going to lose him because of this.
I’m not sure how successful a stalker I’d be if he broke up with me, considering his skill set and that of his pack, so I probably need to come up with a better plan to keep my treasure by my side.
I vow to put in every effort to make this relationship a success, no matter what it takes to get my dragon and me on the same page, and no matter how often Raj wants me to share feelings I’d rather suppress.
The work I’ve begun in order to rebuild my career will help me prove myself his equal as well, even though he doesn’t yet know about the new architecture firm I’m in the process of setting up.
I take a deep breath and give him a genuine smile, albeit a small one. ‘I agree. I’m all in.’
His handsome face lights up. ‘Yes?’
I can’t help my teasing smirk. ‘Just remember, if there’s one thing that’s universally true about dragons, it’s that we never let go of our treasure once we have it.’
His shoulders shake with his laughter right before he tackles me to the bed and tickles me until I have to tap out, then kisses me until we’re reaching for the lube again.
‘Again.’ Cal moves behind me and grabs me in a bear hug.
I widen my stance, then step one foot behind his legs before grabbing him around the knees. He’s too rock steady to lift, so I sweep my left leg under his and send him to the wet grass—and myself with him. At least I got him to let go of me this time.
We get to our feet and he signs for me to go again—I swear he learnt that one sign just for our training session—and when he’s finally confident I have it reasonably well down, he beckons Kit over to demonstrate the next technique for getting away from someone who’s grabbed you.
Kit gets up from the log they’re sitting on and sashays over, getting into position.
I pay close attention as Cal slowly shows me the moves with Kit in the attacker position. Then they swap, and the slightly shorter cheetah shifter executes it flawlessly.
Watching Kit in their purple cargo trousers and soft cream jumper take down the deadly looking vampire is an amusing way to spend an afternoon.
I do understand the point, though. If Kit, who has significantly less strength than their pretend attacker, can take down someone as hard to dislodge as Cal, then there’s no reason I can’t.
I was hoping when Ethan finally agreed to combat training in biped form, that it would involve learning offensive skills rather than defensive moves, especially because I still plan to shift if any fae ever try to grab me the way they did with Raj.
Admittedly, if I couldn’t shift into my winged form for some reason, knowing how to get out of a hold could be crucial in escaping a kidnapping attempt.
Prison was different because yes, there was obviously fighting amongst the inmates, but we were all weak and in pain. No one who attempted to grab me had much strength, and Harley and I had each other’s backs.
Despite my exhaustion from flight training with Milo and Zara this morning—which went marginally better than last weekend—we continue like that for hours, with Cal and Kit demonstrating first, then me practicing the technique until I get it.
The field we’re in is muddy from days of heavy rain, which means I’m filthy by the time the sun starts to set and not in the fun way.
Cal’s as dirty as I am, yet Kit manages to escape unscathed.
That dirt-repellent spell on your clothes is impressive.
Kit
Obvs. Ayo’s spells always are.
Cal
Wait, you got Ayo to put a spell on you to keep your clothes clean?
Kit
Of course. This jumper is cashmere.
Cal
Why didn’t you just wear something more practical? You knew why we were coming here.
Kit
Why be practical when you can use magic? Besides, Skye was supposed to do this with you, not me. I dressed to sit by a roaring log fire with my laptop and a hot cup of tea.
And the cargo trousers?
Kit
Just in case. You never know with this lot.
We look up from our phones when there’s some sort of commotion in the woods adjacent to the corner of the field we’re standing in.
A streak of movement is what caught my eye in the first place, and there it is again—black fur darting between the trees, using them as a slalom.
I’ve never seen Jet in his jaguar form before, but I pick up his scent as he gets closer.
He’s being chased by my tiger, who’s baring his fangs and running as fast as his four paws can carry him, bypassing Jet’s slalom course and diverting around the outside.
I move to go and help without stopping to think, not sure what’s happened that’s made Raj so angry, but Cal puts a hand on my shoulder and gives a slight shake of his head. My phone buzzes in my hand.
Kit
Raj has got this. Watch.
I frown, warring with my instinct to go to my tiger’s aid. I did promise I’d try to be less overprotective though, and this feels like the sort of pack bond I shouldn’t get between.
Sure enough, the trees slow Jet down and Raj manages to catch up, pouncing during a break in the tree line and landing on top of the jaguar, sending them tumbling over, all fur and sharp teeth.
Cal lets go of my shoulder so I hop the fence and jog over, my heart in my throat.
I won’t step in, but although I know how capable Raj is I still need to make sure he’s not hurt.
After a brief tussle, Raj gets his massive jaws around Jet’s neck and briefly lifts his eyes to mine. His furry face is smug, especially when Jet immediately goes limp. As soon as Raj releases the jaguar they’re off again, racing back towards the manor.
My shoulders drop and I shake out the tension in them. Not getting involved was harder than I want to admit, and their playful tussling has left me with a tight sensation in my gut.
Kit follows them at a leisurely pace while Cal joins me under the trees.
Cal
They’ve been like that for years. Raj pretends to hate the pranks, but he’s just as bad as Jet.
You think Jet pranked him again?
Definitely. This is normal for them.
Despite already knowing about their ongoing prank war, it didn’t register before now quite how close the two of them are.
What little Raj has told me about his childhood seems fairly lonely, but he’s clearly found himself a new family with his pack and I’m happy he has that, even though it’s a poignant reminder of the family and so-called friends who’ve cut me out of their lives.
They’re just friends. It’s never been more.
I’m not worried about that.
Then what’s up?