Page 13 of Ashborne: Defiance

She stared into my stunned gaze, eyes warm with trust and need and desire and the words she’d spoken, the naïve expectation, the impossible nature of what she believed came home to me.

You’re mine, she’d said and now, far too late, those words, landed in the tiny corner of my brain that still grasped reality and, oh shit this isn’t I shouldn’t I can’t we should never—

Twining her fingers behind my neck, Grace pulled herself up, her gaze dropping to my lips, her intention clear, and panic ripped through me.

Mine.

No!

Can’t.

I will not be prisoner to a woman’s talons—

I straightened in a jerk, but pulled her with me, unable to release my grip as my body waged war with my mind.

Swaying, cheeks pink, Grace blinked.

The dragons called.

We both trembled.

“What is it?” she asked breathlessly, still fucking smiling. “Are the dragons—”

“What did you say?” I rasped, to buy myself time. I had to let her go. Had to get my hands off of her, cover up her beautiful body, remind myself—

She frowned. “I asked if the dragons—”

“No,” I snapped, and she blinked. I swallowed hard, my voice hoarse when I spoke again. “B-before that. A moment ago. You… you whispered.”

Our bodies were still pressed together. I couldn’t quite bring myself to let her go, but slipped my hand out of her trousers, weeping for the chill that replaced that honeyed warmth.

Grace’s brows pressed together, forming a small v over her nose. “Vane, what’s wrong?”

“What was it?” I growled. “What did you say?!”

“I’m not… I can’t…” she stumbled, stammered, clearly confused, and now nervous. I knew it wasn’t fair to be angry. I knew she’d been overwhelmed just as I was—I knew she battled, just as I still did, because we were being drawn together in the dragonbond. The link. The cord between two souls that tied us as surely as chains. Between dragon and rider, it created unity, a singular purpose, and trust. I was more open with Kham than any person in my life. I knew him, deeply. Our hearts felt each other.

But now, Kham had that same connection with Koa, Grace’s dragon, whether she knew it yet or not. And in their unity they’d find passion. Desire. Family.

I’d heard of dragon riders becoming physically intimate in the wake of their dragon’s bond, but it was rare. Usually, they became the closest of brothers.

Until Bren and Donavyn, that little voice in my head insisted. I swallowed. There’d never been female riders before Bren. Donavyn had hinted at the call of the bond. But I’d never imagined…

I could feel Grace. Feel her wanting me. I wanted her with a fire that matched my dragon’s flame.

No. No, it couldn’t… we couldn’t… I couldn’t!

Yet, it called as surely as a wolf’s howl in the night.

As I stared at her—these thoughts swirling in my head—Kham took his mate and both of us shuddered. A deep, primal roar rose over the woods, clenching my belly, and glazing her eyes.

But she finally answered the fucking question.

“Mine,” she breathed, once again deep in the trance of a burgeoning bond. To my horror, she clapped a hand to the back of my neck and pulled me down. “You’re mi—”

I spat a curse as fear, rage, and wordless terror crackled through me at levels fit to silence the need. Her touch burned. Her hooded gaze was poison.

She was danger.