Page 102 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume Two

“Ravi—”

“Mages shouldn’t be anywhere near Thomas Jaeggi.” A shudder ran through Ravi, and an icy chill slithered through his veins. His dragon was on his side about this, growling at the idea of Sora coming along. “We have tried time and again to hide mages in the field, and the Jaeggi have always found them. I won’t let the Jaeggi get their hands on you. The only place you’re safe is here, at the castle.”

“And I’m supposed to let you walk into danger?”

Ravi closed the last few feet between them and wrapped Sora tightly in his arms. Sora hugged him back with a fierceness that would have cracked the ribs of a normal human.

“I just found you,” Sora whispered in a shaky voice. “They’ve already hurt you, and I can’t stand the idea of letting you out of my sight. Not so soon. I love you, Ravi. I can’t lose you.”

Turning his face into Sora’s throat, Ravi nuzzled him, breathing his scent in deeply, as if he could hold that part of his lover in his lungs forever. “I love you too, and you won’t lose me. I’m too fast for anyone to catch me.”

He loosened his hold just enough to run his hands up and down Sora’s spine in a gentle caress. Bit by slow bit, the tension humming through his frame eased. Ravi didn’t need to say anything because he understood Sora’s fear. It was his own. What would he do if something happened to his mate? It would destroy him.

“I know I’m not being logical, but there has never been danger like this in my life. We’ve lived hidden away. I’m spoiled.”

Ravi lifted his head and smiled. “Not spoiled, but maybe a little lucky. It means you’ve missed out on a lot we’ll get to experience together—good and bad—I promise.”

“I can’t stop you from going…”

Ravi sighed. “You can, actually. You’re my mate. I would do anything to keep my mate happy and safe.”

Sora lifted his head, distress dancing in his eyes. “But I wouldn’t do that because I value your duty to your clan as much as you do. I know you’re right—you’re the best choice to go to Prague—but I hate it. I hate it so much, Ravi.”

“And I hate that you’re hurting.” Ravi tilted his head up and pressed a sweet kiss to the edge of Sora’s jaw and then to the corner of his mouth.

“Before you leave, I want us to be officially bonded,” Sora announced.

Ravi jerked away so he could look into Sora’s face. His heart flipped over with joy, but sadness squashed that joy almost as quickly. He couldn’t keep the emotion from showing on his face. But then, he and Sora were so close, he was sure Sora could feel his sadness.

“Why are you hesitating to answer me?”

Ravi reacted instantly, pulling Sora in tight. “I want to be officially bonded to you. There is nothing I want more in the world. You are my mate, my everything. I love you. I love everything about you. Your smile, your laugh, the way you indulge all my crazy ideas. I love the little sounds you make when you’re sleeping. I love you from the top of your head down to the cute little hairs on your toes.”

Sora relaxed a little, but the worry remained. “I love you, too, my handsome dragon. But why don’t you want to bond now?”

Ravi went back to nuzzling Sora, holding him tight enough that he could feel the thud of Sora’s heart against his own.

“I have dreamed of finding my mate and being bonded at last. The mate of my dreams doesn’t even come close to being as amazing as you are. But I want our bonding to be a happy occasion. I don’t want us to look back in five hundred years and remember that we bonded quickly out of fear. I don’t want the Jaeggi to taint our day. I want us to remember the joy and laughter and being surrounded by our family.”

Sora nodded against him. “I want that, too. More than anything in the world.”

Ravi pressed kisses along Sora’s jaw until his lover finally moved his lips within reach for a sweet kiss.

“You’ll have it. I promise you. We are getting our happily ever after, and no Jaeggi or dragon or anyone else is going to stop us.”

He could feel a small smile stretching across Sora’s lips.

“You’ll take on all the mages and dragons to have me?”

“Definitely.”

Each kiss grew deeper and more heated. Clothes were removed, but it wasn’t with the same frantic tugging that usually accompanied the two of them coming together. This was slow and careful, as if they’d silently agreed that they were going to savor each moment.

Under his hands, Sora’s skin was so deliciously soft and warm. His fingertips grazed dark brown nipples and when Sora moaned, Ravi followed his hands with his mouth. He kissed, licked, and sucked, determined to taste every inch of his mate.

The mage writhed against him, strong muscles rubbing against his own. He didn’t know how much time had passed, but they soon found themselves standing in the middle of his bedroom, surrounded by piles of clothes.

“Bed,” Ravi growled. “I can’t reach all of you when we’re standing.”