And perhaps this wasn’t how she’d imagined her first time to go—but she wouldn’t change it for anything in the world. Because her ocean dragon was still alive. Her ocean dragon would fly again.
And now, he was truly hers, just as she was his, bound together in heart and soul.
She rested her head against his shoulder, the golden glow of the mate bond warming her as she at last sank into sleep.
Chapter Eighteen: Timothy
When Timothy woke, the first thing he became aware of was the sensation of warm skin against his own.
He was smiling even before he opened his eyes, filled with the deep joy of being complete at last. His mate was resting in his arms—but the connection went even deeper than that. He could feel Liana’s presence in his heart as well.
It was like an ember burning within him, filling his chest with constant light and warmth.
For the first time in his life, he felt utterly at peace.
Before, there had always been a strange restlessness, driving him from ocean to ocean and from city to city as he sought out parties, festivals, and galas. And while he’d loved the company of people and the excitement in the air during all those events, it had never lasted.
Even on a perfect tropical island paradise, even when swimming through a coral reef, surrounded by the colorful, glistening underwater life in all its glory, the restlessness had returned after a few days, driving him on.
But now, for the very first time, that restlessness had left him.
His lips curved into a smile as he turned his head and pressed a kiss to the top of Liana’s head.
In answer, she moved a little, snuggling closer with a contented sigh, still lost in her dreams.
So this is what it feels like to be mated. No wonder Gregory and Damon kept teasing me.
He couldn't even be mad at them anymore. He hadn’t known that it was possible for a soul as restless as his own to feel at once so utterly quiet and so full of joy.
The dragon within him was curling his tail proudly, possessively around his body. Timothy felt the same disbelieving pride and tenderness as he looked down at Liana asleep in his arms.
It wasn’t at all how he’d thought his mating would go—but she had been right.
To hell with silks and pearls and jewels. The only treasure he needed was the light of her love that warmed him even now.
Carefully, he flexed his wrist a little. There was no pain. The injury had completely healed as he’d slept.
It was strange that he’d been wounded at all. His water shield should have protected him from fire—but he distinctly remembered the sensation of the fire dragon’s attack effortlessly penetrating his shield.
And yet it hadn’t truly felt like fire. The heat had been wrapped in darkness—an unsettling sensation of shadow and smoke.
Thoughtful, Timothy reached out again and pressed his hand to the bare rock. He sent a small pulse of energy into the stone—and after a moment, he felt a tiny, answering burst of power against his fingertips.
Damon. The dragon of the earth had received his earlier message—and had probably been waiting impatiently for more.
With a deep breath, Timothy closed his eyes.
It wasn’t easy to build a connection like this. Stone sang, just as water did—but each in a voice of its own.
To send a simple message, an image of him and Liana safe and hidden away in a cave to heal, had been relatively easy.
But to try and actually talk to Damon through water and rock was a different matter.
Safe, he sent again. Escaped. Healed. Mated.
A burst of jubilant, overwhelming happiness escaped his dragon, vibrating through the rock.
A moment later, the stone seemed to rumble in answering amusement.