“Yes, and the other captives, including his cousin. If I can break the cloak and ward, the Prinathian soldiers can come in and rescue them. Maybe it really was a good thing I was claimed. It’s possible our claimings with Yosef allowed you and I to find each other, and it might allow Yosef to find us. He said he couldn’t at first, though. I kind of regret not working on our bond before all this.”
Her eyes looked wistful as she gazed at the fire, and I felt a small stab of jealousy. When Yosef found her, they would reunite. She would be his. How would I fit in?
“You got really silent, not that you’re the talkative kind,” she stated, interrupting my thoughts.
“Yosef will want you back.”
“Ah. I’m not anyone’s. I also had a thing with Xander. It was kind of an open setup.”
Relief flooded me. The three of us had never shared anyone before, but the thought did not burden me. If she had tamed Xander and relaxed Yosef, then I didn’t mind being a part of it. Although, she seemed dead set on things being temporary until she returned to her world.
She leaned forward, a sneaky smirk on her lips. “Will Yosef want you back?”
I wrinkled my brow. “He does not control the relationships that I have, just as I don’t his.” She worked her jaw from side to side, looking me over. Was she bothered by our connection? The fae did not define relationships in the way humans did. It was not as much of a concern. “Does it bother you?” I asked.
She swiftly shook her head. “No, it’s just that he’s controlling, and you are stubborn. I can’t see how it happened.”
I grinned, standing up and walking toward the water. “I would say the same of you.” I took off my boots. A bath was needed from our long walk. And I had an idea for something more. Now that we could be totally honest with one another, I felt slightly more at ease with the lovely little dragon. It was also intriguing to know we had a shared claiming. Curiosity was pushing at me of just what our shared connection could do.
She snorted. “You love getting naked and bathing in front of me.”
“It’s my tactic,” I replied, taking my shirt off. “Care to join me and try something out with me?”
She stood up. “Don’t need to tempt me with a good time.”
She had no idea.
CHAPTER26
LILA
Iwalked over to the water, taking my shirt off. Then I got out of the rest of my clothes, joining Luca. I knew we weren’t totally safe but living in the moment was one of the few joys I had in life. Besides, my mind was still buzzy, knowing I was with the very Luca Yosef and Xander spoke so much about. It felt like I was meeting a friend, and my trust did increase.
While we chatted, I had tapped quickly into Yosef’s still very frantic mind to let him know that this was the same Luca. He practically slammed my mind with questions, but, ultimately, he was satisfied that I was with his Luca.His Luca, as he said in my mind. He’d never referred to him in this way before. Part of me thought it was sweet that he felt such affection for Luca. It was easy to see. The man was magnificent on the eyes, fiercely protective, and seductive. And maybe I was a little turned on at the idea of them and me together. Connected physically and magically. If we survived this, I’d have to see that come to life.
I walked into the surprisingly warm water, stopping when the water covered my chest. Luca still towered over me like a tall tree. I had to bend backwards just to look him in the eyes. And those sea-green jewels bore into me like molten lava. My lower region could have made steam rise in the water, and I looked down into the clear pool to see that he had already come to life. It didn’t take much for either of us. Were dragons just a horny species? This would explain so much.
He bent forward, kissing the mark on my neck left by Yosef. Instantly my core tightened, pussy throbbing. It shouldn’t have felt particularly unique because only Yosef and I were able to make it erogenous. However, it had always buzzed when Luca connected with it, and I was too much in a lust cloud to question it before. Now, I think I had my answer. It had to be because we were both claimed by him.
“I need you to do something for me, Lila,” Luca said in a quiet voice as he sprinkled my shoulder with kisses. “Maybe we can strengthen your bond and help them find our vicinity if…we claim each other.”
I stepped back, splashing him with water. “Are you crazy?”
He gave me patient eyes. “Listen to me. We both have a connection to Yosef. My bond is stronger with him but cut off. Yours is not cut off but weaker.”
I sighed, he was making sense now. “And together, we’d make the perfect beta.”
He nodded. “I know you don’t like the idea of being claimed. If it helps, for dragons, it would be reciprocal. We’d claim each other.”
He was right, I hated that idea. “I don’t know how to claim anyone. My teeth weren’t made for biting people.”
He chuckled. “Dragons don’t bite to claim. We pour our magic out while we are in union.”
“But I’m not a dragon, I don’t know how to direct my magic for a bond.”
“It’s okay, your body will know what to do. I know you aren’t fully convinced you are part dragon but let’s try anyway.”
Connecting myself to another man I barely knew seemed like a foolish idea. However, I was also in a very dangerous situation, and having my bond with Yosef had been helpful. Hell, for all I knew, bonding with Luca could jump-start my powers.
