Corvus:Yes, why?
Mina:Don’t you remember the rabbit?
The phone falls from my hands and clatters on the floor as I stare at my mate with dawning horror. She’s capable of using the basilisk ability of stone gaze in human form now—something that should be impossible. Before I can process this or say anything, Raven is across the room, grabbing Hemlocke by the front of his shirt and dragging him down the hallway behind her with supernatural strength.
A dragoness in heat will breed the perceived weakest mate to exhaustion first—and despite his armored black unicorn form, Hemlocke is still considered a prey animal by her dragoness’s instincts. His species registers as vulnerable, something to be dominated and claimed first.
I look toward the other four mates standing in the room with varying expressions of shock and concern. We’re in for a hell of a few days.
And now we know Raven can turn people to stone if she wants to.
Goddess help us all.
It’s beenthirty-eight hours since Raven took Hemlocke hostage in her chambers. He came crawling out about eight hours ago on his hands and knees, completely spent, and passed out from sheer exhaustion the moment he hit the couch. We had to carry him to his room.
Solaris went in next and lasted four hours with her before staggering out with marks covering every visible inch of skin. He warned me with a hoarse voice that she’s still quite lively—his exact words were, “The dragoness is insatiable, lad. May tha goddess protect ye.”
“I better go. Maybe I can wear her down a little,” I say, looking at Finlay and Keir with more confidence than I actually feel. My stomach is tight with anticipation and a healthy dose of concern.
Keir, being the wise ass he is, gives me two enthusiastic thumbs up with a shit-eating grin. “We’ll start a prayer circle for you to survive this. Maybe start making sacrifices to the old gods?” He raises both eyebrows, and I genuinely don’t know how serious he is. The slightly manic look in his stormy gray eyes suggests he might actually be considering it.
I remember that movie Raven played during one of our movie nights—the one where this guy performed miracles and brought a mouse back to life. He had to walk down this long hallway to his doom, knowing full well that death waited for him behind the door at the end. I stare now at Raven’s door at the end of our hallway and pray to whatever goddess is listening to protect all of us—especially my ability to walk tomorrow.
When I reach her door, her scent hits me like a sledgehammer to the chest—sea salt and jasmine mixed with something primal and intoxicating that makes my dragon rumble with interest. It’s more potent than before, thick enough in the air that I can taste it on my tongue.
I open the door carefully and step inside.
She’s leaning casually against the doorframe leading to her bathroom, and by the clean scent mixing with her heat pheromones, she must have showered after Solaris left. Her long black hair is still damp, hanging in wet strands down her back. She’s wearing nothing but one of my shirts—the sight makes something possessive growl in my chest.
“Hey...” she says with a sultry smile that promises trouble, walking over to her bed with deliberate, swaying steps. She sits on the edge, her sapphire eyes tracking my every movement.
“How are you doing?” I ask, moving closer while watching her cautiously. Her eyes have that predatory gleam that could mean she’s about to pounce.
“I’m good. So far, Ithinkthe implant is doing its job, so that’s a bonus,” she purrs, and the sound vibrates through the air between us. She reaches out with deceptive speed and grabs my pants, pulling me closer with surprising strength.
“You have me at a disadvantage,” I observe, pulling my shirt over my head and dropping it to the floor. The cool air hits my heated skin as I look down at her with my best commanding expression. “Be a good mate and get on the bed properly.”
I arch a brow at her in challenge, and she double-blinks, looking at me with surprise. Raven hesitates for just a moment—clearly not used to being given orders during her heat—and then I growllow in my chest, letting my dragon’s dominance bleed into the sound.
She giggles with delight and runs toward the bed, climbing onto it with feline grace. Her wings spread slightly for balance, and I can see the magenta tint still coloring her scales.
“That’s my girl,” I murmur, stalking toward her with predatory intent.
If I’m going to be in here for the next several hours, I’m at least going to make it interesting. My dragon rises closer to the surface, ready to match her dragoness’s intensity.
I strip off my clothes and prowl toward the bed. Raven is on all fours on the bed with her wings spread wide. All of her scales are a blend of black with magenta either on the edges or encompassing the entire scale. She has scales running from her hairline down to her tailbone. Scales are scattered over her shoulder blades and curve up around the ball of her shoulders and down her biceps. The last of the scales fan out like wings over her hips and down in wisps on her thighs.
Raven, the most powerful female I know, has dropped herself into full submission. Her ass in the air, her wings spread wide and vulnerable. I step up behind her and slide my hand down her spine with my left hand. With my right I line myself up and slide home in one slow, smooth motion.
The tightness in my chest lessened. It’s been there since the day Solaris claimed the love of my life as his mate too. Every slow, rolling stroke is like a silent prayer. I thank the goddess for the gift of my mate. I thank Bahamut for granting me this life that I am living with the woman I fell in love with at first sight all those years ago.
One day … One day in the future we will create something beautiful together. A life that is the best of both of us, someone beautiful inside and out. Every slow roll of my hips, I hear Raven’s purrs growing louder. Her muscles flutter around my length as I move. I know my mate is close. I fold myself over her and sink my teeth into her mate mark. She detonates around me, pulling me over the edge with her.
Raven pulls her wings in tight, and we fall to the side together. I hold her close to me and lick her mate mark, sealing the wound. “You are my everything.” I kiss her neck several times and purred for her.
“I love you too, Corvus.” A soft yawn escapes her lips, and she turns in my arms. She hikes a leg over my hip and drapes a wing over us before snuggling in close. Within moments she’s fast asleep in my arms. There’s at least three to five days of this insanity left, and I don’t know how we’re gonna survive it.
