Maple curled into his embrace, her cheek pressed to the steady beat of his heart.
She had found her dragon, and their never-ending love story, and their mate bond was finally sealed in this lifetime.
EIGHTEEN
RUNE
Sunlight crept through the windows of Rune's private chambers, casting golden light across the tangled sheets and their intertwined bodies. But it wasn't the sunrise that pulled him from sleep—it was the profound shift in his very existence, a transformation so complete it felt like awakening from a three-hundred-year dream.
Rune's eyes opened to find himself wrapped around Maple's sleeping form, her dark hair spilled across his chest, and her breathing soft and even against his skin. The mate mark over her heart—hismark—caught the morning light, the elegant black dragon seeming to shimmer with life.
Everything had changed.
The restless energy that had plagued him for centuries, the constant vigilance, the bone-deep loneliness he'd convinced himself was strength—all of it had been replaced by something he'd never experienced. Completeness. The sealed mate bond pulsed like a golden heartbeat, no longer the threatening specter he'd fought against, but an anchored thread connecting his soul to hers.
For three centuries, he'd denied himself this. Connection. Love. A reason to exist beyond duty and the endlessaccumulation of power. He'd convinced himself that isolation was safety, that emotional walls were protection. But lying here with Maple's warm body pressed against his, feeling her contentment through their bond, he understood the magnitude of what he'd almost thrown away.
She chose me,he thought, the wonder of it still fresh.
Despite the danger, despite his resistance, despite every reason she had to run from his complicated world—she'd chosen forever with him. His dragon purred with deep satisfaction, no longer the restless, demanding beast that had tormented him for centuries. His dragon was finally content.
Mated.Whole.
The memories that had surfaced during their bonding still echoed in his mind—flashes of other lifetimes, other versions of themselves finding each other across centuries. Always drawn together. Always fighting for their love against impossible odds.
Rune pulled her closer, careful of her healing ribs, and buried his face in the curve of her neck. Her scent—citrus and roses with that underlying sweetness that was uniquely hers—filled his lungs. He never wanted to leave this bed and this perfect bubble of peace they'd created.
But even as contentment flooded through him, his mind began spinning with plans. The clan needed to know. After centuries of wondering if their Alpha would ever take a mate, they deserved to celebrate this moment. And more than that—they needed to see Maple, to understand that their new Alpha female wasn't just his mate, but someone worthy of leading beside him.
The thought of showing her off, of watching his people fall under her spell the way he had, sent a thrill of possessive pride through him. She would be magnificent. Strong enough to challenge him, intelligent enough to earn their respect, and brave enough to face whatever dangers lay ahead.
"You're thinking so loudly it woke me up from the most peaceful sleep of my life."
Maple's voice, rough with sleep and tinged with amusement, made him smile against her throat. She stirred in his arms, her good hand coming up to trace lazy patterns on his chest.
"I can't help it," he rumbled, pulling back to look at her face. Her green eyes were bright with joy, and her lips were curved in a soft smile that made his chest tight with emotion. "I'm too happy. Too excited. I can't wait to show you off to the clan."
Her eyebrows rose. "Show me off?"
"Yes, I'm going to throw a massive celebration tonight." The words tumbled out, fueled by an enthusiasm he hadn't felt in centuries. "In honor of our completed bond. The whole clan will come. They need to see you, Maple. They need to know their Alpha has finally found his mate."
She laughed, the sound bright and incredulous. "How exactly are you going to organize and pull off a party in less than eight hours?"
The challenge in her voice only made his grin widen. "I'm a billionaire, remember? I have the resources to throw the best celebration this town has seen in centuries. All it takes is a few phone calls and enough money to make miracles happen."
"Of course," she murmured, shaking her head with fond exasperation. Then her expression shifted, becoming more tentative. "Before we start planning your legendary party, could you help me shower and get cleaned up? I still only have one good hand."
The request sent heat spiraling through him. The thought of caring for her, of being trusted with her vulnerability, awakened something primal and tender in equal measure. He'd never shared something as intimate as a shower with another person. Never wanted to. But with Maple, the idea of tending to her injuries, of washing her hair, of simply being close to her in thatsteamy, private space—it felt like another gift he'd been denying himself.
"It would be my honor," Rune said, his voice husky with emotion and desire.
Without another word, he stood and lifted her from the bed, cradling her naked form against his chest. She was careful not to jostle her injuries, but her good arm wound around his neck.
"My new bonded life with you," he murmured as he carried her toward the massive bathroom, "is already better than I could have imagined."
"And it's only day one of forever," she whispered back, her smile radiant enough to rival the sunrise streaming through the windows.
Forever,he thought, his heart full enough to burst.I can live with forever with her.
