Page 32 of Immortal Bonds

"Yes, ma'am," he said quickly.

Thalric tugged Creighton's hand because he knew saying "ma'am" would probably open up another can of worms. He needed to get out of there. He could hear Eden laughing and Silas chuckling as they left the room, while Mira mumbled about his rudeness. Creighton was smiling, though Thalric could tell he was also confused.

"I don't understand what just happened," Creighton said.

Thalric shook his head as he led his mate to his suite. "It was nothing. My sister lives to tease, and she would have gone on and on with you. Trust me — growing up with her, I rarely won an argument."

That made Creighton giggle, and it warmed Thalric's heart to know he could bring joy to his mate. Even if it was to his own detriment, he would continue to tell stories that painted him in an amusing light.

"I appreciate you taking me to see the Gnomes today," Creighton said as they neared Thalric's rooms. He glanced over his shoulder where the boy was keeping a slower pace behind him. They were still connected, but he would have to remember to walk slower if he wanted to make it easy on his boy.

"I think that you see something wonderful in this, but it's truly an honor to have been with you while you got to meet them. To know you love them so much, to see the appreciation in your gaze is a reward all its own."

There was a bashful look in Creighton's gaze. Before his Little Biter could reply, Thalric pushed open the door to his suite and waved Creighton in. Their hands separated, and Thalric hated himself a bit for letting it happen, but he also wanted to close the door and keep Creighton in his space for as long as he could. Not as an intimidation tactic, but because when he left, Creighton would smell like him.

He had been wondering why Creighton hadn't responded to him, why he hadn't shouted mate from the rafters the way Thalric so badly wanted to, but then he remembered his interactions with other vampires, how some people had to use blockers when scents were too overpowering, how it took finding their mate for it to balance out in a more manageable way. He never thought that random bit of knowledge would be useful, but it gave him the patience he needed.

And if he could discreetly send his mate home smelling like him, then maybe anyone else who might have interest in his boy would step back. It was the next best thing to a mate mark. Thalric's dragon was adamant it needed to be done. He wouldn't rest until their mate was enveloped in Thalric's scent.

"Your space is beautiful," Creighton remarked softly, his eyes moving around the room, taking in the design Mira had crafted for him.

"It is meant to mimic my horde, the one I had been stationed at."

Creighton turned to look at him. "Had been stationed at?" he questioned.

Thalric swallowed thickly. "Yes. I'd been assigned to help there, but my family, with this visit, has decided it's time for me to return home. I had been reluctant, but now—" He took a few slow steps forward, closing the distance between them. "Now I think I might truly need to stay. It's best for me if I'm here in San Noctis." His voice had dropped to a whisper.

Creighton swallowed thickly and took a deep breath in, as if to steady himself. When he did, it was like a switch had flipped. His eyes widened and his fangs elongated. His pupils glowed red.

"Mate." The word came out with a slight lisp from how far his teeth had extended.

Thalric closed the gap between them. He lifted his hands and gently cupped Creighton's jawline. "I much prefer when you call me Daddy, Little Biter."

Creighton sank into his touch, eyes closing as euphoria poured off him in waves. Their mate bond was solidifying. It was building and growing, bringing Creighton to his suite, to his space. It had been the final key to unlocking it.

"But I don't… the blockers… and you—" Creighton stumbled the words out one after another.

"I know, I know," Thalric said in a soothing tone. "Come here."

Creighton moved forward at the same time that Thalric tugged, and the young boy's head fit perfectly under Thalric's chin. His thin arms wrapped around Thalric and Creighton nearly shook with emotion.

"I've got you, Little Biter. Daddy will take care of everything. Me and my dragon will take care of you. You are my mate, my destined one. Nothing will ever cause you harm."

Creighton pulled back and looked up. His eyes still glowed and his fangs were still down, but there was a clarity to him, like something Thalric said had pulled him out of the stupor.

"Anything?" he asked.

Alarm bells went off in Thalric's head. Something or someone had bothered his little mate. It had been a problem in the past or maybe was a current issue. He would see to it that it would be a non-issue from now on. Creighton kept his gaze locked on Thalric's, waiting for an answer.

Thalric removed one of his hands from Creighton's back and held the side of his jaw, making sure his boy couldn't look away. "I will do everything in my power — in the power of my siblings and this palace and the royal name — to keep you safe. I will tear apart anyone who dares to come near you meaning harm. And if there are those who have wronged you in the past that you want taken care of, I will do that as well. There is no task too great for me to do in your name."

Thalric felt the shiver that tore through Creighton's body. He could feel the hardening length pressed against him. Thalric groaned. "Little Biter."

"Daddy," Creighton whispered. "Me bite," he said in a voice that made Thalric release his own shiver.

"Oh yes, you can bite me all you want," Thalric said.

CHAPTER 12