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Bruiser grinned. “Well, let’s go flying. I’m sure our little one will love it.”

“Someday, we’ll take Cassie too,” Uriel said. “When we figure out the logistics so she won’t squirm and fall off.”

“Definitely.”

Bruiser helped Uriel out of bed and into some warm clothes. Then he walked Uriel to the window so he could sit on the ledge. When Uriel was steady, Bruiser climbed out around him and shifted into an emerald dragon, leaning his head close so Uriel could climb on behind his horns.

“Feels like I’m going to slide right off,” Uriel said. “Your scales are slippery.”

“Hmm. Maybe you need a saddle?”

Uriel summoned one of Bruiser’s least favorite leather jackets and shaped it into a saddle. Then he tied it under Bruiser’s jaw. “This won’t choke you?”

“Feels good. Buckle up!”

Uriel secured himself and double-checked the saddle. Then he squeezed Bruiser with his thighs. “Ready to go.”

“Between your legs. My favorite place to be.” Bruiser turned and leaped. With a powerful beat of his wings, he took off into the sky, Uriel casting an invisibility spell around them for extra protection.

Cool air rushed around them. Uriel grinned, holding on tight to Bruiser’s horns as the dragon took them higher and higher into the sky. Far beneath them, the city twinkled and cars moved like ants down the highways. “I thought this would be like the time you carried me up on your knot, but it feels different. Like I’m riding a flying horse.”

“Glad you think I’m so hung,” Bruiser said dryly.

“I’m sure I’ll hate it when I go into labor.”

“Really? You don’t think it’ll help if I stretch you out beforehand?”

Uriel rolled his eyes. “Have you heard about the latest births among our friends? They’re all going into labor during their bonding ceremony. Wait. I’d only have to be concerned about that if we...”

Bruiser grew still beneath him, save for his flapping wings. “Oh. Damn it. I wish I could see your face.” He craned his neck and glanced up at Uriel, sounding hesitant. “Sweetheart, I know I haven’t been courting you for long, and I know we haven’t always agreed in the past. But I believe with all my heart that you’re beautiful, no matter what you look like now or in the future. I think you’re the greatest mage that ever lived. You’re an amazing dad. Most days, I still don’t think I’m worthy of you, but you hang around and grace me with your presence anyway.”

Uriel’s heart thumped. “Bruiser...”

Bruiser cleared his throat. “Damn it. Let me get back on solid ground so I can look you in the eye for this.”

Uriel swallowed. He knew where this was headed. Hell, he had been preparing for this ever since he’d begun dragging his feet returning to his old apartment.

Bruiser took them back down into Cartfalls, landing in the backyard of his mansion. He held still while Uriel slid off the saddle. Then he shifted back into a man and set the saddle on the ground.

The air grew heavy between them, filled with possibility. Bruiser took Uriel’s hands and looked into his eyes. “Uriel, sweetheart, do you... Would you like to be my forever-mate?”

Uriel’s breath snagged. Bruiser was completely sincere in his asking. Through the past few months, Uriel had been taking the hormone pills Doc prescribed. He’d had mood swings, and his body had changed a little, enough to lose some of his alpha muscle. He no longer looked like the man Bruiser had first met.

Through it all, Bruiser had stayed by his side, his gaze unwavering, filled with desire and affection.

“Yeah,” Uriel croaked, his heart so full that it felt as though it might burst. “Yes, of course.”

Bruiser smiled the brightest smile Uriel had seen. He leaned in and gave Uriel a hard kiss, cradling Uriel carefully in his arms. “Good. Thank the gods. Now, just... try not to go into labor when we walk the Circle?”

Uriel groaned. “You know you’ve just jinxed us, right?”

Bruiser winced. “Fuck.”

“‘Fuck’ is right,” Uriel sighed.

28

BONDING AND BIRTH