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Without even focusing on it, his tail splashed water at the trees on fire, promptly extinguishing them. Placing himself between us and my friends, his wings elongated behind him to become a shield, and he reached for Harrison, Harper, and Asher. Tharion lifted them to his back like he usually did me, getting them out of the way. When his attention returned to us, he nodded, signaling for me to proceed.
WTF.
Perplexed by his behavior, and kind of confused, my gaze returned to the yellow Dragon, and saw him stand down when he realized Tharion wouldn’t fight him. Finally reaching me, he anchored the main talons of his wings into the earth at either side of us, and his head began to lower, until it was right in front of me.
He hissed again, but not menacingly, and his double tongues flickered out, sweeping my body. First of all. EW. Second of all, was he tasting me? Shit, he was totally going to eat me. Then I remembered that Luna, Athina, and even Tharion had licked me at some point after we first met, so maybe it was a way for Dragons to get to know me.
Pulse racing, I swallowed and stepped forwards, lifting a hand towards him. The blue glow increased on my ring when I did, and he blinked, leaning into me. Closing my eyes, the silver threads appeared in my mind once more. The new one that formed at the castle was throbbing with blue light, directly connecting us. When our eyes locked again, he tilted his head, offering me his forehead.
Without hesitation, I placed my hand on it, and the lightning rushed through us both as the exchange of energy began, the light of my ring bursting all around us. He bonded with me, just like Tharion had.
Panting with adrenaline and shock, I pressed my forehead to his for a few moments, feeling the bond form between us.
When he pulled back, his double tongue flickered again like a dangerous and venomous snake. I grinned. “Hi, Venom. Welcome to the family.”
Euphoria and strength captured my every inch while stroking his jaw, and I noticed Tharion relax behind us. Coming closer to us, he lowered himself to me, offering his forehead too. I reached for him, my ring illuminating his smoked-steel scales, and then saw him turn to Venom. They sniffed each other, but Venom tried to bite Tharion’s muzzle like a puppy would another.
‘What the hell are you doing?’Tharion puffed through his nose and pulled away, making me chuckle. He seemed familiar with the situation as if he had done it before today.
My friends, still on Tharion’s neck, witnessed the exchange with ashen faces, and when I glanced beyond them to Kingston and Evie, I found the same kind of shock in their eyes. They were utterly speechless.
“You can stay on Tharion,” I assured Harper, Asher, and Harrison. “I’ll ride Venom.”
With the words, I turned and jumped onto his wing, running up the hard, bony appendage that would have been his arm until I reached his back. Settling into the natural saddle scales on his neck, I clung to Venom while he rose to his full height, launching into the sky.
* * *
“Find him a place in the Dragon lairs,” Kingston ordered when we descended onto the landing pad, and dropped from our rides. “We’ll find time for you to start training with him, if you survive the duel.”
Damn that stung, but I kind of deserved it.
Giving me a pissed off and disappointed glower, he shook his head. “Report to the kitchens tonight for your punishment. Tell Enix and Lais I sent you, they will know what to do with you.”
“Asher said—”
“Commander Asher,” he growled.
“Yes, Chief. Commander Asher said I’ll be training with him in the mornings, starting tomorrow.”
“You will.” Without another word, he turned and walked towards Evie, who had just dismounted Luna. Her gaze travelled in my direction briefly, but didn’t linger as she turned to speak with her guardian.
“Braxton!”
Everyone turned in the direction of the distressed female voice, to find Willow rushing towards me.
She crashed into me, hugging me fiercely. “Oh, Braxton, thank the gods you are well!” Pulling away briefly, Willow cupped my face. “When I heard what happened, I was so worried about you.” Her hands pulled me close again while I stood there, frozen.
Kingston’s eyes ignited with fire and he glared at me, hands fisting so harshly that muscles jumped along his arms. And Evie? Well, she was probably envisioning all the ways she could kill her best friend. Either that, or she was trying to shift into a Dragon so she could slice me with her claws.
Willow kissed my cheek that moment, and began to drag her hands all over my chest and arms, trying to figure out if I got hurt. Gripping her wrists, I peeled her off me and gawked at her, perplexed. “What is happening?”
Her lips twitched with humor when I let her go, but she quickly fixed her expression to deep concern. “I’m just worried about you. Are you okay?”
Glaring at everyone who halted to watch us, I made them scramble away and shook my head. “I’m fine, Willow. Thanks for the concern.”
“Of course.” She smiled kindly, stepping away. “I imagine you must be too tired to join me for breakfast today, so I’ll make sure a tray is sent to your room.” Her words were sincere, which I appreciated… until I realized that Kingston was no longer looking, but guiding Evie into the castle.
I narrowed my eyes at Willow. She was totally using me to make Kingston jealous, and to push Evie into telling her about us. At least that confirmed Willow had feelings for Kingston too, so that was good.
