Page 73 of To Match A Dragon's Fire

Kieran

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I’d been busy making plans all morning, intending to sweep Ember off her feet before carrying her and her friends to safety. We’d have to keep moving and I’d only be buying them time, but I’d do whatever it took to extend her life.

I’ll burn down the world before I let anything happen to my mate.Already, the thought of losing Ember was driving my baser instincts insane.

Let’s not tempt fate,I tried to soothe my beast.

It’d be difficult, but I could manage to travel between my flock and wherever I took Ember as Earth settled on her next design.

But in all my plans, I’d forgotten one thing.

It shouldn’t have surprised me as much as it did to see the resilience of humans. Over the centuries, I’d watched empires grow and wane, but humans always found a way to survive.

What these women had accomplished in a couple of weeks was nothing short of magic.

“It’s different in here,” I said, taking the offered seat at the table. For the past decade, this cabin had been nothing more than a dusty storage shed.

Now it was a home again.

“We still have a few cobwebs to clean out, but we’re restoring her bit by bit.” Ember smiled and my breath caught in my chest.

She was beautiful, even with dirt streaked on her face. And I loved her bashful little glances. It was empowering to know the mating bond was affecting her the same as it was me.

It’s time to complete it.

I frowned, looking to the table to avoid Ember’s direct gaze.She might not understand.

“Are you all right?” Ember whispered, grasping my hand under the table. “I know this can be a lot.”

I nodded, feeling her strength in the squeeze of her soft fingers, and was suddenly overcome with the need to learn everything I could about my mate.

Some part of me knew I was stalling, using my skills of study to delay the inevitable. I’d have to tell her about me soon, and what it meant to bond with a dragon.

“You lived here as a child?” I blurted out, feeling my beast chuff angrily within. I’d almost torn the cabin down.

The thought of that made me ill.

“Born and raised,” Ember said proudly as she released my hand, pouring water from the filtered pitcher into a plastic cup with flowers on the side. “That’s why this land is mine.”

She winked as she set the cup in front of me.

Something tightened in my chest.

I studied the simple glass of water, poured for me by my mate who didn’t know she was my mate.

How would she act when she did know?

She cares for us. Nothing will change.

Humans are surprising.

“I told Riley and Willow this, but I never formally told you,” I said, trying to stop ruminating on my worries. “You’re welcome to the greenhouse and Agatha will give you anything from our kitchen. If you need supplies, they’re yours.”

“Thanks.” Ember laughed as she rested her elbow on the table. “I think we’ll be okay on our own. I don’t want to put you out.”

I take care of my mate.My beast puffed out his chest, hurt by her refusal to let us provide.

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