Page 232 of A Dance of Water

"But for you…" Vale relished in the way she tensed again at the possessive grumble that radiated out from his chest. "For you, I think I will allow the Binding mark to stay." His fingertips hooked on the chain of Tharen’s amulet. He tugged slightly, watching the way the delicate silver chain dug into her vulnerable neck. Herunmarkedneck.

Claim her.

Again, Vale did not know if that was his thought or if it belonged to the dragon. Perhaps both.

"Why are you acting like this? Like… like you w-want me?"

Vale watched as her pale cheeks bloomed with color.

Godsdamn it, he did want her. Carnal desire was something he could give in to without feeling a stab of unworthiness.

He tugged on the chain, forcing her flush against him, her lips grazing his chest. He felt how hard he was for her, but the tangled blanket between them acted as a barrier between his naked form and her lithe body.

"I do want you, darling," said Vale. "I want your body." But his dragon wanted her heart. "Best not to get worked up"—his lips skimmed her crown—"or you will find yourself with the Prima."

She stiffened. "Let me go… I will be forced to be with you soon. Why play with me like this?"

Because he couldn’t help himself.

His dragon huffed, as if laughing at Vale.Ours.

Luella placed her hand on his chest again and tried to shove away, but he grabbed her wrist, fingers encircling her as he held her arm away from him.

He searched her blue eyes. Affected by the night they’d spent together, he was unable to resist the urge to nip her finger. His teeth sank into her index finger, grazing her sweet-tasting flesh. She gasped.

"I believe you are the one playing, darling."

"S-stop." She tugged her hand away. He let her. "How can your dragon speak to me?"

"What I told you—he hasimprintedon you." Vale said the word as if it were offensive.

"But what does that mean?"

"He has claimed you, when I will not." At the mere mention of claiming, Vale’s dragon hissed in pleasure.

Luella bundled her hands under her chin, the action made the stone of the amulet twinkle as it caught the warmth of the flames. Vale found himself arrested by the soft glimmer of the silver encasing the stone, the light swirls of the blue held within…

"I do not want to be claimed," she said, her breath hitching when Vale leaned closer and grabbed the stone hanging off the silver chain.

Like jewels. Pretty.

Take.

"Imprinting is rare," Vale shared, transfixed by the way the stone glimmered as he shifted it in his hands. "I do not want my dragon to stake a claim on you, either. But it seems we’re both beholden to him." Smoke curled in the air between them.

"Make him take it back, t-then," Luella stammered as Vale brought the stone to his face, forcing the chain to cut into her neck as she strained forward.

"What did you dream?"

Her hands came up to settle on the chain to relieve some of the pressure. Her fingertips skimmed his. "Is that a demand?" she asked.

Holding the amulet in his hands, Vale stared at her and said, "Yes. Tell me what you dreamed. There are no ears to overhear our secrets." He released the amulet, eyes finding the mark on her chest.He had not lied; he would leave it, keep her will bound to his. "It is only me and you here."

Curiosity and fear flashed in her eyes. "And your dragon." Her voice was soft.

Vale hummed, feeling his beast rise up again. Fuck, he was close to a shift. His skin felt stretched thin over his bones. "He won’t tell."

There was a brief pulse of warmth under his palm. He moved his hand to the side, watching an infinitesimal spark of light trace over the ink of the Binding mark.

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