Page 44 of Dragon King's Cursed Mate

A quiet gasp made everyone look up. Mara looked at Jerek, who was a wolf shifter. “He misses his mom. She died fighting that bad king.”

Jerek’s eyes widened, and he stared at Mara in disbelief. Seraphina caught his gaze and smiled at him.

“She cares about you because you are her friend.”

He nodded.

The children practiced their new skills, sending pictures of flowers, fairies, friendly giants, and other things that the kids loved. Some of them were even able to talk telepathically.

Jasmine came over when the children had to take care of their evening chores.

“I’m not sure I like that,” she teased. “Now, those little rascals will be plotting behind everyone’s back, and we don’t know what kind of mischief they’ll get into.”

Seraphina laughed. “I’m sure you’ll be able to figure them out before they can even begin plotting. You might not be a witch or oracle, but you have a gift of knowing people.”

“I do.” She grinned. “You know, we do have jeans, sweats, T-shirts, sweatshirts, and all kinds of comfortable clothes. We’ve got something that can fit you. Or are oracles required to wear tunics?”

Shaking her head, Seraphina giggled. “Oracles can wear whatever they want. These are modern times, you know. I like tunics. They’re comfortable and I have tons of pockets to pick up rocks and to put frogs in.”

Jasmine laughed and then got serious. “You don’t really carry frogs around in your pockets, do you?”

“Only the people I’ve turned into frogs.”

Seeing the shocked look on Jasmine’s face, she said, “I’ve never done that. I’m just teasing you.”

“You’re the first oracle I’ve known who has a sense of humor. They’re supposed to be super serious and mysterious. Sometimes, you make me wonder.”

Seraphina put a hand on Jasmine’s shoulder. “How many oracles have you met?”

She shrugged. “You’re the only one, but I’ve read about them. I need to get busy with dinner.”

Sitting alone in the courtyard, she glanced over at the ruined temple where several people had been working on clearing out the old stone and fallen walls. Dain had the idea that if there was an ancient entity in Arkhadia that was powerful but not malevolent, then the temple might free it to aid in his cause. There was some logic in his idea.

Biting her bottom lip, Seraphina watched Dain. His bare chest glistened from sweat from the warm afternoon sun as he crouched behind a massive slab of granite and lifted it as though it was nothing more than a piece of driftwood, carrying it to the section of remnants they might be able to use later.

Her body reacted to the sight. Heat coiled in her belly as a deep aching need filled her. She pressed her hand to her heart and took a deep breath, trying to get ahold of herself.

He moved again, rolling his broad shoulders, the sun catching along the sharp cut of his jaw. His silvery-white hair — damp with sweat — clung to his neck. Every movement pulled at her until the ache between her ribs spread lower, pulsing in time with the memory of his hands on her skin... his mouth claiming her.

Seraphina pressed her thighs together, trying to fight against the aching need for him. She imagined walking over to him and wrapping her arms around him from behind, her lips trailing kisses across his back and her hands splayed across his chest.

Dain looked over at her, gave her a sexy grin, and winked, as though he’d felt her thoughts. Her body trembled and she moaned.

Get a hold of yourself girl, before you fall apart right here in the middle of everyone.

Seraphina walked away, forcing the image of a mountain trail into her mind, pushing away the memory of his touch. The courtyard buzzed with activity, and she couldn’t have him—at least here and now.

18

Dain

Dain felt her. Even without looking, without her scent wafting around him or the sound of her voice, he could feel her desire burning inside of him.

He picked up a heavy granite slab. His muscles strained, and he groaned from its weight. The edges of the rock bit through his gloves. He focused on the sensations to take his mind off of Seraphina. Everything inside of him wanted to storm over to her and take her right then and there, in front of everyone.

Clenching his jaw, he carried another stone to the pile they would use to rebuild the temple.

Focus on what you’re doing. Quit acting like a schoolboy who can’t control himself.

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