Page 68 of Brambles and Bellflowers
Damen sighed, about to respond, but I didn’t give him the chance.
It only took my dragon a few seconds to take control. The shift was as natural as breathing—a feeling much like coming home. Awareness merged into a single point—a brief instant when the world was dark, and it was only us… that moment where all restrictions were lifted, and we were truly free.
But this time, I saw green.
She was watching me, her presence a beacon through the darkness where, in the past, my dragon and I had always been alone.
Something had changed, but at least it hadn’t completely blindsided me.
“That fast?” she asked, peering at me between the gaps of her fingers. Through my newly enhanced senses, I could easily count her eyelashes and her floral scent was almost overwhelming.
But entirely welcome.
I wasn’t even aware I’d moved, but an instant later, I’d passed the others, barely even giving them my attention, and pressed my face into her neck. My racing heart calmed as her presence blanketed me. All thoughts of righteous vengeance faded.
She ran her fingers over the scales near my neck, her touch smooth as silk. And a prickling began at the base of my skull, causing my snout to twist.
‘How are we supposed to communicate?’
“Can we talk?” she asked, lightly running her finger over my nose.
I… had not thought of that. I looked to Damen, expecting a little help, and he sighed, rolling his eyes. “You should have thought about that before you just up and changed.”
‘What does that mean?’
Her mouth hadn’t moved this time, but she was prone to muttering sarcastic comments under her breath. It was something that could be easily missed.
Damen waved his hand in the air dismissively. “He’s not entirely a beast,”—my ire rose at that—“he can understand you. You just won’t be able to hear him until the mate bond is complete.”
Bianca’s movements slowed, and she glanced at Damen in alarm. “What?”
“The bond has to be finalized first,” Julian explained. “But different species also come with different gifts. Since Titus hasn’t had a mate before, we don’t know what else you two might be able to do. I would assume some form of telepathy, at the very least. Most mated pairs share that trait.”
Her expression changed then, and a now-familiar sadness crept over her features at the mention of our connection. A coldness seeped through my scales as she moved back and cradled her hand against her chest.
My heart lurched almost painfully, and it was everything to keep from following her.
She hadn’t rejected me, but she hadn’t accepted it either.
‘…not mate material.’
The hell?
“What else is there?” she asked instead, touching her fingers to her mouth.
“We’ll have to wait and see.” Damen stepped between us, lightly pushing Bianca in my direction. “Even if you don’t find Miles, you should still take Titus for a walk. He needs some exercise.”
‘Is he a puppy?’Her voice rang through my head, but she only nodded.
My thoughts swirled in a haze. We hadn’t completed the mating bond. This shouldn’t be happening yet.
“Okay,” Bianca continued, brushing her fingers along my face before stepping ahead of me into the woods.
Damen cleared his throat, looking pointedly after her. He had no idea, of course, of my inner turmoil, and it wasn’t like I could let her run off on her own or chase after her naked.
I had more class than that.
Growling under my breath, I stalked off after her, barely noticing Damen and Julian jumping back in surprise.
