There’s only one way to determine her motives now,and that’s to experience whatever this is between us. To embrace it. To show her who I am, and let her return the favor in kind.
That’s why I mentioned her wolf—because her father warned me that she’s ashamed of her inner beast. And I want her to know that I’m not.
Wolves are majestic. Fierce. Gorgeous in their own right.
“We worship all kinds of Omegas here,” I tell her, my fingers drawing through her hair as my opposite hand slips around to palm her flat belly. “Let me prove it to you.” I boldly kiss her neck, my dragon purring with approval inside.
He wants me to sink my canines into her and mark her.
Claimher.
And I can’t remember ever feeling such a powerful pull in my life.
It’s like my soul has known hers for an eternity already.
Which is ridiculous.
But I’m not about to run away from this connection between us.
“Alpha dragons hate wolves,” she whispers, the choked quality of her voice causing me to spin her around in my arms. Her eyes are filled with tears, her bottom lip trembling.
“Dragons do not hate wolves,” I tell her. “And anyone who has fed you that lie doesn’t deserve his knot.”
She gazes up at me with such heartfelt agony that it hurts to fucking breathe.
Fires, this woman has been through hell. I can see the nightmares rolling through her gaze like flashes of violent thunderstorms. It sucks the air right out of the room.
How have I missed this pain?I ask myself, transfixed by her torment. It’s so apparent in her features now that I wonderif I missed it before because I was too blinded by her beauty to see her true self. But I definitely see her now.
“Do you really think…?” She trails off, swallowing. “Will a Drakonian Alpha accept me?”
“Oh, printesa mea,” I whisper, my forehead falling to hers. “There’s no doubt in my mind that you’ll be claimed.”
And if I’m not careful, I’ll be the one to do it.
It’s expected that I’ll one day take a mate, to produce an heir for Gold Sector.
That’s a lot to ask of an Omega I’ve just met. Especially one with such a haunted past.
I also can’t believe I’m even considering it. The expectation has always been there, but I’ve never been inclined to act on it.
Until now.
Untilher.
Taliana clings to me, then nods. “Thank you.”
My purr intensifies, the sound coming more from my dragon than from me.Purringis a sacred act, one reserved for an Alpha and his mate.
Yet it feels so natural to purr for her now.
I’m in so much fucking trouble, I realize. It’s partly her scent. Or maybe even mainly her scent. But it’s alsoher. This female. This enchanting Omega.Printesa mea.
It’s an endearment I’ve never used with anyone else.My princess.
The words suit her perfectly.
Especially when she’s fiery and telling me what she needs—like in the foyer of my suite.