Page 14 of Dragon Flames
The young pup whirls with a snarl, and I allow my talons to extend and scrape against his arm in warning. It’s enough to snap him out of the trance that’s taken hold of him, and he flushes.
I turn toward the announcer, barely acknowledging that she lowers her eyes and bares her throat. “We’ve made enough of a spectacle for today. We will prove our claim in private.”
She immediately dips her head and bows, backing away to do as I bid.
“I object!” Lord Gresky charges up the stairs with all the grace of an enraged baboon. “Claims need to be performed in front of witnesses for proof of validity.”
I tighten my hold on Preston before he can throw himself at the imbecile. The girl, Felicia, stiffens at Gresky’s nearness, and I can’t stop myself from stepping between them. Whatever is happening, the man poses a threat to my mate, and it stops now. “Are you questioning our honor?”
The dark threat snaps Gresky out of whatever rage has made him behave so irrationally.
“Of course not,” he sputters. Then his weaselly nose lifts in the air. “But certain protocols need to be followed. You wouldn’t want to have your claim called into question later, would you?”
As much as I hate to admit it, the man has a point.
Either we are mates or we are not.
The only valid way a dragon can claim a mate is in a public venue.
“Very well.” Then I step forward, allowing my dragon to rise under my skin, smoke escaping my parted mouth. “But you will join the others. If you come near my mate again, I will personally rip off your head and feed it to my dogs. Understand?”
Gresky trembles slightly at the threat but shoots the girl a triumphant look.
Like he expects us to fail.
It only makes us both more determined than ever to lay claim to the girl.
When we are the only people remaining on the stage, I turn to face the girl—Felicia. She looks more centered now, a fierceness to her that I can’t help but admire. As I take a step toward her, everything inside me stills when she flinches.
A normal claiming means publicly fucking a woman until the bond forms. It’s an ancient custom that hasn’t been invoked in centuries. As much as I want to stamp my claim on her delicate body, it’s obvious Felicia isn’t comfortable with the idea. Though she doesn’t object, my beast is determined to do whatever it takes to make her happy.
Standing in front of her, I’m fascinated by the way her silver eyes whirl.
Only to watch her stiffen when Preston circles and comes to stand behind her.
I cup her face, ignoring the way she inhales sharply and practically turns to stone.
“Easy…we won’t do anything more than necessary. You can stop us at any time.” As much as it pains me to admit it, I refuse to trap her in a life she doesn’t want.
Shock widens her eyes, then she narrows them on me, venom making them almost glitter.
I tighten my grip on her neck, preventing her from rejecting us out of hand. “It’s either us or Gresky. Your choice.”
Satisfaction surges through me when her mouth snaps shut.
“Do it.” The husky demand licks along my cock, and a growl rumbles in my throat. All the emotions I’ve been repressing surge to the surface…along with my dragon.
It takes all my control not to do as she instructed, the tiny bit of sanity that remains warning it would be the fastest way to shut her down, and it’s suddenly very important that it not happen.
“It has to be your decision. You’re in control.” My dragon rises and my skin heats with her nearness, the need to protect her now paramount. “If you want us, you must claim us.”
* * *
FELICIA
My breath halts in my chest at his bold declaration, and I want to deck the asshole for making it my responsibility.
My decision, my ass.
