Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 120974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
“It did.” I nod again. “I watched her heal right in front of my eyes. And she’s being protected by the Captain of the Guard now, so she’ll be all right.” I feel a twinge of sorrow. “She’ll devastated though—she lost two children on the same day.”
“We can try to visit her once you have control of your magic,” Valen offers.
“I’d like that,” I say. “I’m just not sure it would be safe for you.”
“We’ll be all right. You’ll have your magic and I have my Drake,” he points out. “Nobody will hurt us—we’ll come and go as we please.”
“I like that idea,” I say. I think of how I’ve lived my life, always trying to minimize myself—to make sure I wasn’t “too much” because of the way the Nobles turned up their noses and sniffed at my curves and my love of learning. That’s over now and I’m starting a new life with Valen.
I’ll miss my mother, but I can’t say I’ll miss the Court. I’m ready for this new adventure.
“So, did your brother admit what he was doing?” Valen asks, bringing me back to the present.
“Not at first, but he got so angry when he found out I’d healed our mother and then it all came out.” I shiver. “And then he had me chained in the dungeon where he and the Head Healer tried to poison me.”
“Those fuckers,” Valen growls and I feel a surge of protective anger coming from him and his Drake both.
“You came just in time,” I say. “How did you know? Kellis took the ring, so it couldn’t have been the collar that alerted you.”
“My Drake knew—he felt that you were in trouble,” he says. “I think it must have been all the blood I’ve taken from you—it formed a kind of Bond before we were even fully Bonded.”
“I’m glad he knew,” I say and send a wave of gratitude and love to the Drake, who sends an answering feeling of pure love and devotion back to me through our new connection.
You saved me, I think to him. You and Valen got to me just in time.
We will always come for you, I hear him rumble in my mind. Always…you are our mate.
“Our mate,” Valen echoes aloud. “I’m just so fucking glad he felt that you were in trouble.”
“I am too,” I say. “I don’t know if my magic could have stopped Kellis from stabbing me, though it certainly tried to stop the Head Healer from poisoning me.”
“It did? What happened?” Valen asks, sounding fascinated.
“Well, he was trying to pour the poison down my throat—he got a little in my mouth as you know—but not all of it. Because my magic lashed out. It hit the Head Healer like a lightning strike and transformed him.”
“Transformed him how?” Valen asks, frowning.
“He became what he feared most,” I say simply. “A woman.”
There’s a pause. Then Valen bursts out laughing.
“Fuck, Princess. Remind me never to make you mad at me.”
I snuggle back against his broad chest, grinning.
“Don’t worry. I like you just the way you are.”
I shift my hips again—on purpose this time—and feel him twitch inside me, still thick, still locked deep from the Bonding. He groans and tightens his arms around me.
“Mmm, baby… are you wanting to go again?”
“Maybe I am,” I murmur, smiling as I press closer.
I’ve never felt more safe…more wanted…more loved. And I know now—no matter what the future brings—we’ll face it together.
This is my life now and I truly am… Mistress of the Red Dragon.
THE END?