Dragon's Claim

Chapter 7-2

DRAKE HUGGED HER BODY close to his chest. He could feel her heart beating a slow rhythm against his chest. It was soothing, like all his worries were going to melt away even if he knew they’d be there, waiting for him in the morning.

There was a first-floor bedroom that he’d had outfitted for her while he was away. His dragons, his friends, had gone on an exuberant shopping spree on his dime so that they could make the room feel more feminine. He’d been careful and explained the kind of creature Layla was, in case they got too far ahead of themselves and bought a quilt with sunflowers on it.

But, when he pushed the door open with his foot, he found they had, indeed, done a fine job of capturing the person he thought his mate was. The bed was wrapped in a satin comforter so dark he’d thought it black at first. Upon laying Layla down, he saw that it was, in fact, a deep, midnight blue. The satin was speckled with tiny, white dots that looked like stars.

Laying there, she looked like a gift from the heavens. Already asleep, she rolled over and grumbled, reaching for the nearest pillow to grip it close to her chest. He laughed, low and rumbling when he noticed what it was she’d hugged. Someone had bought a stuffed black dragon and added it to the pillows on her bed.

Drake desperately wanted to curl up beside her. He wanted to hold her close while her guard was down and shield her from the world beyond. But, no one would hurt her here. His mate was surrounded by people that respected her, that loved him. In time, they would grow to love her, too, because she would be their champion.

Using all the restraint he could muster, Drake turned from the room and left her to sleep. He didn’t know the last time he’d seen her sleep peacefully. Most nights, Drake found her sitting outside and staring into the sky.

Upstairs, he paused in the door of his own room. There was a small form laying across the king sized bed, taking up far more space than he thought possible for a child her size. He smiled. The sight was not unwelcome. In fact, it warmed his heart.

As he pulled a pillow from the bed and tossed it onto the floor, fear struck him like a truck. The beast inside him growled, the sound escalating into an unbearable roar that shook the room around him. The girl on the bed stirred and he snapped back, forcing the fear and his beast back.

Drake had long since been responsible for this family, this group of dragons that belonged to no one other than themselves. He should have been used to the weight of duty. He should have been prepared for the fear that bit so deeply. Earlier this very day, he’d come close to losing one of his own and it had enraged him so deeply that he’d nearly brought the house down around them.

But, when he thought of losing Layla or letting anyone hurt Miri, fear bit down, deep and cold. It nearly made him freeze. Never would he turn either away. Both found a way into his heart and they would stay there. Miri would be a part of him even if they found her family safe and unharmed. Layla would always be his one and only love even if she decided that she’d rather have Luc, or one of the other dragons, than him.

He could deal with that kind of pain because it meant that both were safe and loved.

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