At Gregory’s nod, she reached out to gently rest her hand on his chest, right where his heart was beating.
“But there’s a bond,” she said. “I can feel it too. I can feel your warmth, and your concern for me. That’s why I got so angry when they said you were a liar. Because I can feel you. It’s like I can see right to the bottom of your heart, and there’s nothing but goodness in there.”
And heat. He wondered if she could feel that too, that steady, low beat of desire for her. Even now it pulled at him with a seductive rhythm, until his heart throbbed with the same, sweet pulse of her own need for him that came flowing through the bond.
With a deep sigh, Naomi relaxed against his chest. “But that’s over now, right?”
“Yes,” Gregory agreed. “He has accepted you. And he’s the master of the council. The others will follow his ruling—even Damon. We’ve never been friends, but he’s a sensible man. Headstrong, but sensible.”
“Mm.” With a small sound of contentment, Naomi curled an arm around his neck. “And now, all that’s left is stopping that dragon before he can kidnap someone else, right?”
“It’s not going to be an easy task,” a familiar voice interrupted as the griffin shifter Jared came bursting into the room.
He flashed Gregory an apologetic grin when he saw them curled up together, but didn’t offer any excuses.
“I’m not here on official business this time, so you can relax. And I’m going to leave you two alone in just a moment.” Jared gave Naomi a little wink. “Just thought I’d let you know that the three of us are heading out. Earth, water—and griffin. We’re going to scout out the area where the fire dragon attacked you, see if we can find any lingering trace of his power.”
Gregory clenched his jaw when he remembered the way the dragon had seemed to come from out of nowhere, threatening the one person he’d give his life to protect.
“I should come with you,” Gregory said, rage welling up within him once more at the memory. “I saw him. I fought him. I should—”
“No.” Jared gave him another apologetic look, more serious now. “I’m sorry, brother, but that’s impossible. The chimera himself ordered it. You might’ve found your mate, but the bond hasn’t been sealed yet. And that dragon attacked your mate quite deliberately. Your place is by her side until this is all over. We don’t know where that fire dragon is hiding. Until he’s found—”
“I’ll stay with her. You’re right, of course.” Gregory forced down the anger at the fire dragon once more. His first instinct couldn’t be to attack blindly, not anymore. It had already led to him losing a fight once. He had to stay calm and collected now, for Naomi’s sake.
“But we cannot stay here,” Gregory continued.
Sky Home was the seat of the council—but it wasn’t a home. It was a place where they gathered when there was an important event that needed the attention of the council. But even as a dragon, he’d never felt comfortable here. If it was a home to something, then it was a home to the chimera’s curse. The walls themselves tasted like Gareth’s centuries of loneliness. It was no place for Naomi.
“We’re going home,” Gregory said softly, giving Naomi a hopeful look. “Home. Mountain View. Everyone there will want to see you.”
Mountain View was his childhood home. It consisted of a large mansion that almost looked like it had been carved right from the mountainside it was built into—and of course, that was probably exactly what happened back when the first dragon of his clan had settled there.
By now, it had grown into a small town, consisting mainly of shifters, and humans born to shifter families but without the power to shift themselves.
It was a good place. A peaceful place. It was the sort of place to raise a family.
“I think you’ll like it.”
***
The flight to Mountain View had been uneventful. Naomi had clung to his neck once more. Through the bond he’d been able to feel her awe and joy when they descended and before them, the sleepy, small town with its colorful roofs and whitewashed houses appeared.
“It’s beautiful!” Naomi called out, laughing when Gregory spread his wings.
Carefully, he slowed their flight even more until he landed in the small square right before his clan’s home. Contentment washed over him. It had truly been far too long since he’d been home.
Gregory opened his jaw, and then he roared—not the loud roar of challenge to another dragon, but a happy roar that made the wind pick up, the breeze blowing against the ornamental, silver dragon that crowned the fountain standing in the square.
With a silvery sound, it sent the soft tolling of a bell echoing from the mountainside. In the town below, lights sprung up in response.
The dragon had returned home, and soon, everyone who knew and loved Gregory would welcome his mate with the same love the town had always shown him.
The first thing Gregory’d shown Naomi was his bedroom.
Ordinarily, he’d have proudly shown her off to the families that had settled in Mountain View. But they hadn’t been able to find much rest in Sky Home, and the council meeting had been harrowing for both of them. Through the bond, he could feel his mate’s tiredness, even though Naomi was doing the best she could to hide it.
Mountain View was a beautiful, small town—the only home he’d ever known, even though he’d chosen to spend much of the past decade traveling and seeing the world. But now that he was home again at last, that old pull on his heart that had made him want to ride the currents of air and explore the world had quieted.