Dazed, the fire dragon swayed a little in response.
“But you’re not... You’re not supposed to be like that,” he finally said, his voice weak. “I know all about humans. Are you sure you’re not a dragon?”
“Be grateful you didn’t meet my mom. She would’ve given you a piece of her mind, and by the end, you’d be grateful for a chance to do her dishes and mop the floors. And she’s all human, as am I.” Naomi’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe that’s something worth thinking about. Maybe you don’t, in fact, know all about humans. And maybe you shouldn’t waste a life on revenge when you don’t even know anything about the world you’re living in.”
The fire dragon gaped at her, clearly unsettled and overwhelmed by Naomi’s lecture.
“This isn’t at all what I expected,” he murmured at last. “But how are humans so...”
“Eloquent?” Naomi suggested.
“Brave?” Gregory added lovingly. He gave his mate an admiring look before he focused on the fire dragon once more. “You’ll have some time to think now, and then you can tell all of that to the council. You’ll be given a chance to defend yourself. And afterward, you’ll be judged for your actions.”
Gregory could feel Naomi’s hand coming to rest against his shoulder. In return, he wrapped his arm around her waist once more.
It was a worrying development, to know that there were still fire dragons in the world, and to learn that they had nursed an old grudge for centuries.
And yet, dragonkind had used those same centuries to build firm bonds. These weren’t the Middle Ages anymore. They had lived in harmony with humans for centuries, keeping their existence a secret, but living good, fulfilling lives.
One fire dragon wouldn’t be able to endanger this peace. Not if they all came together to deal with this danger: dragons and griffins and werewolves and cheetahs—and the humans that were part of their communities.
“I’ll let you deal with him,” Gregory told Jared. “As soon as you’ve got him in chains, bring him to Sky Home. I’d come with you, but—”
“You’ve got better things to do. Stay with your mate,” the griffin said fondly. “It’s about time you settled down. And I don’t want to be rude, but—you both really, really need a shower.”
Gregory chuckled tiredly. The rain had washed away the ash and dust from his skin, but the scent of smoke still clung to them. And now, with the adrenaline of the fight leaving his blood, he was starting to feel the ache of sore muscles and scratches.
“Thanks,” Gregory said with quiet gratitude. Then he turned, looking at all of the shifters of Mountain View that had come running at the first sign of attack. “Thanks, all of you. I’ve never been more proud to call this my home.”
One of the cheetahs open its jaw, tongue lolling out as it seemed to laugh at him. Several of the dog shifters started barking happily, and above them, two eagle shifters dipped their wings in a salute while circling above them.
Beneath the scent of rain and earth, Gregory could still make out the acrid smell of smoke. But now, with Naomi safe in his arms and the fire dragon defeated at last, even the ruined tower didn’t matter anymore. Everyone he loved was safe. And his dragon had his treasure r
ight here in his arms.
His family was safe. That was all that was important.
Chapter Fifteen: Naomi
They’d soaked in the whirlpool for what felt like hours. Naomi had picked a bubble bath at random, choosing an old-fashioned glass bottle simply because it was a pretty, sparkling purple. The resulting, luxurious foam had quickly washed the scent of fire from their skin, filling the room with the soothing scent of lavender.
The bathroom was beautiful. It wasn’t the bathroom attached to Gregory’s large suite, but an older room on the ground floor. It went back to right when the mansion had been built, or so Gregory had explained. Now that Naomi could luxuriate in Gregory’s strong arms, safe in the hot water, she had time to admire the mosaics that adorned the walls of the room.
On one wall, there were dragons soaring in the air, carried by the wind. Another showed dragons curling in caverns on a hoard of gold and sparkling gems—gems that looked suspiciously real in the candle light. Further mosaics showed dragons resting in meadows of colorful flowers, and dragons diving in the sea, surrounded by dolphins.
But the mosaic Naomi liked the most showed two young dragons standing on the back of a taller dragon, stretching their tiny wings, their faces showing both excitement and a hint of fear.
Is that what it’s like when a young dragon learns to fly?
Naomi thought again of that incredible sense of freedom when she’d soared through the sky on Gregory’s back, one with the elements, as wild and free as the wind that had tugged on her hair. What would it be like to have children born with that freedom?
She nuzzled silently at Gregory’s shoulder, feeling her heart beat in time with his.
It would be an adventure. And it would be an adventure she couldn’t wait for.
“So,” she murmured, running her hand gently up his side. “You were telling me about the bonding...?”
“It’s already in place, the mate bond,” Gregory rumbled, one of his strong arms coming up to wrap around her waist. “I’m already yours—there’s nothing that could tear me from your side now. But traditionally, when it happens is when a mated pair comes together, declaring themselves to the other with their body and soul—”