Dragon looked at her closely.
“Do you believe in this…Goddess?” He almost asked her if she had heard the powerful feminine voice before the dream began, but something held him back. He felt as though that voice had been only for him, though he couldn’t explain why.
“I believe that the Kindred believe in her,” Bobbi said seriously. “As an Anthropologist, I would never discount another culture’s religious beliefs.”
“I see.” He nodded. “Well what is this ‘Dream Sharing’ anyway, then?”
Her brow furrowed, as though she was trying to think how to explain.
“Well, apparently before a Kindred warrior meets his prospective mate, they start dreaming about each other. The process can last for days or weeks—even months.” She shook her head. “But normally, they dream of the other person—the one they’re fated to be mated with. I’ve never heard of two people dreaming the exact same thing—that’s just weird.”
“It may be strange, but there might be a grain of truth in the dream,” Dragon pointed out. “Maybe if you take some of my blood, it will help your body to regulate your temperature.”
She made a face and drew the blanket more tightly around herself.
“I don’t know—I don’t exactly get off on vampire fantasies, you know.”
Dragon frowned.
“What’s a ‘vampire?’”
She shook her head.
“Never mind. The point is, I don’t love the idea of drinking blood. I mean…ugh!” She wrinkled her little nose with its smattering of freckles in apparent disgust.
“It’s worth a try, even if you don’t find it appealing,” Dragon pointed out. “It’s better than freezing to death when I’m not around to keep you warm. I can’t be with you every minute, you know—I have duties to perform.”
She sighed and ran a hand through her wild red mane.
“You know, I wouldn’t have to worry about freezing to death if you’d just take me back to Avria Pentaura.”
“Not going to happen,” Dragon growled, a wave of possessiveness rolling over him. “You’re mine and I’m not letting you go!”
“How very caveman of you,” she snapped, her eyes flashing. Then she took a deep breath and seemed to decide to try a different approach. “Look, Dragon, I can understand why you’d want to keep me. I mean, I’m probably the first mammalian woman you’ve been around for a long time. Maybe you’re even a little attracted to me, because I’m so different from the Saurian women you’re used to. But—”
“You’re damned right I’m attracted to you.” Dragon didn’t see any point in denying it. “You’re fucking gorgeous. But I told you, that’s not the reason I Claimed you.”
“I know, I know—you want to k-keep me safe from your b-brother.” She pulled the blanket more tightly around herself and looked around. “God, did it just g-get colder in here?”
“No—you’ve just been away from my side for too long. Come here.”
Dragon reached for her but she scooted away quickly, until her bare back came in contact with the tiled side of the sleeping pit. She gave a little yelp and jumped forward again, practically launching herself across the pit.
“Oh my G-god, those t-tiles are l-like ice!”
“Your lips are turning blue,” Dragon said, frowning. “Are you ready to try what we saw in the dream?”
Her eyes widened.
“You…you really do want to t-try it? You’d c-cut yourself for me?”
“Of course I would,” Dragon said simply. “I Claimed you—that makes me responsible for your health, safety, and wellbeing. I take my responsibilities very seriously.”
She didn’t seem to know how to feel about that, but her shivering grew worse and her teeth began to chatter.
“Come here.” Dragon reached for her and this time she didn’t try to evade him. He tucked her close to his side and then reached for his blade, which he never kept far from him—even in sleep.
“Oh my God—d-did you have that w-with you all n-night? While I was sleeping right n-next to y-you?” Bobbi demanded, when he pulled his sheath out from under his head bolster and drew the long, shining silver blade from it.
“Actually, you were sleeping on top of me—or near enough,” Dragon pointed out. “And of course I had it with me. How else am I supposed to defend myself and you if an assassin from another Clan somehow breaches our defenses and comes in during the night?”
Her eyes got even wider.
“Is that something you r-really have to w-worry about? I m-mean, does it happen a l-lot?”
Dragon frowned at the way her teeth were still chattering despite the fact that he had pulled her close.
“It has only happened in our family compound once in the past twenty cycles,” he told her. “We repelled the attack and launched a counter strike against the fucking Poison Fangs—that’s the Clan that came after us.” He smiled with grim satisfaction. “They pay us tribute now and every one of their males is missing his dominant hand.”
Her face went pale.