Chapter 21

**Eli**


I watch my mate as she looks around in a panic. She seems to be confused by her surroundings. I assured her that she has returned but that has not helped her settle. Her body is shaking so I move to sit beside her and pull her onto my lap.

"Everything is well my mate. You are here with me." I say again as I stroke her long hair.

"H-how? I don't understand." She says, her voice shaky.

That I can not answer for her. Even Charles seemed lost by what had happened.

"W-where are the others?" She asks after a few moments of deep breathing.

Her voice is still unsure but her body is not shaking as much. She cuddles closer to me and I tighten my arms around her.

"They went to begin the building of our new home," I tell her.

"Oh." She sounds disappointed.

"We were not sure how long it would be before you woke up. They wanted to have as much done as possible." I explain to her.

She nods and rests her head on my chest.

We sit in silence for several minutes.

"Nova..." There has been something I wanted to ask her.

Since we are mates I wanted to ask to make my mark on her. To officially be mated to her. I figured it was too soon but after losing her like this I don't want to wait. Also once we are mated we will be able to communicate telepathically.

"Hm?"

"I would like to complete our mating. At least the marking of our bond." I tell her.

She lifts her head so she can look up at me. Her eyes move to take in every part of my face before a gentle smile forms on her soft pink lips.

"I would be honored." She says without hesitation. "How does it work?"

"Normally there is a ceremony in front of my people. We make a vow to each other before lighting a unity torch created by our combined fire. Then we would shift into dragon form and use our fire to create a design on each other. When we shift back to human form the design will appear as a brand on the skin." I explain to her.

Her brow is furrowed. She no doubt realizes that we would not be able to participate in the ceremony the same way. We do not know yet if she can shift, but it is too soon to test it. Both times she seems to have begun shifting her body reacts in a bad way.

"I won't be able to do any of that." Her shoulders slump.

I do not like to see her upset so I am quick to comfort her.

"We will find our own way. I may not be able to brand you in dragon form but I think I can manage it another way. I can partially shift and use the heat to warm a claw and use that for the design. It may hurt." I will not lie and tell her it will be painless.

She will not have the protection of scales.

She nods in understanding.

"I can recite the vows for us since it is my mother tongue." She still seems upset.

"How will I mark you though?" She asks.

I can not say how she could mark me. Her fangs are very sharp but shifter healing would prevent her mark from lasting.

This could be a problem. It does not matter to me if she can not mark me as long as she bears my mark, but I can see it will upset her.

"I apologize. I am afraid I did not think this through." Now I am sad.

It may be possible that we can never fully bond. My heart aches at that realization.

"When we were kissing I felt...something. Like liquid heat was running through my body. It was a weird feeling but it also felt...natural." She says. "Maybe I can mark you somehow."

I consider this for a moment. My body reacted strongly at that moment. To the point that it felt as if I would shift. It was as if she was calling to my dragon...

"It may be possible," I say but I'm worried that trying to pull whatever she felt out will make her leave us again. "But I am unsure if that will be safe. We lost you last time."

She sighs and fidgets with her hands. "I know, but I won't know what I'm capable of if I don't test things out. What if one day I can shift? How will I know if I don't try? I need to learn to control all these abilities, but I won't know how without trying and making a few mistakes."

Uncertainty consumes my every thought but she is right. We will not know her powers if we do not explore all she can do.

"Aright. If you are taken away again, do not fight it. I will be here with you no matter what." I assure her.

She nods and shifts in my lap until she is facing me. With her sitting like this I have to bite back a groan. Feeling her moving over my groin is torturous. I take in a few deep breaths and focus my attention on her face. This close to her I can not help but marvel at her beauty. I have seen many women who are considered very beautiful but they try very hard to look made-up at all times. As if they are afraid to show their true beauty. Nova is not wearing any beauty products on her face and she is the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on.

We both move hesitantly as if this is the first time we have been intimate, but I can not explain why. We had shared a passionate kiss not long ago, but this feels different. The heat inside me starts to grow when my mate rests her hand on my chest and slowly moves her small hands further up. She moves her hand until it is resting on the back of my neck and then she digs her fingers into my hair.

That breaks any small amount of self-control I have left. I surge forward and take her lips in a punishing kiss. This kiss is not the same as the one we shared before. That one had been spur-of-the-moment and erratic, but this one is focused and exploratory.

Heat builds hotter and I feel the early sensations of my scales breaking the skin along my neck. Nova pulls away with a gasp and lowers her eyes to my neck. She moves her hand to run over each of the small scales.

"They're beautiful." She whispers.

"You are beautiful," I say.

She looks at me and I see her face turn a soft shade of pink. I do not wait for her to say anything. I want to taste her lips again. As soon as our lips touch she melts into me. Now I am the one threading my fingers into her hair. That makes her moan and even more so when I tighten the strands in my hand and tug. This makes her grind harder onto my lap.

I can't slow down now. It's as if I have no control. Talking about marking her as my mate has made my dragon determined to find a way to make it happen. Before I can warn her heat spreads through me and my claws extend. My dragon has taken over and although I have not fully shifted I can not control him. In one swift motion, my claws brush over Nova's skin.

She pulls away from our kiss and throws her head back with a silent scream. I watch her through my shifted eyes and I wonder for a moment if I am imagining what I'm seeing. Scales are breaking through the soft skin of her throat and down toward her breasts. Scarlet scales that are glistening in the low light of the room.

I watch her in wonder until her head lowers and those swirling fire-colored eyes fix on me. She moves just as fast and lifts her hand. I feel her claws slash at my skin and I let out a satisfied growl.

The need to make this bond complete has me standing with her still in my arms. She wraps her arms and legs around me and I walk us toward the room with our lips still connected.

I need her now.