by Abigail Owen
For a second, Finn plummeted through the air, but managed to catch himself. Shit. Graff might be over, but maybe he was, too.
With heaving motions, he tried to fly to where Levi waited with Delaney. Landing was going to be a son of a bitch. No way was he going to make it to the flatter open space where they’d spent the night. The closest spot was the steeply pitched spot where he could see the glint of Levi’s golden scales reflecting the flames of the fire to the north.
But his body wasn’t working right, like the signal from his brain to his muscles and nerves wasn’t making it all the way there. Lifting and dropping in jerks as he worked to keep himself airborne, he focused on the tiny human woman waiting for him on the mountainside.
She stood still, watching him. Even from this distance, worry radiated from her form—shoulders stiff, face pinched. She didn’t call out. Didn’t speak at all.
“I’m coming in hot,” he warned Levi.
His Beta must’ve warned Delaney, because she turned sharply toward him. “What? Why?” Then she stood still, listening apparently, before she climbed up on Levi’s back, wedging herself between his spikes.
Good idea. If Finn’s landing was too rough, he risked knocking her from her perch.
Finn focused. Forcing his body to keep going even as numbness spread from his neck down his back, creeping along his limbs. Just a little farther.
“You’re coming in too low,” Levi warned.
“No shit,” he gritted.
But he only had one last push in him. He waited, almost holding his breath in a vain attempt to turn lighter and float up the side of the mountain. Then, with one last monumental surge, he slapped his wings down, catching enough air to pop him up over the edge of the cliff.
He didn’t quite clear the ledge, scraping over boulders. The impact tipped him down the other side. He belly-flopped like a fucking champ and slid down the edge, only the trees stopping his forward progression, though he snapped several of them as he slowed.
Eventually, he stopped skidding.
“Finn!” Delaney yelled.
Rocks crunched as Rivin and Keighan landed on either side of him.
“Boss?”
“I can’t move.” Again, that weird sensation of his brain sending electrical signals to his body, but the signal getting cut off somewhere baffled him.
Lighter footsteps reached him. He couldn’t turn his head to confirm, but he’d guess Delaney had crawled down to him.
“You stupid, brave idiot. Why’d you have to go off like that?” Her voice came from his right shoulder, which told him she’d climbed up on his back.
“He threatened you.”
Delaney snorted, though it had a watery edge to it. He’d bet she was both tearing up and rolling her eyes right now.
“Oh, shit.” Now she was directly behind his head.
“What?”
“I think I’ve found the problem. Levi?”
His Beta must’ve shifted as well because now he climbed up over Finn’s back. “Fuck.”
“Haven’t you seen this before?” Delaney asked.
“Seen what?” Finn said.
Levi’s tone was grim. “Nothing like this, but it explains why he’s numb.”
“Will someone talk to me?”
“Don’t wig out,” Delaney said, “but one of that asshole’s teeth broke off and is embedded in your neck, right at the base of your skull.”
Shit. That did explain a lot. “Take it out.”
“Wait.” Delaney’s voice filled with urgency. “What if you bleed to death if we remove it. You need professional help.”
“I can’t shift with it in there, and you can’t get me off this mountain. Take it out. Either I’ll heal, or I won’t, but it’s got to come out.”
A rustling sound reached him before Delaney appeared in front of him, gazing into one eye. “What if removing it kills you?” she whispered.
“Not removing it doesn’t end any differently. It’s just a slower death on a mountainside.”
“Can’t the team fly you out?”
“Not with this many humans in the area. I’ve already risked too much as it stands.”
Delaney leaned into him, forehead against his shoulder. “So, you’d risk leaving me alone?”
His heart cracked wide open at the fear in her voice. He gentled his own. “Better to know now than later, luv.”
Delaney lifted her head, resignation darkening her eyes. “You’re right.” She glanced up over her head to where Levi must still be standing and nodded.
A grunt of effort reached Finn’s ears a millisecond before ragged agony splintered through his neck. Like lightning, jagged feelers spiked through him, into his head and limbs. A tortured whine punched from him before he could hold it back.
“Finn?” Fear from his mate again.
The pain receded, leaving in its wake tingling, like a limb that had the circulation cut off and then restored. Prickles along every nerve pinched and tweaked until his entire body felt raw, like exposed wire, followed by blessed relief, like being doused in cool water.
Followed by the ability to move.
Gingerly, Finn lifted his head, wincing at the sharp pain that pinged down his spine. But he could move. That’s what mattered. He went to lever up.
“Whoa, big fella.” Levi chuckled. “Give me a second to get down.”
“How’s it look up there?”
“It’s bleeding, but not too badly. Since you’re moving, my guess is that tooth was pressing on just the right spot to shut down your motor functions.”
Delaney’s gaze whipped between him and Levi. “He’s going to be okay?”
Slowly, Finn pushed to his feet. Relief shot through him. He’d be okay, and Delaney wouldn’t have to be alone.
“I’m going to be okay.”
A half sob burst from her as she leaned into him again. “Remind me to kill you when we get home.” Her words came out garbled from the way she pressed her face into him.
“Will do.” He didn’t bother to hide his amusement. Nor did Levi, Rivin, or Keighan, who all chuckled.
“I’m not kidding,” she grumbled.
“I believe you,” Finn said. “You can yell at me all you like when we get home.”
Home.
While she remained unmated with no marks on her neck. If Rune knew and Brand knew, the Alliance wasn’t far behind. Brand himself had said they’d be coming for Delaney soon. Given the situation with the Blue Clan and the way Fallon had just disappeared with his mate, there was a strong chance Finn wouldn’t be in the running to claim her.
No fucking way.
He’d already broken the rules once today, going after Graff with possible human discovery. Might as well break a few more.
Finn lowered his head to look at Delaney with one eye. “I can’t take you home yet.”
She gazed back, steady, trusting. “Okay.”
Damn his mate was smart. “Are you up for doing something really stupid?”
Delaney’s lopsided smile stopped his heart in his chest. “Absolutely.”
A low purring rumble poured through his chest as his heart kicked back into gear. “Climb on.”
As Delaney scrambled up his back, Finn turned his head to eye his Beta. “Levi…”
How did he ask his men, men who trusted him to always do the right thing, to help him break the rules?
“I’ll take over the team on the line,” Levi said.
Apparently, Finn didn’t have to ask. “Wrap things up here. Destroy any evidence.” Graff’s body would consume itself and the dragon fire would take care of the rest, but they’d still need to make sure everything, especially the teeth, were gone. Better safe than fucked. “I’m taking Delaney away for the night.”
That way Levi wouldn’t have to lie if questioned. And he would be questioned after what Finn had in mind.
Levi nodded. “Safe to say only one dragon started this fire?”
Meaning Graff. “I’d say so, but let me
know if evidence points to Rune’s folks or someone else.” Titus’s call from the local group had indicated only one dragon, but it was still worth investigating.
“You got it, boss.”
“Hold on tight, Delaney.” Finn spread his wings wide, waiting for that odd sensation of not having any control, but, while his neck continued to ache, the rest of his body functioned. With a heave, he launched them into the air.
Finn circled his men once, dipping his wings in a sign of thanks. For everything.
Then he tipped up into the sky, gaining altitude before they cleared away from the smoke. The higher the better, the camouflaging effect from the scales on his belly more effective from a distance, though he couldn’t go much above twelve-thousand feet or Delaney would have trouble breathing from lack of oxygen. He also remembered to stoke the fire inside his belly, keeping her warm.
“Where are we going?” she yelled over the wind.
“To mate.”
And pray to every god, goddess, demigod, and fate that he didn’t kill her. He couldn’t live without her.
The fear that he’d kill her was close to debilitating, wanting to freeze his muscles so he couldn’t fly, but the fear of losing Delaney to another man’s fire, or even to her own as her dragon sign got out of control, was just as powerful. The knowledge that she was his felt too right—bone deep, soul true—to be wrong. If another man tried to mate her, the process would kill her. Which meant Finn might very well be damned if he did and damned if he didn’t. He had to face the very real possibility of losing her either way. He had to take this chance.
…
To mate, he’d said.
Was it ridiculous that her first response to that answer was immediate, wanton need? Molten heat shooting straight to her core.
Her body was definitely ready, but was she? She hardly knew Finn when it came down to it.
Not true, a small voice inside her argued. You know he’d give his life to protect you.
She knew other things about him, too. The way he treated his men with respect. The way he’d jumped in to protect a human woman from a stalker before he knew much more, even at risk to himself and his men.
But was she ready to risk her life on the chance that she was right?
She risked her life if she waited. Graff was gone, but she’d bet anything he wasn’t the only psycho dragon shifter out there going after potential mates. Plus, her fires would only get worse. What kind of a life was that?
One without Finn.
Her entire body clenched in rejection of that thought.
Much sooner than she expected, Finn tipped his wings, spiraling down over mountains that were more like rolling foothills covered in a thick green swath of pine trees. She didn’t see the small cabin tucked into the uphill side of a small rise until they were close to landing.
Finn touched down so gently, she hardly felt more than the rocking motion of his body. Then he lowered himself to his belly and let her climb down. Was it crazy that she found the process fascinating and even a tad sexy? The magnificent dragon shimmered like a mirage as he morphed, his limbs reforming, pulling into his body. Scales were swapped for skin and hair and clothing, teeth and talons turned from monstrous to human, until, before her stood a man and not a beast. Incredible.
They faced each other across the clearing.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“My place.”
Delaney blinked, then stared at the small cabin. A series of stone steps led up to a front porch with a couple of chairs. The cabin itself was made of pine logs and sported a tin roof. It couldn’t hold much more than a handful of rooms.
She tipped her head. “It’s sort of perfect.”
Finn grinned. “Thanks.”
He grabbed her by the hand and tugged her up to the front door, which wasn’t locked.
“Aren’t you afraid of burglars?” she asked.
“Anyone this far out would have to carry their goods a hell of a long way back.”
That was true.
Inside she found a cozy combined living and kitchen space, all rustic woods and natural stone counters and leather chairs. To her right a large custom ladder led up to a loft and what she could see of a large king-size bed.
Before she could do more than gape, Finn swept her up into his arms, claiming her lips in a kiss that drove every single thing from her mind except for him. He still smelled heavily of smoke, but she liked it. The scent was Finn.
Home.
He nibbled at her lower lip, tugging it between his teeth only to soothe it with the tip of his tongue.
Just like that, her world narrowed to blue eyes, several-day-old scruff, and hands that lit a fire in their wake as he smoothed them over her body. With a sharply drawn in breath, he yanked back.
“What—”
He turned her to the ladder and gave her behind a smack. “Up you go.”
As soon as they both made it up to the landing, she turned into his arms, or maybe he pulled her around to him. Either way, she couldn’t get enough of him.
A sudden, strange bout of shyness overtook her.
Finn must’ve caught it in her expression or her posture, because he took her face in his hands. “We won’t do anything you’re not ready for.”
She licked dry lips. “Okay.”
“I need you to be crystal clear about a few things…” He paused and searched her face. For what, she had no idea.
“I already know I could die,” she whispered.
His lips flattened, blue eyes dulling. Was he thinking of the last time he did this? Of her? “You need to be sure. Really sure.”
Despite the fact that she’d been the one to ask him in the first place, she asked herself again if she was ready to take that leap all the way here. Now. In his arms.
The answer was a definitive yes.
“Do you know what I told Levi when you were up there fighting?”
He shook his head.
“I told him that if you died, I wouldn’t be far behind. I’ve survived a lot of pain in my life Finn, but deep in here…” She took his hand and placed it over her heart. “I know that I wouldn’t survive losing you. My soul is only half alive, half of itself without you.”
His whole body stilled, even his chest slowed, as if he wasn’t breathing.
“I’m sure,” Delaney said. “The question is, are you?”
Finn swallowed. “I’ve been here before. Not in this room, but on the verge of mating.”
She nodded and waited.
“Then I was sure because I trusted in the system, and she and I connected. It seemed to go like I expected it to.”
Did it make her a terrible person that jealously slithered through her at his words? Jealousy over a dead woman.
“But with you…” He shook his head. “My certainty comes from a gut-level need to never let you go. A knowledge that fate put you in my life for a reason.”
Unbidden, tears sprang up to sting the backs of her eyes before trailing down her cheeks.
Finn smiled and wiped them away with the pads of his thumbs. “So yes. I’m sure.” He swallowed. “Terrified, but sure.”
Delaney lifted a hand to his cheek. “This will work, and then you never have to be afraid of it again. Then I’ll be yours.”
She went up on tiptoe to resume the kissing. He put his hands on her shoulders and held her back.
“One more thing…”
“What?”
“Mating without going through the process and under the eye of the Mating Council is forbidden. Most likely we will have to turn rogue. It could mean a death sentence.”
“So why not go through the mating process?”
He grimaced and took both her hands in his. “It’s not guaranteed that I’d be included in the pool of candidates for you.”
“The politics?” she asked. “With your new king?”
“That, and I’ve already killed one. Shifters who kill more turn violent. Like Graff. And there are other reasons
.”
Oh, right. Everything they’d done, all the laws he’d broken, leading up to this moment, her lack of a brand. Delaney dropped to her heels and closed her eyes. Graff had been dead, what, an hour or two, and already she was back to running. Maybe that was her fate. To always run. But…
“As long as I’m running with you, then I don’t care.”
Before she could open her eyes, he yanked her into his arms, burying his face in her hair. “I hate to do this to you. You’ve been so brave, dealing with Graff on your own for so long.”
This time she pulled away to place her hand over his cheek, his scruff scratching at her palm. “Exactly. On my own. You’ve been alone, too. Even with your team. I don’t want to be alone any more, Finn.”
“Me neither.” His voice dropped to a smoky husk, rasping over her nerves.
“Good.” She placed her lips over his, gently, reverently. This man was the most incredible gift she could ever have imagined. That truth settled in her bones—like the truth of who she was, her own name.
Finn was her mate.
He took over the kiss, lips firming and commanding hers to respond. Immediately, the same need from only moments earlier returned, only with an edge to it.
Frantic need drove her fingers to his coat. “So much gear,” she grumbled between kisses. He was still dressed to tackle the Smith Fire.
After the second time she hissed with frustration, he stopped kissing her and they both worked on getting him out of the gear until he stood naked before her, his erection jutting out. Eager to touch, she reached for him, taking him in her hand and squeezing.
Finn grunted, then grabbed her wrist, pulling her away.
“Hey,” she protested.
“Not yet.”
Then he pushed her coat off her shoulders and yanked her shirt over her head. Delaney grinned and helped him with the rest until she was naked as well.
Finn ran his gaze over her and she felt every nuance as though he’d touched her with his hands and lips and tongue. Possessiveness that she’d only seen glimpses of before now blazed from those blue eyes.
“Lie on the bed and part your legs for me.”
Delaney grinned. Damn, she loved it when he took over.
Throbbing with need, she scooted backward onto the bed, then lay back and did as he asked, spreading her legs wide. Completely vulnerable and turned on as hell.