She saw Neo in the wildness of his gaze that flowed over her and fixed on her. She reached out to him through their mating bond and felt the thud of his heart, the flap of his wings as he snapped them out. His neck stretched, his claws dug into the ground, and he flew at them, half off the ground, half in the air.
The blood surged through him—she felt it and the heat of his animal spirit, the knowledge of her past and his spear through him, and the future. That one straight line was theirs, together.
It was so strange looking at the world through his eyes.
It was like she saw everything unfolding from a distance. She could feel his fear, his worry, his need to go to her all course inside him. The mating bond throbbed, and the violet flame pulsed through it. Their joined energies filled her with such hope and ecstasy. For a second, she was transported to a space where they were together.
Then the flame receded. She felt the sand beneath her feet, the slice of pain as the Fae Lord dug his nails into her upper arm and dragged her away from him.
Igor took a step back, and another, the distance between her and the dragon widening.
He raised his neck and sprang toward her. She squinted from the gust of wind as his massive wings fanned the air. He rose then opened his jaws and shot out a blaze of flames in a circle around them. The flames leaped high, gold, silver, and violet.
The air around her grew thin, and the oxygen was being sucked out of her lungs, and she gasped. Igor was going to teleport with her.
She reached out through their fledging connection and merged her spirit with Neo’s.
The mating bond snapped into place.
The shock of it pulsed through the dragon, and she felt the love in his heart, his need for her, the fear he’d lose her, the hope for the future.
She took all of it and absorbed it back into herself. If this was the last memory of their being together, she was going to take it with her.
Around her the scene ebbed and flowed.
The portal grew larger and closed in on them. The dragon swooped toward them.
She felt the heat of his beating heart, the cut of the fire that poured from him as the tongue of dragon fire reached for them.
Then she sensed Igor reach for the darkness. He made a lasso and flung it at the dragon. It fell over his neck and tightened.
Neo’s body shuddered. His dragon thrashed and tried to shake off the lasso, but he only succeeded in tightening it further.
She smelled burning flesh. Igor had drawn on hellfire itself and fashioned the noose out of it.
Neo raised his neck and roared, his big body trembled, and his wings snapped out as he flapped and tried to stay upright. His body quivered, his muscles spasmed, and he strained at the leash. The more he fought, the more the noose tightened around him. His dragon shrieked in pain, in his need to go to her.
Just as Igor began teleporting out.
She couldn’t leave Neo. Couldn’t live without him. She had waited for him to come to her. Waited for him to rescue her. No more.
Anger coursed through her, and she drew deep into herself to where the white light of her unicorn pulsed.
Drawing it up and around her, she let it speed through her veins. That’s when she realized the white was edged with violet. It was their combined energies which was faster, more lethal than anything she’d experienced. It was as pure as her and fiery like him; it was fierce and full of life.
She drew it over her and allowed their joined energies to take over.
It swam through her veins to her forehead and concentrated on her third eye. The power focused and spiraled out. Pure, white, and deadly.
Fight, Neo. She pulsed the thought at him through the bond.
Her hopes and love, her determination for him to face his fears, to triumph over the darkness, and find that balance that was so important, she let him feel all of it.
Come to me… She poured her need for him through the bond, felt his dragon react to her.
Every muscle in his body shook, his cells contracted, and she felt the fierceness in him as he strained to overcome the fears that filled his mind. The violet light flooded forward through the bond then drew back.
Her heart hammered, her muscles quivered. Igor’s darkness oozed over her, reaching for Neo as the noose tightened around him. Do it, break his hold on you, Neo. She realized that’s what he’d been afraid of all along. It wasn’t the scars, it was the hold Igor had had on him since he’d tortured the boy he’d been. The man he was now needed to fight back, especially after he’d been tortured by Igor all over again. He needed to do this, to rid himself of Igor’s power over him.
With a last surge of strength, she pushed all the white light through the bond toward him, and his dragon reached for it on the psychic plane.
The violet strengthened, and with a roar, the dragon’s muscles flexed, and he broke the noose around him.
His dragon surged forward, the flames flaring from him, just as the light tunneled through to her fingertips and feet, then fountained up to her forehead, a churning vortex of white light in the shape of a horn.
Turning, she plunged the beam of white light into Igor’s arm, cutting through it.
At the same time, the dragon flew up into the air, over the beach, opening his jaw, and rained violet fire through the vortex on them. It flowed over her, filling her cells, her nerve ends shuddering, as if she bathed in his essence.
Igor screamed, and the sound echoed through the portal. The noise receded, and with it the darkness he had thrown over them, and then they were falling, through the air toward the sea.
She hit the waves, and the force of it snapped her body back. Her muscles shook, the breath squeezed out of her. Her arms and legs trembled. The power of transformation breezed through her, forcing her back to her human form.
The violet light of their combined selves flushed through her, overwhelmed her senses, and pulled her under.
35
Neo
Neo saw her transform, and then her body was one long column of light as it swooped toward the waves.
His heart raced, his pulse pounded, and everything inside him screamed with fear.
Neo’s dragon folded his wings close to his back, made his body as sleek as possible, and dived in after her.
He wasn’t going to lose her.
Little flickers of silver and gold trailed in her wake. It was almost beautiful, and once more he was reminded of how different she was, how she’d saved his life—again.
She was almost at the waves, that long blonde hair of hers streaming behind. With a screech, he put on a burst of speed, swooped below her, the underbelly of his chest skimming the waves, throwing up a fountain of water that drenched him. He lowered his neck, fanned out his wings, and caught his mate before she could reach the water.
With another screech — of relief this time — he glided with the air currents, back to the beach, coming in to land just beyond the waves. Lowering his neck, he rolled his precious cargo onto his wings, sliding her down gently, until her body touched the sand.
Even before her entire body flowed into the sand, he shifted.
Bending his knees, he gathered her close.
On the psychic plane, their bond pulsed with life. He could sense her there, sensed her life, yet her body was still.
Sweat broke out on his forehead and mingled with saltwater to run into his eyes, making them stream. His heart pounded painfully. Tilting back her head, he pushed open her mouth and blew his own breath into her.
There was no response.
He interlocked his fingers and compressed it, trying to revive her heart.
Nothing.
His limbs went cold, and his palms trembled. Fear skittered down his spine, and he swore. What was he going to do? On the psychic plane, that mating bond still hummed with life. He dropped into himself, drew on the fire of his dragon, and pulsed his heat, his essence, the flames of what he felt for her, all of it he pushed through the bond toward her. The viole
t grew even stronger, deeper, more resonant, then with a rush, it swooped into her, down the bond and over her.
Gathering her close, he brushed his lips over her, gently, just a touch.
The essence of him still flowed into her, nourishing her. A gust of sea breeze coasted over them, and goosebumps rose on her skin. Without even consciously deciding it, he allowed the dragon fire to flood his veins, spread over his skin, over her. Bright white and brilliant violet, it floated over their joined bodies and was absorbed by her. It sank into her skin.
It was the most beautiful sight he’d seen. The color seeped into her face, and he placed his palm against her cheek.
A shuddering breath flowed from her, and she opened her eyes—indigo eyes with silver flames that stared at him. It was as if it was an amalgamation of the both of them; he saw their future in them.
“You saved me.”
One side of his lips quirked, and relief surged through his limbs. “About time, don’t you think?” He lowered his forehead to hers. “When I saw you fall, I knew I’d never put you through this again. I didn’t trust you, Trina, I’m so sorry.” A teardrop made its way down his cheek to fall on her lips.
She licked it, and her eyes widened. “Your tears, they taste sweet.”
“And my fire doesn’t burn you either.” He glanced down at their entwined bodies where the flames wrapped the two of them. Sparks of sliver and indigo zoomed out above them…
“Oh!” She swallowed. She held out an arm, and a single flame streaked up it to burst into tiny lightning bolts at her fingertips. She giggled.
A light sound, so happy and carefree.
His heart stuttered. “I love you, Trina.”
36
Trinity
She heard his words, and a thrill ran through her. She wanted to echo it back and tell him what he wanted to hear, yet something inside her felt shy. Or perhaps there was this mischievous side of her she was only now discovering that didn’t want to tell him what he wanted to hear, didn’t want to give it to him so easily. Her unicorn energy streaked through the mating bond, playful and happy. “Are you only going to tell me or are you going to show me, too?”
He frowned at that. “You’ve just had a shock. I’d feel better if we got you home and made sure you were all fine and—”
His gaze widened, and his shoulders flexed. He looked down.
She curled her fingers around his rapidly thickening arousal. “I’m not sure the rest of you agrees with that? Hmm.”
“Dios.” He swore lightly.
She shivered at his voice, that deep, sexy voice that tugged at her nerve endings. “When you swear like that, it really does turn me on.”
“It does?” The skin around his eyes tightened. He raised his face to hers.
She nodded.
He curled his fingers around hers. “What else turns you on about me, Trina?”
“Your calling me by my nickname. No one has done that before.”
Leaning down, he licked her lips. “Trina. Beautiful, gorgeous, ethereal.”
She squeezed his hardness.
He gasped. “Warrior princess, Trina.”
“Much better.” Sitting up, she pushed down on his shoulders with her free hand.
With a thud, he sprawled on his back.
The expanse of his body spread out in front of her.
The lean abs, the thickly corded thighs, and the pulsing arousal that was growing by the second between them, engorged and filling her palm. Moisture pooled between her legs. Her throat felt parched. She wanted this man, wanted him to show her how it could be to experience the pleasure of her body.
“You sure you’re up for this because—”
She shut him up the only way she knew. She leaned in and closed her lips around his arousal.
“Dios.” He swore over her. “You are driving me over the edge.”
That was the idea, but she wasn’t going to let him know that. She was tired of being treated like she was made of something delicate. Just because she had the power to cure, didn’t mean she didn’t want to feel how it was to be a woman. And he was her mate, and damn, but she was tired of holding back. She wanted him, right then, and she’d allow nothing to come between them. Not then, not ever.
His thighs tensed, but he didn’t move.
He was waiting to see what she’d do next.
Like he was okay for her to take control. He was an alpha dragon shifter, a sexy, dominant male, but he’d let her take the lead. It was the headiest thing ever. It made her want to please him, and really, she was actually pleasuring herself.
She swirled her tongue over the sensitive tip of his hardness.
He groaned.
The sound slithered over her skin, leaving pinpricks of fire in their wake. She traced her tongue over the thick vein that pulsed across the base.
He throbbed and grew even bigger, if that were possible.
His fingers curled around the nape of her neck. He gripped her there. She sensed he was close to losing control.
He was sensual, fiery fire itself. She never thought she’d be with a man, or have a true mate, and be able to bring him close to the edge. It made her feel powerful. Gave her the confidence to go with her instinct. To slide her mouth down and take him in.
This time his muscles jerked, and his back arched off the ground. A plume of heat rolled off him and crashed over her.
Sweat trickled down her spine, and she found she was panting and aroused more than she’d thought possible. She’d never realized the ability to give pleasure itself was such a turn on.
He slid both hands into her hair, raking his nails across her scalp.
The hair on her forearms stood up, and another thrum of desire crackled down her spine.
Sliding him out of her mouth, she then climbed over his broad chest. “I’ve never met anyone like you. I’ve never felt anything so absolutely as when I am with you. I want to crawl inside your skin and own you.” She swallowed, not sure where the words were coming from, or how she was even able to articulate her thoughts. “I love you, Neo.”
A shudder shook his shoulders. Then he cupped her face. “Let me show you how beautiful it can be to make love with a soul mate.”
He raised his head and met her lips. The sweetest, softest, touch. Her eyelids fluttered down. All her senses were focused on just one spot, one touch. On where he made love to her mouth with his.
He tasted of silk and honey and that biting edge of rain she was coming to associate with him. It was like he was sharing all of him, his essence, his past, his future hopes, his joys, fears, and sorrows.
She wouldn’t have thought it would be possible to feel so close to someone with just a kiss. It was the most intimate experience of her life. Tears pricked her eyes, and she did nothing to stop them from spilling over.
On the psychic plane, the violet essence of their joined selves throbbed and grew deeper.
The earth tilted, and when she opened her eyes, she was below him, her neck supported under his hand, and he was looking down at her with such an intense expression, with so much devotion, her cheeks flushed. “Ah, it seems we’ve been here before.”
He leaned in and rubbed his nose against hers. His eyes gleamed. He raised his hips, pulled her legs apart, and then he plunged into her, taking her in one smooth move.
37
Neo
She cried out.
His heart slammed against his rib cage. “Trina…” He leaned over her, and his breath lifted the hair on her forehead. “Did I hurt you?”
She shook her head, and her shoulders shuddered again. Her eyelids fluttered. “You made me feel alive, like I could feel myself completely in my own body for the first time.” She peered up at him through half-closed eyelids. “Did I just say that?” She bit her lower lip.
“You mean you like this?” He lifted her legs under the knees, spreading her impossibly wide, and slanted his hips, just enough, and slid in even deeper.
That time, his groan joi
ned her gasp of surprise.
“Yeah, exactly like that.” She bit down on her lower lip.
He stayed poised over her, his biceps flexed with the effort of keeping his weight off her. He wanted to give her enough time to adjust to his size, to make sure he went slow.
That soft heat of hers flowed over his, bleeding into his veins and rushing to his head. His heart beat faster.
“There’s something missing.” Her voice was husky. It had that edge of mischievousness he was coming to expect from her. He’d also begun to realize when she got that way it meant trouble.
This time, though, he wasn’t falling for her bait. He was going to make sure he took her with him all the way. “Let me guess.” He raked the back of his knuckles up the side of her thigh and down to where they were joined together. He rubbed the heel of his palm over the softest, most sensitive part of her.
A cry was drawn out of her, and her hands snaked around his shoulders, her nails dug in, and she came apart in his arms.
The liquid moistness of her clasped over him, and he gritted his teeth, holding himself back, holding her as the shudders of her climax flowed around him.
Her face flung back, and she bared her neck. A flush of red highlighted her cheeks.
“You’re beautiful, Trina.”
Her lips trembled, and the column of her neck moved as she swallowed. “I think that was maybe the most spiritual experience of my entire life.”
He angled her hips. “And we’re just getting started, babe.”
He pulled out, all the way, then remained there poised, for just a second. Drinking in how she looked all aroused, ready, and wanting him. Until she opened her eyes, scissored her legs around him, and he plunged in. Again. And again.
Rising up, she kissed him. Her lips clung to his, her tongue tangled with his. It was like she was making love to him, imitating his thrusts with her tongue, even as his flesh slammed into her.
The pressure built at the base of his spine and radiated out, then, she framed his face and stared into his eyes. He held her gaze, even as his climax shuddered through him and he came inside her. A groan was torn out of him. She closed her mouth over his and absorbed the sound. It was like she was taking him in, all of him, in one go. Sparks of indigo, violet, and silver flashed over them. She peeked up, her eyes wide, and he followed her gaze to see the flames shoot up from their bodies.
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