Page 37 of Draven

My first instinct was to push him away, to hide the mark of shame etched into my skin. But I forced myself to stay still, to let him see.

As he exposed the cursed rune on my chest, I braced myself for his reaction. Would he recoil in horror? Turn away in disgust?

But to my surprise, Tobias remained calm, his expression unreadable.

For a moment, the tension between us threatened to suffocate the air. My inner dragon roared, restless and agitated.

Part of me was a little worried he’d force me to change forms and hurt Tobias in the process.

But Tobias was our anchor, our common ground. We would both protect him at all costs.

"Draven, I'm sorry for everything you've been through," Tobias murmured.

As his fingers traced the cursed mark on my chest, I felt a warmth spread through me, a comfort I hadn't known in a long time.

"So, Belladonna, does she still have a hold on you?" Tobias asked, his gaze searching mine.

"Thankfully, no," I replied, gently lifting his hand from my skin and pressing a soft kiss to each fingertip.

Tobias flushed at the gesture, his smile lighting up his face in a way that made my heart skip a beat.

"Okay," he said once I was done, his eyes locked with mine. "I forgive you for not telling me earlier."

I raised an eyebrow, disbelief flickering in my eyes. Was it really that simple?

But then again, Tobias was special. He’d always been kind and understanding, generous not only to me but to everyone else.

"Just like that?" I couldn't keep the doubt out of my voice.

"Yeah, just like that," Tobias affirmed, leaning in close until our lips met in a tender kiss.

TOBIAS

Was I foolish for simply forgiving Draven after his explanation? Maybe, but as I looked into his eyes, I couldn't detect a single trace of deception.

The haunted look within them told me more than any words could convey. I understood his hesitance in revealing the truth from the beginning.

After all, we were still getting to know each other, and this Belladonna... If she could manipulate a dragon shifter, then she was far more dangerous and frightening than I had ever imagined.

But despite the fear lingering in the back of my mind, I couldn't deny the connection between Draven and me.

The warmth of Draven's lips against mine sent a shiver down my spine, igniting a spark that seemed to grow with each passing second.

Trust wasn't built overnight, but in that moment, as we shared this kiss, I felt a sense of connection that was undeniable.

His touch was electric, sending waves of pleasure through me that I couldn't ignore.

All of my doubts melted away, leaving only the intoxicating feeling of being with him. Draven closed one hand over the back of my neck, taking control.

A shiver of want went down my spine as he thrust his tongue down my throat.

I unbuttoned the rest of his shirt and this time, he no longer seemed conscious of the blackened rune on his chest.

When we parted from the kiss, I leaned down, kissed the tip of where the rune began and made my way down, tracing the mark.

I wanted to show him there was nothing to be ashamed of. This rune was a battle scar, and he should be proud of it.

Draven groaned when I knelt in front of him and unbuttoned his jeans. I unzipped him, a little gasp escaping my throat when I unveiled his glorious cock.