Page 61 of A Dragon's Curse

I pulled back enough that I could see his face, keeping my hands on his shoulders. “Even if I’m in a different realm.”

“Even then,” he promised, then winked. “Doesn’t mean I’ll be happy about it, but I’ll get over it. Your mother will make sure of that.”

I chuckled. “She always does.”

“Who always does what?” Mom asked as she strutted into the kitchen as if she hadn’t been standing in the hallway listening for most of that conversation.

“Oh, nothing,” Dad said.

My cheeks began to hurt, and my heart was fuller than it had been in far too long. Everything was nearly perfect, aside from the dark spot in my chest where the connection to Knox still festered inside me.

My mom walked around the smaller kitchen table and came up behind me, hugging me from behind. “You’re an incredible woman, and you’ve found yourself a rather respectful mate.”

I wanted to grumble that he was a little too respectful, but I didn’t think my father would appreciate that.

“Thanks, Mom.” My head leaned back against her shoulder, and my hands were still entwined with my dad’s. We stayed like that, quiet in each other’s company, just soaking up the warmth of our little family until Cillian came back downstairs.

When he entered the kitchen, he came to an abrupt stop, then backed up until I called for him.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” he said, freshly showered, wearing fresh jeans and a new light-grey shirt. He smelled as if he needed to be licked from head to toe.

My heart began to race, and I had to let go of my dad’s hands because…just no. I stood up from the chair and I nodded toward the back yard. “We should go before Beatrix leaves without us.”

Mom made an awkward noise from behind. Awkward for me, at least. I had no doubts that she knew why I was eager to leave.

Cillian stepped toward me, but then turned to my father and shook his hand. “Thank you for letting me stay in your pack and trusting me with your daughter.”

Fuck, he really was respectful. I was merely ready to bolt and there was my mate, making nice with my parents.

Dad nodded. “That trust only lasts until she gets hurt.”

I rolled my eyes and turned to say goodbye to Mom whose arms were already open and waiting for me. “Be safe and trust your instincts. We don’t know what that extra boost of power you had is from. I wish we had more time to figure it out, but I understand that you don’t. Just be careful.”

“Always.” I hugged her tightly, then turned to my dad before things could get too emotional.

His embrace was quick as well, but he held tightly to my biceps and kept me close a beat longer. “You know who you are, Dawsyn. Never forget that.”

A heaviness settled over me, and I nodded. I may not have known all the words to explain who I was, but in my heart, I agreed with him.

I was Dawsyn Chase. The daughter of two alpha wolves and the mate of a dragon, but more than those things, I was…something powerful. I’d sensed that for a long time now and it was why I’d wanted to know if there had ever been Luna Marked children before. I’d thought that I needed to figure out what that something was to feel whole, but coming home made me realize that wasn’t the case.

I needed to believe in myself and know that I was capable of so much more than I’d yet to realize, but I would when the time was right.

Cillian was already at the back door by the time I pulled away from my father and I took another, longer look at him. I had no idea where the clothes had come from, because my mate was taller and broader than my dad, but damn, I still wanted to lick him.

The tips of his still-wet hair hung over his forehead, and his skin glowed. Though, not as bright as it did back home where he didn’t have to conceal his dragon.

The shirt fit snugly across his chest, and the jeans made me want to pinch his ass cheeks.

I shook my head, once again wondering how the hell I resisted him for those first couple of weeks.

Temporary insanity is my vote, my wolf chimed.

You don’t get a vote, I said as I walked out the door with Cillian, a grin on my face.

I sensed my wolf’s disagreement, but she went back to her meditating, which I was okay with. Breaks from having a voice in my head were sometimes nice, and figuring out what our extra strengths were would be helpful before we got back to Drago.

“About damn time,” Beatrix grumbled with her back to us as she began to open a portal. “Let’s go.”