The Next Day

Markus couldn’t help but smile as he walked next to his Valorie while they explored the ranch. They had planned to go exploring yesterday, but they barely left the bedroom except to get food or shower…which led to more lovemaking.

In between bouts of amazing sex, they talked about their lives. He told her what it was like growing up on Drakonia, of his first time flying in dragon form, the day his little sister was born, and the day his father died in battle. In turn, she told him how her family abandoned her, how her ex-boyfriend used her, spent her money, and left her in Dragoon. It tore him up to hear how no one had treated Valorie with love and kindness. She deserved so much better than what life had given her and he was determined to fix that situation.

They were waiting for the arrival of his mother and sister. His dragon sensed their closeness, something he hadn’t felt in ten years. Blood called to blood—he would recognize their dragons anywhere.

“Look up into the sky, there.” He pointed toward the rocky mountain terrain. He saw two dragon figures coming closer and closer. The figures disappeared on the other side of the trees as they lowered to mere feet from the ground. They lost sight of them. “Come on, let’s go greet them.”

“It’s daylight. Aren’t they worried someone would see two huge dragons in the sky?”

“The ranch is very remote and the terrain prevents others from getting too close. I would assume that they would most likely think that they saw large birds of prey.” He took her hand and headed down the dirt path leading to the trees.

He stopped walking when he saw them, his mother and sister. His mother looked the same as she did when she left Drakonia, but his sister—she had grown into a beautiful dark-haired female.

“Markus!” his mother cried out, choking on tears as she rushed to him and threw herself into his arms.

“Mother, I thought I might never see you again!”

“We thought the worst, that you had taken your final flight. Thank the stars we were wrong.”

He pulled back and opened his arms for his little sister. “Destiny, I made a promise to find you.”

His sister hesitated for a moment, then she too threw herself into his arms. He held both of them close, breathing in their scents so that he would be able to find them if he needed to. “I am truly blessed.” All three of them cried, rejoicing.

Glancing back, he noticed that Valorie was wiping tears from her eyes. He let his mother and sister go so that he could motion Valorie to come forward. When she didn’t move, he reached for her hand and pulled her to his side.

“I want to introduce you to my mate, Valorie. Valorie, this is my mother Lania, and my sister Destiny.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” Valorie reached out to shake hands but that was not his people’s normal greeting. He hadn’t told her that. She pulled her hand back after she felt his hesitation, and he squeezed her shoulders in comfort.

His mother and sister wiped their tears and turned their attention to Valorie. His mother frowned but his sister was more verbal with her thoughts.

“You’re human.”

“Yes, I am.”

His mother looked at him in concern. “Does King Reichardt know?”

“Yes.”

“He allowed it?”

Markus stiffened as he answered, “He has no say in it. She’s my true mate and we are fully bonded.”

Destiny leaned forward and sniffed at Valorie. “She smells a little bit like a dragon. How is that possible?”

“I shared my dragon fire with her. She was dying at the time.”

“What? None have survived dragon fire!” His mother sounded incredulous.

“It’s because she’s my true mate, or she would have also died.”

Noticing how Valorie pulled away, he reached for her emotions and found her hurt and rejected. “Valorie, they’re not rejecting you.”

His mother finally stepped forward. “Of course we’re not rejecting you. You are a surprise, a welcomed one.” She took Valorie’s hand in hers.

“Our people first came here with hopes of making this our new home. Over time, no new mates were found. At one time we did attempt to mate with humans. There were two possible outcomes. Either the dragon fire was withheld, the human would age and die, and the Drakonian would mourn the loss and sometimes try to take their own life. Or the dragon fire was given…but only a handful of humans were given the dragon fire and all of them died. Because of those fatal outcomes, the kings’ council ruled that our people were to keep their distance from humans and no one was to attempt mating with one.”

Valorie looked at him in concern. “Are you in trouble with the kings because of me?”

Markus kissed her forehead. “Of course not, you’re my bonded mate. There is nothing even the kings could do to change that.”

He turned when he heard the dragon call. “I must go, the other kings are arriving.” He hugged his mother and sister again. “Would you show Valorie around the ranch while I’m gone?”

His mother patted him on the arm. “Of course, I’m looking forward to getting to know my new daughter.”

Destiny wrapped an arm through Valorie’s. “I am so excited to finally have a sister. I get to tell you everything about Markus.”

He laughed. “Don’t scare her off, little bit.” He turned and walked away, feeling like the most blessed Drakonian that ever lived. He not only found his true mate, he got his family back as well. Those three females had his heart. He would get this meeting with the kings over with so that he could return to them.