Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Heat flared in Brooks’s gaze. “That’s not going to happen.”
“It will, and you will simultaneously hate and love your spankings. Now, we are both hungry. Let’s get dressed and we’ll head to breakfast.”
“I’d like to go get my things,” Brooks asked.
“After breakfast, let’s take care of that.”
“Can we use the front door this time instead of the ring of deadly flames?” Brooks requested.
“Of course, mate. We’ll save the waterfall entrance for emergencies. How about I give you a quick tour of your new home, so you’ll know your way around.”
“Thanks. This place is huge.”
When they were dressed, Rogan showed him the main areas of the mansion, highlighting rooms that they would use frequently as well as all the entrances and main corridors. He hated that Keres had negatively impacted Brooks’s arrival. Hopefully, making new happy memories would eliminate any scary flashbacks. Rogan stressed that nothing had ever penetrated his deceptively beautiful fortress and Brooks would be safe here.
While Keres no longer lurked in the area. Rogan had alerted the other members of the horde of the attack. When he could leave his mate to meet with the others alone, all the dragons minus Keres would gather to discuss their options for dealing with the black dragon’s growing menace to the horde. Something needed to happen. Soon.
Chapter 4
Despite his vow to never ride a dragon again, Brooks clung to the red dragon’s neck as he flew toward the old city center of Wyvern. He focused on the beauty of the view. Everything looked so small below him.
Brooks hugged Rogan a bit harder at the thought of tumbling from this distance. Thank goodness heights had never scared him. Not that Rogan would let him get hurt. His hand smoothed over the glistening scales that protected the dragon’s hide. Rogan was beautiful.
An image of Rogan’s chiseled body popped into his mind. Pure power. It boggled his mind how attracted he was to the dragon shifter. Brooks would never have even fantasized about any of the changes that had occurred. First mated, then a male/male relationship, and finally finding himself dominated by a force he craved more than Brooks wanted to admit.
Are you okay, Adventurer?
Rogan’s deep voice inside his mind made Brooks shiver. Even his voice was sexy. I’m fine, he thought back, still testing their connection. All the changes are tumbling around in my mind.
Change is hard. I hope you’ll decide this is a positive branch in your path.
Brooks didn’t answer that. The ties that connected them grew stronger with each moment that passed. His feelings also deepened. His mind just needed to catch up.
A wave of reassurance floated over his thoughts, making him smile. Brooks savored Rogan’s mental caress. Interacting with him showed Brooks the emptiness in his life. Perhaps that unfulfilled part of him had caused his roaming.
Had he always been gay? Could he have not known himself to that extent?
You thought that strongly, mate. I think you’re worrying about something that’s easily answered. Perhaps our sexual parts aren’t the important component here. The connection supersedes everything. You could be purple and me from the moon. Our mating bond would still tie us together.
That thought struck Brooks between the eyes. Nothing was important except for their fated union. His self-questioning faded away.
Thank you, Rogan.
I’ve been around a few more years than you, Brooks. That has given me a lot of time to consider the mate bond from different perspectives. The most important thing for you to remember is that I treasure you.
A comfortable silence fell between them until Brooks spotted his grandmother’s home. There, Rogan. Ahead of us. That’s weird. The door is painted red now. Where should we stop so you can shift?
Thanks to no traffic, I’ll land at the front door.
Rogan trumpeted a warning before landing smoothly in front of the red door. Elenore opened the door and stood with her hands at her heart as Brooks slid off to land on the cobblestones. A round of enthusiastic applause sounded, surprising him. The neighbors had gathered to celebrate.
Not sure what to do, Brooks froze in place until Rogan’s powerful arm wrapped around his waist.
“Thank you, everyone,” Elenore called to those celebrating with them.
“Yes, thank you,” Brooks echoed.
“Come, mate. Let’s go inside,” Rogan suggested and guided him to the entrance.
“Red dragon, as the Guardian of the Battlefield family, I welcome you into our home. Please come in,” Elenore said politely.
“Thank you, Elenore of Battlefield. I am pleased to be mated to your family,” Rogan told her as they stepped inside. “Thank you for declaring our union at your portal.”
“Of course.” Elenore rushed forward to hug her grandson. “Brooks, are you okay?”
“I’m confused, but happy. Rogan is helping me adjust. Becoming a dragon’s mate was not on my radar.”
“Of course not. It is very rare. May I make you some lunch?”
Brooks glanced at Rogan, hoping his mate would pick up that he wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible.