A Tale Of Two Dragons (Dragon Kin 0.2)(58)

Braith stared at him, her mouth open. “What?” he asked her. “What’s that look for?”

She looked over at his mother, and all Shalin could do was shake her head and say, “I know, dear. But you learn to love them despite it all.”

Confused, Addolgar began, “I don’t under—”

But before he could get his sentence out, Braith jumped off his lap, placed her travel bag over her shoulder, grabbed the neck of his chain-mail shirt, and yanked him out of the chair. Then, with a strength everyone in the universe should fear, she dragged him out of the dining hall, up the stairs, and to his room. She pushed him inside and slammed the door shut.

“Sit,” she ordered, tossing her travel bag near the bed.

“Yeah, but—”

“Sit!”

Addolgar sat on the bed.

Braith walked up to him and asked, “You want to Claim me?”

“Of course I do.” Addolgar thought a moment and then, his heart dropping, he asked, “You don’t want me to? You don’t love me?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“So you do love me?”

“I didn’t say that either.”

“Well, which is it, female?”

“Don’t bark at me!”

“Well, don’t play with my heart!”

“I’m not—”

Braith stopped, closed her eyes, took a breath.

After a few seconds, she said, her voice low, “I love you, Addolgar. And I can’t imagine anything I want more than being Claimed by you.”

Addolgar grinned. “See?”

“See?” Braith barked, glowering. “What should I see?”

“That we’re perfect together. How can you not see that?”

“You’re trying to drive me insane, aren’t you, Addolgar?”

“I don’t think so.” He thought a moment. “No. I’m pretty sure I’m not.”

Gods, what was she getting herself into with this dragon? Because he was big and ridiculous and some days just plain . . . goofy. But he was perfect for her, wasn’t he?

Addolgar suddenly grabbed Braith around the waist and again pulled her onto his lap.

“I’m so in love with you, Braith,” he told her, and she felt in her bones that he meant every word. “And do you know why?”

“I have no idea,” she replied honestly.

“Because I am such an amazing dragon that I know I richly deserve a She-dragon as wonderful as you. See?” he asked, grinning at her. “How could I not love you when you’re so clearly made for me?”

Aye, the big bastard would always be a handful. That she knew, too. But she didn’t care. Because like his mother had said, Braith would love him despite all the rest of it.

“You know I’m right, don’t you?” Addolgar guessed, winking at her and grinning. “I’m amazing. You’re amazing. And we’ll have amazing offspring. Strong and smart like their mum and able to take a good, solid head-butt like their da.”

Braith ran her hands through her hair. “We’re already having offspring?”

“Not right away. First you need to get proper battle training.”

“And why do you think that’s necessary?”

“Because you really enjoyed fighting those Lightnings, and you were really good at it. You can’t waste skill like yours, Braith. Plus, to be honest, you do have a warrior’s name. Braith of the Darkness. That’s a warrior’s name and you can’t waste a good warrior’s name.”

“I guess I didn’t understand the rules.”

“But now you know.”

Braith pushed Addolgar’s arms aside so that she could turn around and get back on his lap, her legs around his waist, her arms around his neck.

“I do love you, Addolgar,” she told him, loving how the words made his grin grow even wider. “More and more each day. It wasn’t just my kin I was missing in my life, but you. One without the other would break my heart, and I thought my heart was dead a long time ago.”

“Not dead, Braith.” Addolgar pushed her hair off her shoulders. “Just hibernating. Like a bear.”

She laughed and kissed Addolgar, the warmth of his mouth making her feel safe and loved. His hands clutched the back of her shirt as he deepened their kiss, his tongue exploring her mouth, reminding her why she enjoyed being human around Addolgar.

When the kiss ended, they were panting, Addolgar resting his forehead against hers.

“It will not be easy to leave you for the cold of the Northlands, luv.”

“But think of it this way . . . while you’re away, you won’t have to hear my aunts call you The Mountain.”

Addolgar rolled his eyes. “Is there any way we can get them to stop doing that?”

“Of course not.”

He rested his head on her shoulder. “I thought that’s what you’d say. . . .”

“No point in getting upset,” Braith said, running her hands through his hair. “Especially since I brought something just for you in my travel bag.”

Addolgar raised his head. “For me?”

“Uh-huh.”

Glancing over, Addolgar saw the bag lying on the floor. He grabbed it and, with Braith still on his lap, he dug his hand inside.