Sentinel of Darkness

by Katie Reus

  “You were a little bit surly with some of your friends earlier today.” He’d seemed so chill that his behavior had surprised her—even more surprising, none of the men had seemed to think it was odd.

  “Now that you know you’re my mate, I can be more honest. When or if we ever mate, until that point, I’ll probably growl at any male who gets too close to you. Whether they are happily mated or not.”

  “Is that a shifter thing?”

  “Yes. And dragons in particular. Actually no, it’s just a shifter thing. We’re all insane.”

  She laughed at that and leaned up on tiptoe to brush her lips over his. “I’m not ready for sex. Not yet.” Okay, she wasn’t sure if she was, which pretty much told her she might not be ready yet. “But I would like to share a bed with you tonight.”

  His dragon bled into his eyes for just a moment before the man took over once more. “Then you definitely don’t belong in the guest room.” He picked up her bags and took her hand in his. “I want your scent all over my sheets anyway.”

  That had to be the weirdest and sexiest thing any man had ever said to her. And she found she liked it way too much—she liked him way too much.

  Chapter 14

  Keva sat on Dagen’s back porch, stretching her legs out as she sipped on her wine. After delivering her stuff to his room, Dagen had received a phone call. Something to do with business, so she’d decided to hunt down a drink and try to get her head on straight. Especially after that make-out session, and then everything he’d admitted about her being his mate.

  It was so much to take in, and she was trying to come to terms with it. Especially since he hadn’t fully explained everything. She understood his wariness though. He’d laid himself bare to her.

  “Keva,” a familiar female voice said from the darkness, startling her.

  She almost spilled her drink but straightened, looking around. “Arya?”

  The tall, strong woman stepped out of the darkness and smiled. She was clothed in cargo pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt. And Keva was pretty certain that she had some knives strapped to her thighs. Slightly different from the way she dressed in town. She seemed to have more weapons than usual anyway.

  “Is everything okay?” she asked, starting to stand from the chaise.

  “Yes, please sit.” Then the dragon shifter sat next to her, stretching out as she looked up at the stars and night sky. “Where is Dagen?”

  “Making some phone calls. I decided to get some fresh air.”

  “Sorry about your workshop. I heard the damage wasn’t too bad.”

  She leaned back too, enjoying the beautiful night. “Yes, I got really lucky. Well, lucky that your clanmates were there and able to stem the fire before it had gotten too bad.”

  “So, what bothers you tonight?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I can sense it rolling off you. What’s going on? Other than the fire. I thought I saw some of Dagen’s flames around his house earlier and thought you two were finally getting mated.”

  She said it as if it was so normal that it took Keva a second to understand that those fires had been visible everywhere. Not just inside Dagen’s room. “Ah, you saw the flames?”

  “Of course. It’s another reason dragons often live isolated from humans. Giving humans a light show isn’t something we need to do on a regular basis.”

  “I didn’t know I was his mate. I didn’t know any of this.” It still frightened her a little, but excited her as well.

  Arya shrugged. “He’s a good dragon.”

  “I know. I’m just worried about the power difference between us. My ex was not a good man, and looking back I realize I should have seen it a lot earlier. But he was kind enough in the beginning and he wound up using that strength against me.”

  “I’m not saying that a dragon would never do that to his or her mate, but dragon matings are rare and powerful. If the two of you mate, you’ll be linked literally until death do you part. If he dies you will die, and vice versa. So you have a lot of power over him no matter what you think about the different dynamics.”

  Arya’s words slammed into her, the severity of them settling in her bones. “Wait…are you serious? Then I would basically be his weakness.”

  “Dragons don’t care about that. They only care about their mates. He would keep you safe. Besides, if you do get mated, you would become stronger anyway. Maybe not the same level as him, but your life expectancy will lengthen and you will grow stronger each year that passes.”

  Holy wow. “It’s just so much to take in. I guess…I’m afraid.”

  “I understand.”

  Keva snorted softly before she could stop herself, then she laughed lightly, embarrassed. “Sorry, it’s hard to imagine you afraid of anything.” The woman seemed invincible.

  “I have three children and one grandchild on the way. I don’t waste time worrying, but I lost my son once. After that I let fear build up inside for a long time because I was afraid for my other two children. Living in constant fear is no way to live at all.”

  “You lost your son?”

  “Yes. Drake. I got him back.”

  She hadn’t known that. “Good.”

  “So what are you afraid of exactly?”

  “After what you just told me it feels stupid to admit that I’m afraid of getting my heart broken.” Because she wasn’t afraid Dagen would hurt her. At first she had been, but now? No. She was going with her instinct. He wouldn’t hurt her, not physically anyway.

  “It’s not stupid. But I will tell you dragons are a faithful bunch. Once mated, that male would literally follow you into Hell. He would die for you. And judging by the way he looks at you now, the man will worship you for all time. What more do you want?”

  “I don’t know how to respond to that. Mainly because everything you said is really smart.”

  “Yes, I am very wise. And I am very rarely wrong.” There wasn’t an ounce of humility or humor in Arya’s voice.

  Keva started laughing despite the tenseness in her chest. Something told her she was going to adore this woman forever. “You’ve given me a lot to think about. Thank you. Did you want to see Dagen, by the way? I never asked why you stopped by.”

  “I simply stopped by to check on you. You’re going to be part of our clan soon despite any reservations you might have. I’m very good about predicting these things. So you’re one of my people, which means I get to check on you.”

  Keva found herself touched—and realized that even though she’d lost her familial anchors so many years before, she’d started to find new ones. Dagen and his wonderful clan could destroy her if things didn’t work out. But if they did work out? She blinked, shelving the thought for now. “How’s Victoria doing after the party?”

  “Stubborn healer.”

  “Well…she seems to know how much stress she can take. So I don’t think you have much to worry about.”

  Arya made a sort of growling, disgruntled sound. “You sound just like her. And I know she’s right. But she is one of the few beings I do worry about, and my feelings are definitely irrational where she’s concerned. But I can’t help it. So I don’t fight it much.”

  Keva was surprised by how much the older woman was opening up to her, but she really liked it. And she understood why the clan, Dagen included, seemed to adore Arya.

  Silence stretched between them for a few moments but it wasn’t awkward. Then Arya stood in a fluid motion, all lethal grace and beauty. “I’m going to get home. I miss my mate. Don’t waste your life letting fear eat you up inside.” Arya walked across the backyard and vanished into the shadows.

  All right, then.

  Picking up her still mostly full wineglass, she headed inside, ready to do exactly as Arya had said. Yes, she was afraid of getting her heart broken, but Dagen had proven himself to be pretty much the perfect man in every way. The flames thing might have freaked her out, but she loved that he could turn into a dragon. She had to stop letting the past c
ontrol her actions. She might not be ready to formally mate right now, but she was ready for something. Something more.

  At that thought, she left the wine in the kitchen and hurried up the stairs. It was time to take back her life, with both hands.

  She was starting by getting naked with the sexiest man she’d ever met. Fire burned inside her as she practically sprinted to find him.

  * * *

  Dagen heard Keva rushing up the stairs as he set his phone down. She’d gone outside, and he’d heard her talking softly to Arya. But he’d respected her privacy so he’d turned on a white noise machine. It wasn’t always possible to ignore conversations, but he did his best, and with her, he never wanted to violate her privacy. It was difficult enough for her to be a human surrounded by supernaturals.

  He paused when he heard the soft knock on his bedroom door. Surprised, he realized he needed to make it clear she didn’t need to knock. Ever. Opening the door, he started to tell her just that when she barreled inside.

  With her dark hair pulled back, and wearing sleep shorts and a tank top, he wanted to tug her ponytail free before peeling her clothing from her body. Tonight her scent was stronger than normal, all wild ocean.

  “Look, I’m not ready to get mated. But I want to be with you. Just you, full-on exclusive. Which I know we already established. But I wanted to reiterate that since you’ve really put yourself out there for me. I like you. A lot. And I’m terrified that you’ll break my heart. But I’m not going to waste another second worried about all the what-ifs in the world. Because I could literally die tomorrow and I would regret not being with you. Also, I now know a little more about the whole mating process, courtesy of Arya, and it’s freaking me out—because I will always be a weakness for you. I hate that.” She machine-gunned the words at him, barely taking a breath.

  Dagen barely processed the last few bits. The only thing he really cared about was the fact that she said she wanted to be with him. “You could never be a weakness,” he growled. Ever. She could only ever be his everything.

  She gave him the sweetest smile and said, “Well, that’s up for debate. But what isn’t—I want to get naked right now. Both of us.”

  His brain almost short-circuited. The two of them naked? Oh yes.

  Dagen had started to ask if she was sure that she wanted this when she slowly lifted her little tank top over her head and tossed it to the side. Then went the shorts.

  At that moment his brain really did short-circuit. Standing before him wearing absolutely nothing—it was all he could do not to toss her onto the bed and worship her body.

  Instead, he went down on his knees in front of her, his flames spreading across the entire room, including her. He was desperate to taste between her legs, to taste her pleasure before he took her. “Leg over my shoulder,” he managed to rasp out. He wasn’t sure he could get much more out than that. Not when she wanted him and smelled like heaven.

  She seemed surprised by his demand, and maybe he should have gone slower, but he wasn’t going to deny his nature. Sighing softly, she leaned back against the bedroom door as he gently teased his finger along her slick folds—and groaned. She was perfection.

  She shuddered, letting out a moan of her own, and it nearly undid him. He buried his face between her legs, flicking his tongue along her folds, and lost the ability to think. She was so wet and growing wetter.

  The sweet, wild scent of her was enough to drive him straight into madness.

  He’d fantasized about this but the reality was a hell of a lot better. He wasn’t sure what the hell triggered the mating call—whether it was scent, biology, or the fact that they were fated—and he didn’t actually care. The only thing he cared about was making her come against his mouth. Over and over. All he wanted to do was bring her pleasure. Make her crave him. Forever.

  She writhed against his face as he continued torturing her, licking and teasing, dragging moan after moan from the woman he’d completely fallen for. His flames spread even wider and he had no doubt they were visible from the outside by now.

  Good. He wanted everyone to know Keva was his.

  He knew better than to tell her that he loved her, even if he did. She was a strong, resilient female. She was absolute perfection, the only mate he could ever want. And he knew without a doubt that he did love her—but it was too soon to tell her.

  Instead, he would give her a whole lot of orgasms and make sure she was totally addicted to him. A warrior in nature, he was used to tactics and this was one thing he wouldn’t screw up. Because losing her would be losing everything that mattered.

  “Dagen,” she moaned out as she dug her fingers into his head.

  The grip was hard but he barely felt it as he devoured her, savoring every moan she made.

  “I’m so close.” The words were ripped from her throat so he zeroed in on her clit. He’d been teasing until now, but he desperately wanted her to climax.

  Focusing on the sensitive little nub, he flicked his tongue over and over until she jerked against his face, her climax sharp and hard, the scent of it filling his nostrils, drowning him, consuming him.

  He was pretty sure that even if he’d just been human he would’ve been able to scent her. It was like a drug, making him even harder.

  Eventually her fingers loosened against his head and she started to relax against the door so he scooped her up and carried her to his bed—exactly where she should be.

  She looked perfect there, stretched out in the middle as he climbed up her body. Smiling up at him with heavy-lidded eyes, she reached for him, bringing his head down to hers.

  Her kiss was sweet, and a little shy despite what they’d just done. It had been a hell of a long time for him since he’d been with a woman and that had barely taken off the edge. He’d needed her to come before he was inside her. Now he was hard as stone, and all he wanted to do was thrust inside her but that wasn’t happening. He might be a shifter, but he had control.

  And because he knew what she’d been through and that it had been a long time for her, he was going to do this right. He couldn’t ever be something she regretted. That would carve him up inside.

  She made a sweet little moaning sound against his mouth as she teased her tongue against his. He wondered if she liked her taste as he gently nibbled on her bottom lip. Her back arched off the bed, her breasts rubbing against him, and he realized he had far too many clothes on. They needed to be skin to skin.

  Using supernatural speed, he stripped off the rest of his clothes and moved back on top of her—the only place he ever wanted to be. On top, underneath, up against a wall, it didn’t matter. Not with Keva. He wanted her anywhere he could get her.

  Feeling the hard points of her nipples rubbing against his chest made him growl low in his throat, his cock heavy between his legs.

  Her desire grew even stronger, the scent wrapping around him as she rolled her hips against his, arching into him. He loved that her scent gave her away, that he knew exactly how much she wanted him.

  And when she reached between their bodies and wrapped her fingers around his cock, he could have easily come. But hell no, he wasn’t going to come on her stomach. Not now anyway.

  He wanted to be deep inside her. Vaguely he knew they should talk about protection so he pulled his head back. “Shifters can’t get STDs,” he rasped out. Fuck. He should have brought this up earlier—but he hadn’t realized sex was even on the table.

  “I know.”

  Right, of course she would. “And you can’t get pregnant now. I’d be able to tell.”

  She simply nodded, her breathing uneven. All right then, they were good to go.

  He crushed his mouth to hers once again and positioned himself at her entrance, sucking in a sharp breath when she lifted her hips, pushing herself up on him.

  He thrust forward, and for the first time in his life he knew exactly what heaven was. This right here with her. He never wanted it to end. And he was damn sure going to make sure she came again.r />
  Deep inside her, he stayed where he was and started nibbling little kisses along her jaw, teasing her. Overwhelmed with sensation, it was hard not to thrust, but he took his time.

  He could feel her inner walls pulsing around him, the sensation the most erotic thing he’d ever felt. Moving to her breasts, he sucked one hard nipple, rolling his tongue over it until she moaned out his name, her inner walls clenching around him tight. When her fingers dug into his back, he smiled against her.

  Oh, so she definitely liked that.

  He moved to the other breast and got the same reaction. He loved how reactive she was, how utterly perfectly made for him she was.

  Mine. He heard his dragon’s voice in his head and he completely agreed. Keva was his. For always.

  “Move,” she rasped out, a full-on demand, her body arching up to his.

  He simply pressed his teeth very gently around one nipple and she scratched her nails down his back. She stopped at his ass and dug her fingers in even harder.

  “Now you’re making me crazy!” Her voice was raspy, uneven.

  So his human had claws. He hadn’t thought it possible to be more turned on but his cock kicked hard and he began thrusting.

  As he did, he reached between their bodies and teased her clit, desperate for her to climax again. He’d tasted her already and now he wanted to feel her around his hard length as he came inside her.

  They quickly found a rhythm, as if they truly had been made for each other. He continued thrusting inside her over and over, until he felt her inner walls start convulsing faster and faster.

  Her breathing was erratic and her moans were growing louder with each second that passed. She was close, he was certain. And he was barely hanging on to his sanity.

  When she threw her head back against the pillow, he buried his face against her neck, resisting the urge to mark her with his teeth.

  Barely.

  As she came, he let go as well. He came inside her hard, groaning against her neck, feeling as if he would never stop coming, as if he could fucking die right now and he wouldn’t care.