Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
No! Wait! Don’t freak out. Just let me explain!
Then explain, comes the arrogant demand.
My back goes up at the imperious tone. Well, first of all, you need to calm the fuck down, because you’re making my head hurt with all your shouting. I don’t know if you noticed, but I have stitches.
I scented blood on your head. It pains you? His thoughts are reluctantly calmer and overall less violent, as if he’s trying to soothe me but it’s the last thing he wants to do.
I’ll take it. Yeah, my head hurts. It hurts a lot, actually. I hope it’s not infected. My entire head aches and I feel like I have a fever.
My mate, he sends, and his thoughts are possessive and pleasurable all at once. It’s almost like being enfolded in a mental hug. Come here so I can lick your wounds for you and help them heal.
I can’t come to you right now. Let me explain.
I see through your eyes you are in a nest alone. This is good. I do not wish other males to touch my mate.
Yeah, well, I don’t want that, either. I can’t decide if I’m amused at his smug attitude or annoyed.
Feels like both, Zohr sends.
Thanks for that, I retort back.
You are most welcome. His thoughts purr through my mind. Now come and free me.
And even though I’m aching all over and sick, his thoughts are so persuasive that I really do want to get out of bed and trot down to his side. I can’t, Zohr. There’s a lot going on. You’re being held captive by someone who wants a dragon. He used me to bring you down. That’s how come you got captured. Just thinking about it makes me ache with guilt and misery. I’m so sorry. If you hadn’t seen me—
I smelled you. The moment I scented you on the wind, I knew you were mine. It did not matter if I had seen you or not. You were mine in that moment.
I’m not sure how I feel about that. Does that mean any chick he scented would do? Or was there something about me? Also, I’m a little worried about how possessive he is. Maybe I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. All right, I tell him, because I don’t know what else to say.
I would have come for you no matter what, Zohr tells me. The moment your scent hit me, my mind cleared. It is as if the clouds have gone away. There is awe and wonderment in his mental “tone.” My thoughts are my own once more.
Not entirely your own, I can’t help but snark. I’m sitting in them.
I welcome your thoughts, he tells me, warmth flooding through my head. Everything I have now is yours, and I belong to you just as you belong to me.
Yup, definitely bitten off more than I can chew.
You keep thinking of biting? Do not be afraid of me. His thoughts take a sultry bent. The bite only happens once. From now on, I will simply need to give you my seed to brand your scent as my mate.
Mate. I test the word out on my tongue. Did Sasha mention anything about that? I knew they were together, but I didn’t realize how together. Still, if this is what it takes to free Zohr, I’ll do it. Being a dragon’s mate can’t be any worse than being waitress to Azar and his buddies.
Azar?
Yes, I think in his direction. The pale guy running things here.
He is the Salorian I smell on the wind?
I…guess? What is a Salorian?
My mind suddenly floods with mental images. Of pale, elegant men with long fluttering hair, perched atop delicate chairs. Men seated above others, their cold, colorless eyes gazing down. There is cruelty in their faces, and their garments are long and flowing. It’s like an alternate-world version of Azar, and I’m momentarily fascinated. The feelings creeping in are less exciting, though. There’s cruelty and cunning and hate, all wrapped up in the idea of Salorians. They’re bad guys? I ask.
Very bad. They… Zohr’s thoughts grow confused. They…I do not remember. Just that they are bad.
It’s okay, Zohr. I try to send him comforting thoughts, even though my head is pounding. It feels like I’ve got another brain suddenly stuffed inside my skull, and between trying to figure out his thoughts and mine, I’m getting the world’s worst migraine. Sasha told me that sort of thing happens. That your memory’s piece-y because of this place.
I hate this place. There’s vehemence in his thoughts, and his dislike seeps into my head.
Maybe…maybe you can go back, then.
No. You are here.
I suppress the groan that threatens to escape me. But if you left, you’d be safe.
And you would be vulnerable. Wherever you go, I will go.
This is going to take some getting used to. I want to talk more, but my head hurts, Zohr. Actually, all of me hurts.