The golden Dragon with him could only be the Oracle. I’d heard of him, everyone had.
If he was here, something was definitely up.
I pushed myself to my feet and staggered toward the stairs.
45
Riley
I lay in Marcus’s arms as the skies slowly cleared.
Every part of me trembled, and I didn’t think my legs would hold me. But it was a glorious kind of weak. A part of my heart was no longer aching and empty. It pumped hope where there had been none.
Marcus’s arms tightened. I turned my head into the strong muscles of his chest and inhaled. The ozone in his scent was stronger now, and even though the scales were gone, I smelled it on my skin, too.
Storm Drake.
I ran my fingers over the few scales remaining on his abdomen and watched him shiver in response.
“Think I might need to rest a bit if you are looking for another round,” he whispered. “Apparently, even a Storm Drake has its limits.”
I snorted a laugh. “I won’t be able to walk straight. Everyone is going to know what we’ve been doing.”
His own laugh rumbled from deep beneath my cheek. “I think that secret is a lost cause. Lightning is a bit hard to miss.”
We lay quiet, enjoying something we’d both almost given up on—the simple warmth of holding, and being held. My thoughts, however, zoomed on. “So, am I going to have you arguing with Havoc in my brain?” I asked.
“I have no idea,” he confessed. “This being my first mating and all.”
Someone swept by overhead. Deep blue, with a huge wingspan—Talakai. A moment later, he was back—and he wasn’t alone. Another Dragon flew with him—and as the sun’s rays finally broke through the clouds, they glittered gold off his scales.
Marcus’s arm moved me to the side as he sat up. We looked at each other.
“That was the Oracle,” he said.
I nodded. “I’ve met him. Once.” But my gut twisted. Why was he here?
“Something’s up. We’d better get back.” Marcus rose and helped me to my feet. Where I swayed. I’d been right about not being able to walk, damn it.
His lips twitched suspiciously as he steadied me.
“I’m okay.” I gave him a playful nudge. “I’ve been in worse states.”
His laugh echoed through the forest, a great, booming sound that had me glancing up at him in surprise.
He lifted my tee shirt and handed it to me. The bra and panties were lost causes, and when I pulled my leggings on, they had four long rents in the fabric. I straightened to see his sweats weren’t in much better shape, and he left the torn tee shirt where it lay.
For a moment, I stared at the broad expanse of chest. As though I hadn’t just spent an untold amount of time feeling it up. Considering my condition, I’d be best off not doing any more of it for a while. For the next hour, anyway.
His eyes rose from where my breasts bounced beneath my shirt, met my own, and then, he smiled.
It was an expression of pure joy, and it lit up my world. Two of my men might be lost to me, but this one—this one was mine.
He folded a long arm around me and guided us up the narrow path toward the treehouse. The Dragons had already shifted to human and gone inside.
We found them packed into the library. I was greeted by Anna’s ever-enthusiastic dog, who bounded around me, tail wagging, before sniffing Marcus with intense interest.
I petted her as I glanced at Ash. “Hello, Ash. Are you lurking in forests instead of alleys, now?”
