Varnog’s last Dream Walk session—this time with Rage’s team—would end in about ten minutes. With a transport bubble, I could reach the Atrium of the Training Center where it was happening in less than two minutes. I made a third—and final—verification that everything with the chaser I had selected for the trip was in top shape. I then ensured at least four Shells had been loaded onboard for Wrath. Satisfied, I hurried down the ramp of the ship to find myself face to face with my man and Reaper having an intense conversation.
My stomach dropped, and I eyed them warily. As the official Dragon of our unit, Reaper would be joining us on this mission, although he would be expected to remain with the support team that would help protect the young General and his Queen until the rest of our fleet could join us.
Noticing my approach, both males turned to look at me. To my relief, their expressions were welcoming and devoid of any tension. Reaper, however, seemed a little wistful.
“Hey guys,” I said in a casual manner.
“Linette,” Reaper said as sole greeting in his usual polished and friendly voice.
Varnog didn’t say a word, content to smile. I could see him almost extend a hand towards me before holding back. He wasn’t one to hide our relationship, but as far as public displays of affection were concerned, it became clear that he would give me the lead on that. It upset me to know that it was not for lack of wanting to brag about us being a couple, but because he didn’t want to risk embarrassing me. Some people—I should specify Coalition people—still considered this odd, if not repulsive.
Closing the distance between us, I slipped my fingers through his, and lifted my face towards him to receive his kiss. Okay, I also lifted myself to my tippy toes, but that’s beside the point. The flash of pride and an odd mix of affection and gratitude fleeting over his features confirmed I had made the right move. It would take a while for my man to understand just how beautiful I found him and how proud I was to call him mine. I intended to remind him daily that he wasn’t the monster that he had been created to be, but a wonderful male that happened to be mine, and a proud member of the Vanguard.
“You finished early?” I asked when we parted from the brief kiss.
“They’re still at it for the next few minutes. I just shirked my responsibilities and bailed out early,” Varnog confessed sheepishly—an odd expression on the face of such a salty man. “My brothers needed to verify that they can continue running the sessions without me since I’ll be gone awhile,” he added in a somewhat defensive tone that only made Reaper and I laugh.
“A likely story,” Reaper said. “Since you’re here, and your woman appears to be done with her own duties, I will not delay you further. You two enjoy your last evening of free time. I’ll see you in the morning for departure.”
We nodded goodbye, and as we were headed out, hand in hand, we walked past Reaper’s Soulcatcher, followed by a couple of stasis chambers containing two of his Shells. I didn’t care about the few odd glances we received on our way to the bubble transport. Over the past two and a half years, the transport network had been expanded to provide direct stops to Skogoth and to the Mimic village shared with the Miegly.
“So, what did I interrupt?” I asked as we neared the spherical vehicle in the transport hub of the Vanguard HQ.
Varnog gave me a sideways glance with his typical taunting smile. “Nothing really. We were discussing some concerns about the mission. But prior to that, he was congratulating me for earning the affection of a wonderful female.”
“Oh?” I said, my curiosity piqued.
“It turns out he was as drawn to you as you were to him. And I quote: ‘it sucks when your hearts’ desire is within reach, but your soul exercises its veto.’”
I gaped at him disbelievingly as he waved me inside the bubble. “Really?”
“Really,” he deadpanned.
Although he said the word dismissively, I could feel Varnog’s underlying tension. A part of me was deeply flattered to realize the infatuation hadn’t been one way. A second part of me actually felt sorry for Reaper. I hadn’t thought that the Dragons could feel attraction to someone unless they were their soulmates.
It had to be terrible to be the prisoner of your biological responses instead of what your heart and mind wished for. At the same time, a third part of me was relieved for that genetic trait. If not for that, Reaper and I might have gotten into a relationship, and I wouldn’t have realized that the one truly meant for me was another.
“Well, in due time, Reaper will be grateful for his genetics cockblocking him when he finds his true mate, just like I am grateful now that I’ve found you,” I said before lifting my face towards his again.
“My mate,” Varnog whispered before giving me a deep and passionate kiss that had me weak in the knees.
The discreet swishing sound of the bubble’s door opening startled me. The transport vehicle had come to such a smooth stop that I had not even noticed. Feeling somewhat disoriented, I chuckled with embarrassment as Varnog led me out by the hand. The bubble access was located directly inside the mountain face of Skogoth, a short distance from the city proper. It had been set at that location so that should the Scelk not welcome those making use of it, the newcomers wouldn’t be directly in their midst.
Strategically situated, it was nearly impossible not to be noticed as we made our approach. The children playing outside waved at us before resuming their games. A few of the adult males and females acknowledged us with a nod. However, the sincere joy and glimmer of hope among them, especially the males that significantly outnumbered the handful of females made my throat tighten.
Our relationship could mean a great deal to their people as a whole. In a way, I had always known it in the back of my head. But seeing their reaction now made me all the happier that I took pride in showing off the fact that we were a couple. It would take time, but the more people saw us, and the more they would come to perceive it as natural, because it was.
We made our way up to his apartment. Once inside, I dropped my bag onto the small entrance desk and melted against my man. He lifted me up, which always made me laugh. I had no qualms with being short. In fact, I loved how people assumed being petite made me delicate and a pushover. Until my claws came out... But with Varnog, I liked feeling almost fragile in his embrace and surrounded by his strong, muscular body.
Our tongues mingled, and his hand fisted my hair at my nape as he took command. My legs wrapped around his waist, and his shaft hardened against me. Feeling naughty, I rubbed my pelvis against him, making no mystery where my mind was headed.
His approving purr vibrated against my chest, making my hardening nipples tingle. Coming up for air, he pulled my hair back, exposing my neck so that he could cover it with soft kisses. I ran my hand over the scales on his head, following a path down to the back of his nape where his original body had fused with his spine. I discovered it was very sensitive when gently scratched right where it blended into his skin. I gently rake my nails alongside it, and my man shivered in my arms, a throaty growl of pleasure rising from his throat.
He lifted his head to look at me, teeth bared, an almost vicious expression on his face that I had come to recognize as him fighting the urge to give into his primal desires.
“Are you hungry?” he asked with a deep rumbling in his voice.