Troy and Jack flew back upward, and both they and Konar turned to look at the other dragons who had shown up, presumably to help.

  “Damn!” Karnal yelled, his pink eyes glaring as he beat his wings to stay up. “I meant to hit Konar, and I missed and hit that thing!”

  Konar narrowed his eyes at Karnal, wondering if he was serious.

  Drokar flapped his wings, looking triumphant. “See? Not afraid!”

  Konar snorted as Karnal flew over to Drokar and whapped him in the head with his wing.

  “Shut up!” Karnal turned back to Konar and Mara. “It was an accident, that’s all! We came to help that thing conquer, and we merely missed. That’s all!” As if to make his point, Karnal blew a huge beam of flame at Konar, which Konar easily dodged.

  “Stay out of our way!” Karnal yelled, now flying away with Drokar.

  “We’re going to conquer this city!” Drokar yelled. “Just not today.”

  “I told you to shut up!” Karnal shot back.

  And then the two huge dragons disappeared into the clouds, flying away, leaving both Mara and Konar stunned by everything that had happened.

  Mara looked at him, and then he saw her eyes go dazed. To his horror, with a sparkling veil that fell over her form, she disappeared and reappeared in her tiny human form.

  Immediately falling toward the ground so far below.

  Konar put his wings in and flew faster and harder than he ever had and caught her gently on his huge back.

  The relief he felt when he heard her breathe against him was unlike anything he’d ever felt.

  Troy and Jack were beside him when he leveled out.

  “Come on, let’s go back to the mansion. We need to let her rest, talk, and call the oracle.”

  “Fine,” Konar said because his heart had truly let go of his anger. All he wanted was his mate and for her to be all right.

  She was, and her world was safe for now.

  As long as she forgave him, as long as she could be in his arms again, everything would be okay.

  At least, he hoped so.

  26

  Mara opened her eyes to see Troy and Jack staring over her, along with Konar, whose orange eyes were lit with more worry than she’d ever seen before.

  As soon as she looked up at him, he fell forward and encircled her in his huge arms, holding her like he was afraid to ever let go.

  She held him back, running her hands through his hair, just glad he was okay.

  She’d been able to save him. She’d gotten there in time and been able to use her power.

  She couldn’t even explain how it had felt, flying toward him, panicked she’d be too late or not good enough at using her new form.

  But surprisingly, being a dragon had come to her as easily as breathing. As being a human, albeit with new powers.

  “You’re okay,” Konar said against her, holding her tight. “I’m so glad, Mara.”

  She pulled back, brushing his cheek affectionately. “And you fought for my people.”

  He nodded, hugging her again, making her feel small and safe like he always did.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I remembered my mother too late. My father… I’m glad he and his kind are gone.” He buried his face against her. “You were right. Nothing good comes from hate.”

  “I was wrong,” she said. “Konar, you have every right to your feelings. I’m sorry I didn’t understand, that I put you in danger—”

  He looked up, taking her hands and pulling back slightly. “You were worried for me?”

  “I love you, you stupid dragon.” She threw her arms around him and kissed him, nearly knocking him back.

  Troy cleared his throat, still watching the scene. “Well, if everyone is okay, then I’m glad.”

  Jack walked over, putting an arm around his work partner. “We did good.” One of his arms was bandaged. “I’m glad you showed up, Mara.”

  “You two need to find a mate soon,” Serena said, walking in with folded arms. “You need a third power. It’s obvious.”

  “You can’t rush mating,” Konar said, standing and pulling Mara up with him. “It has to be the right person.” He brushed her hair back gently. “Sometimes you even have to wait a hundred years. But it’s worth it.” He cupped her face and gave her a kiss she felt down to her toes.

  But then Troy cleared his throat again.

  Jack stepped forward. “Look, we took the ashes to a lab, and the oracle will still want to get in touch with you about apologizing, okay? But for now, you two go back to Konar’s place and rest. Work things out.”

  Mara smiled because that sounded amazing. “Okay. Thank you for everything.”

  Troy glared at Konar. “We were waiting for you to come get her. The fact that both of you are smitten is obvious to everyone. Come on, Jack. Let’s go.”

  They left, and Konar knelt in front of her, taking her hand in his.

  “My queen… my mate… do you forgive me? For having such a stone heart?”

  She bit her lip. “Of course I do, Konar. But what happened? Your dragon… looked different.”

  He kissed her hand, then stood, picking her up in his arms. “There is another side of me. I still need to do more research, and there is still much I don’t remember. But my mother, she had a gem heart. And perhaps being with a crystal heart like you brought that more and more out in me.”

  He walked outside into the yard with her, looking up at the sky where deep blue was mixing with fiery orange clouds as the sun set.

  “Do you want to try and fly again? Or fly on my dragon?”

  Her heart leaped. She might still be a dragon, but that didn’t make her any less in awe of his.

  “You,” she said. “I want to fly on you.”

  He nodded, then set her down and moved away to transform.

  She gasped at the beauty of his new dragon form, now that she could get a good look at it.

  The orange-red gemstones dotting every scale looked almost lit from within. Small, domed cabochons with beautiful color met her hand as he reached up to stroke his skin lightly.

  His dragon stayed still for her, and she marveled at the sheer shape and size of him.

  And then she reached into her shirt, pulling out the carnelian pendant she always wore.

  Instantly, it glowed as if drawing energy from his dragon as she brought it closer to him.

  How interesting. Should she tell him?

  She wondered how she hadn’t noticed before. Perhaps the bright orange of his eyes had fooled her.

  But if you put flame behind carnelian… It all made sense.

  She put her necklace back inside her shirt and looked up at a puzzled Konar.

  There was so much to figure out, about both of their dragons, but she figured at this point they could wait.

  He moved a paw down for her to step onto and then lifted her onto his back, setting her between two short spikes where she could take a solid seat.

  Then, when he was sure she had a good hold on him, he beat his wings, lifting into the air.

  It was elating, rising above the ground, seeing the city that they had saved in the distance.

  She kind of liked it, getting a taste of being a hero. But the real prize was saving Konar.

  Being together with him, knowing everything was going to be okay.

  The wind blew past her, and she breathed in deeply, holding on to the dragon she loved.

  Time to go home.

  27

  Konar landed outside the fortress, noting the darkness that had been around it when he first awakened was all but gone.

  Now that he thought about it, ever since he picked her up—well, kidnapped her—the castle had been filled with spring and sunlight.

  The cherry blossoms had bloomed.

  The trees greeted him now, and Mara paused, looking at the blossoms floating in the wind as they walked into the inner courtyard.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked.

  She looked up at him, her eyes so green. Full of spring. “Better now that we’re back together.”

  He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her in against him. “How does it feel being a dragon?”

  Her eyes widened slightly. Then she sank against him. “Pretty overwhelming. I don’t think I’ll transform again for a while.”

  His hand cupped her precious face, loving the way she tilted to look at him with admiration despite all the ways he’d failed.

  “When I saw you fly in, I was so proud, Konar,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t stay—”

  “I was hurting you,” he said, stroking the shell of her ear lightly, tenderly. Despite knowing she was a dragon, he couldn’t help wanting to be gentle with her. Treat her like gold.

  His mate.

  His love.

  “I love you, Mara,” he said softly as tears welled in her eyes, and she buried her face against his chest to hide them.

  He simply held her, knowing he would do so for as long as she wanted.

  “I’m sorry for hurting you,” he said. “From now on, I will rely on my gem heart. I will listen, and—”

  She just hugged him tight, looking up at him with a smile, her red hair caught by the wind, little tendrils flying past.

  A petal got caught, and he pulled it loose, then gently let it go to the breeze again.

  She grinned. “These are happy tears, not sad tears.” She looked around the courtyard. “I guess I’d better get used to living in a castle.”

  He nodded. “Though, you can keep your home. We can stay there off and on. I can protect you better here.”

  She looked down at her hand, and relief filled him as he saw that the mark was gone. “No monster now. And I’m a dragon?” She giggled. “Does that mean I need to plan to be a hero too?”

  He laughed, clasping one of her hands in his. “Whatever you want. But I think selling crystals is a perfectly suitable job for a crystal heart too.” He frowned. “Your family—”

  “We aren’t close,” she said. “I don’t even know who my father is, and my mother never liked me since I looked like him. I’m sure you’ll meet them in time, but there’s a reason I live across the country.”

  He hugged her tight, hurting for her feeling alone growing up. “I’ll be your family now.”

  She laughed. “I’d like that.” She sighed happily. “And I’ll be yours.”

  He smirked. “And we can make little dragons.”

  She gave him a little punch to the shoulder. “Eventually, if we want to.” She blinked. “Wait, since we’re both dragons—”

  “Don’t worry about that now,” he said, loving the scent of the blossoms, the feel of the sunlight.

  The sense that everything was going to be okay.

  “Right now, I want to mate you,” he said.

  “Mate me?”

  He nodded. “I remember my mother now. Her talk of mating.”

  “Do we need to go somewhere to marry?”

  “It’s not like that,” he said. “I believe we just make love, with nothing between us.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Can we get pregnant?”

  He shook his head. “As I understand it, I would sense your fertile period, and you aren’t currently. Dragon offspring have to be carefully planned.”

  “But I would like that with you,” she said, reaching up to cup his face, shining up at him with love.

  “Someday, then,” he said. He leaned down to kiss her again. “Should I take you to the bedroom? Do you want to rest after battle?”

  She laughed, cracking her neck side to side. “Actually, after napping, I’m kind of fired up from the battle. I don’t feel like resting at all.” She put a hand on his chest. “I just wish I could stay out here in this courtyard forever with you. Make love to you here.”

  “Give me one second,” he said, leaving and jogging into the castle, heading to the room that held the supplies the double dragons had brought him.

  Grabbing a thick blanket, he walked back out into the courtyard and laid it down on the thickest, greenest grass, between two giant cherry trees covered with pink blossoms.

  Then he walked over to Mara, took her hand, and led her over to the blanket.

  “Does this work, mate?”

  She flushed deeply but allowed him to help her sit down on the blanket, and then he knelt in front of her and gently began removing her clothes.

  She reached for his, pulling them off as well, and for a moment, it was just a frenzy of panting anticipation, the need to get naked together, to lie together…

  When they were both naked, Konar propped himself over her, pulling the excess blanket up to cover himself.

  The walls around them towered high, lending privacy.

  Drakkaris, she was so gorgeous beneath him. So precious… and about to be all his.

  It didn’t feel real.

  Even after a hundred years lost, and a lifetime of struggle beforehand, he suddenly felt like the luckiest dragon around.

  Just because he got to love her.

  “Get ready, Mara, because I’m about to love you forever.”

  She reached her hands up to him, welcoming as she wrapped them around his neck. “Well, hurry up, then.” She smiled. “I can’t wait.”

  Drakkaris, he loved this woman.

  28

  Mara didn’t think there was anywhere more gorgeous she could have picked to become one with Konar.

  Even now, he overwhelmed her, that big body propped over her, his orange eyes now a warm, glowing orange-red.

  In touch with his inner gem heart.

  She wished she knew more about the types of dragons, but she was sure she had time to learn.

  Now that she was also a dragon.

  It still made it hard to breathe almost, it was so strange and foreign.

  But all she had to do was look up into Konar’s eyes, burning like a sunrise, and know that everything would be okay, in time.

  Now that they had each other.

  She ran her hands over his strong shoulders, enjoying the tiny shudder he made before he leaned down to kiss over her shoulders and arms, caressing every soft part as if he had to make all of her his.

  “Your body is so incredible, Mara,” he rasped, stopping to kiss her tummy where she’d always felt insecure. His tongue dipped into her sensitive belly button, and she gasped, arching back.

  He licked up her side, propped up on one hand while the other explored her curves.

  She could feel his hunger, how he’d missed her, how much he wanted to make it up to her.

  So she simply let herself relax and stare up at the beautiful blue sky, the blossoms falling across her vision, as he worked his way down her body, leaving her squirming, writhing, oversensitive to him due to his thorough exploration of her every curve.

  His head found its way between her legs, and his hard hands wrapped her thighs possessively as he began to eat her out like he was a starved man, but only for her pleasure.

  He licked and sucked, his hands moving up her thighs to soothe her when she bucked or tension built too high.

  And whenever she got close to an apex, he would simply open those seductive orange eyes, bat dark lashes, wait for her trembling to subside slightly, and then lower his mouth to kiss her even more fiercely.

  He took her closer and closer to the edge, and when she felt like she couldn’t take any more, when she was writhing and arching, forced to look at the sky as he took her to new heights of tension, she finally felt everything break, and release rushed over her like a wave of wind and blossoms.

  Her body twisted, and he was there immediately, crawling up over her to hold himself up with one hand and use the other to support her, holding her against him as she thrashed from pure waves of pleasure, higher than ever before.

  He gently laid her down and readied himself at her entrance with a questioning look.

  God yes, she wanted more.

  She grabbed his shoulders, pulling him toward her, and was rewarded with a small smile on his handsome face as he came forward.

  Even his tip felt so good, hard and hot, pressed into her velvet.

  She squirmed against him, and he let out a groan.

  “Careful, little one, or I’ll finish before we’re mated.” His eyes met hers fiercely. “And I can’t go another moment without making you mine.”

  “Do it, then,” she said into his ear as she pulled herself up to him for a moment.

  She lay back down as she felt him push in, his entire face tense with focus. Being so careful with her.

  God, she loved him.

  The feeling as he moved in, filling her so tight she couldn’t possibly take any more, then started to glide slowly in and out on her wetness made the fire inside her surge, hotter than ever before.

  Something was happening between them. Something special.

  She closed her eyes to savor the sensation of him stroking in and out, faster now. Each time he went inside, she gasped at the intensity of the sensation, how his huge, hard member automatically hit every spot.

  She let out a small scream as a particular thrust filled her utterly, already feeling oversensitive and ready to come.

  Looking down at her with a pleased expression, he slowed slightly.

  “I want you to come, Mara. But I can’t let this end yet.” He smiled. “It’s the best moment of my life.”

  She nearly came just at the sweetness of him and at the thickness still seated inside her.

  As she looked up at his face, the sky behind him, blossoms blowing between them, she also thought it might be the best moment of her life yet.

  “We will have so many moments,” she said, reaching up to cup his face.

  He shuddered at that and then began to move again, filling and retreating in a way that was driving her mad.

  Her entire body was poised for release, and all she wanted was to feel him come with her, in each other’s arms.

  He built her up again, taking her to near peak after near peak until they were both sweating, both panting, both overwhelmed by how close they were to the ultimate pleasure.

  And then, with murmured words of love against her ear, he made her come with a hard stroke that brought them close, sticky skin to sticky skin.