Emory stayed wrapped in Kane’s embrace, her mind preoccupied with the goings-on of the day. She felt the steady rise and fall of his chest against her face. “What was decided?” she asked quietly. “I mean the unification ceremony.”

“Two days from now,” Kane replied, his voice a pleasant rumble against her ear. “It’ll coincide with our official treaty signing with all reigning Alphas and leaders within the empire. All province ministers have been invited, and the elders have assigned some of our best regiments to escort everyone here without any incidents.” He squeezed her gently, and she felt him inhale her scent, a comforting gesture that made her heart flutter. “I truly wish you could have seen Arcanis.”

She pulled back slightly to look into his eyes. “What’s that?”

“Where the dragons come from,” he explained with a faraway longing. “This is not our original world. We fell to Nebula when our world was destroyed in the war of the worlds. A painful price to pay for victory.”

What? Not once did she even consider that the dragons were from some place else. The sadness in his voice made her heart ache for him. She could see the pain of a lost homeland in his eyes. “Tell me about it,” she gently requested.

Kane sighed, and his gaze drifted to the horizon. “Arcanis was a realm of beauty and power. The skies were always filled with the vibrant colours of our dragons, and we rarely ever had to shift. Our cities were crafted from the finest stones, and magic flowed freely through the land. But the war” it changed everything. We fought fiercely, but the cost was too high. Our world crumbled, and we were forced to find refuge here.”

She reached up, cupping his cheek in her hand. “I’m sorry, Kane. I can’t imagine what that must have been like.”

He leaned into her touch, his eyes closing briefly. “It’s been so long. The new dragonlings have no memory of our home. We’ve built a new life here, and now, with this unification, we have a chance to create something even stronger and establish new roots.”

“Kane, is all this about establishing roots for the fold?” she asked, as realization began to dawn.

“Without establishing ourselves as supreme leaders in a world, we cannot fully come into being or fully experience our dragon forms or powers. My glyphs need roots to completely connect to the fold, and without that, it dwindles. It’s one of the reasons for my slumber, but with you comes hope and some sort of acceptance from your world.”

So that was what she was to him, a means”

Kane’s gaze hardened, his gold eyes burning with an undeniable fire. “I know what you’re thinking, Eilir, and you must perish that thought. You are not a means to an end. You are my queen.” He held her face tenderly, his touch both comforting and electrifying. “The odds of us finding each other, across aeons and against the whims of fate, are a million to one.” He leaned closer, his voice a mesmerizing whisper. “A billion more worlds and countless lifetimes could pass, and I will always find my way to you.”

A lump formed in her throat, and she swallowed against it as her heart pounded in her chest. She reached up, threading her fingers through the ends of his silver hair. “I” I just want to be sure that I’m not just part of some grand plan.”

He leaned down, his forehead touching hers. “You are part of a grand plan, but not in the way you think. You are the heart of it. Without you, none of this would matter. I would give up everything if it meant keeping you by my side.”

“I don’t know what to say to that,” she admitted, a soft smile forming as she gazed into his eyes.

He kissed her gently, a promise in the soft touch of his lips. When he pulled back, he wrapped her in his arms. “You don’t have to say anything.”

They stood there in silence for a moment, wrapped in each other’s presence.

“Come,” Kane said, taking her hand. “There’s something I want to show you.”

They walked through the corridors of the tower, past guards dressed in black pants with bare torsos, their arms covered in black pauldrons from shoulders to wrists. Their long black hair falling in a middle part to frame their faces as they stood erect and motionless, lining the arches of the corridors. Emory marvelled at the display, wondering what the dragons had against not showing off their rather flattering bodies.

Kane led her to a large chamber, its walls lined with shelves filled with ancient tomes and artefacts. A massive map of Nebula was spread out on a table in the centre of the room. He guided her to the map.

“This is where my parents touched down with our descendants aeons ago,” he said. “It’s why we named it Qaelasyn and made it our territory. The unification ceremony will make us one with Nebula and make us guardians of Morrian. It marks the beginning of a new era, one where dragons, wolves, Lycans, and humans can coexist in peace.”

She traced the lines of the map with her finger, forcing her thoughts not to wander to why the gods tried to stop them from achieving this before. “Do you have a map of Arcanis?” she asked, a bit curious about where he was from.

He smiled, a rare and genuine expression that made her heart skip a beat. “Yes, come here.”

He led her to a smaller table on the side of the room, where a more delicate map lay protected under glass. The details were intricate, showcasing a land that was both beautiful and alien. Emory leaned closer, her breath catching at the sight.

“This is Arcanis,” Kane said softly. “Our original home.”

Her fingers brushed the glass, tracing the contours of mountains and rivers that no longer existed. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered, feeling a flicker of sadness for a world lost to time.

Kane’s hand rested gently on her shoulder. “It was. But now, Nebula is our home, and we have the chance to make it just as beautiful, with our family and our future children.”

She turned to face him, a playful glint in her eyes. “Children? You’re planning pretty far ahead, aren’t you?”

Kane smirked, his eyes dancing with mischief. “Well, I’ve always been a visionary. Plus, the idea of little dragons running around sounds pretty appealing.”

She raised an eyebrow, leaning in closer. “Oh, really? And how many little dragons are we talking about here?”

Kane’s smile widened as he pulled her closer. “As many as it takes to make this world ours. What do you think? A whole brood of dragonlings?”

She laughed. The idea of making a troupe of little dragons who’d look like Kane made her excited in ways she could not begin to explain. “You know, I always thought dragons had big dreams, but this” this is ambitious.”

He leaned down, his lips brushing against hers. “What can I say? You inspire me to dream big.”

Emory bit her lip, her heart racing as she tried not to kiss him. “You do know this means you’ll have to keep up with me, right? I’m not exactly the easiest person to handle.”

“Oh, I’m counting on it. I love a good challenge.” He twirled a finger through her curls, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

She grinned, her pulse quickening. “Well then, let’s see if you can keep up, Dragon Lord.”

He kissed her, a promise and a challenge all wrapped into one. His lips were warm and inviting, igniting a fire within her. Then he lifted her into his arms with ease, his right arm strong and secure around her waist. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders as she moaned against his lips, feeling her nipples hardening as she softened everywhere else.

“I don’t suppose we’re kind of jumping the broom starting now?” he groaned against her lips, his voice thick with desire.

“Depends,” she murmured, pulling back just enough to tease him with her smile. “Think you can handle it?”

He chuckled, his breath hot against her skin. “Oh, I’m more than ready.”

Their lips met again in a fervent kiss, a dance of passion and need. He carried her effortlessly through the doorway to the bedroom, their kisses deepening with every step. The heat of his body pulsed against hers, and the intensity made her wonder if he was about to combust.

He laid her gently on the bed, his eyes never leaving hers. “You’re spectacular,” he whispered, his hands trailing down her sides.

She shivered under his touch, her body responding to every caress. “Show me just how spectacular you think I am,” she challenged softly, her voice a breathy whisper.

With a growl of desire, he accepted her challenge, his lips, and hands exploring her with a fervour that left her breathless. She arched into him, her fingers threading through his hair as their bodies moved together in perfect harmony.

“Emory,” he whispered her name like a prayer, each syllable filled with reverence and longing.

The way he said her name, the way he looked at her—it made her heart race. “Kane,” she breathed.

His hands roamed over her, eliciting soft moans from her lips as he meticulously undressed her. She enjoyed the warmth of his touch, but she craved an urgency she knew he was capable of. His lips trailed down her neck, sending waves of pleasure through her. Why didn’t he rip her clothes off and make passionate, impatient love to her? Goddess, he was treating her like a delicate peach.

He paused for a moment, lifting his head to look into her eyes, almost as if he could read her mind. She froze, her breath catching in her throat. Could he? Wouldn’t be the first time he’d done that and it always skipped her mind to ask afterwards.

“You want more,” he murmured, a knowing smile playing at his lips. “You want the fire.”

“Yes,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I want you. I want your fire.”

His eyes darkened with desire, and in an instant, the gentle, meticulous lover transformed into the passionate beast she longed for. He tore her clothes away with a fervent urgency, like the fabric was paper. His lips crashing onto hers with a hunger that made her dizzy.

Her hands moved over his body, feeling the hard muscles beneath his skin. He pressed her down onto the bed, his body covering hers, and she revelled in the feel of his weight, his heat, his strength. Every touch, every kiss was like an insatiable, declaration of his desire.

“Kane,” she gasped, arching into him as he kissed his way down her body, his hands exploring, teasing, claiming.

He growled, a sound of pure need and possession as he drove into her, cradling her hips. “You’re mine, Emory. Always.”

“Yes,” she moaned, her fingers threading through his hair, pulling him closer. “Always.”

Their bodies moved together, a perfect rhythm of passion and connection. She felt herself losing control, giving in to the waves of pleasure that crashed over her. His name was a mantra on her lips, each syllable filled with love and need.

As their passion reached its peak, she cried out, her body trembling with the intensity of her release. He followed her, his own climax tearing through him with a force that left him breathless.

They lay entwined, their bodies still trembling with aftershocks, their breaths mingling in the quiet of the room. She felt his arms tighten around her, his warmth enveloping her.

“Eilir,” he whispered, kissing her softly. “My queen.”

She smiled, feeling a deep sense of contentment. “Kane,” she replied, a playful glint in her eyes. “Just in case I couldn’t say it earlier, your ass is mine too.”

He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that vibrated through her. “Glad to hear it,” he said, his voice filled with amusement and affection. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

She laughed softly, their foreheads touching as they shared a moment of intimacy and levity. “You better not forget it.”

“Never,” he promised. “But you should gladly remind me every chance you get.”

Their laughter filled the room as they laid there, basking in each other’s presence.

“You read my mind again just now. Can you do that with everyone?” she finally asked.

“Only with those in the fold, and only when there is a need,” he explained, stroking her cheek gently. “To mindlessly invade minds goes against my oath as Imperial Lord. With you, it’s different. I don’t read your mind; I feel your emotions when they are heightened.”

She looked up at him, intrigued. “So you can feel what I’m feeling right now?”

He smiled, his eyes softening. “Yes. I can feel your contentment, your curiosity, and” something else.” His fingers traced the outline of her lips. “A lingering desire, perhaps?”

She blushed, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. “You’re insufferable.”

“And you like it,” he teased, leaning down to kiss her again, a slow, lingering kiss that made her heart race anew.

As they pulled back, she sighed and nestled closer to him, feeling his warmth embrace her. “What do you think will happen next? With the Lycans, with us?”

“We have allies, and we have each other. That’s enough.”

She nodded, sensing he didn’t want to talk about the Lycans, Rahl most of all. To be honest, neither did she. She had kissed Rahl earlier and” she shook the thought from her head, forcing that feeling away so Kane couldn’t sense it. Suddenly, a loud pounding on the lair door startled her.

“I don’t believe I told you our lair is on the isle of Qaelasyn. The elders and my regiment can reach it through here when they need me,” he explained as he kissed her and rose from the bed.

Emory watched his naked form, smiling as he walked away from the bedroom towards the living room. His all black outfit draped over him out of nowhere like magic as he went, and she took a deep breath, lying there and enjoying the memory of their unexpected lovemaking.

The pounding on the door grew louder, more insistent. Emory sighed and sat up, pulling the sheets around her, and listened as Kane opened the door. Her heightened hunter sense recognized Dairdat’s voice immediately, though he was speaking a different dialect to Kane, and as expected, even his tone was stoic. After a few minutes, they exchanged their goodbyes, and Kane returned to her.

“I have to leave for a bit. I will be back as soon as I can,” he said with a small smile, trying to reassure her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing new. Raius has demanded an audience, and I will give it to him.”

What did the gods want now? “Is it safe? Can’t it wait?”

Kane shook his head. “It’s better to address his concerns now.” He leaned down, brushing a tender kiss across her lips. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

She nodded and the doorway appear beside him. As he walked towards the it, she called out to him.

“Come back safe.”

He turned, his bewitching golden eyes locking onto hers. “I’ll always come back to you.”

With that, he was gone, leaving her alone in the quiet of the room. She sighed, trying to shake off the nagging worry that the gods were up to no good.