Chapter 37

THIRTY-SEVEN

P ride swelled in Talon’s chest as Asher stood beside him before the clan’s council, her chin lifted with quiet confidence despite the weight of ancient tradition pressing down from the tapestry-lined walls.

Floating lanterns cast her in alternating light and shadow, highlighting the determined set of her jaw. He allowed his hand to brush against hers, offering silent support as they faced the assembled elders.

“Esteemed elders of the Draker clan,” his voice resonated through the chamber. “I present to you Dr. Asher Andrews, my mate and partner.”

A ripple of murmurs swept through the gathering. Elder Magnus, his silver hair gleaming in the ethereal light, leaned forward in his seat. “Dr. Andrews, we understand you are a hybrid. How do you reconcile your human lineage with our dragon heritage?”

Protective instinct flared hot in Talon’s chest, but Asher’s steady voice cut through his rising tension. Her response blended respect with innovation, speaking of enhancement rather than change, growth rather than replacement. Pride replaced his protective surge as several elders nodded thoughtfully at her words.

Elder Cassandra’s knowing smile held particular satisfaction. “Well spoken, child. Your perspective brings fresh air to these ancient halls.” Her eyes twinkled as she glanced between them. “Though perhaps not as much air as certain midnight flights around the estate?”

Heat crept up Talon’s neck at the memory of their nocturnal adventures. Trust the clan’s most perceptive elder to notice their private training sessions. Beside him, Asher maintained admirable composure, though her fingers tightened briefly against his.

The formal questioning continued, each elder testing different aspects of their union. Talon watched with growing satisfaction as Asher met every challenge with grace and insight, her scientific mind finding fresh perspectives on age-old traditions. Even Elder Magnus’s stern expression had softened by the time the presentation concluded.

Leading Asher from the hall afterward, Talon couldn’t resist pulling her into a shadowed alcove. “You were magnificent in there,” he murmured against her lips, stealing a quick kiss.

Her laugh vibrated against his mouth. “Flatterer. Though I noticed you managed not to growl when Elder Magnus questioned my heritage. Progress.”

“I’m learning restraint,” he admitted, trailing kisses down her neck before reluctantly stepping back. “Speaking of which, we should get to training before I forget why we left our quarters this morning.”

The training grounds sprawled before them, ancient stone circles etched with protective runes dotting the terrain while modern holographic arrays projected combat scenarios into the air. Near the control station, Lori hunched over monitors, her professional demeanor somewhat undermined by her frequent glances toward the sky where Levi performed his “routine” patrol.

“Defensive shields are calibrated for electrical discharge,” Lori reported, determinedly staring at her tablet as Levi executed a particularly impressive banking maneuver overhead. “Try not to fry my sensors this time.”

“That’s my cue,” Talon said, moving to open space. They shifted forms simultaneously, their dragon shapes materializing in smooth succession. His larger frame rippled with power while Asher’s more compact form crackled with electrical energy.

Ready to work on those defensive maneuvers? After that last attack, we need to focus on aerial combat.

Theoretically speaking, her thoughts carried that familiar blend of scientific curiosity and dragon instinct, I’ve been analyzing ways to modulate electromagnetic fields for better defense against their weapons.

Pride surged through him. Only his mate would approach aerial combat like a research project. Show me.

They launched skyward, falling into training patterns. The mate bond allowed him to share generations of combat knowledge while watching her analytical mind find new applications for ancient techniques. Her successful combination of a defensive roll with an electrical shield drew approving rumbles from his dragon.

Excellent adaptation, he praised. Though watch that left wing on recovery.

Levi’s massive gray form joined them, his flight path taking him suspiciously close to Lori’s station. If you two can focus on something besides each other, his mental voice carried dry amusement, shall we work on group formations?

They ran combat drills for hours, communicating through bond and telepathy as they practiced increasingly complex maneuvers. Holographic opponents provided additional challenges, forcing them to defend against multiple threats while maintaining aerial coordination. Talon’s chest swelled with pride watching Asher adapt traditional techniques with innovative twists.

A particularly complex sequence ended with her executing a perfect defensive spiral while maintaining her electrical shield. Landing for a break, they shifted back to human form.

“That was impressive,” he said, pulling her close. “Though I’m starting to think you enjoy showing off.”

“It’s called practical application of theoretical principles,” she replied primly, though her hands slid up his chest. “Very scientific.”

“Is that what we’re calling it?” He captured her lips in a heated kiss that had nothing to do with science.

A pointed cough interrupted them. Lori stood nearby, tablet in hand, trying to look stern despite her twitching lips. “If you two could pause the ‘research’ for a moment, I have the training metrics ready for review.”

Levi landed and shifted forms, casually stretching in a way that drew Lori’s immediate attention. “The electrical field variations were fascinating,” she said, voice professionally crisp despite her pink cheeks. “Though there was an interesting power spike during that last formation.”

“Speaking of interesting spikes,” Levi’s smile held just a hint of fang, “I’ve been meaning to discuss some security upgrades for the lab section. Perhaps over coffee?”

Talon bit back a laugh at their awkward dance, remembering his own early interactions with Asher. Sometimes the most powerful warriors could be felled by simple attraction.

An alert from Lori’s tablet broke the moment. “Your mothers are looking for you both,” she grimaced. “Something about centerpiece arrangements and seating charts?”

Everyone sighed. How could they forget about tonight?

The next hour passed in a whirlwind of dinner preparations. Their mothers had transformed the great hall into a stunning blend of tradition and innovation. Dragon artifacts gleamed alongside elegant scientific displays, while floral arrangements incorporated both clan symbols and subtle DNA helixes.

“The molecular gastronomy chef is confirmed,” his mother announced, consulting her phone. “Though convincing him to work with traditional dragon spices was... interesting.”

Talon drew Asher into a quiet corner as their mothers continued planning. “We could still make a break for it,” he murmured against her hair. “I know some excellent caves in the Himalayas.”

Her laugh warmed his chest. “Tempting. But then who would appreciate your mother’s efforts to incorporate Schrodinger’s cat into the table settings?”