16. Addie

16

ADDIE

I t took a long time, but Addie finally got back to sleep. She didn't dare go back to her own room with its vast bed and the giant spider hiding somewhere inside. So instead, she stayed in the servant's room and curled up with her face pressed to the pillow Drago had been using. His warm, spicy scent comforted her, though she still wished her Protector had stayed to hold her.

The memory of him healing her played over and over in her head. The way he had licked her so eagerly—his deep voice telling her to come while he fucked her with his tongue…just thinking of it made her hot all over again. But then, what about his eyes?

They were filled with flames…was that his Drake? Was it about to come out?

What would happen if it did come out, Addie wondered. She wished she had any friends aboard the Mother Ship that were mated to Drake Kindred so she could have a frame of reference. But Drakes were a rare branch of the Kindred family tree. She only knew they were huge and powerful and that they could fly. She'd heard of Fire Drakes and Ice Drakes and she'd even heard of Lightning Drakes but Drago hadn't told her which kind his was.

He said his Drake wanted to Claim me though—that he wanted to possess me.

What would it mean to be Claimed and possessed by a Drake? Was it sexual? Or just a matter of ownership? Addie thought of the old fantasy novels she'd loved reading as a kid. All about dragons guarding their hoard. Would she be the hoard in this scenario—the precious treasure the great beast would do anything to protect?

The idea didn't sound that bad—though Drago's flaming eyes had been scary. But he hadn't said his Drake wanted to hurt her—just that it wanted to Claim her. Claiming a bride and bonding with her was the mark of ultimate ownership, love, and devotion for a Kindred warrior. But how would it be possible to be Claimed by a Drake?

Still pondering these questions, Addie at last fell asleep, clutching her Protector's pillow to her chest.

She dreamed of being held in a giant, clawed hand that wasn't human and rushing upwards toward the stars.