11. Zero

Chapter eleven

Zero

I wake up to a pleasant warmth wrapped around me, spooning my back. Calix is lightly tracing designs on my chest. Smiling, I hug his slim arms to my chest and my dragon purrs. Is this what happiness feels like? Gods, it’s as if I entered an alternate world. Where my sole focus used to be seeking revenge on any rogue vampire I could find, now, my new focus will be taking care of my mate. I’ll do this by pleasuring him and providing a safe place for him to live—always.

“Flip over, pretty dragon,” he says as he presses a few kisses on my wings. “I want to see your eyes.”

I do as I’m told, shocked at how eager I am for my tiny mate’s dominance and approval. Then I gasp. My eyes fly to the pendant hanging around his neck. “You kept it?” I ask in a watery tone.

My fingers pick up the dragon pendant I made Calix for his sixteenth birthday. As I study the intricate design, I’m floored to realize that this dragon is very similar to mine. Did I subconsciously give Calix a piece of my dragon—of me—without knowing?

Joy pulses through our small magical bond. Through all the research I’ve conducted on my dragon lineage, there is one tradition I crave more than anything: the bonding ceremony. Would Calix entertain the idea? Fate has already deemed us soulmates, but to actually go through a dragon’s bonding ceremony would truly mean sharing our souls.

Calix smiles at me. He reaches for the necklace I’m holding, but instead of taking it from me, he wraps his fingers around mine. Together, we hold on to the pendant as Calix’s eyes search mine, as if peering inside, learning my deepest thoughts. “I never took it off,” he whispers. “You have been with me the entire time.”

He’s so hauntingly beautiful with his high cheekbones, plush lips, and ocean-blue eyes.

“I still can’t believe you’re here, Calix. I searched everywhere for you. I never stopped.” Tears flood my eyes.

“I know you did, Zero. My beautiful, loyal dragon.”

A desperate need to tell him I love him overcomes me, but I push it down. Instead, I try to pour my emotions into a kiss. I pull him to me and devour his lips. This kiss is unlike the first one we shared. This one is just as passionate, but it’s tinged with regret. It’s filled with apologies. It’s filled with all the emotions we are feeding to each other through the bond, but are incapable of voicing at the moment. They’re too big, too powerful.

Someday, I hope we’ll be able to fully talk about our less-than-pleasant experiences while we were apart. But if not, if we can’t, that’s okay too. As long as I can wake up every morning with Calix safe and in my bed.

“Zero, I—”

My phone rings, interrupting this serious moment. At first, I ignore it and am about to ask him to continue telling me what he’s about to say when it goes off again. I notice it’s Gideon, and he would know not to interrupt me so early unless it’s important. And considering he isn’t knocking on my door, that means he isn’t home and must be doing something for the guard.

I hold up my finger to Calix. He smiles and lightly nips at it as I answer my phone. “Hey, Gid. What’s going on?”

“I’m so sorry, boss. We need you at the Sinclair Estate. We might have a situation with a rogue.”

I sigh. “You know I’m retired, right?”

“Sorry, Zero. It’s important. Autumn wanted to talk to you specifically.”

“All right. I’ll be there in ten minutes.” I hang up the phone, sighing.

“Is everything okay?” Calix asks.

I nod. “Yeah, Elite Guard business. Will you be okay if I take care of this?”

“Yes, go be a hero,” he says, pressing a kiss against my lips. “I have a few things I need to finish up, anyway.”

I chuckle. “No more hero stuff. I’m retired. That means no more missions. But if this is regarding me building a safe house, I’ll be glad to work in our town, knowing I get to come home to you every day.”

“Gods, you’re so cheesy,” Calix teases.

“Hey! Hush you. It’s your fault.” I tickle his sides until he begs for mercy. “Text me if you leave the house. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

***

The further I drive away from my house, the more I feel our magical bond strain, causing my dragon to whine. I didn’t realize that an incomplete bond could do this. I guess it must be a dragon thing. My inner dragon huffs. Mate. Bond. Bite. “Okay, buddy,” I say out loud as I rub my chest. “We’ll at least talk to Calix about the mating process when we get home.” There was no way in hell I would go through with the mating bite or a bonding ceremony without his full consent. Not after the way Helios treated him.

I pull into Sinclair Estate and chuckle. Autumn had the audacity to say my place was big. Yet, his family’s estate has me beaten— by a long shot . As soon as I park and jog up to the front door, I knock. Someone guides me inside and shows me to a room where I find Autumn, Gideon, and several coven members I vaguely recognize.

Autumn rushes forward with a smile and hugs me. “Hey, thanks for coming. We have a bit of a situation.”

One of the coven members walks forward with another witch by his side. Autumn makes quick introductions. “Zero, this is Nico. He’s—”

“Calix’s friend,” I gasp. “It’s so nice to meet you. Thank you for making that potion for my mate.”

Nico instantly relaxes. “Gods, Autumn told me that Calix met his mate, but when I found out who it was, I was scared it was a trick. But if he told you I made the potion, then I know he trusts you.”

My dragon sits up with pride. “Thank you. That means a lot to me. So, how can I help everyone today?”

Autumn points at a chair and I take a seat. “The main reason we wanted you here is because of your skill. There’s been a vampire who has been trying to break through Heart’s Hollow’s wards.”

My eyes widen.

“Don’t worry, he hasn’t been able to breach the wards, but he’s persistent, and it’s draining some of our power. We can hold it up, but we want him gone. If he’s this desperate, he might be willing to hurt anyone who walks past the magical protection.”

“Okay, that makes sense. But Gideon and my team have dealt with similar missions. Why did you need me?”

Nico speaks up. “There’s something else we need to tell you.”

My heart skips a beat. What the fuck is going on?

“The rogue trying to break through the wards is Dante. Calix’s maker.”

I stand abruptly, my chair toppling over. That’s when I feel it. Panic and fear pulsing through the bond. Yanking my phone out of my pocket, the blood drains from my face when I see a text from Calix.

Calix: I’m going to my place in the woods. I want to grab some clothes and see if anything is salvageable in the wreckage. I’ll be back in fifteen.

Suddenly, a blinding pain hits the back of my head. No. Not my head. Calix. The bond flickers between us, then winks out.

There’s nothing.

Nothing.

Darkness.

I can’t feel the bond. At all.

My dragon roars with outrage.