She wasn’t any better.

How quickly she had crumbled under the idea that they could be together?

Her damn cabin was visible just outside of the window. It sat there, mocking her with the truth.

She had committed to the man before her succubus had ever had the chance to fall in line with his dragon’s influence.

It must have been the first time she saw him flying overhead in her first years at Spellcaster’s Academy, way before Antoni Barros’ actions had forced her from her hidey-hole of averageness. Hadn’t it been since then that the idea of being with a meal more than once physically made her ill?

Glancing back at him, she caught one last vision. Of her kneeling on the ground on a destroyed mountainside, arms reaching out to him, relief and joy at the sight of him. It was the moment he knew there was no fighting against what she brought out of him.

Her legs ate the distance between them.

“I plan to be your equal in every way, Alessandro, in case that wasn’t clear when I sunk my teeth into your neck. If you are the Dragon King, I will be the Dragon Queen. When you decide to step down and just be Alessandro, I will step down and just be Rowan and we can figure out the middle of what that may all mean together because you are my mate.” She turned and pointed at the mark that had taken place on his forehead. “You sunk your teeth into my neck too. We’re partners now, got it?”

His smile as he took in the mark over her collar bone made any sternness in her body melt. He was at pure peace while he examined the lines, unconcerned with her message.

She sighed and took his face in her hands. “Alessandro, we have to set our expectations. Focus.”

He gently grabbed her wrist and ran his tongue along the center of her palm. She could differentiate the vision that hit her from his memories.

She was naked, holding onto the edge of the dresser. He knelt in front of her, face between her thighs, tongue inside of her.

He wanted to settle the mark with their bodies and Rowan’s succubus needed no more encouragement to make her own presence and demands known.

It was easy to give in as she led the way away from the bed, eager to fulfill his fantasy.

As he stood to follow, his magic unfurled, coiling around her like a giant corporeal shadow. He slid the v-neck crew sweater from the medical wing over her head, eyes locked in on her tits as they bounced free.

Her eye followed his movement as he bent to take a nipple in his mouth, one hand working on her other breast, the other scooping a handful of ass and squeezing.

“Mine.” He growled, eyes throbbing between silver and red.

Her nose flared as a foreign feeling joined what he was inciting.

Kin had once talked about the more risque benefits of a mating bond, the one that had interested her the most was the shared sensations they felt during sex.

Her imagination hadn’t done the experience any justice. Confusion at the first hint of it when she could both feel the heat of his hardness, as well as the slick heat of her core. It threw her off balance. Her belly tightened with the overwhelming stimulus. Her breath came quickly as she tried to get accustomed to the feeling even as he increased both the pressure of his grip and the speed of his tongue. Or was that her?

Alessandro’s teeth grazed the tip of her nipple, the only warning before a canine slipped and sent a delicious spark of pain to her core.

His reaction to the move was mesmerizing. He hissed and went tense for a moment before growling and standing at his full height to stare down at her.

“It’s no wonder you like it rough, little elf.”

The nickname ignited her irritation.

“What is it?”

Could he feel her emotions now?

She tried to move on by running her hand underneath his shirt. The feel of a ghost hand over her chest was exhilarating, but he halted it.

“Tell me.”

“I’m not just an elf.” She hissed.

His eyes swirled as they swept across her face. Confusion furrowed his eyebrows together and his eyes swirled with streaks of yellow. “I’ve called you that since the first day. Why haven’t you said anything?”