Page 37

“Octavia, what a nice surprise,” Mia said as she hugged her.

Tiber simply wanted to knock his friend’s head off. “Yes, what a lovely surprise.”

Mia glanced at him in surprise, likely at his biting tone.

But he couldn’t even hide his annoyance, not when his future mate had been naked in his arms mere minutes ago.

Octavia, who could definitely scent the sex and mating on them, held up her palms. “I sincerely apologize. I didn’t mean for Aki to interrupt… you two. But congratulations,” she said, looking between the two of them with a genuine smile.

“Ah…” Mia laughed awkwardly and glanced at Tiber, but he didn’t respond to Octavia’s words.

He certainly wasn’t going to tell Mia they were in the midst of mating. Oh no. She would figure it out after she was so addicted to him, she wouldn’t want to walk away. He was a sneaky dragon, after all.

“What do you want?” he demanded of his friend instead.

“Two things. The vampire and his coven are gone,” she said, looking between the two of them. “I watched them leave the realm.”

Mia’s sigh of relief was audible and he pulled her close, wanting to anchor her.

“That did not require your flight here.”

“No.” Octavia’s expression turned grim. “Starlena sent a message to the guard. There’s trouble brewing in the north.

We don’t know the extent, but the realm has been breached by a small band of raiders.

Right now, they’re simply camped out near one of our strongholds.

Cyprus and I have already sent out sentries to spy and assess the situation as Starlena requested, but I wanted to tell you in person. ”

Tiber nodded in agreement, annoyance gone.

She’d been right to come. She could have sent a message through a spell.

Unlike humans and their phones, this realm could send messages via magic, but often there was a cost, and they didn’t always translate properly.

And the flight wouldn’t have been long for Octavia—it had only been extended for him because he’d paced himself with Mia and Ilmari.

“Thank you. Let me discuss things with Mia and I’ll let you know what the plan is.

But grab breakfast and prepare Ilmari if he wants to leave with us.

If he does, he’ll have to be okay with you carrying him. ”

Octavia nodded and hurried out the front door.

“Is this bad? Does it mean war?” Stress rolled off Mia as she turned to face him, the robe she’d cinched around her waist loose, revealing the soft curve of her breasts.

“Truthfully, it’s likely nothing. Or it will end up being nothing. But we don’t take any breaches lightly in the Nova realm. There’s a reason we’ve held strong for thousands of years.”

Nodding, she wrapped her arms around herself. “Will it be easier if… I stay here? I know you can fly faster without me.”

Frowning, he pulled her into his arms. “I’m not leaving you behind.”

“It’s okay,” she said, sliding her arms around him and laying her head against his chest with a comfortableness he was getting used to.

“Do you want to stay?”

She paused, but shook her head. “Not without you.” It sounded like a confession.

A very welcome one. “Then it’s settled. We’ll head out after we eat. You’ll need to ride me or to let me carry you,” he finally said.

“Pretty sure I already know how to ride you.” Her tone was tart as she looked up at him.

He let out a startled burst of laughter and claimed her mouth. Goddess, this female had completely undone him. He wasn’t going to be able to let her go, that much he knew. She already owned every part of him.