Page 27 of Beneath Scales and Shadows (Lost Lunas of Artania #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

IGNIS

Warmth and contentment flowed through Ignis as he gazed down at Sora’s sleeping form. Silver scales glinted along her collarbones and shoulders, mingling with the dried golden essence that marked her as his —a sight that stirred both pride and possessiveness in his chest. His tail curled protectively around the sleeping platform, creating a barrier between his most precious treasure and the world beyond.

She would need all the rest she could get to survive the coming week. The first wave of her heat had passed, but many more would follow before the cycle completed.

He couldn’t quite believe that she loved him—a monster by human standards—that she hadn’t shied away from taking him in his dragoon form. The memory of her beneath him, sapphire eyes wide with trust and desire despite his different anatomy, threatened to stir his blood anew.

But there was still much she needed to know before she took him in his true draconic form. That would require careful preparation, both physical and mental.

There was a lot of him—and even though she was an omega—he would have to take his time, no matter how much she might demand otherwise.

An alpha could only have so much restraint before lapsing into a blind rut from their omega’s heat.

Ignis extended his awareness through the mountain, seeking the familiar consciousness of his healer. “Asher,” he pathed gently, not wanting to startle him. “My queen rests now, but will need sustenance when she wakes. Can you arrange regular deliveries of food and drink?”

“Of course, my king,” came the prompt reply, laced with professional concern. “Shall I send Zalaya to tend to her needs? Her experience with omega heats would prove valuable.”

“That would be foolish,” Ignis countered, amused by the suggestion. “You’re a delta, Asher. We both know alpha and omega powers don’t affect you. You can tend to my queen if you want—either of you are fully capable.”

A flicker of acknowledgment brushed his mind. “As you wish. Let me know if the same welcome extends to others.”

“How fare Ember and Coal?” Ignis asked, his thoughts turning to his wounded friends. “And what news of our clan’s recovery?”

“The clan heals well—nothing more than slices and arrow wounds. Coal suffered the worst, but stabilizes under Zalaya’s care. Ember won’t leave his side, and I won’t blame her. We both know she’s not needed at the moment with you being accompanied.” Asher’s mental voice carried the steady confidence of a healer accustomed to trauma. “Those rescued from the castle rest in the infirmary. Blaze and Enixa have contacted their original clans to arrange reunions once they’re strong enough to travel.”

Relief washed through Ignis. His Wing Leaders handled clan matters admirably in his absence, proving once again why he’d chosen them for their positions. He would thank them properly once Sora’s heat passed—for now, his place was by her side.

“Have the dining hall send betas with regular deliveries for the next week,” Ignis instructed. “I’ll expect your check-in later.”

“It will be done,” Asher assured him before withdrawing from the connection.

Ignis eased away from Sora, his stavs now deflated and tucked safely back into their sheath. Every breath he took was thick with the scent of moonflowers, cinnamon, and dragonfire. He could happily drown in that intoxicating aroma for days, but he needed to prepare for when she woke. The burning ache of her heat would return with greater intensity, and she would need him clear-headed and ready.

He carefully extracted himself from the bed, fighting the immediate urge to climb back in and bury his face against her neck, drinking in her scent through the mark he’d left there. Instead, he stood gazing down at her—his treasure, his mate, his queen—silver scales gleaming beneath drying flakes of his golden essence.

The sight stirred something primal and possessive within him. He’d never heard of such a combination—gold essence on silver scales—yet the beauty of it struck him hard. He’d claimed her in every way that mattered—their souls linked, their minds connected, their dreams intertwined.

Now she bore his mark upon her neck, his scale upon her side and his essence upon her skin.

She was, without question, his finest treasure. Nothing in his vast hoard compared to the woman who slept in his bed.

To prepare for what came next, he needed the books they’d hastily gathered from the Great Library between meeting with her family and the council. He found them atop an ornate chest among his collected treasures, though they seemed dull and lifeless compared to the woman in his bed.

He picked up the biology text, its ancient pages filled with comprehensive information about alphas and omegas—physical attributes, behavioral patterns, mating dynamics, heat cycles. Most importantly, it contained detailed descriptions of interspecies pairings, including the rarest of all: dragon and human.

Sora needed to understand what would happen before it occurred. The last thing he wanted was to frighten her when he mounted her in his true form. Though she’d shown no fear of him before, this would test even her remarkable adaptability.

Ignis placed the book on a pedestal beside her bed and sighed. A cloud of her scent—moonflower and cinnamon intensified by the smoky notes of dragon fire—hit him with fresh potency. He needed air before the intoxicating aroma drove him to mindless rutting.

The balcony beckoned, offering escape and perspective. Stepping out, he drew deep breaths of mountain air, letting the crisp clarity wash away the fog of desire. Below, the central cavern hummed with the sounds of rebuilding and healing after the battle at Celestoria.

Evening painted the mountain peaks with amber light, the twin moons rising early in the darkening violet sky. Ignis gazed upward, offering silent thanks to the Moon Goddess for sending Sora to him from her Blue Knight. He swore to protect his mate, to honor her wisdom, to help her fulfill her destiny—not as prophecy demanded, but as she chose to shape it.

Soft footsteps sounded behind him, bare feet padding across stone. Without looking, he knew it was her—the bond between them hummed with recognition, alive with awareness. Sora slipped beneath his wing, fitting herself against his side as naturally as if she’d been designed for that exact space. His arm curled around her automatically, drawing her closer.

Before he could ask how she felt, she spoke, her voice quiet against the backdrop of evening winds.

“I died on Earth. I was studying artifacts in a museum—dragon artifacts, I now realize—when someone pushed me into the path of a train.”

Ignis listened silently—his tail coiling protectively around her legs as she spoke. He wondered what this ‘train’ was—the creature that had killed her—and how he might first thank it before seeking vengeance for what it had dared to do.

“When I woke here, I thought it was random chance. Now I understand it was always meant to be.”

“You are a Luna,” he confirmed, the ancient word carrying the weight of prophecy. “One of the Thirteen. Born under the Blue Moon to restore balance between realms.”

“Even though that’s true, the baker’s daughter must have died the same moment I did.” Sora’s fingers traced the scales along his forearm, following their intricate patterns. “I never felt like I belonged on Earth. Always searching through history for something I couldn’t name... perhaps even to prove myself.”

“You were searching for home,” Ignis said simply, the truth resonating between them. “For me.”

The realization brought tears to her eyes, glittering like diamonds in the moonlight. “I never want to go back. This world—Artania—is where I belong now.”

“With me?” His question contained vulnerability—even though she’d voiced her feelings during their mating, he needed to hear it again—needed confirmation that it wasn’t merely heat-madness speaking, but her true heart.

“With you,” she confirmed, placing her hand against his scaled face. “I love you, Ignis. Somehow, I think I’ve always known that I would... I was always drawn to you... and you make it easy to love you.”

Emotion burned in his chest as he turned to her, scaled hands rising to frame her face, the heat of his touch a silent vow. The twin moons reflected in her sapphire eyes, transforming them into bottomless pools he longed to drown in. “My soul recognized yours the moment you removed my mask.”

Their kiss sealed more than a promise—it claimed the future they had carved for themselves, not by prophecy’s design, but by the pull of their own hearts.

“My kingdom is now yours,” he murmured against her lips. “When your heat is done, I will announce you to the clan as my queen, officially—for all the world to know.”

“That sounds like... a lot.” Uncertainty flickered across her features.

“We’ll celebrate,” he teased, brushing a strand of golden hair from her face. “With your help, we’ve defeated the evil that plagued our clan for generations. Now we can finally know peace.”

“Does that mean we can freely fly the land?” Hope brightened her eyes. “Visit other kingdoms?”

Ignis nodded, gesturing toward the distant horizons visible beyond the mountain peaks. “I will take you to meet our neighbors, speak with their leaders directly. We’ll re-establish trade and alliances long forgotten.” His wing extended, indicating lands beyond sight. “Even the other dragon clans, though they lie many days’ journey away.”

“I would enjoy that,” she said, leaning into his embrace, her body warm against his scales.

A soft knock at their chamber door signaled the first of Asher’s promised deliveries. Ignis’s sensitive nose detected freshly baked bread, roasted meats, and sweet fruits—nourishment his mate would need for the challenges ahead.

“Let’s go inside,” he suggested, guiding her from the balcony. “I must feed you, then bathe you... care for you properly.”

Sora backed away, her movements taking on a teasing, dance-like quality as she moved toward the door. The elegant robe she’d thrown on swirled around her legs, revealing tantalizing glimpses of silver-scaled skin.

“I could get used to being pampered and cared for by my dragon king,” she called over her shoulder, a playful smile curving her lips.

A sudden flare of sweetness in her scent hit him like a physical blow—her heat beginning to rise again, moonflower and cinnamon intensifying with renewed need. Ignis purred low in his chest, recognizing the signs. Soon she would burn for him once more, desperate for his touch, his claim, his essence.

But first, he must not get distracted from his duties. She needed food, hydration, tenderness.

“Don’t think you can escape me, my little Luna,” he growled playfully, spreading his wings wide as he stalked her into their chambers. “I know what my treasure needs.”

Sora’s laughter echoed through the room as she darted away from him, a delicious game of chase that inflamed his instincts. Her giggles rang like crystal chimes, a sound he’d protect with his life.

“Good thing I enjoy making my treasure shine bright,” he called after her, his scaled lips curving into a smile meant only for her. “And this game of chase.”