Page 19 of Bound by Fire and Scales (The Dragons of Earis #1)

After the ritual, I didn’t get to have a moment alone with Zephyr. Anphyr whisked me away to fix my makeup for the formal dinner, though the last thing on my mind was how I looked. All I wanted was to be with Zephyr, to tell him everything I’d seen, everything the fire had shown me.

The dining hall, alive with chatter and the soft clink of glasses, fell into a heavy silence as I stepped through the doors. I became the center of attention, all eyes turned to watch me. I held my head high, making my way into the room, my crimson gown shimmering like fire as I moved, the fabric flowing behind me like liquid flame. I had never been one to seek the spotlight, but tonight, there was no avoiding it. I had just accomplished what no other human ever had. I had walked through fire and emerged without a single burnt mark.

Zephyr’s eyes found me the moment I entered. He watched me make my way towards him, devouring me with his eyes, the heat of his gaze giving me goosebumps. He’d looked at me before with desire, with hunger, but tonight, it was something else. His eyes burned into me with the thirstiness of a man who had wandered a desert for days, desperate for a single drop of water. And I was now the one who could satisfy his thirst.

I heard the soft footsteps of Anphyr and Kislav as they followed right behind me. They drew the room’s attention away from me, which I was grateful for. Anphyr looked stunning, as always, in her silver gown while Kislav walked beside her, his expression cold, though he remained strangely protective of her. I wondered, once again, what kind of relationship those two had. Were they mated?

I saw Enrik standing near the end of the table. His eyes swept over me slowly, lingering on the dress, on me, in a way that made me feel weird. It was the first time those gray eyes weren’t staring at me with mockery. Instead, there was something like admiration there. He didn’t make any of his usual comments, which left me wondering what he was really thinking.

The Iceclaw delegation, gathered at the table for the formal dinner, also turned their attention toward me. A few of them exchanged glances, nodding in silent approval. Their gazes didn’t feel like a challenge, more like acceptance or perhaps appreciation.

I reached my seat, smoothing the fabric of my dress with trembling hands as I sat down. Anphyr and Kislav took their places sitting by my side.

“A drink, my lady?” a server asked, presenting a golden tray of firewine. The potent aroma immediately caught my attention. This wine had quickly become one of my favorite drinks since arriving here. I accepted a cup, murmuring a quick thanks, though I barely glanced at him. My mind was elsewhere, too distracted by Zephyr. He hadn’t said anything, but he didn’t need to when he was devouring me with his eyes. Fuck. He was so distracting.

“I suppose congratulations are in order. Truly, you were remarkable out there.” I glanced across the table at the son of the Iceclaw clan’s leader. I gave him a polite smile as I tried to remember his name. “Now I see why Zephyr chose you as his mate.”

“Uh… Thank you, I think?” I replied cautiously, unsure whether to take his words as genuine or sly.

He smirked at me with a glint in his eyes before turning his attention toward Kislav who was sitting by my side. “Zephyr really lucked out with this one,” he said, a teasing edge in his tone. Then, almost offhandedly, “Tell me, cousin, when do you plan to settle down and find a mate?”

Kislav groaned beside me, opting to down his entire drink in one swift motion instead of replying, making the other man burst into a loud laugh.

Wait… cousin?

My eyes darted between them and even through the fog that was filling up my mind, I could see the resemblance. They both had the same dark hair, the same proud, aristocratic profile, sharp noses and jaws. But while Kislav’s eyes were blue, his cousin’s were brown.

“I didn’t know Kislav had family in the Iceclaw clan,” I said, glancing between the two of them.

“Ties? Kislav was one of us,” he said, his voice laced with amusement. I glanced at Kislav whose face remained impassive as if the topic wasn’t about him. “He’s an ice dragon through and through, even if his father had a fondness for the heat of the Fire Island.”

“Vlastov,” Anphyr interjected smoothly. It was good to know that I wasn’t the only one to feel the weird tension between the… cousins. “I hardly think this is an appropriate topic of conversation for now.” She smiled politely at Kislav. “Tell me, how is your mother doing? I’ve received one of her letters...” With Anphyr capturing his attention, Vlastov was quick to abandon his interest in both me and Kislav, focusing only on her with an exaggerated politeness that made me want to punch him. I didn’t know much about Vlastov, but I could tell there was some story between him and Kislav and that Kislav didn’t like him. That made me prone to disliking the Iceclaw dragon, too.

As the food was served, I noticed my focus slipping more and more. Both the firewine and the food tasted like nothing in my mouth. Anphyr kept talking, her laughter filling the room, but I could barely keep up with the discussion. My body felt heavy, too warm, and there was an ache I didn’t recognize. My heart started beating faster, my palms beginning to sweat. I tried to discreetly rub my hands along my dress, hoping no one would notice.

Something wasn’t right.

I caught Zephyr looking at me a few times, his green eyes narrowing slightly as if sensing my distress. I looked around the room, trying to focus. My breath quickened as the heat inside me deepened, turning into something almost unbearable. My skin felt too tight, my senses heightened, making the whole room overwhelming. Every sound, every movement around me, hurt my eyes and my ears.

Zephyr’s gaze caught mine, more intense now, his nostrils flaring as he took in my scent. Then, it hit me. Was this... my heat? I didn’t think it would come so suddenly, and here, of all places? Panic crept in, but I forced myself to stay calm, swallowing hard as I looked away, trying to hide the growing need that was consuming me. But I knew it was a question of minutes before my scent changed. I couldn’t let them see me like this. My body was betraying me, and I didn’t know how much longer I could hold on.

I clenched my fists beneath the table, trying to hold myself together, trying to breathe through the rising heat that pulsed inside me like a living thing. Every breath coming out harder, the air around me felt thick and heavy, making it impossible to breathe properly. My heart pounded in my chest, my pulse quickening in time with the swirling warmth that had become too much to ignore.

Zephyr’s eyes never left me. His gaze was sharp, piercing through the haze clouding my thoughts. I could feel him watching, and the weight of his attention only made the heat worse, made the sensation more intense. My fingers curled into the fabric of my dress, trying to ground myself, but it was no use. The heat surged through me like a fire I couldn’t put out.

I needed to leave. Now.

I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice, though it trembled despite my best efforts. “Excuse me,” I said, standing up too quickly. My legs felt weak, almost shaky, but I willed them to stay steady. “I think I need to get some fresh air.”

Anphyr’s laughter stopped abruptly as she turned to look at me, concern flashing across her face. “Sabrina, are you alright? You look a little pale.”

“I’m fine,” I lied, offering a quick, forced smile. “Just feeling a bit... overheated.” Understatement of the century. I could barely think straight through the growing storm inside me. Zephyr shifted in his seat, his gaze still locked on mine, and I knew he understood. There was a flicker of something dark in his green eyes. I was prey trapped by the predator. Anphyr and Kislav exchanged glances, but remained silent.

I pushed myself from my chair, forcing my lungs to breathe slowly, but the air in the dining hall felt too thick, too heavy. My pulse drummed in my ears, and every heartbeat seemed to thrum with a strange, aching need I couldn’t control.

There were too many alphas pheromones in this damn room!

Enrik’s gaze shifted suddenly toward me, his eyes narrowing slightly, and I saw his nostrils flare. His gray eyes darkened in an instant and my heart leapt into my throat. Fuck, he knew. Zephyr noticed it, too. His jaw tightening as his gaze flickered toward Enrik. There was an obvious tension crackling between them, and I knew something was about to go very wrong.

“Ooh, I see.” Enrik’s voice was rough, low. “It’s coming from you, isn’t it lil’ tailchaser?”

Zephyr’s eyes snapped at him. “Enrik,” he warned. I caught a glimpse of Zephyr’s expression transforming into something feral, as if he was ready to attack at any moment.

Enrik smirked, leaning back in his chair. “You can’t hide it, Zephyr. I can smell it. Her scent—her heat.” His voice was thick with hunger, his eyes never leaving me. “It smells absolutely delicious.”

I stiffened, my heart racing. Heat flushed through me, making my pulse thunder in my ears. He could smell it. They could both smell it. Hells, everyone in this room could smell it. Panic shot through me as I tried to keep my composure, but it was no use. The air in the room felt thick with the tension that hung between the two alphas.

Zephyr stood suddenly, his chair scraping loudly against the stone floor. “Don’t push me, Enrik,” Zephyr growled, his hands clenching into fists on the table.

Enrik stood as well, a mocking smile twisting his lips. “Why? You think you can keep her all to yourself? I don’t think so, Zephyr. Not when her scent is driving my dragon wild.”

I felt frozen, trapped between them as the intensity in the room skyrocketed. Kislav shifted in his seat, eyes darting between the two as if bracing for what was about to come. I couldn’t help but notice the way some council members, as well as the Iceclaws, regarded Zephyr—with genuine fear. They were truly afraid, their eyes wide and trembling at the thought of what he might do.

“She’s mine.” Zephyr growled in warning.

Enrik’s smile dropped. “That’s not how it works, Zephyr. She’s still unclaimed. She’s not your mate yet.”

Before I could process what was happening, Zephyr moved, his body a blur of motion as he lunged across the table. The force of it sent dishes crashing to the floor, shattering as his fist connected with Enrik’s jaw. The impact was brutal, the sound of flesh against flesh filling the air.

Enrik staggered back, wiping blood from his lip, but he only laughed, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “Is that the best you’ve got?”

He retaliated just as quickly, shoving Zephyr back with a strength that rattled the heavy table. They were both on their feet now, snarling like beasts, the raw, primal energy in the room overwhelming. Their alpha instinct had fully taken over, and neither of them was willing to back down.

Kislav stood abruptly, stepping between them. “Enough! Both of you!” He pushed against Enrik’s chest, trying to separate them. “You’re both behaving like animals!”

But neither Zephyr nor Enrik were listening. Zephyr’s chest was heaving, his eyes glowing with fury, while Enrik’s eyes gleamed with madness. I didn’t recognize either of them, and I sobbed, feeling guilty and useless because I was the reason they’re both losing the control of their alphas and I didn’t know how to stop it.

“Ann! Get Sabrina out of here!” Kislav barked, his voice urgent as he struggled to hold Enrik back.

Anphyr sprang to her feet, rushing to my side. Her hand grabbed mine, pulling me from the table as the chaos unfolded around us.

“Come on,” she whispered, her voice steady despite the panic in her eyes.

I barely had the strength to move, my body overwhelmed by the heat, by the tension that seemed to claw at my very soul. I stumbled after her, my legs shaky as we rushed toward the door. Behind us, the sounds of Zephyr and Enrik’s growls filled the air.

As Anphyr led me out of the dining hall, I glanced back one last time. Zephyr’s pale green eyes met mine for a brief, intense moment, before Kislav pushed Enrik away from him. The connection between us was electric, undeniable, and I knew this battle wasn’t just about dominance—it was about me.

And the worst part of it all? Somehow, in a very twisted way, I liked it.

My alpha fights for me.

My heat is only his.

Anphyr led me through the long, dimly lit corridors, her grip firm but gentle. My legs felt weak, trembling beneath me as the heat pulsed through my body. My thoughts were a chaotic whirl of dizziness and lust. I could still hear the echoes of Zephyr and Enrik’s growls, the clash of their alpha calling for my omega.

Anphyr remained silent as she guided me into my room, gently closing the door behind us. “Stay here,” she said softly, her voice calm but tinged with worry. “I’ll send Zephyr when he calms down.”

I wanted to call out to her, to tell her not to leave me, but the words stuck in my throat. The second she left, my whole body began spiraling out of control as the heat consumed me from the inside out. I pressed my hands against the cold stone walls, trying to steady myself, but it was useless. The heat inside me flared again, my skin burning, my blood roaring with a growing hunger I didn’t recognize. It was as if every nerve in my body was on fire, my mind clouded by an insatiable craving.

I needed him.

I needed my alpha .

The thought sent a fresh wave of desire crashing over me, so strong that I gasped, stumbling back against the bed. My body throbbed with want, every instinct screaming for Zephyr, for his touch, for his scent. I could still feel the lingering heat of his gaze on me, that look of possessiveness that had sent shivers down my spine.

I clenched my fists, trying to focus, trying to fight against the tidal wave of need, but it was no use. My omega instincts were overwhelming me. I whimpered, sinking down to the floor, clutching my tights together, trying to relieve the ache, as if it could fill the empty, aching void that only Zephyr could fill up.

My body was no longer mine, it was something wild, untamed, and desperate. I needed to be claimed, to submit to him. I dragged myself towards the bed and curled up on it, panting as the heat surged through me in relentless waves. Slick was already dripping out of me, making me whine against the covers. I was going to lose it.

“Zephyr,” I whispered, his name slipping from my lips like a prayer. My body trembled as I plunged my fingers inside of my dripping slick cunt, hoping to soothe the ache inside of me. I moaned as I moved my fingers desperately inside of me.

I needed him. I needed him to touch me, to take me, to fill me. I worked myself harder, writhing against the growing fire inside me. My breath came in ragged gasps as I reached my climax, but the ache was still there.

A low, keening sound escaped my throat, a sound of pure, unfiltered need. I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed him. I needed my alpha to make it stop.

“Please…” I whimpered, my voice breaking as I pressed my face into the pillow, trying to stifle the sound while I hammered my fingers inside of my cunt once again. There was no escaping it. The hunger, the heat, the desperation—it was consuming me. I could feel it, the pull, the bond between us. Zephyr had to feel it, too. He had to know. He had to come for me.

Because if he didn’t, I was going to lose my mind.