Page 51 of Daring the Drakarn Warrior Lord

"Could have fooled me."

"I was angry at the situation. At the warriors who challenged you. At Karyseth for creating an environment where you feltyou needed to prove yourself." His hand stroked down my back, claws careful against my skin. "But not at you. Never at you."

The words settled something in my chest that I hadn't realized was unsettled. "I really am sorry I scared you."

"I know." He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. "And I'm proud of you. Even if I wish you'd chosen literally any other way to prove your worth."

"Next year will be different."

His hand stilled on my back. "Next year?"

"I told you. I'm going to win the Skalanth. Just need to train harder, plan better, maybe convince Vega to actually help instead of trying to talk me out of it."

"You're serious."

"Completely." I tilted my head back to look at him. "You think I'm going to let one loss stop me?"

His expression was complicated. Pride and exasperation and something that might have been resignation. "You're going to be the death of me."

"You've mentioned that." I grinned. "Multiple times, actually."

The water was cooling now, but neither of us moved to get out. This moment felt too good, too peaceful after the chaos of the day. My fingers were starting to prune. But I didn't want to move, didn't want to break this moment of peace and connection.

Eventually, though, practical concerns won out. Darrokar stood, lifting me with him, water streaming off both our bodies. He set me on the edge of the pool and climbed out himself, wings spreading to shake off excess moisture.

I watched him move through the quarters, all lethal grace and controlled power. My mate. My partner. The person who'd tried to stop me today and then supported me anyway when I refused to listen.

He caught me staring and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Just appreciating the view."

His mouth curved into a smile that was pure male satisfaction. "The view appreciates being appreciated."

I threw a towel at him. He caught it easily, laughing, and tossed it back. The playfulness felt good after the intensity of the day. Normal. Like we could survive anything as long as we had this.

We dried off and dressed in comfortable clothes. The cuts and bruises from the Skalanth were starting to ache since the adrenaline had fully worn off. I knew I was going to be sore tomorrow. Probably for several days.

Worth it.

Darrokar pulled me back against his chest, wrapping his arms around my waist. His chin rested on top of my head, and I felt the steady rise and fall of his breathing.

"I love you," he said quietly. "Even when you're being reckless and stubborn and making me question every decision that led to us being mated."

"I love you too." I covered his hands with mine, lacing our fingers together. "Even when you're being overprotective and bossy and trying to keep me safe from myself."

"Someone has to."

We stood like that for a while longer, wrapped in each other, looking out the massive window at Scalvaris spread below us. The city glowed, beautiful in its harsh way. The place that had tested me and challenged me and forced me to become stronger than I'd ever thought possible.

This place that was home now, whether I liked it or not.

And I had this. Peace and warmth and the solid presence of my mate at my back.

No one would ever get to take this away from me.