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T he roar I hear when I wake is impressive. Even more so when I fling Dalat across the room with a single blow. He snarls up a storm, but it’s nothing compared to mine.

“Where is she?” I’m on my feet, my shifted tail lashing, sending me off balance and crashing into a wall in my medic-bay, buckling it. I lurch across the bay, hitting the other wall before I get a grip on the doorframe, my claws buried deep in the metal.

I can scent Kerra.

I need her.

I love her.

Dalat shouts something, but I’m no longer listening, continuing my weaving, slamming into the walls of the ship, following her scent as it grows stronger and stronger.

The claiming is not complete.

“Kerra!” I tear the door open with claws that are too long. “Kerra!”

“You-know-who is, apparently, awake,” a female voice says.

I pay it no heed. I can’t take my eyes from her.

Propped up comfortably in my den is my mate. She is pale but her eyes sparkle.

“Darax.” She smiles. “You’re up.” Her voice is weak.

I become liquid, sliding into my den and wrapping myself around her, curling her against my scales, listening to her heart beat.

Scenting her.

She is delicious, part Kerra, part venom. All mine.

“I thought I’d lost you.” I press my face into her hair.

“You can’t get rid of me so easily, Darax.” She laughs.

“I would never want to get rid of you, sweet mate. I love you,” I growl.

Kerra runs her fingers through my hair, and every scale of my body stands on end. “I didn’t mean it literally,” she says. “I never want to leave you. Thank you for saving my life.”

I cup her face in my hands, studying it, making sure every beautiful line is burnt into my brain.

“I can’t be without you. Not because of the rut, but because my heart beats in time with yours. Our stars are aligned and fate has brought us to this moment. You are my shining star, heartsfire. Your brightness is my brightness, your power is my power, your light is my life.”

I don’t get to say anything else because her lips are on mine, and she steals my breath like the thief she is. As far as I’m concerned, she can take it all.