Page 22 of Ink Sworn (Greatdrakes #3 | The Fae Universe #24)

V alentine was stunned speechless. He didn't do connection well with anyone, especially during sex, but he could feel his and Yelena's energy and magic syncing and flowing together.

He didn't want to move from under her delicious, soft curves, but he had an overwhelming need to fuss over her.

"Let me up, baby girl," he said softly.

"No. Comfy," she mumbled against him.

Valentine patted her back. "I know, but I need to run us a bath. You are going to have a post-tattoo, post-body mod, post-big magic, post-sex drop, and I need to help you. That's a lot of 'post' for one night."

Yelena kissed his chest before sliding off him bonelessly onto the bed. Valentine brushed a thumb over her cheek, alien feelings tickling him as he looked at her.

"I'll be right back," he said and got out of bed because he was in danger of giving in and staying there.

Valentine went into the adjoining bathroom and was pleased to find a tub big enough for both of them. He touched the stone fixtures, activating them with magic, and it began to fill.

Yelena hadn't moved as he went back into the main living area and salvaged some fruit and filled up their cups with water. He froze and huffed out a laugh. "Fuck, I'm turning into Bas."

That wasn't a bad thing. His brother had a giving, kind streak that no one could compete with.

It made him a good role model in this weird situation Valentine suddenly found himself in.

He wanted to make sure Yelena was looked after, and he didn't know why.

There was a lot about her that made her different from anyone he had ever met.

Valentine put the food and water next to the tub, tested that the water wasn't too hot, and went to get the little dragon in the bed. Yelena was a mixture of sweet and wild, and Valentine found that unpredictability strangely appealing.

He ran his fingers over her shoulder. "Your bath is ready. Come on, let me help you up."

Yelena yawned and held out a hand. Valentine pulled her gently upright. Her long hair was a tumbled mess, and she looked so sexy with her swollen lips and the trail of love bites he had put on her. His dragon rumbled in approval.

Valentine made sure she could stand upright and followed her into the bathroom. It was the first time he had a chance to see her back and the delicious love heart of an ass. He brushed her hair to the side and saw the scars.

"Who hurt you like this?" he demanded, all soft feelings gone. "Was it that asshole Cathal?"

Yelena glanced over her shoulder, with a look of surprise. "No. They are from various things in my life. Some I had as a dragon before I decided to take a human form, and I don't really remember how I got them. Fighting over food or territory, probably. "

Valentine didn't like that one bit, but he kept his mouth shut. There was no fighting ghosts of the past. He held out a hand and helped Yelena into the tub. He carefully gathered up her hair and draped it over the back so it wouldn't get wet as she lowered herself in.

"You aren't coming in with me?" she asked.

"I will. I just want to...help you with your hair," he said, a horrible heat flushing over his skin. She had just chained him to a wall, and they had fucked like mad things. He didn't know why he was blushing now.

"Oh. Thanks. It's been hard to take care of it with one hand. The servants have been helpful, but I'm glad I won't have to rely on them anymore," she said and waved the fingers of her silver hand. "I should have probably cut my hair shorter when I came back."

"I'm glad that you didn't." Valentine took a comb from its place on the basin and started to detangle the golden bundle. He felt like a right idiot for enjoying it so much. "I created all these knots, so I feel it's only fair I fix them. How is the hand feeling? Any tenderness?"

"A little, but it's more like a muscle ache than a raw wound.

I told you I'm practically overflowing with healing potions right now," she replied, flexing her hand in front of her again and running her fingers over the fine silver filaments.

"It will be interesting to see what happens to it when I shift.

My clothes usually disappear and reappear as needed, rather than shredding.

Will it turn into a dragon foot, I wonder? "

Valentine plaited her hair and pinned it up with the help of a clip he found.

"I don't suppose we will know what will happen until you shift. Combining it with your magic last night has changed the composition of it. It’s a prosthetic, so it would act like clothes when you shift, but your magic might make the foot. "

Yelena slid forward in the bath so he could climb in behind her. "I don't want to break it."

"If you do, I'll just make you another one," Valentine replied. He passed her some grapes from the bowl. "Eat these. Your body needs it."

Yelena took them with a slight grin. "I never would have thought you would be the type to coddle me."

"I'm not coddling. Coddling implies I think you can't do it on your own.

I'm being helpful. There's a difference.

Also, it was your first tattoo, and as your artist, I feel responsible for making sure you're okay," he replied and ran a sweet-smelling bar of soap over her shoulders. "Why? Is it bothering you?"

"No. It's just not very aloof, tough sorcerer of you," she teased.

"How would you know? We have never been in this situation before."

Yelena turned her head to smile at him. "So you gently brush everyone's hair after sex?"

"No. I usually pay and leave," he replied honestly.

"Then I'm honored to have the special attention," she said without any judgment. "It's a new experience for me."

"It's...new to me too." Valentine didn't know what to say or do because it was the first time he had hung around after sex at all. He only knew he had to take care of her.

"I'm sure we can figure it out together," Yelena said.

Could it be that simple? Valentine made overthinking an Olympic-level sport, but he didn't want to overthink whatever was happening between them and ruin it.

"Thank you again for the hand. I have a feeling that Midir isn't going to stop, and I want to be able to fight back," Yelena said, changing the subject.

"I ate your other one, along with Cathal. I felt like I had to make sure you had a good replacement. "

Yelena giggled. "Gods, I wish I could have seen his face when you charged in there."

"He was trying to shift out of my grip. I had to make sure he was dead and not just a bug or something," Valentine replied, and it only made her laugh more. "Everyone else has been really disgusted by that, so I'm glad you are laughing."

"That's because it makes perfect sense. It was the only way to ensure he was really dead. Midir is going to be howling over the loss of him, and it makes it funnier," she said, leaning back against his chest.

Valentine put his arms around her waist. "I won't let Midir or his warriors hurt you again."

"I know, but he is going to come for us. His pride is too great to let it go," she said, her laughter dying away.

"We will be ready for him," he replied.

Valentine knew he had to face what truly lived inside him if he was going to protect them all from Midir's interest. For the first time, with Yelena in his arms, he wasn't afraid of finding out what he was made of.