Page 55

The sacred chamber is bathed in golden torchlight, the scent of burning resin thick in the air. Intricate carvings of ancient naga rulers line the walls, their watchful gazes cast in shadow as they bear witness to what is about to be sealed in blood, power, and fate.

Only a handful of naga are present, Veyros, a few trusted warriors, and Talyra, who stands with her arms crossed, silent and unreadable. Their presence is a mere formality; this is not for them. This is for us .

Xirath stands at the center of the ceremonial dais, waiting.

The obsidian altar gleams beside him, ancient and worn smooth from centuries of ritual. A golden chalice rests atop it, filled with the sacred elixir infused with naga blood, binding magic, meant to seal the mate bond.

My heart pounds as I ascend the steps to him.

He is dressed in nothing but loose ceremonial robes, his broad chest bare, the scales along his collarbone catching the flickering firelight. His expression is solemn yet fiercely possessive, his golden eyes dark with meaning.

I don’t hesitate.

I reach him, standing before him as the world narrows to just this moment .

His hands lift, trailing along my arms, his fingers lingering over the marks left by Jalith’s collar, the ghosts of my suffering still visible against my skin. A flicker of fury passes through his gaze, but he tamps it down, replacing it with something softer.

Something reverent.

The officiant, an elderly naga priestess, steps forward. Her scaled fingers brush over the chalice, the liquid inside shimmering under the torchlight.

She speaks in the old tongue, her voice rich with power. "A mate bond, unbroken. A union blessed by the gods. A promise beyond flesh, bound by soul."

She turns to Xirath. "Do you claim this female as your mate, your queen, the keeper of your fate?"

His hand tightens around mine. "I do."

Her gaze shifts to me. "Do you accept this male as your mate, your protector, the one who holds your heart?"

I meet his eyes, and the truth spills from my lips. "I do."

The priestess takes a ceremonial dagger from the altar, pressing the tip into Xirath’s palm first. A single drop of his blood falls into the chalice.

Then she does the same to me.

Our blood swirls together, merging, binding.

Xirath lifts the chalice to his lips, drinking deeply before passing it to me.

The moment I taste the elixir, warmth rushes through me, wrapping around my bones, sinking into my very core. The bond ignites, searing into my soul like an ember catching fire.

His power merges with mine, our essences entwining.

The priestess steps back, nodding once. "It is done. You are mated in the eyes of gods and kin."

Silence falls.

Xirath's fingers find my chin, tipping my face up to his.

"My mate," he murmurs, voice thick with emotion.

A tremor of something powerful rolls through me, a recognition as old as time.

"I am," I whisper back.

He kisses me, slow and deep, sealing our bond with something far older than ceremony.

Gasps ripple through the room, but I don’t care.

This is for us .

The chambers are dimly lit, the only glow coming from the golden lamps casting shifting shadows along the walls.

Xirath closes the heavy doors behind us, locking out the world.

His breathing is uneven, as if he’s restraining himself.

I step closer, resting my hands against his chest, feeling the steady drum of his heartbeat beneath my palms. "Say it again," I whisper.

His hands grip my waist, claws pressing against my hips as he exhales raggedly.

My fingers trail down, undoing the tie at his robe.

He watches me, golden eyes molten, his breath hitching as I slide the fabric from his shoulders.

The bond between us sings , a pull so fierce I can hardly breathe.

"Then prove it," I murmur, tipping my head back in challenge.

A growl rumbles deep in his chest, and then he moves .

His hands seize my wrists, pinning me back against the silk-draped bed, his mouth devouring mine with unrestrained hunger.

The mating bond thrums like a live wire beneath my skin. Xirath’s body presses against mine, his scales cool and smooth, contrasting with the heat radiating from his core.

His hands release my wrists, trailing down my arms with a possessiveness that sends shivers down my spine. His claws graze my skin, leaving faint marks that I know will fade by morning, but for now, they’re a reminder of his claim.

I arch into him, my fingers holding onto him as his mouth moves from my lips to my neck. His fangs scrape lightly against my pulse, and I gasp, my body trembling with need and ecstasy of what’s to come.

His hands slide down to my hips, gripping me firmly as he lifts me onto the bed. The silk sheets are cool against my back, but they do little to soothe the fire building inside me. Xirath looms over me, his golden eyes glowing with an intensity that steals my breath.

His hemipenis is already visible, the twin lengths thick and imposing, the barbs catching the dim light and it makes my stomach clench with a mix of apprehension and desire.

“You’re mine,” he growls again, his voice low and guttural, as if the words are being torn from him. “Every part of you. Every breath. Every heartbeat.”

I reach for him, my fingers brushing against the sensitive space between his hemipenes. He hisses, his body jerking at the contact, and I feel a surge of power at the way he reacts to my touch. His hands tighten on my hips, claws digging in just enough to make me gasp.

“Show me,” I whisper, my voice trembling with need. “Show me what it means to be yours.”

His response is immediate. He shifts, positioning himself between my legs, and I feel the blunt pressure of his lower hemipenis pressing against my entrance. The barbs catch slightly, teasing me, and I bite my lip to stifle a moan. He pauses, his eyes locked on mine, and I nod, giving him the permission he’s silently seeking.

With a slow, deliberate thrust, he enters me, the barbs dragging against my inner walls. I moan like crazy. The sensation is overwhelming, intense, almost too much, but impossibly good.

His hands grip my thighs, spreading me wider as he sinks deeper, his upper hemipenis brushing against my clit with every movement.

“Xirath,” I gasp, my nails digging into his shoulders as I try to anchor myself. The bond between us flares, amplifying every sensation, every touch, until it feels like I’m drowning in him.

He moves with a rhythm that’s both primal and controlled, his thrusts short and deep, the barbs anchoring him inside me. My body clenches around him. The space between his hemipenes rubs against me with every movement, and I realize with a jolt of pleasure that he’s using it to stimulate me in ways I didn’t think possible.

“You feel perfect,” he growls, his voice rough with need. “Tight. Warm.”

I can’t respond, my mind too overwhelmed by the sensations coursing through me. I feel myself teetering on the edge, my body tightening as the pressure builds.

Xirath’s pace quickens, his thrusts becoming more urgent, more desperate. His hands move to my hips, lifting me slightly to change the angle, and I cry out as the barbs drag against a particularly sensitive spot inside me. The sensation is electric, and I feel myself unraveling, my orgasm crashing over me with a force that leaves me breathless.

“I’m coming, Xirath! Come with me!” I choke, gasping for air that seems to not fill me.

He follows me over the zenith, his body shuddering as he cums in me, his lower hemipenis pulsing with his release. The bond between us flares again, a wave of warmth and satisfaction that leaves me feeling utterly spent.

For a moment, we stay like that, our bodies still joined, our breaths mingling as we come down from the high. Xirath’s forehead rests against mine, his eyes closed as he savors the moment.

“My mate, mine forever and always,” he vows with the look in his eyes that says I’m his everything.

“My mate, Xirath, I’m yours as you’re mine,” I whisper back, promising him.

He pulls me close, his arms wrapping around me in a protective embrace. The bond hums contentedly between us, a constant reminder of what we’ve become.

Together. Bound. Forever.

I am exactly where I belong.