Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

She let out a soft sigh and I tightened my arms around her. My dragon felt strangely at peace with everything that had happened. The beast was happy that I’d claimed her, that she was ours. 

Closing my eyes, I let sleep pull me under knowing that tomorrow I had things to do. I’d send Cass to spend time with her sister, so she could see that I was a beast of my word. Kaida would guard the girl with her life from the thrall. Kaji would do what Kaida wanted, I could tell that his sister had taken a liking to the girl.

That was both good and bad. 

She was too young and I knew that they wouldn’t do anything until they had permission and I had meant what I told Cass. She and her sister would be safe as long as Cass did as she was told. If I was able to keep them both within my control, it would only keep my little bird in a tighter cage. 

Closing my eyes, I let the steady beating of her heart lull me into sleep. 

****

“No, no. Mom.” Cass’s whimper pulled me from sleep. She’d shifted around during the night until she was facing me, our bodies tangled together. In sleep, she looked young, and it made me wonder just how old my mate was. “Dad, please I’m sorry.”

Her words cut something inside of me, I pulled her closer. Running my hand up and down her back. I wondered what had happened with her and her parents that haunted her to make her cry out for them in her sleep. A part of me wanted to find them, to punish them for making her feel like this. 

Instead, I shushed her. Soothing her until she relaxed, cuddling her against my chest. I rested my chin on top of her head. Listening to her breathing even out as she slipped back into a dreamless sleep. 

There was a knock on my door. With a low growl, I untangled myself from her. Careful to not wake her up, she was going to need her rest for how I planned to wake her up. Opening the drawer to my dresser, I grabbed a pair of black sweats. Pulling them on as I walked to the door. 

I opened it, ready to snap at whoever had taken me away from her. 

Bash lifted a thin red eyebrow at me, “Brother.” His gaze moved into the room, his eyes widening as he caught sight of my sleeping mate. He looked back at me, his full lips curving into a wide smile. “Is she?”

“Not up for discussion at the moment.” 

“It would be a fun discussion though.” Bash pouted and I rolled my eyes, blocking his view of her. “Fine, keep your little pet all to yourself. For now.”

Growling, I stepped into the hallway, closing the door behind me. I wasn’t ready to share her yet. My brothers and I had shared partners plenty of times, but with Cass, I wanted to keep to myself for a bit longer. We’d be sharing soon enough. “What do you want?”

“I was planning to invite you to play,” His golden eyes moved over my chest and shoulders, “It seems like you’ve got your hands full with a feisty kitten.” 

Looking down, I noticed the scratches that were slowly fading from my skin. “You could say that,” I said with a shrug, crossing my arms over my chest. 

“When you get bored, I want first dibs.” 

I tilted my head to the side, not planning to tell him that I’d claimed her. He’d find out soon enough. I didn’t think I’d be able to share this one with any of my brothers. Maybe I could try with Bash. The thought didn’t fill me with the same excitement as it normally did. “We shall see.” 

His eyes twinkled and he turned away from me, “The offer still stands if you want to come and play with us.”

“Us?”

“Yes, us. William and Oliver.” He looked over his shoulder, his dragon peeking out through pale lashes. I was glad that I wasn’t planning to share Cass with him for some time after seeing that look. “It’s been too long since we’ve had a good hunt. We all could use the release.”

My breath caught in my throat and I knew that he was right, I’d have to join them soon. “The next one?”

“Maybe with your kitten?” He asked and I shook my head. 

“Not with her.”

“Dear brother, has she tamed you?” His words were spoken with almost a child-like glee. I looked away from him, I knew how he felt about mating. It was something he craved. Finding a partner who could take all that we could give and more was next to impossible. 

When I’d been with Cass, I’d known. My beast had known that she could handle all that I could give her and more.

“I’ll be damned, well I already am but-” he paused for a long moment, his face lighting up into a smile. “I never thought I’d see the day. Do you plan to claim her?”

I shoved my hands into my pockets, clearing my throat.  

“You didn’t.” 

“I’ll see you in the morning, Bash,” I said, ignoring his question for the time being. 

“Bring your kitten with you.” He called out over his shoulder as I stepped into my room. Shaking my head, I closed the door. Cass sat up in the bed, the blankets pooling in her lap, leaving her chest bare. Her skin was creased with lines from the sheets, I wanted to trace those lines with my tongue. To pin her down and watch her squirm beneath my touch. 

Pushing my sweats down my hips, I let them drop to the floor before prowling closer to the bed. I was about to make my little bird sing.