All Chapters of Iniko: A New Beginning: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

BrookeWhen I wake up in the morning, Iniko is in bed with me. He pulls me closer obviously wanting to snuggle, but I push him away and get up.“How long are you here for this time?” I ask, not quite looking at him. I can already feel the mate bond pulling me to get back in bed with him.“I’m not leaving again,” he says.“That’s what you said the last time. I guess we’ll see how today goes and who sends you running with your tail tucked between your legs this time,” I say, hearing him growl behind me as I walk into the bathroom.I turn on the shower, then turn, only to have my angry mate pin me against the wall with his body and lean in so his face is almost touching mine.“I do not run with my tail between my legs,” he growls.“Really? What would you call it?”In the past, I might have backed down or cowered in the face of this much anger and power. However, I’ve been studying hard and fast in all my classes, including the mate bond class. I know that no matter how angry Iniko is, the

BrookeWhen I walked into Mate Bonds class, two things stood out to me. First, there are a lot more people in this class now that Cal and Eliane’s first group of dragon babies have shifted. I’ve been so busy dealing with my own mate bond, that I hadn’t realized how many of those dragons found their mates right away. Our group of eight, seven since Iniko left, is now up to twenty. Six dragons found their mates when they shifted.The second thing that stood out to me was that Iniko isn’t here. I felt my entire body deflate. I know I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up, but I couldn’t help myself. He told me he’d be here, but he isn’t.I get the same pitying looks from the mates who have been in this class for a while as I sit in my seat. Alone.“Brooke, I thought I heard Iniko last night and this morning. Is he not coming to class?” Tana asks. This class alternates with instructors. I’ve heard King Yhendorn is planning to teach a couple of classes this semester to see how he likes it. I’m

BrookeI raced to Avani and Merethyl’s home where Bajaro lives. Since their home is more of a community environment, I knocked first, but then walked in.“Hey, Brooke. What brings you here?” Enki asks. He’s only eight and a half in his human form, but he’s a full-grown dragon. It’s taken time for me to adjust to hybrids that look like children in their human form but are fully developed in their other form.“Hey, Enki. I’m looking for Bajaro. Is she here?”Before he can answer, she comes walking out, holding one of her little ones. This one smells like a bird shifter, so I’m guessing she got Shiv’s eagle gene.“Hey, Brooke. What’s up?”“It worked, Bajaro! It worked,” I say, rushing over and hugging her, careful not to crush her baby between us.“That’s great! Was it the bones?” she asks.“Eww! You’re doing that now, too?” Enki asks.“As if you don’t eat bones, Enki,” Bajaro says, rolling her eyes.“I eat animals whole when I’m in my dragon form. That’s very different than crunching on

Raina“Hi, Raina! Ready to go flying?” Brooke asks as she walks up.“I thought maybe Iniko would want to take you flying,” I say. I heard that he’s back and telling everyone he plans to stay. I hope he does. Mistreating your mate isn’t how dragons act. Mates are sacred, above all others in this world, unless of course, you’re claimed by a rider who isn’t your mate. Thankfully, we now know that the mate bond supersedes the rider/dragon bond.The smile on her face fades. “He’s meeting with Avani.”“And you don’t expect him to be here when we return, do you?” I ask.She shrugs, trying to pretend like it doesn’t bother her. “Honestly, it doesn’t matter. That’s why I’m getting stronger. Eventually, I’ll claim him and he’ll never leave me again.”I grin. “Look who’s coming into her own.”Her smile returns. “I wanted to talk with you while we’re flying. I have so many questions.”“I have questions, too,” I say as we walk to an area where we can strip out of our clothes before flying.“Like wh

BrookeWhen Raina and I returned home, I wasn’t surprised that Iniko was gone, but it still made my heart hurt.Then, I pulled on my resolve. The entire reason I’m getting stronger so quickly is so I can claim my dragon and make sure he never leaves me again.I puttered around our apartment, cleaning our already clean space while I waited and hoped that he’d return.Finally, around midnight, I gave up and went to bed. Even though I know I have to claim him, it still hurts that he’d leave me again. He swore he’d stay, yet he’s not here.I cried myself to sleep, expecting to have a restless night like I’ve done every time he’s been away. However, when I wake, the light is shining in my room and I realize I’ve overslept.I also realize quickly that there is a lot of heat at my back.“You were crying last night,” Iniko says by my ear.My head spins around so quickly that my nose smacks his.He doesn't move, instead, his grey eyes study me.“I told I’d be back if I left.”“You weren’t clear