Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 84237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Or simply wanted to see how far he could push a dragon before he finally snapped.
“On the plus side, it means we’re on the right track in terms of locating where the Sousa Clan lived,” Sam said cheerfully.
Dimitri took a step forward, his hands outstretched toward Sam, when Vasily lurched closer, wrapping a restraining arm around his shoulders. With yet more danger threatening the mage, there was a good chance Dimitri would shift into his dragon, scoop up his wayward mage, and fly him to the clan wrapped up in his talons. Screw saddles and safety harnesses. There wasn’t time for things like that when Sam was determined to crawl into a booby trap.
“Samuel, why don’t you back up a little? Let Gregori inspect the device first,” Luka suggested.
“He’s freaking out again, isn’t he?” Sam muttered without tearing his eyes away from the trap.
Vasily huffed a small laugh while his fingers tightened on Dimitri’s shoulder as if he was expecting Dimitri to break free at any second. “Just a bit.”
Sam sat on his heels and brushed his hands together, knocking off some dirt, while he looked over his shoulder at Dimitri. There might have been a bit of irritation in his gaze, but there seemed to be something a little softer, almost tender, in that stare as well that made Dimitri’s heart skip a beat.
“It’s okay. I’ve got him.” Then Sam knocked the breath right out of his lungs by rising from where he’d been kneeling and walking over to Dimitri. The grumpy mage wrapped his arms around Dimitri’s waist and leaned his head against his shoulder. “I’m safe,” he reassured in a voice that was barely over a whisper.
Dimitri stood frozen for a second, his brain trying to comprehend what was happening. Sam had come to him. Sam was comforting him. Even though Sam had admitted to them being mates, he’d been sure the stubborn mage would need some more convincing. That he’d need more time before he’d finally come to him.
But Sam was holding him, cuddling him. Taming his dragon. And he was completely happy with this evil scheme of Sam’s.
Vasily gave his other shoulder a pat before releasing him and walking over to stand near Gregori. Yeah, Sam had him managed just fine now.
“I’m safe, Dimitri. I’ve got a squad of scary dragons protecting me,” Sam murmured.
“And yet, you keep getting too close to that booby trap. We’re fast, but how do we know if we’re fast enough to get to you if something happens?”
Sam tipped his head up, glasses glinting faintly in the sunlight. “I believe in you. You’ll always be there to save me.”
Something swelled in the dragon’s chest, threatening to choke him while his arms tightened around his mate. Dimitri frowned, his eyes narrowing on the crafty mage. “When did you become so evil? I don’t remember you being so evil when we first met.”
“Evil? How am I being evil? Just because I’ve learned to cuddle you in order to get what I want—how is that evil?” There was such playful mocking in Sam’s voice. His Sam…playful? His mage was grumpy, sexy, stubborn, brilliant, determined, and brave. But he wasn’t playful.
Until now.
And it was melting Dimitri faster than snow on a summer sidewalk.
“Sammy cakes, you’re gonna be the death of me.”
“Don’t say that,” Sam snapped, dropping his head to rest on his shoulder.
“You prefer Sam-a-lam?”
“That’s not what I meant. Don’t say that I’m going to be the death of you. I don’t like that.” As he spoke, Sam’s fingers tightened in his shirt, twisting the fabric and digging into Dimitri’s back muscles.
Yep. He was in full swoon now. He hugged Sam even harder, trying to pull the mage into his chest so he could keep the man right next to his heart. “Don’t worry. Dragons are really durable. I don’t plan on going anywhere for a very long time.”
“As far as I can tell, it appears that the same people who put up the first one also put up this one. It looks newer than the last one,” Gregori announced. The dragon edged backward from the tripwire and rose to his feet, dusting his hands off on his cargo pants. “Maybe been here about forty years. It’s definitely still live, but I think we could just fly over it. Vasily and I could scout ahead, find a safe spot to land on the other side of the trap, then return.”
Dimitri expected Sam to jump on that offer since it meant they were still moving forward, but his suddenly cuddly mage didn’t budge.
“Sam?” Luka pressed as the silence stretched.
“I think…this is a good idea,” Sam replied slowly. “But…I also think we need to pause and consider what this means.”
Luka stepped closer while Sam continued to cling to him. “What are you talking about?”
The mage lifted his head only to wince at Dimitri, as if he just knew the dragon was going to explode at his next words. “I think the device is based on Sousa technology.”