Flicker the storm dragon.., p.19
Flicker (The Storm Dragons' Mate Book 2), page 19
“Breaker.” I pulled back and spoke softly, trying to be bold despite being nervous. “Can I… Can I mark you?”
“Fuck,” he rumbled. He was bent over me, filling my entire space. “You never need to ask that. I want everyone to know I’m yours.”
His words caused an elated shiver to roll over my skin as I trailed my kisses from his lips down his jaw. My teeth pulsed with the need to mark him, to claim him as my mate, and I didn’t hesitate when I reached his throat.
I bit down hard, and that familiar magic, my obsidian threads, created a bonded rope with his own gold magic as they wrapped around one another. Breaker let out a feral sound from the back of his throat as I finally released his skin and pulled back, a small smile playing at my lips.
When he kissed me, I could taste his blood mixed with our kiss, and it seemed to fuel something inside of me, lighting a dangerous fire that I knew would never go away. I would always want my mates.
Breaker pulled back and groaned. “Fuck, we need to stop.”
“Why?” I whispered, trying not to pout.
“Because I’m going to end up fucking you against this tree, and I know you’re probably sore right now, so we need to get your little ass inside.”
I wanted to tell him no. I wanted to tell him that with how much he was turning me on, I would be totally fine, but I hesitated for just a moment too long. He offered me a knowing look, and this time I did pout, slumping in his arms as he picked me up easily. Breaker chuckled as he secured his hold on me, his large hands cupping my butt.
“Fine,” I grumbled. “I may be a bit sore.”
“That’s what I thought,” he murmured, sounding amused. I flushed, loving and hating how easily he seemed to be able to talk about what Gage and I had done. I needed to bolster some confidence to be able to talk about it that openly.
As we reached the elevators, Jagger appeared, exhaling in relief when he saw us. I didn’t understand why until he said, “Clanguard wants to talk to us. We just got notice that he’ll be here soon.”
Based on their reactions, I was guessing it wasn’t a good thing.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Bexley Blackforge
I wasn’t normally one to pace, but I couldn’t help but nervously walk between the couch and the balcony doors. Back and forth, back and forth. Totally not pacing. I couldn’t help it though. My instincts told me that Professor Clanguard wasn’t coming for a friendly visit.
I knew I wasn’t the only one who felt that way either, because Gage was sitting quietly in a chair nearby, his gaze on me but completely silent. Jagger was leaning against the doorway of my bedroom, his brow furrowed. I knew he didn’t like the idea of Clanguard coming into my dorm because he’d mentioned it twice now, but it seemed we didn’t have much of a choice. Breaker seemed bothered by it as well, but his attention was focused on making tea for me as he tried to keep his hands as busy as possible.
When a buzzing noise sounded, Jagger walked to the elevator and pressed a button I hadn’t even known existed until now, clearly put there to allow us to ‘buzz’ people up so that not just anyone could come into our dorms.
I froze up as I watched the elevator door open, Professor Clanguard walking through and shaking the rain from his hair onto the floor of my dorm. The idea of his scent lingering in my dorm bothered me, and I had a feeling it was the reason Jagger’s scowl deepened.
“Good.” He nodded sharply after looking around the space. “All of you are here.”
“What’s the meaning of this?” Gage demanded. “Why couldn’t we just meet in your office or at your house again? I don’t like you coming to her house.”
Clanguard’s gaze turned apologetic. “And for that I apologize, especially to you, Bexley. If I thought this was a conversation better had at either of those locations, I would have chosen that. But my office isn’t private enough, and Rachel is taking a nap at my house.”
At that, a genuine smile broke through my nerves. “I love that you’re so open about being her mate.”
Clanguard’s gaze filled with warmth. “And I appreciate you being a good friend to her. I have it a lot easier than my brother. I don’t owe my family anything—I broke away from them years ago—so I’m free to have whatever mate I want. Fletch is far from being in the same position.”
“Is that why he doesn’t spend a lot of time with her in public?” I asked softly. “I can tell it bothers her.”
Clanguard nodded, letting out a long exhale. “Unfortunately, her safety and my family’s involvement are drastically intertwined, so for the moment, I understand why he’s acting the way he is—even if I think it’s bullshit.”
I didn’t like it, but it made sense. Rachel’s safety came first. It was then that I realized my mates were staring at him blankly, clearly not nearly as interested in Professor Clanguard’s mate situation as I was.
“Right,” Professor Clanguard said, seeming to catch on. “Let me get to the point so I can get out of here. The combination of all your magic in one room is not very pleasant, so I’ll try to make this as brief as possible.”
I knew he didn’t mean it offensively, but I couldn’t help but feel bad. I didn’t want anyone to have issues being around us, even if it was unavoidable. I also never wanted to make anyone uncomfortable, and I could see the tension running through his frame, telling me he was exactly that. Uncomfortable.
“Alright,” Jagger said, prompting him.
“Your event at the Bronzehearts immediately set forth the news that Bexley was the lost and thought-to-be dead heir to the Flash Clan,” he said, looking to me for confirmation. I nodded, and he continued. “Because of that, and the knowledge that she is mate to the three of you, there are families, specifically my own, that are unhappy about that imbalance of power and want to confirm for a fact that Bexley is who everyone says she is.”
“Fuck them,” Breaker growled. “They have no right to question anything.”
“Unfortunately, the problem is more drastic than that,” he said on a sigh, running a hand through his hair. “They sent official notice to the academy and the sector that they’re coming here to meet with the staff.”
“Your family—”
“Not really my family,” Clanguard countered, “which is why I’m warning you. It’s representatives from several different groups in the city, including the aquatic shifters. They want assurances that this isn’t going to be breeding grounds for an alliance of the four clans because all of you are mates.”
“And how the hell would we prove that? It’s an unintentional alliance,” Breaker growled.
“Is the headmistress okay with this?” Jagger questioned, looking angry.
“She’s been preoccupied with other things, so while she’s aware of it, we’ll be handling it internally,” he said. “We’re hoping to ease their minds about it, which is where all of you come in. The meeting is tonight.”
“And you want us to do what?” Gage said, throwing his hands in the air. “Come and coddle them? Tell them that everything will be okay?” Then before Clanguard could answer, he tacked on, “Were our parents made aware of this meeting?”
“No,” Clanguard admitted. “Well, not officially. I’ve made them aware the same as I’m making you aware and asking you to aid in our endeavor. The last thing we need is groups of paranoid shifters outside of the academy. It’ll only multiply when their children bring it into these walls, and it’ll make everything ten times harder.”
“We aren’t going to say anything that would be helpful,” Jagger said. “We are going to be an alliance. The four clans are going to be brought together in some shape or form, there’s no way around that. Bexley is our mate.”
“I think if you show up and show that you aren’t combative, or explain that you aren’t trying to plan anything—”
“I don’t understand why they’re so worried,” I finally spoke up, drawing everyone's attention. “If the clans already rule everything outside of the sector and the rogue lands, why would it matter to them? Worst situation would be us combining clan lands, right?”
“Their fear is that you would come for the city next,” Clanguard explained. “That has always been my family’s fear. They’re so concerned about keeping their pack as pure and powerful as possible that they view any other ruling creatures as a potential threat. They’ve never been strong enough to stand against the dragon clans, though, so I imagine this is their way of ‘fighting back.’ Instead of directly confronting your parents, they’re going to try to prey on this situation.”
“You recognize this is bullshit,” Breaker rumbled.
“Of course I do,” Clanguard bit out. “I’m letting you know for precisely that reason. If you come to the meeting, they will have no reason to push the issue further. Your presence will show a willingness for open communication, which the other groups will see. Following that, your parents can handle it on the outside.”
Silence filled the room as I considered his words.
“I don’t know a lot about shifter politics, but I prefer to stay out of them,” I admitted.
“You don’t have to change that,” Gage promised. “We can ignore this.”
“But,” I drew out, “I think we should go. Professor Clanguard is right—it could eliminate tension, and if we don’t go, their anger is guaranteed. I don’t want your parents to have to deal with the fallout of my presence here.”
“They won’t view it that way,” Jagger countered.
I met each of their eyes and tried to put as much resolve as possible into my words. My instincts were telling me it was the right move. “I think it’s a good idea to go.”
“Then we’ll go.” Gage stood. “What time?”
“Two hours from now in the west conference room,” Clanguard said, stepping back and offering all of us a thankful look. “I think this really will help things. I’ll see you there.”
I watched as he stepped into the elevator and the doors closed, his words leaving me feeling conflicted. I believed that it would help things, I really did—that was why I wanted to go—but now I was second-guessing myself. What if it didn’t help? What if it made it worse? What if they viewed us as being combative?
It seemed to be a common thread throughout shifter society, and if any level of aggression was perceived… Well, usually it escalated to an extreme extent. I wanted to believe that tonight wouldn’t result in that, but I just didn’t know.
Jagger Silvershade
I could practically feel the nervous tension rolling off my little treasure, and I so badly wanted to fix this for her. To assure her that everything would be okay because I knew that it would be. I wasn’t concerned about the threat that these other parties involved posed—we out-powered them even on a bad day. But it wasn’t about raw power and strength to Bexley. It was about making sure that no one got hurt in any way, that no one was having to go through more trouble than needed.
The woman was so damn considerate that it sometimes hurt. It was one of many things that I loved about her.
Love. It wasn’t a hard word to consider when it came to Bexley, and as I watched her take her time getting ready, meticulously curling her hair and choosing an outfit, I fought the urge to pick her brain. To demand that she tell me every little thing she was thinking about, every little thing she was worried about.
I wanted to solve all of it.
“Is this okay?” She held up a silver sweater and a black leather skirt, her brows knitted together. “Or should I wear something nicer? I literally have no idea. Maybe I can call Celine—”
“Bexley.” I took her face between my hands and pressed a kiss to her lips. “You look beautiful no matter what you wear. Do not overthink this. We’re only going in an effort to play nice. At the end of the day, they don’t matter, and if they try to cause a problem, they’re going to very quickly see how fast we’ll end it.”
“It’s true,” Gage said from the doorway. “Clanguard may be viewing us as the children of the clan leaders, but most of the reins and powers have been passed to us throughout the past year or two, so if we need to make a call, we can do that. I won’t hesitate to protect our families—none of us will—and if they present a threat, even a small one, and don’t back down…”
Bexley nodded in understanding, her eyes shaded with sadness. “I don’t want it to come to that.”
“I don’t think it will,” Breaker said from where he sat on her bed, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “I think the others have been manipulated to feel scared of a threat that doesn’t exist. We have no interest in the city. I think the people who are instigating all of this are the Clanguard family—they’re the true problem.”
Bexley exhaled. “And Professor Clanguard doesn’t seem to associate himself with his family? Like at all?”
“No one knows the full story,” I answered, “but apparently it’s been years since he’s spoken with anyone other than his brother. I believe the conflict started with him deciding to teach here…or maybe it was the result of their fight… Either way, he has completely disowned his family.”
“And no one knows why?” She frowned.
“I have to assume it’s due to their purist beliefs. As a professor who teaches all different types of shifters, it would be hard to be like that, and it’s clear to me, at least, that he isn’t,” I explained.
“You’re right, that would be hard,” she whispered. “I feel bad for him, and I hope that it doesn’t result in Rachel getting caught up in anything dangerous.”
“I think as long as she doesn’t go to their pack lands, she should be fine,” Breaker stated quietly. I offered him a look because I wasn’t positive I believed that. The Clanguards were notorious for being dangerous. It was why when Gage realized Bexley was friends with Fletcher, he’d been especially worked up about it. They weren’t a group of people you wanted around your loved ones, especially your fucking mate.
I wasn’t positive how true it was, but a long time ago I heard rumors that the women in their pack were treated like slaves. That they had no rights. No freedoms. I hadn’t heard that rumor in a long time, and I knew that if it had been true to any extent, our parents would have stepped in… But that rumor had most likely stemmed from a seed of truth, and I didn’t trust that a mentality like that would just fade.
“Alright,” Bexley said, satisfied for the moment. “I’m going to get dressed, and then we can leave.”
Seconds later, the bathroom door shut, and I looked at both men in the room before saying, “We need to be prepared to confront the Clanguards on the outside if this escalates. They acted way too fast for this to not have been planned. I mean, to get this many families riled up after the announcement was made less than two days ago?”
“You’re right,” Breaker said, his gaze darkening. “He already let the parents know so they’ll be on standby, but if tonight doesn’t go well, I think we need to consider leaving a message that they’ll better understand.”
“They may view it as the start of a war,” Gage murmured in thought.
“That would be suicidal,” I growled. “They may have a large pack, but against three dragon clans? You’d have to be crazy.”
“You’ve heard the rumors,” Gage said. “Who the hell knows what they’re willing to do if they are so damn paranoid.”
The bathroom door opened as Bexley walked back into her bedroom, slipping on a pair of earrings. I nearly groaned as she put on ankle boots, her long legs drawing my attention as she hummed a song under her breath, oblivious to how we were all fucking staring at her. I had no idea how Bexley didn’t realize how fucking perfect she was, but if I needed to tell her for the rest of our lives, then it would be an honor.
“Alright.” She offered me a small nervous smile. “Let’s do this.”
Nodding, I stood up and led her from the room. Breaker and Gage had managed to find two additional umbrellas, which would make it a lot easier than having to sprint from building to building.
“Wait.” She nibbled her lip. “It’s storming—do we need to worry about our magic?”
“They’re older, which means they should be more controlled,” I explained. “It may make them uncomfortable, but other than that, they should be fine.”
The answer seemed to suffice as we left the dorms and walked towards the academic building, the rain pattering down on our umbrella. Campus seemed particularly quiet this evening, and I knew it was partly the weather, but I also had a feeling people could tell there was tension in the air. Shifters were good at sensing danger like that, and older, more powerful shifters on campus would result in that exact sensation.
When we finally got inside and put down the umbrellas, Gage led us towards the west wing of the academic building. The large conference rooms weren’t used very often—only in the case of club or group meetings—but it made sense for this. What didn’t make sense was why the Clanguard family hadn’t gone directly to our families. I had to trust the professor on this and assume it was an intimidation tactic.
Something that was nearly laughable.
Voices greeted us as we walked into a large room filled with professors as well as older women and men, around twenty people in total. Professor Clanguard was at the door, and upon seeing us, he visibly relaxed.
“Thank you for joining us,” he said easily. “Everyone is here, so feel free to take a seat up front. Hopefully this will be over fairly quickly.”
I had a feeling that his wish would not come to fruition.
My gaze instantly moved over the crowd, snagging on someone who looked a lot like Fletcher but older with silver hair. His eyes were narrowed on us, his jaw tight, and malice radiated off of him, but his attention was specifically focused on the woman next to me. When I looked down at her, hoping to keep her attention from him, she was already staring.
