Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“Good. You’ve got the champagne, the vow, and the spell. Let’s do this.”
Gregori placed the bottle and glasses on the nightstand and slid into the bed next to Salem, wrapping him up in his arms and legs. He didn’t want to ask, but his conscience wouldn’t allow him to remain silent. “You’re not worried about your mother?”
“Nah. She’ll be pissed for a little while, but in the end, she’ll just be ecstatic I’m mated to a dragon. Okay, so what is the vow and the spell? How do we do it? Is it okay if we do this without pants on?”
Salem bubbled over with enthusiasm, and it made Gregori just as excited.
“Yes, we can do this without pants.”
A response that got Gregori kicked out of the bed so he could shed the pants he’d pulled on just so he didn’t flash someone sneaking into the kitchen for a late-night snack. He jumped back into bed, but this time he sat facing Salem and held both of his hands.
“The words to the vow aren’t set in stone. It’s a personal promise made between the two mates. You just say whatever is in your heart, but it tends to be a variation of this.”
Gregori sucked in a deep breath and squeezed Salem’s hands as he stared into his mate’s eyes. “Salem Hunter, I claim you as my mate. I swear to love and protect you with all my heart and all my strength. I vow to give my very last breath to see you safe and happy for all of your days. I promise to guide you and support you in all your dreams, no matter where they may take us. And I promise our children will know this same love and devotion from me.”
Salem sniffled and pulled one of his hands free to wipe away the stray tears streaking down his cheeks. “Do not make me cry, you asshole.”
“It’s what’s in my heart.”
Swallowing hard, Salem nodded and grabbed Gregori’s hand again. “Gregori Valerii.” He stopped and sniffed again. “Gregori Valerii, you are the most amazing and patient dragon in all the world. I don’t deserve you, but I swear that I will always love you. I won’t let my past screw us up, either. Gregori Valerii, I claim you as my mate.”
Gregori leaned in and took Salem’s soft lips in a sweet, gentle kiss. His mate. Salem was one step closer to being his bonded mate at last.
“The spell,” Salem whispered against his lips.
“Yes, the bonding spell.” Gregori straightened and smiled. “This is the easiest part. First, I will give you some of my power with Dragon’s Breath.”
Salem bounced on the mattress with glee. “I heard some of the other mages talking about this and have been dying to try it.”
Gregori chuckled. “We’re mates. All my magic belongs to you now.”
“Okay. Dragon’s Breath. And then?”
“After you draw the power into your body, you’ll focus and say sifa fat-conqi gabofo zold vitar gev adi. It means, I claim you as my mate and bind your soul to mine. I will then reply with sifa fat-conqi gabofo zold vitae, which means I claim you as my mate and give my soul to you.”
Salem closed his eyes and repeated the words several times under his breath, wrapping his tongue around the complicated syllables until they finally rolled off naturally.
“Ready?”
Salem opened his eyes and nodded. “Ready.”
Releasing one of Salem’s hands, he cupped his cheek and tilted his head up. He sealed their mouths together in a deep kiss, treasuring the feel and taste of his mate. At the same time, he exhaled the breath he was holding, sending a small snippet of his power into his mate’s welcoming body.
He ended the kiss and pulled away to see Salem straighten, his eyes impossibly wide.
“Whoa! That’s peppy. Better than the first cup of coffee in the morning.” He pressed a hand to the middle of his chest with a look of pure wonder. “I can feel you in here. Your power is wrapped around my heart. That’s so amazing.”
“All my magic is yours.”
Salem grabbed his hand again and looked him straight in the eyes as he said, “Sifa fat-conqi gabofo zold vitar gev adi.”
A million invisible threads shot straight into Gregori’s chest from Salem, plunging into his soul.
“Sifa fat-conqi gabofo zold vitae,” he replied with the same push of magical power.
Those threads looped through his soul and leapt back into Salem, his eyes turning a brilliant gold, binding them together like two pieces of cloth.
Bonded.
He was bonded to Salem at long last.
He had found his mate and claimed him for all time.
Just as that thought was sinking into his head, Salem launched himself at Gregori, tackling him to the mattress. They kissed over and over again, soaking in this perfect private moment.
“I found you,” Gregori whispered against his lips.