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Mated to the Beast(50)

By:Grace Goodwin


“I intend to, starting with a hard spanking for lying to me about her injury, then… well, then—”

Seth released Dax’s arm, holding up his hand as my mouth fell open at Dax’s words. He was going to do what?

“Again, brother, too much information.” Seth shook his head, chuckling as I blinked hard, trying to process what Dax had just said.

“You are not going to spank me,” I sputtered, my cheeks heating. “I saved your life, Dax. I saved us all. If I’d told you how badly I was injured, you wouldn’t have let me fly. You would have pulled me out of that pilot’s seat and—”

Dax cut me off. “And found someone else to hold the damn controls still so you didn’t bleed to death. You risked your life without reason, Sarah. You lied to me to do it. I will turn your ass a bright red so it does not happen again.”

“You sure as hell better,” Seth said, wearing that brotherly protective face. “You scared the shit out of me, too, Sarah.” He nodded at Dax. “Add an extra swat for me.”

Dax raised an eyebrow, but agreed immediately. “Done.” He tugged me backward and out the door.

Before it closed, Seth said, “Warlord, if you hurt her, I will hunt you down and kill you.”

Dax rubbed his thumbs over my shoulders. “I would expect nothing less.”



* * *



Dax



A few hours later I stood on the balcony of our new home next to my mate and breathed in the scents and sights of Atlan. It had been ten long years since I’d seen the rolling gold and green hills, the towering trees with wide purple and green leaves, the flowers of every color that lined the streets like the most delicate spun glass, their transparent petals glistened beneath the light of our star like a million twinkling lights.

Beside me, Sarah looked breathtakingly lovely in a gown of the finest weave to be found in this sector. The pale gold draped from her lovely shoulders and molded to the tops of her breasts. It fit her curves to just past her hips before falling in a shimmering wave to sway just above her ankles. I reached around her and placed a large pendant around her neck, the oblong gold engraved, as our cuffs were, with the markings of my family line.

We’d arrive via transport, still wearing coalition body armor, Sarah’s former rank as a captain on full display to the greeting party from the Atlan senate. The gasps and curious gazes had begun immediately, and I knew, even before our message comms began lighting up in the living quarters below, that my bride would be a celebrity here, a unique and intriguing woman who had fought beside her mate, a female warrior. Atlan might never recover.

She clasped the pendant to her chest and spun in a wild circle, laughing. I had never seen her so light and carefree. “I feel like Belle, from Beauty and the Beast.”

I frowned. “I don’t understand what that means, mate.”

She stopped and smiled up at me. “It doesn’t matter. I’m happy. I’ve never felt like this before.”

“Like what?”

“Beautiful. Soft.” She spun again, watching her skirt rise in a flare around her knees. Her hair hung loose, the dark waves falling around her shoulders. “I feel like a princess. And we are living in a castle. Good God, Dax. Are you rich, or what? This place is ridiculous.” Sarah smiled and threw her arms around my neck, lifting her face for a kiss, which I eagerly provided. When she was panting and breathless with need, when I could smell the sweet scent of her arousal, I set her back on her feet and looked down at the woman who was about to become mine in every way.

“Wealth is irrelevant here. I am an Atlan warlord, and you are my mate.”

It was her turn to frown. “I don’t understand.”

I traced her cheekbone with my thumb, simply enjoying her happiness, the carefree light in her eyes I’d never seen before. “Not many Atlans return from the war. Most are executed when they enter berserker mode in battle. Those who control their beasts, those strong enough to return, are rewarded with wealth, land, castles.” I gestured to the massive structure surrounding us. The home was more than we needed, with nearly fifty rooms and a full staff of mated Atlan attendants to see to our every need. I traced her bottom lip, my cock growing harder with each passing second. “I am happy to provide for you, princess.”

She inspected me then, taking in the formal dress of a retired warlord, the tight lines of the jacket that did not hide my massive chest or shoulders, the jacket designed to display the bright mating cuffs that encircled my wrists, that marked me as hers forever. Her smile faded and a dark, sad look stole the joy from her eyes.

“What are we going to do now, Dax? I don’t know what to do if I’m not fighting. I feel worthless, like a bauble placed on the mantel left to collect dust. There are good men out there fighting and dying, and I’m twirling around like an idiot. I don’t know how to be this—” She gestured at her gown and looked back up at me. “I’m not a princess, Dax. I don’t know how to do this, how to be happy when I feel like I should still be fighting. When good men are still out there dying.”