The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas (An MM Monster Christmas #2)

Chapter 36

CHAPTER 36

T hey lay on the rug in the library, dozing, watching the flames flicker along the logs in the fireplace, whilst being surrounded by the Christmas decorations and tree.

“So what does mating a dragon entail?” Jack asked.

Avery sat up, eyes wild, his hair tousled around his shoulders. “Jack! What do you mean, what does mating a dragon entail? You don’t know? You said yes to mating with me and you don’t know what it involves?”

Jack propped himself up on his elbow. “I don’t know all the details.” He stroked Avery’s arm. “But I know it means being bonded to you for life. And that’s what I wanted. I want you, a life with you.”

“I want that too,” Avery said a little breathlessly. He frowned. “But you should still know what it means before agreeing to mate.”

“All right.” Jack sat up and kissed Avery. “Well, why don’t you tell me? Then I can agree to be your mate once I know all the details.”

Avery huffed. “It’s a big deal. Once we go through the ritual, it is irreversible. You cannot take it back. We will be able to sense the other and speak telepathically. You will share my lifespan. So once we’ve bonded, you’ll live as long as I do.”

Jack’s eyes widened as he took that in. “How long do dragons normally live?”

“Hundreds of years. I’m eighty-eight now. My father is almost four hundred. The oldest known dragon lived into his nine hundreds.”

“Wow.” Hundreds of years. It felt daunting. It felt a little overwhelming if Jack was being honest. But looking at Avery, Jack knew he wanted it. He wanted hundreds of years with him.

“It would also allow us to have children,” Avery said softly. “Technically a dragon can have children outside of mating. But it doesn’t occur often, as it is considered immoral.”

“Children.” Jack mulled over the word. He’d always wanted them. He’d planned to adopt. “Would our children be dragons?”

“Yes.”

“Wow,” Jack said again.

Avery looked down. “I know it is a lot to take in. I understand if you need more time to think about it.”

Jack reached out and took Avery’s hand. “I want to. What’s important to me is that I get to be with you, for life, as long as that life is.” He smiled and felt the truth of the words in his gut, in his heart, in all his being. “So how do we make it happen? Is there like a marriage ceremony? An old dragon who stands before us and says some words?”

Avery shook his head. “It’s private. Mating between dragons has always been private.” Avery rose and walked to one of his shelves.

A few moments later, Avery returned to the rug, carrying with him a green-and-gold leather-bound tome.

“I’d always hoped that one day I might find a mate. But the hope seemed so far-fetched when I had no friends or companions or family. If I couldn’t find anyone to care for me in any sort of way, how could I ever find someone who loved me enough to mate with me?” Avery raised his golden gaze and looked straight at Jack. “And then I found you.”

“And I found you.” Jack’s heart clenched. He pulled Avery into a hug. “I love you. I want to be your mate.”

Avery let out a shuddering breath. “I love you too.”

It took a little while to set up. Carrie was comfortable on her cushion by the fire in the drawing room. This mating ceremony was just for the two of them.

Now Avery and Jack sat cross-legged, facing each other in the library, hands on their knees, both naked. Jack’s gaze ran over Avery’s slender body. His hair blazed in the firelight.

He’s mine. And we’re going to be together for hundreds of years.

Around them in a circle, a fine red shimmery dust lay. It was one of Avery’s dragon scales, ground up and mixed with a few drops of Jack’s blood that had been drawn from his finger.

“Are you ready?” Avery asked.

“I’m ready.”

“Are you sure, Jack?” Avery’s eyes flicked over Jack’s face. “It’s all right if you need more time.”

“I’m sure.” Jack reached out and placed his hand on Avery’s. “Are you?”

Avery smiled. “I am.”

Then Avery closed his eyes, and Jack pulled back his hand. Avery breathed steadily in and out. For several seconds, nothing happened. Then the air around them began to distort and lighten. The library faded until just the two of them remained in a pale, white light.

Avery began to shimmer, as if about to shift. But he didn’t. His human form took on an almost cloud-like appearance, hazy and wispy. Jack felt he could reach out and run his hand through Avery.

And then, for a moment, Jack could see both Avery’s forms, the human and the dragon. Avery raised his hands from his knees and lifted them to his chest over his heart.

Avery pressed down, and the cloud form shifted. Jack almost cried out to see Avery’s hands plunge into his hazy chest. He probably would have, except Avery had explained that this would happen. Then, out of his chest, Avery withdrew a small red stone.

His heart stone. It burned a brilliant red and throbbed as it beat.

The stone had formed within Avery’s heart over his lifetime, burning within him. And when Avery chose, when he was ready, he’d give it to his mate.

Avery opened his eyes. “Place your hands on top of mine.”

Jack reached out and cupped Avery’s hands. Avery’s skin almost burned Jack’s. Avery began to move their hands towards Jack’s chest. Their hands pressed against the skin over Jack’s heart.

Jack sucked in a sharp breath as the stone sank into his body.

It burned! It hurt. Jack cried out. He squeezed his eyes shut as the pain exploded inside him, as Avery’s heart stone settled inside his own beating heart.

Jack took a deep painful breath into his lungs. His heartbeat pounded in his ears.

“I know, my love. It will be over soon,” Avery spoke, as if far away.

Then the pain disappeared. It passed along with the blistering heat. Jack glanced down at his chest. Avery’s hands and his own rested firmly against his skin. No sign of the heart stone.

It was inside him. Avery’s heart stone rested inside his heart.

Jack swallowed as the immensity hit him.

Jack felt…worried.

He paused. But it was not his worry. It was Avery’s. He raised his gaze to Avery’s.

“Jack, are you all right?” Avery asked.

Jack heard the concern in Avery’s voice. But he could also feel Avery’s concern inside him.

Jack concentrated for a second. I’m fine. He thought the words.

Avery’s eyes widened. I can hear you. I can hear you in my head!

Jack laughed. It worked!

Avery beamed. It did. We’re mated. You’re my mate. Avery moved forward and leaned his forehead against Jack’s. He clutched Jack’s upper arms.

Jack closed his eyes and reached out, gripping Avery’s knees.

A well of happiness and love sprang up within him, moving through him. But it did not belong to just himself; that happiness and love was also Avery’s.

I love you , Jack thought.

I love you too.

For several minutes, they didn’t speak or move. They sat together, just feeling the other’s presence and love.

Finally, Avery spoke, “It is not necessary, but it is considered tradition to consummate the mating ritual.”

Jack laughed. “Well, I’d hate to go against tradition.”