Taylor

Lol everyone said they want a third I don't know why I even asked XD

I'm glad you guys like my books though, your comments are amazing :)

This is the last chapter so I actually edited it, I hope there aren't any mistakes but knowing me I probably still missed a few things. I hope you like it anyway though :)

********

"Thank you for coming with me," I mutter, curling my fingers into his brown and gold fur.

You still haven't told me what we're doing here, he says.

"I already told you, I don't know," I sigh.

I'd feel a lot better if I knew why I was taking you to the heart of dragon territory, he growls.

"The Queen asked us to come that's why. You don't trust her?"

I don't trust anyone.

I frown. "Not even me?"

He stops and cranes his head to look at me. His eyes take my breath away. He told me they are a genetic mutation that runs in his family. All of the males have wolves with eyes of icy blue instead of yellow.

Taylor, do you trust me? he asks.

The question catches me off guard. I open my mouth to say something but nothing comes out.

He turns away and begins walking again. I grip his fur tighter as he picks up the pace and starts to jog down the mountain path. I'll trust you when you decide you can trust me. If I trust you any sooner, I will surely scare you away.

"You're scaring me right now," I mumble, anxiety gnawing at my insides.

His chuckle echoes in my mind. My point exactly.

*******

"Taylor, Alpha Dorian. It's good to see you two again," she says as we walk through the tunnel of rock.

"My Queen, you have our condolences," Shawn says, bowing his head.

She looks like royalty in her blood red dress and black iron crown. The guards around her wear gleaming black armor and I feel Shawn's hand tighten around mine.

"I'm glad you could come on such short notice, I hope the journey wasn't too difficult. The Mountains grow more dangerous as it gets colder," she remarks.

"It wasn't bad," I say. "Can you tell us what we're doing here?"

She smiles a little. "You're here for a few things actually. With my mate and daughter's deaths, there is no longer a werewolf ruler."

I frown. "What about Kaine?" I ask.

"He refused."

"Well then who's going to―" The words catch in my throat as realization hits me. "You want Shawn to be the new werewolf king?"

"I do," she says, turning to look at my mate.

Shawn's normal composure is gone, replaced by shock. He stares at the queen with wide eyes. "I would be honored Queen Zari," he mutters, bowing his head again.

"Does that mean you accept?"

He glances at me. "If I do, you will be the Werewolf Queen and Luna of the packs, is that okay with you?" He asks.

I swallow hard. I open my mouth but I can't think of anything to say.

"I will give you some time to discuss it. But after the ceremony I will need an answer," she sighs.

"Ceremony?" Shawn asks.

She grins. "You two have been invited to a mating ceremony."

******

"Why the fuck didn't you tell me?" I growl, punching his shoulder.

Jax scowls at me. "Gods there's no need to hit me," he mutters. "How was I supposed to tell you when I haven't seen you in weeks?"

"It would take two seconds to write me a letter!"

He raises his eyebrow. "And who would deliver it? The only messenger is my mate."

I growl. "Okay fine you win. I'm happy for you but I'm still mad, this means you're not coming back to visit me."

He just laughs, hugging me tightly. "Of course I'll come back to visit. A mate is not going to make me forget my bestfriend," he assures me.

"That's what you say now, what about in a month? Or a year?"

"Tay I will come to visit you. I promise I will come to the wolf pack to come see you. I probably won't be able to for a while since winter is difficult here, but I'll come as soon as I can. And if my promise isn't reassuring enough, just remember that I still have a cousin that's going to be born in a few months."

I sigh. "Yeah I guess you'd have to come back to see Angel and Zella and their new baby," I mutter.

"Not to mention the fact that the Dragon King is supposed to visit the other territories to maintain good relationships."

My eyes widen. "I thought Kaine would wait until your mother died before becoming king."

He scowls again. "Kaine isn't going to be King, he wants to be able to spend time with his mate and he can't do that if they're ruling separate territories."

"Wait so you're the Dragon King now?" I ask.

"I will be tonight, my mother needs time to herself after losing her mate and so she said she would name Ash and myself as the new Kings at the ceremony," he grins.

I frown. "Haven't you guys only known each other for a couple of months?"

He shrugs. "Actually less but once two dragons have declared their interest for one another, there will be no separating them," he chuckles.

I shake my head. "What do you mean? That makes no sense."

"Dragons aren't like wolves in a lot of ways. When we shift we let them take over completely so that they have control over their own form. The dragons themselves have to bond with each other if you want to have a strong mate bond," he explains.

"A few days ago Ash and I let our dragons have control and in just a few hours they declared each other as mates. And Ash and I love each other too so why not just make it official?"

"Are they okay with it here?" I ask.

He sighs heavily, sitting down on the edge of his bed. "Not really. Apparently two bonded males was extremely common when my mother was young but since then dragons have changed. The young ones are assholes about it, but they're learning fast."

"That's good at least," I mutter, the corner of my lip twitching upward. "Sorry if I bummed you out."

He chuckles. "I don't think anything can make me sad today," he tells me with a grin.

"Well I really am happy for you. After all the shit you and your family have had to endure lately, you guys deserve something happy," I say.

He stands and puts his arms around me in a warm hug. "Thank you for everything," he murmurs. "Now I have to start getting ready, I'll see you at the ceremony?"

I nod as I pull away. "Of course."

I kiss him on the cheek and start to leave but then stop in the doorway. "I have no idea where I'm going," I admit.

He laughs. "Go to the right and follow the hallway all the way to the end. If your room had a window then it's the last one on the left," he says.

"Thanks," I mutter before following his instructions.

I can't stop staring at the walls. The way the gold runs through the black marble like lightning cracks through the sky. It glitters in the light of the torches and the flames reflect off the glossy black stone making it look almost as if it were on fire.

This place is beautiful, but not the way a sunset is beautiful. More like a poisonous flower. Like you can sense the danger within its beauty.

"How long do you plan on staring at the wall?"

I glance at Shawn in the doorway, raising a questioning eyebrow at me. "Does this place freak you out?" I ask as I follow him into the room.

"It definitely sets my wolf on edge if that's what you mean," he replies.

I nod absentmindedly. I wander over to the window, completely mesmerized by the view. "Beautiful and dangerous," I murmur under my breath.

I feel Shawn standing behind me so I lean back into his chest. He slides his arms around my waist.

"Have you considered the queen's offer?" he asks softly. I nod and he kisses my shoulder. "And?"

"I don't know," I tell him.

"It scares you," he says.

"It does."

"Make sure you remember that you will not be doing this alone. I will remain by your side and you will have my mother's support as well. She was luna of my pack for thirty years and would be glad to help you learn."

"Your mother is a sweet woman," I mutter.

He releases my waist and moves to stand in front of me. He puts his hands on either side of my face. "I will only accept the queen's offer if it is okay with you. You are my mate and I would never force you to do anything you're not comfortable with."

I hold onto his arms as I lean forward to kiss him. When I pull away he rests his forehead against mine. "Accept her offer," I say.

"Are you sure?" he asks.

I nod, smiling a little. "I trust you."

*******

Jaxon stands in front of Ash with the biggest grin I have ever seen. Jaxon wears blood-red armor while Ash has the traditional black armor. Even with the warrior's armor though they look like boys with the excitement in their eyes.

The girl behind them raises her hands to get everyone's attention. The room goes silent almost immediately. "Tonight we are here to witness a binding ceremony between Prince Jaxon, and Ash of the Dragon Guard," she says.

My gaze wanders to the crown settled atop her head and I quickly realize she is Kaine's mate, the Witch Queen. I've heard stories about her but none of them ever said she was this beautiful.

"Ash, do you vow to care for, honor, and love Prince Jaxon with everything you have until death and after?" she asks.

I frown. And after? I ask Shawn.

I do not know much about dragons but I do know they mate for life. Once their mate dies, they cannot take another. It is extremely dishonorable and dragons will have death before dishonor, he explains.

"I do," Ash says with a grin.

She smiles back before turning to Jaxon. "And do you Prince Jaxon, vow to care for, protect, and love Ash with everything you have until death and after?"

"I do."

"Please extend your hands so that I may initiate the bond," she says and my eyebrows furrow as she pulls a dagger out of her boot.

"Oh my gods," I hear Queen Zari breathe beside me.

"What?" I ask.

"They're completing a witch bond," she murmurs, her eyes wide.

"What's that?"

She blinks a few times as if to make sure it's real. "They're literally binding their souls together."

I look back at Jaxon and Ash. The witch queen slides her thin dagger across each of their open palms. "Place your hands together so that your blood will mix," she says.

They do as their told and the witch closes her eyes and starts muttering something foreign under her breath. Her eyes suddenly snap open and they are completely black.

"Beautiful and dangerous," I whisper, my throat tightening.

I swear my heart stops when a black shadow suddenly starts to rise from the ground. It stretches upward and snakes around their joined hands. Ash and Jaxon look perfectly calm though as they watch the shadow bind their hands together.

Then the witch queen's muttering grows louder and their pained gasps reach my ears. I don't even realize I am standing until Jaxon's mother tugs me back down into my chair.

"It's painful but they'll be fine," she whispers, giving my hand a squeeze.

Jaxon and Ash both close their eyes, gritting their teeth and clenching their fists. I see a flash of blue light and it's so bright that I cannot see anything for a few moments.

When my vision clears the shadow is gone and the witch queen's eyes are violet once again. "Your souls are now bound for all eternity. Now this chain will be burned into your joined hands as a symbol of your bond," she says, lifting a thin metal chain.

She wraps the chain around their intertwined hands and I watch as the chain begins to glow red like an ember. There is no pain on their faces this time, only wide grins.

She removes the chain once it returns to its silver color and I notice the pale white scar it left behind on both of their hands.

Queen Zari and Kaine stand up beside me. Kaine retrieves the crowns while his mother takes the witch queen's place. "As of today I will be renouncing my title of Dragon Queen, and passing the throne to my eldest son Jaxon," she says with a small smile.

She takes the red crown from Kaine and places it on Jaxon's head. "Jaxon, I name you a King of the Dragons."

She takes the black crown and places it on Ash's head. "Ash, I name you a King of the Dragons."

"From this day forth, you will be known as the Dragon Kings," she declares as she returns to her seat beside me. Applause and cheering erupts around me for King Jaxon and his mate.

Suddenly it all goes quiet and my attention is drawn to a young man. His claps are slow and deliberate as the crowd parts for him.

"Isn't this just wonderful? We finally build up our numbers enough to make us the strongest territory once again and what does the Queen do? She names her son and a former dragon hunter to the throne," he sneers and my eyes fly wide.

Dragon hunter?

"Xander, I told you and your friend Nathan what would happen if you spoke out against me again," Queen Zari growls.

He just snorts. "I remember. But the problem with that is, you're not the queen anymore," he growls. "Instead of a queen we now have two fucking cock kings that are going to make us the laughing stock of the rest of the world!"

A gasp escapes my throat as the man suddenly collapses on the floor, writhing and thrashing. His scream pierces my ears and I watch in terror as the man's skin begins to blacken and slowly turn to ash.

I stare at his scorched corpse with my mouth agape in horror. A growl echoes through the room and I look at Jaxon. His eyes burn a fiery red and so do his mate's.

I look back down at the body and feel my hands start to shake. "That's not possible is it?" I stammer.

"No, it's not possible at all," Queen Zari murmurs. "Dragons don't burn."

End of Book Two