Aegon’s snarl ripped through Dex’s chest the second Shadowclaw entered his tent.
Anyti Shadowclaw and Serena were ntioned in the sa sentence, Dexmon’s wolf surged. And sitting in the sa tent with him for a prolonged period of ti was nothing short of a battle for control.
Aegon: I want to fight his wolf. The arrogance!
Dexmon: We can’t attack the King of North Skardos. Even if he is an ass.
When he saw that damn note, Aegon was furious.
Aegon: Burn it.
But when Serena entered the tent, it got worse. He fought Aegon for control harder than he had in years
Aegon: Mate. The matebond is still there. Not broken.
Dexmon: I know. You marked her.
Aegon: No. I an the fated matebond, on our side is still in tact. On top of marking. Both.
When Shadowclaw had the audacity to hug Serena, Aegon felt rage and Dex was with him. Absolute rage.
Aegon: Battle for mate. Now. His wolf is challenging us.
Dex locked every muscle in his body. Held himself still by sheer, grinding force of will.
But as soon as Hyran exited the tent, Dex lost it.
He moved at Alpha speed, fangs in Serena’s neck over her mark. Venom went into her system rapidly and his arms locked around her.
Aegon: Deeper. I want Shadowclaw to feel it.
It was so quick that Elara and Gav didn’t realize what was happening until it’d been a good few seconds.
"Dexmon!" Elara cried.
"Holy shit... Dex..." Gav said. Dexmon’s eyes flashed at him, face starting to shift into part man, part wolf.
Serena didn’t look well as it was. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head, fluttering closed.
"Should I call Alaric? I’ve never heard of soone being marked more than once and—" Gav started to say.
Elara cut him off, with a wave of her hand. "It’s fine. Hale marks all the ti."
Then her eyes widened, realizing she just gave away sothing very personal. "I an—"
"You and Hale are into so weird shit," Gavriel comnted. "And so is Dexmon."
Gav considered it for a mont, then asked, "What is the appeal?"
Elara’s face flushed scarlet, but she didn’t answer.
Aegon: She sleeps with us tonight. Move her things back in here before she wakes.
Dexmon released Serena’s neck from his bite.
"You do realize, surprise marking her is probably not going to help your apology tour." Gav added, arms crossed.
Aegon: Mate. They can fuck off.
Aegon and Dexmon shot him a look. He picked her up and without saying a word, carried her to his bed.
Aegon: Stay with her. Dexmon. Stay.
He exited his room a mont later, pushing his wolf down.
Aegon: Bad! Bad Dexmon. Go back to mate.
Elara and Gav were both still there. Gav was staring at the door flap Dex had taken Serena through to his quarters.
Elara rubbed her temples and sighed. "And what happens when she wakes up in your bed and is upset?"
Aegon: We hold her and don’t let her leave until she forgives us.
"Do either of you know where this clearing is?" Dex asked, voice back to normal. Pretending like the last three minutes didn’t happen and that his wolf wasn’t comnting every five seconds.
"No. You know who does? Shadowclaw. And Serena," Elara answered, voice dry as sand.
✦✦✦
Serena woke to a dose of waterboarding tonic. It tasted like swamp, just as she rembered.
Everything was blurred. The room, the light, the weight of arms around her.
It took her a mont to realize she was in the room she had been staying in before Shadowclaw’s tent. And the arms around her belonged to Dex.
She moved at alpha speed to the bathing chamber. Luckily it had a solid door in this tent. The lock latched closed and she was throwing up before he knew what had happened.
He moved to the door at alpha speed. "Serena, let in."
She didn’t answer.
He jostled the door handle and tried to push it open.
"Don’t worry. She threw up last ti too," Elara called, nonchalantly from across the room.
Aegon: Last ti? What last ti.
On the other side, Serena washed her mouth out, and splashed water on her face.
Then she felt her insides burn. A pained noise escaped her throat at the sensation. She breathed in shallow breaths, hunching over.
Dexmon kicked the door in, breaking the lock completely. His arms went around her instantly.
She tried to push him away.
"Sorry. No." His arms tightened around her.
"Serena, can you show us where the clearing is? We’re short on ti." Elara said from the other room.
Serena nodded, still not looking at Dexmon, trying to wiggle free of him.
"You don’t feel good, baby," he comnted, kissing her shoulder. The gesture was muscle mory. He did it without realizing, and only noticed because her surprise hit him through the matebond.
Aegon: She is surprised you showed her affection.
Dexmon: I see that.
Keeping one arm securely around her so she wouldn’t run, he grabbed a cloth and ran it under water. Then dabbed her forehead and neck.
Aegon: Good. Now do it again. And again. Until she stops being surprised.
Serena stiffened. She opened her mouth, then shut it.
Was she being cared for against her will? What the hell?
"Serena... I’m going to take care of you," he murmured, kissing her temple.
She blinked, stunned. Then she turned her head to see Elara and Gav standing in the bedroom. Both were blatantly watching the interaction, not bothering to look away when she noticed.
"I’m fine, Dex." She pushed him off her with more force than he expected and moved out of the bathing chamber.
Dex’s hand hung in the air where she’d been standing. He dropped it before anyone could notice. But imdiately followed her.
"Serena..." He started to say.
She cut him off. "Follow ." She didn’t bother to look at anyone when she said it.
Elara and Gav exchanged a glance. The universal she’s in a mood look.
Dex whacked Gav on the back of the head as he passed.
"Ow! What about Elara?" Gav huffed, rubbing his head.
"He’s still in the red with . You don’t hit your creditors, Gav."
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