E R I K

I woke up with a smile on my face on top of a pile of crumpled bedsheets. I rolled over to reach for Morgan and found the space next to me empty. My heart sank as I recalled her mentioning the early delivery that she had to get up and take. I missed my pretty mate. The air in the room was heavy with the smell of our mating; her scent mingled with mine. I grabbed her pillow and hugged it tightly, wishing it was her.

I wanted to be inside her again and feel her fingernails bite into my shoulder as I brought her to orgasm and pumped her full of my seed. The dragon inside me longed to put a baby inside her. Dragons were known to be prolific breeders. My parents had seven children, and I hoped to have the same number of kids with Morgan. I would be delighted if our first joining had created a child. The thought of Morgan being pregnant with my child thrilled me. I would keep her and the child safe. I wouldn't let what happened to my mother and brothers happen to Morgan and our baby.

I rolled out of bed and opened the curtains. The winter sun was low in the sky, and the trees, usually filled with a dozen ravens, were empty. Now my mating with Morgan was sealed; perhaps the ravens had realised the futility of their plans to take Morgan away from me.

A huge smile erupted, and I couldn't wait to see my pretty mate again.

I pulled on my clothes from yesterday and snuck down the stairs and out the backdoor. I hurried across to Glen's small thatched cottage for a quick breakfast and a fresh change of clothes.

When I got to Glen's, the cottage was empty. Both Ranni and Byron's coats were gone, and I noticed Glen's ridiculous velvet robe was also gone. Perhaps Glen had taken Ranni and Byron to the woods to look for Satanists. I rolled my eyes at the thought.

I went upstairs and took a shower. After a fresh change of clothing, I headed back downstairs and whipped together a breakfast of eggs, bacon and toast. I hoped Morgan had a good breakfast too.

I pulled my mobile phone out of my pocket and sent a text.

'Please remember to eat plenty today. You need to keep up your strength.'

I put the phone on the table, and another worry fluttered into my mind. I picked the phone up again and sent another message.

'You should also drink plenty of water too. I will check on you later. Stay well, my beloved flame.'

I pressed the phone against my heart and took in a deep breath.

"What are you doing?" Byron's voice suddenly asked.

I dropped the phone to the floor and spotted Byron standing in the doorway. He was staring at me with a WTF expression.

I awkwardly scrambled to pick up my phone from the floor, feeling like a younger sibling who had just been caught making out with their hand.

A cruel smile crept across Byron's face.

"Did I interrupt a special moment between you and the phone?" He asked.

"Shut up," I growled. "Remember, I am your superior and your king."

Byron did a mock salute and grumbled, "Yes, Sir."

He then sat opposite me, reaching over and pinching a slice of toast off my plate.

"I would have you thrown in the dungeons for that type of treason," I said, watching him shove my stolen toast into his pie hole.

He grinned at me and made a point of licking his fingers after finishing the final bite.

I rolled my eyes. It was hard to believe this man was a senior leader in my fighting regiment.

"Where's Ranni?" I asked, wondering if she had returned to the cottage as well.

"Ranni left early this morning. She didn't tell me where she was going," Byron shrugged.

"And what about Glen?"

"He was out last night, scouring the woods for devil worshippers. Last night was a half moon, which is apparently the perfect time for a black magic ritual."

"Of course," I murmured sarcastically, sipping my tea.

"So," Byron said, changing the direction of the conversation, "I'm assuming from the phone hugging that last night was a success with Morgan?"

"Yes. I won't bore you with the details, but let's just say that Morgan will soon be carrying the next Stormdragon heir."

"I'm really pleased for you, Erik. You deserve some happiness after everything that you've been through."

"It's been a while since the castle was a family home. I have a horrible feeling we used the nursery as an ammunition store."

"We can take up residence in one of the hunting lodges while the castle is restored to its former glory. I imagine that once the Mad Prince knows Morgan is on our side, he will be less likely to attack."

Byron paused, and his expression darkened.

"You don't think there is any chance that Morgan might remember her old life and return back to the Mad Prince?"

"No. She is my mate. Fate has tied us together - she would never betray me."

Byron smiled warmly back at me, but I could see the doubt in his eyes. This irritated me intensely, but I chose to ignore it. In time, he would come to learn the error of his way.

"I need to get back to the pub and check on Morgan," I said, abruptly excusing myself.

I left the cottage and sauntered back to the pub. The breakfast service should have finished by now, meaning that Morgan would have had some time to talk to me.

I didn't know what we were going to talk about. In fact, we didn't even need to speak. I'd be happy sitting in silence with her.

I walked through the pub door and spotted India behind the bar. She was stacking piles of dirty dishes into a large tray and appeared slightly flustered. I approached the bar to ask where Morgan was. When India saw me, she paused and asked, "Hey, have you seen Morgan and Poppy? They left me to do the breakfast shift alone."

"No," I replied, raising an eyebrow. "Morgan had to get up early this morning to take a delivery."

"Delivery? We had no deliveries scheduled for today," India replied back.

Anxious thoughts started to bubble and swirl in my mind.

"When was the last time you saw her?" I asked.

"Last night."

My heart sank. I pushed past India and headed into the back corridor, looking for Morgan. I called her, but there was no reply. Charlie popped his head out the kitchen door to see what the commotion was about. When he saw me, he started yelling at me to get out, but I ignored him.

I inhaled the air deeply, trying to see if I could detect her scent, but there was nothing.

I shrugged off my jacket and shirt and headed outside into the small gravelled car park. The air was frosty, but I failed to notice its nip against my bare skin. With a roll of my shoulders, I stretched out my golden wings and launched myself into the sky. Normally, I reframed from flying in the daytime in case a human spotted me, but now, I couldn't care less about who saw me. I needed to find my mate.

I soared through the sky, scanning the streets below. There wasn't much to scan. The village was only comprised of a handful of streets. A few villagers came out of their stone cottages to take photos of me with their phones. I ignored the flashes of their cameras and turned towards the woods.

Swooping low to the tree canopy, I peered through the mesh of bare branches, searching for Morgan. The woods appeared to be empty, except for a few startled deer. After what felt like an age of looking, I dropped into the small clearing outside the devil's house.

I ran into the house, calling Morgan's name. I tore through the house, upturning chairs and tables, screaming her name.

"She's left you, Dragon King," a taunting voice called.

I turned and saw the Mad Vampire Prince standing in the shadow of the doorway. He leaned against the doorframe with his arms folded.

"How does it feel to have your heart ripped from your chest?" He asked.

I raised my hand, and a fireball manifested in the centre of my palm.

"Where is Morgan?" I growled.

"She is safe in my palace," The mad prince replied.

"Bring her back here," I demanded.

"I will, in a couple hundred years. I want you to know how it feels to lose your mate, Dragon King. I want you to taste the agony I endured for four long centuries without my bride," he replied.

"I didn't take your bride," I snapped back.

"No, you were a child when Ebony was taken from me. But you will pay for the sins of your father. You will suffer the same lonely four hundred years that I suffered."

I hurled the fireball at him and watched him duck out of its way.

"I will return Morgan to you four hundred years from today," he said.

"I will kill you long before then," I snapped. "I will find a way back home, and then I will finish what you started. I won't rest until every vampire has been wiped from existence," I roared.

The Mad Prince shrugged, "I doubt you will find a way back home before that time."

I charged at the vampire, but he disappeared, dissolving into the shadows, leaving me alone.

I collapsed to the floor, clutching my chest.

I had to find a way back to Morgan.