“Nikki, I can’t lose you,” he whispered.
“Gunter—” Nikki started, but Gunter shook his head. He had to get this out. Even though he’d lost this fight, Nikki needed to understand.
“When I fly into battle, I will have my brothers at my back to help keep me safe. When you walk through that ward, there will be no one to protect you, and that idea is killing me and my dragon.” He lifted bleary eyes to take in Nikki’s worried expression. “My entire existence is dedicated to the protection of my mate. The idea of you going anywhere without me there to protect you is abhorrent. I’d rather die a million times protecting you than risk you getting hurt just once.”
“No.” Nikki’s voice cracked. They surged forward and clambered into Gunter’s lap, wrapping their arms and legs around him like a koala clinging to a tree. “No, you’re not allowed to die. You promised me centuries together. And we’ll have that. I promise you, I’m not being reckless. I’m buying us the chance we need to end this once and for all. And I have every intention of coming back to you.”
Gunter held them tight, burying his face in their neck. He breathed in their sweet scent mixed with the charge of power that came from being a mage. He never wanted to go a day without their scent filling his nose, didn’t want to know a day where he didn’t feel Nikki’s arms around him or hear their wild laughter.
“I love you, Nikki. My joy. My reason for existing.”
“I love you, my Gunter. My dragon.” Nikki’s voice was muffled against his shoulder, and fingers dug into his back.
“I apologize for earlier. You’re right. This is your choice, and I have to respect your choice. You have a right to your revenge against the Jaeggi as much as I do. You have a right to get justice for all the other mages who were hurt and killed by the Jaeggi.”
Nikki lifted their head to meet his gaze. “You mean it?”
Gunter reached up and framed that beloved face tenderly. “I do. I will never be happy about this decision, but I will support you.”
Nikki slammed their mouths together in a brutal kiss. Gunter groaned as their tongues tangled together. He needed to get lost in the touch and taste of Nikki while his heart ached and pounded with fear.
Reluctantly, Gunter broke off the kiss as a new thought occurred to him. It might not make Nikki too happy, but it would give Gunter some peace of mind and could save Nikki’s life down the road.
“I have one request,” Gunter said quickly when Nikki tried to snag his mouth again.
“What?”
“I want to be bonded to you before the battle.” Nikki’s eyes went wide with surprise and Gunter knew he had to start talking fast. “I know you want a big, beautiful ceremony, and we will do that, but—”
“Yes.”
Gunter blinked. “Yes? Yes, you want a big ceremony?”
“No, yes,” Nikki laughed.
Gunter just blinked again. His brain had clearly broken at some point in the night. “You’re not making any sense.”
Nikki continued to laugh while they grabbed his face and kissed the corner of his mouth. “Yes, I will bond with you before the battle. But I also want a big, amazing ceremony later. You’re not getting out of that.”
“Really?” Gunter’s brain was never going to recover. He’d already mentally planned out four important bullet point arguments on why it was critical they bonded now rather than later. Nikki had agreed that easily?
“Yes, really. I want to be bonded to my dragon right now, forever and always.” Nikki’s nose wrinkled, and they twisted around to look at the clock on the nightstand. “But it’s already after nine in the evening, and tomorrow night we’re leaving to attack the Jaeggi. The preparations will keep everyone busy tomorrow.”
Gunter had been about to tell Nikki he was willing to move heaven and earth to get this done, but a brisk knocking at his door cut off his words. With a growl, he reluctantly detached Nikki from his person and crossed the room to answer the door. Now was not the time. Plans needed to be made, people rousted from their beds.
Pulling open the door, Gunter found Alric standing on the other side, looking worried and upset. Excellent! Just the dragon he needed.
Alric’s head popped up and he frowned. “Gunter, I thought we should talk about Nikki and—”
“I’m sorry, Hoheit, but we have no time to talk about that. You need to bond us. Now.”
“What?” Alric’s question came out as sort of a yelp as Gunter grabbed his right arm and hauled him into the room.
“Yes, Nikki is going to take down the ward. I’m angry, and there’s nothing I can do. But I can be bonded to them before that happens. Tonight.”