Healed by the Earth Dragon Prince: Dragon Shifter Romance (Elemental Dragon Warriors Book 4)

climbs into bed and tugs me against him, wrapping his arms and wings around me as he soothingly runs his hand up and down my back. He whispers in my ear, “It is all right. You were having a nightmare. You are safe now. My vow.”
“He tried to rape me.” My voice quavers. “I was so scared. I blamed myself for so long. If I hadn’t opened the door to him. If I had just…” My voice trails off. I’ve been through this so many times before. All the what-ifs.
“It is not your fault,” he murmurs, combing my hair between his fingers. “No male should ever force himself upon a female.” His golden eyes stare deep into mine, full of concern. “I vow that I will always protect you, Anna. I will die before I ever let anyone harm you.” He takes my hand and places it over his fate mark. “Even if you never choose me, Anna, I will always make sure you are safe.”
His gaze holds mine and I know this is true. He would die to protect me. His arms and wings form a warm embrace around me. When was the last time someone made me feel so safe?
I open my mouth to speak, but the words won’t come. Emotions lodge in my throat, and I rest my head against his shoulder as I allow my tears to fall unchecked.
“I thought he was a good guy. We’d known each other for years.” A broken sob escapes me. “After he tried to rape me, he convinced me it wasn’t his fault. He blamed his behavior on alcohol. I wanted so badly to believe him, so I let it go. But then, another girl came into the clinic.” I shake my head, full of regret. “He tried to do the same to her, and I was so angry at myself for letting him hurt another that I…” Drawing in a deep breath, I give Kaj the truth I’ve never told anyone else before. “I killed him, Kaj.”
I search his expression for any sign of shock or horror, but see none.
I continue. “His new victim told me she’d gotten away from him by sealing him in the airlock. So, I went to find him.”
“What happened?”
“When I reached the door to the airlock, we were alone.” I pause as the memory comes rushing back. “I asked him what he’d done—got him to admit that he’d tried to rape her. I told him he disgusted me. He got mad, claiming she’d asked for it, just like he said I had. It made me so angry. I never asked to be assaulted. I was so full of rage over what he’d done that I slammed my hand on the panel and spaced him. Everyone thought he died in an accident. I’ve never told another soul what I did.” Hesitantly, I admit the dark truth I’ve carried since that day. “I don’t regret it, Kaj. And I would do it again if faced with the same choice.”
Kaj’s gaze holds mine as he places two fingers under my chin and then cups my face. “I am honored that you trust me with your truth. You did what you felt was right. You are strong and you are brave. He will never hurt anyone else because of you.”
My heart feels lighter than it has in a long time. The dark secret I’ve held inside me these past few years was a constant weight that has finally been lifted. I rest my forehead against his and close my eyes. “Thank you for listening, Kaj,” I whisper. “Thank you for understanding and not judging me.”
“I will always listen.” He gently brushes the hair back from my face, tucking it behind my ear in a tender gesture. “And I am sorry for what you went through, but it was not your fault what that male did to you.” He pauses. “It took me a long time to realize that not everything is in my control. No matter how much I wish it to be.”
“What about the bond?” I ask, confused by his confession. “Does it bother you that you cannot control whom the gods chose for you?”
All this time, I’ve just been thinking of myself. I never even stopped to consider that he might not have wanted the bond, either. It was thrust upon him and he feels he must accept it because his people believe it is the will of the gods. What if he doesn’t want me? In fact, why should he? Here I’ve been pushing him away, when all the while, he’s probably wondered why the gods would curse him with a mate who didn’t even care enough to try until now.
All my doubts well up until I feel as if I’m drowning in anxiety. Of course, he wouldn’t want me. I’m human, nothing like a Drakarian woman.
His reflective golden eyes meet mine, grounding me. He runs his hand over my hair. “I was attracted to you from the first moment we met. I knew even then that I desired you as mine. I’ve never experienced such joy as I did the moment the mark appeared for you. I have thanked the gods every day since for choosing you to be my linaya.” He pauses and licks his lips nervously. “I only hope to become worthy of you. So that you will claim me as yours.”
My heart clenches at his words. This man truly loves me for me—not because of some bond. Why am I fighting this? Would it be so bad to be his?
I reach up and cup his cheek. He leans into my palm as if relishing the touch of my skin against his. “I’m sorry, Kaj.”
He frowns. “For what?”
“For pushing you away. I was so scared of messing up and falling so quickly because I thought it was all happening too fast. If not for my past, I wouldn’t have held onto so much doubt. I trust you, Kaj.”
He smiles. “It is all