Hidden Flame: Bound to the Triplet Dragon Kings

As I am walking with Cassius to the huge banquet hall in the palace where the ceremonial dinner will be held, a concern comes to my mind. I stopped and turned to look into his eyes. “Will being marked hurt?" He gently cups my face in his right hand, "A temporary mark carries with it a fleeting pain, but a permanent one only brings ecstasy." Captivated by his tenderness, I rose to my tip-toes and gave him a kiss. He smiled into it as his freehand pulledcloser. Breathlessly, we pulled away. Looking deeply into my eyes he said, "Avery, I regret any pain I caused you or any that you had to endure because ofand my brothers. I vow to you now to never cause you an ounce of pain." A tear left my eye because of the feelings that bubbled to the surface. He smiled as he kissed the tear away. "I love you, Avery and I intend to show you that every day from now on." "You love me?" He chuckled as he pickedup and spunaround. "Yes, yes I do." Filled with emotions that I had never felt before, I took his smiling face in my hands and kissed him. As the passion between us built, so did the tension. Struggling to maintain control, he pushed my back against the wall. His hands roamed my fras his lips devoured mine. Groaning, he pulled back, "We need to stop, but can continue this later if you like." I grinned as my cheeks reddened. I bit my lip and nodded. “Yeah, I might." He sliddown and offeredhis arm. “This goes at your pace, so if you change your mind it will be okay." We walked arm in arm to the dinner. Everyone stared but my focus remained on my three mates. Since our dragons mated, I have felt inquisitive and aroused by what it would feel like to mate. I don't have anyone to ask about it either and I am afraid to ask my mates. I also don't feel comfortable asking my adoptive parents either. I wish that I was as brave as Regina, but I am filled with so much doubt and fear that it nearly cripplesat times.

"Absolutely breathtaking," Clint said as he kissed my hand.

"Avery, you are positively glowing," Conner commented as he pulled out my chair.

Cassius looked over at his brothers, "We were lucky before, but now we have the woman that we could only dream of as a mate." He bent down and lightly kissedbefore he had a seat at my side. He squeezed my hand and whispered, "I love you, my queen." I becfilled with a sense of pride and astonishment. I looked at each of them and said confidently, "I love you guys." They each kissed my cheek before Cassius ordered the food to be brought out.

They had the staff prepare all of my favorite dishes and even used that butterfly leaf jasmine tea that I have grown to love in a cake. It was the highlight of the meal fortoo. But one thing warmed my heart even more and that was the love I felt coming off of them for Regina and me.

**Cassius** My brothers and I wanted this to be a day that Avery would never forget because we wanted it to serve as a fresh start for us all. So far it has surpassed my expectations. I told her that I loved her. I had never told a girl that before, but I couldn't contain what I felt. When she didn't say it back it hurt a bit but I understood why she waited because that kiss spoke for her. Then she told us all just now too. My mate is amazing and I will devote my life to convincing her of that fact. There's so much that I want to both show her and do with her.

Enjoying the book? Don't forget to visit nov L5sfor the full experience. You won't find the next chapter anywhere else. Happy reading! As customary, the whole tribe is here including Jessica and her friends. I want them to witness Avery being marked and how a true queen conducts herself. They need to know that Avery has the power now because my brothers and I are giving her ours. Avery deserves this and so much more.

Once everyone had finished dinner, I ordered the procession to the stage in the center of town to begin. As everyone was singing as they walked, I lifted Avery up onto my shoulder as my brothers held her hands. Even if what we have defied tradition, I am proud that she is ours. I felt Avery grow nervous as we approached the stage so I squeezed her thigh. She let out a squeal of surprise and it madelaugh. My brothers help her down from my shoulder as I take my place center stage. "Everyone, we gather here for the marking of our queen. My brothers and I have declared Avery as our mate as she has us. Our dragons have bonded and now we will bond her to our tribe." I pick up a large raw diamond and place it on the podium in front of me. My brothers each giveraw painite and I take mine out of my pocket and place it with theirs. Painite is the rarest gemstone and one of the rarest minerals on earth, but even it can't compare to how rare Avery is and the bond that we are about to form with her.

My brother and I blow our fire onto the pile of raw gemstones and soon a crown begins to form. I hold the finished crown up to the crowd before I walk over to a stunned Avery. "Baby, breathe," I whisper. After she complies, I hold the crown in front of her as my brothers and I stand behind her. "Avery, do you vow to uphold the integrity of the Naga tribe and serve as its figurehead and fluntil one of our offspring is ready to rule?" She blushes before she says, "I, Avery of Naga, do solemnly swear to rule with compassion, integrity, wisdom, and diplomacy until my child is fit to take my place." I smiled as I brought the crown to her lips for her to kiss it. However, when she did the unexpected happened. It began to

glow and refract a myriad of colors into the night sky. It was a beautiful display but not nearly beautiful as the one who created it. I placed the glowing crown on her head and my brothers took turns kissing her before I dipped her low and kissed her until I had to cup for air. "I pronounce to you all, Queen Avery of Naga!"

All of the tribe lifted their heads and sent their flames into the air, even Jessica and her friends. Once everyone's attention turned back to us, my brothers and I allowed our dragons to emerge. Each one brought up a talon to its mouth before

blowing its flon it. I saw fear in Avery's eyes so I kissed her ancen more. As I did my brothers kissed En. her neck allowing our dragons to run their flaming talons across her chest. She let out a whimper followed by a deep moan. When we broke our embrace our dragons returned to our bodies, allowing the crowd to witness her glowing dragon marks before they faded. Now any dragon will know that she's ours!