The First Claim

**Rosalie**

"Mate."

The heavy, four-letter word hung suspended in the air. It was a concept drilled into our heads since the first year of school—an unbreakable, eternal bond forged by supernatural deities. For humans like me, it was a terrifying myth. For the apex predators of our universe, it was a biological imperative. The music from the massive ballroom faded into a dull, white noise. The murmurs of the surrounding crowd vanished. The only thing echoing in my skull was that single, life-altering utterance.

Before my brain could command my legs to run, King Cassian moved. He stepped into my personal space with fluid, terrifying grace. His massive hands clamped down on my waist, the grip unyielding and possessive. He hauled me forward until my body hit his rock-hard chest. I tipped my head back, instantly trapped by his glowing golden eyes. The sheer, raw power radiating from his irises locked my muscles in place. I was prey standing before a magnificent, lethal predator.

He gave me no time to think. His large hands cupped my face, rough calluses scraping against my soft cheeks, and his lips crashed down on mine. The kiss was a demanding, hungry claim. He kissed me like a dying man finding a reservoir of fresh water in a barren desert. His tongue slipped past my parted lips, tasting, conquering, leaving no corner untouched. The sheer force of his mouth sent a sudden, scalding heat pooling directly between my legs. The friction of our lips and the dark, possessive taste of his mouth made my clitoris throb instantly against my silk underwear, igniting every nerve ending in my body. I melted against him, surrendering to the intoxicating scent of warm vanilla and sweet strawberries wrapping around my senses. I was drowning in his power, a willing victim to the mate bond.

Then, an unapologetically loud voice shattered the thick veil of lust.

"ROSALIE!"

My werewolf best friend, Lyra, yelled my name across the crowded hall. Blissfully ignorant of the monumental event unfolding, she bounded over with chaotic energy. She reached out, grabbed my bare arm, and yanked me straight out of the Dragon King’s iron grip.

I stumbled, gasping for air, my lips swollen and tingling.

"Oh my god, there you are! You look amazing!" Lyra practically vibrated with excitement. She launched into a breathless, rapid-fire ramble, waving her hands in the air. "You will never guess what just happened! I met my mate! His name is Kae. He is a werewolf, a little older than me, but holy shit, he breaks the hotness scale. We literally bumped into each other near the punch bowl and—"

Lyra’s hyperactive brain finally hit a roadblock. It took several painfully long seconds for her to register the towering mountain of a man standing mere inches away. King Cassian stood rigid, his chest heaving slightly, glaring possessively at my waist where Lyra had snatched me away. He raised an eyebrow, his jaw ticking, his lips pressed into a tight, annoyed line.

Lyra’s eyes dragged upward. She took in the broad shoulders, the golden sash, the terrifying, unamused visage of the Supreme King.

Her eyes bugged out of her skull. All the color drained from her face.

Without another word, Lyra dropped straight to the marble floor. She bowed so low her nose practically brushed the polished stone.

"Y-Your Ma-Majesty," she stuttered out. Terror rolled off her in palpable waves. Lyra never stuttered. She was the fiercest, most confident girl I knew. Seeing her fold into absolute submission sent a fresh spike of panic through my chest.

Cassian stared down at the trembling werewolf.

"Rise," he commanded.

The deep, sultry vibration of his voice bypassed my ears and slid straight down my spine. A visible, undeniable shiver racked my frame. It was a visceral, physical reaction to his dominance. I tried to suppress it, but I failed. Cassian caught the movement. A knowing, wicked smirk curled the corner of his mouth. He knew exactly what his voice did to my body.

Before the awkward tension could stretch further, a tall, muscular man materialized smoothly at Lyra’s side. He wrapped his thick arms possessively around her waist, hauling her upright. His eyes flashed to pitch black—the color of his inner wolf surfacing.

"Where did you go, little mate? I was looking for you," the man murmured, a deep growl vibrating in his throat.

Cassian shifted his golden gaze to the newcomer. "Kae."

The greeting was casual but laced with undeniable authority. I swallowed hard. The sultry tone made my legs feel like overcooked noodles.

"Boss," Kae replied. He inclined his head low, showing utmost reverence to the Dragon King, keeping his arms securely locked around Lyra.

"I guess congratulations are in order," Cassian said, folding his massive arms across his chest. "Have you found your mate?"

I wanted to step back, to put some distance between me and the overwhelming aura of the King, but my feet remained glued to the floor. My heart hammered against my ribs like a jackhammer. I was certain everyone in the radius of the ballroom could hear it. Lyra peeked up from Kae’s chest and shot me a wide-eyed, questioning look. I closed my eyes for a brief second, drawing in a shaky breath to steady my racing pulse.

"Yes, Your Majesty. This is Lyra, my star, my mate," Kae beamed, a massive smile breaking across his rugged face. He pressed a tender kiss to the top of Lyra’s head. A bright red blush stained her cheeks.

Taking charge of the chaotic situation with natural authority, Cassian made a swift decision. "Well then, I look forward to seeing her at the palace. Since she is already associated with my mate, she can be your official Lady-in-waiting."

My brain short-circuited. *My what? The palace?*

Lyra squirmed out of Kae’s hold and threw her arms around me in a bone-crushing hug.

"Oh, Rose! What wonderful news!" she squealed. She forced a brave, enthusiastic smile, but her large doe eyes swam with unshed tears. She was terrified for me. I could feel the violent trembling in her hands as she gripped my shoulders. I squeezed her fingers back, desperate to offer comfort, though I had no idea if I was trying to reassure her or myself.

Lyra turned back to Cassian, forcing her voice to remain steady. "It would be a great honor to serve at the palace, Your Majesty."

I stood there in a daze. I was permanently mated to a supernatural creature. Not just any supernatural creature. A Dragon. A freaking King.

Lady Evelina stepped forward, snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts. She wrapped her motherly arms around both of us, pressing soft kisses to our cheeks. Tears sparkled in her eyes. She offered her blessings, speaking in hushed, reassuring tones. She promised she would immediately contact my frantic parents in New Valeska to inform them of this unprecedented news once the party concluded.

Before I could fully process the gravity of Evelina’s words, a hungry-looking Kae pulled Lyra away toward the dance floor.

I was left standing alone with the King.

Cassian closed the distance between us. He placed a large, warm hand firmly on the small of my back. Heat seeped through the fabric of my gown, branding my skin. He guided me forward, steering me up the carpeted steps of the dais toward the royal podium. His massive golden throne sat in the center, adorned with a regal dragon crest and a plush purple cushion. Next to it, a smaller, lavishly cushioned throne materialized out of thin air.

He motioned for me to sit. I sank into the soft fabric, my legs grateful for the support.

Cassian took his seat on the golden throne. He leaned in close, dipping his head until his lips brushed the sensitive shell of my ear.

"Like what you see, little one?" he whispered.

His hot breath fanned across my skin. My fragile heartbeat skyrocketed, shooting straight to the moon.

"Hmm," I nodded quickly, unable to form a coherent sentence. A furious blush erupted across my face, radiating waves of heat. I broke eye contact, scanning the crowded ballroom, swallowing the massive lump lodged in my throat. I rubbed my sweaty palms together, trying desperately to ground myself.

"So, your name is Rosalie?" he asked. The deep rumble of his voice commanded my attention.

"Yes, Your Majesty," I replied softly. I knew his supernatural hearing caught every syllable. My stomach twisted with nerves, fluttering with a thousand butterflies. And underneath the anxiety, a ravenous hunger gnawed at my belly.

As if on cue, a loud, violent growl erupted from my empty stomach. The sound echoed across the quiet space of the dais, loud enough to wake the dead.

I froze in mortification, squeezing my eyes shut.

Instead of taking offense or demanding etiquette, Cassian threw his head back. A beautiful, booming belly laugh erupted from his chest. The rich, melodic sound bypassed my ears and vibrated deep into my core. It was the most incredible sound I had ever heard.

With a casual snap of his long fingers, a dwarf servant appeared beside the thrones. Cassian ordered a variety of foods, a glass of water for me, and a bourbon for himself.

"Food will be here shortly, little one," Cassian said, turning his body to face me. "You have a beautiful name. And by the Gods, you are truly breathtaking."

His sparkling golden eyes roamed over my face, drinking in every inch of me like I was a priceless treasure. My blush deepened, spreading down my neck and chest.

"And you may call me Cassian. No need for formalities, little mate," he insisted, his tone softening. "My family and close friends sometimes call me Cas. You can call me that too, if you want."

He was trying to make me comfortable. The realization made my chest ache in a good way.

"Okay, Your Majesty... I mean, Cassian," I corrected myself quickly.

His eyes flashed a brilliant, bright gold at my initial formal response, but as I used his name, his features softened into a gentle smile.

A second later, a lavish trolley was wheeled up to our thrones. The dwarf servant plated up a mountain of mouthwatering culinary delicacies, setting a heavy porcelain plate directly in front of me.

"Tell me more about yourself, little one," Cassian commanded gently, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.

I grabbed a fork, trying not to stuff my face like a starving feral animal. The food smelled divine. "Umm. I am from New Valeska in Vesper Haven. My mom is a doctor. My dad works on the Council assisting Lord Vander."

I shoved a piece of seasoned meat into my mouth, chewing quickly so I could keep talking. Under his intense, unwavering golden gaze, a fresh layer of sweat broke out across my forehead. The nervous babbling took over.

"I have an older sister, Trixie. My older brother, Declan, recently graduated from the military academy. Um... Lyra, who you just met, has been my best friend since the first year of school." I grabbed a piece of warm bread, gesturing with it. "I love learning and reading. I paint sometimes. I like to cook with my mom. I'm nothing special, sir... And I just turned eighteen yesterday."

I clamped my mouth shut, ending the endless ramble. The temperature on the dais felt like a thousand degrees.

"Your birthday was yesterday?" Cas asked, raising an inquisitive brow.

"Yes, sir," I nodded gently. I scooped up a bite of a rich, creamy dessert and shoved it into my mouth.

The explosion of exquisite, magical flavors hit my tongue. I closed my eyes. A loud, delighted moan inadvertently slipped past my lips. I let out a tiny hum of pure happiness, doing a little seated dance as I chewed the decadent food.

I opened my eyes and froze.

Cas was staring at me. His expression was wiped clean of any amusement. He looked at me with pure, unadulterated lust. The glowing golden orbs of his inner beast were fully present, dominating his gaze.

"What?" I asked, dropping the fork, forgetting every rule of royal etiquette.

"Your moans, sweet girl, are going to be the death of me," he growled darkly.

A dangerous, deliciously addictive aura radiated off his massive frame. His tongue darted out, slowly licking his bottom lip. The purely animalistic sound rumbling in his chest sent a heavy pulse straight to my groin. The wetness between my legs intensified, soaking the cotton of my panties. The raw sexual energy wrapping around us was a physical weight.

At that exact moment, every remaining shred of my human restraint shattered into dust.

I gave in to the crazy, primal urge surging like electricity through my veins. I abandoned my plate, leaned aggressively over the wide armrest separating our thrones, grabbed the front of his royal sash, and kissed him smack on the lips. I planted my hand flat against his solid chest to steady my balance.

Cassian went rigid, stunned for a fraction of a second by my sheer audacity.

Then, his beast seized absolute control.

He let out a feral noise. He dropped his bourbon glass, wrapped a massive arm around my waist, and hoisted me effortlessly over the armrest. In one fluid motion, he pulled me directly onto his rock-hard, muscular thighs.

My legs straddled his lap. His large, calloused hand immediately slid up my exposed thigh, pushing the heavy fabric of my gown out of the way. He gripped my bare skin tightly, his thick fingers pressing into my flesh, leaving a trail of heated tingles in their wake. His thumb brushed dangerously high, sliding over the crease of my upper thigh, mere inches from my pulsing, aching clitoris.

He gripped the back of my neck with his other hand, angling my head to deepen the assault. Our tongues engaged in a hot, desperate dance. I opened my mouth wider, moaning directly against his lips, tasting the rich bourbon and raw power. He devoured me. He consumed the air from my lungs. The heavy, heated friction of his thick erection pressing upward against my throbbing core sent my mind spinning into a haze of blind lust. I was utterly smitten, completely overwhelmed by the intoxicating reality of being this terrifying King's personal dessert.

We were escalating rapidly. I ground my hips down against his lap, chasing the friction, chasing the desperate need to have his hands everywhere. The public ballroom, the watching courtiers, the Royal titles—it all faded into nothingness under the crushing weight of the mate bond.

Then, a sudden, minor throat clear echoed directly beside the throne, violently shattering the thick veil of lust surrounding us.