---Jethro's POV---

Fingers tangling into Lane's hair, amusement sparked through my body as he arched into the slight touch. Purring like a sweet, content kitten that was begging for more attention, more affection.

It was entertaining to see the slightest reaction to a fragment of attention. How his pupils expanded whenever my nails scraped over his scalp, how his throat vibrated with a soft purr whenever I deepened the touch.

A purr that never seemed to end, continuing by simply sitting in my lap. Providing a welcomed and tantalizing distraction that diverted my attention from this boring meeting towards my lovely gem of a mate.

This meeting with the Council was slowly growing too long. Too easy to grow frustrated at the lack of progress, at the revelations of what's happening within the Pride lands.

Of course, Lady Morona had only just sent out her eight-legged spies. It would take a bit before they would report back to her.

Because this investigation would need careful planning and a detailed execution, in order to avoid the Pride Elders from covering up any evidence.

My dragon snarled deeply, pacing as it started to grow more irritated. Each little motion that Lane made, even if it was something as simple as bunting his cheek against my jaw, released his tantalizing scent.

A scent that was growing more alluring, spicier with each tick of the clock. With every second that passed and approached Lane's soon to be Heat cycle.

Even the slight wiggling as he tried to find a more comfortable position in my lap, was more than a simple distraction.

Lane was temptation incarnate.

The continuous barrage of his pheromones in small but tempting doses was slowly putting me on edge. Because I had to constantly wrestle my inner beast back down, had to tell it to not pounce on our delectable little mate.

Because my dragon had no qualms with the idea of throwing Lane on the massive table. To make our little mate squirm and beg so sweetly, shivering and quaking as I gave him pleasure to the point where he didn't know whether to beg for mercy or beg for more.

Logically, I knew this was the Breeding frenzy speaking. Brought on by Lane's fast approaching heat, judging by how he was hyperreactive to the smallest touch.

How he too was obsessed with my scent. Analyzing it delicately, nostrils flaring as he took in whiffs of the air. Even letting his mouth open slightly to detect more of my own pheromones and scent.

Even now, with multiple eyes on us, Lane seemed pleasantly oblivious, arching into the slight scratching of my nails over his scalp.

The small puffs of pheromones that released in the air as he rubbed his jaw and cheeks against my body. Scent marking me, boldly laying claim on me in front of the entire Council.

It only reaffirmed the fact that Lane was my true mate. Because if anyone else had tried to lay claim on me, be it physically or by scent, they would've been painfully and brutally be put in their place.

That is, if my dragon didn't decide to grace them with a slow and drawn out, agonizing death.

It had happened before. Several individuals on separate occasions actually, be it male or female, who were either too confident or too stupid to realize to mortal mistake they were committing.

You didn't claim a dragon. That would be the same as stating that you held ownership over such a powerful being, that you thought a dragon was beneath you.

To walk up to a dragon and claim them with your scent when you were not their mate, was an equally smart idea as walking up to a basking alligator and sticking your arm down their gullet.

The fact that Lane wasn't punished, that I gladly accepted his scent mark and even rewarded his behavior, settled any doubt the Council may have had.

Lane was mine. Just as much as I was his.

It was unfortunate that our presence was required during these meetings. To try and attempt to suppress the growing need. The swirling desire that latched onto us, threatening to wipe out any reason or common sense.

A low growl slipped from my throat as I felt Lane's tongue lap temptingly at my mark. Instantly my fingers found the nape of his neck, giving a warning squeeze along with a look to know he shouldn't push his luck.

Even if I had years of time to practice my patience, Lane was eager to press my buttons and discover the limits. Tiptoeing oh so gently along its borders, temptingly just out of reach.

Tantalizing me with the very notion of what we could be doing, if we were back in the comforts of our own home. And not trapped within the Council's meeting room.

Hisoka sent me a sly smile, their eyes knowingly flitting between us. The Kitsune expertly answered the majority of the questions, steering the Council's attention away from myself and Lane.

However, there was only so much Hisoka could do before someone would notice the noticeable spike in Lane's pheromones.

Several of the Council had the good grace to keep their eyes averted from Lane. Most, if not all of them understood what an approaching Heat entailed.

Not to mention, none of the Council were willing to enrage my dragon by showing any interest in my mate. Even in jest, dragons did not take kindly to anyone encroaching on what was theirs.

Hisoka cleared their throat, gaining the attention from everyone present before they pushed up from their seat. "While I'm certain that we're all eager to see the downfall and reformation of the Pride lands, I'd suggest that Lord Jethro and Lord Lane can be dismissed."

An appreciative smile warmed my features, hands pulling Lane closer to my body as Gi squinted in our direction. "Hmmm, I was wondering how long they could hold ou-Ow!" He reached for the back of his head, where Alurea had whacked him scoldingly.

"Mind your manners, before I mind them for you." She hissed under her breath with a pointed look towards Gi. "While you and I are blessed with fire immunity, that doesn't mean the same for the rest of the Council."

Gi huffed, gingerly touching the sore skin. "I very much doubt Lord Jethro would go as far as to lay waste on the entire Council." He pouted, sliding down his seat when Lady Alurea gave him a scathing glare.

"Perhaps in normal circumstances. Certainly not during a mating frenzy while being antagonized by a dragon hybrid. In the presence of his mate." Lady Alurea countered, narrowing her eyes when Gi sighed before inclining his head in acceptance.

And kept his eyes averted from myself and Lane. Letting his dragon side show submission to my own dragon. It was momentarily placated, though the annoyance with this whelp still lingered.

It was illogical, this bad blood between Gi and myself. But it was simple and pure to explain ; Biology.

Dragons would always fear and hate one thing in the world. Other Dragons. Because they were the only things that could potentially be our downfall.

No sane being in this entire world would ever think of going after a dragon's mate, claimed or not.

Another dragon would salivate at the idea.

To wrestle away the one thing that could not be replaced, from someone as powerful as a dragon? That would be one of the highest desired treasures.

Something that the greediest of dragons wouldn't be able to resist.

It was why Gi always teased me in the beginning, why it was so easy for me to get riled up whenever the Hybrid so much as entered the room.

His draconic instincts and blood were forcing him to contest with any other dragon he ever met.

Now that both of us were mated, neither of us wanted to push this pissing contest too far.

Because now, both of us had something we couldn't afford to lose. And Gi knew just as well as I did that if he came after my mate, I would have no qualms, no moment of hesitation to retaliate against his.

I wasn't surprised when Lane turned in my lap to bury his face underneath my chin. To feel his soothing purrs slowly calm down my agitated dragon while across the room, one of the guards took one look at Gi's pout before he stood by the man's side and enveloped him in a hug.

However, my attention was quickly diverted by a sharp sting, as Lane had nipped at the flesh of my throat. His tiger's impatience shining through and trying to get a rise out of me by misbehaving intentionally.

In fact, I could feel delicate fingers fanning out against my stomach. Slowly sneaking their way towards the edge of my pants as if we weren't surrounded by multiple supernatural beings that would sense any chemical change in our scents.

A low growl rumbled through my chest, silencing the rest of the room. Eyes burning into a molten amber, fingers instantly pinching the back of Lane's neck and pulling him away so I could look in his eyes.

"Behave."

And then my lips pulled into a smirk, as I realized the flash of impatience in those gorgeous eyes wasn't from the tiger. And the tiger was letting me know that this time, he was the innocent one here.

Pressing Lane back against my chest, my eyes settled on Hisoka, who respectfully lowered his head. "As I said earlier, my Lord, your and your mate's presence for this event is a gift but not a requirement."

They pushed away from their seat, scratching their fingers through the shaven low cut of their hair. "You can be assured that any new development in this case will be handled with the utmost care. Any changes, any small detail will be delivered to you in a timely fashion without disturbing you and your mate."

A slow smirk curled over my lips as I stood, lifting Lane in my arms with no protest from my mate, or the Council for that fact.

"Then, if you'll excuse us." I stated, before turning and leaving the room, uncaring that I might seem overeager to get out of there.

But I couldn't deny myself or my dragon any longer. It was already going against instinct to be at the Council while in a breeding frenzy. To let anyone take in a whiff of Lane's tantalizing scent as he fast approached his own Heat cycle.

Plus, it seemed that we had to go through some more rules. While I had set up some basic rules up with Lane, we needed to expand on those.

At first, I hadn't seen a need, as we were mates. Our bond was elevated above that of a Dominant and their submissive. But now I realized with Lane's slight misbehavior and discovering his boundaries, that we did need better, more defined agreements.

Because even my dragon was appalled by the thought of using a punishment that would make Lane frightened of us. It was not our intention, would never be our intention to frighten our mate, to force them in a roll of submission.

Nor would we ever want to force anything upon Lane. Seeing how our breeding cycles were slowly adapting, matching with one another, we needed to have this conversation as soon as possible.

Plus, as soon as I knew Lane's soft and hard limits, I could plan something for our mating. Something that would be a tantalizing reward fitting for my adorable little kitten.

But I would also need to discover his limits for punishment. To make sure I treated him properly and gave him everything he needed, not just everything he wanted.

A huff of smoke and cinders escaped my nostrils as my feet devoured the distance between ourselves and the doorway. The eagerness within my stride rivaled that of an overeager teen who was invited over to spend their first night with their partner.

This was going to be interesting...