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Tyrrik so his body was flopped over my shoulder. Kamoi gestured to the tree in invitation, teeth gleaming in a smile that reminded me the Phaetyn and Drae were not friends. Dyter followed as I lugged the Drae to the edge of the forest. With a deep breath but no other ceremony, I took him inside the tree line. Nothing happened, and gasps rose behind us. “It works?” I asked with a smile as I grasped our triumph.
“Let’s try the tree.” I turned and then let Tyrrik slide to the ground. As soon as I stepped away, he contorted violently, frothing at the mouth as he seized. I fell to my knees and made to roll him out of the trees, but as soon as my hands touched Tyrrik, his agonized movements halted. What the hay? “Your touch is enough to grant him entry,” Kamoi said in awe.
I was done. The last two days had exhausted my quota of turd shoveling. I didn’t care how much we needed the Phaetyn later; right now Tyrrik needed me. And, though the Drae was a twat, like full on turd-twat, I wasn’t abandoning him. I was sick of repeating myself, sick of deciphering hidden meanings, and sick of trying to guess who I could trust.
Kamoi took my hand, and my heart started thumping despite all my bluster. Being that good looking wasn’t fair. His skin was really, really smooth. He led me back past the tree, and I stumbled to a halt. There was a path. A golden path. Like beautiful shiny gold that made me want to walk down it . . . and possibly dig up the sparkly bricks and put them in safe keeping. Drak. There was something wrong with my head when it came to shiny objects of late. “My mother and father are expecting us. They live just over this way,” he said, indicating another, not shiny, path. “I’m sure they’ll have food
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His fists were clenched, accentuating his corded arms; his chest was broader, and instead of being lean like Tyrrik, the Phaetyn prince was much more muscular and thick, like a tree trunk. There was something about Kamoi: his kindness, his patience, and the fact that he made me feel like I belonged with just a small touch, which spoke to me on some level. My blood knew his blood. I reached forward and rested my palm on his cheek. He gasped and pulled me to him, wrapping me in a warm embrace. He smelled like spring, like fresh rain and herbs with an undertone of smoky pine.
“Rynnie, he should have only had thought for himself when he discovered you were Drae. But it sounds like his thoughts were mostly for you.” “But, why, Dyter?” I whispered. “Why would he do that?” “You can’t guess?” I avoided his piercing gaze, changing the subject.
I looked across at the other bed, but it was empty. Dyter had folded his blanket and fluffed the pillow before leaving. I’d gone to sleep on the floor; that was a definite. I’d taken Tyrrik’s blanket, folded it up for a pillow, and fallen asleep on the ground. Not in bed with Tyrrik. Holy potato-stuffed pancakes. The Drae mumbled in his sleep, his mouth against the nape of my neck, and his arms circled my waist, pulling me against him. My heart thumped and then began a race as if to pound out of my chest. Clearly my conscious and subconscious mind were not on the same page. I
pulled Tyrrik’s arm up and scooted to the edge of the bed, gently placing his arm back at his side. He mumbled again, his forehead creasing into a furrow that smoothed as soon as I tentatively reached out and touched it. Yeah. This was next level stuff. The guy stopped frowning when I touched him. Don’t panic; it’s probably nothing. A cold sweat broke out on my forehead.
My heightened emotions, worry over Tyrrik’s state as well as the obvious hostility we’d walked into, allowed my Drae to peek out. My eyes shifted Drae, and scales climbed up my neck and down my exposed arms. In a voice more Drae than human, I growled, “Are we clear?” The female Phaetyn inclined her head. They straightened and chorused, “Yes, Your Majesty.” What the hay?
Finally, she said, “Did you know I can tell if someone is lying? Did Kamoi tell you?” Good thing I told the truth. I shook my head. Kamini waved at Harlan. “You can go.” Harlan puffed out his chest and said, “Kamoi has commanded—” “How dare you?” Her violet eyes blazed with anger. “You know I’m a royal just the same as him. Regardless of what my mother might say about my age, I am plenty old to issue commands.” Right.
my knees, catapulting myself toward them. I charged, slashing at the Phaetyn with my talons, roaring. I saw nothing but the monsters that hurt my Tyrrik, for surely he was mine.
turned and spotted Dyter at the edge of the trees behind me, eyes wide as he stood over Tyrrik’s unconscious body. He’d managed to drag him a fair way on the blanket. I lumbered toward them, pausing to remind any Phaetyn within the sound of my voice I was done playing games. Shh, Khosana. I yelped in surprise, an odd rumbling in my throat. Tyrrik? My heart pounded,
“Tyrrik,” I screamed, running toward the trees. Dyter moved out of the way, but when I got to Tyrrik, he was still unconscious. I thought of our mental barrier, but I’d not had any wall up when I changed, and I didn’t have one up now. He’d spoken; I was sure of it. I ran my hand over his chest as I whispered, “Please Tyrrik, don’t leave me.”
I ripped off one of the wispy panels from my skirt and dried Tyrrik’s mouth. “I finally contemplate forgiving you, and you throw up. That’s not allowed. You owe me a real kiss.”
“About time,” Dyter said from the entrance with a chuckle, swinging the water skin as he shifted farther into the large cave. I glowered at him. “Time for what?” “That you acknowledge what’s between you.” My cheeks flushed. “What are you talking about?” Dyter lifted a brow. “Come on, Ryn. You’re his mate”—he pointed back and forth between the two of us—“and he’s yours.”
“You’re doing the same thing with Tyrrik.” Ouch. How could he say that? “It’s a little different, Dyter,” I said sarcastically. At least, I meant my tone to be sarcastic. What came out seemed more along the lines of bitterness. “No one is dying because of my choice.” “Drae have one mate, Rynnie. Only one. Ever.” I tossed the empty container to the side and exploded to my feet. “What are you saying? I should forget everything that’s happened to me? That because he might be my mate I just decide, ‘oh what the hay, I guess we better get together for life?’”
“I want you to be happy,” Dyter said. “When I’m gone, I want you to be protected.” “I just squished the Phaetyn queen and tore her guards to bits.” I sniffed in disdain, but my stomach churned with the acknowledgement of what I’d done. I’d feel terrible later. Their deaths might even give me nightmares. But in this moment, I wasn’t the least bit sorry. “Pretty sure I can protect myself.” He chuckled, and my shoulders relaxed as the tension between us dissipated.
For three months, I’d been tortured, controlled, intimidated, abused, and manipulated. I’d lost my innocence, almost like the girl who’d been protected so well by her mother never existed. I’d lost my naivety and ignorance, and I wanted that back. I didn’t want to know nightmares existed. I didn’t want to know I could die. Before, I’d known both of these things, but before, I hadn’t understood them.
I squeezed my eyes shut as the Drae continued to draw closer in the same way, I supposed, he’d always moved, a predatory stalk. “I . . .” The heaviness of wanting eased as his warm breath brushed the top of my cheekbone. He stood in front of me and said, “I heard you tell Dyter I hurt you, that I broke your heart.” Tyrrik brushed the area over my heart with the back of his hand, and my eyes flew open. I lifted my gaze from the base of his neck, over the sculpted plains of his face, to his midnight eyes. “You al-already knew that,” I said, my voice trembling. My fear was not of him, or rather
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gaze dropping to the base of his throat again. “Do you really want to fix my heart?” The question was uttered in a voice so low I was surprised he made it out. “Yes,” he said. He swept his hand to the top of my shoulder and then up the side of my neck. I sighed, leaning into the warmth, and did not resist as the Drae tilted my chin so I was forced to meet his eyes once more. Fire spread through my body at his touch;
“Why?” I whispered, my words breathy, “Why do you want to heal my heart?” He searched my eyes for an eternity that was likely only a few seconds, but time lost meaning and measure with him so close. “Because,” Tyrrik said, the pulse in his throat feathering as he stroked my skin. “You are my mate.”
“The connection doesn’t just allow us to speak,” he said, glancing at his hands. “In our culture, the male is the protector. The female—” “Do not tell me I’m meant to be peaceful again. I have perfectly violent tendencies myself.” “I was not going to say that.” He raised a brow, but his expression remained dark. “Drae females are perfectly capable of defending themselves. But their role in a mated couple is to balance the male’s violence, to ground him, and when they are threatened, to strengthen him.”
He threw a scowl over his shoulder, taking a moment to let his disapproval settle first on me and then the Drae behind me. “You two have frayed my last nerve.” My brief flash of good humor disappeared. “It’s Tyrrik’s fault. He’s sulking.” “I’m not sulking,” the one-hundred-and-nine-year old said. “Mmm-hmm, sure.” Dyter exploded. “Enough!” He whirled on us, stomping back to wave a finger in my face. “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t speak at all.” “That’s what we were doing before,” I huffed. “You said it made you cranky.”
“Not cranky . . . irritable.” He sighed, his anger draining away as he looked at me. “So you’re not cranky, and Tyrrik’s not sulking,” I said, nodding as I doubled down on my own stupidity. “Ryn?” Dyter offered me a weary half-smile. “Yes?” “I love you. But shut up.” He marched ahead to lead the way again.
“Wait,” Tyrrik said. “She didn’t believe plants came from seeds until five?” I scowled at the grin in his voice. “No one was more surprised than I to find out she was Phaetyn,” Dyter quipped. The conversation was feeling like a man alliance, and Dyter was supposed to be firmly team Ryn.
There was warmth at my back as he approached, and I stiffened, conflicted. I hoped Tyrrik would touch me, I longed for it, and I worried about what it may mean to give into that longing. He fell back once more and spoke in my mind instead. There’s another branch ahead. I wiped my eyes and saw he was right. I pushed the branch out of the way and let it fling back. This time when Tyrrik grunted, I knew he’d let me tree-whip him on purpose, and the thought struck me that he might’ve been letting me fling branches at him all morning. Holy pancakes, he sure knew how to treat a woman. I couldn’t
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pushed into the long grass, feeling more at peace than I had in a long time. My mother had been enslaved and learned to trust again. That meant Tyrrik could, too. My mother had been broken, and in time she’d found herself and happiness. That meant I would be okay.
My neck, tail, and fangs lengthened, and I shifted. In a handful of days, turning into my Drae form felt so natural and so right. I stood on the side of the mountain, a magnificent lapis lazuli Drae. Dyter had only seen my Drae form on the run in Phaetynville, but he now had a chance to openly gape. Which he did in an awed way appropriate for a creature possessing my grace. Did he think all Drae had such vibrant, opulent scales? Such powerful tails? Such a deadly curve to their talons. I preened, reveling in his open admiration. You are truly beautiful, Ryn.
Even after seeing him in this form many times, the ferocity of his talons, fangs, the lethal edges to his body and tail, took my breath away. Dyter’s, too, apparently, who hastily backed away. You’re bigger than me, I grumbled to Tyrrik as I compared our Drae forms. Tyrrik swung his head toward me, white fangs gleaming. You are much faster, Princess. I huffed. That was probably true, given my streamlined frame. I bet I could beat him in a race. You definitely would, he agreed. I purred with his praise and then mentally slapped myself.
How old were you when you came to Verald? Just a baby, I think. Then eighteen years, he said. You knew the entire time there was a Phaetyn and never told the king? I didn’t have to. The presence of a Phaetyn posed no threat to his life or his rule. I wasn’t compelled to tell him through the Blood Oath. My mother had eighteen years of peace because Tyrrik wasn’t the monster everyone, myself included, had assumed. Thank you. No one is more grateful than I that I never had to divulge information regarding your presence.
But I can’t risk an encounter with Druman. I wouldn’t be able to protect you. Not being able to protect me bothered him way more than it should. But I could feel his strain. Moreover, he was right; two scouting parties over hundreds of miles wasn’t enough to get my skirt in a twist. Al’right. We have time. Let’s go to Gemond, and then we can go out from there and search, once you’re better. He glanced back. Thank you, Princess. I’m sorry . . . I’m weakened. I’d never heard a stupider apology in my life, and I told him so. His lack of response was real confirmation of his fatigue. I’ll need to
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You land, I thought, I want to continue searching for the Phaetyn. No. If I had eyebrows right now, they’d be raised. Excuse me? You are not remaining in the sky without me. It’s not safe. My tail twitched. Care to rephrase that? Really fast. Tyrrik twisted to glance back at me. Princess, I’m tired, very tired, and I require rest. If you’re in the sky and I cannot see you, I will not be able to rest. Sure you can. Just close your little ol’ eyes and have a kip.
It’s exhausting to act against my protective instincts, and I’m far too tired to fight the mating . . . He faced the front. The thought of you in danger without me there to defend you will drive me mad. You have no idea how much effort it took to keep up the pretense while you were in the castle. When I said nothing he added, I was only able to do it because the alternative was so much worse. If you wish to continue, I’ll stay with you for as long as I can, but I cannot leave you alone and unprotected. I took a final glance around. Unless you wish to help me? he asked.
Tyrrik’s voice came to me strained with trepidation as he replied, Doing so will tie us closer together. It will also break more of the barriers between our thoughts. He’d offered the innocuous information with far too much anxiety. Tyrrik, tell me everything. I’m serious. If you don’t, I will never, ever mate with you How could I trust someone with my life, want to protect theirs, yet still have to make sure they weren’t keeping me in the dark? You will begin to feel more as I do. Anxious to be parted, nearly overwhelmed by my smell, and your body will want mine.
“Love doesn’t mean you’re perfect. Loving someone doesn’t mean you don’t screw up. In fact, I’d say the more you love someone, the more time you spend with that someone, the more you’re going to have to say you’re sorry. Love means you say sorry sooner because when you realize you’ve hurt someone you truly love, you want to do whatever you can to make it right.”
His brow was furrowed but not in displeasure, more like I was a puzzle he couldn’t solve. I let my mental defenses slip, and his concern and worry flooded in. All of it for me. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m sorry I hit you with all those branches yesterday. That was immature and . . . unkind.” He swallowed. “It made you smile,
My fear had set him off. He hadn’t been able to resist shifting after he inhaled and my terror hit him. He’d pushed himself for me, all this time, again and again. He . . . truly couldn’t control his reaction to me. I hadn’t believed him until now.
Please inform him that Lord Tyrrik the . . . Free Drae, Dyter of Verald—ambassador to King Caltevyn, and Ryn are here.” I practically gave myself Drae whiplash at that. I lowered my head to Dyter, a low growl rumbling in my chest. Shouldn’t I be Ryn the Coolest Drae, or Ryn the Phaetyn-Drae? Or maybe Ryn the Phaetyn-Drae, daughter of Ryhl— Dyter eyed me nervously and blurted, “I mean to say, Ryn the most powerful Drae.” Most powerful Drae. I smiled, showing every one of my fangs to Dyter who rolled his eyes. I could work with most powerful Drae.
scream balanced on the edge of my lips. I managed to swallow it back and scanned the room for evidence of a struggle, anything that would give me an indication if Tyrrik left on his own accord or— “Ryn?” Tyrrik whispered from the open door of the bathroom. He stood bare-chested, and water ran in rivulets down his skin. A towel was wrapped around his tapered waist. A new sense of angst replaced my previous panic as heat flooded my cheeks. “Sorry,” I mumbled. He must’ve felt my fear through the bond. “I thought they’d taken you.”
“I’m only good for giving you an energy boost? That’s it? My magical Drae power?” “Everything you do is magical,” he murmured in a rough voice. “Drae were the protectors of the realm. We only fought to preserve the peace for the humans. Drae are naturally a peaceful species. You do not possess the weapons I have because you are pure . . . you are beauty . . . you are worth dying for. The females of our kind are revered; they are more precious than any treasure, which is why the males spend years collecting a stash to give to their mates. We do not give it to her because this will make her
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“You are my reason for being, my purpose, my world. I would do anything for you. Anything.”
“What we share is real, Khosana,” he murmured. “There is nothing that makes more sense than what lies between us. If I could choose anyone, I would choose you. I would pick you out of a crowd of thousands. Your Drae calls to me. Please, my love, please . . .” He reached a hand around and rested it at the base of my throat, spanning his fingers above my breasts. “Tyrrik,” I gasped. He turned me, and I had no thought to resist as his arms circled my waist and pulled me flush to him. I
Heat pulsed between us. Our lips and bodies tangled with a frantic edge I’d never felt before. His lips were soft and warm, and he tasted of nectar. The nectar I’d made for him. He coaxed my lips open and brushed his tongue against mine, pulling me closer. I threaded my hands through his dark hair and stood on my tiptoes to meet his hunger with my own. He pulled away suddenly and I made a sound of protest until his lips pressed to my neck. I arched again as he trailed kisses from my ear to my chest. “Uvijek sam te voljela,” he growled. I have always loved you. His hands tangled in my skirt,
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“Your hoard is for our family. By collecting precious objects and keeping them safe, you are showing me you would make a good mother to our children.”
Tyrrik squeezed my hand and then released it before standing. “Come now, my Princess. Let’s go see what you can do with your powers. Then, we’ll find the Pointy.” I stood and, after a moment of hesitation, slipped my hand into his. Together we started toward the door. A moment later, Dyter burst into the room. I screeched and dropped Tyrrik’s hand like it was a hot potato. “There’s smoke coming from the eastern range,” Dyter said, his eyes bright. “King Zakai’s scouts just came in with the report.” Tyrrik reached over and threaded his fingers back with mine.
He was nearly upon them. Please, stay up there, Princess. Be my eyes. Promise me. I beat my wings, neck twisting frantically. He’d asked, no begged, for my word three times, and I was desperate to calm him before he started fighting. I promise, I threw at him, the words registering only after I’d said them. I hurried to add, but please, promise me you’ll stay alive.
One Druman flung himself at Tyrrik, at my mate, and I instinctively screamed in fury. The ease with which Tyrrik batted the Druman away did nothing to settle my panic. There was the better part of a hundred Druman down there, and they had swarmed into the valley.
If you come over here, I will never forgive you. I’d never heard him use that tone, and the certainty of his statement rang through me. I whined low in my throat, a sound of worry and care, pleading with Tyrrik to let me help him. There were so many of them, and they were winning. I studied the tendrils of our bond, whining again as I saw the vibrant blue nearly overwhelming all traces of black. No, not black, a dull, flat gray. My mate was weakening fast, and I rose up to count; there were still dozens of Druman alive—dozens of Druman still assaulting him. They threw another rope over Tyrrik,
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Please, can I come over there? I knew I could help. I could do something. I had to. Tyrrik, please. Please? The Phaetyn girl gasped beside me as Druman crawled over Tyrrik. My heart pounded, and a roar filled my mind. There was no more time to think. Every fraction of every second lessened the possibility of success, and I would not fail. I would not lose my mate. I would not let him sacrifice himself, not when I could save him. And I could. I could save him.
Closing my eyes, the threads of our bond drifted into focus. So little black, the plainness of my blue threads was heartbreaking. I wanted the contrast of his onyx black wrapped with the blue of my Drae energy. The beauty of our bond was in the contrast and compliment of colors, and I wanted his strength, chivalry, and support in my life. I wanted his wisdom to balance my naivety, his humor to lift me from sadness, his soberness to ground me, and his strength to protect me.
