Shadow Wings (The Darkest Drae, #2)

by Kelly St. Claire

“And I always want to touch you,” he whispered in my ear.

My feigned ignorance disappeared when I turned to face Tyrrik, and I gasped in awe. For well over a week, he’d been flashing a vibrant blue color underneath the onyx black of his scales, but I now saw it as though for the first time through my new and improved Drae eyes. The wispy strands of darkness around him had threads of blue, and his scales pulsated with lapis lazuli. My gaze zoomed in and focused on the sight, and I crawled closer to him on all fours. Kneeling in front of him, I reached out in a daze. I brushed my fingertips across his exposed collarbone, touching his scales. “They’re beautiful,” I breathed.

The girl dropped her hands to her side and narrowed her eyes. Several seconds passed, and I let her study me uninterrupted. 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. I couldn’t let Kamini’s small stature and youthful appearance confuse me. She wasn’t seven

or eight. I was probably talking to a thirty year old. That creeped me out. They should wear badges or something.

“Dark does not belong with light,” another male Phaetyn shouted. “No,” the man beside me said, standing. “That’s exactly where it belongs. Where there is dark, light must always exist. Drae and Phaetyn have always balanced each other as is our responsibility.” He gazed out over the crowd, and then his attention landed back on me. “This young woman is that same balance, just as one.”

“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 are my reason for being, my purpose, my world. I would do anything for you. Anything.”

He trailed his hand down my arm, and his heat licked my skin. I froze. My breath hitched. The gates between our minds were wide open, and his yearning pulsed through me until I couldn’t tell if the emotion was his or mine. “I love when you blush,” he said, brushing his fingertips up my neck. “It drives me near madness.” I arched to give him better access. “I love when your skin touches mine,” he continued, his thumb stroking the skin above my collarbone. “It is a sensual gift.” He stepped closer, his body fitting to mine. “I love when your desire pulls me to you,” he said, brushing his lips to my neck. “Your smell changes, deepens; like flowers and sunshine.”

“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 . .

“Uvijek sam te voljela,” he growled. I have always loved you.

“Mistress moons!” Dyter sputtered. I screamed, jumping a meter off the ground. “Oh my stars,” Dyter hollered as he stepped back out the open door. “My eyes. Oh stars. I can’t . . . I can’t unsee that.” Tyrrik pulled away as I dropped my skirt which had apparently migrated during recent events. As I did so, I heard a series of clinks. Drak!