The spiky ball of dread that he had been carrying in his chest deflated in a rush. Vael shuddered, unspeakably relieved.
It was a fact that joining the Wing, watching Taevas’s back, had given him what he needed after his family was destroyed. It was also true that Vael didn’t rightly know who he wasoutsideof the Wing.
He understood that he needed to abandon his duties for Hele, but it was only then, standing in Taevas’s great shadow, that he realized how much he needed to do it for himself, too.
The prospect of spending so much time with his Hele, building something good and solid with her, as they both discovered themselves in the world was enough to make tears prickle behind his eyes. There would be no pressure. No rush. Justthem.
And when they were ready, he could resume his duties and Hele could do whatever it was that pleased her. Or not. The future was open and full of possibility.
A watery laugh burst out of him. “Thank you, Taevas.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He pulled back with his signature wry grin. Slapping Vael’s shoulder, he said, “You should go tell the rest of the jokers. Before you go, I’ll have you help me pick out who should take your place in the rotation. I have some ideas, but I want your input.”
Pride was a warm glow. It prickled every nerve and made him wish that Hele was there. He wanted nothing more than to clasp her to his chest, to bask in her and the feeling that everything was okay.
“You’re right,” he answered, wiping his eyes. “I’ll go tell them now.”
Taevas gave him a playful shove toward the glass doors. “Go on then. You’ll want to tell your mate, too, I suspect.”
Vael grimaced. “Ah, yes. She’ll be angry with me.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t tell her I was resigning today. She knows I planned to, but…”
“I see.” He scoffed. “Well, I’m sure she’ll take itjustfine. It’s not like Hele to get upset, right?”
They shared a wince.
ChapterTwenty-One
“Didmy mate resign from the Wing today?”
Hele knew she should calm down. She knew that she should not let her temper or her worry get the better of her, particularly when she was showing up on her fearsome cousin’s perch unannounced, but she couldn’t help herself.
After her meeting with the witches, she’d gone to see Alex for her lunch, during which her sister casually mentioned that she’d seen Vael flying toward Taevas’s perch during her morning commute. It took only a second for Hele to guess what he’d been up to.
Furious and dismayed on his behalf, she’d dematerialized and flown to her cousin’s roost without hesitation. That was how she found herself standing naked before her Isand, lightning cracking behind her and hair snapping in the air.
Her cousin stepped out of the doorway and gestured grandly for her to enter the luxurious living space he used for his visitors. She’d visited just the week before, when they had their family movie night. They made popcorn she didn’t eat and watched her father’s choice of“fast car movie”— at least, that’s what her mother called it.
Hele felt none of her normal cheer as she stomped into the roost, her bare feet slapping against the marble floor.
“Well?” she demanded, rounding on her cousin with mounting fury. “Did he resign?”
Taevas didn’t answer. Instead, he huffed, strode over to the sunken living area, and snatched a fluffy blanket off of the cushions. Walking back over, he used quick, efficient movements to wrap her in it. When she complained, he gave her a verydragonishgrowl and sternly admonished her, “You need to calm down or you’ll whip up another storm.”
She didn’t want to be calm. She was angry and hurt and worried for her poor mate. But Taevas was right. She didn’t want to cause another storm after the one she made not even a week prior.One storm a week is enough,her mother had told her.You have to learn to control your temper, tütar.
It wasn’t easy, but when Taevas tightened the folds of the blanket around her shoulders, wrapping her snugly, she felt a little bit of the bubbling anger recede. The blanket was nice. It was soft and when pulled tight, it felt a bit like Vael’s wings when they embraced her.
Hele blinked, momentarily struck by the realization.Oh. That’s why dragons like blankets so much. They mimic the feeling of being held.
Taevas ran his hands briskly up and down her blanket covered arms, like she needed warming, and said, “Now that’s better. Tell me what’s upset you.”
Tears stung her eyes. “You can’t let him quit. He has decided on it, but you canundecideit for him!”
“If your mate wishes to quit the Wing, then that is his choice. Mostly.”
