“It's settled,” Ruby said. “We’ll rest tonight at theGlimmeringLake.”
* * *
The place Rubycalled Glimmering Lake was - well - aglimmeringlake.
The waters were crystal clear, even in the darkness of night. Tiny reflections of stars broke the surface. I’d never seen such pristine waterbefore.
Dante approached the ground slowly, fanning out his wings to catch the air and brake before he landed gently on his hind legs. I let out a breath I didn’t know I washolding.
“Could you please put me down?” Iasked.
“Of course, Gabriel,” Dantereplied.
He lowered his claws and I slid off. When I touched the ground, I collapsed. The adrenaline and stress coursing through my veins all night had exhausted me. I groaned through a facefulofdirt.
“Gabriel!” Dantecried.
Warm, big hands touched my shoulders and I let myself be pulled up. When I opened my eyes again, I was staring into deep purple eyes that shone likeamethysts.
Veryhumaneyes.
“Whoa,” I said warily. “Um. Whoareyou?”
The man laughed. It was a whimsical yet hearty sound. “It’s Dante. Don’t yourecognizeme?”
I couldn’t help but staring. “Not without the wings andfire,no.”
Holy hell. Not only was Dantenota dragon anymore, but he was just about the sexiest man I’d ever seen in my whole life. Rough, wind-swept black hair framed a pale face with sharp features. Majestic purple eyes bore down into mine, like he was staring into my soul. Despite his currently human form, his canine teeth were sharper than usual, a nod to his dragonancestry.
Dante raised an arched black brow and grinned wider. “Like whatyousee?”
I blushed hard. I didn’t realize I’d been staring. I quicklyglancedaway.
“I - maybe,” Imuttered.
Dante laughed. “Playful thing,aren’tyou?”
Someone else approached us - a tall woman with cascading black hair, but with less lustre than Dante’s hair. Judging from her stern expression and dark eyes, that must have been Ruby’shumanform.
“You two will have plenty of time to get acquainted later,” she said. “We should rest now. There’s a big journey aheadofus.”
“Um… I’m sorry, what?” Iasked.
Dante purred in my ear. “She said, we have plenty oftimeto- “
“No, not that. You said there’s a big journey? What do you mean?”Isaid.
“Oh, I guess we forgot to mention that part,” Dante said. He leaned back. “We’re taking youbackto-”
“Dante,” Ruby said, eyeing him. “It’s his choice,remember?”
Dante pouted, then said, “I know,Iknow.”
“What’s my choice?” I asked, getting increasingly confused. “Can someone please explain what’sgoingon?”
Ruby kneeled down on the ground so we were all at eye-level. She spoke gently. “Gabriel, we are from Cinderhollow tribe. Have you ever heardofit?”
“No,” Iadmitted.
