She nodded. “That’s okay. We’re a tribe that lives far off in the ancient, sacred mountains. We frequently scour the lands in search of omegas who would like to come and live among us. If you’d like, we can take you back to ourtribe.”
I blinked. “If I’dliketo?” Iasked.
“Yes,” Ruby said. She smiled. “We’re not forcing you to doanything.”
I looked to Dante, as if seeking his confirmation. He nodded and winkedatme.
My gaze fell to the ground in front of me. It was rich soil, covered in grass and dotted with tiny flowers. The first soil I’d seen outside of Stoneheart pack’swalls.
Well, the second, but this time I wasn’t trying not to be murdered byhumans.
“This is a lot to think about,” I admitted in a small voice. “Is it okay if I think about it for thenight?”
“Of course,”Rubysaid.
“Anything you wish,” saidDante.
“Thanks.”
Ruby stood and brushed the dirt off her knees. “I’ll be in my raven form sleeping in the trees. Call me if you need anything.” She nodded at Dante, then me, before turning back into a black bird and disappearing into thecanopy.
“So, is she like… your girlfriend?” I asked after Ruby hadretreated.
Dante burst out laughing so hard that I thought he would choke. “Gods, no. That would be like dating my aunt.” Heshuddered.
“Oh.” I blushed in embarrassment. “Wait, she said she was a servant or something,right?”
He waved a hand. “Technically a servant yes, but that word has a demeaning connotation. Think of her more like a familyfriend.”
He stood and offered me a hand, which I took to stand up. He gestured to the grassy path that looped around the lake. “Shall we walk and talk, if you’re not tootired?”
“Sure.” I felt stretched thin from the stress of the day, but my restless legs still itched for action. I wondered if Dante knew thatsomehow.
“So… A real dragon, huh?” I asked. “Are you sure nobody slipped me some kind ofdrugs?”
He smirked. “I’m quite sure. I can pull out my wings again, ifyou’dlike.”
“No thanks. I’ve had enough excitement for one day, Ithink.”
His smile turned wry. “You count almost being killed by humansexcitement? You’re an interesting one,Gabriel.”
“Did you miss the part where a big dragon came and saved me from them?” I asked. “I’d count that as exciting, personally, even though it was fucking terrifying at thesametime.”
He laughed again. I found myself enjoying the sound of it more than I’d ever enjoyed the sound of someone's laughbefore.
“No, I remember that part pretty well. It was quite a handsome dragon, if I remember correctly.” He flashed his teethatme.
Suddenly aware of how warm my cheeks felt, I stared at the grass instead ofathim.
“I guess I should thank you for saving my life and everything,”Isaid.
He stopped walking and watched me patiently with a smile on his face. Was it just me or did he get better looking every time I glancedathim?
“There’s no need to thank me. I did what anyone would have done,”Dantesaid.
I turned to him seriously. “No, you didn’t. Not everybody would have jumped in like that and helped me. Hell, nobody Iknowwouldhave.”
The humor faded from hisface. “What?”
