“Fuck, how was I not freezing before?” I flicked the snow off my dagger and sheathed it, then rubbed my cold hand.
“You were worried about me.” Cyn swept off my cloak and put it around my shoulders. Then he bent to kiss me.
I wrapped my arms around my naked mate and kissed him back with love, a little lust, and a lot of relief. When I eased out of our kiss, I said, “I thought we were going to die today.”
“At least it would have been together.”
I grimaced at him. “That is not romantic, Cyn.”
“Was tearing those two Shanba apart romantic?” he asked brightly.
I snorted a laugh and pushed him away. “Shift already. I want to get off this mountain.”
“You and me both, Mate.” Cyn stepped even further back and shifted, becoming a giant red dragon in seconds.
I huddled forward, preparing for his grasp, and Cyn launched into the air. Swinging in a graceful arch above me, he dove, his claws closing around me and lifting me off the ground. Then we were flying away from those snow-capped peaks, heading back to Dralbara. I snuggled into my cloak, pulled my hood low, and curled up in my mate's claws, relief making me giddy. I didn't even care about the whipping wind.
We had just reached Tuvasi when a roar came from our right. A group of ten dragons made a beeline for us, their wings creating a thunder that grew louder as they approached.
“Your Majesty, what has happened?” a green dragon asked as he drew abreast of us. “Rosren informed us you left the city with the Shanba priests. He received a report that you were being controlled by them.”
“All is well. I will explain everything once we get home,” Cyn said.
“Yes, Sire.”
The dragons fell into formation around us.
I sighed and snuggled back into my cloak. It was finally sinking in that I had nothing to fear anymore. The threat was gone, the relic was destroyed, and my mate was safe. We were on our way home where we would celebrate our triumph over Tareth's Triumph with food, drink, and sex. A lot of sex. I smiled to myself as I thought about how much better making love to my mate would be without the threat of death looming over us.
Of course, I still had to be presented to his dread, but after facing those crazy Shanba, a presentation seemed trivial.
When the Horns on the walls saw us returning, they ran for the towers.
“What's that about?” Cyn asked.
“You attacked them with your fire,” I shouted up at him.
“What?!”
“It wasn't really you. Alcha ordered you to do it.”
“Great fuck,” Cyn muttered. Then he called out to the soldiers, “Horns of Dralbara, I am free of the enchantment. My mate and I have vanquished our enemies. You are safe to return to your duties.”
The Horns came out slowly, hesitantly. Then, when they saw that no fiery breath was forthcoming, they cheered. I waved at them as we flew overhead, and they waved back. And they weren't the only ones who cheered upon seeing us. People flooded the streets of Dralbara, some were even Shanba, and they waved up at us as we passed by. I waved at the Raltven in the Forgotten, and they shouted my name.
“The threat is over,” Cyn called out to everyone. “Rejoice with me, my people!”
And they did. As we flew to the palace, a celebration began, and I knew that those who would celebrate the most were Raltven.
At last, Cyn set me down in the castle courtyard, and I hurried to the side to give him room. After he landed and shifted, I ran over to him to give him my cloak. Cyn swung it on and took my hand, not caring in the least that holding my hand meant flashing a lot of skin. I reached over and adjusted the cloak, pulling the opening more toward me so that all he revealed was an arm and the side of his leg.
Lord Juri hurried down the keep's steps to us as more dragons landed and shifted. Servants rushed out of the castle with clothing for the knights. They scurried past us as Cyn and I strode forward to meet Juri.
“They're dead,” Cyn said. “And I destroyed the relic.”
“Dead? Who are dead?” Juri looked from the King to his knights, his expression baffled.
“The Shanba priests. They were behind the assassination attempts,” I said. “The entire city seems to know that, and yet, you don't?”
