“I suggest you do as my heir apparent has suggested. She has her father’s bad temper and the viciousness of the green dragons in her mother’s blood,” Klauth says with a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes as he examines his nails instead of looking at the guard drakes. The casual dismissal is more insulting than any direct threat could be.
Raven keeps her head lowered and her teeth bared in a permanent snarl. In a wave that starts at her head and travels down her spine, I watch her scales rise, making her look larger and more formidable than she already is. The display is both beautiful and terrifying.
I extend my neck and nuzzle her side gently, offering comfort and support. She tilts her massive head to glance at me, and I see recognition and gratitude in her sapphire eyes before she lowers her wings, releasing her mom and Klauth from their protective cage. Wisely, the guard drakes decide it’s time to leave, their retreat hurried and undignified.
Thauglor shifts back to human form and walks out in front of Raven, craning his neck to look up at her massive form. “My baby is almost at wyrm status, and she’s only twenty-one.” His voice carries wonder and pride in equal measure.
Mina and Klauth walk out and look up at her, their expressions filled with amazement. “Indeed. It’s a testament to both bloodlines,” Klauth says proudly, his voice carrying the weight of dynastic satisfaction.
I shift back to human form, acutely aware of how much bigger than me my mate is in her dragon form. The size difference is staggering. I just hope she doesn’t hold my smaller dragon size against me when she finally realizes what we are to each other.
Standing there in the afternoon sun, looking up at her magnificent form still stained with the blood of her enemies, I’ve never been more proud or more in love. In just a few hours, she’ll know what I’ve known since I was seven years old.
The wait is almost over.
I lookat my watch for the millionth time, the metal face gleaming in the dying light as I note it’s almost sunset. The anticipation is eating me alive from the inside out. Raven and Thorne sit in the middle of the wildflower field, holding hands and sitting together knee to knee. Their silhouettes are backlit by the golden light, creating an almostethereal picture against the backdrop of swaying grass and scattered blooms.
“The wait is killing me.” Evan’s voice comes from my right as he walks up and leans against the gnarled oak tree. His shoulder hits the bark with a soft thud, and I can smell the nervous sweat on him despite the cool evening air.
“Oh?” I arch a brow, looking at him with genuine curiosity. His agitation seems different from mine—more focused somehow.
“Thorne...” He looks down and kicks at the scattered rocks in front of him, sending small pebbles skittering across the grass with tiny clicking sounds.
Hearing him name Raven’s sister catches me completely off guard. “Hemlocke is also Raven’s mate. It’s just not safe for him here tonight. The tensions are too high, especially with what happened with the guard drakes,” I mention, watching his expression carefully.
“Hemlocke? Oh shit, no wonder he let her ride him for the processional.” Understanding dawns in his eyes, and I nod slowly.
Suddenly, the girls go deadly still. The change is so abrupt it’s like someone has hit the pause button on the entire scene. “Oh boy, I think it’s happening.” My heart hammers against my ribs as I see both Raven and Thorne freeze mid-conversation, their eyes beginning to glow even from this distance.
Evan looks up just as Thorne turns to stare directly at us. She squeals with delight and pulls Raven in close, their whispered conversation carrying on the evening breeze but too quiet to make out the words. They turn to look at us with matching expressions of mischief and excitement, and then Raven grabs her sister and launches up into the air. Their combined laughter echoes across the field as they disappear into the darkening sky.
“What do you think that was all about?” Evan asks, his voice carrying a mixture of confusion and anticipation.
“They’re up to something,” Mina says with a knowing smile as she approaches our little group. The scent of wildflowers and dragon musk clings to her clothing. “Come join the rest of the family—there’s safety in numbers.” Her tone suggests we’re going to need that safety very soon.
We follow behind Mina, and I look at the other children in the nest, noting that none of them are paired off yet. The evening air carries the sounds of distant conversation and the crackling of the bonfire that’s been lit for the gathering.
Allister smirks as he leans back in his chair, the wood creaking under his weight. “Not it!” He slaps Orpheus on the shoulder with casual cruelty, and Orpheus shakes his head in disgust.
“Not sensing your mate isn’t a good thing, you pompous ass,” Orpheus says, then sees Evan and me approach. “No luck?” He tilts his head, watching us with sympathetic eyes.
“Their mates are up to something,” Mina says as she laughs and climbs onto Thauglor’s lap. The sound of her laughter is warm and musical, mixing with the evening sounds around us.
“Evan has a mate?” Ziggy says with a brilliant smile that transforms his entire face. Evan smiles and nods, looking down at the grain of the wooden tabletop with barely contained excitement.
“Hi?” A soft, musical voice comes from nearby, barely above a whisper. We turn to see a small white dragon female anxiously shifting her weight from foot to foot. Her pale skin seems to glow in the firelight, and her nervousness is palpable.
“Can we help you, little one?” Mina stands gracefully and walks over to the female, her maternal instincts immediately engaged. The white dragoness rises on her tiptoes and whispers something in Mina’s ear, her words too quiet for the rest of us to hear.
“Oh?” Mina’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “I see...” The female whispers something else, and Mina’s smile grows wider. “He’sunmated.” Another whispered exchange follows. “Oh, shift your eyes and look into his, and the bond will snap into place. It’s how it works cross-species.” Mina’s voice carries the wisdom of experience as the young female steps away from her.
We all watch in fascination as she walks around the table to stand before Orpheus. He stands immediately, his chair scraping against the ground, and looks down at her with growing wonder. The female shifts her eyes, and they become a beautiful violet that seems to glow with inner light as she looks up at him.
When Orpheus’s eyes shift to his basilisk’s golden gaze, his entire body goes rigid as if struck by lightning. Then, in one swift motion, he scoops her up in his arms. Her hands go straight into his dark hair, and she kisses him passionately. The sight makes something warm and hopeful bloom in my chest.
Orpheus has found his mate. He walks off carrying her toward his cabin, and Mina smiles with maternal satisfaction.
“One down, too many to go,” she laughs, and suddenly I feel warm hands settling on my shoulders.
