“What for?” She reaches out and takes my hand, cradling it. The gesture offers me comfort and strength when I need it most.
“That’s my birth herd. My parents, some of my siblings, and extended family.” I motion toward them as they skid to a halt about ten feet away, their sides heaving from the hard run.
My mother and father shift back to human form first and approach cautiously. Both have the distinctive pink eyes and long black hair of our kind, though my father’s is streaked with silver from age and experience.
“Son, who is the young lady with you?” My father’s eyes narrow as he looks at my mate, and the hair on the back of my neck stands on edge at his disapproving tone.
“Princess Raven Mrithun, heir apparent to the Marzana Empire. Most importantly, she’s my mate.” I say with pride, giving Raven’s hand a reassuring squeeze.
“Your mate is a dragon?” My mother whisper-yells, her pink eyes wide with shock and something that might be horror.
“My mate is Raven,” I say firmly, feeling her release my hand to hug me from behind. Her arms around my waist give me strength and courage.
“The pleasure is all mine,” Raven says graciously, flexing her wings slightly before stepping forward and offering her hand to my mother in a gesture of respect.
Mom doesn’t hesitate for even a moment—she dives in to hug Raven tightly, her maternal instincts overriding any concerns about speciesdifferences. “My baby has a mate,” Mom blubbers as she holds Raven close, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Ela, release the poor girl so she can breathe,” my father says with gentle amusement, offering his hand to Raven once she’s freed from my mother’s enthusiastic embrace. “My name is Zarro, and this is my herd. Ela is my mate and Hemlocke’s mother.”
Raven’s eyes drop to my father’s extended hand for a second, then she surprises him by moving in for a hug instead. The softest purr escapes her lips as she breathes in his scent deeply, the same way she did with my mother. It’s a dragon bonding behavior, accepting my family as part of her extended nest.
“The pleasure is all mine,” she says warmly, pulling away and stepping back to my side. She holds on to my arm with a casual possessiveness that makes my heart sing.
“Will you stay for dinner?” Mom asks hopefully, her eyes bright with excitement at the prospect of getting to know her new daughter-in-law.
Raven looks up at me questioningly, and I nod with a smile. “Sounds good,” she agrees.
“I can’t believe you rode a dragon,” my father says, looking between us with amazement. Raven smiles and pulls out her phone, scrolling through photos until she finds what she’s looking for. She shows my parents the picture of me carrying her during the processional, my unicorn form magnificent in full ceremonial regalia. I can tell it was taken from the royal box because of the elevated angle and the quality of the shot.
Mom shifts back into unicorn form first, then looks at Dad expectantly until he follows suit. They walk down the hill toward where the rest of the herd has settled, and Raven looks at me with curious anticipation.
“How do you want to get there?” I ask, gesturing toward my family in the distance.
“Let’s run,” she says with a grin that lights up her entire face.
I shift on the spot, feeling the familiar rush of transformation, and bow down to allow her to climb onto my back. The minute she’s settled securely, I take off across the plains. The feel of the wind in my mane and the earth pounding under my hooves is pure freedom. Raven is giggling with delight as she holds on, her laughter carried away by the wind.
I’m not worried about her falling off—worst case, she’ll simply fly. My mate has met my parents and is about to share a meal with my herd. My day couldn’t possibly get any better.
Well, maybe it still can. One can hope.
Chapter 26
Raven
Hemlocke runs so fastit feels as if he’s flying, his hooves barely touching the ground as we race across the golden plains. There’s freedom in the way he moves—pure joy and wildness that makes my heart soar with him. The wind whips through my hair, carrying the scent of wildflowers and warm earth, while his powerful muscles bunch and release beneath me in perfect rhythm.
We follow his family’s herd across the vast expanse toward what looks like a small village nestled between rolling hills. Smoke rises from several chimneys, creating gray ribbons against the darkening sky. He slows to a smooth trot, then stops just outside where the first buildings cast long shadows in the evening light. I take the hint and slide off his warm back, my boots hitting the soft grass with a gentle thud.
Hemlocke shifts back to human form, the transformation graceful as always, and takes my hand in his. His palm is slightly damp with nervous sweat. “There are a few things I need to tell you.”
“Oh? Okay, what is it?” I turn to face him fully, taking both of his hands in mine and looking up into his worried pink eyes. The unusual color catches the last rays of sunlight like rose quartz.
“Since you are my prospective mate, I need to serve you at dinner. If the female accepts the offered food, she then feeds her mate. It shows you accept me.” His pink eyes search mine desperately for understanding, and I can smell the anxiety rolling off him in waves.
“Okay, easy enough.” My reassurance makes his entire face light up like sunrise, and he leads me into the village with renewed confidence.
Most of the inhabitants rush inside their homes the moment they see me, doors slamming shut with sharp cracks that echo through the narrow streets. I can hear locks engaging with metallic clicks, then see pale faces peering out from behind curtained windows. The fear is palpable, thick in the air like smoke.
