Diaval sighs and pulls over for a moment. "What my old friend is so tactfully trying to say is that it's because of his feather—she's gotten stronger. Her Luna gifts. From what I know of the lass, she's not a warrior, but she will go to war if someone she loves is threatened. Thankfully, unlike her witch sister, she does havethe self-preservation instinct." As much as I want to let Diaval's tone piss me off, he's right. Feray studies the situation before she reacts. That, coupled with how scary intelligent she is, makes her more formidable than some of the alphas I've met over the years.
I watch as my little wolf snuggles into Easton's chest. "So between his feather and your scale, you believe she'll survive meeting your dragon?" My heart beats erratically in my chest as I watch the minute changes in the creases around Diaval's eyes.
"She has to." His terse, definitive answer doesn't exactly comfort me.
"What do you mean, she has to? You aren't bonded to her fully. Her dying won't destroy you the way it will the three of us." My bear claws at my chest, wanting to be released. He feels he needs to protect Feray from the dragon. What the actual fuck is Diaval thinking?
"What Diaval is failing to express—" Easton starts to explain when Diaval cuts him off.
"My dragon will go insane if he accidentally kills his mate. The rampages written in the history books will be nothing compared to what he will do." His tone sounds broken as he glances between us. "The literal fate of the world rests in her little hands." His voice softens as he turns further to look into the backseat at Feray while she sleeps. He watches her for several moments before turning back to face forward. With a sigh, he gets us back on the road.
Taking my cue, I close my eyes, hoping against hope that whatever needs to happen at the next stop, my love, my heart, survives.
Chapter 11
Diaval
The countryside stretches outbefore me, a patchwork quilt of vibrant greens and golden yellows. The sun climbs higher in the sky, its gentle rays casting a warm, honeyed hue on the landscape. The air is crisp and clean, carrying with it the earthy scent of freshly plowed fields and the faint fragrance of wildflowers that line the roadside.
I grip the leather-wrapped steering wheel, the smooth texture cool against my palms. The engine purrs a comforting background hum, and the tires whisper over the gravel stone. The road stretches ahead, winding through rolling hills and quaint, picturesque farms, each with its own barn and weathered picket fence.
My travel companions, cocooned in the tranquility of slumber, rest peacefully while I make the drive to our next stop. The soft, even breaths of the basilisk in the passenger seat are like a gentle metronome, a reminder of all the danger surrounding our group. I won't forget his sacrifice of remaining on watch all night.
One awake, four asleep. It seems to be the way we're forced to operate these days.
My mate, nestled in the back seat with her head resting on Easton's chest, is a vision of serenity. I steal occasional glances at her, my heart swelling with affection. Strands of her auburn hair cascade gracefully over her shoulders, framing a peaceful expression that dances with fleeting dreams. Her lips, parted ever so slightly, form a delicate, contented smile. The morning sun plays upon her face, casting a soft, ethereal glow that accentuates the flutter of her eyelashes.
Outside, the world continues to unfold. I pass a meadow where a family of deer grazes, their white tails flicking in the morning light. Birds serenade us with their melodic songs, heralding a new day. In the distance, old oak trees stand like ancient sentinels, their gnarled branches reaching for the heavens. As we journey through this idyllic countryside, I'm filled with a deep sense of foreboding. At some point during our next stop, I need to convince Feray to allow me to implant my scale on her chest.
How in the nine hells am I going to pull off that miracle? Shaking my head, I return my focus to the road. Danger lurks around every turn. The most dangerous part—heading into Vasserdell and facing Myra—is more terrifying than meeting this unseen danger.
Several hourslater
Feray stirs from her slumber and pulls herself free of the doctor's embrace. "I need to pee." She yawns promptly after making the statement.
"Remember what happened the last time you went to pee?" Arching a brow, I playfully remind her of her last misadventure. Feray looks taken aback and lowers her eyes.
Glancing back to the road, I find a nice area for us to pull over and let everyone stretch their legs. "Allow one of us to accompany you into the woods so we can be within reach." I turn in the driver's seat to reach back and take her hand in mine. "You are far too important to us to lose."
Easton is the first to awaken, having heard me. He gives me a slight nod of respect and rubs her back. "We just wish to keep you safe."
"That makes sense." She pulls at some of her hair and sighs. "I'm sorry I reacted poorly. It's been a lot to adjust to." She huffs out a laugh. "The predator is now the prey." Her tone turns sour, and she lowers her head again.
Reaching back, I grip her chin and raise her eyes to face me. "You are no one's prey." I wink at her, then smile. "Unless you want to be." Her pupils dilate immediately at the dark promise. I think my little mate may have a bit of a kink.
"I can go with you if you want." Torben offers, and she looks between me and Easton, then over to a sleeping Khal.
"No offense, Tor. Easton can torch the bad guy—it may be more effective than your bear. Depending on the foe, of course." She stares down at her hands, and it's now that I notice she's shifting her nails back and forth between claws and human nails.
"You're not defenseless, Feray." The words tumble from my lips without a second thought. I'm just as surprised as she is when I say it.
"I can't kill a Wendigo." She flexes her hands again, watching her claws emerge.
I hazard a glance at Easton and Torben, and they exit the car, leaving me with Feray and a sleeping basilisk. Reaching back, I take hold of her hand and exhale slowly. "If my guess about your bloodline is correct, you are more powerful than you think."
Her eyes lower, and she stares at our joined hands. "I hope for my sake you're right." She lays her hand on mine and gives it a pat before exiting the SUV. My hand still tingles from where we made contact. I remain seated for several moments longer before exiting the car.
Feray walks hand in hand with Easton into the brush close to where we parked. "She's so timid. There's a demon locked in her chest, and yet she acts like a frightened doe." I move to stand alongside Torben.
