I look out across the water as Diaval gathers our clothing and helps me get redressed. "Do you think the guys have made it to Vasserdell yet?"
Diaval pulls out his phone and stares at it for several moments. "According to where my smartwatch says it is, they'll be there in the next twenty minutes. We should probably prepare to leave."
He offers me his hand and helps me stand, dusting me off. "Ready to fly again?"
Looking around, I make sure we're not forgetting anything. "Yes, let's get going."
Glancing up and down the beach, I'm not exactly sure where to stand. Diaval sees me searching the shoreline and moves me back by the dune, winking before moving away. His shift still amazes me. How such an enormous beast can fit within his chest is beyond a miracle. Diaval strides back, distancing himself from where I am. In a mesmerizing transformation, he undergoes his metamorphosis into his magnificent skull dragon form. The ground trembles beneath the sheer power of the shift.
As the enormous creature takes shape, its obsidian scales absorb the surrounding light, rendering them an almost surreal depth of blackness. My fingertips, drawn by irresistible curiosity, graze the cool, rough surface. They feel solid and unyielding, a testament to the strength embodied in every inch of his formidable frame.
With a low, resonant growl, the massive beast gracefully lowers itself to the ground, inviting me to climb aboard. The heat emanating from his colossal form creates a palpable aura. As I step closer, the warmth washes over me like a comforting wave. Determination surges through me as I mount the dragon, ready to take flight toward Vasserdell. The anticipation tingles in my fingertips, echoing the pulsating energy that radiates from the dragon beneath me.
Without warning, Diaval launches into the air.
The whoosh of his wings as they beat furiously, gaining altitude, tells me something was there—and he's getting us to safety. Looking back, small dots of four beings move around on the beach below.
I'm not sure what we're running from, but whatever it is, my mate kept me safe.
Chapter 19
Torben
The weightof anticipation hangs thick in the air, each passing second stretching into an eternity as I cast a furtive glance at my watch. The hands seem to move with maddening slowness, as if time itself is reluctant to release its grip. I can't help but wonder if Diaval's transformation has encountered unforeseen challenges, or if the journey to Vasserdell is proving more treacherous than expected.
My gaze instinctively shifts upward, scanning the vast expanse of sky for any sign of the colossal skull dragon that heralds Diaval's return. The heavens stretch out in an endless canvas of blue, wisps of clouds drifting lazily as if unaffected by the urgency that grips my every thought. The air holds a subtle tension, a silent echo of the impending reunion. The bond we share, a delicate web woven through time and circumstance, sends ripples through my senses.
I felt the shift—an imperceptible alteration in the threads that bind us. Feray's bite, a symbolic gesture that transcends mere physical contact, marked Diaval's full acceptance into our unique family. The connection forged a bond that nowcourses with new vitality. Beyond the immediate impact, an undercurrent of power pulses through the air, a force that transcends the physical and resonates with the very essence of our beings. I feel it, a tingling awareness that dances across my skin like the whisper of unseen energies.
Turning my gaze from the skies, I glance over at Khal and Easton. They're huddled around the map spread out on the hood of the SUV, their expressions a mix of concentration and anticipation. The map charts the path through the rugged terrain leading to the forest entrance of Vasserdell.
The SUV stands as a sturdy sentinel against the backdrop of the wilderness, parked strategically about five miles from the mountain entrance. The decision to wait here, grounded in both strategy and caution, reflects our awareness of Vasserdell's unpredictable nature. It's a tight-knit town where time dances to its own rhythm, and the landscape shifts with capricious whimsy.
As I wait, a mixture of emotions swirls within me. There's the apprehension of the unknown—the unpredictable nature of Vasserdell and my concern for Feray and Diaval. Yet intertwined with the anxiety is an undercurrent of excitement, a sense of purpose that propels us forward. Diaval's ex is apparently the leader of the main nest in Vasserdell, and I'm unsure how she's going to take Diaval being mated to a wolf. While we wait for their return, we've come up with several contingency plans just in case the entire visit goes left.
"There they are!" Easton shouts as he comes up alongside me, pointing out over the ocean. My eyesight strains against the canvas of the horizon. While his sharp vision dissects the distance, mine remains locked on the expansive panorama before me.
Out over the undulating expanse of the ocean, a silhouette materializes against the canvas of the setting sun. A vast, black mass takes shape in the distance, suspended between sky and sea. The contrast against the vivid hues of the twilight sky paints an otherworldly picture. The sun, a molten orb on the cusp of the horizon, casts a golden glow over the approaching dragon, infusing it with ethereal radiance.
As the mass draws nearer, details emerge—the rhythmic beat of enormous wings, the rough curvature of obsidian scales catching the last rays of daylight. It's Diaval in his colossal skull dragon form, a majestic entity that defies the limits of imagination.
The setting sun, now a fiery halo behind the advancing dragon, lends an almost mythical quality to the scene. It's a convergence of natural elements and magical forces, a moment suspended in the delicate balance between day and night.
I fumble for my phone, hands trembling with a mixture of awe and excitement. I draw the device from my pocket, and with quick, eager motions, I activate the camera. Framing the majestic sight before me, I snap several pictures, each click capturing a fraction of the magic unfolding over the ocean. The photographs become a tangible record of one of Feray's first flights. I can already envision sharing them with her, a testament to the incredible journey she's embarked upon.
We watch in awe as Diaval's dragon circles overhead, then lands in the field nearby. He lowers his head slowly and brings his wing forward. Feray steps onto it like a seasoned pro. Diaval lowers his wing to the ground, and Feray steps off, looking back over her shoulder at him.
Within seconds, he shifts back to his human form and takes hold of Feray's hand, walking toward us. "We need to get inside thetown." He blows past us and shuffles Feray into the back of the SUV. Without another word, he runs to the driver's side, gets in, and starts the vehicle.
"What happened?" I climb in the back with Feray and kiss her lips softly.
"Creatures found us as we took off." His answer is clipped as he pulls onto the road, driving quickly.
"Shit. Okay... Will we be safe in Vasserdell?" I look at Diaval, then over at Easton in the passenger seat.
"I will burn the world to ash if I have to." The fire ignites in Easton's eyes as he looks back at me, then over to Feray.
She tilts her head, feeling the anger radiating off him, and reaches out to touch him. The moment her hand makes contact, he visibly calms. A soothing feeling moves through the cabin, and any anxiety I was feeling over the impending danger vanishes.
