I’m thinking back to theShifterTodaymagazines I’ve seen in the apartment. There are definitely female dragon shifters. There’s one who owns a major grocery store chain, and there was a full spread story of another really old one who died on a beach in California in some sort of battle between dragons and mermaids. “Women—females, I mean—can’t shift where you’re from?”
“Not anymore.” Roark crosses his arms over his chest. “Not for many generations, before the portals existed.”
“But your mother was a general?” I clench my stomach.
“Yes, she rode into battle on my father’s back.” Roark’s arms drop to his side. “When he spiraled to the earth, she went with him. My brother tried to save them but couldn’t. He ended up losing his wings.”
“Oh. I’m... I’m so sorry.” Sure, I’ve had my difficulties with my parents. They want me to do what they want me to do. Them not being alive? I can imagine it, but I don’t want to. And Wren being hurt while trying to save them? My chest aches for Roark.
“It was a long time ago,” he says. But his eyes say he remembers every part of it.
“Your brother, is he okay?”
“I... He’s gone too,” Roark says, staring out the glass. He shakes his head. “I would protect you if you would like to go for a flight.”
“A flight? Breaking all the rules,” Evander says.
“There are no rules to break. I’m certain Raine is our thunder mate.” Roark places his hand on my back.
The cable car runs under a support tower, and we rock our way up the mountain. But it’s not the swinging that’s giving me a nervous stomach.
54
KIEREN
The curtain’s over the portal when I come back. Not too surprising, as I didn’t tell anyone I was coming back today. I originally said I’d stay away until Monday. I had—have—plenty to do at Crest Wing. The king and queen are not coming around. And Aisling is paying the price for their obstinance. I am too. Eventually, my thunder mates will as well.
Things are uncharacteristically quiet. Not that Cloud Rift is a loud place. Though it’s been a heck of a lot more lively since Raine’s arrival. I step past the damn tapestry. Twilight. I blink, letting my eyes adjust. It’s not like Leopold to not hear the portal and come with whatever he thinks I need.
“Leopold,” I shout into the dark and echoing corridors. “Leopold.” Naked, I run up the stairs to my suite. But I’m caught by the ancestral on the landing. In his arms he has acentio, a leather bag we’ve used for generations to transport clothes or other things while flying.
“Mr. Alder, I’ve packed you acentio.”
“I’ve just returned home. Why in hell would I want?—”
“The sirs have taken Raine to dine on the top of Mt. Tecorin.”
“Mt. Tecorin—why in the world would they do that?”
“Mr. Lang purchased the land and tourism properties on the mountain.”
“Oh, well.” My dragon stirs. I’m always for purchasing more land for our hoard.
“He asked me what people visiting Switzerland like to do, and I suggested the mountain. I didn’t know he would purchase it. Though, it is a beautiful place . . .”
“Yes.” I nod and hold up thecentio. “Shoes?”
“Of course, sir.”
“I don’t know why I would ever doubt you.”
Leopold arches his eyebrow at me.
“Thank you!” I say and run up the stairs, down the corridor and up the circular stairs to the flight turret. Thecentio’sstraps, attached to my leg, will expand as I shift, staying in place.
The air’s warmer here than at home. Back in the realm it’s late winter. With a good jump, I shift and am off to Mt. Tecorin.
There’s a platform near the top of the mountain, but I have no idea whether it will hold the weight of a dragon. So instead, I circle slowly back to the top of the mountain. There’s a trail in the ice next to where they’re dining. A ring of heaters surrounds them.
