I opened my eyes to find him rubbing his head against my palm. The murder in his eyes receded. The pain echoing out from his heart left. Soon, he was just a man again, asleep by the fire.
Roman nodded, like another prophecy had been proved. I fetched a blanket for Dion and laid it over his naked body. Roman thanked me, then asked that I never tell Dion of what I’d seen.
I said that I wouldn’t tell him, but wondered why.
After three weeks, we came upon a similar oasis and jutting rise like our first camp. A jagged cliff face led down from a range, disappearing into the harsh sands we’d been trekking through, before rising and opening up to a hidden pool below.
The rise and cliff face were like that of a soaring eagle. At the angle in which I stood, the wings spread out from what looked like the tip of the horizon to the end of the rise. In the middle, up in the ranges, a twin peak was the eagle's beak. Open to swallow the setting sun.
That’s what the letter had stated.
I walked further from camp for a better view when my foot missed a step.
I was falling–
An arm caught me. Then lifted me easily back up. Dion turned me around as he did, carrying me away from the edge.
His heart was a thunderous drum. His arms taught and tanned from the weeks of riding and training. His eyes looked at me like crescent jewels. Hewasthe king I saw in my dreams.
“Gotta be careful Fey,” he said. “It’s a bit of a drop there.”
He didn’t let me go; I didn’t want him to.
“I was so focused on the eagle.”
Dion smiled. “It’s a good thing I was focused on you then.”
I blushed. I buried myself in his shoulder to hide my face. Only this was worse, as I then smelled him and felt his strong muscles. His heart beat louder.
I looked up, my lips parting. “You’re excited?” I asked innocently.
He came closer. “I’ve been excited since I met you in that square.”
He kissed me.
The softest lips, yet firmest kiss. Our bodies surged with power, our hearts reaching out. Everything I’d ever dreamed of about him. Everything I’d ever wanted. Being rejected had made this all thebetter. Wanting him for so long…
I grabbed his strong arms in my hands and kissed harder. His hands began roving over me, searching and feeling. In the shade of the eagle eating the sun, we shared our souls.
I wanted to transform. I knew I could. I wanted to run as a wolf and let him mark me. I wanted to do what I wished back in that square almost two months ago.I wanted to be his.
And he wanted me. I could see the passion on his face. Feel it in his crotch. The heat coming off us... Our breaths heavy… We were ready to–
A whistle came from above, at the Eagle’s Wingtip.
“Jeeeeebraaaaa!” Roman called.
Chapter 20
DION
We arrived at the ruins by dawn. The Half Moon Gardens of Malwreith were unmistakable. The jagged gorge that had opened up in the world’s birth was home to the most beautiful creations of the Malwreithan people. It had been the home of the Royal family and the playground of the citizens themselves.
But all I could think about were Feyra’s lips. We’d kissed just as Roman had found them. We were kissing so passionately that we both wanted to initiate the call. She wanted me to mark her…
Except she’d changed overnight. She still allowed me to reach out and touch her heart, but she was concerned with our futures now.She truly was a Queen.
She’d taken out her letter and began rereading it over and over as we rode the horses towards the ruins.
