Chapter 14 Poppy #3
Viol didn’t need a reason or explanation. As soon as I broke into a gallop along the shoreline, he was right there beside me. Two sets of paws—one white and furry, one purple and scaly—hit the sand in tandem. The salty wind caressed my face, and my tongue lolled out of my mouth as I panted hard.
I glanced up at Viol. Despite his size, his dragon form was too elegant for words. He moved like a bolt of lightning, jagged and stark and fast. Once you saw it, you were spellbound. You couldn’t look away as he streaked across the land.
Viol tilted his head to meet my gaze. His mouth curved into a toothy grin. He beamed with happiness, as if the stress and anguish burdening him were finally gone. He looked as free as I felt.
My breath tightened as tears sprung to my eyes, but they were born of joy. I ran faster, pushing my muscles to their limit. I ran because it was the closest thing to flying a wolf could achieve. Because my body could barely contain my exhilaration.
Viol veered towards me. I thought he was going to brush affectionately against my side.
Instead, he kicked off from the ground, leapt a few feet into the air, and spread his wings to hover above the sand.
When he was close enough, his front paws carefully grasped my chest and he lifted me up, up into the air.
I yelped in surprise before it turned into spirited laughter.
Viol cradled me like a doll while he flew higher and higher.
He banked towards the sea, flying low over the easygoing waves.
It sparkled like a thousand tiny diamonds.
The water was so clear that I could see schools of silver fish darting beneath the surface.
Viol angled his wings in the opposite direction and flew back to land. He flew over the closest thicket, nearly skimming the leafy canopy. I tentatively reached out a paw and yipped when I grazed a leaf. I’d never seen—or touched—trees from that angle. It was surreal and magical.
Viol chuckled. “Do you like flying?”
“I love it,” I breathed, starstruck.
He nuzzled my cheek with a rumbly dragon purr. “I’ll fly with you anytime, my mate.”
My heart surged with warmth.
Mate.
My pulse quickened every time Viol said it, as if I had an eternal crush on him.
It didn’t matter that we hadn’t actually mated yet.
The word held a much deeper meaning beyond physical intimacy.
It was a promise to share our lives forever.
That we trusted our souls and bodies and futures to each other.
That we could overcome any obstacle by the strength of our love.
That was the true meaning of fated mates.
And now, after painful years of yearning, I finally had mine back in my paws.
While we were outside, the news spread like wildfire, and now the whole family was present to congratulate us.
As soon as we walked back into the castle, Aurum punched Viol affectionately in the shoulder.
“You dog!” he said through a huge grin. “Look at you! You won the damn Games without even playing them!”
Viol shot his younger brother a snarky look, but his reply lacked its usual malice. “Thanks. I guess.”
He cast a softer glance at Mylo, who rushed up to hug me. The ferret shifter’s round cheeks were flushed with joy.
“Poppy, I just heard,” he cried. “I’m so happy you’re going to live here now!”
My heart swelled as I hugged him back. “Me, too. And I get to see my friends all the time.”
Mylo’s lower lip trembled. “You’re so nice, Poppy. You really deserve this, you know?”
Seeing him misty-eyed made me emotional, too. I knew my friends wanted me to stay on the island, even before Viol and I got back together, but I couldn’t do it. Not until I knew for sure he wanted me the way I wanted him.
Now, though? There wasn’t a single doubt in my mind.
“If we’re punching Viol, do I get a turn?” Thystle teased.
“No,” Viol grumbled.
Thystle smirked as he sauntered closer with one arm looped around Matteo’s waist. They glowed like a pair of rockstars as they flashed approving, celebratory smiles. “Congrats, you two.”
Viol grunted, though he couldn’t stifle a smile in return. “Thanks.”
Matteo patted me on the shoulder. His warm, down-to-earth expression calmed me, pushing back my tears. “Glad you’re staying this time, Poppy. We’re all lucky to have you.”
The tears, which had retreated just seconds ago, came back. I rubbed my eyes to hold them off.
“You guys are too kind,” I murmured.
Thystle walked forward and met my gaze. His eyes were a paler shade of purple than Viol’s, but the family resemblance swam in them. It reminded me that Viol’s brothers had been hoping and waiting for him to find love for a long time—because they loved him, too.
“Thank you, Poppy,” Thystle said under his breath, too quietly for Viol to hear. “He needs you. And ‘cause of that, we all need you. You’ve been part of this family for a long time. Don’t ever forget that.”
Everyone’s generosity was too much to bear. I couldn’t stop the tears anymore. They poured over the edge, streaming down my cheeks.
“Huh? Why’s Poppy crying? What the hell did you say to him?” Viol snapped at Thystle.
“Nothing bad!” Thystle shot back. He seemed as shocked as his brother that I’d suddenly started weeping.
I shook my head, biting back the tears. “It’s okay, Viol. Thystle just said something really nice to me and I...”
“It’s all good, don’t worry,” Matteo consoled.
Mylo nodded. “We’ve got you, Poppy.”
Mylo and Matteo squished closer to me in an omega sandwich, petting my hair until I calmed down. Viol waited patiently for them to peel away before he slunk in, wrapping his arms around me from behind. The warm wall of his chest soothed me, and soon the tears slowed.
“I’m okay, I swear,” I promised after swallowing one last sob. “You guys know I’m overly emotional...”
“You’re just the right amount of emotional,” Viol replied, pressing a kiss to my cheek.
Everyone in the room stopped and loudly cooed.
I couldn’t see Viol’s face, yet I knew he was blushing furiously. “What?” he snarled.
Everybody went back to their business.
I chuckled as Viol herded me away from the bustling kitchen.
But before we turned the corner, I noticed Jade glancing up from his phone with a solemn expression.
His brows knit together in concern before he silently slipped away from the group and disappeared upstairs.
He hadn’t even alerted Alaric, who was in the kitchen with everyone else.
“What’s up?” Viol asked after we’d shuffled to the quiet living room.
I slipped onto the couch while Viol curled around me. His presence was comforting, but it didn’t stop the budding feelings of disquiet swirling in my stomach.
“Ah, nothing,” I said. “Just now, I thought I saw Jade looking worried.”
Viol paused. “Jade?”
Part of me regretted bringing it up because I didn’t want to put a damper on the merry atmosphere, but I was a terrible liar. Besides, I had no desire to hide anything from my mate.
But Jade was always calm and collected. Nothing ever seemed to faze him. So why now, during a moment of great joy, did he look so concerned?
“Maybe I was seeing things,” I suggested.
Viol’s jaw tensed, but I saw him forcibly unclench it. “Maybe he’s pissed that he won’t get to do any more Dragonfate Games related paperwork?”
I smiled at his attempt to console me, although I could tell he didn’t believe it, either.
The knot of tension in my chest twisted tighter when Jade stepped into the empty living room. He shot a furtive glance towards the kitchen, as if to ensure the coast was clear, then strode towards us.
“I need to talk to you both. Alone,” he added.
A chill broke out across my arms. Viol must’ve felt it because he held me closer.
“Is it important? Can it wait?” Viol asked.
Jade stared straight at him. “Yes, and no.”
He directed a stiff nod towards the front door, indicating he wanted to speak outside.
Viol’s nostrils flared. He unwillingly released me and stood up before helping me off the couch.
In the seconds it took for the three of us to exit the castle, my chest squeezed hard enough to be painful.
The return of my anxiety felt like being plunged into icy water.
Ever since that night I spent in Viol’s bed, it had graciously receded.
For the first time, I felt happy. Normal.
But now, I was scared again.
Viol held my hand, gently squeezing it. Reminding me he was there. I took a deep breath and tried to calm down.
Jade faced us. His mouth was a thin line, and his expression was unusually tense.
“I won’t mince words,” he said. “A few minutes ago, I received an unsettling message from the tundra clan.”
My knees began quaking. Viol squeezed my hand harder.
“So?” he demanded. “What does that have to do with Poppy or me?”
I knew what Viol was thinking. Rorik was from that clan, too.
Perhaps the message was for him. It could’ve been a delayed reaction to his stint on the previous Dragonfate Games, chiding him for his failure, maybe a weak threat directed at the dragons.
He’d known that was a possibility when he chose to air his season.
I wondered if it was a form of revenge for Rorik, to tell the alphas they could no longer hurt him because they no longer controlled him.
But I already knew Jade’s news wasn’t about the clan’s reaction to Rorik’s win. A deep, dark pit in my core whispered that it was much worse than that.
Jade’s mouth was taut with a sympathetic wince. “It concerns Poppy’s brother.”
The air evacuated my lungs. I felt like I’d been punched viciously in the stomach. If Viol hadn’t been holding me, I would’ve collapsed. He grasped me with all his strength as my own seeped out of my body.
“Just say it,” Viol barked.
When Jade spoke, it was blunt and regretful: “They’re holding Sorrel captive in exchange for you, Viol.”