Chapter 14
Yalina
I’m still thinking about Noreth’s mysterious servant as I hurry down the stairs to the courtyard to meet the princes.
Who and what is he, and how has the prince bound him?
Perhaps I should be more concerned about the fact he has his creature spying on me, entering my rooms in secret.
The truth is, I felt anything but threatened.
In the courtyard, we sit beneath a canopy with strawberry ices while the falconers show off my birds.
They are beautiful creatures. They swoop and spin through the air to catch the little morsels tossed to them.
Noreth is quiet. I cannot tell what he is thinking.
After our exchange, I don’t know what to think.
Every time I catch a glimpse of him from the corner of my eye I get goosebumps.
I’m achingly aware of every shift of his body, of the slightest movement. I wish we could speak freely.
Aurelion watches me more than the hawks. He is quiet too, but the silence feels baited, as if he is waiting for an opportunity to pounce.
“They are beautiful, are they not?” I ask to break the silence.
“Impressive,” Noreth says.
Aurelion scoffs. “They are cute pets, but if you wish to see aerial maneuvers, I will take you flying some time.”
I turn to him, curious. “Could you?”
He grins. “Of course. Unless you are scared of heights.”
Noreth huffs. “The solha is not scared of heights.”
When I spin to look at him in surprise, he coughs. “I mean that you do not seem like the type to be intimidated by such a thing, Light of the Sun.”
So he is still not willing to admit the truth to me. I turn away disappointed and refocus my attention on Aurelion. “I would love to watch you fly.”
“Why just watch? Come with me.” He stands and offers me his hand.
Noreth jumps to his feet. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea!”
“Ah, but the solha is not scared,” smirks Aurelion.
Noreth scowls.
Just to get back at him, I turn to Aurelion and give him a smile. “I would be happy to accompany you.”
“Why not now?” He walks out into the center of the courtyard, and I follow. Then he steps back, releasing my hand. “If you wish to join me, I must shift in order to carry a passenger.”
I realize he is waiting for permission. This is a new side to him, and I am impressed.
I nod.
He shrugs off his jacket, shirt, and shoes, handing them to a waiting servant. And I can’t help but admire the way the pattern of scaly stripes extends over his muscular arms and chest.
As I watch, he seems to grow, shoulders stretching wider, wings sprouting from his back.
His face extends slightly into the snout I saw when he first transformed in front of me.
When he has stretched out his leathery wings and flapped them a few times, he drops onto one knee before me. “Climb onto my back.”
I have a moment’s hesitation when I realize this is real.
He is truly going to take me up into the air.
I glance over at Noreth, who is watching on with concern.
That decides me. Let him worry. If he would have been honest with me, we could have dismissed Aurelion already.
If I knew I could trust him, I would already be planning our wedding.
Though perhaps that would not be smart. To anger a powerful neighbor in favor of a prince who is not a prince and has no kingdom is probably a foolish move.
I walk behind Aurelion and reach around his neck. He keeps perfectly still, waiting as I take my place.
His skin is hot to the touch beneath my fingers. It is softer than I expected, the scales giving a little as I touch them. I climb awkwardly onto his back, and he stands. My legs are wrapped around his waist, and he holds me there with both hands.
Noreth’s brows draw down into a frown. “Be careful—”
Then Aurelion leaps into the air, beating his wings, and whatever else he meant to say is lost in whirl of wind and dragon laughter. Soon we are high above the palace.
I cling tightly to him. The wind pushes my hair into my face, but I’m not cold. His body under me keeps me warm. It’s strangely intimate to ride on his back like this. To feel him move beneath me, to feel his heat.
When he speaks, his low voice rumbles through my chest. “What do you think, Solha?”
I look down on the palace, so tiny beneath us, on the streets and buildings of the city, and the river below. “It’s beautiful.”
“You’re not afraid?”
“No!”
I regret my words almost instantly when Aurelion tucks his wings close to his body and spins us as we drop through the air. The wind rushes past my ears. I let out a long scream.
A moment later he spreads them wide and we steady out again, drifting slowly nowhere near the ground. My scream turns to laughter. “Do it again.”
He growls, but it’s a sound of satisfaction rather than irritation.
Beating his wings he gains some height, and this time when he tucks his wings, I’m ready.
I lean into him, pressing my face against his neck and enjoying the swooping sensation of my stomach staying in the air above us as we fall.
This time he twists us over and over, rolling us in the air so that I have to squeeze him tight with my legs. But I don’t think he will drop me.
When he rights us, I’m breathless with laughter and delight. “I think you are testing me.”
He chuckles softly. “My wife cannot be scared of flying.”
No, how could his mate miss this side of him? This is the first time I have spent a moment with him when I did not resent his company. But here in the air he is different somehow. More relaxed and less predatory. Lighthearted.
I lose track of time while we are in the air. I cannot get enough of the sensation of being spun and dropped, of drifting gently through the air, weightless and high above it all. It’s like I left all my cares below us at the palace.
I’m not ready to go back, so as the sun dips low on the horizon, I’m glad when he descends toward the palace roof and alights above a balcony. He kneels to let me clamber off, and I’m glad he’s not watching because I’m sure I do it clumsily. “That was amazing.” I cannot wipe the smile off my face.
He turns and steps close, and suddenly the predatory look is back. “You were made to be mine.”
I frown. “I belong to no one.”
“You could belong to me,” he presses, intruding on my space.
His breath is hot and sweet on my cheek.
“You would make the perfect dragon’s mate.
” His gaze is on my lips, and he leans in as if to kiss me.
I plant my hands on his chest and push. I’m not expecting much, but we’re standing so close to the edge of the roof.
His eyes widen, and he topples backward into thin air.
I gasp, but a moment later he spreads his wings and flaps back to land in front of me. I step back, expecting anger. Retaliation.
“You are fierce.”
“You have no manners!” I’m a little lost for words.
He only laughs. “Then teach me manners, mate.”
I let out a little huff of exasperation. But really, he makes me laugh too. I’ve never been able to show my true feelings to anyone. I’m suddenly imagining a life with a husband who treats outbursts as a sparring match and likes it when I fight back.
I shake my head. It’s too much. How would it work? “You are impossible.”
“You are impossible to resist, Yalina.” The way he says my name is soft, as if saying it is a prize he treasures. It sends a shiver through me. Suddenly all the heat of my anger softens into something smooth and warm in my belly.
“Ask me before you touch or kiss me.”
Something flashes in his amber eyes. “Very well. We shall call this lesson one. May I kiss you?”
I consider. I don’t know how far to push this new understanding. But if I give in now, will he take that as permission to keep pushing me? Lifting my chin, I meet his gaze. “No.”
His mouth drops open, but he does not take the kiss.
I smile. “Ask me again tomorrow.”
His look of astonishment turns to amusement and a sharp-toothed grin. “Very well. I will. Say yes tomorrow.”
“We will see. Now return me to the courtyard.”
He dips his head. “As you command.”