Chapter Twenty
Chapter
Twenty
Colbie
Idon’t think my brain actually processed what Violet said, because when we get to the border of the neutral and shifter zones, and I watch with undisguised awe as Hunter shifts.
Standing before me is a twenty foot, dark purple dragon, and all I can do is reach out and run my hand over its shiny scales, but before I can touch it, Violet slaps my hand away.
“Ah, maybe don’t touch the pretty fire-breathing shifter without permission,” Violet stammers.
The dragon swings its head around and pins her with its green stare, blowing smoke out of its nose and huffing with annoyance. She holds up her hands and backs away.
“Then again, maybe he wants you to touch him. Who the hell am I to tell you what to do?” she mutters before grumbling under her breath, “Damn grumpy lizard. I’m only trying to teach the shifter ways.
We don’t want her going around stroking every shifter she comes in contact with, do we?
That’s like a man going around squeezing every woman’s breast he sees.
It’s lucky he’s wearing magickal clothes, otherwise he would have had to get naked in front of us all. ”
“Naked?” I ask, not hating the idea of seeing this man naked.
“Yeah, unless they are spelled, clothes get ruined when we shift, so most of the time, we get naked first. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it,” Violet assures me as I gape at her in horror.
Brodie chuckles, reaches up, and grabs my hand, placing it against Hunter’s side and running it back and forth.
His scales are surprisingly warm to the touch and kind of silky feeling.
“Violet is right. You shouldn’t go around touching every shifter you see, but Hunter really doesn’t mind if you touch him.
It’s natural. You’re going to be curious, and he especially likes it if you scratch between his eyebrow ridges. ”
I gasp in shock as Hunter’s large head leans in and practically headbutts me, and Brodie points to a spot.
I reach up and rub the area he pointed at, and a loud purring sound comes out of the dragon’s mouth as he leans his heavy head against my stomach, his nostrils flaring in and out with large lungfuls of air.
“That’s enough.” Brodie pushes the dragon’s head away, glaring at him. “Come on, up you go. I promise the big lug is actually a fairly smooth ride.”
“That’s what he said,” Violet mutters behind us, and I can’t help my snicker of laughter. I’m pretty sure I’m in a small amount of shock. Seeing the dragon just made this all very fucking real.
Brodie rolls his eyes but smirks at Violet’s comment.
“I like you.” He points at her before cupping his hands and nodding at them.
“Put your foot in here, and then use the spikes on his back to pull yourself. Settle into the spot between his head and his wings, then scoot along, and I’ll climb up behind you. Violet, are you coming with us?”
She bites her lip and looks to me. “Is that okay? I don’t want to offend him or anything, but I don’t want to let Colbie go on her own. I can run if it’s a problem, but I won’t get there as quickly as you.”
“Are we offending him by riding him?” I ask, stopping before climbing up the dragon like Brodie told me to. “I don’t want one of the first things I do as queen to offend such a magnificent creature.”
Brodie shakes his head. “No, it’s an honor for Hunter to give you a lift.
Trust me, he doesn’t mind in the least.” Brodie gives the dragon a sideways glance.
“But mostly, shifters won’t let anyone else but their bond group or mates ride them.
He said he would make an exception for Violet and his queen. ”
Violet still looks unsure but agrees. Before long, the three of us are mounted on Hunter’s back, and my stomach is in my throat.
I’m sandwiched between Brodie and Violet, with Brodie’s strong, warm chest against my back.
He leans in, and his breath brushes across my ear, causing goosebumps to erupt on my arms. “Here we go.”
Hunter’s large, iridescent purple wings stretch out wide, and I feel his whole body dip as he uses his powerful legs to leap into the air.
The wings flap up and down to gain momentum.
I can’t stop the squeal of fright that leaves my mouth as we are jostled back and forth with the movement.
If it wasn’t for Brodie holding me tightly, I probably would have slipped off.
His arms around my waist and his thick thighs against mine hold me securely, and I try to do the same thing for Violet, but she has a hold of two large spikes that sit behind his brow ridge and seems more than comfortable.
“Easy,” Brodie murmurs, and one of his hands strokes my thigh.
“I promise Hunter has never lost a rider. He’s actually a smooth ride once we get airborne.
It’s just the takeoff and landing that’s a little bumpy.
” My heart races as we lift above the forest and higher into the air.
I shiver in the cold air and say a prayer of thanks that the rain has stopped for now, though it is still overcast. I look up and wince at the thought of flying through those clouds. Brodie must guess what I’m thinking.
“We’re not dressed for cloud flight, so he’ll stay below them.
Hey, Hunter, the girls are cold,” he calls out, and all of a sudden, the surface I’m sitting on starts to warm, radiating toasty heat beneath my thighs.
“He can at least make the ride slightly more comfortable for us. After all, he’s a living furnace. ”
Hunter starts to move faster, streamlining his body, and the wind whips past our ears, making communication a little tricky.
Instead, I watch the world go by and have an internal panic attack about what’s going to happen.
The forest is large, and I gain a new appreciation for how far Archie ran on the day I found him.
No wonder he was exhausted. We pass over a small village.
In a large clearing in the forest, children run and laugh and wave at the dragon flying overhead, but finally, in the distance, I make out a large, white structure.
“That’s the castle,” Brodie says, leaning in close again so I can hear him. “It’s on the outskirts of the largest shifter city and will be your new home.”
We get closer, and Hunter finally starts a slow, circling descent into the courtyard of the huge structure. I can’t even begin to guess how many rooms the place has. My anxiety revs higher the closer we get to the ground.
“Everything is about to change. My life is never going to be the same, is it?” I lean my head against Brodie’s chest, forgetting where and who I am for a moment, just soaking in the comfort and strength he offers.
“Yes, it is, but I’m sure you will be nothing short of spectacular.” His words make me warm inside, and I get the urge to turn around and kiss him, so I do, placing my lips on his cheek.
“Thank you,” I murmur before facing forward again just as Hunter touches down gently.
Suddenly, we are surrounded by guards all carrying guns, but thankfully, none of them are pointing them at us. I feel a rush of panic, though, and grab Brodie’s wrist.
“Please don’t tell them who I am yet,” I ask desperately, and I feel his whole body stiffen behind me, but he slides off the dragon and holds up his hand to help me down.
“Fine, but if I can give you some advice—shifters admire strength. Don’t cower or hide from your destiny, Colbie.” He helps me down before turning and holding up his hands to the guards in a nonthreatening way.
“At ease. These ladies are with me,” Brodie calls out, and the guards melt back into their surroundings.
Violet jumps down, and in a flash, Hunter changes back.
He doesn’t say anything, just starts walking toward the palace, expecting us to follow.
I look around. Hunter has landed in a paved courtyard to the side of the castle, and there doesn’t seem to be much else here except for a building where I hear the whinny of horses. I’m assuming it’s the stable.
“There is a central courtyard Hunter could have landed in too, but that would have attracted a lot more attention. It was better to come in this way,” Brodie explains as we approach a portico that leads into the palace.
Hunter opens the door and moves through, followed by Violet, but I freeze in place.
Brodie steps up beside me and looks at me quizzically.
“What happens next?” I ask him, not looking away from the daunting entry. Brodie frowns and shrugs, running a nervous hand through his hair.
“Um, I’m not actually sure. I wasn’t around during the last coronation.”
I think about the book I read last night that is still on my bedside table.
I’ll have to ask my grandparents to pack some of my things, or maybe they will let me return to do it myself.
I mean, I’m not a prisoner, right? The book said that the moment the newly chosen human crosses the threshold of the shifter palace, the magic that is their right will embrace them, and that the process will end when the queen is crowned.
What the hell does that even mean? What freaking process?
I hear a commotion inside the palace and turn my attention back to what’s happening. I see people waiting inside the room, quizzing Hunter and Violet. Brodie’s hand on my arm brings my attention back to him.
“It’s okay, Colbie, you just need to trust the goddess.” His eyes are soft like he can hear my internal worries.
“Colbie?” A voice has me looking up. It’s Queen Mia, and her eyes are wide with surprise as they scan my body.
“What are you doing here? Did your mother send you?” It’s then that I remember I still have the pendant on, so I lift it over my head and tuck it into my pocket, leaving my marks on display.