Chapter Twenty-Seven
Dressed at last—it had been five days since I'd worn clothes—I sat beside my mate in Nahel's tent.
We were on the floor, sitting around the low camp table with his knights to plan our attack on Nahel.
Unlike the Okon transporters, the spy had information to give up.
Vanoak had gotten the location of Nahel's fortress from him.
“Of course it's in the Burning Lands,” I muttered as I stared at the map of Tabaa spread out on the table.
The kingdom's most unique geological feature was a volcanic fault line called the Burning Vein.
It was the source of materials for many magical items, including the lava-glass blades the Dragons of Tabaa favored.
It was also in the most dangerous region in the kingdom, prone to earthquakes, spotted with volcanoes, and veined with crevices of bubbling magma.
Most people avoided the Burning Lands. So, of course, Nahel lived there.
Raven took my hand even as he pointed out the path we'd take across the Burning Lands.
“We can't take the horses, so we'll fly in. We land here.” He tapped the map near one of the main volcanoes of the Burning Vein.
“I don't want him to see us coming. So, we'll walk from there. His fortress is underground, somewhere around here.” He tapped the map at the base of the volcano.
“His warriors are victims too,” I said.
“We will try to merely incapacitate them,” Raven assured me. “But I won't have my knights hindered by mercy.” He looked up at them. “Do what you must.”
The men nodded.
“All right. Gather your things. We leave as soon as we're packed.” The Dragon King stood.
I stood as well, watching his knights fetch their satchels and then head for a clearing to shift. The human drivers would be staying at camp with the carriages and horses to await our return.
“It's a long flight. Are you sure you don't want me to carry you?” Raven asked.
“No, I want to fly. My wings need the exercise.”
“Very well. Wait for us to get airborne, and then join us.” He picked up a leather satchel containing food, water, and his weapons.
Together, we went to the clearing to join the knights.
One by one, they undressed, stored their clothing in their satchels, and transformed into enormous winged beasts with claws, horns, leathery wings, and deadly tails.
They launched into the air with their satchels clutched in a talon and hovered there.
The King went last. He undressed, packed his clothing, and went into the center of the clearing.
I held my breath, eager to see his other form.
Above us, his knights circled, their scales ranging in color from burnt orange to crimson.
Sunlight glinted off them like glass. I expected something bold from Raven, but he was true to his name.
A black dragon took form before me, its scales shining like polished jet.
A pair of turquoise eyes stared from the shimmering darkness at me.
He was as glorious as he was in his man's body—neck long, horns tipped in white, and claws sharp enough to shred metal.
His tail, tipped with an ebony barb, slashed the air behind him.
“Let us fly together, my foundling.” With that, the Dragon King leapt into the air, his massive haunches bunching to push him upward. Enormous wings spread, thick membranes collecting the air to drive Raven upward.
I stared up at him for a moment, lost in his splendor, and then I jumped.
My wings spread with a tingling feeling of joy.
It shot through me as I shot upward. Nothing held back my happiness now, not even thoughts of Nahel.
I wasn't running away. I was on the hunt, and I was whole again.
No trauma to poison my mind, no injury keeping me bound to the ground.
I was in the air where I belonged, and in seconds, I was flying beside my mate.
The Dragon King roared. The sound wasn't a warning to his enemies but a triumphant call to his goddess.
I felt it inside me. He was thanking the Dragon Goddess for our love.
I added a whoop of joy to his, thanking Lurransa for her blessing.
The Dragon Goddess may have given me to Raventar, but it was Lurransa, winged Goddess of the Lelurra, who had given Raven to me.
To go from sex slave to King's Mate was nothing short of miraculous, leaving no doubt in me that the Goddess had a hand in my life.
Despite my foolishness, she had led me home.
To him. She hadn't cursed me at all. In her wisdom, she saw the path for me to take to Raven, and she set me upon it.
As hard as it had been to travel, I was glad for it now.
If Bara had never stolen me from Hanhepi, I would never have met Raven.
As Tabaa stretched below us, I flew at the head of a flight of dragons, mated to their king.
I was one of them—not by birth but through love.
A warrior on the hunt for evil-doers, I felt stronger than I ever had before.
Bara's legacy would soon be buried with him.
But I didn't need for that to happen to make myself whole anymore. All I needed was Raven.