Chapter Eight
Xian knew he was dreaming the moment he opened his eyes.
A few minutes ago, he had been resting on a comfortable bed his mate had created for them in the sky garden by the stone fountain. After they’d made love again, Jaya had told him it was time for him to go through the conversion, and the easiest way to do that was for him to sleep through it.
He’d camped outdoors before, but it was the first time he’d fallen asleep under a sky full of stars with his mate wrapped around him. The silver blanket she had covered them with felt like velvet against his bare skin, and the mattress was soft as a cloud.
He thought he would have difficulties resting in the same place the alien insect queen had made her nest, but he’d confirmed with his own eyes that there were absolutely no traces of the queen or the eggs left before they had settled down. Besides, he’d trusted Jaya to protect him while he went through the conversion.
Since she had told him to rest, that was exactly what he did.
Finding himself on the D’Aire home world the moment he closed his eyes didn’t surprise him. He often dreamed of his home world, although this time the dream was far more vivid than any other he had experienced.
The D’Aire home world was a magical place made up of floating isles that hovered in the sky above miles of brilliant blue water. The planet was much larger than Earth, yet it had similar coloring when it came to land and sea.
The land masses consisted of rich brown dirt and gray stone that spiked out of the top and bottom. They were mostly covered with bright green moss, and an abundance of flowers, trees, and other vegetation grew on the top and sides of each of the floating islands.
There were many miles between some of the isles, yet there were some clusters that were connected by golden bridges. The world was filled with precious gems and gold that were found in the heart of each of the isles, yet the D’Aire didn’t value those materials as much as other races since they were so common on the planet.
Some of the land masses were large enough to be home to a full city, while others could only house a few dwellings. While most of the homes were built on the surfaces of the isles, there were others that were carved directly into the rock.
Since they were a race that used their wings as the primary mode of transportation, most dwellings had open, airy balconies with elaborately carved railings that allowed for easy landings.
The large isle he stood on was uninhabited so there were no familiar markers in view. Still, he had lived on the D’Aire home world for many years so it was impossible for him not to recognize his surroundings. He was dressed in a silky pair of blue pants and a matching tunic which was pretty standard attire for D’Aire males. It wasn’t his preferred style, but it was comfortable so he couldn’t complain.
As he walked toward the edge, the moss felt soft and spongy under his bare feet. He smiled when he felt Jaya’s arms wrap around his waist. When she pressed her cheek against his back, he rested his hand over hers and squeezed.
“Is this my dream or yours?”
“How about ours?”
He chuckled as he turned so he could see her. He really was addicted to her beautiful face, like a flower seeking the sun. His mate was wearing a pale silver dress made of the same silky material as his own clothes. The dress had a flowing skirt that fluttered in the breeze and a halter-style top that left her back bare. The glowing tattoos on her arms were pulsing with light, and her long silver hair gleamed in the sunlight, making her look even more like the goddess he’d initially named her.
Cupping her beautiful face in his large hands he leaned in to kiss her. “I like ours much better.”
“So do I. Are you feeling any pain?”
His brows furrowed in confusion. “No, why would I? Do you mean from the conversion? Is that happening right now?”
“Aye, that is why we are here. I gave you a magical push to send you into a deep sleep so you would not feel any pain. You must let me know if you do.”
“I don’t feel anything,” he assured her. Taking her hand in his, he started walking with her along the edge of the isle. “Have you been to the D’Aire home world before?”
“Aye, a long time ago. This is from a memory of my last visit. I would guess this island has been claimed by someone by now.”
“Probably. It’s a decent-sized location for at least a few dwellings. Is there a specific reason we are here right now?”
She gave his arm a little swing before saying, “We are here for a flying lesson. I wish to observe you releasing your wings so I know what to do when I create my own.”
“Can we do that here in the dream? I mean, are we fully in control of this dream?”
“Aye, we are. All you have to do is imagine what you want to do in your head, then make it happen.”
“That makes things easier.” He paused, then huffed out a chuckle. “That’s what you said about using magic. You’re teaching me again, aren’t you?”
She smiled. “I am simply sharing my knowledge with you. In return, you will teach me to fly.”
He shook his head. “Like you need anyone to teach you. You are a sly one, mate. I really like that about you.”
“I am glad to hear it. I know you still have an aversion to delving into my memories since you have spent so much time avoiding the same with other people, so I am trying to figure out a different way for you to learn how to use your new magic.”
“I don’t mind being in your head,” he corrected “It doesn’t feel the same as it did when I used my seeker abilities on other people.”
“Then, you will be able to see my memories and learn from my experiences. It is the easiest way to understand what being a Dragon Warrior truly means.”
What he’d said to her was true. He didn’t feel an aversion to being in her head like he did with other people. It was simply a habit to avoid it. Even so, he was willing to do anything that would help him keep her happy and safe. If that meant he had to study her memories to learn how to use magic, then that was exactly what he’d do.
“We have time for that,” she assured him. “There is no need to rush. Now, I want to fly.”
“Okay. Watch and be amazed,” he teased as he released his wings.
The massive white wings sprung out of his back. He flapped them a few times, then spread them wide to show them to her. When she stepped toward him and hesitated, he pulled her closer.
“Go ahead, mate. You can touch them.”
Jaya expected to feel feathers, but his wings were made of something else. It felt soft and velvety to the touch, but it was also hard and durable like armor. Circling behind him, she ran her hands over his wings in soothing strokes. When he shivered at her touch, she recalled how he had reacted the same way when she had touched the hard patches of skin on his back.
“Your wings are so beautiful,” she said as she came to a stop in front of him. “I cannot wait to fly with you.”
Without warning, he scooped her into his arms and launched himself into the sky. Delighted with him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and laughed. As he flew through the clouds, she tilted her face toward the wind. He spun in the air and flapped his wings to increase his speed, and she let out a shout of pure joy.
She loved flying as a dragon, but this was a whole new experience for her. It gave her a similar thrill, but she wanted more than just hitching a ride with her mate. She wanted to soar through the sky by his side.
Turning his face toward her, she pressed her lips to his in a hard kiss.
Then, she grinned at him and pushed out of his arms.
“Jaya!” he shouted as he reached for her.
She watched as his expression of concern switched to a mixture of relief, exasperation, and a hint of excitement as a pair of silver wings burst out of her back. She flipped and did a circle in the air, then flapped her new wings until she was hovering directly in front of him.
“Damn it, Jaya! You could have warned me!”
“But this way was more fun,” she teased. “Take me on a tour, mate. Show me your home world as you remember it.”
Xian took control of the dream, creating a replica of the dwelling that his mother had grown up in and where he’d lived with his great uncle. As he gave her the tour of his past, he showed her the neighboring isles and his favorite spots that he would escape to whenever he’d wanted to be alone. He told her about his family and shared what it had been like growing up on the D’Aire home world.
In return, she shared stories about her own family. Some of those tales made him a little apprehensive about meeting all of them. However, the sheer love and longing in her voice when she spoke of them made him want to take her back to Arcadia as soon as possible.
As they soared through the sky laughing and playing together, he realized it was the most carefree and relaxed he’d ever been. Even a second with her was better than an entire lifetime alone. The entire time they were within the dream felt like foreplay, and when their desire for one another grew too strong to deny, they shed their clothes and came together in a clash of passion and love.
Their mouths fused together as she wrapped her legs around his waist, hips pumping to meet his every thrust. Their lovemaking was wild and uninhibited. And when they found their release, their wings got tangled together, and they were caught in a spiraling tumble toward the sea. Before they plunged into the water, she got rid of her wings, allowing him to take them back up into the sky. She threw her head back and laughed as he muttered a vicious curse.
“Remember, this is a dream. All of this is merely an illusion. We will not get hurt,” she reminded, pressing kisses all over his face.
“We said the same thing about the holos, but remember the clusterfuck waiting for us back in the real world? I would rather not chance drowning here.”
Smiling, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I shall try to behave.”
He snorted at that.
Xian had a feeling his little hellion would have done the same thing back in the real world, regardless of the risks.
“Come on, let’s find somewhere to land. Even though this is a dream world, I’m not exactly keen on having my bare ass exposed like this.”
She laughed again as he flew them toward the closest isle. They made love again under a cascading waterfall that spilled into a cavern filled with gems. And when the conversion was complete, they were secure in the knowledge that even though the dream was coming to an end, their life together was only just beginning.