Chapter Sixty-One
Skylar Cathal
“Wait up!” Idris bellowed. “Did you think you could sneak away that easily?”
“Idris.” I sighed as she dropped a bag onto the ground before looping her arms around me and Daxton. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” I gasped under the intensity of her hold. “How is Ember?”
“She’s here,” Adohan said with a beaming smile. “My daughter wished to bid you luck as well.” Adohan approached us with Ember cradled in his arms.
I smiled brightly, seeing the precious babe happily cooing with her eyes directed at the male holding her.
“Besides, Shaw,” the Crimson City high prince said, turning his attention to my beta, “my mate has a special gift for you.”
“What is it?” Shaw’s brows arched at an angle as his eyes narrowed in the morning sun’s rays.
“This,” Idris announced, turning toward her dropped bag and extracting what looked to be a set of clothing. “Here, put these on.”
“What is it exactly?” Shaw asked with hesitation.
“Think of it as a base layer.” Idris beamed. “I got the idea when Skylar first mentioned how you shifters shred through your clothing when you change into your animal forms.”
“And what is it supposed to do?” Shaw asked, lifting what looked to be a fitted dark shirt and pants.
“I did mention that our tailors have a magical touch,” Idris said with a wide smile. “Now, hurry along and put that on. We don’t have time for you to dawdle.”
Shaw shook his head but obliged Idris’s request.
“I gave you this idea?” I asked her. “How? When?”
“You’ll see. Just be patient and wait, Skylar. I want to see if it works.”
“Alright…”
Shaw groaned from around the corner, making me chuckle.
“What now?” he asked.
“Shift!” Idris said.
On cue, I sensed Shaw change into his animal, and from around the corner, a large panther stalked into our view.
I felt my own animal spirit awaken, sensing Shaw’s.
The pegasi shifted restlessly at his presence, their ears twitching and hooves striking the ground as instinctive neighs and nervous bucks betrayed their unease with a predator so near their paddock.
“Now,” Idris said with a cunning smirk, “shift back.”
“Do we really have time for this?” Shaw asked me.
“You already started this by agreeing to try it on. I’d humor her for now.”
“Fine,” Shaw grumbled.
I watched his long tail twitch to the side as he rolled his shoulders. A green shimmer spread across his midnight coat, releasing his magic to transform into his human form.
“Look, I don’t—” Shaw stopped as his hands ran over the clothing still intact on his body. The stitched leather seams followed the natural lines of his muscular frame, with faint outlines of what appeared to be scales that resembled a dragon’s or snake’s skin. “What the…?”
“Yes!” Idris screeched with joy, marching forward with a blade drawn in her hand. “And look,” she said, slicing her weapon across his chest. “It’s strong enough to withstand a blade, too!”
“Gods!” Shaw stammered as he jumped back, inspecting his chest for any sign of injury.
“Some weapons will cut through. But at least in battle, when you shift back and forth, you’ll now have a layer of protection instead of running around butt-ass naked amongst swords and spears aimed to remove what qualifies you as a male.”
“Uh, thanks,” Shaw answered with a hint of sarcasm.
“Idris, this is amazing,” I said, moving forward with Daxton to inspect the material. “How does it feel, Shaw?”
“Lightweight, flexible, and surprisingly breathable despite the dark coloring. I can easily wear this under my other clothes,” he said as he redressed, keeping the base layer on.
“Can you make more, Idris?” I asked. “Enough for my entire pack?”
“Already on it,” Idris answered. “You said close to a couple thousand, correct?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“Good, that’s what I assumed.” Idris looked at me. “And yours will be ready when you return with the Heart. Promise.”
I smiled and hugged her tight. “Thank you, Idris.”
“Thank you, Skylar.”
I didn’t dare say any more. I simply released my hold on my friend with a kind smile and meandered over to kiss baby Ember’s brow. I absently squeezed Adohan’s forearm, thanking him for all he had done and would continue to do once the Heart of Valdor was released.
“Spitfire.” Daxton’s voice immediately drew my attention. He was already astride a powerful ebony-colored pegasus, with the reins held at the ready. “You’re flying with me.”
Wait, what?
I narrowed my eyes at him. “And why is this? I’m perfectly capable of flying on my own.”
“Please, Skylar,” Daxton said, his eyes softening as I approached his side.
I felt a deep sense of longing through the threads of our bond. He was asking to protect me because he yearned to have me close at his side. And to be honest, I wasn’t one to push against that—not now.
“A bit overprotective, are we?” I teased.
“I do not safeguard my mate because she is weak or unable to defend herself,” Daxton said, extending his hand. “I protect her because she’s too important to lose.”
“All right.” I sighed as I accepted his hand and climbed into the saddle in front of him.
“Thank you,” Daxton whispered against my ear with a soft kiss.
“Only for you,” I whispered.
His arms encircled me in a fortitude of unwavering strength. My animal sang at our proximity, his grip on my waist tightening as I leaned into him.
“I’ll take it,” Daxton purred as his hands slid across my inner thigh to regain control of the reins. His touch lingered, and I tilted my head to see the corner of his mouth turning up.
“I have a question,” Shaw said as he found his seat on a tan-colored mare. “Why are we not teleporting directly to the clearing like Zola?”
“My teleporting magic radiates a specific signature,” Daxton answered. “I’ve learned over the years that Minaeve can detect where I leave from but not where I’m going. I don’t want to take the chance of her sensing our departure from here and endangering Crimson City.”
“She can detect it?” Shaw asked.
“She’s siphoned Daxton’s magic for centuries,” I said with a cringe. “I wouldn’t put it past her to recognize the power she’s acquired and desires above all else.” I tightened my hand along Daxton’s arm. “But never again.”
Daxton brushed his lips along my cheek in a silent thanks. “Once we’re airborne and over the western edge of the wilt, we can link, and I’ll teleport us the remainder of the way. Even her powers of detection have limits. The wilt interferes with magical signatures.”
“Sound plan,” Shaw said. “Thankfully, we won’t have to be flying for long.”
“Nervous about flying again, Shaw?” I asked as Daxton readied our mount.
“No.” Shaw scowled.
“Good,” Daxton said. “Let’s go.”