Chapter Six
Elda was yawning by the time they touched down in a clearing in the Viridian Forest. The sky was fully dark now, which Drake said was the best time to land.
She slid down from his back and stretched.
Drake scratched at the ground to make a spot in the dirt for a fire, and she collected some wood to burn.
Then she stood back and let him spit a small fireball into the pit.
Once that was blazing, she pulled out something to eat.
She chewed a piece of fruit leather that Chim had made, which was becoming her favorite sweet snack.
“One more day of flying, right?” she asked.
Drake nodded.
“Good, because my poor bottom feels permanently numb.” She laughed when he tapped her rear with the tip of his tail. “Never mind. I felt that.”
She had missed how playful he was while in dragonite form. She loved him in human form, of course, because they could have conversations and she looked forward to spending each night in his arms. Yet, there was a different side that he showed when in this form and she loved it just as much.
He had been in dragonite form their entire journey, ever since they’d cleared the mountain and he’d had enough room to shift.
Sure, he could have brought a sword and changed into human form, but he was better able to protect her, and himself, when in dragonite form.
Sharp claws, pointy teeth and horns, fire breath, large feet to smash things, and a heavy tail to knock threats around made him much more deadly than a man with a sword could ever be.
Drake did need more food than what they had brought for her, with all the flying he was doing.
It took a lot of energy to flap his giant wings all day long.
But after the first night, when she’d gotten sick watching him catch and kill a deer, eating it raw, they’d decided to wait until she was asleep for him to hunt.
So she settled down against a fallen tree trunk and heard him shuffle away just as her eyelids fluttered closed.
After dozing off, for however long it had taken him to eat, she felt Drake’s tail wrap around her and pull her closer.
It was surprisingly comfortable, considering he was covered in scales.
She snuggled into the comfort of her dragonite and went back to sleep.
~*~
Nox paced in his dream, waiting for his mate to show up.
She hadn’t yet and he was certain she should be in bed by now.
He was anxious for her to arrive and bothered because she was late.
What could possibly be taking her so long?
It was usually him that attempted to avoid her.
Had she found something better to occupy her time than visiting him?
Just then, the air in his dream forest seemed to change and when he spun around, he saw her.
Standing there, wearing a smile and a very thin nightgown with lacing around the edges.
He could see the outline of her body beneath the fabric, and it should have pleased his eyes and magic. Instead, it annoyed him.
“Do you wear that all over the castle at night?” he asked the moment the thought popped into his head.
“What?” Zaria looked down and shrugged. “I usually don’t leave my chambers after I change but I’ve had to teleport downstairs for something on occasion. Why?”
“Because you might as well be naked for all that this piece of scrap covers.”
“Excuse me?” She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, and he should have known it was a warning, yet he couldn’t stop himself.
“You heard me,” he replied. “First, you’re late to see me tonight and then—”
“So which are you upset about, Nox? The fact that I was late or that I’m apparently a tramp?”
“I didn’t say that,” he growled, but there was no use. The damage was done.
“I remember you saying that you were not the kind of mate to come into my life and try to change it. Do you remember telling me that?”
“That doesn’t mean—”
“And even though I don’t owe you an explanation,” she interrupted, “I was late because my father needed help with a spell our king required for his army. I teleported the moment we were done and rushed to change out of my robes and into something I thought you would like me to wear for you.”
“It’s not that I don’t like it. I just—”
“You’re just angry that you’ve come to anticipate seeing me every night,” she said with a smug expression. “You like the time we’re spending together, and you don’t want to admit it.”
How did she always know what he was thinking?
It was becoming a real pain in his ass, how he couldn’t keep any of his own thoughts to himself.
He knew he was overreacting, but it was worse when she knew why.
Having a mate was ruining the privacy he’d always enjoyed.
Causing him to feel things—think things—he didn’t want.
“I think,” she continued, “that we will skip our lesson tonight, after all.”
“Fine with me,” he hissed then immediately regretted it.
Why couldn’t he just bite his damn tongue? What was wrong with him tonight? He’d been waiting all day to get his hands on her body. He didn’t care what part. Just kissing his mate was the best feeling he’d ever had, and he was pushing her away.
However, just when he opened his mouth to apologize, she disappeared from his dream, and he roared in frustration at the empty dream forest around him.
~*~
Nunu peeked around the corner and then turned back with a nod. Manny rushed past her and she followed him down the empty hallway.
They had arrived in the kingdom the evening before and scouted the castle to find the prince. He’d been in the library with others until supper and then afterward, he had gone into the village nearby to drink some rum and dance with a lot of different ladies.
Manny had looked at Nunu with wide eyes when the prince then left with one of the women and led her over to climb into the back of a hay-filled wagon together.
Luckily, or rather unluckily for the prince, he’d passed out from the many drinks he’d consumed before the woman could even get her clothes off.
She’d huffed in anger and stormed away, cursing the man.
The gnomes had watched the prince laying there in the wagon, snoring loudly and smelling like a dirty tavern. He’d woken and grumbled something that had sounded like ‘damn lizard… almost died’ and then passed back out again.
“This prince?” Manny asked, uncertain of their choice. “Right one?”
“Guess so,” Nunu replied shrugging. “Closed eyes. Made choice.”
“Right. Made choice,” he agreed then cringed when the prince let out a loud burp.
They had let him sleep off his drink in the wagon and the prince returned to the castle after the sun woke him in the morning.
Now, the gnomes followed at a safe distance while the man shuffled into his chambers.
Teleporting inside, they quickly hid behind the bed, watching as the prince washed and changed his clothes.
He looked more presentable now and smelled much better. Looking over at Manny, Nunu gave a nod. It was time. They wouldn’t get a better opportunity to get the prince alone and it was important that they were not seen this time.
Sneaking out of their hiding spot, they approached the prince, who was cleaning his teeth. Once he spit and raised his head, catching sight of them in the mirror, he spun around.
“Who are… what are you?” he barked then ran a hand over his face. “I’m seeing things. I swear I am losing my mind. Ever since—”
The prince stopped and gasped when he opened his eyes to see them still standing there. He dashed toward his sword, sitting by the door, but just before his fingers could graze the handle, Manny flicked his wrist and teleported the prince out of the castle.