Chapter 7 Diaval
Diaval
The feeling of the wind rushing over and under the leather of my wings feels incredible.
It's a rare occasion I allow him flight these days.
Most of the ancient dens have been hunted to extinction.
The last den standing is the one my ex, Myra, oversees.
Hunting these bats is child's play for me, yet it feels important to my dragon.
I get to protect OUR mate, meat bag. Or have you forgotten I don't get time with her like you do? My dragon snarls at me while we hunt.
Unlike other species, we are of two minds. I think Feray and her wolf are similar. If what her mother says is true, then she's not like the other wolves that came before her. Which explains her having conversations with her wolf.
Pay attention, meat bag. My dragon yells as he blows a torrent of fire at a large group of Dragazhars.
How did these underverse creatures make it up here? I question as we hunt down the last few stragglers. I can only assume that the mage who made the wendigos is also summoning underverse creatures to hunt Feray. My biggest question is—how do they keep finding her?
The thought gnaws at me. The dense forest below blurs as we dive. My heart races in sync with the powerful beats of my dragon's wings. Each gust of wind, each rush of air against our shared form, ignites a fire deep within me I almost forgot. But there's no time to savor it.
We spot the final straggler—a bat larger than the rest, its wings tattered but still beating furiously.
My dragon's eyes narrow, and I feel his hunger, his need to protect what is ours.
He dives, and I let out a fierce cry, the sound melding with his roar.
Fire erupts from his mouth, engulfing the creature in a blaze.
As the bat's charred remains plummet to the ground, I search the sky, making sure that was the last one.
But for now, there's no rest. I circle back, scanning the horizon for any sign of more threats. My dragon rumbles in satisfaction, but I sense his unease. The underverse creatures shouldn't be here. We need answers, and I know our hunt is far from over.
I circle several more times before landing above the cavern, off to the side.
The sun is setting, the sky ablaze in shades of red, orange, and pink that will slowly fade to purple, then eventually dark blue to black as the stars emerge.
It's a breathtaking scene, almost making me forget the chaos below.
Tonight, I'll watch over the family from here. I'm still too amped up to rest.
"Feray, get down here!" I hear Torben yell.
I cock my head, looking down toward the cave.
My crazy mate is climbing the rock face with ease, squeezing through places the bear can't follow her.
She's in a mid-shift state, using the strength and claws of her wolf to climb.
Smart mate... My dragon says almost wistfully. I can't agree with him more.
"Stay down there. Diaval can watch me," Feray yells back, clearing the next cluster of rocks.
She has a backpack on—I'm guessing she's planning to stay up here or delivering my clothes.
Before she can climb higher, I turn slightly and lower my tail to her.
She looks over the sharp, curved spines and settles herself between them.
Smart wolf... My dragon says as we lift her up. Gently, I rest my tail on the rock, and she climbs off. Her eyes take on the glow of her wolf as she walks around my massive form, inspecting me with a mix of concern and admiration. I watch her mid-shift state melt away as she scans my scales.
"I didn't think those icky bats could hurt you." She smiles, tilting her head up to look at us.
My heart does a little flip-flop. The sight of her standing there, her wild hair backlit by the fading sunlight, makes my chest tighten with an overwhelming surge of affection. She's never shown fear when it comes to us. It just makes me love her more.
"I don't get to see you often like this." She motions to us before setting her backpack down. Feray looks back toward the cavern, then up at me. "I already told Easton to tell the others I'm staying up here with you tonight. That I'd be safe here with you."
Slowly, I lower my huge horned head and press my nose into her side. You are always safe with us, I say through the bond. It still amazes me she isn't afraid of us. Maybe her self-preservation drive is broken like her sister's. She's our mate. We will never harm her. My dragon growls at me.
Feray arches a brow. "Be nice to Diaval, you big meanie."
Her wolf's eyes burn golden, then flicker amber with red flecks.
The beast in her chest is getting stronger the closer she gets to her ancestral home.
Her fingers gently brush against my scales, and I feel the warmth of her touch seep into me.
The moonlight casts a silver glow over her, making her hair shimmer like liquid fire.
You heard my dragon? I lower my head further, and she shifts her nails to claws, preening my scales with a delicate touch that sends a shiver through me.
"Am I not supposed to?" she asks, stepping in front of the eye closest to her.
The meat bag doesn't trust us with you. He keeps me from you, my dragon says, his voice rumbling like distant thunder.
Technically, no. You're not supposed to be able to hear him.
Only long-mated pairs usually can. My voice wavers slightly.
The things my mate can do make me question everything I've held as truth all these years.
Feray caresses my maw, her touch warm against my scales.
She plants several kisses along my iridescent hide, each one sending ripples through me.
"Can I pretty please have your human side for a while?
" she asks, her voice soft. "I promise I'll sleep tucked under your wing so you can watch over me tonight.
" She moves to stand before my eye, her figure tiny yet captivating in my massive vision.
Without warning, my dragon releases his grip on our form, sending me plummeting to the rock below, naked and vulnerable. I catch myself just in time, landing on my hands and knees.
Feray's giggles echo around me. A soft, warm blanket soon envelops me, and Feray kneels before me, her eyes sparkling with mischief and adoration. "There, that's better. Hi, Diaval." She leans forward and kisses my forehead before I have the chance to sit up.
A chuckle escapes my lips as I move to kneel, the blanket draped off my shoulders. "Hello, my love. My eternal." I reach out, cupping her cheek and pulling her closer. My lips ghost over hers, savoring the softness of her thick bottom lip.
She smiles, breaking the kiss, and scoots closer. Her hands rest on my bare thighs, sending a shiver up my spine. "I've missed you," she whispers.
"I've missed you too." Neither of us needs to voice our desires explicitly. We understand each other perfectly.
Her lithe hand cups my face, her fingers playing in the short beard I keep just for her.
Feray nuzzles under my jaw as she moves, putting her hands beside my hips.
Now I understand why she placed the blanket on my shoulders.
With a bit of a wiggle, I lie back and watch my mate curiously.
I watch Feray hypnotized as her hands go to her top and she pulls it over her head.
Her sports bra barely contains her full breasts, and I purr for her.
My dragon has an obsession with her breasts, whereas I love her long legs wrapped around me.
She rocks back onto her heels and pulls down her leggings and underwear in one go.
Without skipping a beat, she pulls her sports bra off, then makes her way up my body.
Her breasts hang low and heavy, brushing her pierced nipples along my thighs, then over my cock.mA moan escapes my lips as her mouth lowers to nip at my stomach, her breasts resting over my shaft.
The minute I reach for her, she grips both of my wrists, pinning them to the blanket.
"Naughty dragon." Her voice holds a growl to it, a low sexy roughness that makes my cock twitch.
"Never. I'm allowing you to do as you wish."
She slides back down, her mouth hovering over my length. Her tongue slowly slips from between her full lips to lick my shaft from root to tip. I almost come undone from watching her. She hums as she kisses my cock, and I stiffen, trying to resist overpowering her and taking what I need.
"My eternal, my patience is wearing thin. Unlike the younger mates, I do not need to be teased to give you what you want." My dragon's rumble echoes in my voice.
Feray tilts her head, then climbs up my body, sliding every inch of hers along mine. "Is that so?"
"Mmm hmm..."
She made the mistake of releasing my wrists.
I grab her and flip her onto her back. Staring down at my shocked mate, I wiggle myself to rest between her legs.
I nudge her slick sex and smile. "My eternal.
" Leaning down, I capture her lips with mine as I press forward, slipping almost effortlessly into her welcoming depths.
We moan almost at the same time when I bottom out.
Her hands come up, stroking down my sides as she breaks the kiss.
"Move..." There's a tinge of alpha bark to her voice, and I almost obey.
"No..." Smiling, I lower my mouth to her throat and start nipping and sucking along the column of muscle.
The moment she pouts, I draw back suddenly and snap my hips forward hard.
"I move when I want to." My teeth grip the side of her throat, gently holding her in place as I slowly roll my hips.
Each long stroke glides through her depths, eliciting a moan from her.
Feray grips my sides tight, her fingertips pressing harder into my skin.
"My love..." she pants softly next to my ear as I lower my weight upon her like she loves.
It's moments like this I wish I could half-shift.
I would encase her in the leather of my wings, shielding the world out from around us.
Instead, I use my body to blanket her with my warmth and strength.
"You're so close." I feel her core gripping and lightly pulsing with each thrust. Reaching back, I grip her left leg, pulling it up, changing the angle—and the moment I do, she crashes over the edge.
Feray lunges forward and sinks her teeth into my shoulder and holds me there.
I come almost immediately and lower my head to bite her back.
The copper tang of her blood coats my tongue, drawing out my pleasure.
The bites are primal and needed, filling the voids deep within me.
My dragon settles as I slow my thrusts, allowing her heat to encompass me.
We lay wrapped up in each other's arms, licking at the wounds we caused each other.
When I finally slip free of her, I roll off to the side and look up at the night sky.
"What's on your mind?" Feray asks as she roots around in the bag she brought.
"How lucky I am." I won't express my other concerns—not after having such a magical moment with her.
"I feel the same." She pulls out a bottle of water, takes a sip, then offers it to me.
"Good girl." It slips from my lips before I drink half the bottle and hand it back to her.
Next, I watch her pull out a small bag of wipes.
She offers me some, then cleans herself up.
She has been listening. Watching Feray move around has become a favorite pastime of mine.
Every flex of her muscles, the wind catching her hair.
I swear sometimes I catch myself breathing in time with her.
It's the way of mates. My dragon interjects, his tone not as grumpy.
She gets dressed and looks at me expectantly.
A yawn escapes her lips as she steps closer, taking the blanket from me to fold up and put back in her bag.
"I'm tired." She glances over her shoulder at me.
Taking the hint, I nod and shift back into my dragon's form and lay down for her.
Carefully, I lift my wing and stretch out my hind leg, making almost a cradle to lie in.
Feray looks at how I'm laying, then climbs up into place.
She curls up on her side, pulling her hands under her chin, and closes her eyes.
"Good night, my loves." Her words fall softly as she draws in a deep breath and exhales slowly.
I'm extremely careful how I lower my wing over her.
Several adjustments are made to allow good airflow.
Once I'm sure she's comfortable and in a deep sleep, I curl my body further, making sure she's safe.
She loves us, I say to my dragon.
She trusts us, he responds before going quiet for the first time in centuries.
The stars wheel overhead. My mate sleeps beneath my wing.
And for this moment, all is right in the world.