Chapter 10 Feray
Feray
The minute we enter the valley between mountains, my wolf has been talking nonstop. I know we're going to need to establish dominance quickly. One thing she says stops me in my tracks.
I turn slowly and look at Khal. "How do I do the mind control thing?"
My wolf bristles under the surface as we prepare to do the one thing we were taught not to—stare directly into a basilisk's eyes.
"Um..." He rubs the back of his neck. "It's all about intention. The more you want or need something to happen, the more you mentally shove at it to happen." He looks back at Torben, who gives him a nod and sets his bag down.
Several minutes later, Torben is singing "I'm a Little Teapot" and doing the dance.
Double-blinking, I stare at my Kodiak mate, amazed he's doing it so easily. "Oh, wow." Torben is still singing and dancing, and I just stare at him. "Stop." My voice does that weird reverberation thing, and he stops and shakes his head.
"What did I miss?" Torben looks around as if he's lost.
"Interesting..." I close the distance between us and look up into his eyes.
Dance with me... I project the thought into his head, pushing it with all of my might.
Soon enough, Torben's eyes go vacant, and he waltzes me around in a circle to music only he hears.
I giggle, then release the grip on the intention, and he stops.
"Hey, little wolf." He bends down and kisses my lips gently, then notices how he's holding me. "Did you make me dance with you?"
Blushing, I pull away and nod. "Yeah. Khal was teaching me mind control, and this was harmless."
"It could have been worse, little wolf." He rubs the back of his neck and motions across the divide. "Shall we continue?" Drawing in a deep breath, I pick my bag back up and head off toward the vertical ice shelf.
"We're almost there!" I shout over my shoulder at the guys.
The snow crunches under my feet as we cross the vast sea of white.
Every step closer, my feet feel like they're growing heavier.
Once we cross through this cavern, my life will change forever.
The guys are talking among themselves, leaving me to my own devices.
Checking my phone for the time seems pointless.
We need to wait until later tonight, when the moon is at its apex, to find the cavern.
Shaking my head, I lower it. I need to let Fi know what's about to happen.
I need to say goodbye just in case. Biting my bottom lip, I try to keep the tears at bay.
A large warm hand lands on my lower back, and I look over to find Diaval.
He tilts his head and taps his temple. I know he heard my thoughts.
"I believe in you, my eternal. But if you feel you need to do it, then we shall.
" He kisses my temple and pulls me flush against his chest, holding me tightly.
If you had asked me this time last year if I saw myself with Diaval, I would have told you that you were insane.
His drake has told me his love language is touching and acts of service.
It's funny because those are mine as well.
Come to think of it, all of my guys' love languages involve touch.
Torben's are touch and quality time. Khal is touch and words of affirmation.
Easton's are touch and giving gifts. His feather was his ultimate gift.
Maybe it's a shifter thing that touch is so big for us, but it really settles my wolf.
He presses his lips to the crown of my head, and I hear the deep rumbling purr of his dragon.
I smile. "I miss you too, big guy." I pat Diaval's chest over his heart.
"You really know how to make my dragon feel loved." He whispers close to my ear.
"Even the big scary drake needs to know he's loved." I pull back and look up at him, bouncing up to kiss his lips before pulling away. He shakes his head and takes my hand as we finish crossing the snow field.
The others catch up, and we set up a makeshift camp.
"We just have to wait another seven hours until sunset, and then for the moon to be in position." Easton says, looking at the sun's position.
"I'm going to write Fi a note to send back with Ro before we go any further." I settle down to sit on top of my pack so my pants don't get wet.
"I'm going to take a nap while Torben cooks.
" Khal throws down the waterproof cloth, sets his sleeping bag on it, and climbs in, zipping himself in to keep warm.
Arching a brow, I look at myself and notice I'm not wearing winter gear like Diaval, Easton, and Khal are.
Come to think of it, winter never bothered me like it did Fi.
Easton comes over and sits his pack down next to me, offering me a notepad and pen. "Diaval said you wanted to write to your sister."
Smiling, I accept his gift. "Thank you for everything." I reach up and touch his feather in my hair.
"Anything for you, my flame." He rests a gloved hand on my thigh and gives it a squeeze.
Opening the notebook, I stare at the blank page.
I start by sketching the diadem—the tiara of the Goddess Selune.
My birthright as the lunar queen of Crescent Valley, like my mother before me.
I draw it in great detail, shading it where it needs to be.
I tell Fi about what we learned from finding my parents' bodies and the diadem, and what my ancient mates told me.
I trust their histories more than what the shifter council has told us.
Next, I note the deaths of the pups around the time of my birth and our suspicion about the council's hand in it and the pack wars.
I want to arm Fi and her men the best I can with what we know.
My letter continues with what we expect to find on the other side and what my parents did for me.
I'm not afraid anymore.
I trace over those words. I think more for my benefit than hers.
I hope she's finding the answers she's looking for.
I draw a smiley face with cat ears just for Tiernan in the margin.
He knows it's my way of showing affection.
I tell Fi I hope everyone is happy and safe and that I miss everyone—even Khol.
Hell, our boss the mosquito has grown on me.
Rev is Rev, and everyone loves him and his sassy nature.
Love and miss you... I end it with a heart like I usually do.
"Ro, I need you." My voice echoes through the mountain pass.
My guys turn to face me as Ro manifests before me.
"Oh, frosty fluffy one. Need me you do?" She lands on my lap. Diaval hands me a scarf, and I bundle her in it.
"I do." Easton comes forward and places the diadem on my head, and Ro's eyes widen.
All I can do is nod. "We've been training me in alpha and Luna powers for the last month." Easton takes back the diadem and stashes it away.
"Queen Fluffy?" Ro tilts her head.
"Not yet. I have two packs to fight through, and I have to dispose of a tyrant that took over my father's mantle.
" Taking out my phone, I show her all the images I want her to relay to the others.
Most importantly, the map with the list of past alphas and Lunas from Dunnum and Crescent Valley.
I reveal my missing bloodline with the completed family tree.
Carefully, I fold up my note for Fi and offer it to her.
"You've changed..." she says.
"So's Fi by now." I smile and laugh a little. "She's right where she's always needed to be. Surrounded by people that get her and accept every bit of her, in a land just as wild as she is." I feel at peace with what I said. In my heart, it sings with truth.
Ro hugs the note I folded up like a football. "You're where you need to be, too, Fluffy." I force a smile and nod before Ro leaves. The scarf falls, and I stare where she used to be for far too long.
"Are you okay?" Easton comes over and takes a knee before me.
"Not even close. But I will be. I have you guys." I force my smile, and before I can look away, Easton pushes his way between my legs to hug me tightly. I didn't know how much I needed it until I was wrapped in his embrace. The tears flow in earnest down my cheeks as I hold him tightly.
"It's okay. Let it out." His voice is soft as he nuzzles my cheek, which only makes me cry more.
He's trying so hard to be there for me. Torben moves behind us and presses his chest against my back as he runs his hands down my ribs. Khal and Diaval each have a hand on my legs, giving them a reassuring squeeze.
"Change is scary." Easton kisses my cheek as he whispers.
"I know I'm terrified of it." He chuckles before pulling back a little.
"But my princess gave me the time and space I needed to fall head over heels in love with her.
I wouldn't change a damn thing." I search his face, and his words ring with so much truth my heart sings.
"I wouldn't change a thing either." Gently, I kiss his lips and nip the bottom one before leaning back to accept a kiss from Torben.
"Little wolf, you are the bravest, strongest female I have ever met. We are lucky to have you. Never forget how loved you are." His large hands frame my face as he kisses me upside down. Giddy little butterflies flutter around in my stomach.
Khal reaches out and uses my chin to turn me to face him.
"Only you wouldn't judge my brother or me for what our family business is.
You also didn't judge us because of what we are.
If anyone deserves to be the one to unite all of shifter kind, it's you.
" Khal kisses me, and I sigh at how gentle he is.
"You're my spicy danger noodle." I tap the tip of his nose with my fingertip before Diaval draws my attention.
He tilts his head at that angle that instantly makes me angry, then smiles and adjusts his stance. "It's kind of funny. It's the princess that saved the dragon from his self-imposed exile and then the crazy ex." He smiles before kissing my temple.
"Only a silly little wolf would mix drinks for the cantankerous dragon everyone was afraid of. Or track a Kodiak. Go on a date in a poisonous botanical garden with a basilisk." I laugh as I turn my eyes to Easton. "Or play with fire on purpose and stuff a phoenix chick in my shirt."
He shrugs. "What? It was warm in there, and I love your breasts." He blushes, realizing he said that out loud.
Torben's laughter shakes me, and I laugh with him. "Let's not have a repeat of what got you in there, okay? She was a mess to deal with."
"Deal." Easton says with a smile. "Some things are out of my control, but I will do my best."
I look around at my rag-tag bunch of mates.
Two ancients that are cranky bastards in public.
A Kodiak that, because of his physical size and his male version of a resting bitch face, most are afraid to approach.
Then there's Khal, who by species reputation alone—and his psychotic twin—people give a wide berth.
Then there's little ole me. I feel like a caterpillar emerging into the world changed.
Gone are the days I had to hide behind my sister or run for my life.
I've grown teeth and claws, and for once, I am not afraid to use them.
We've got about five hours until sunset.
And then the games begin.