Chapter 25 Taliana
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
TALIANA
“A flight?” I repeat, a flurry of butterflies blossoming to life in my belly. “As in…”
“As in my dragon wants to take you for a ride,” Oros says, his words a breath against my lips. “Now drop the sheet, and I’ll shift for you.”
Warmth engulfs my being, my hands trembling as I release the fabric from my shoulders and let it fall to the floor.
His gaze dances down to my breasts, then to the apex between my thighs, and he unfastens his pants.
He’s cloakless and shoeless, leaving his trousers as the only item he needs to remove. Yet he does it painfully slowly, like he’s purposely prolonging my anticipation.
Or maybe he’s ensuring he doesn’t hurt himself.
Because he’s hard. Very, very hard. His knot is a throbbing bulb at the base of his shaft, one I long to lick.
“You look thirsty, little diamond,” he murmurs, his hands pushing the black fabric down his thighs.
“I’d offer you something to drink, but my beast is demanding that I satisfy his needs first.” He kicks off his pants and holds a hand out for me.
“Come fly with me, little diamond. I want everyone in the sector to see you on my back.”
“I’ve never been flying before,” I admit while placing my palm against his, my heart hammering in my rib cage.
He frowns. “Does the thought frighten you?”
I shake my head. “No, it excites me. I’ve always wanted to fly.”
His irises glitter as he leads me out onto the balcony, the sun reflecting off his beautiful features. “I’m very pleased to be your first, printesa mea,” he murmurs, pulling me in for another kiss before pressing his lips to my ear. “And I fully intend to be your last, too.”
Before I can process those words, he’s already stepping back and shifting.
My lips part as he reveals his dragon form, his golden scales immediately familiar. Because I’ve seen him like this before.
A week ago.
When meeting with the Royal Court.
“You sniffed me that day,” I acknowledge aloud, utterly in awe at the visual unraveling before me. Because he’s stunning. Majestic. Absolutely breathtaking.
His beast gives a little purr, like he’s pleased by my recognition, or perhaps he can see my appreciation. It has to be obvious. I’m practically gaping at him, and I can feel my lips stretching into a stupid grin.
But he’s just so gorgeous.
Something I tell him out loud now and I swear his dragon preens in response. Then he dips his head to the ground and releases a loud, commanding rumble. It’s not a growl but a deep purr that has me moving toward him without hesitation.
I can’t believe I’m about to fly.
It’s like a dream.
A fantasy I never thought would exist.
Yet here I am, seconds away from climbing onto a dragon’s back. And not just any dragon, a Drakon Alpha. A prince. My mate.
Except, I have no idea how to mount him. “You’re so big,” I whisper, absolutely in awe of his size. “When we first met, I only saw your claws and golden scales.” I nearly reach for him, suddenly longing to touch him.
He leans toward me like he knows, and I give in to the urge, his scales surprisingly soft and sleek. And shimmering with power.
I shiver as his energy slides up my arms, creating a thin armor against my skin. It’s similar to what he usually wears, only it expands beyond my arms to my chest.
I gasp as the soft metal forms over my nipples, the kiss of magic both sensual and arousing.
The gold spreads to cover my breasts, creating a bra of sorts, one that should be uncomfortable but isn’t.
“Why does this feel like silk?” I ask him, studying my arm. “I know it’s gold. But it moves with me like it’s fabric, not metal.”
He doesn’t answer me, just purrs like he’s pleased that I’m enjoying his enchantment.
Which I very much am. Especially the way it warms and cools against my skin.
The sensation slips lower as a delicate chain forms at the center of my gold bodice, the shiny strand sliding down along my belly toward the apex between my thighs.
I jump when the metal reaches my pelvis, my eyes widening as the strand weaves a delicate pattern against my skin to create a pair of matching bottoms.
“You just made me gold lingerie,” I breathe, my clit throbbing as his bespelled armor settles right against my sensitive flesh.
Moons…
I’m not sure I want to fly anymore.
Instead, I want him to take me back to the nest and tease me with more of his power.
Except a saddle is already forming on his back.
Along with stirrups.
And reins.
I run my fingers along the enchanted metal. “This is amazing,” I whisper, infatuated with his talent.
His magic seems to hum all around me, his gold claiming me intimately and drawing me closer to him. I’m barely aware of my actions as I slip my bare foot into the stirrup and pull myself up into the harness he created.
Almost instantly, the metal shifts to form straps around my ankles and calves, flat sandals forming on my feet in lieu of the former stirrups.
Only, I seem to be connected to him, the straps coming from his scales to secure my legs on either side.
The seat beneath me changes as well, holding me in place on his back as he stands to his full height.
I yelp, leaning down to grab his neck.
And he rumbles in reply, the sound mysteriously like a chuckle.
Then he jumps straight off the balcony without any warning.
I scream as we spin into a free fall, the air whooshing past us so fast and hard that the sound carries away in our wake.
But just as I start to worry that something has gone horribly wrong, Oros flares out his wings and guides us into a controlled glide through the air.
My eyes widen, my mouth agape.
And a laugh leaves me. A laugh born of excitement. Of amazement. Of pure joy.
Because this… this is so much better than I could have ever imagined.
I’ve seen my father fly, but never dared ask for a ride. It was forbidden in Obsidian Sector; only those with wings were allowed to take to the sky.
All our travel between the sectors and the nomad lands was done by speedboat. Never by soaring through the air.
I lift my arms, flapping them in time with Oros’s wings, and pretend I’m a pure-blood dragon, too. Pretend that my beast isn’t a wolf but a creature with the freedom to fly.
My animal grumbles at that, clearly miffed that I’m longing for something other than her. But I can’t help my deep-seated need to embrace my inner Drakonian. It’s part of who I am. Who I wish I could be.
Except…
Is that true? I wonder, my gaze taking in my surroundings as I embrace the experience of flight. It feels so good to be up here, to feel the wind on my face.
Yet I’ve felt this before, too.
While running on four paws.
Oh, but the view is different. Everything is smaller from up here. Like I’m existing above the world rather than in it.
Which gives me a slight pang.
Because I… I like being in the thick of things.
This is all still magnificent and more than I ever dreamt it to be, but the similarities are unexpected.
The sun on my back.
The air currents swirling around me.
The sensation of freedom.
But what’s even more unexpected than the similarities is the realization that I miss the earth.
I miss sensing the trees against my fur. The dirt beneath my paws. The scent of nature tickling my snout.
I miss being a wolf.
How utterly surprising.
What I enjoy most right now is being with Oros. Having his gold all around me. His beast between my legs. The sensation of being protected and safe while soaring through the clouds. Knowing he cares for me. And understanding that he’s mine.
The flight itself is almost irrelevant. It’s all about my connection to him and how his power makes me feel.
No, more than that. His dominance. His Alpha prowess. His all-encompassing passion.
I shiver, an exotic twist of emotions seeming to swirl through me all at once.
Excitement.
Contentment.
Adoration.
Warmth.
A sense of freedom followed by the need to run.
It’s confusing and overwhelming, yet calming at the same time.
I… I feel so much.
And those feelings only intensify as Oros takes us downward toward the sea.
I giggle as he skims the surface, causing a mist to form around us.
I gasp as he shoots back up again.
Then gape at the view of a glorious beach ahead.
We’ve left the main island. This is somewhere several miles away, the land mostly black like it’s all composed of ash.
He doesn’t take us down to land, just circles the peak before flying us over the sea again.
After a second island, I realize he’s giving me another tour, this time of the other isles under his control.
They seem to be scantly populated with just a few dragons lounging about in the sun. When I see a pack of wolves, he flies lower to let me wave.
They howl in response, the sound one that fills my heart with glee. Because I recognize that welcoming call.
They accept me here.
I’m home.
Well and truly… home.
That sensation of acceptance grows as some dragons join us in the air, their majestic wings varying in color and size. A few do dips and twirls like they’re showing off for our benefit. Others simply coast along in silent camaraderie.
Until we’re left alone once more.
That’s when Oros truly begins to descend toward a small island in the distance, the shoreline dotted with overgrown trees. It appears to be deserted, making me wonder why he’s chosen this particular beach as we land.
The water is beautiful, though. The deep blue color is a startling contrast to the black sand beneath.
Oros lowers his head, his golden enchantment unweaving to allow me to move.
At first I don’t, my legs having fallen asleep during our flight. I’d been too caught up in my emotions and thoughts to even realize it, but I feel the tingles now as I try to move my lower limbs.
Oros doesn’t speed me along, just waits while I gather my bearings, and purrs.
The rumble grows softer when I finally descend, then disappears entirely as he returns to his human form.
Eyes the color of glittering gold stare down at me, his lips curling into a satisfied smile. “I’ve never flown like that before.”
I frown. “To here?”
“No, I come here all the time. I meant with a passenger on my back.” He grabs my nape to tug me in for a kiss. “It was the best kind of foreplay, feeling you encased in my gold while riding my dragon through the sky.”
His words elicit a shiver from deep within, one that intensifies as his metal whispers across my skin. Glancing down, I see that it’s dissolving into mystical dust, leaving me as naked as him.
Something he’s definitely enjoying, his heated gaze tells me. As does the impressive knot pulsing against my lower belly.
I swallow, my arousal piquing once more. But before I can voice it or demand that he kiss me again, Oros says, “Shift.”
I blink at him. “Wh-what?”
“Shift,” he repeats. “You’ve properly met my dragon. So now I want to meet your wolf.”
My lashes flutter again, my heart skipping several beats. “I… It’ll cause…” I trail off, clearing my throat. “I’ll probably go into heat.” That’s what Doctor Taylor said, anyway. She might be wrong.
But that’s not actually the reason for my hesitation.
Something I think Oros may know because he arches a brow and asks, “Is that a problem? Are you not ready for your estrus?”
“I…” I can’t lie to him. It would be wrong. “I’m nervous, but I’m not afraid of it like I used to be. And I know you’ll take care of me during my heat.”
“Oh, I’ll more than take care of you, printesa mea,” he murmurs, his gaze glimmering with seductive promises as he brushes his lips against mine. “I’m going to pleasure you in ways you’ve never even dreamed of. But first, I want to see your wolf.”
A fluttering sensation stirs in my stomach, one born of nerves this time more than excitement.
No one has ever asked to meet my wolf before. Everyone prefers I keep her hidden.
It goes against all my instincts to show her off, especially to a Drakonian Alpha. “Are you sure?” I ask, unable to hold the quivering note back from my voice.
“Absolutely,” he says, all confidence. “I want to see every part of you, printesa me. And that includes meeting your beautiful wolf.”
Beautiful is certainly not an adjective I’ve heard in reference to my beast before. Most Alphas just call her an abomination. Others say she’s a mutt or a lesser being.
Then there are those who looked upon her with open disgust, spitting in her direction and telling me never to shift in their presence again. They called my creature dirty.
My heart will shatter into a thousand pieces if Oros does that.
I… I may never recover.
What if—
“Taliana,” he says, his palm resembling a brand against my nape. “Please show me your wolf.”
It’s not a command. Just a soft request.
One that makes me shiver again.
Because I don’t want to deny my intended mate.
I just hope he doesn’t—
“She needs to know that I adore her, too,” Oros tells me. “And there’s only one way to prove it to her.”
My brow furrows. “You adore my wolf?”
“I adore you,” he tells me. “All of you. Every part of you.” He kisses my cheek, then presses his lips to my ear. “Especially your wolf.”
My animal practically dances inside me like she understood that.
Or maybe she just feels my resolve melting.
Her excitement causes my heart to race, the overabundance of energy making me realize just how badly she wants me to let her out. I always keep her locked away, mostly for our survival.
But here… here she doesn’t have to hide. I don’t have to hide.
I’m not an abomination. Or a mutt. Or a dirty shifter.
I’m a hybrid. An Omega of mixed origin.
And this male wants me to be his mate.
I need to let him prove to me what that means. I need to see his acceptance. His open appraisal. His approval.
Why am I hiding? I wonder, taking a step back from him. Why am I denying my Alpha what he wants?
No.
That isn’t even the question I should be asking.
Why am I denying my wolf? is the better query.
I don’t want to deny her anymore. Suppress her. Ignore her. Keep her caged away.
I… I want to let her fly in her own way. To pound across the earth. To be unleashed.
So I do something I’ve never been allowed to do before. Something I didn’t even realize I needed or wanted.
I take a few more steps back, my toes skimming the edge of the ocean.
Then I close my eyes.
And finally let my wolf… free.