Chapter 2 #2
“Greenhouses to grow food.” The words taste hopeful on my tongue.
“I don’t mind bringing it in, but the dragons that live here can make it part of their tithe.
Everyone takes a rotation in the gardens.
” I rub my face against Klauth’s chest, seeking comfort from him.
The soft fabric of his shirt is cool against my heated skin.
He tightens his arms around me, the muscles flexing reassuringly, then turns and passes me off to Abraxis.
“You want us to be self-sufficient?” Abraxis’s breath is warm against my forehead as he presses his lips there.
The lingering taste of cinnamon from his morning tea still clings to him.
He wraps his arms and both wings around me, the leathery membranes creating a cocoon of warmth and safety.
A deep, contented purr escapes my lips, the vibration starting in my chest and traveling up my throat.
“I missed this,” I whisper as I tilt my head back to place kisses under his jaw, feeling the slight scratch of stubble against my lips.
“Me too,” Abraxis says, his voice a deep rumble I can feel through his chest before he gives me a last squeeze, then opens his wings, the rush of cooler air making me shiver.
Balor snatches me the second he’s able to, his movements quick and playful.
He spins me around; the world blurring into streaks of color before his lips find mine.
His kiss tastes of wild berries and something uniquely him—something primal and intoxicating.
When we pull apart, my lips tingling, he motions to the remnants of the gauntlet.
“So maybe a playground, and a day program for the hatchlings.” His voice is animated as he motions to the area directly in front of us, his hands painting pictures in the air.
“Over there,” he points to a really sunny spot where golden light pools on the ground like honey, “the greenhouses? Maybe a small field to plant for the root vegetables alongside it?” His smile flashes bright before he passes me off to Leander.
Leander hugs me like I’m made of glass, his touch gentle but firm.
The scent of winter and rain clings to him, and I melt into his touch, my muscles relaxing one by one.
“Maybe we should consider a small training area back where the old training area was,” he offers gently, his voice a soothing melody.
“You need troops trained to protect the flight.”
“That makes sense,” I admit, the words slightly bitter on my tongue.
“As much as I hate to admit it, we need training grounds.” I wrap my arms around Leander and look over his shoulder at Thauglor, whose eyes burn like sapphire embers in the growing twilight.
“Promise me it won’t be anything like what I endured.
” I keep my eyes locked with his, feeling the weight of this request in the air between us, and he nods slowly, the movement deliberate and solemn.
Leander releases me, his hands lingering on my arms for a moment before falling away.
I walk over to Thauglor; the gravel crunching beneath my bare feet.
“No one will ever know the horrors you endured,” he vows, his voice rich and resonant in the still air.
“Nor will your father ever share the same air as you for longer than absolutely possible.”
Hearing his words, a profound calm washes over me.
I drop to my knees before him, the hard ground digging into my skin, and lower my head, baring the back of my neck to him.
The cool evening breeze raises goosebumps along my exposed flesh.
I stretch my arms out and flip my palms up, the vulnerable blue veins visible beneath my skin.
It’s an ancient submission. I’m giving him the right to do what’s in my best interest, placing my very life in his hands.
When he touches my shoulder, his fingertips warm against my cooling skin, I stand up, then move before Abraxis and repeat the submission, the ritual feeling right, necessary.
I do it six more times, submitting to each of my mates, the repetition becoming a meditation, a prayer.
With each submission, I feel a weight lifting from my shoulders, the air becoming easier to breathe.
The tension that existed in the bond dissolves like morning mist under the sun’s rays.
No mate before another—all equal in my eyes and heart.
My fear of being hurt caused the ripples in the bond, like stones thrown into still water.
My fear of losing control created tension between the males, a tautness I could feel vibrating through our connection like an over-tightened string.
Everyone wanted to protect me, but they didn’t know from what.
The enemy was inside me all along. It’s hard to protect me from myself, from the demons that whisper in my ear when night falls.
My fear was tearing me and my nest apart, corroding what should have been unbreakable.
At this point, I’m letting Bahamut take the wheel, surrendering to a force greater than myself.
The taste of freedom is sweet on my tongue as I make this choice.
I want to live my best life and not be afraid anymore, to feel the sun on my face without waiting for storm clouds to gather.
For the first time in years, hope blooms in my chest—fragile but persistent, like the first flower after winter’s long reign.