Chapter 6 Mina #2
I circle what will be the new nest site several times and realize that there is only enough space for me barely.
The crisp mountain air rushes over my scales as I beat my powerful wings, surveying the jagged peaks below.
Before I land, I unleash my breath weapon at full power.
The lightning races over my scales just before it roars up my throat, the metallic taste filling my mouth as it strikes the mountain in several places at once.
The stone is pulverized. Some of it turned to dust that billows upward in ghostly plumes.
I circle several times, leveling part of the crags between the peaks. The scent of ozone and scorched stone fills my nostrils as I work. My wings ache pleasantly from the exertion, muscles stretching with each powerful stroke.
Several passes later, I land and dust puffs up around me, coating my scales in a fine gray powder.
I let my breath weapon loose again. The air hums with the residual energy, making my scales vibrate.
I strike several more times, making enough room for Klauth to land on an odd angle.
When he shifts back, he steps closer to me, his heavy footfalls crunching on the freshly broken stone, and makes room for Abraxis to land.
My attention is drawn to another section of the mountain, and I strike again.
This time I sustain the lightning, allowing it to branch off in three directions as I change the angle of my head.
The heat of it burns in my throat, a pleasurable pain.
Unlike Klauth’s fire, my lightning seems to splinter the stone, breaking it into small pieces that rain down with a musical clatter.
I listen to Abraxis telling Klauth about the last time I used my weapon to dig, his voice carrying on the thin mountain air.
“Mate?” Klauth calls, and I turn my head to look at him.
His scent—smoke and brimstone—reaches me even through the dust. “Allow me to shift and dig out what you broke loose already.” He rests a hand on my front leg, the warmth of his touch penetrating my scales as he stares into the hole I have started.
I shift back, my bones and muscles contracting painfully as I return to my human form, and move with Abraxis out of the way.
Klauth shifts, and it still amazes me, the size of his great wyrm dragon.
The ground trembles beneath my feet as he transforms. His talons cut through the stone like a knife through butter, the sound of scraping rock echoing across the mountaintop.
As he digs, I see how deep my breath weapon destroyed the stone, the charred edges still sizzling with residual energy.
“As much as the idea scares me, I think your breath weapon got stronger, Mina,” Abraxis says as we move further out of Klauth’s way. The wind whips his hair around his face, bringing his woodsy scent to my nose.
“I think so too.” I rest my head on the ball of his shoulder, watching Klauth dig. The rhythmic motion is hypnotic, his massive form moving with surprising grace.
He leans in and kisses my cheek, his lips warm against my wind-chilled skin. “I’m going to leave you two alone. There’s something you still need to do for him.” Abraxis pulls his braid of my hair forward, and I nod. It was long overdue for all of them, and now is as good of time as any.
Abraxis’s sudden departure catches Klauth’s attention, and he shifts back, his massive dragon form shrinking with a shimmer of heat.
“Is everything alright?” He takes me in his arms and holds me flush to his chest. His heartbeat is strong against my ear, his body radiating heat that chases away the mountain chill.
“It is now.” I tilt my head back, looking up at him with a smile. The mountain sun highlights the crimson flecks in his eyes.
“Something on your mind, mate?” He presses his lips to my forehead, his breath warm against my skin.
“I’ve got to set something right.” I reach into his jacket and pull out my braid from the inside pocket.
The silver-green strands catch the light as I hold it between us.
“Please sit.” I motion to a boulder. He moves quickly and takes a seat, the excitement dancing in his eyes almost does me in.
I straddle his lap so my chest is against his as I reach for his hair.
The silky strands of auburn slip through my fingers.
Using a small piece of thread, I knot my hair with his, then braid them together.
The auburn of his hair with the silver-green of mine is an interesting contrast, like autumn meeting spring.
As I braid, I feel his drake purring to me, the vibration rumbling through his chest into mine.
His arms are tight around me, holding me as if I may vanish at any moment, his scent enveloping me in a cocoon of warmth.
When I finish braiding his hair, I lean back, looking at my work.
The intertwined strands gleam in the sunlight.
I kiss his lips gently, savoring the softness and the taste of cinnamon on his breath.
As I pull back, his eyes are shining with unshed tears, the emotion in them stealing my breath.
Between the scale and the braid, I know it means a lot to him; the significance making my heart swell.
“You honor us greatly, mate. The scales and braids are ancient rites performed by the strongest bonded mates.” He kisses my cheek, and I smile, leaning into him, the rough stubble on his jaw tickling my skin.
“Will my scales live on my non-dragon mates? I know they have nothing to give me. But to be stronger bound to them would be nice.” I glance down, awaiting his answer, my fingers tracing patterns on his chest.
“There’s only one way to find out.” He smiles and kisses me softly, his lips lingering on mine.
“Let’s finish up here, and you can hunt down the others and find out.
” Klauth shifts and returns to digging, his massive form blotting out the sun for a moment.
Excitement bubbles in my chest, thinking about presenting my other mates with my scales, the endless possibilities making my heart race.