Chapter 25 #2
She breaks the kiss and steps away, smiling at me with such joy it takes my breath away, before shifting into that massive beast of hers.
Her scent is magnified when she’s in dragon form—all I smell is sea salt and jasmine coming off her scales in intoxicating waves.
Interestingly enough, her scales look like basilisk scales in some places, while others resemble her mother’s but rendered in deepest black.
“Where do you want me to sit?” I ask, studying her enormous form and trying to figure out the safest position.
She brings her foreleg up gracefully and turns her head, pointing with her talon behind the scale plate that connects her curled horns. She lies down flat against the grass and extends her front leg like a ramp for me to walk up.
Ever so carefully, I walk up her leg, feeling the warmth of her scales through my boots, then continue up her neck to sit behind the skull plate. The position gives me something solid to hold on to while keeping me away from the dangerous edges of her horns.
Raven stands slowly, testing my balance, then looks around the field one last time before launching us into the air. The ground falls away beneath us with breathtaking speed, and every powerful beat of her wings carries us higher into the sky.
Looking down was probably a mistake on my part. We’re so high up the trees look like tiny green dots scattered across a brown carpet. My stomach lurches slightly at the dizzying height, but I force myself to trust in her skill.
She catches a thermal and we glide smoothly, the air currents supporting her massive wings as she turns toward the water.
The ocean looks beautiful from this height—an endless expanse of blue-green that stretches to the horizon.
A pod of dolphins swims far below us, their sleek forms cutting through the waves in perfect formation.
I watch other, smaller dragons land and take flight when they see Raven approaching, as if they instinctively fear her without even knowing who she is.
She follows the coastline, and I understand why now—her scent is similar to sea salt, and the ocean will help hide her presence from any enemies who might track us.
We glide for what feels like hours, the sun warm on my back and the wind cool against my face, until I see a familiar sight below: a herd of black unicorns running across the golden plains like living shadows.
“We’re here!” I yell over the wind, and Raven banks toward the north, away from the herd to give them space.
She circles a small hill several times before landing with surprising gentleness for such a massive creature. My eyes scan the area as she lays down, checking for any threats, before I climb down into the hip-deep grass that sways in the afternoon breeze like waves on a golden sea.
Raven shifts back to human form and looks around slowly, taking in the vast expanse of wildflowers and grass. She adjusts her wing positions several times until they rest comfortably tight against her back. “It looks like a sea of gold,” she says softly, wonder clear in her voice.
The herd we saw from the air starts running toward us, and I recognize the familiar patterns of movement immediately. I’ll be damned—it’s my parents and extended family. I swear my mother has supernatural radar when it comes to finding me, no matter where I am.
Shaking my head with fond exasperation, I look back at Raven. “I am so sorry.” I glance over my shoulder as my herd closes in fast, their hooves thundering against the earth.
“What for?” She reaches out and takes my hand, cradling it. The gesture offers me comfort and strength when I need it most.
“That’s my birth herd. My parents, some of my siblings, and extended family.” I motion toward them as they skid to a halt about ten feet away, their sides heaving from the hard run.
My mother and father shift back to human form first and approach cautiously. Both have the distinctive pink eyes and long black hair of our kind, though my father’s is streaked with silver from age and experience.
“Son, who is the young lady with you?” My father’s eyes narrow as he looks at my mate, and the hair on the back of my neck stands on edge at his disapproving tone.
“Princess Raven Mrithun, heir apparent to the Marzana Empire. Most importantly, she’s my mate.” I say with pride, giving Raven’s hand a reassuring squeeze.
“Your mate is a dragon?” My mother whisper-yells, her pink eyes wide with shock and something that might be horror.
“My mate is Raven,” I say firmly, feeling her release my hand to hug me from behind. Her arms around my waist give me strength and courage.
“The pleasure is all mine,” Raven says graciously, flexing her wings slightly before stepping forward and offering her hand to my mother in a gesture of respect.
Mom doesn’t hesitate for even a moment—she dives in to hug Raven tightly, her maternal instincts overriding any concerns about species differences. “My baby has a mate,” Mom blubbers as she holds Raven close, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Ela, release the poor girl so she can breathe,” my father says with gentle amusement, offering his hand to Raven once she’s freed from my mother’s enthusiastic embrace. “My name is Zarro, and this is my herd. Ela is my mate and Hemlocke’s mother.”
Raven’s eyes drop to my father’s extended hand for a second, then she surprises him by moving in for a hug instead.
The softest purr escapes her lips as she breathes in his scent deeply, the same way she did with my mother.
It’s a dragon bonding behavior, accepting my family as part of her extended nest.
“The pleasure is all mine,” she says warmly, pulling away and stepping back to my side. She holds on to my arm with a casual possessiveness that makes my heart sing.
“Will you stay for dinner?” Mom asks hopefully, her eyes bright with excitement at the prospect of getting to know her new daughter-in-law.
Raven looks up at me questioningly, and I nod with a smile. “Sounds good,” she agrees.
“I can’t believe you rode a dragon,” my father says, looking between us with amazement.
Raven smiles and pulls out her phone, scrolling through photos until she finds what she’s looking for.
She shows my parents the picture of me carrying her during the processional, my unicorn form magnificent in full ceremonial regalia.
I can tell it was taken from the royal box because of the elevated angle and the quality of the shot.
Mom shifts back into unicorn form first, then looks at Dad expectantly until he follows suit. They walk down the hill toward where the rest of the herd has settled, and Raven looks at me with curious anticipation.
“How do you want to get there?” I ask, gesturing toward my family in the distance.
“Let’s run,” she says with a grin that lights up her entire face.
I shift on the spot, feeling the familiar rush of transformation, and bow down to allow her to climb onto my back.
The minute she’s settled securely, I take off across the plains.
The feel of the wind in my mane and the earth pounding under my hooves is pure freedom.
Raven is giggling with delight as she holds on, her laughter carried away by the wind.
I’m not worried about her falling off—worst case, she’ll simply fly. My mate has met my parents and is about to share a meal with my herd. My day couldn’t possibly get any better.
Well, maybe it still can. One can hope.