Chapter 68
GRAESON
Graeson shook out his hands, then his legs, expelling the nervousness from his limbs.
Peering at Graeson wearily, Moris leaned over to Kallie. "Maybe we should back up? Give him some room?"
"Wouldn’t be a bad idea," Graeson said, stretching his arms above his head. He didn’t know if stretching would help the transformation, but he could at least hope.
Dusk had come and gone in the blink of an eye.
He hoped the darkness would help shield his form.
He didn’t want the entire world to know dragons were back. Not yet anyway.
"Oh, wait!" Kal jogged over to him. With a big grin, she grabbed him by the collar and tugged on the fabric.
Graeson cocked a brow, his hand slipping to her waist. "What is it?"
She arched an eyebrow. "Unless you wish to have no clothes when we arrive, take this off. Last time, you destroyed the clothes you were wearing."
Graeson chuckled and leaned closer. His lips brushed her ear, causing a shiver to ripple through her body. "If you wish to get me out of my clothes, all you have to do is ask."
She shoved him playfully and leaned away from him. "I’m trying to do you a favor," she said, trying to sound serious, but it was hard not to hear the amusement in her voice.
"Mhm, I’m sure," he said with a cocky grin. He reached for the back of his shirt and pulled it over his head.
"Woah, woah!" Moris slapped his hands over his eyes and spun around. "Why do I keep getting myself into these situations with you two?"
Laughing, Kal held out her hand. She let her attention dip over his chest, not bothering to hide the way her heated gaze seared into him.
"Kal," he warned, his control hanging on a thread.
She smirked and grabbed his shirt, stuffing it into a bag. When she straightened, she adjusted the scimitars strapped to her back.
He took in the sight of his scimitars on her back. "My blades look good on you," he whispered. The other day, Graeson had noticed her eyeing them. He had offered them to her, intending to show her how to use them. Little did he know, she had already been trained with the blades.
"Yeah?"
"Mhm." He motioned for her to spin. When she turned, Graeson tightened the straps. "Better?"
"Yes, thank you," she said, facing him again. She tipped up her chin, a devious glint in her eyes. "I’m thinking of keeping them. About time I stole something of yours, don’t you think?"
Graeson brushed his knuckles across the bottom of her jaw. "You already have."
"By the gods," Moris groaned, still turned around. "I’m going to throw up."
Kal chuckled, and any trace of apprehension buzzing at Graeson’s fingertips vanished.
"We should go," she whispered.
"Wait, one more thing," Graeson said, pulling her back when she retreated a step.
"What is it?"
Graeson dug into his pocket. "You should have this." He held out his hand, palm open.
Kal’s gaze dropped to the dainty ring sitting in the middle of his hand. "You still have it?"
"Of course," he said. "It’s yours—it’s always been yours. Your parents helped create it."
"But don’t we need to have a ceremony or something?"
Graeson shrugged. "We’re soul bonds, Kal. That’s all that matters to me."
Biting her bottom lip, she nodded and took the ring, slipping it back on to her hand.
"When you’re ready—when this war is over—we’ll celebrate with everyone."
"Everyone?" she asked.
Graeson chuckled, recalling how big her last wedding had been. "Maybe not all of Vaneria, but those who matter to us."
A small, shaky smile curved at the corner of her mouth.
Graeson grabbed her waist and pulled her closer to him. Her hands landed on his chest, her eyes widening slightly. Then he kissed her. It was shorter than he would have liked, but she was right. They needed to get going. But he would be damned if he didn’t feel her lips on his one more time.
When he pulled away, he swept his thumb across her cheek. "Stand back, all right?"
She nodded and walked away. But before she made it back to Moris' side, she spun around and called out, "Wait, your—"
Graeson threw his trousers to her, and she caught them in her hands with a gasp. He winked and turned. He didn’t need any other distractions, or they would never make it out of here. Then Moris would really have something to complain about.
Graeson tilted his head back and stared at the sky.
Heat filled his core and spread throughout his chest and limbs.
His body vibrated with a volcanic energy.
His bones shifted, snapping and cracking.
But this time, Graeson was ready. This time he was expecting the tearing of his muscles, the burning of his flesh as silver and black scales emerged across his flesh.
A shudder ran through his entire body, and he trembled.
Smoke billowed from his nose, and the monster within breathed to life.
Time seemed to warp as his limbs grew and his body contorted into his new form. In the blink of an eye, his hand turned into a massive paw. He lifted it, inspecting the sharp, deadly claws. A deep growl ripped through his throat and morphed into a screech.
Graeson swung his head around, the movement awkward as he adjusted to his new skin. When he spotted Moris, fear shone in the man’s eyes. Even though Moris had seen Graeson change before, it was still terrifying to experience.
Yet a few yards away from him, Kalisandre stood tall. Not a single drop of panic shone on her countenance. Instead, something akin to admiration and pride sparkled in her blue eyes.
Carefully, Graeson lowered his head, approaching Kalisandre with caution.
She smiled, wide and bright. She lifted her hand but paused, halting it in midair. "Can I?"
Graeson gave her a small nod.
With his permission, she stepped forward and ran her palm over the scales that ran across his cheek. His eyes shuttered shut at the contact. When her hand fell from his face, he looked at her, curious.
"Ready?" she asked.
Instead of nodding, he turned around, careful not to step on either of them. Then he laid his tail out beside Kal and looked back at her, waiting.
Her eyes widened. "You want me to fly up there?" she asked, pointing to his back.
Graeson chortled, the sound strange on his tongue. He shrugged haphazardly.
Kal had said she was up for the challenge. He wasn’t sure if she would prefer riding astride rather than inside his hand, but he was curious to see if she would take the offer. He started to turn, but she called out to him.
"Fine," she said. "But if I fall, you better catch me."
As if Graeson would let her fall.
Kal crawled up his tail, the climb slow and laborious.
When she was more than half-way up, Graeson sighed and flicked his tail.
Kalisandre released a high-pitched yelp, but a second later, he felt her land near the base of his neck.
Then he felt her strike him—or at least he assumed that was what the light jab was.
He glanced back, his neck long enough for him to spot Kalisandre seated between two spikes as if the spot had been created just for her.
She closed her eyes for a moment as she took a deep, shuddering breath. When she exhaled, she said, "I’m trusting you here."
He huffed again and looked away.
"Are you…smiling?" Moris asked him, scratching his head.
Graeson glared at him.
"Ha! You were!" Moris shivered. "Gods, that’s terrifying."
He began walking towards Graeson’s tail, but before he reached it, Graeson launched into the air.
Moris shouted after him, but Graeson ignored him.
He peered at Kalisandre as they rose above the farmhouse.
She held onto the spike in front of her with a white-knuckle grip.
As if sensing his attention on her, Kal peeled her eyes open.
When her gaze locked onto his, a huge smile spread across her face.
Graeson bristled at the overwhelming joy spilling from her.
"That’s fine!" Moris yelled. "I have wings, too, you know."
Graeson snorted as Moris flew toward them, his wings beating rapidly to catch up. Meanwhile, Graeson glided through the air, his wings flapping at a fifth of the speed.
Graeson looked back at Kalisandre, a silent question sparkling in his eyes.
She nodded and shouted over the wind, "Do it!"
With a wicked smile that probably made him appear crazed, he swung back around, dipping over the clearing.
The wind muffled Moris' shouts.
With one quick swipe, Graeson snatched their bags with his rear claws. Then he charged forward, his gaze set on Moris.
Moris twisted in the air to look back at Graeson. His eyes widened when he realized Graeson was heading straight for him. He tried to dive, but he was too slow. Graeson reared. With his other back paw, he snatched Moris from the sky.
Shouting, Moris smacked one of Graeson’s claws, the jab barely more than a prickle.
Graeson barely heard Moris’ disgruntlements as Kalisandre’s laughter filled his ears. The sound was pure and full, untainted by the weight of the world and what was to come.
His lips curved into a makeshift smile. Because he didn’t know when, or even if, he’d hear it again, Graeson savored the moment.