Chapter 6 Feray
Feray
"Time to wake up..." Torben's voice sounds in my ear.
"Five more minutes." Easton turns us away from Torben's voice. I feel my legs slide over his thighs as his arms band tighter around me. The warmth radiating from his body keeps trying to pull me under. I bury my nose under his jaw and breathe deeply, taking in his scent.
The rich scent of bergamot fills my nostrils.
Its citrus-like complexity matches him perfectly—similar to lime, but with floral, herbal, and resinous undertones.
Warm hands grip me and slowly pull me away from Easton.
A whine escapes my lips as panic seizes me.
My eyes fly open, and I'm ready to shift to escape until I realize it's Torben who has hold of me.
Looking around, my eyes land on the inn where we're apparently staying tonight.
Diaval takes me from Torben and tucks me under his arm, tight to his side.
"Stay close and silent. No one needs to know you're a wolf if they're looking for you.
Tregar will take our secret to the grave, and I wish not to lose one of my oldest friends over a visit.
" Diaval's dragon croons softly, and his scent grows stronger.
Khal leans in briefly and smiles. "He's masking your scent, making his stronger.
Being as ancient as he is, the others won't question his claims." He gives me a nod, then channels his best impersonation of his brother.
In the blink of an eye, Khal transforms from sweet and happy to stone-cold and angry-looking, complete with black sunglasses.
Diaval must feel me flinch at Khal's change. "He's doing it for your safety. Come along, no more time for delay." Diaval heads toward the inn from where we parked, and I finally get a good look at the building.
The Crossroads Inn stands at the confluence of four winding roads—a masterpiece of grandeur constructed from massive, gnarled oak trees that bear the marks of centuries gone by.
Its exterior is adorned with intricately carved dragon motifs, each scale and claw brought to life in remarkable detail.
Two towering dragon statues guard the entrance, their fiery eyes gleaming as though ready to unleash their breath upon any unwelcome intruders.
Inside, a cavernous common room greets us with a warm hearth.
A colossal dragon's head hangs above the roaring fire, flames dancing in its mouth.
The atmosphere is both cozy and mystical.
Rare dragon scales adorn the walls, delicate yet resilient, casting shimmering patterns of light across the room.
At the heart of the inn, a massive ornate bar is tended by a lively innkeeper who apparently knows Diaval. "Diaval!" He jumps the bar and approaches swiftly. An unrestrained rumble escapes Diaval's lips as his body goes instantly rigid, causing the man to stop short.
"I mean your inamorata no harm, old friend." He raises his hands in a placating manner, and I feel the tenseness drain from Diaval.
"It's very new. Forgive me." Diaval states plainly, then passes me off to Khal. "Protect her at all costs." At Diaval's command, Khal lowers his sunglasses, glaring at the room.
"You didn't need to bring a basilisk here.
My people can keep you and your inamorata safe.
" He says to Diaval, then turns to the rest of us.
"Name's Tregar, and this is my inn. I've reserved the third floor for the five of you, as Diaval requested.
" He looks back at Diaval briefly, then returns his attention to us.
"We'll send dinner to your suite since my old friend seems very on edge.
A mating drake is nothing to mess with." He turns his gaze back to Diaval, watching him.
"What do you mean by a mating drake is nothing to mess with?" I direct my question at Tregar since Diaval seems super secretive.
Before Tregar can answer, Diaval is in my face, gripping my jaw, making me look up into his eyes as they shift to the silver serpentine slits of his dragon.
"There are three times a drake is extremely formidable.
When he has taken a mate, when his mate is in season or with child, and when he knows he's about to die.
" He cocks his head at an angle and looks down at me.
"Do you understand?" His tone does funny things to my insides.
Perhaps it's the dominance pouring off him.
More than likely, it's because he's finally acknowledging I am his.
"I do." Lowering my head, I bare my neck to him, and he presses his nose over my pulse point.
"I need to tend to my inamorata. Send the food posthaste." Diaval pulls me toward the stairs and motions for Khal to go first.
We ascend the stairs, and I watch Khal take them two at a time.
He reaches the only door on the floor and points to his eyes, then mimes putting his hand over them.
I do one better—I turn around and press my forehead against Diaval's chest, using his frame to block my view.
Diaval turns us, and he presses his lips to the crown of my head before spinning me around.
Incredible heat appears in front of me, and powerful arms pull me forward.
"I've got her." Easton's honeyed voice soothes me as he envelops me in his warmth.
He pulls me back with him, and I feel his body hit the wall as he keeps my head turned away from the room.
"Stay with me, my flame. Let the others do what they must." Between his rich citrus scent and the bone-melting warmth his body gives off, I'm lulled into a state of relaxation.
"Are we safe, Easton?" Slowly, I raise my head to look up at him. He presses my head back to his chest but allows me to look up at him.
"Safe is a relative term. Can we protect you? Absolutely. Will your attackers die? Definitely." His fingers thread through my hair, working through some knots.
"Will you be safe?" Hesitantly, I reach up and cup his cheek. He presses his face into my palm.
"Even if I were to die, I would resurrect. It's the blessing and the curse of the phoenix. Never-ending life." He uses his knuckle to tilt my head back, and he presses his lips to mine.
I swear my soul ignites.
I paw at him, wanting to climb him like a tree.
"It's about time!" Khal's voice breaks me out of my happy little bubble.
A deep growl breaks free from my lips, and I feel Easton's legs almost buckle under him. As I turn to face Khal, the look of shock on his face breaks me out of my anger. "I'm sorry... I don't know what got into me." Trembling, I press back against Easton's chest and try to hide.
"That's easy, my flame. You channeled the rage of Torben's shift.
An alpha female becomes stronger with each mate she takes.
That's why old laws dictated Lunas only take one mate.
The elders slaughtered everyone other than the first mate before the bonds were formed.
" His smooth, regal features seem relaxed as he relays parts of the darker history of the wolves.
"That's so barbaric. Why would the elders do that?" I cling to Easton as he walks us down the hall and into our suite.
"Until about three hundred years ago, they slaughtered alpha females. Their Luna powers were proven to be incredibly stronger than their male counterparts." Diaval extends a hand out to me. Easton nods, and I walk over to take hold of Diaval's hand.
"It's why I suspect they hid you with the witches.
There hasn't been a recorded true Luna birth in over fifty years.
" He forces a smile and motions to the room behind us.
"I drew you a bath. Go relax and drink the water I left for you.
We'll feed you when you emerge." He walks toward the table and starts pulling things out of the bag.
Nodding, I move toward the door and stop, looking back at the guys. Khal sits in the window seat watching the road. Torben is in the kitchenette preparing a snack for everyone while we wait for dinner. Diaval is at the table spreading out our records, looking at them and the map.
Easton is watching me with hunger in his eyes. "Wish to join me?"
Bold move? Yes. But who knows how much time we have before we need to move again. My question makes all the men in the room stop and look at Easton. With as prim and proper as he is, given his upbringing, they're curious about his response.
"Yes." His terse answer catches me off guard. He removes his suit jacket and lays it over the back of the chair, then motions to the bathroom. "After you, my flame." He smiles and lowers his head slightly.
Stepping inside, the bathroom is much larger than it appeared from the outside.
The large tub in the center can easily hold two to three people.
Steam rising from the water almost puts me in a trance.
The rustling of fabric catches my attention, and I turn around.
Easton slides his dress shirt off his arms, and I watch as every inch of his toned chest is exposed.
He's lightly built—I suppose that's normal for a flight shifter.
My eyes lock on his hands as they go to his belt buckle.
A soft laugh escapes his lips, and I blush at being caught.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say my flame likes what she sees." Easton's teasing tone catches me off guard. I didn't think he could be playful.
"I do."
Reaching down, I slip my hands under my t-shirt, grip my leggings, and pull them down.
I hazard a glance in his direction, and the fire of his phoenix burns in his eyes.
Slowly, I stand and reach for the hem of my shirt.
Before I can lift it, Easton's lips crash against mine, and I feel his hands slide under the fabric.
His hands span the width of my thighs as they slide up my hips to rest on my ribs.
Lifting my arms, he breaks the kiss for a moment to pull the shirt free from my body.
My core burns with the need for him, and he knows it.
His fingers dig into my flesh as he lifts me with ease.
I wrap my thighs around his narrow waist as he walks us to the tub.
Breaking the kiss for a moment, he whispers, "The water is a necessary evil.
" His lips crash against mine again as we sink into the hot water.
He lays back, resting his shoulders against the curved side of the basin.
"Phoenixes ignite when they take their mate.
Until I plant my feather in your skin, you will burn.
" His eyes search mine, hoping for understanding.
"Wolves bite..." I run my hand over the muscle between his neck and shoulder and give it a squeeze. Smiling, I bare my canines at him, and my vision shifts as I stare down at him. My wolf prowls so close to the surface. It's difficult to contain her.
Easton nods and points at the charm he gave me resting just above my breasts. "Allow me to implant my feather so I don't hurt you, my flame." He slides up so his chest is out of the water. Reaching over the edge, he grabs the towel and dries his hand before turning his palm up toward me.
I remove the necklace and pendant and drop it into his palm.
His eyes ignite, and there's no going back now.