Chapter 11 Diaval
Diaval
The countryside stretches out before me, a patchwork quilt of vibrant greens and golden yellows.
The sun climbs higher in the sky, its gentle rays casting a warm, honeyed hue on the landscape.
The air is crisp and clean, carrying with it the earthy scent of freshly plowed fields and the faint fragrance of wildflowers that line the roadside.
I grip the leather-wrapped steering wheel, the smooth texture cool against my palms. The engine purrs a comforting background hum, and the tires whisper over the gravel stone.
The road stretches ahead, winding through rolling hills and quaint, picturesque farms, each with its own barn and weathered picket fence.
My travel companions, cocooned in the tranquility of slumber, rest peacefully while I make the drive to our next stop.
The soft, even breaths of the basilisk in the passenger seat are like a gentle metronome, a reminder of all the danger surrounding our group.
I won't forget his sacrifice of remaining on watch all night.
One awake, four asleep. It seems to be the way we're forced to operate these days.
My mate, nestled in the back seat with her head resting on Easton's chest, is a vision of serenity.
I steal occasional glances at her, my heart swelling with affection.
Strands of her auburn hair cascade gracefully over her shoulders, framing a peaceful expression that dances with fleeting dreams. Her lips, parted ever so slightly, form a delicate, contented smile.
The morning sun plays upon her face, casting a soft, ethereal glow that accentuates the flutter of her eyelashes.
Outside, the world continues to unfold. I pass a meadow where a family of deer grazes, their white tails flicking in the morning light.
Birds serenade us with their melodic songs, heralding a new day.
In the distance, old oak trees stand like ancient sentinels, their gnarled branches reaching for the heavens.
As we journey through this idyllic countryside, I'm filled with a deep sense of foreboding.
At some point during our next stop, I need to convince Feray to allow me to implant my scale on her chest.
How in the nine hells am I going to pull off that miracle? Shaking my head, I return my focus to the road. Danger lurks around every turn. The most dangerous part—heading into Vasserdell and facing Myra—is more terrifying than meeting this unseen danger.
Several hours later
Feray stirs from her slumber and pulls herself free of the doctor's embrace. "I need to pee." She yawns promptly after making the statement.
"Remember what happened the last time you went to pee?" Arching a brow, I playfully remind her of her last misadventure. Feray looks taken aback and lowers her eyes.
Glancing back to the road, I find a nice area for us to pull over and let everyone stretch their legs. "Allow one of us to accompany you into the woods so we can be within reach." I turn in the driver's seat to reach back and take her hand in mine. "You are far too important to us to lose."
Easton is the first to awaken, having heard me. He gives me a slight nod of respect and rubs her back. "We just wish to keep you safe."
"That makes sense." She pulls at some of her hair and sighs. "I'm sorry I reacted poorly. It's been a lot to adjust to." She huffs out a laugh. "The predator is now the prey." Her tone turns sour, and she lowers her head again.
Reaching back, I grip her chin and raise her eyes to face me. "You are no one's prey." I wink at her, then smile. "Unless you want to be." Her pupils dilate immediately at the dark promise. I think my little mate may have a bit of a kink.
"I can go with you if you want." Torben offers, and she looks between me and Easton, then over to a sleeping Khal.
"No offense, Tor. Easton can torch the bad guy—it may be more effective than your bear. Depending on the foe, of course." She stares down at her hands, and it's now that I notice she's shifting her nails back and forth between claws and human nails.
"You're not defenseless, Feray." The words tumble from my lips without a second thought. I'm just as surprised as she is when I say it.
"I can't kill a Wendigo." She flexes her hands again, watching her claws emerge.
I hazard a glance at Easton and Torben, and they exit the car, leaving me with Feray and a sleeping basilisk. Reaching back, I take hold of her hand and exhale slowly. "If my guess about your bloodline is correct, you are more powerful than you think."
Her eyes lower, and she stares at our joined hands. "I hope for my sake you're right." She lays her hand on mine and gives it a pat before exiting the SUV. My hand still tingles from where we made contact. I remain seated for several moments longer before exiting the car.
Feray walks hand in hand with Easton into the brush close to where we parked. "She's so timid. There's a demon locked in her chest, and yet she acts like a frightened doe." I move to stand alongside Torben.
"What do you mean by that?" He quirks his head to the side and looks at me oddly.
"You don't feel the dormant power within her?" I shake my head, puzzled by this revelation.
"No, should I?" He scans the wood line, watching for fire like I am.
"She's not on edge around you, so it probably remains suppressed. With me, I feel surges of power within her. It's as if her wolf is railing against my dragon for dominance." A hearty chuckle escapes my lips as I watch the horizon.
"What's so funny?" Torben moves to stand in front of me. His bear is close to the surface.
"Remember what your book about her Luna line said?" I tilt my head, looking at him, waiting for reality to set in.
He shrugs and shakes his head no. "A Luna is only as strong as her pack. A wolf's pack is its family."
His eyes flare with the power of his bear as his head whips toward the woods, then back at me. "Shit..." He paces, then looks at me again. I think he's finally connected the dots.
"She has a wyrm skull dragon mate, an ancient phoenix, a basilisk, and a berserker Kodiak. We are the most powerful of each of our species. Imagine when she accepts my scale and bonds with me properly." I tilt my head, looking down at him. My dragon rises to the surface to greet him.
Torben takes a step back, then almost jumps out of his skin when Feray touches him from behind. The melodic giggle that escapes her lips makes my smug dragon tilt his head, listening to her. The brazen little wolf steps into my personal space and stares up at me, her eyes burning yellow.
"Don't laugh at him." She slaps my chest, then moves past me.
"You like living dangerously, don't you, little one?" My voice drops octaves lower than I usually allow. My dragon wants control, and he's trying to croon to his mate.
The change in pitch makes white fur race up her arms, and she stops.
She glances over her shoulder at me. Her eyes are her wolf's, and I can see bone plates shifting under her skin.
Without warning, she throws her sundress off and shifts suddenly.
Her wolf walks up to me without fear and stares defiantly into my eyes, challenging my dragon.
She's worthy...
The cantankerous bastard finally speaks to me after centuries of silence.
"Enjoy your hunt, Feray. When you return, I would like to offer you something very valuable."
She glances toward Torben and barks at him. The bear walks off and starts stripping.
A cold, wet nose touches my hand—Feray trying to get my attention.
"I can't hunt with you yet. There are things that need to be done before I introduce you to my beast." Smiling, I take a knee before her.
"He wants to meet you very badly. Both your human and wolf intrigue him.
" Stifling a laugh, I listen to my dragon remind me about the mug.
"He says thank you for our mug. It's the most precious thing in his hoard. "
Feray's wolf tilts its head, studying me, then steps closer.
When she's finally within reach, I slowly extend a hand and run my fingers through her thick pelt.
Her fur is as soft as I imagine petting a cloud would feel.
Unlike the run-of-the-mill wolves I'm used to seeing, her coat has two distinct layers.
The outside layer gets thicker for winter, providing added protection as the weather turns harsh.
The inside layer covers the skin closely and acts as a waterproof barrier to keep their skin dry and warm.
Having felt her fur, I know without a doubt she comes from the Crescent Valley Pack.
The Dunnam Pack migrates south when the harshest part of winter hits, or they remain in human form.
They don't have the same pelt—theirs lacks the second layer.
The Crescent Valley Pack shifts to wolf form and remains as wolves all winter.
"You are exquisite, Feray." My words come out softer than I intended. Her wolf cocks its head but doesn't pull away as she stares into my eyes. Hesitantly, she takes another step forward and presses her muzzle to my cheek like a human would before she turns and bounds off.
"That could have gone very badly..." Easton's cocky tone makes me want to roast him on the spot.
"Thanks, fire chicken..." Rolling my eyes, I shift my hand, allowing scales to erupt over my human flesh. I stare at my armored scales, noting the damage from wars gone by. "I wonder which scale she would want more..." I muse, turning my hand over, slowly scrutinizing every scale.
"I'm sure any of them would be valuable to her if you explain the meaning behind it." Easton turns his gaze upon me, and the fire in his eyes tells me his bird is offering the advice, not the man.
"How did you choose which feather to give her?" Now's the perfect time to put him on the spot. Easton's steady movements falter, and his normal nervous tick kicks in. His fingers move to every inch of his pressed shirt, making sure not a button is out of place before he turns to look at me.
"I didn't. My bird forced the shift one night after work, and we flew home. When we landed on the rail of my balcony, he plucked a feather and left it on the table."
"You know perfectly well I cannot shift in front of her until she has my scale.
" My voice is a rough growl, making my throat feel raw from the exertion.
Take one from our chest... My dragon growls in my head and shifts the flesh over our sternum.
It will grow back... He's right—these scales grow the fastest and rejuvenate the quickest.
Glancing up, I look at Easton. "I'm going to need your help upon her return. Heal her once I implant the scale."
I unbutton my vest and remove my tie. Nimble fingers go to my dress shirt, and I undo several buttons, exposing my battle-hardened scales. Each one bears its own damage from years of war.
"You know I will," Easton responds as he looks my scales over. "It would be wise to let her choose. After all, she is the one who will wear it."
"Who will wear what?" My inamorata's sweet voice shocks me—she's so close. How much of our conversation did she hear?
My hands rise of their own accord to adjust a tie that is no longer around my neck. "Well, a dragon's mate is adorned with one of his scales. It is as symbolic as your bite is for the wolves."
Feray cocks her head left, then right, until her eyes lock on my opened shirt. "May I?" Her eyes begin to glow with the power of her wolf as she steps cautiously into my personal space. Her hand motions toward my half-opened dress shirt, and her eyes lock on my scales underneath.
Don't mess this up, meat bag, or you will never fly again.
.. My dragon threatens me. Me, of all the beings in the world, he chooses me to be the focus of his aggression.
You have denied us taking a mate for hundreds of years.
Don't scare our female... I feel him retreat to the depths of my consciousness, almost to the point I barely feel him.
"Diaval? Are you okay? One minute I saw your dragon's eyes, and the next he's gone." She rests her dainty hand on my chest over my heart, and I swear the damn thing is going to explode.
"Um, yes... We are fine. He was threatening me to behave and not scare you." I stare down at her hand, and out of the corner of my eye, I catch Torben motioning for me to put my hand over hers. I mimic his action, and Feray smiles brightly.
"Well, I don't know what you said to him, but I feel like he's not happy with you." She smiles as her free hand slowly rises and pushes open my shirt. Her eyes widen, looking at the armored scales over my chest. Hesitantly, her hand reaches out and lightly touches one.
It's then that my dragon surges forward, and she leaps back, feeling his sudden presence.
Damn it...
Did his excitement ruin our chance at being with our mate?