Chapter 12 Feray
Feray
The feel of Diaval's scales is so different from Khal's.
Where Khal's are cold and hard yet smooth to the touch, Diaval's run hot and rough like sandpaper under my fingertips.nThere's a surge of power from him, and I leap back, half-shifting.
My legs are those of my wolf, as are my forearms and hands.
I stare at my claws and feel my elongated canines in my mouth.
My tail swishes behind me as I study Diaval.
His eyes are lined with tiny black scales, and his eyes have a malevolent glow to them.
"Careful, Diaval. Your dragon is close to breaking loose.
Look what it did to Feray. Her fight-or-flight instinct kicked in.
" Easton warns, stepping between Diaval and me.
It only angers his dragon further, and a deep growl escapes his lips, making my wolf whine.
I force myself to draw in a slow breath. Reaching out, I take hold of Easton's shoulder. "I'm alright. Step aside." Gently, I give his shoulder a reassuring squeeze before he moves out of the way.
"Naughty dragon..." Each step closer, I shift back to being completely human.
I watch every shift of the bone plates in Diaval's face.
"We understand you're excited to see us.
Remember, we're probably no bigger than your largest scale when you emerge.
" Having no experience with an actual dragon, I can only assume he's enormous.
Diaval chuckles. "You've gone and done it now."
"What did I do?" I tilt my head as I rest both palms against his chest, looking up at him.
"You've somehow made him even more protective of you. Thinking of you being no bigger than one of his scales, he wants to place you with his hoard and burn the world to ash to make sure you're safe."
Diaval's hand rises slowly, and he cups my cheek.
His warmth seems to envelop me, and I hear what sounds like a low, humming purr.
"My inamorata, I need you to choose the scale you wish on your body.
" Diaval nuzzles my cheek, and I feel my canines break free of my gums. The taste of iron makes my eyes pop open, and I know I'm looking at him through my wolf's eyes.
Shaking my head slightly, I break free of the trance I was falling under.
Cautiously, I slide my hands down his chest to his open dress shirt to look at the scales again.
"May I choose a scale from somewhere else? This is far too close to your heart. I don't wish to be the reason you're left defenseless."
Diaval tilts his head, looking at me, then smiles. "He says we have chosen wisely." He steps back. "Anywhere you desire, I will shift, and you may pluck the scale yourself."
My eyes roam his body, and I didn't realize just how toned his shoulders are.
Sliding my hands up his chest, I make his jacket and vest slide off his shoulders and down his arms to pool at his feet.
A richer version of his chamomile scent hits my senses like a freight train.
The simple act of removing his vest and jacket is turning him on.
Staring at the remaining buttons on his shirt, I make quick work of them, opening his shirt wide. I hear his breath hitch when I touch his skin, and I freeze briefly. My eyes remain locked on his shirt before I slide my right hand under it and move it off his left shoulder.
"Shift here..." I touch the thick ball of muscle that surrounds his shoulder joint.
One by one, blackened scales emerge from his tan flesh.
It amazes me, watching them ripple across the muscle, giving me several dozen to choose from.
Leaning in closer, I sniff at the scales, taking in their scent.
If danger had a scent, it's his. The chamomile has morphed to be rougher, edged with a hint of leather and burning wood.
The hairs raise on the back of my neck as I move closer and inspect the scales.
"How do I do this?" I stare at the one scale that seems battle-hardened—the one with a scar.
"Use your claw tip at the top of the scale and pull down." Diaval's tone is smooth and even as he turns his head to look at me. A gentle smile graces his lips, and for once, he doesn't look like he's scowling at the world.
Nodding, I draw in a fortifying breath and shift my index fingernail to a claw. Staring at the scale I want, I strike quickly and pluck it from his shoulder. Without thinking, I lean in and lick the wound, sealing it.
My mouth opens of its own volition, and my canines descend.
Bite him... Make him ours... Pretty, pretty dragon.
.. Strong mate... My wolf for once utters words, and I can't help but do as she desires.
I strike without warning, sinking my canines into the meat of his shoulder.
The burst of iron upon my tongue gives me a sense of euphoria.
Panicked shouts are drowned out as I focus on Diaval's heartbeat.
Strong fingers thread through my thick red hair and pull me back, making me release his shoulder.
His blood coats my lips, and before I can say anything, he mashes his lips against mine.
Diaval dominates the kiss, his tongue teasing the seam of my lips until I open for him.
He controls the kiss as our tongues slide and caress each other.
My greedy core tries to grip something that isn't there before he slows the pace.
He leaves me wanting as I finally open my eyes to see his dragon is on the edge. "I need to plant my scale..." He forces the words out, and it seems like he's battling his dragon for control.
I know something else I'd like him to plant... I say to myself, and my wolf fully endorses the idea. Turning my hand palm up, I expose the scale to him, and he looks at it, shocked.
"Are you sure you want that one? It's damaged." His brows knit together as he glances from me to his scale in my hand.
"We're all a little damaged if we're being perfectly honest." Smiling, I look fondly down at the scale.
"I'm a wolf raised as a witch, bound and hidden for over twenty-some years.
" I slowly look up and make eye contact with Diaval, Torben, and Easton, since Khal is still sleeping.
"Torben was ready to go live as his bear.
Easton buried himself in his burn unit. And you.
.." I turn my gaze back to Diaval. "You left your flight to escape a forced mating. "
Moving my hair to the side, I motion to my upper chest. "Make my wolf and your dragon happy. Plant your scale." I take his hand and rest it over my heart, giving him a nod.
Diaval hesitates, staring down at where his hand rests.
"I don't want to hurt you." His voice is barely above a whisper as he stares at my lightly tanned skin.
I bring my claw up and press it into my skin.
A rivulet of blood rolls down my chest, and his eyes flare to life.
Quickly taking the scale from me, he shoves the meaty side into the hole I made.
"Easton, heal her..." Diaval's head whips up, and his eyes lock on the now-skittish doctor.
Easton places his hand over the scale, and warmth washes over the area. Soon the minor pain passes, and the warmth slowly recedes. He dips his head in my direction before backing away.
"Torben, you need to take the car and park it in the woods and not come out. Diaval's dragon is going to break loose soon now that the scale lives on his mate."
"What about Feray? You said it could kill her..." Torben's panic echoes through the bond, and I try to send soothing feelings down through our shared connection.
"It won't kill me. Besides, Easton said he'll stay with me. Even if it kills him." I look over at him sadly, knowing what he's about to sacrifice.
Easton grips my hand and gives it a squeeze. "On the bright side, you get to see a baby phoenix." He forces a smile and shrugs.
"Not exactly the way I wanted to see one." I feel a soft blush creep across my cheeks.
"I know." He smiles.
Turning back to Torben, I give him a hug and smile up at him. "I'll be okay. My wolf says we'll be fine." I try to imbue as much strength as possible into my voice.
"If you're sure." My big guy bends down and kisses me tenderly. I feel the slight tremble of his hand against my cheek. He's scared for us.
"I'm sure. Go hide the SUV out of sight. Stay there until I come and get you." I kiss him again and hug him tightly before playfully shoving him toward the vehicle. "Go. I'll be alright." Torben nods and lowers his head before getting in the SUV and driving out of sight.
"Feray." Diaval calls my name, and I turn to face him. "It may be easier for your wolf if you keep your eyes closed while I shift."
"I'll hold her with my back to you." Easton offers, and I nod.
There's a curiosity and a terror creeping up my spine, thinking about how huge his dragon is.
Black dragons are known as skull dragons and are nightmares in scales.
Stepping into Easton's embrace, I press the bridge of my nose against his throat so that his neck hides my eyes.
There's a distinct popping and a shift in the pressure in the air.
The beast has emerged. I feel it in my very soul that he's looking at us.
The scale on my chest feels like a gentle tugging sensation.
"Keep your eyes closed. I'm going to step away, Easton." I feel him nod, and I do as I said. I step away, keeping one hand on him. Lowering my head, I open my eyes and stare at the ground.
Inch by inch, I slowly look in the direction of the tugging.
Black talons are sunk into the earth, easily half the size of my wolf.
The front hand could engulf my wolf and carry her off—probably even Torben's bear.
My eyes slowly inch up his battle-hardened scales, following the lines of his front legs up to the massive black armored chest of his dragon.
My breath catches in my throat as I stare at how wide his dragon's chest is.
It's easily as wide as the house I live in.
Bloody hell, his dragon is the biggest thing I've ever seen.
The moment of truth is when I look up to face the dragon in question.
The raised bony prominences of his skull are white like bone, denoting his wyrm status.
His maw is whitened from age and battle.
Several large, jagged scars cover his maw up to his bony eye ridge.
His horns are huge and curled similar to a ram's.
"I'm okay, Easton. I'm looking at him, and I'm safe."
"I'm going to shift and fly off so you two can get to know each other." With that, he shifts immediately and takes off toward where Torben parked the SUV.
Diaval lies down in the field and rests his head on the ground. Slow, steady steps carry me across the grassy meadow. My heart beats erratically in my chest as I approach him. All of his scars seem to stand out more than they did when I first looked.
"Who hurt you?" I rest my palms on his face. His giant yellow-green eye closes slowly, and I hear him exhale the breath he was probably holding. "I'm tougher than I look, Diaval." His eye pops open, and he wiggles his eye ridge.
"Don't give me that look. Yes, the thought of meeting this side of you terrified me.
Mainly because everyone kept telling me I could die.
" Shifting my hands, I use my claws to preen his scales closest to me.
In several crevices on his face, there's a buildup of old scales that didn't shed off.
His dragon makes a deep rumble that sounds almost like a purr as I clean away the old scales.
"I bet this feels good, huh? The old scales have to be itchy." His eye closes again, and the next thing I know, I have the man standing before me. Double-blinking, I retract my claws before I accidentally hurt him.
"Did I do something wrong?"
Before I can pull my hands back, he grips them both closely. "No, you did everything right." He reverently kisses my knuckles, and I laugh. "What's so funny?"
"It's not fair you get to keep your clothes when you shift like Easton does. Damn mythics." I giggle playfully so he knows I mean no harm.
"You bear the marks of two mythics. There's no reason I shouldn't be able to teach you to keep your clothing after we.
.." He leaves the word mate unspoken. He's not ready for that step for whatever reason.
But that's okay. If I'm being honest with myself, neither am I.
We walk hand in hand across the field to where the others are waiting.
They're probably wondering if I lived or died.
Won't they be pleasantly surprised to see us together?