by Aria Winter
And now, here I am, developing feelings for him. I don’t know what to do—or even what to think. I wish Lilliana were here so I could talk to her. She’s always the first person with whom I share my problems.
I wonder if she’s wishing the same thing right now.
We’re both close with Talia and Anna, but Lilly and I are like sisters to one another. Stars, I miss her, and I hope she’s safe with her alien dragon man.
Peeling away my clothes, I step into the bath and sigh in contentment as I sink beneath the warm water. All the muscles in my shoulders relax as I perch on the sunken ledge around the perimeter and tip my head back. A small basket near the edge holds what looks like several small bars of soap. When I pick one up and bring it to my nose, I smile. It’s just as fragrant as the alien roses outside.
When I drop the bar into the water, it dissolves immediately, filling the entire tub with pink bubbles and the delicious floral scent. Allowing myself to float in the center of the large pool, I sigh again. This is absolute Heaven. I’ve never experienced a real bath before; I’ve had to take showers as far back as I can remember. Water has always been a luxury and heavily rationed, both on Earth and the colony ships.
When I close my eyes, Raidyn invades my thoughts. My mind replays images of his bare form, the embodiment of masculine perfection. Before today, I’d never seen a man naked outside of videos and images. Not that Raidyn is a man, per se, but close enough.
The way he wrapped his wing protectively around me in the throne room and then flew us off to safety was like a scene straight out of the many fantasy romance novels I used to read on the ship with Lilly. Except this time, the dragon saved the damsel instead of a human knight in shining armor. And now that I’ve experienced it in real life, I prefer the dragon version.
Would you like help bathing? His question resurfaces in my mind.
To be honest, I was tempted to say yes. I’m attracted to him, without a doubt. He’s everything I would ever look for in a partner: kind, intelligent, handsome, and alpha-male protective.
I run my hands down my form, imagining they’re his. The soap allows my fingers to glide sensually over my skin. There’s something irresistible about him, those sharp claws, fangs, and horns, and that long tail and scar lending a lethal edge to his attractiveness.
I’ve never been wanted by a man before—not like this. Men have ogled me and asked me out, but I always knew they wanted only one thing: to spend the night with me. But my heart was fixed on forever, so I always turned them down.
The hopeless romantic in me waited for the knight in shining armor to appear and make me his forever. To proclaim his undying love and devotion, vowing to protect and defend me always.
Isn’t that what Raidyn did when he called me his mate? His linaya? He wants me for eternity.
At the thought, I’ve never been so turned on in my entire life. Gently, I dip my fingers between my folds and find them already slick with arousal. I tease the partially hooded pearl of flesh at the apex and inhale sharply while an image of Raidyn touching me like this fills my mind.
I’ve touched myself before, but always in hurried motions, a rush to bring myself to a quick, brutal completion before my allotted shower time ran out on the ship. Here, I can take my time. Indulge in my fantasy as long as I want and—
A splash in the water startles me abruptly and I jerk up to find Raidyn in the pool with me.
“What are you doing?” I practically screech in alarm, trying to conceal my naked form beneath the bubbles.
“I tried knocking to check on you, but you did not answer. When I saw you floating, I thought something was wrong.” His nostrils flare and then his ice-blue vertically slit pupils contract and expand as his expression heats. “I can scent your need,” he rasps. “Are you entering your heat cycle?”
“My what?” I ask, alarmed that he not only scented what I was doing but has joined me in the tub, still naked and completely turned on, by the look on his face.
He inches closer, his eyes locked on mine. “Are you entering your heat cycle?” He clearly enunciates each word as if he thinks I did not hear his question before.
My entire body flushes with warmth. I swallow nervously because part of me wants to pull him closer even though I know I should be pushing him away. It would be so easy to reach for him. And why not? What’s stopping me? Why am I hesitant to accept when he’s offering me the eternal love I’ve always dreamed of?
His gaze holds mine for a beat before I lower my eyes. “My people don’t have a heat cycle.”
He stills. “But your scent—”
“I was just bathing.” I quickly change the subject.
He nods. “Forgive me, then, for disturbing you. I will leave you alone.”
When he turns to leave, pulling his body from the water, I’m afforded a view of his perfectly sculpted backside. His long, tapered tail only adds to the appeal.
I shake my head in a tiny movement, chastising myself for my errant thoughts. I hardly know this man. I need to get ahold of myself.
Chapter 11
Raidyn
I curse myself inwardly as I leave the cleansing room. I am a fool. She probably believes I am treating her like a newly hatched fledgling. Drakarian females detest an overly protective male and judging by the look on Skye’s face, I surmise human females feel the same.
It is difficult, however, because my every instinct demands I protect her. Especially while my father wants to imprison her again. I could have lost her to his madness when he had her thrown in a cell. She could have become ill, or even worse, she could have died if she’d stayed there, exposed to the elements any longer. Judging by the way she was shivering when I found her, I do not believe her species is able to regulate their body temperature as effectively as mine. I close my eyes as a small shudder runs through me. I could have lost my linaya in an instant, while I was unconscious and helpless to save her.
I struggle to leave her to her bath when every impulse demands that I stay. I recognized the scent of her need in the cleansing room. I long to taste her sweet nectar on my tongue. The drive to mate with her, to claim her fully as mine, consumes me. My stav is engorged and presses insistently inside my mating pouch, desperate to seek the warm, wet heat of her center. But she is not ready to take me as her mate. I must wait for her decision.
What can I do to prove to her that I am a worthy mate?
With a heavy sigh of frustration, I head downstairs to take note of our supplies. I must make certain that my mate is well cared for while we are here, though I don’t know how long that will be.
I cannot risk contacting Tai right now for fear that my father or cousin would intercept my message. I will have to wait at least a few days before I make the attempt. Right now, we are safe. If my father even suspected I was here, Tai would already have reached out to warn me.
I move to the kitchen. The stasis unit is fully stocked, so we should not want for food while we are here. Everything is in order, as it should be. I wonder when the caretakers were last here. They are only scheduled to come by a few times per cycle to make sure the house does not fall into disrepair.
My father never comes here anymore, and I only visit rarely, never for longer than a day. My father believes I find it as painful as he does to even think of this house and that I have stayed away as well.
Light footsteps at the top of the stairs draw my attention and I look up to find Skye staring down at me, dressed in the fresh robes I left outside the cleansing room door.
“I like it here,” she murmurs as her gaze travels over the room. “But are you sure we’re safe?”
This is not the first time she has voiced this concern. I hate the hunted look in her eyes as she asks yet again. I give her a faint smile as I struggle to push down the painful memories of my mother that this cabin brings to the surface.
“My father would never look for me here.” She opens her mouth as if to object, but I interrupt. “Would you like something to eat?”
She smiles. “That sounds wonderful.”
It doesn’t take me long to prepare a meal from the stasis unit. I’m not sure what she likes, so I bring her a sample spread. It seems she prefers fruits and vegetables to the various meats I’ve lain out. Recalling her blunt teeth, I suppose it makes sense that humans prefer a vegetarian diet.
She lifts a piece of tavi fruit to her nose and delicately sniffs it. Cautiously, she takes a small bite and smiles. “This is amazing. What is this?”
“Tavi fruit,” I explain, watching her devour piece after piece. Tavi is the preferred food of fledglings because it is easily chewed, but I do not tell her that. I am already hovering over her as if she were a fledgling. When she is finished with her second plate of food, I ask, “Would you like more?”
She shakes her head softly as she chews her final bite. Sitting back in her chair, she rests a palm over her abdomen. “I’m so full, I don’t think I could eat anymore even if I wanted to.”
She looks down at her hand. “On the ship, we were always rationing, you know. And sometimes, if there was an issue with the crops, I remember my mother used to give us her portions during those times, and still, we would be so hungry…” She trails off as her gaze drifts to the far wall, lost in the memory. “I think this is the first time I’ve eaten so much. I’m sorry.”
I reach out and place my hand atop hers, resting on the table. “You do not need to apologize. We have plenty of food and you need not ration.”
Her eyes snap up to meet mine. “Really?”
I nod. And at this moment, I vow that she will never know hunger again.
She turns her palm into mine and gently squeezes my hand. “I haven’t thanked you for saving me… again.”
“There is no need.”
“Yes, there is, Raidyn. You defied your father. You’re being hunted by your Clan because you helped me.”
“It is nothing,” I reassure her, because it is truth. Any Drakarian would do this for their mate. Especially their linaya.
“No, it’s not,” she denies firmly. Tears gather in the corner of her eyes. “I’m worried about you. What are you going to do?”
My brow furrows softly. She is worried about me? No Drakarian female would worry for a male unless he is her mate. It pleases me immensely that she is so concerned for me. Perhaps she does have feelings for me, despite her insistence that she does not wish to be my mate.
“I have given this much thought,” I begin. “We will hide here for a while. Then we will go to the Fire Clan to find your friend.”
Worry flashes in her eyes. “But I thought you were enemies. That it wasn’t safe for you to enter their territory.”
“Prince Varus and I were friends once.” I sigh heavily as the memories return. “We used to be as close as brothers.”
“What happened?”
“My mother and I were traveling through Fire Clan territory and were caught in a sandstorm.” I swallow against the thick lump in my throat. “When the Fire Clan found us, my mother insisted they treat my injuries first, even though she was more severely wounded. She died that day.” I curl my hand into a fist at my side. “They let her die.”
Skye reaches for my other hand, her blue eyes piercing mine. “Your mother reminds me of mine,” she says softly. “She must have loved you very much to insist that you be treated before her.”
Tears swim at the edge of my vision as I lower my head. “She did.”
“I wasn’t there, but it seems she chose to risk her life to make sure you survived, Raidyn. It’s a choice I think any parent would make. That’s why the Fire Clan honored her wishes.” A tear slips down her cheek. “My parents did the same for me, you know.”
Shocked, I search her face, waiting for her to continue.
“Almost all of the colony crew was sick and there wasn’t enough medicine.” Her voice trembles. “My parents gave up their medicine to me and my younger brother. They loved us so much, they wanted to make sure we would live, Raidyn.” I pause. “Several parents made the same choice, but not all of them died, like mine.”
An image of the younger male lying lifeless in her arms flits through my thoughts and I suddenly realize whom she may have lost. “Your brother… is he among the other survivors?”
I already know the answer by the quiver in her bottom lip as tears stream down her cheeks. “No.” Her voice is barely a whisper. “He was killed during the attack on our ship.”
“My heart grieves with yours,” I whisper. I gather her in my arms and she buries her face in my chest as her shoulders rack with suppressed sobs.
“The pirates who attacked your ship. Who were they?”
“I don’t know. But they had scales like your people, and a long, tapered tail, sharp claws, and fangs. No wings, though.”
Rage fills me when I realize what race she is describing. It is difficult, but I somehow manage to maintain a stoic expression. “I know of whom you speak—the Rovarans. It is fortunate that Varus found your friend and I found you.”
“Why?”
“They are ruthless mercenaries and slavers. Your species resembles ones they covet, which would bring thousands of credits in the slave trade. It is highly probable they are still searching for your people.”
Her eyes snap up to meet mine in alarm. “We need to go find the rest of my crew, Raidyn.”
I move to reassure her. “I am certain by now that the Fire Clan has already discovered them and sheltered them in their capital city.”
“How do you know?”
“Because that is what I would have done, if my father had agreed. Do not worry. The Fire Clan can defend against the pirates. We will find your friend. You will see her again. My vow.”
She lifts her tear-filled gaze to me. “But it could be dangerous for you to enter Fire Clan territory. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
If her expression was not so pained, I would be happy that she cares so deeply about my wellbeing. I run a hand gently over her long, golden hair. It is softer than I imagined, the fine silken strands slipping through my fingers. “I will be fine. Do not worry. We will wait for a few days and then cross the desert.”
She nods and hugs me again.
Was ever a male blessed with such a caring mate? I think not. I used to pray the Gods would grant me a female who could see past the scar on my face, who would want me for who and not what I am. Now, they have gifted this female to me. They have blessed us with the fate bond. I now understand that the Gods gave me my scar so I could wait for the right female to accept me.
We sit on the balcony after consuming our meal, watching as the sun sinks low on the horizon. She gazes up at the star-filled sky.
“It’s gorgeous here,” she whispers, more to herself than to me.
A thought suddenly occurs to me and I stand. I extend my arm to her, offering my hand with a smile. “I would like to show you something.”
Cautiously, she takes my hand. “What is it?”
I arch a brow. “Do you trust me?”
She grins. “If you had asked me that only a day ago, I would have said no, but now? Yes, I do.”
My heart swells at her words. Trust is vital between a mated pair. I never imagined I’d earn hers so soon.
I place an arm behind her back and sling the other under her knees to lift her to my chest. My heart stops as a stunning smile curves her lips and she wraps her arms around my neck. “What are you doing?”
“We’re going to fly.”
She blinks. “But I thought you had to shift into your other form.”
I shake my head. “No, I am perfectly capable of flying like this. I simply prefer the other form.” What I do not tell her is that I prefer this form because I can hold her in my arms, close to my chest.
I move to the edge of the balcony and she grips me tighter. “Are you ready?”
She nods and I step off the ledge. She yelps in surprise as I extend my wings to catch the air, flapping furiously to climb above the tree l
ine. I slip into an air current and glide toward the larger floating island nearby so she can inspect the city below.
It is nighttime. Most have already returned to their homes. Those who have not, pay us no mind, as I’ve made sure her robe covers her form, concealing her alien features.
She stares wide-eyed at the city. It is not as large as the capital, but still impressive by any standard. Tall buildings carved from light-gray and white stone shimmer softly beneath the light of the moon overhead. Water spills over the edge of the smaller island above, feeding the small river that winds through the city center before it, too, drops off the side into another smaller island that holds an extension of the city. The white mist of the waterfall appears like smoke dissolving into the sky.
Long vines trail down the side of the buildings, their verdant shades a beautiful contrast to the grayscale stone. The wonder in my mate’s eyes makes me view the city through an entirely different lens, marveling at its beauty in a way I never have before.
“Can you go higher?” she asks.
I smile and then slip into another current, spiraling up toward the clouds. As we ascend, she studies the stars in awe.
“This is beautiful, Raidyn.”
As I regard my perfect mate in my arms, I could not agree more. She is the loveliest thing I have ever seen and I am honored the Gods fated me to this glorious female.
When we return to the house, I set us down gently on the balcony. She steps out of my arms and already, I miss the press of her body against mine.
“I love it here, Raidyn,” she murmurs. “It’s so peaceful. Like the perfect getaway from everything else.”
“I have always considered this a sanctuary,” I tell her. “I am glad that you like it, for it is just as much yours as it is mine.”
She lowers her gaze and I can see the indecision that wars inside her. She cares for me—of this, I am certain. But she is still unsure if she desires to be my mate.
I am a patient male. The Gods did not gift us the fated bond without reason. I am already hers and I vow that some day, she will become mine as well.
