Yep . . . I wish you would’ve moved me out of the sand.
I wish you would’ve walked another six feet to our tent before you lay down for a kip, Khosana. I don’t like when you go flying without me.
I winced. Is that why you didn’t wake me?
No. He brushed his hand over my face, wiping off the residual sand. I was focused on our cave.
What he meant was he hadn’t noticed I’d fallen asleep until the nightmare was almost over. Otherwise he would’ve done something to help me. I eyed the hole he was digging. There was a natural entrance to his old treasure cave two dunes over, but apparently that entrance wasn’t big enough. Probably because he knew I wanted a sapphire the size of a Drae. Yep, yep. Keep digging.
I flicked my gaze over the rest of our kind. All but two of the females in Draedyn’s harem were here as were five males Tyrrik had found in the emperor’s dungeon before blowing it up.
Draedyn had told me I was only meeting most of our family when I met the female Drae, and I’d never put two and two together—even after he told me the extinction of our species had never been his design. On some level, underneath all of the cruelty and depravity, he’d still possessed some loyalty to our kind. I was grateful for that, no matter what elitist belief his loyalty had stemmed from.
Three of the males found their mates in the group of female Drae and were making a shockingly rapid recovery. The other two males were coming along, just not as fast. Starvation and dehydration might not kill the Drae or Phaetyn, but it could still weaken us. I was grateful Tyrrik found them and they’d been strong enough to get out before the mountain blew.
All in all, we had the makings of a nice little family although I was finding my Drae kin were a bit more serious than I was accustomed. I was one hundred and ten percent certain all of them thought I was six short of a dozen, but I’d killed Draedyn, so they accepted my eccentricities even if many still kept their distance. We had time. Lots of it.
The area under the left side of my ribcage pained with a blossoming ache of loneliness. More and more, I missed my friends, human and Phaetyn alike.
I was the Most Powerful Drae. But after a year here in the realm of the Drae, I wasn’t sure what that meant.
Do you want to talk about it, my love? Tyrrik asked.
I tilted my head back to the sun and took a cleansing breath. I’m fine, I said, both to assure Tyrrik and because it was the truth. The battle just comes back to me at the weirdest times.
I wasn’t sure I’d ever get over the feeling of staring at my mate and believing him dead. Nor would I forget the anguished search and soul-crushing confirmation of his passing. I’d knelt at his side, despite the void I’d felt in Tyrrik and the panic in me, and scoured him for any hint of life that I could cling to and use to drag him back into being.
In another existence, whether in my head or a spiritual realm only mates could access, I’d found an onyx wisp of life, or maybe it found me. I’d latched onto that strand—not knowing if it was real—and I’d refused to let go. I’d poured everything into my mate, even more than when I’d obliterated Draedyn, for Tyrrik’s life was more meaningful than even my own.
If he hadn’t come back, I’d still be there now—wherever there was—with him. I can’t believe I found the last trace of life in your little toe.
Everyone you tell that story to is aware you’re making it up.
I bit back a smile. When the scholars write our history, they’ll say little toe. Because that’s what happened.
Tyrrik continued his laborious digging. We won’t be in any history books. At least not that part.
No, we wouldn’t. Only a handful of people knew the truth.
To the rest of the realm, Tyrrik and I had died in each other’s arms. That was the decision Tyrrik and I had made, our hearts sick of the conflict, desperate to just be with each other. In the aftermath of the war, I’d known with single-minded surety I wanted a life with my mate. No more banquets, politics, platitudes, and discussions about what everyone else needed. Our duty was done; the realm was saved. We’d sacrificed so much, and now it was time for us.
A year ago, that decision felt so easy.
It’s a bit hard to turn pages with talons anyway, I joked halfheartedly.
I’d been so focused on removing the emperor from the throne I hadn’t really thought of what happened after the war was won. I mean, I’m sure the leaders of each realm did in the back of their minds. They might have even discussed it amongst themselves. But I’d never thought beyond Draedyn’s death. When I came through the darkness of death with my barely-alive mate on the ground and the stench of fresh blood saturating the air, my path forward had been clear.
What was most important? Draedyn hadn’t known. He’d never gotten past the ‘necessary’ part. He'd never gotten to see that living a necessary life, void of life’s pleasures, was not a life at all. Draedyn had never learned that merely surviving was just death dressed up.
I planned to live. I planned to do more than what was necessary.
And yet here I was in the southern desert.
Are you getting anywhere? I asked Tyrrik, watching the sweat bead on his back. Really, I almost couldn’t appreciate his body any more than I did. Because mine. But also . . . just hot. A lot of hot.
Soon, my mate will have an underground cavern fit for all her treasures. Even big sapphires or rubies.
I grumbled, but his thoughtfulness made my heart soar. Even though I didn’t enjoy how long it was taking to expand his current treasure trove in the Draeconia Desert. I was waiting until Tyrrik was finished before undertaking a stealth mission to dig up my pillbox and gems from the Gemond palace.
Just inside the passageway here, there is a staircase down, he continued. Shelves will line all the way down for display pieces. I can’t wait for you to see what I’ve done.
Neither could I. Tyrrik had kept vigilant about not showing me anything until the cavern was complete. Likely another Drae custom or maybe instinct meant to drive the female crazy. Like his other question game or even watching him sweat in the desert. Once he was done with our lair, I could move everything here to where I’d eventually have our children in a bajillion years or so. Then I would have all my treasures in one spot.
You look very animalistic digging like that, I told him. Like a wee doggie who can’t reach his bone.
Sand erupted as Tyrrik blurred up the dune to stand before me. I pursed my lips, trying to hold back the smile as I waited.
He leaned over me, his onyx gaze studying my face. I felt his inhale as he took in my scent just as I was soaking in his pine and smoke smell.
“You want to rethink that statement?” he asked, his voice low and menacing.
My heart skipped a beat at the sound, but I stood on my toes and reached up, using a finger on each hand to press down the tops of his ears so they stuck out. “Nope,” I replied, raising my eyebrows as I shook my head. “Just like a wee doggie.” I inched closer to him and said, “Arf.”
Tyrrik chuckled, his joy threading through our bond. Grinning, he leaned in to kiss me. Just like the first time, fire licked my skin with his touch, and with the bonds between us, our blue-and-onyx energy danced around us. His mouth moved over mine, and my tongue met his stroke for stroke. I gripped his arms to drag him closer, and he wrapped me in his embrace.
“Mine,” he growled, breathing hard as he rested his forehead to mine.
I inched back and brushed my thumb over his bottom lip. “Mine.”
He squeezed my waist and then tugged my hand. Sit with me.
We sat in the sand and watched the Drae below in content silence, our observations of their happy faces and strong bodies bouncing between us so quickly it was hard to tell which thought originated with who or who was finishing it.
Do you think they’ll be okay now? I asked.
“My love, they’ll be fine. The Druman are gone, Draedyn is gone, Azule isn’t a threat anymore.”
Azule. The country had re
ceived the dawn rooster wake up of their life. Queen Lahr’s position had been filled by one of our own. After the war, the Azulis were made to live a time in Gemond and Verald so that they could see how their fellow human beings had suffered. They heard the young men speak of the horrors experienced at the overseas war. They listened to tales of starvation, of oppression, of cruelty. And then the Azulis were given the option to return to their home if they desired.
Under Dyter’s rule, their frivolity reportedly dwindled to tolerable levels without even the hints of an uprising, nor did there seem to be a risk of it. Azule could hardly fight back against an alliance uniting the rest of the realm. And their alliance was fierce.
Are you ready to talk to me now? Tyrrik asked.
What do you mean?
You’re not happy, mate, Tyrrik stated, turning to study me.
I glanced at him. What? Of course I am. I’m with you.
He shook his head. I can feel it here. He pressed his hand to my chest, making my heart pound. You weren’t raised a Drae. You were raised human. Your friends are human and Phaetyn. I know how much you miss them.
Yeah, I’m not sure seeing them twice a year is cutting it. I sighed heavily then hesitated before continuing. Do you think we made a mistake, cutting ourselves off from the world? I miss my friends, but . . . More and more, I feel isolating ourselves isn’t right, even if it was all we wanted at the time. I paused, taking a deep breath to gather my thoughts, determined to make Tyrrik see my way.
He nodded. I agree.
We want our children to experience cultural divers— I blinked at him. You . . . agree?
Tyrrik snorted at my shock. You needed to come to this decision on your own. I’ve had similar doubts; Drae are guardians of the realm, after all. We needed time to recoup—and we’ve had it—and nearly finish a really big cave. Plus, I’m happiest when you’re happy. He cupped my face and pressed his lips to mine in a brief kiss. After pulling away, he added, You need the realm, not just this desert, Khosana.
He stood and brushed off his butt.
My heart swelled with love, and I admired his backside. And you. I’ll always love you most.
That’s a given.
He looked at me gravely, and I laughed at his serious expression. You’re pretty al’right. For a broody-Drae.
Just trying to stand out from the rest. He shook his hips again and cracked a rare smile.
Could we really do it? Reveal ourselves to the world after hiding for a year? I couldn’t really change my mind if we did this; dying was pretty much a once in a lifetime thing.
“If you decide the answer is still yes, we should leave for the Zivost forest tonight,” Tyrrik said, watching me closely.
I straightened, my eyes narrowing. “Tonight? Wait . . . How long have you been waiting for me to come to this decision?”
He turned and stepped away. Got digging to do.
“How long?” I called after him, ignoring the glances of the other Drae milling below.
How long is a piece of string?
Tyrrik’s amusement radiated through our bond, and I rolled my eyes, making sure he could feel me doing so. I was mated to the funniest Drae in the entire realm.
One who made his choice about stepping out from the shadows and taking risks back in Verald. Had he ever looked back since then?
The truth resonated through me. Life wasn’t about looking back.
Life was about looking and moving forward.
40
Hey, I want to land here. Just for a minute, I said, flying beside Tyrrik. He suffered this—I knew—he really wanted to be in front, protecting me from the list of enemies we still had in the night sky. Clouds.
You’re sure? he asked. The night is still young.
I am. My Phaetyn veil made us invisible to human eyes, so I wasn’t afraid of terrifying anyone by accident.
With my Drae vision, I scanned the kingdom far below, clear to me despite being swathed in darkness. Verald. In what felt like another lifetime, it had been my home. From my vantage point, the alterations in the kingdom were plain. The castle still sat in the center—Calvyten’s abode. The ring of quota fields in the valley below was lush and green. I inhaled the abundance of growth, and an approving rumble sounded in my chest. The market circuit road was still there, but the three rings beyond had changed drastically over the last year.
Even with my keen Drae eyes, I could spot no difference between the Money Coil, the Inbetween, and the Penny Wheel, no noticeable sign that one house was significantly wealthier than another; all three areas appeared to be prospering now.
I had to give that King Cal his due. I liked what he’d done with the place. But the most sentimental things were the fields of lapis-blue flowers. My chest puffed with pride as the tyrs waved with the breeze, a rich sea of blue. That was all me.
Come with me?
Of course, Tyrrik replied.
We circled down toward a large field of my flowers, and I shifted mid-air and landed on my feet. Totally had that badass trick down-pat.
Tyrrik did the same, landing at my side.
We crossed the field and into the Money Circuit, approaching the square.
“Recognize this?” I asked with a soft smile.
“Where we first met,” he said, sliding his hand into mine.
I’d taken us just outside the courtyard where I had so many memories. The best of them included my mate. And my mother. Tyrrik turned toward me and closed the gap between us.
“Why didn’t I just tell you we were mates back then?” he mused, studying my face.
The dark cocooned us, and I rose on my tiptoes, bringing my lips near his, intentionally teasing him.
“Why didn’t you tell me we should stop hiding from the world two months ago?” I replied.
Tyrrik pulled back and grinned, his white teeth gleaming in the dark. “Feisty. But I’m not telling you how long I waited.”
I’d get it out of him eventually.
His grin dropped. “Humans are coming.”
Probably not the time for a Heeeey, we’re baaack moment. Following his lead, we blurred to the buildings bordering the courtyard and melded into the shadows in a crouch, watching as a woman and a young girl entered the clearing. I snorted as I pressed my back to the brick wall of the alley and reminded him, Phaetyn veil.
Two females crossed to the middle of the courtyard, to the fountain. One appeared to be in her twenties and the other no more than five or six. As I turned to pulled Tyrrik down the alley, my breath caught at the gleaming metal piece reflecting the light of the twin moons. My welded flower.
Tyrrik looked at me, and I sent him my memories of the flower. Of how my mother had lifted me to touch it each day.
I didn’t think it survived when Irdelron ordered you to burn Zone Seven. I swallowed the lump in my throat.
The woman spoke, and I blinked back the mist in my eyes to listen.
“Do you see that cluster there?” she said to the young girl sitting beside her on the edge of the fountain. “Those seven stars to the side of the moons?” The woman held the girl’s hand and lifted her arm to trace the constellation.
I didn’t bother looking up. Gazing at the stars and moons from the ground was kind of overrated after flying amongst them. Instead, I watched the young girl and her mother, thinking of the numerous times I’d sat on the edge of this very fountain with my own mum.
“Caltevyn named that cluster Ryn’s flame,” the mother said. “Because of her and Tyrrik’s sacrifice, we are free.”
Extra points to Cal for not calling me Tyrryn. Glad to see that one hadn’t followed me to the fake grave.
“The one on the top looks blue,” the little girl said, swinging her feet off the edge of the fountain as she pointed. The child stared up at the night sky with wide-eyed intensity. Her auburn curls had escaped her braid, and the wisps framed her face, catching the moonlight.
“Yes. That’s why our king chose it. Blue was the color of her fire.”
I’d like to know that too, my mate thought gruffly, making me snicker.
“I’m sure he helped,” the mother muttered, “He kept her safe from Irdelron, so he wasn’t all bad. But he caused a lot of harm around here . . . for a very long time.” She took a deep breath and kissed the young girl’s head. “Come now, it’s time for bed.”
“That’s dumb,” the young girl huffed and slid off the fountain edge. “Ryn made tyrs. And that’s the start of Tyrrik’s name. She must’ve loved him a lot to make flowers for him. I think he was good.”
I like that kid, Tyrrik said. They’re not all that smart.
I bit my lip to stop from laughing. The girl’s mother ambled toward the opposite edge of the courtyard. The young girl scampered after her but stopped at the entrance of the alleyway and turned back to look at the night sky.
As she looked down, a sudden notion struck me, and I stepped from the shadows, dropping the veil as I dragged Tyrrik with me.
The girl startled at the sight of us, squeaking. I heard her gasp as she looked at the stars again and then down at us.
I held my finger to my lips and winked.
Her eyes widened.
Would it be cooler to shift and take off? I asked my mate. Or to blur out of here?
“Arwyn!” the girl’s mother called.
The girl glanced over her shoulder and half turned. But rotating back she lifted her hand and, with a shy smile, waved.
Tyrrik and I waved back.
I crossed the now empty courtyard and jumped up onto the lip of the fountain. Chest bursting, I brushed my hand over the welded flower and then looked to the night sky to the blue star, blowing a kiss to my beautiful mother. I love you, Mum.
Then I got down to business.
Prying the welded flower from the stone without bending the metal was difficult, but I’d had a lot of practice in Gemond; the metal tyr would be the crowning treasure of my hoard.
Black Crown (The Darkest Drae Book 3) Page 32
