Several images flit through her mind, along with a tangled mess of emotions. I sense how nervous she is about flying, but she trusts me not to drop her.
Her faith in my ability to protect her fills me with pride.
We dip and weave through the air, following the path of the air currents. I am honored that she trusts me to carry her. Without wings, she would tumble to her death if she fell. I am glad that she is still able to trust me even though I withheld the truth of my draka form from her.
My nostrils flare and I’m instantly alert as I scent another Drakarian nearby. Drawing the scent deep into my lungs, my eyes snap open when I realize it is not a member of the Fire Clan. No, this is a Drakarian of the Wind and I recognize him almost instantly. It is my rival, Prince Raidyn of the Wind Clan.
We were as close as brothers before his mother’s death. I’ve sparred with him in the past, but I am hesitant to meet him now. Especially with my female on my back.
Scanning the area, I search for a hiding place. When I see none, I turn and circle back, hoping he has not scented me as well.
A deafening roar splits the air a second later. Lilly’s fear beats through our connection like an insistent drum, echoing my own. I do not want to fight him while she is with me. She could be harmed accidentally.
“What’s that?” she yells, trying to make sure I can hear her over the wind.
“A trespasser from another Clan. I’ll need to hide you.”
“Why?” she responds, alarmed. “Do you think he’d try to eat me?”
If I wasn’t so panicked, I’d laugh. She must think us Drakarians are a savage race indeed. Raidyn is more likely to steal her away and try to coax her to mate with him than to eat her. No matter which Clan we hail from, my kind would never eat another sentient being—especially not a female.
A towering rock formation in the far distance looks like an ideal place to conceal my mate. Furiously flapping my wings, I race toward the structure, hoping I’ll make it there before Raidyn sees her.
As soon as we reach the formation, I circle just above the upper ledge and then carefully land. There is no time to wait for her to dismount by herself, so I use my tail to gently pull her off my back, setting her firmly beneath the upper ledge to shield her from his view.
I turn to find her staring up at me in concern. “Are we going to hide here?”
“You are,” I tell her. “I must lead him away.”
“You’re going to just leave me here? Alone?” she asks incredulously. She shakes her head. “No. Stay here with me. You could get hurt out there.”
Although I’m worried about her safety, I cannot help the pleasure that moves through me at her concern for my welfare. Perhaps there is hope for our relationship after all. A Drakarian female never worries about the health and safety of a male other than her mate or fledglings.
I dip my head. “I will return to you or die trying. My vow.”
She huffs in frustration. “That’s what I’m worried about! The dying part! Just stay here!”
A sly grin twists my mouth. She is demanding, my female, and very adamant about my well-being. This is a good sign.
Another booming roar sounds and I turn to find Raidyn racing toward us on the wind.
“Hide,” I tell Lilliana over my shoulder as I untangle my tail from her waist. Extending my wings, I lift off the rocky ledge to face my rival.
Moving as fast as I can, I rush to meet him head-on. I know Raidyn; he would never hurt a female. None of our people would. But he might try to steal her away, and I cannot lose my linaya now that I’ve found her.
“Raidyn, stop!” I cry out, but he continues to race toward me.
We clash in a fury of teeth and claws, tumbling through the air in freefall.
“What are you doing here?” I cry as we split apart to regain some altitude. “This is Fire Clan territory! You should not be here!”
His light gray scales shimmer iridescently beneath the sun. When his ice blue eyes meet mine, my gaze travels over the long scar that runs from just above his right brow down to the top of his cheek. It is the only physical scar he bears from the day he lost his mother, but I know he carries emotional ones that run far deeper than this disfiguring injury.
He blames me and my clan for his mother’s death.
His eyes burn with fire as he flares his nostrils, scenting the wind. “What are you hiding?” he growls. His gaze shoots toward the towering rock where I left Lilliana.
Fierce possessiveness burns through me like fire.
She is mine! My mate! My Lilliana! He cannot have her!
My hearts stop and then begin hammering. Instead of answering, I rush him again. Baring my fangs and claws, I tear into his thick scales.
He roars in anger, slamming into the rock with a sickening thud.
Lilly rushes from her hiding place, her gaze flicking between us with a terrified expression.
“What is that?” he growls, his nostrils flaring again. “A wingless female? She does not smell Drakarian.”
“She is mine!” I grind out. “You cannot have her!”
“Yours?” He gives me an incredulous look. His eyes widen when he notices my chest. I look down to find the glowing mate pattern swirling brightly across my scales. “You have found compatible females?”
With a deafening roar, I charge him a third time, but he manages to twist away at the last moment.
“You are withholding this from our Clan? We have an alliance!” he grits through his teeth.
“I just found her. In
