She smiles up at me and I marvel again at her beauty. With hair the color of flame, almost perfectly matching my scales, our fledglings will be quite handsome, I believe.
“Will your people help us search for other survivors?”
I nod. My race will not hesitate to do this, especially once they find out one of their females has become my linaya. If the Gods saw fit to bind us together, I wonder how many others of our race could be meant for hers.
I suppose we will soon find out.
I glance toward the cave entrance. “You should eat, so we may leave.”
I’m surprised by how quickly she consumes her meal. She is anxious to leave this place, I suspect, for fear of Prince Raidyn or his Wind Clan finding us. I share her concern. I would not be so worried about Raidyn alone, but by now, he has probably reported his discovery back to his Clan. I wouldn’t be surprised if dozens of Drakarians search the desert for us even now. The idea of finding a female would be tempting enough to cross into our territory in force, further violating our treaty.
When Lilliana has finished eating, I move to the mouth of the cave. I hesitate a moment before I transform. My injuries are still healing, so the shift will most likely be painful. But I do not want to waste time. I fear that if we wait until I am completely healed to leave, we might be too late to locate her people before the Wind Clan does.
I turn back to my mate, touching her with my tail. While I will be glad when Healer Ranas installs a translator in her ear, I will miss the constant opportunity to touch my linaya to communicate with her. I shall endeavor to find excuses to continue touching her. My need to feel her soft skin beneath my fingers is too great to be ignored.
“Step back,” I warn. “I do not wish to harm you.”
She moves away and I close my eyes, beginning to shift. Pain ripples through me as I change, but it dissipates quickly. Extending my wings, I test their strength. I’m surprised that I feel only a little sore. I should have no trouble reaching my city now.
I turn to my mate and gently lower my body to the ground. I reach for her with my tail, but she grins and playfully bats me away, insisting she can climb up herself.
Her surefooted ascent takes me by surprise. Perhaps she is no longer afraid of my draka form.
Once she settles between my shoulders, I stretch my wings and dive off the side of the cliff, catching the air current in my sails and lifting into the sky.
Through the touch of her skin upon mine in this form, I am once again able to overhear her thoughts. Experiencing the inner workings of her mind is strange. Her consciousness brims with a tangle of emotions: exhilaration, anxiety, joy, wonder.
As we cross the desert plains, she marvels at the landscape below. The wind is strong, sweeping a fine blanket of dust and mica across the dunes and around the towering rock formations. Footprints dot the crimson sand up ahead and she surmises correctly that they must belong to one of the many predators that hunt in this desolate landscape.
The high plateau ahead marks the outer edge of Valoria. As I ascend to pass over the steep wall, she panics, holding my spikes tightly, afraid she will fall.
“I will not drop you,” I call over my shoulder, loud enough for her to hear. I am pleased when she relaxes slightly, happy to find that she trusts my words. This is good. Trust is important between mated pairs.
When we reach the top of the plateau, I quickly cross the expanse and swoop down on the opposite side toward the wide river below. She marvels at the lush, green farmlands along the river, comparing it to images of her home world before it was poisoned by her ancestors. The mesa on the other side of the water draws her attention. She gapes in awe at the castle above—my home.
Red-orange towers spiral toward the sky as if reaching for the small wisps of clouds overhead, built as much for aesthetics as for defense. She is impressed by the beautiful gold domes atop the towers that mark the four corners of the massive structure, along with a fifth, larger tower in the middle.
As I experience my home through her eyes, I realize how little I’ve appreciated its beauty. To me, the castle is a common sight, one that I’ve seen every day of my existence.
I am pleased that she enjoys the view, however. Especially since this will be the new home of her people.
When we reach the castle, I notice several of the guards eyeing me from their posts. I expect that my parents have been frantic with worry since I left. I am their only remaining child, and I missed the betrothal ceremony they spent months negotiating with the Water Clan.
Dread fills me at the thought of facing my father. He will be so disappointed when I refuse to take Noralla as my mate. But hopefully, he will understand once I introduce my true linaya.
I also pray the Water Clan does not take offense at my rejection of their princess. While I am certain Noralla will not be particularly upset, I do not want to be responsible for damaging the already fragile peace between our two Clans.
When I touch down carefully on the balcony of my bedroom, I hear the alarm in Lilliana’s thoughts.
“What are we doing here?” she asks in wide-eyed wonder as she peers through the window at my expansive chambers.
The word palatial flits through her mind, along with impressions of luxurious decadence and comfort.
A smile curls my lips. All of this wealth and comfort is now hers to enjoy.
I shift into my two-legged form and open my mouth to reply when
