We watch the camali roll over on the floor playfully as her fledglings surround her. Lilliana reaches down and rubs her belly, and Callie emits a loud purr of contentment.
“Yes, I believe you are right,” Varus says. “But I needed to ask since I cannot take chances with my mate’s safety.”
Lilliana looks up at him with shining eyes. “Can we get one, Varus? Please?”
He smiles back at her and nods. “Whatever you desire is yours, my linaya.”
She beams, returning her attention to the camali. He turns to me. “You will bring one of the fledglings to us after they are weaned, will you not?”
“I, uh…”
“And us as well?” Llyr asks.
Raidyn crosses his arms over his chest. “My mate will have the first pick of the litter.”
Fortunately for us, camali prefer to live in solitude. The mothers wean and then leave their fledglings to fend for themselves. If this were not truth, I would be afraid to take anything from Callie that she did not wish to part with. That is why camali make such excellent guard pets. When they form an attachment to their owner, they are fiercely loyal and would die to defend them.
I smile. “This will work out well, I think. My mate wishes to see each territory in this world. She has the heart of an explorer. When the fledglings are ready, we will bring them to you.”
As Callie begins nursing her young, our mates return to our sides.
Skye hugs Raidyn and smiles up at him. “I think I want the gray-striped one because it reminds me of you, my love.”
He darts a glance at me, and I nod in understanding. He wraps a possessive wing around her. “Then that is the one you shall have.”
Lilliana places a hand low over her abdomen as she faces Varus. “It will be safe to have around the baby, right?”
He nods, for he knows a camali will guard them and their child with its life once it bonds with them. “Yes, my linaya.”
Talia stretches onto her toes and kisses Llyr before turning to Anna. “Looks like we’ll be closest to each other. Llyr says it’s only an hour from here to the castle.”
“Wonderful.” Anna grins. “We can visit all the time, then.”
Raidyn steps forward. “Varus and I have been discussing the construction of transports for our mates and the rest of the humans to use since they do not have wings. These will enable humans to travel more independently of Drakarians.”
While I like the idea of my mate having easy access to my world, I’d prefer to be the one transporting her. As if reading my thoughts, she takes my hand and looks up at me. “I prefer flying with you, but it would be nice to have a mode of transport if you’re busy.”
I press a soft kiss to her lips as I meet her eyes evenly. “I am never too busy for you.”
She gives me one of her dazzling smiles and my hearts fill with warmth.
Varus places a hand on my shoulder, drawing my attention to him. “We have also discussed restarting the tradition of the harvest games again.”
My brows go up. This is indeed good news. The harvest games used to be times of great enjoyment between the Clans when warriors could prove themselves. It was also a symbol of our unity and peace amongst each other. “I look forward to restarting this tradition,” I tell him.
Rakan—his guard—moves to his side. “I request permission to return to the castle of the Water Clan.”
Varus nods. “Of course. We will meet you there.”
Without hesitation, Rakan turns and walks toward the balcony, taking flight immediately.
I frown. “Is something wrong?”
Varus smiles. “He is eager to return to the human female he has had his eye on.”
“Ah,” I reply, remembering how jealous he was when I flew Holly on my back to the Water Clan territory. “You are speaking of Holly.”
He nods.
“Does she return his feelings?” I ask, curious to know.
Varus arches a brow and turns to his mate—Lilly. “It is hard to tell just yet.”
Lilly looks to me. “I think she does, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
Anna wraps an arm around my waist and I curl my wing around her, pulling her even closer before I press a tender kiss to her temple. I am blessed beyond measure that this perfect female has chosen me to be hers.
Rakan is a good male—known far and wide among the Clans as one of the strongest and bravest warriors. I hope that he finds happiness like I have.
Epilogue
Kaj
After we’ve made love for the second time this morning, I reach down to brush her dampened hair back from her face as she sleeps against my chest. I move my hand to her lower abdomen and rest my palm on her petal-soft skin.
Closing my eyes, I concentrate. We have created life through our bonding—of this, I am certain. A possessive growl rumbles my chest as I tighten my wings around her. The gods have blessed me by choosing such a perfect mate.
As if sensing how much I wish to see her lovely eyes, her eyelids flutter open. She smiles sleepily. “Good morning, my love.”
“Good morning, my linaya.”
Callie purrs contentedly in her bed in the corner, surrounded by her fledglings. Their tiny faces peeking up over the blanket as soon as they hear us speak.
“Good morning, my loves,” she hums.
They flutter their little wings and fly onto the bed, landing beside us.
We’re going to keep Callie, while one fledgling each will go to Llyr and Talia, Skye and Raidyn, and Varus and Lilliana. I must admit that it will be hard to part with them, but camali are territorial creatures. Once her offspring are weaned, Callie would probably not tolerate the fledglings in our home for very long. But they are far from old enough to leave the nest yet.
Anna gets up and goes
