Page 14 of Full Moon
Chapter 7
Diaval
The feelingof the wind rushing over and under the leather of my wings feels incredible. It's a rare occasion I allow him flight these days. Most of the ancient dens have been hunted to extinction. The last den standing is the one my ex, Myra, oversees. Hunting these bats is child's play for me, yet it feels important to my dragon.
I get to protect OUR mate, meat bag. Or have you forgotten I don't get time with her like you do?My dragon snarls at me while we hunt.
Unlike other species, we are of two minds. I think Feray and her wolf are similar. If what her mother says is true, then she's not like the other wolves that came before her. Which explains her having conversations with her wolf.
Pay attention, meat bag.My dragon yells as he blows a torrent of fire at a large group of Dragazhars.
How did these underverse creatures make it up here? I question as we hunt down the last few stragglers. I can only assume that the mage who made the wendigos is also summoning underversecreatures to hunt Feray. My biggest question is—how do they keep finding her?
The thought gnaws at me. The dense forest below blurs as we dive. My heart races in sync with the powerful beats of my dragon's wings. Each gust of wind, each rush of air against our shared form, ignites a fire deep within me I almost forgot. But there's no time to savor it.
We spot the final straggler—a bat larger than the rest, its wings tattered but still beating furiously. My dragon's eyes narrow, and I feel his hunger, his need to protect what is ours. He dives, and I let out a fierce cry, the sound melding with his roar. Fire erupts from his mouth, engulfing the creature in a blaze. As the bat's charred remains plummet to the ground, I search the sky, making sure that was the last one.
But for now, there's no rest. I circle back, scanning the horizon for any sign of more threats. My dragon rumbles in satisfaction, but I sense his unease. The underverse creatures shouldn't be here. We need answers, and I know our hunt is far from over.
I circle several more times before landing above the cavern, off to the side. The sun is setting, the sky ablaze in shades of red, orange, and pink that will slowly fade to purple, then eventually dark blue to black as the stars emerge. It's a breathtaking scene, almost making me forget the chaos below.
Tonight, I'll watch over the family from here. I'm still too amped up to rest.
"Feray, get down here!" I hear Torben yell.
I cock my head, looking down toward the cave. My crazy mate is climbing the rock face with ease, squeezing through places the bear can't follow her. She's in a mid-shift state, using thestrength and claws of her wolf to climb.Smart mate...My dragon says almost wistfully. I can't agree with him more.
"Stay down there. Diaval can watch me," Feray yells back, clearing the next cluster of rocks. She has a backpack on—I'm guessing she's planning to stay up here or delivering my clothes. Before she can climb higher, I turn slightly and lower my tail to her. She looks over the sharp, curved spines and settles herself between them.
Smart wolf...My dragon says as we lift her up. Gently, I rest my tail on the rock, and she climbs off. Her eyes take on the glow of her wolf as she walks around my massive form, inspecting me with a mix of concern and admiration. I watch her mid-shift state melt away as she scans my scales.
"I didn't think those icky bats could hurt you." She smiles, tilting her head up to look at us.
My heart does a little flip-flop. The sight of her standing there, her wild hair backlit by the fading sunlight, makes my chest tighten with an overwhelming surge of affection. She's never shown fear when it comes to us. It just makes me love her more.
"I don't get to see you often like this." She motions to us before setting her backpack down. Feray looks back toward the cavern, then up at me. "I already told Easton to tell the others I'm staying up here with you tonight. That I'd be safe here with you."
Slowly, I lower my huge horned head and press my nose into her side.You are always safe with us,I say through the bond. It still amazes me she isn't afraid of us. Maybe her self-preservation drive is broken like her sister's.She's our mate. We will never harm her.My dragon growls at me.
Feray arches a brow. "Be nice to Diaval, you big meanie."
Her wolf's eyes burn golden, then flicker amber with red flecks. The beast in her chest is getting stronger the closer she gets to her ancestral home. Her fingers gently brush against my scales, and I feel the warmth of her touch seep into me. The moonlight casts a silver glow over her, making her hair shimmer like liquid fire.
You heard my dragon?I lower my head further, and she shifts her nails to claws, preening my scales with a delicate touch that sends a shiver through me.
"Am I not supposed to?" she asks, stepping in front of the eye closest to her.
The meat bag doesn't trust us with you. He keeps me from you,my dragon says, his voice rumbling like distant thunder.Technically, no. You're not supposed to be able to hear him. Only long-mated pairs usually can.My voice wavers slightly. The things my mate can do make me question everything I've held as truth all these years.
Feray caresses my maw, her touch warm against my scales. She plants several kisses along my iridescent hide, each one sending ripples through me. "Can I pretty please have your human side for a while?" she asks, her voice soft. "I promise I'll sleep tucked under your wing so you can watch over me tonight." She moves to stand before my eye, her figure tiny yet captivating in my massive vision.
Without warning, my dragon releases his grip on our form, sending me plummeting to the rock below, naked and vulnerable. I catch myself just in time, landing on my hands and knees.
Feray's giggles echo around me. A soft, warm blanket soon envelops me, and Feray kneels before me, her eyes sparkling with mischief and adoration. "There, that's better. Hi, Diaval." She leans forward and kisses my forehead before I have the chance to sit up.
A chuckle escapes my lips as I move to kneel, the blanket draped off my shoulders. "Hello, my love. My eternal." I reach out, cupping her cheek and pulling her closer. My lips ghost over hers, savoring the softness of her thick bottom lip.
She smiles, breaking the kiss, and scoots closer. Her hands rest on my bare thighs, sending a shiver up my spine. "I've missed you," she whispers.
