Page 130 of Full Moon
Chapter 57
Khal
The lookon Diaval's face says it all. His dragon just shared something very important with our mate—something Diaval wasn't expecting him to reveal. As much as I want to know, I don't dare ask. It's clearly a secret between mates, and that's how it should stay.
As we pack up, a gnawing unease settles over me. The idea of flying again doesn't exactly thrill me. My stomach tightens at the thought, but I push it down. We salvaged seven bags from the SUV—eight if you count the one Feray has with her bracers, collar, and the egg. Easton's bag with their diadems was untouched, along with all of Feray's tonics and extra shed spray for me.
Far too soon, Diaval calls out. "Let's get moving! You know how cranky my dragon gets!" We scramble to the edges of the field, waiting for him to shift.
Feray moves closer to Torben, and I watch as he carefully swaddles the egg to her. The way it sits against her makes her look six months pregnant. That's exactly the look she's going for. Torben slips one of his oversized flannels over her and buttonsit up. With her leggings on, she looks like a very comfortable, pregnant female. It's a stroke of brilliance—whoever's looking for us isn't expecting to see a pregnant woman.
The dreamy look on Torben and Easton's faces speaks volumes. We all want this to be real someday. She looks so damn adorable with that round belly. The sight tugs at something deep inside me, stirring a yearning I didn't realize I had. We take our time binding the bags like last time, our movements slower, more deliberate. There's a quiet reverence in the air as we prepare, a shared understanding of the precious cargo we're protecting.
Diaval shifts, his massive form towering over us. Feray instantly moves to him, whispering something into his dragon's ear hole. His dragon closes his eye and huffs out a sigh. I guess he questioned what she was doing looking like that.
"Time to go!" Feray yells.
We move to stand between the spikes on Diaval's tail. He lifts us carefully, and we take our places on his back. I feel the familiar rush of adrenaline as Feray walks up his neck, settling behind the ridge of his massive, curled horns. When she raises her hands, Diaval stands. Within seconds, he leaps into the sky.
His wings beat the air into submission, each powerful stroke taking us higher into the clouds. The ground falls away beneath us, and I grip the nearest spike, trying to steady my racing heart. The world below fades into a blur. All I can focus on is the wind whipping past and the steady rhythm of Diaval's wings.
Each beat slices through the crisp air, carrying us closer to Redshale. The wind howls around us, but it's not the height that sends a shiver down my spine—it's the speed. What would've taken us days on foot is now reduced to mere hours. I forcemyself to focus on the safety this flight offers, the efficiency, the necessity.
Yet my gaze keeps drifting back to Feray. She's cradling that egg beneath her shirt, her hand moving in slow, almost reverent circles. The conflict rolls through our bond, heavy and relentless. She hates the tonics, the unnatural feel of them coursing through her veins, but more than that, she wants a big family.
Until I met her, the idea of a family was an abstract thought—something distant and uncertain. But now, watching her rub that egg belly, I want it all. More than I ever thought possible.
"You look lost in thought." Torben's voice cuts through, his hand warm and solid on my shoulder.
I glance up at him, huffing out a laugh that feels more like a release of tension. "Just watching Feray rubbing her egg belly."
"She's torn," Easton says, moving closer and settling beside us with a sigh. "With everything that's happened, she's afraid to bring more lives into this world. But knowing the sacrifices her parents and packs made for her to survive, she doesn't want her bloodline to die with her."
His eyes pulse briefly. "Diaval's trying to convince her things are different because she has four mates to help protect her when she can't shift." He shakes his head, a bemused smile tugging at his lips. "It's more his dragon convincing her. He's offering to dig her a deep cave and lay in the entryway, blocking the world out." Easton's laughter mixes with the wind.
"He'd dig her a cave to be pregnant in..." The words feel foreign, even insane, as they leave my mouth.
"I'd have to agree with Khal—that is... I don't even have words for it," Torben adds, running a hand down his face.
Feray has somehow nestled herself behind Diaval's horns, sleeping peacefully despite the jostling of flight. The way she's wedged under that ridge baffles me, but it's so perfectly Feray—finding the most unexpected places to rest.
"We're getting ready to land in the field about two miles out of town. Thirty-minute walk, approximately," Easton announces as he stands.
"Where are you going?"
"Diaval wants me to hold on to Feray while she sleeps during the landing." He digs into his pocket and pulls out his wallet, handing Torben his credit card. "Buy whatever you feel will keep the family safe. There's no limit on that card. Get the vehicle, then secure us a room for tonight." He walks over to Feray and kneels beside her just as Diaval banks hard, circling to land. The force of the turn presses us harder against his scales, but Easton remains steady, his focus entirely on Feray.
Diaval's circles grow tighter as we descend. My heart hammers in my chest. I feel the subtle shift in his muscles as he prepares—hindquarters settling first with a gentle thud, front feet touching down with practiced precision. He lays his body flat, coiling his tail along his side to create a path for us to dismount. Torben and I climb onto his tail, holding our breath as he lowers us to the ground.
"I guess we're going to the town alone then," I mutter.
"With all the unknowns, I feel better with Feray on his back than with us," Torben replies, glancing back at Easton hovering protectively over her.
Every instinct screams at me to stay close, to protect what's ours. But we have a job to do, and that means putting our trust in Easton and Diaval. The walk to town is blessedly uneventful, but I can't shake the urge to keep glancing back. Diaval's choice of landing was strategic—concealed enough that even now, from where we stand, I can't see him.
As we approach the town, something feels off. The bustling shops and lively hum of everyday life should feel familiar—this place has seen my presence more times than I can count, always on business trips. But now, everything feels different. Feray has changed the way I perceive the world, sharpening my senses in ways I never expected. The ordinary has become something charged with an undercurrent of potential danger.
Torben's subtle gesture catches my attention—he tilts his head toward a side street, signaling the turn we need. At the far end sits the car lot, a collection of vehicles waiting for new owners. The owner, a bear shifter from the looks of him, stands near the entrance. The sight stirs faint unease. Bears are formidable, and sometimes not as friendly to my species as Torben has been.
