Page 16 of Full Moon
Chapter 8
Feray
I don't knowwhat it is about Diaval, but I just want to listen to him. Sleeping under his dragon's wing was probably the most insane thing I've done besides the tattoo and piercings. Diaval wakes me up by lifting his wing and letting the sun hit me.
"Silly dragon." I yawn before I slide down his side and land on the rocks below.
In the distance, I hear the bleating of sheep, and I smile. "Let's hunt for breakfast."
Through the bond, I tell Easton my plan. He and the others will gather firewood and set up a fire to cook with. Walking to the edge of the big rock, I look down and see Torben staring back at me. I toss down my pack before returning to look at Diaval.
"I have an idea. I'm going to shift. You pick my wolf up in your taloned hand. We fly after the sheep, and when we get close enough, drop me in the snow. You fly ahead to herd them in the right direction." His horned head tilts several times before he leans back, offering me his taloned hand.
"We can land here and I can redress before we join the others." I strip, leaving my clothes in a pile. The excitement I feel about hunting with Diaval makes my blood thrum. Each time I shift, it feels more fluid and faster than the previous time. Shaking out my fur, I pause and look up at his dragon. This is the first time they're seeing each other up close. Hesitantly, I step closer and sniff at his dragon, and he does the same.
Mate...His dragon's voice echoes in my head.
Mate...My wolf says in response, her voice much softer than usual.
We lick his maw before his taloned hand comes forward to gently pick me up. The contrast of his obsidian scales against my snow-white fur is shocking. If all the clues of my past are true, I belong in the arctic.
What of my mates? How will they survive?
Diaval takes off, and it's a new experience—feeling the rush of wind as my legs dangle beneath me. The sky stretches out endlessly, a vast expanse of blue meeting the stark white of the snow-covered mountains below. My heart pounds with a mix of fear and exhilaration. The icy wind bites at my muzzle, but it's nothing compared to the thrill of flight.
We will be fine. As long as I can hunt and eat, the temperature will not be an issue,Diaval reassures me.
I blink in surprise.How did you hear me?
Two reasons. One, we are mates. Two, we are in direct contact with each other.He shifts his massive wings, changing direction smoothly.This herd will do nicely.
My pulse quickens, instincts sharpening as I prepare for the hunt. The moment Diaval is low enough, he releases me into the snow. The cold is a shock, but my paws find traction instantly. I take off at top speed, my fur blending seamlessly with the deep snow as I circle around to approach the herd from downwind. The sheep are too busy watching Diaval's imposing dragon form to notice me.
It's like I'm a ghost in the snow.
The adrenaline surges through me, muscles coiling and uncoiling with each stride. The ewe at the back of the herd doesn't even have time to react. With a powerful leap, I lunge at her, teeth bared, the thrill of the hunt consuming me. The world narrows to this single moment—the instinctive drive to go for her throat and crush it. The feel of her thick wool giving way to the soft hide beneath it tickles as much as it drives me to clamp down harder. Her strangled scream alerts the other sheep to my presence, and they take off. A ram doesn't make it far before Diaval's dragon snaps it up, swallowing it whole.
Blood sprays me and the snow around me as I hold on to the ewe. The first time she rears up almost throws me off balance. I know now not to allow her to rise onto her hind legs. The deer never put up this much of a fight. She's quite strong compared to the deer I'm used to hunting. With every thrash, I remind myself I was made for this. With a final, violent shake, I rip a sizable chunk of her throat out, spraying blood everywhere. Her death knell echoes in the valley, and Diaval returns to me.
When his dragon sets down, he reaches out to take the sheep first, then his free hand grabs me. It's interesting to watch him rise on his hind legs to launch us vertically into the air.You did good.Diaval's words send a pulse of pride down the bond. I can't help but preen under his praise.
Your dragon did all the work. I just grabbed on for the ride of my life.I giggle in the mental bond, remembering her thrashing.
We circle the flat rock several times before Diaval drops the ewe. Stepping out of the shadows, I notice Khal waiting for us. He's smiling and shaking his head at me. Before I know it, Diaval drops me into Khal's waiting arms.
"Good job, Precious." Khal looks my blood-soaked fur over.
Diaval lands behind us and blows flames at the snowpack above us. The water runs down the mountainside, and I shift to go stand under it.
Khal is laughing at me as he runs after me with a towel. "You could have waited until I was ready."
Looking up, I let the warm water run over my face. "Diaval is somehow giving me hot water. I will not waste it." I scrub quickly and use the soap and washcloth that Khal hands me to make sure to get rid of the blood scent. When I'm clean, I step out from under the water and smile. "All clean, Diaval. Thank you." No sooner are the words out of my mouth than he shifts back and rifles through the bag Khal brought. Khal helps me towel off before I get dressed back in my clothes.
"We went hunting together." I'm beaming. I'm so incredibly happy I got to hunt with Diaval. I never thought I would experience it because of his prey drive.
"There are things we need to discuss over breakfast." Diaval says as Khal tends to the ewe, breaking it down.
"Did I do something wrong?" I tilt my head.
