Serenna crossed her arms with an irritated huff, forcefully expelling the suggested images of her and the prince tangled in the meadow.Of course he’s all business.
“Anyway,” Vesryn said, returning to finish fussing over the saddle straps, cinching a girth over the scales behind Naru’s front legs. “The Aelfyn intentionally bred the dracovaeto fly with us, but ultimately these featherbrains are the ones deciding who they’ll permit as riders.” Naru wrapped his neck back to watch the prince, clacking his beak as if interpreting the slight. “Luckily for you, Naru appreciated the rabbit treat you prepared for him, so he doesn’t mind if you ride along with me.” After securing a final knot, Vesryn gave him a pat, turning toward Serenna.
The prince slid his hands over her hips, tightening his fingers across her waist as he reeled her closer to him. A swell crested and tumbled in Serenna’s stomach, capsizing all coherent thought.
Vesryn’s eyes traveled over her face. “I can give you the best chance at a fledged dracovae choosing you as its rider.”
Breaking free from the spell in his gaze, Serenna registered what he was implying. It wasn’t like she had any better options, but she hadn’t yet decided if she wanted to join the rangers or if that was just what the prince desired.
Stubbornly shaking her head, Serenna said, “I’d rather earn a position.”
Vesryn’s hands dropped away as she retreated a step, separating herself from the bias he freely offered. A muscle flexed in his jaw, his silent disapproval sparking a prickle of worry.
More words spilled from Serenna’s mouth to explain. “I imagine the rangers who worked for their rank would object if I’m shown any favor or given special privileges.” She glanced away, staring at Naru’s mate, Trella, in the distance. The morning sun drenched her vibrant plumes as she preened her white feathers. “You’ve already done more than you should’ve by choosing me as your champion for the tournament. I’ve done nothing to deserve it besides having random chance form this bond.”
Sensing the prince’s annoyance and displeasure twisting together, Serenna hesitantly met his gaze. Vesryn held her stare for an uncomfortable moment before his irritation spiked. Her breath snagged in a startled gasp when he seized her arms, dragging her back toward him.
“This is the last time I hear you say that you’re unworthy.” The prince’s words were a fierce growl, imbued with annoyance. “The stars chose to link us.”
Serenna swallowed, scorched by his ire.Does he wantmeor this bond?Her heart whipped into a whirlwind of confused emotions as he leaned closer.
Vesryn’s hands tightened around her forearms. “Just because you haven’t had the luxury of time to manifest your full power doesn’t make you any less deserving.”
Letting go, the prince retreated, tapping on one of Naru’s legs. The dracovae snapped his beak but lifted a clawed foot. Ending their conversation as if he’d settled the matter, Vesryn focused his attention on casting a sliver of rending to trim back Naru’s talons.
A small part of Serenna nearly asked if he ever intended to complete the bond—or if he wanted to. But the last thing she wanted to do was pressure him if he was hesitant to accept a bond for a second time. It didn’t seem like a conversation to have while the prince needed to focus on corralling the rogue wraith.It’s obvious I need more training, so a deeper magical connection between us would only be a risk for him.
Serenna glanced back across the vale, letting the weight of the moment reign until she couldn’t stew in the silence any longer. “What will Trella do while we’re gone?” The female dracovaehad wandered closer than the first time they’d visited the pair. Rousing her feathers and scales in a clatter, she tilted her eagle-like head, watching them with curious eyes.
“I’ll leave the portal open for as long as I can in case she wants to follow.” Vesryn released Naru’s clawed foot. “She normally does.”
“Portal?” Fidgeting, Serenna readjusted the sleeves on her uniform, pulling the material down to her wrists. Despite the comfortable weather from the late spring day, they wore a full set of leathers to protect themselves from the cooler elements in the skies. “Why do we need to portal?”
“We’ll save flight time moving by gateway. I’ve traveled enough with Naru that I can get us closer to the wraith’s reported location without having to fly across the realms.” Vesryn secured his hair in a topknot, binding it out of his face with a leather strap. “The hunts are going to become more difficult if someone with magic is working with those beasts, but we should be able to handle three wraith.”
“We?” Serenna followed the prince’s lead, wrapping her braid into a tight coil on the top of her head.
“Why do you think we’ve been training in the dungeons all week?” Vesryn’s attention finally flicked back to her, disintegrating Serenna’s previous apprehension. “I wouldn’t put you in danger if I thought you couldn’t handle yourself.” The prince kneeled to tighten the laces on his boots, glancing up at her. “And besides, I remember you demanding that I not hunt the wraith alone.”
Serenna sniffed dismissively. “It’s about time you decided to be sensible for your safety.”
Lunging forward, Vesryn snatched the backs of her legs. Serenna squeaked, stumbling into his chest. The prince’s hands glided down her calves before refastening the laces on her boots.
“You don’t want any loose ends tangled up in the saddle,” he said, grinning up at her, knowing exactly what he was doing to her pulse.
Serenna frowned as he knotted the leather into intricate loops, nearly tight enough to cause discomfort. “How am I supposed to untie those?”
“You broke out of the rending binds last night, so I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” Rising to his full height, the prince smirked. “But considering how much you struggled, I imagine we’ll have to practice again.”
Serenna’s wordless bluster was lost as Vesryn turned and placed a boot in one of the stirrup loops. Ascending the ladder, he climbed up the side of Naru. At the top of the dracovae’s back, he settled into the saddle.
“Ready?” Vesryn asked, patting his thigh.
Serenna pinched her lips. “I’m not sitting in your lap.”
She stroked Naru’s neck, receiving a trilling chirp. Copying the prince’s motion, she hooked her boot into a looped ring and pulled herself up.
Serenna unsuccessfully swatted Vesryn’s hands away when he snatched her at the top. Seizing her waist, he squeezed her hips while dragging her down in front of him.
