Chapter 22
Raven
I can feeldeep in my bones that I’m in my territory—the familiar pull of claimed land, the scent of home carried on the wind. But there’s an unfamiliar scent wrapped around me I don’t recognize. It’s an intoxicating mix of sandalwood and what I think is bergamot, warm and spicy and utterly masculine.
My eyes open slowly, and they’re blurry at first from exhaustion and whatever drug was in my system. I blink several times to clear my vision and slowly lower my wing away from my face. I realize with a shock that I’m tucked beneath an enormous orange wing—scales the color of burnished copper catching the early morning light.
Rumbling softly.Solaris?
He lifts his wing carefully, and I see the most beautiful amber eyes looking down at me with concern and relief warring in their depths.How do ye feel, lass?He rumbles to me gently before pressing his massive maw against my neck in affection, his breath warm against my scales.
Still tired. I want to go to my egg chamber and soak in the hot spring.My mental voice yawns mid-rumble, the exhaustion evident even in my thoughts.
Can ye shift tae yer human form so yer blink hound mate can phase ye there?His rumbles are soft, trying to coax an answer from me without pushing too hard.
My eyes are still heavy from exhaustion, and I focus inward with effort, trying to get my body to comply with my wishes. Little by little, my body begins the transformation back to my human form. The shift feels sluggish, harder than usual; my magic depleted from the long flight.
I realize with embarrassment that I’m kneeling directly on Solaris’s delicate wing leather. “I am so sorry. Can you pick me up so I don’t hurt your wing?” The membrane is thin and easily damaged. I stretch my arms above my head like a small child asking to be lifted and fold my wings in tight against my back.
His large, taloned hand reaches for me with surprising gentleness and carefully closes around my body—mindful of his strength compared to my fragility in human form. He lifts me as if I weigh nothing and places me on the soft grass with tender care.
He shifts back to human form, and I watch the transformation with fascination. His body compresses, scales receding, form reshaping itself. When he’s done, he stretches with obvious relief, rolling his shoulders and cracking his neck.
I can’t help but stare at him openly. He’s wearing what I assume is clothing from the period he was cursed—formal attire that looks centuries out of date but somehow suits him perfectly. A long coat with elaborate embroidery, fitted trousers, and bootsthat come to his knees. Solaris’s hair is a burnt umber color—thank the goddess it’s not close to the bright orange of his drake form. When he turns to face me fully, I can see his eyes are the same striking amber as his dragon’s, framed by dark lashes.
I flex my wings several times, testing for damage or soreness, and the movement draws his attention immediately to them. His amber eyes track the span and movement with obvious appreciation.
“Sol!” My father yells with joy, and they embrace each other like the old friends they are, pounding each other’s backs with enough force to stagger a normal man.
“‘Tis good tae see a familiar face after all these years,” Solaris says in that thick Scottish accent, patting Dad on his shoulders with genuine affection. His voice is deeper than I expected, rough like whiskey.
“Aye, Klauth hatched first, so he was around when I hatched myself. The world has changed dramatically, my friend,” Dad says, his own voice carrying emotion. He pats Solaris’s shoulder as my other mates approach to check on me.
“How are you feeling?” Keir asks as he slides in close and kisses me deeply. I sigh into it with relief and hug him close, breathing in his familiar scent. Safe. Home. Protected.
“Just tired still,” I admit, kissing him one last time before I’m passed to Hemlocke like precious cargo. Poor Hemlocke looks absolutely exhausted; his magenta eyes bloodshot. Keir doesn’t look much better. “Did you two stay up all night standing guard?”
I glance between them with concern, then look over at Finlay, who also has dark circles under his honey eyes despite hishealing abilities. I hug and kiss Hemlocke, feeling him sag against me with relief that I’m okay, then move to Finlay and do the same.
Corvus is just waking up from where he was slumped against a large boulder, blinking groggily in the morning sunlight.
I look around properly for the first time and notice the giant impact crater scarred into my field. The earth is torn up, deep furrows carved into the ground, scattered rocks and debris everywhere. “Holy shit. What made that?” I motion toward the devastation with genuine shock.
In my heart, I already know the answer—I crash-landed here. But I’m not hurt. Not even bruised. Slowly, I turn and look at Solaris, and understanding clicks into place like a key turning in a lock.
“You caught me,” I say, looking back over at the giant depression in the earth from where he and I must have impacted together. The crater is at least twenty feet across and several feet deep.
“I’ll catch ye a thousand times, lass. Nae harm will come tae ye under my watch,” he says with fierce conviction. He reaches out hesitantly, his hand moving toward my face in slow motion, as if he’s afraid I might flinch away.
I step closer instead and press my cheek against his warm palm, closing my eyes and purring softly for him—a sound of contentment and trust. Reaching up, I cup his hand with both of mine and hold it against my cheek, leaning into his touch.
I feel like I can breathe properly for the first time since leaving that cursed island. “I felt when you hatched. The surge down the bond was like lightning—you were pulling on it, guiding me home when I could barely think straight.” My voice is softer thanI have ever allowed it to be with anyone except my immediate family. I don’t need to be the biggest badass in the room anymore. I can be if I want to, I just don’t want to be right now.
“Aye, I needed ye tae find yer way when ye were drugged and flyin’ through pitch black night,” Solaris confirms, his thumb stroking my cheek gently. “When yer form came visible over tha ocean, I roared fer ye with everything I had. Ye changed direction, followin’ my call like I hoped ye would. Yer other mate leapt off yer back and shifted tae his drake.”
Solaris laughs a little, the sound warm and genuine. “I see why he twas ridin’ ye instead of flyin’ alongside—he’s a wee fellow compared tae yer dragoness. Nae offense, brother.” He glances over at Corvus for a moment with friendly acknowledgment.
I nod, listening to him fill in the blanks, and the rest of the night falls into place like puzzle pieces. “I remember breaching the mountains into my territory. The last thing I remember thinking isI’m safe, I’m home.Then everything went black.” I turn and look up into his amber eyes, needing to understand what happened.
