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Could I really call this love after just a couple weeks? I didn’t know how else to describe the glow of happiness that filled me, being there in my eagle shifter’sarms.
Aaron eased back, his eyes shining as if he’d heard what I hadn’t let myself say out loud. “I really do have to go. But I’ll see you soon at the dinner. Why don’t you— There’s a terrace overlooking the ocean just past our private dining room. If you’d like, you could take a walk out there. I’ve always found it calming. I’ll send someone for you when it’stime.”
The way my nerves were jumping, a calming stroll sounded like just what I needed. “Thanks,” I said. “I’ll dothat.”
Chapter 16
Ren
The sun was just startingto come down over the ocean. It lit up the water with drifts ofsparkles.
I walked across the stone tiles to the railing that surrounded the private terrace, drinking in the aquatic scents carried by the breeze. It was hard to stay anxious with that gorgeous scenery in front of me and the soothing crash of the waves filling my ears. I was a dragon shifter. The last dragon shifter in existence. Anyone who tried to mess with me was making the worst decision of theirlife.
My fingers curled around the cool marble surface of the railing. I raised my head high. The breeze rippled through my hair and through the flowing skirt of my dress. I felt the power of my heritage rippling through me too. And the little flame of power Mom had led me to, still flickering in the depths of my chest. Where was that going to leadme?
I had the sudden, wild urge to leap over the railing and down toward the beach. I could do it. The sandy slope below looked a little uneven, but nothing I couldn’t manage a good tumbleon.
But even as the urge rose up, I knew that jump wouldn’t give me the same rush all my leaps and falls before used to. I’d experienced what it was like toreallyfly now. Nothing could compare tothat.
Someday I’d be able to hold my dragon form for hours on end. Just soar and soar as far as my wings could take me. That sounded awfully nice rightnow.
I’d carried my purse out with me. My phone buzzed with a text alert. I pulled it out, already knowing it had to be Kylie. My best friend was the only one who had the number. There wasn’t anyone else in my life I’d trusted enough to want to stay in contact with... except for the guys, now, and I hadn’t needed to be apart from themyet.
What would it be like once we had to split up? They’d have alpha duties to take care of. Sometimes they’d need to be off at different estates, and I wouldn’t be able to stay with all of them at once. Even with all the uncertainties whirling around us, part of me ached to keep themclose.
All these crazy feelings had to get easier to deal with once I’d had more time to get used to the situation,right?
What’s up in royal shifter land?Kylie had texted. I smiled and leaned back against the railing as I typed myreply.
Big fancy dinner upcoming. You would not believe the dress I’ve goton.
Ren in a dress!!! OMG, I can’t believe I’m missing this. Take a pic. That’s anorder.
I laughed and held the phone out to try to capture as much of the dress as possible in a selfie. When I sent it to her, Kylie replied with a selfie of her face with her eyes wide inshock.
You look spectacular, Ren. Those four alphas of yours are going to have their hands full fighting off the rest of the guysthere.
I don’t think people are coming to this dinner looking to hook up, I wrote back.It sounds like there’s a lot of Serious Political Business to discuss. Heads of major shifter families and stuff. I guess they want to make sure I’m really real and that Aaron didn’t just make up that they finally foundme?
So you’re that big a deal,huh?
Yeah.I paused, thinking about my conversation with Marco this morning with a twist in my gut.It seems like having a dragon shifter around as their mate makes it a lot easier for the other shifters to accept them as alphas. I guess that’s what they meant about me uniting all the kin-groups. Seems like a lot ofresponsibility.
But they’ll help you through it. You can handle it. You don’t think you’re still in danger, do you? Now that you took care of those roguedouchebags?
My gut twisted harder. I didn’t want to tell her about that continuing threat—or about how wary I was of the meeting with the fae monarch tomorrow.Not immediately, it doesn’t seem like. I don’t know what to expect going forward. I’m still getting used to BEING a shifter. There’s been a lot of conflict in the kin-groups since my mom disappeared, I guess, and I don’t know the half of ityet.
Well, you look after yourself. It doesn’t matter what they want from you. You’ve got to put yourself first. And if anyone argues with that, you send them to me and I’ll set themstraight.
I had to smile at that. I’d bet she would too. Kylie always had my back—even with all this supernatural chaos descending onus.
YOU’RE okay now, right?I asked.You’ve totally recovered from the attack at the shiftervillage?
Oh yeah, I’m in tiptop shape now. Whatever those shifters did looking after me, it made the cuts heal so fast, I’d hardly believe I got mauled if I hadn’t been there. The scars might stick, but that’s okay. Just makes me look even morebadass.
Well, I’m glad nearly dying didn’t put a cramp in yourstyle.
Hey, it’ll take more than some murderous werewolves to get medown.
