Page 54 of Gift from the Wing

“Oh my, I thought surely Tanith would’ve already bragged about that,” he says as he wipes his tears dry before clearing his throat. “She tried to kill me, of course.”

I don’t think I’ve ever gasped so hard in my life. My hand flies up to my chest in some form of offended shock ’cause I didn’t expect that nor do I know what to do. Is it okay to laugh like he did? Should I be concerned? Hell, I don’t know, so I stare at Tanith in disbelief as her chuckle trickles through my mind.

Crazy-ass dragon.

“Why did she try to kill you?”

“To accept the bond, you must prove to each other you’re equal in all things. For dragons, that’s both intelligence and strength. So when I strolled up to her flight like I was some hot shit vampire heir about to request knowledge—granted, keep in mind I was very young—she sensed the bond and attacked. I didn’t have the slightest clue what was happening until I struck out at her, attempting to defend myself. I felt the pull of the bond. In that moment, we both had a choice to make, whether to continue the fight, let the bond solidify, or go our separate ways and let it sever. Well, you see what we chose. She chose, really. She took about a five-second break, staring at me before snatching me off the ground with her claws. It was a brutal battle,” he says, smiling at Tanith like he won in the end.

“He was a fierce competitor. Obviously, no match for me, but nonetheless he gave it his all and was worthy.”She snorts, and they both laugh. Him out loud, her in our minds.

Well, shit.

I stay in a sort of state of shock for a moment before a loud laugh bursts out of me. I picture in my mind him just strolling up cocky as shit in frontof a flight of dragons, then all of a sudden this golden beast tries to eat him. That shit is hilarious.

It’s pretty badass if I’m being honest. There he was, a small vampire man, well, he’s pretty big, almost as big as me, but still, compared to a dragon, he’s puny, and he stood his ground. Held his own against a magnificent creature, and apparently, formed a first of their kind bond.

Shit.

“That shit is so funny. I can see Tanith trying to eat you. It wouldn’t surprise me if she tried it now.” I continue laughing even as he joins me, and I feel a little of my apprehension melt away. Maybe he isn’t too bad. “I didn’t realize you could’ve chosen not to accept the bond.”

“It would’ve been rather painful to do, but it’s our decision in the end. The two of us were too curious in nature to ever reject something like this, but for example, a vampire-vampire pairing could’ve been very different. Bonds in the Keep aren’t like bonds here. Not everyone is given a beloved who, in fact, loves them unconditionally. Their souls made perfect for each other. Very few get the pleasure of a bond like that. Beloveds who find that do not fare well apart,” he says solemnly. I obviously once again dredged up something bad for him.

“Well, I think what the two of you have is pretty cool. Plus, if not for this first of your kind bond, me and Willow wouldn’t have our dragons,” I say cheerily, trying to lighten the mood once again.

“You and your beloved are magnificent, Draken.”

His smile is true. Even the beast in my chest can sniff out the sincerity behind his words. Nothing about him or what he says is a charade or a way to pander to me.

“I’ll speak freely, young one. Continue talking to him, ask him questions. He’s eager to know you but will not push the boundaries you’ve laid before him. I won’t tell you the things we’ve spoken about in private, but I will tell you he wants to get to know you and be a part of your life. He will follow along at your pace,”Tanith says so softly, I know she feels as though she’s crossed a line but thought I needed to hear it.

Maybe I did.

She’s closer to him and knows him better than anyone. Her giving me permission to take my time takes the pressure off me to just jump right in. My family already seems to be on team keep Keeper, but I know they’ll support me and my decisions no matter what. Nor will they push me to move quicker with him. So maybe getting to know him, at my own pace, is okay.

“Thank you, Tanith.”

“Of course, Draken.”

I blow a hefty breath out and that exhale seems to finally drain away the tension that’s been weighing me and my dragon down. We have enough to worry about in the realm right now that adding my newfound daddy issues on top of it was exhausting me.

I’ll get to know him. Slowly.

Just as I go to open my mouth and say something to Keeper, I feel the sweet invasion across my chest and a smirk crosses my lips. My little wanderer is about to check on me. Can’t hide anything from her even miles away from her.

“Draken, where are you?”she asks. She tries to hide the concern in her tone, but I instantly hear it. It’s not concern for me, though.

Something’s wrong.

“Are you okay?”I ask, stomping away from Keeper and Tanith, preparing to shift back.

“I’m fine. I need you to come back now. Tanith and Keeper as well.”

“I’m on the way.”

“Something’s up. Willow needs us,” I shout just before the shift takes over.

Roaring, I beat my wings furiously, picking up unimaginable speeds in a matter of seconds. Physically, I know she’s fine, but her tone and the worry pumping through my chest from her has my beast pushing himself to the max.

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