Page 72 of Worthy Promises
With his yellow eyes locked on Asteria, Orion nodded and wrapped his little hands around her body. Thankfully, Asteria appeared to be fine with their plan, and as soon as Orion pulled her to his chest, she snuggled into him. Orion’s grin popped out, and Zarasha lifted a paw to pet her.
“She likes you,” Zarasha enthused.
“She loves you both, how could she not?” Worthington asked.
“I guess you should shift first. I can lift Orion and Zarasha onto your back?” Oliver asked.
“Excellent plan, I’ll run off and shift, shall I?”
Trying desperately not to think about Worthington stripping as the dragon pecked his cheek, Oliver kept his heart rate as level as he could and focused on their plans for the afternoon. “Yes.”
Since the children were focused on Asteria, Oliver watched Worthington walk away. The faded pair of jeans Worthington had pulled on that morning hugged his frame, and Oliver loved the way it showed off his perfect ass. Oliver continued to stare at him until Worthington was out of view.
“Have you ridden a dragon before?” Orion asked Zarasha.
“Yes,” Zarasha replied. “It’s fun. All the dragons fly slow enough when I’m with them that I don’t even get scared.”
“Someday I’m going to fly too. Jeremiah’s helping me make sure I can figure out how to become an owl.”
“You’re going to be the prettiest owl ever!” Zarasha exclaimed.
“I agree,” Oliver added.
“Orion’s my best friend, so he’s going to be the prettiest, but I’m sure your owl is nice too, Oliver.”
“Thank you, Zarasha.”
Oliver sucked in a breath as a formidable dragon emerged from past the room the D’Vaires had built at the rear of the house for shifters to change out of or into their clothes. Although Oliver had seen Worthington in dragon form, the majesty of his mate in his full, scaled glory overwhelmed him.
The sunlight beamed off Worthington’s shiny pink scales, and Oliver was awestruck. How had Fate decided he was worthy of such an incredible man and dragon? Oliver didn’t know, and the answer made no difference. Each day they grew closer, and Oliver was eager for the day their suite would be finished so he could share every part of his life with Worthington.
“I love dragons,” Orion exclaimed as Worthington stalked close to them and lowered his long body to the ground. His wings were tucked tight to him, and Oliver was grateful his job of setting the children up on his back didn’t appear nearly as difficult as he’d imagined.
“Are you guys ready?” Oliver asked.
“Yes,” Zarasha said. “You can put Orion up there first.”
“Okay,” Oliver replied and easily lifted his brother up onto Worthington’s scales. They were rougher than the dragonskin used for furniture and other things in the household, but they didn’t hurt him as Oliver ran his hand along them. “Do you feel comfortable, Orion?”
“Yep,” Orion responded. He shifted his weight and wiggled his sneakered feet, but there was no fear in his gaze.
“I think I should sit in front of Orion,” Zarasha directed.
“Good idea,” Oliver said, amused that the confidentto’faerwas eager to direct things as she saw fit.
“Don’t worry, I won’t be close enough to squish Asteria,” Zarasha told Orion as Oliver delicately placed her in front of his brother. She patted Worthington with her paw as soon as Oliver released her. “Okay, Oliver. Go shift into your owl so we can fly.”
“Okay,” Oliver replied and took one last long look at the regal pink dragon cautiously standing tall on his sturdy legs before he set off for the changing room.
Once he’d shut the door behind him, Oliver swiftly pulled off his clothing. He tucked his socks into his shoes, stacked his chinos, boxers, and shirt on top of them, and set everything on an empty shelf. Naked, Oliver stepped out and secured the door.
Oliver closed his eyes and stretched out his arms. Happy to grant his beast the opportunity to fly, Oliver nearly smiled as feathers sprang from his arms and the bones shifted. Tendons and ligaments stretched, then reformed as his legs shrank and became black talons. His eyes became tubular, and his visionshifted to improve in the far distance, but it was more limited in viewing the objects close to him.
Releasing a hoarse hoot, Oliver flapped his snowy wings that stretched out nearly five and a half feet and lifted himself into the sky. Under him was a rumbling as Worthington ran to gain altitude. After he was airborne, Oliver did his best to match his pace to the gigantic dragon, who was moving cautiously because of the children andllerka’irroresting on his back.
It was a dream come true to share such a glorious experience with Worthington, and he and his owl thanked Fate for their mate. Soon it became abundantly clear that despite Oliver’s best efforts, he couldn’t keep up with a gigantic dragon—even one moving cautiously thanks to his passengers—so Oliver swooped over to perch on Worthington’s scales.
With the wind whipping through his feathers, he grinned internally as he enjoyed their majestic flight. Oliver would ensure they had the pleasure of sharing the sky frequently in the future.
