Page 87 of Magic & Secrets
Smiling, I stroked his forehead and sighed. “Our future doesn’t look like it’ll be quiet enough for me to search for a long-lost mother. I’ll be happy simply to see my sisters again.”
“I believe they’ll be at the mountain soon. Getting lost in Pandorium Forest slowed us down.”
“Koda and Enya were in a cave system within Zorata Territory. Depending on when they began traveling toward Mt. Elysium, they could already be at the mountain or a few days behind us.”
“They might end up in Elatalora.”
We shared a frown before I shook my head. “Enya would be leery of the city for the same reason I was.”
“And Koda is a reasonable Shifter. He would avoid the city if he thought his mate might be in danger. I really should have done something similar.”
“You tried,” I cooed and kissed the tip of his nose. “And without our stop in Elatalora, you wouldn’t know you could fly.”
“True. And what of Mina and Delta?”
“I dreamt of them somewhere south. Balzica Territory, perhaps.”
Sighing with worry, Roque draped his arms around me and stood up. I wrapped my legs around his waist and kissed him. We walked toward the next room where a bed awaited us.
Roque suddenly smiled while resting me on the canvas mattress. “On the morrow, we will mark Mt. Elysium with our scent.”
“Can we truly arrive there so quickly?” I asked, reaching for him.
“I will transform into my dragon form and fly the rest of the way. With our youngling already created, we need to get you somewhere safe.”
I now understood why Roque wanted to believe my mother was alive. If a lesser creature could survive birthing offspringimbued with an ancient one’s magic, he wouldn’t need to worry about my safety.
The cabin’s seclusion and the arriving fearsome storm ensured we remained unbothered for the evening. For the first time, we could mate without fearing eyes upon us or threats hiding in the shadows.
Roque and I made the most of our time alone. Slumber only found us an hour before dawn. I dreamt of magenta rain. A beast roared in the distance. A deep pain radiated from my stomach. My heart raced, and the world shuddered.
Waking with a start, I found Roque with his eyes already open. I reached for my belly and looked at the window. The sun broke through the trees. Everything looked normal. I felt the creature inside me still gestating.
“Nightmare?” Roque asked as he wrapped an arm protectively across me.
“I hope it wasn’t a prophetic dream,” I said and cuddled closer. “The dream wasn’t pleasant.”
Roque comforted me for another hour. By the time we headed outside, I felt calmer and excited to see Mt. Elysium. We scavenged for food on our way to a clearing where Roque could shift.
“Let’s see if I can do this on purpose,” he said as I backed away.
Roque’s dragon form made my heart race. I couldn’t believe he had the power to shift into something so massive and glorious. I kissed his red snout and ran my fingers along his scaled body before jumping on top of him.
As Roque lifted into the air, I couldn’t stop smiling. My fingers protectively stroked my magnificent mate. I had no doubt our mate bond could withstand whatever awaited us at Mt. Elysium.
Roque
HAVEN JUNCTION STOODeerily quiet. The bodies were gone. The normal bustle had been silenced along with my friends’ lives. I walked slowly into the village and allowed my heart to embrace their loss. I was a different male now than the one who left to find vengeance.
Calla held my hand as we stood at the center of Haven Junction. She had seen the slaughter take place. I recognized in her expression how the memory haunted her.
“Are you ready for me to summon my pack leader?” I asked Calla.
Her soft gaze sharpened, and she nodded. “I don’t sense my sisters here. You should assume we’re the first ones to the mountain.”
Inside a meeting hall, I pressed the siren before returning to Calla. Behaving nervously, she kept touching the blade holster at her hip.
“If someone attempts to harm you, allow me to handle them,” I warned her. “Just flee and I will bring them to their senses.”
