by Olivia Ash
“Tease,” I say breathlessly.
“It doesn’t have to be a tease,” he says into my ear, his voice low and deep. He kisses the crook of my neck, his warm mouth exploring my body as his fingers glide between my legs, tormenting me with the possibilities of what else they can do.
Of what he’s capable of.
No—I should be focused on Zurie.
I should call Irena.
But the longer he touches me, the more my magic swirls and buzzes through my blood. The more my dragon rumbles. The more I lean into him, my mind going blank.
As my dragon gets her way, I find myself relaxing into him. I gently press my hips forward and arch my back to give him better access. His strong fingers tenderly part my sensitive folds, exploring parts of me I’ve been dying for him to visit.
“Not fair,” I say, gasping as his thumb brushes against my clit. “You know what your touch does to me.”
“Yeah,” he says shamelessly. “But it’s for a good cause.”
“And what cause is that?”
“The Rory-just-relax campaign,” he says with a growly chuckle. “Can I make a donation?”
He thrusts two of his fingers into me, stretching me slightly as his thumb rubs harder against my clit. I quietly moan with delight and surprise as he enters me, giving me just a taste of what’s to come.
He and I don’t have to fight this anymore. I can finally give in—and screw his brains out.
Jace slides his fingers out of me and lovingly grabs my chin with his other hand, turning me around to face him. He watches me with a doting expression, his stormy gray eyes drinking me in as he briefly pauses to study my face.
Before I can say a thing, he kisses me. The embrace is deep and affectionate—the kiss of someone who’s going to be there forever, beside me through thick and thin, through blood and war.
Nothing will stop him.
Nothing will keep him away.
He holds the back of my head, like he can’t get enough. Like nothing in the world can ever compare to this. To having me.
His other hand grabs my waist, pulling my hips toward his, and the bulge in his pants presses hard against my entrance. With only a few thin layers of fabric between us, warmth pools between my thighs, as hungry for him as he is for me.
Something clicks for me, in this moment.
I can trust this man.
With everything. With my life. He’s my partner in crime in all things, to the end of my days and beyond.
For the first time since we met in that courtyard, I really let my guard down.
For the first time, I truly give in.
I lean into his touch. To his kiss. Our lips brush against each other, and a current of electric need bubbles through me. Instead of fighting it, I let my body ache for him. I let my body crave him. I give into the demands of my dragon and let him hold me, let him drink me in.
A flurry of devotion flutters through me as we hold each other, rooted in place. The intensely intimate moment deepens the longer we stand there. The kiss becomes so much more than just a kiss—I feel as though he’s reaching into my soul, and I into his.
We connect, in this moment—almost merging, in a way. Connecting on a level I didn’t know was even possible.
In the bliss of this moment, my dragon and I align. We want the same thing—Jace Goodwin—and I won’t deny her that anymore.
As I lose myself in Jace's kiss, a pang hits my chest hard. I flinch, but the joyful feeling I have in this moment doesn't stop even as I pull away from him.
“What's wrong?” he asks, his brows twisting slightly in concern.
“I don't…” I pause, looking at my hands, trying to figure out what's happening. “I don't know.”
A flood of energy bubbles through me, cascading like a tsunami, engulfing me completely. My skin glows brighter as the sensation hits harder. It’s a flood. A stampede—of love, of light, of power.
Along my arms, the glowing tattoos of the chains that I've had since I first fell into the pits glow brighter than ever.
A surge of energy hits me, stealing away my breath. My muscles tense as the sensation takes over.
I have no control in this moment. No mobility. Nothing. I can't even speak, and it feels so similar to when the magic first hit me. I feel like something is fusing to my soul, merging with my very existence.
Something permanent. Something unchangeable.
Jace speaks, his tone urgent and tense, but I can’t hear words. My brain hums, tuning the world out, and everything goes fuzzy.
The most powerful surge of magic I've ever felt in my life runs through me like a lightning bolt, grounding me to the floor of the balcony—paralyzing me as it still steals the air out of my very lungs.
And, as the energy hits me, the chains along my arms shatter.
The tattoos dissolve into the air like salt into water, and a small white cloud lifts from my skin. It's subtle, almost invisible.
But I saw it.
With that, my body screams. I can feel something within me—pushing, twitching, breaking. My skin tightens, and suddenly, I feel as if every bone is about to fracture. I feel the world around me surge and bubble, the ground unstable.
A flash of white blinds me, and my world tumbles. I feel myself sliding down something. I feel rock scraping my skin. It's like I fell.
Oh, crap. I am falling.
Disoriented and dizzy, I reach for anything near me to slow my descent. My claws dig into the side of the roof, to the shingles themselves, cutting through the stone like butter until I finally slide to a stop.
Wait.
Claws?
I open my eyes, and my arms are thicker than they were before. I'm covered in glimmering scales that glisten like diamonds in the setting sun. Iridescent claws protrude from what were once my nails, a sharp contrast to the black stone shingles along the roof.
With a baffled glance upward, I can clearly make out the line I've cut through the black rock. Above that is the balcony where Jace and I were standing moments before. The railing is shattered, bits of it missing, and it looks like I made quite a mess.
As the disbelief slowly shatters, I look once again at the claws. The truth hits me in a sudden, crashing wave of realization.
I shifted.
My heart thudding in my chest, the pulse loud in my ear, I study my body—as much of it as I can see anyway. A soft roar builds in my throat, as I try to speak, my words lost in the rumble. I lift my wings, stretching them for the first time, and it's like stretching a tired limb.
I feel relief.
Joy.
I almost can't believe I really did it.
I shifted.
And with my first breath as a dragon, I roar.
A familiar black thunderbird with glowing blue light running the length of his wings lands on the roof above me. He effortlessly slides down the roof, slowing his descent with his powerful wings as he watches me with concern and joy all at once. His head bobs excitedly as our eyes connect, and he growls softly as he nears.
I try to say his name, but a roar comes out instead. It rumbles like thunder and shakes the tiles beneath me. What a surreal sensation—to not even be able to speak.
Everything about this is so bizarre, so strange that I shake my body from head to tail just to shake out the strangeness. Every muscle, every claw—it all just feels right. Like this is my real body.
It's like stepping into the sun for the first time and experiencing what warmth and joy are really like.
It's beautiful.
Exhilarating.
And I want more.
I let out a happy little growl, the sound short and sweet as I cling to the side of the building, stretching and getting familiar with this new body.
My dragon.
Jace nips happily at the air, stretching his wings for balance as he slides the rest of the way toward me. He gently rubs his nose against mine, and the second our skin touches, the magical connection of the dragons opens.
/> You're beautiful, he says to me. I can't stop looking at you. Are you okay?
Amazing, I say, beaming.
Try to fly, he says, nodding toward the sky above us.
The motion breaks our connection, and I look down at the hundred-foot drop to the hard ground below.
My eyes narrow in annoyance as I glare at him, trying to silently make my point.
He doesn't get it—or, more likely, he just doesn't care. He nods to the sky again, nipping once more in the air before he takes off. His wings creating a small gust that drifts over me as he does what I've wanted to do for so long.
Fly.
With an annoyed huff, I get my bearings. It's a bit difficult to stand as I dig my claws into the side of the roof, and I can't help but look over the edge once again.
The ground seems to get farther away the longer I stare at it, and I frown in trepidation.
If I fall, this is really going to hurt.
Jace growls softly in encouragement as he flies just above me, teasing me once again with something he knows I want.
Only this time, it doesn't involve his devious fingers.
I flap my wings hard, hoping against all hope that my dragon instinct kicks in and keeps me from tumbling to my death.
My body lifts almost effortlessly as my dragon instinct kicks in. At the last possible second, I release my grip on the black shingles and take to the air.
Even though I'm wobbling, I don't really care.
I'm flying.
It's like heaven.
I can feel my dragon guiding me. Instinct warns me to turn this way or that, to even out my wing on the downturn or tighten it as I coast. The instruction and correction on my form keep me from wobbling as much as I would have otherwise, but I’m still fairly unstable.
Jace soars through the air, making it look effortless and easy, and I snarl in playful annoyance.
Show off.
True, he's had a lot more time to practice this than I have, but what can I say? I’m a perfectionist.
My wings beat the air, lifting me further skyward as I roar with glee into the clouds. Jace lets loose a triumphant blast of blue magic, and it crackles into the sky above us like a firework.
As he dives over the forest, I try to follow. I’m not nearly as graceful as him, but I don't really mind. The momentum of my wings along the air casts me over the trees around the dojo as we circle the castle. It’s not until he circles ahead of me, guiding me in a slow bend around the embassy, that I take my mind off my form long enough to realize what he’s doing.
He's showing me off. Showing everyone what I've done.
How embarrassing.
I briefly close my eyes to tune out the world, simply enjoying the cool rush of air as it hits my face. The wind up here smells like honey, almost—crisp and clean, with a little sweetness.
An air current hits us, and I wobble again, my eyes snapping open as a brief wave of concern runs through me. I look down at the ground far below and flap my wings a little harder, eager to stay in the sky.
Jace chuckles, the small puffs of air blowing over his nose as he watches me struggle to stay airborne.
I chuckle as well, swishing my beautiful tail at him, smacking him in lighthearted annoyance.
He effortlessly dodges my blow, flipping as he soars over me and to my other side. Gods, he just can’t contain himself—he has to show off any chance he gets.
On the ground below, several soldiers run underneath us, cheering as he and I fly over the grassy knolls surrounding the dojo.
With our victory lap apparently complete, Jace leads me toward the misty ravine. I bank, wobbling again as he angles us toward the second island that has always looked kind of like it was floating across the mists.
It would seem the devious Jace Goodwin has someplace he would like to take me—and it appears to be a surprise.
Wherever we go, I’m happy as long as I get to fly there.
I love this. I've dreamed of flying since I first came here. Since I first accepted that I was a dragon. Since I came to understand that the shift may eventually happen.
Even as I tremble, still figuring out how to listen to the dragon instinct burning within me, I let myself enjoy the sky.
Up here, with the air rushing across my face and the cool, sweet scent of the sky, I'm free.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
As I soar through the air, one with the sky, I lose track of time.
The moon rises as the night wears on, slowly creeping across the sky while Jace and I enjoy ourselves. He spins around me, his wing catching tufts of cloud as he shows off. Trails of white mist spiral from the edges of his wings as he gently roves through the air. His black scales shimmer now and then in the moonlight as the glowing light overtakes us.
It’s heaven.
After a while, my wobbly balance starts to settle. The peaceful rush of wind fills my ears, crisp and clear, and I often simply close my eyes to enjoy the sensation of air rushing across my face.
It’s bliss.
Every now and then, the glimmer of moonlight against my scales catches my attention—the way the light glints off my claws like sun off a diamond. It’s mesmerizing. I wish I could see my face, to find what I really look like, but that will have to wait.
For now, I’m too happy in the sky to come down.
Jace rolls above me once again, ever the hotshot as his broad black wings stretch into the night. At times, all I can see is the soft blue glow of the magic in his veins, stretching through his wings like a spider web of light.
As he sails through another cloud, the tip of his wing brushes against mine.
Let’s land.
I let out a sad little rumble at the idea.
He chuckles, his wing brushing mine again. You need to rest.
Fine.
I growl softly in agreement and nod toward the forests below us, suggesting he take the lead.
He banks against the air, wings taut as he glides downward. I try to follow, trusting the little voice in my head that instinctively guides me through the movements.
Wings tight.
Stretch them wide, now.
Tilt.
My dragon, guiding the way.
We slowly circle the forest and come upon a river that cuts through the trees as Jace leads me toward the ground. It’s a slow and gradual descent, one I’m sure he’s carefully orchestrating judging by how often he looks back at me, checking my position.
We follow the river, our noses still angling slightly downward in a slow and steady descent, and I have to confess—I am not looking forward to this landing.
I’m all for pushing myself to the limit—hell, it’s the only way I know how to do anything—but I think I need to set my expectations, here.
My goal is more along the lines of a well-orchestrated fall, rather than a genuine landing.
Mist rises up ahead, obscuring the river. The closer we get, the louder the thunder of water becomes, and I realize we must be approaching a waterfall.
Sure enough, Jace dives into the mist, the blue glow of his magic illuminating the fog with a soft, sapphire haze.
I follow. The mist hits my face, soft as silk, and I resist the impulse to close my eyes in gleeful delight at the sensation.
Every feeling is more vivid as a dragon. Brighter. Louder. Crisper.
Just… more.
I love it.
The mist quickly dissolves, and I very suddenly see the pool below. Instinct kicks in, and I beat my wings against the air to slow myself.
It doesn’t work very well.
I tumble into the water, hitting the surface with a hefty splash. I dip below the waves into a deep channel, holding my breath as I squint up at the moonlit surface above me.
Desperate for air, I swim upward, using my claws as much as my wings. The closer I get to the surface, the harder it is to swim—and as I break through the water, I burn through the last of my air.
I suck in a deep breath as soon as I’m ab
le, only to hear myself gasp as I tread water. I look at my hands in surprise.
Hands.
I shifted back.
I look up at the stars as the water thunders into the deep lake, my hair sticking to my face as I drink in the night. The milky way stretches above me, brilliant and eternal without any lights out here to pollute the sky.
As I tread water, I glance around, trying to get my bearings. I’ve never been here before, nor do I have any idea where we are in relation to the embassy. I assume we’re somewhere on the dojo grounds, though—Jace wouldn’t have taken me anywhere else, not with everything at stake.
He told me to take one night off from worrying—I guess I can indulge him on that.
A cluster of boulders line the shallows of the lake, and a bank covered in soft white sand stretches along the other side.
I don’t, however, see Jace anywhere.
My heart stutters with concern. With nowhere else for him to have gone, I peer into the pitch-black abyss below me.
A current sweeps below my toes, and before I can even react, two strong hands grab my naked waist. They tug me briefly downward as Jace breaks the surface, splashing water against my face.
“You scared me,” I admit, grinning as I splash him back.
He grins mischievously, his grip on my waist tightening as he tugs me closer to him. “Now, I believe we were in the middle of something before you so rudely shifted. Where were we?”
I laugh as he kisses me in the middle of the moonlit lake, his hands roving across my skin while we float. His grip slides up my thigh—which makes it hard for me to tread water, I’ll admit—and he takes control. I’m depending on him, now—on his strong kicks through the water as he keeps us both afloat.
Jace wraps my legs around his waist, his hard abs flexing as he works every muscle. With his firm grip on my ass once more, he presses my hips against his.
His erection slides over my entrance, thick and hard. Impulsively, I bite my lip, a happy little smile spreading across my face.
We’ve both wanted this for a while.