21. Kerry

Chapter 21

Kerry

A dragon was flying right at us. Rather than run, I stood tall, facing it with my heart thundering against my ribs and my lungs burning.

"Just a pet," I whispered as the creature shrieked again, the shrill cry stabbing my eardrums. "But damn, it looks like a freaking dragon with feathers instead of scales."

Before it could slam into us, the creature pulled up and landed lightly on its hind feet, settling its wings against its side.

Molly peeped and huddled against my neck.

"Okay, it's a huge eagle," I whispered, tucking myself around behind Nevarn. Molly trembled, and I was sure she'd been hunted by predators like this in the past. At least she didn't try to break free.

The bird towered before me, at least twelve feet tall at its back. Its feathers gleamed, burnished gold, each plume catching the light and reflecting it. Its amber eyes locked on me, seeming to study my soul with an otherworldly intelligence. Its beak curved like a scimitar, sharp and ready to rip through . . . well, grundars.

Or me.

"Faelest," Nevarn crooned almost reverently, extending his hand toward the creature. Would it bite him or—

Faelest strutted toward him on razor-sharp talons the length of my forearm, but rather than gouge him with her sharp beak, she nuzzled his chest, purring.

He wrapped his arms around her feathered neck and laid his chin on the top of her head, gently stroking the length of her neck.

When he looked back at me, my breath caught. This male was gorgeous when he smiled, which wasn't often, but right now, with his eyes shining with the affection he felt for this immense bird?

He made my breath catch and my heart flip over.

"I wasn't sure she'd remember me," he said softly, moving around to her shoulder and stroking the longer feathers there, smoothing them across her wings. "I raised her from the moment she emerged from her egg, but it's been a long time."

"She's beautiful," I said.

"Come." He held out his hand. "Let me introduce you."

"Is it safe for me to bring Molly closer?" I didn't dare put her down. I wasn't worried about myself. Nevarn wouldn't allow Faelest to hurt me. Funny how I knew that already. But the creature could pluck Molly from my arms and swallow her with one gulp.

"Faelest has hunted grundars but if you keep Molly in your arms, I don't believe my ryvar will harm our pet."

"Don't believe" was a bit different from "of course not, she won't harm the fur on Molly's head," but I trusted Nevarn to keep us both safe. However, I kept my back to the creature as I approached, shielding Molly, who continued to quiver in my arms.

Nevarn took my hand and held it out to Faelest, who delicately sniffed it before bumping her beak against it.

"Ryvars eat meat, but more often, vegetables," he said. "Let her smell Molly. Once she sees our pet is part of our pack, she'll protect the grundar rather than eat her."

As simple as that, huh? I wasn't as sure, but while growing up, I'd had a friend who had a cat and a pet mouse, and the two of them got along well. They'd even slept in the same bed.

Faelest sniffed Molly in the same way she had me before gently tucking her beak against my grundar. Molly continued to shake but that slowed until she lay gently in my arms.

"I missed Faelest," he said. "I couldn't take her with me because I didn't know where I'd go or if there would be a safe place for her there."

"Could she live with you now?"

He shook his head, his face wistful. "The forest is too dense for a ryvar, and while the river has fish, it's nothing like the sea." He stroked her neck, and she preened. "She's happy here."

"Now that you're not banished, you could visit her."

"I'd like that." His gaze sought mine. "Perhaps you'll like it enough here to want to visit as well."

I hadn't been here long, but my heart was drawn to this male already. I couldn't imagine being anywhere but by his side. "I bet I would."

His posture loosened. Had he been worried about what I'd say? He could be as nervous about what was forming between us as me. Somehow, that made me both sad and happy.

"We should keep going," he said, giving Faelest one final pat. "I'll see you again, little one," he crooned.

I grinned. He was so cute with this beast who was anything but little. But she had a sweetness about her that made me want to talk baby talk to her as well, so I could understand. I patted her again, and she leaned her head against my arm. Even Molly gave a peep goodbye.

Faelest took off, soaring above us as we continued up the hill. As we approached the large wooden mesh gate, someone standing on the wall surrounding the village called out and waved.

Nevarn's breath caught, and he waved back. "They're . . ."

I leaned into his side. "I bet a lot of your former clan is glad to see you."

"Maybe." His smile slipped. "We'll find out."

As we approached it, the gate opened.

A Zuldruxian warrior dressed in a linen tunic, belted with a band of gold, stepped outside the wall. His body bristled with weapons, from blades in sheaths strapped around his waist to one on his thigh, to the spear he held sporting a sharp, thin stone head.

He waited, frowning as we strode up to him and stopped. "Nevarn."

Nevarn grunted, his hands by his sides, not touching one of the weapons he still wore. "Firion."

Was this his older brother and the traedor of the Dastalon Clan? I could see the resemblance in their teal eyes and the strong shape of his jawline, though Firion had an almost pretty boy slant to his eyes and face that must make all the females swoon.

I preferred Nevarn's sharper angles and the way his eyes gleamed when he looked my way.

They were about the same build, though Firion was an inch or so taller than Nevarn.

Firion stepped up to Nevarn and wrapped his arms around his younger brother. "Welcome, brother. Welcome."