23. Reylor

Chapter 23

Reylor

I should’ve given Hannah more information, but she did well now that I couldn’t speak with her. Once the boy and his mother had left, I dropped to my belly in the sand and stretched out my front leg toward her, nudging my snout in that direction.

She collected my shredded clothing, placing it in the bag that she closed and tossed over her shoulder. “I assume I’m supposed to climb up onto your spine. No stairs.” She minced her way closer with her fuck-me heels spearing into the sand. “Good thing my body’s used to stuffing itself into closets and stretching out to paint a ceiling from the top of my ladder. When I get old and crotchety, which I’m sure I will—be crotchety, that is—you’re going to hear my knees and spine creaking when I climb up your leg, like I am now, and when I stretch myself out to straddle your back.”

She saw us together . . . I wanted to tip my head back and shoot flames into the sky, but I restrained myself and acted like a tame dragon.

Which I wasn’t. Only with her.

She settled on my spine and hooked my bag on the spike jutting up between my shoulders, latching onto it afterward. “I think I’m ready.” Her legs clamped to my sides. “I don’t suppose you could just walk to the exhibition hall. This height feels high enough to me.”

I turned my neck and nudged the tip of my snout on her leg, then shook my head.

“I thought not,” she said. “How about keeping it to no higher than the power lines?”

And risk snagging a claw or a wing on one? No way. I shook my head again.

“Then let’s not go so high we can touch the stars.”

If I could fly that high, I would grab a few and present them to her. I’d fashion a bracelet, a ring, earrings, and a necklace from them, setting them like stones in pure platinum. Then I’d gift them to her and huff with pleasure whenever she wore them.

Since I couldn’t reassure her, the only thing I could do was show her.

While a few people lingered, staring from a distance well away from us on the shore, I burst off the ground, snapping out my wings to catch the salty breeze gusting off the water.

I flew up into the sky at a slow angle. No need to dislodge my fated mate during her first flight.

As I took her higher, Hannah peeped like a small bird, and her hand tightened on my spike. Thankfully, it wasn’t an erogenous area, or my poor dragon cock would start getting a hard-on.

“This is . . .” She didn’t finish the thought, just sighed, and I was glad that she was not only looking around but enjoying what she could see from up here so far.

There was exquisite joy in flight. It humbled and thrilled me, all at the same time.

I leveled off thirty feet or so above the beach and soared toward the ocean. No way would I pass up the chance to show her how amazing it was to fly over the sea. We had a little time before I had to return us to the ground, and there was no time better than now to impress her.

“Wow,” she said. “I’d planned to keep my eyes closed, grit my teeth, and bear with this until you landed but . . . wow. It’s so pretty from up here.”

I soared lower, though I stayed high enough above the water to avoid the spray.

The moon cast a silvery, shimmering path across the indigo waves, each crest catching light and reflecting it back like frothy jewels.

“From up here,” she said. “The sea’s as an endless expanse of midnight blue, with patches of luminescence.”

Plankton, I’d tell her if I could. They thrived near the surface at night.

The wind whipped past us, carrying with it the scent of salt and something indescribably ancient. This sea had been viewed by billions since its making, and long after we were gone, people and creatures would stand on its shore and marvel like we did now. We borrowed this view, but we would pass it on to the next generation. There was something wonderfully timeless about that.

Shadows danced across the surface, the unseen depths seeming to murmur secrets only they could keep.

“Riding this high above the ocean puts everything into perspective,” she said in a soft voice that the breeze tried to snag and carry away. I caught her words and held them close because I could tell she did understand. “It’s vast and endless, and it makes me feel both insignificant and profoundly connected to the wild world below.”

Because there was so much more I wanted to show her, and I wanted to be able to talk with her while we shared it, I made a slow curve and glided toward the shore. The downtown area gleamed ahead, and music from the carnival set up on the edge of town drifted through the air, giving the night a magical feel.

Reaching the shore, I turned right and flew low over the beach. The exhibition hall was located in the grange on the opposite end of town and part of a small mall. I could land on the beach, and after I’d dressed, we could walk from there.

The sand glowed under the moonlight like scattered pearls, and the surf hissed as it surged up the shore, retreating to leave a glossy wet sheen behind. A few night walkers paused and looked up in shock and awe, their faces bathed in the moon’s soft glow. At least they’d heard of shifters even if they hadn’t met one yet. A few mouths hung open, their hands fluttering at their sides.

I landed lightly in the little-used parking lot behind the grange hall, choosing a spot close to where the forest encroached, and the canopy dappled shadowy moonlight on the cracked pavement.

When I lowered my belly to the ground and stretched out my front legs, Hannah sighed. “I almost hate to get off. Who would’ve thought?” She leaned forward and stroked my neck. “That was special, Reylor. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything quite as wondrous as flying, and I hope I’ll have the chance again.”

Every night and day if she wanted.

She lifted my bag off the spike and slid down my front leg, landing squarely on the pavement.

“I’ll turn away,” she said with a smile. “To give you privacy since I know you’ll be naked.”

Hopefully soon she’d feel comfortable with me in that form too.

Patience, I chided myself. I’d give her all the time she needed. Flying with me was big. Telling me she wanted more was even bigger. I wasn’t opposed to tugging her along, but I wanted her eager and willing beside me.

Once she’d turned, and I made sure we were alone, I shifted and took the bag from her hand, quickly tugging out my clothing and shoes and leaving the torn things inside.

In no time, I wore new jeans and a button-up shirt splashed with tropical flowers that felt nice enough for the exhibition but still fun enough for this beachside town.

“All set,” I said as I stuffed my feet into my shoes.

She turned and looked me up and down as I smoothed my hair. “Nice. Very nice.”

Her words heated me up, though she didn’t have to do more than look at me for that to happen. I advanced on her, sweeping my arm around her lower spine and tilting her chin up for a kiss that I wanted to make last forever.

I could keep kissing her all night long, but I wanted to see and do everything with her, to show her how wonderful it would be for us doing something together, so I leaned back, though I let my fingertips tease up her spine.

Her hooded eyelids lifted, and she gave me a smile that nearly drove the low simmer in my belly to a heavy boil.

“Hold that thought. We’ve got an exhibition to see.” She stroked her fingertip along my jaw before sashaying past me, her hips swaying, and her heels clicking on the pavement.

Because I couldn’t help it, I stared at her ass for a moment before hurrying to catch up with her, taking her hand and linking our fingers.

We rounded the side of the grange hall and joined the queue of people waiting to get inside. I’d bought tickets online already, but, for security reasons, they controlled the number of people viewing the items on display.

Royal orc guards studied each person who entered, though I doubted anyone would try to steal anything inside. Although that was how Bailey, the head librarian, met Katar, after an ancient orc manuscript was stolen from the library.

When it was our turn, they scanned our passes on my phone, and we went inside.

The orc king had brought a throne, and they’d mounted it on a small platform at the end of the room. He presided over the room from his gilded seat, surveying everyone below with a benign eye. His nephew, Katar, stood nearby, and he nodded when I caught his eye. He held Bailey’s hand. She was rubbing her belly with a slight frown on her face.

A few orcs dressed, oddly enough, in chaps, starched shirts, and leather vests, with cowboy hats on their heads, waited in a short queue to speak with the king.

“Orc cowboys?” Hannah asked me softly, leaning into my side.

“It would appear so. I heard a group was coming to Mystic Harbor to speak with the king while he was here, but I thought they’d do so during daylight hours.”

“Maybe this was the only time they could get. I’m sure he’s busy with diplomatic stuff. What sort of business do you think they hope to discuss with him?”

“I haven’t heard much. Just something about them bringing their version of orc horses and cattle to the surface and buying a huge tract of land to set up an authentic tourist ranching experience—orc style.”

“That sounds like fun.”

“Yup. People will stay for a weekend or longer and play old wild west while they’re there.”

“Authentic down to outhouses?” Laughter shivered in her voice.

“I understand they’ll offer modern conveniences, but people can wear antique clothing and go trail riding or even take rodeo and lasso lessons.”

“What does the king have to do with all that?”

“They’re hoping he’ll provide additional funding.”

“Ah, that makes sense.” Her attention was snagged by the first display, a glass case holding gleaming crowns adorned with precious jewels winking in the lights. Orc guards stood on either side of the case, their hands on their sidearms and their intent gazes scanning those gathering around to view the enormous wealth on display.

“Let’s stroll around.” I took her hand again and squeezed it. “You’re going to be amazed.”

We studied everything, marveling at the ancient books open to passages describing ancient orc warrior life to cases full of trunks overflowing with jewels, to golden flasks and enormous piles of jewelry. So much wealth on display. So much for humans and monsters alike to admire.

By the time we’d finished seeing everything, the orc cowboys had left, as had most of the crowd.

We went over to say hello to Katar and Bailey.

Katar was speaking with the king, and he made introductions.

“Very nice to meet you.” King Truceer nodded to us both. “You should visit the orc kingdom sometime. You’ll love it there. I could show you around.”

Such an honor. I bowed and after giving me a wide-eyed look, Hannah gave him a curtsy.

“We’d love to,” I said.

“Yes, speak with my—”

Bailey gasped, and we all turned to where she stood with Katar on the edge of the platform.

“My water just broke,” Bailey cried out, rubbing her belly.