Chapter 5

Five

Kaida woke in the morning after a faint tapping on the glass of her window just behind her head. It was a struggle for her to want to move out of the warm bed. The sheets were made of silk, and its smoothness on her skin while remaining cool was blissful. The added softness of the comforter that kept her the perfect temperature of warmth that made her feel beyond cozy. Knowing that she was inside of one of the highest towers was the only reason why Kaida made herself roll out of the comfortable bed. The only way anyone could be outside her window was if they were using their wings.

When she threw open her curtains, Kaida gasped at the sight in front of her. A deep blue and golden-yellow dragon flapped its wings to keep itself floating in her view. Its long neck was several feet thick, and its body looked as if it was a muscular boat with its large size. There were webbed spikes along its back and even along its jaw. Its golden underbelly glistened in the morning sun as Kaida noticed the webbed spikes and the membrane on its wings were all the same golden-yellow while the rest of it was the deep blue. After her examination of the powerful dragon, Kaida realized that she felt a pull inside of her chest toward the dragon. She mentally slapped herself for not realizing it was Enzo who was outside of her window.

She quickly looked around to see where she could get closer to him when she noticed there was a small balcony outside the window, so Kaida opened part of the window to walk out onto it. Just as she did, Enzo shifted and landed on the railing. Enzo’s radiant smile made her stomach flip flop, and she began to tug at her pants with her fingers.

“You look more beautiful in this light than I could have ever imagined you to be. I didn’t think it was possible to find a new way to fall for you every day, but you just keep surprising me.”

Kaida gave him a dismissive wave, “Please. You’re just saying words in hopes of enthralling me. That’s what all you boys do to make us girls go weak in the knees.”

Enzo gave her a smirk, “boys? Yes. However, men say what they feel so their woman knows it is the truth.”

“How am I supposed to know you are a man when you speak like every other boy I have met in this kingdom?”

Enzo growled in response. Kaida suppressed a smile, knowing that Enzo took her bait.

“Give me a chance to show you that I am no boy.”

“Oh? What do you have in mind?”

“Get yourself ready within the hour, and I will show you.”

Enzo stood on the rail and then took a step backward, falling at a rapid pace through the air. Kaida stifled the knee-jerk reaction to gasp as she knew that Enzo would shift midair back into his dragon and would not be harmed. When his large dragon floated into view, Kaida made herself look unimpressed and even gave her nails a glance to add to it. Enzo’s dragon blew out a stream of smoke and then flapped his huge wings to fly off into the distance.

I have no idea if I just poked him the wrong way, but I love the fact that I can get him riled up with minimal effort. This is going to be fun getting to know my mate.

* * *

Kaida managed to get ready just in time to meet Enzo. Her choice to wear an outfit that was simple and practical, a pair of black pants and a deep bluish-purple off-the-shoulder shirt that came down to the top of her butt, seemed to be the best option to go with considering she had no idea what Enzo had planned. The shoes were the hard part since there were limited options that would be practical. She mostly wore heels, and that could be potentially problematic. If there was even a slight chance that he would take her on a stroll through the land or hike to a place to picnic, the heels would become a disaster of an idea. Then there were also a few pairs of boots in her closet that could be a possibility as well. Though she thought they were a little aggressive to wear, the boots were the more logical choice. They matched her outfit and could appear somewhat casual, and Kaida knew she could run in them if need be because of the lower, thicker heel.

Not exactly what I had in mind, but this will do.

Just before she stepped out of her room, Kaida realized that Enzo never gave her the location to meet in the palace. The only place Kaida could think to go was back to the balcony. Once she stepped outside, the warm air hugged her, and the sky was crystal clear without a single cloud to disrupt the view. The first time she stepped out here, she barely noticed the view with Enzo’s dragon taking up the space before her. The entirety of Dragaal was before her, and all she could think about was how breathtaking it was. Rolling hills with lush green grass as well as others covered in thick patches of trees with various shades of greens within their leaves. There were even small areas of the towns, like the one she grew up in, with stone houses and small buildings for the shops.

Off to the right, there was the area where the Outcasted lived. It was almost as if the sun did not dare cast its light onto the area. Instead of lush green grass or trees, there were shades of darkness. Nothing was vibrant when it came to the landscape.

FLAP. FLAP. FLAP.

Before she knew it, Enzo’s dragon form was within view once more, only his golden wings remaining. His beautiful, deep blue scales shimmered in the light as his golden-yellow wings flapped powerfully to keep him airborne. When she opened her mouth to ask where she should go to meet him so they could leave, Enzo shifted midair once again and landed on her balcony. Kaida found herself scanning her eyes over Enzo’s body. His hair almost appeared the same golden color of his dragon as the sun drenched him from above. While looking over his jaw, Kaida found herself wanting to stand on her tiptoes and kiss along it to hear him moan. The navy-blue button-up shirt clung to his skin to show how his muscles rippled underneath the fabric. It took more effort than she thought it would not to reach her hand out and run it along his chest to feel just how defined his muscles were under there.

With a shaky voice, Enzo broke the silence between them, “Our carriage awaits.”

Kaida was confused for a moment as to how Enzo planned to get to the carriage, but then he held out his hand. She frequently forgot that other people were able to rely on the abilities that came with being a Dragon Shifter. When Kaida put her hand in his, the eruption of light arcs of lightning danced across their hands. Shivers spread from her hands, up her arms, and throughout the rest of her body. A moan escaped her lips, and she watched Enzo smirk in response.

“I’d love to explore other ways I can get you to make that sound some more, but that would not show you that I am a man. Put your hands around my neck.”

Kaida ignored his comment but did as she was told. When she looped her arms around his neck, she felt her stomach complete a somersault as her mind focused on how Enzo wrapped his arms around her to hold her in a bridal position. Kaida watched as his wings unfolded, and the span of them were more massive than she initially realized, mostly because she was keeping her eyes on Enzo instead of the wings, but now she had more reason to give them a look.

No wonder he will be a future king. This is the widest wingspan I think I have ever seen on a dragon!

Enzo’s wings proved her point further; she watched as, with a single flap, they flew at least ten to fifteen feet into the air. Kaida squeezed her arms tighter around Enzo’s neck while trying to tell herself not to look down. This may not have been the first time she’d flown in the air since her parents had given her rides by dragon back throughout her childhood, but it had been a while since the last time she’d gone. Kaida tried to remind herself that she needed to portray this to be a normal thing for her to do, but she wasn’t sure if that came off successfully.

Actually… I wonder why Enzo didn’t ask for me to use my own wings to fly down to the carriage.

Kaida immediately shoved the thoughts away. She also made sure to think of a wall inside of the mate bond so her thoughts did not carry over into Enzo’s mind.

Only bad part about this bond. He can find out my secret a hell of a lot quicker if I am not careful.

When they reached the ground, Enzo slowly lowered her legs to the ground as he stared into her eyes. Their lips were dangerously close to touching, and she could feel the heat rising between them as they gazed into each other’s eyes for what felt like an eternity. He glanced at her lips for a moment but then blinked and looked back into her eyes.

Enzo stepped away, and Kaida felt the heat from his body be replaced with a brief cool breeze. With the sudden change in temperature between them, it shocked Kaida for a moment, and her face twisted in confusion. When she found Enzo’s gaze still on her, his arm was held out toward the carriage. Kaida offered him a small smile in hopes of portraying that she wasn’t going to dwell on that little moment between them and then stepped through the door. Once she sat down on the lush cushions, Enzo made his way into the carriage. Before she knew it, Kaida could feel the carriage shifting from side to side as the wheels moved against the cobblestone road.

The ride was silent, and they made their way to the city. For the first time in her life, Kaida did not feel like the silence was uncomfortable. She relished in the lack of activity. She didn’t feel the need or desire to engage or interact; for once she was happy to just be.

When Kaida would sneak a glance over at Enzo, she would catch him gazing at her and then quickly look away as if he hadn’t been. After the fifth time it happened, Kaida couldn’t help but giggle at him. She heard him growl, and she found herself rubbing her thighs together from the throbbing she felt between her legs.

Is it because he is my mate? Or would I get all hot and bothered any time a dominant male is all growly around me? Kaida wondered.

Kaida wanted to make a comment about his reaction to her laughing at him. She wanted to see how he would react to a little jestering, but the carriage coming to a halt stopped her from saying anything. A quick look around through the window to see exactly where in the city he had taken her told her everything she needed to know. Kaida was familiar with it after being brought here by her parents whenever they wished to eat something different than what the cooks made them or shop for new clothes for a boring event they had to attend.

Something dawned on Kaida that she hadn’t considered before. Hmm. I guess I will be attending boring events soon enough, too, now that I am to become the Queen.

They were outside of one of the most prestigious restaurants in the city. Kaida almost rolled her eyes at Enzo wanting to eat here as it felt a little cliché. Enzo stepped out of the carriage and assisted Kaida out as well. She wanted to tell him that she was capable of doing it herself, but she somehow knew it was futile. She watched for years how her father would be the same way around her mother. Though, the moment that their hands touched, the arcs of light returned, and Kaida blushed as she watched them dance along their skin. The fact that he chose this restaurant quickly left her thoughts, replaced with something a little dirtier instead.

“Will that ever go away?”

Enzo seemed surprised at the question. “From what I understand, the fact that we are even seeing these arcs of light between us means the bond is strong. The brighter and more frequent the arcs, the stronger the bond between the two dragons.”

“I wonder what would happen if more of our skin touched the other’s,” Kaida said in a sultry voice as she let go of Enzo’s hand to walk into the restaurant he had chosen for them.

Enzo growled like he did in the carriage, and Kaida did not suppress her laughter.

Oh yeah. This is going to be a fun first date if it’s this easy to get him rattled.