I accepted a charred bit of rabbit from Tyrrik the next morning, sighing when he didn’t say a word. Didn’t he realize he was supposed to talk first? As the first offender, he should extend the olive branch and all that. I heaved another sigh as I shouldered the responsibility of being Ryn the Peacemaker. “Thanks.”

His brow quirked. “You’re welcome.”

Was that an I-admit-I’m-sulking quirk? Or an I’m-surprised-you’re-speaking-to-me-because-you’re-sulking quirk? Somehow, I doubted the former. Ryn the Peacemaker pursed her lips but said nothing.

Dyter licked the grease from his fingers as I wolfed down my portion.

“Are you strong enough to fly today?” Dyter asked when he finished.

Tyrrik’s face was turned upward as he scanned the skies, his eyes narrowed and reptilian. “I am strong enough to fly and carry you for a time, but I doubt the entire way. At least, not without help.”

I stiffened. Did he mean help from me? Like pushing my female Drae mojo into him?

“Definitely stay hydrated,” I said, deflecting.

I stood and imagined Tyrrik’s touch on my wings, and then shivered as scales erupted over my skin. My neck, tail, and fangs lengthened, and I shifted. In a handful of days, turning into my Drae form felt so natural and so right.

I stood on the side of the mountain, a magnificent lapis lazuli Drae. Dyter had only seen my Drae form on the run in Phaetynville, but he now had a chance to openly gape. Which he did in an awed way appropriate for a creature possessing my grace. Did he think all Drae had such vibrant, opulent scales? Such powerful tails? Such a deadly curve to their talons. I preened, reveling in his open admiration.

You are truly beautiful, Ryn.

I sniffed, trying to ignore Tyrrik, and stretched my neck to look in the opposite direction.

But when the shimmering of Tyrrik’s transformation caught the corner of my eye, I couldn’t not look. I turned back and gazed upward at the massive onyx Drae. Even after seeing him in this form many times, the ferocity of his talons, fangs, the lethal edges to his body and tail, took my breath away.

Dyter’s, too, apparently, who hastily backed away.

You’re bigger than me, I grumbled to Tyrrik as I compared our Drae forms.

Tyrrik swung his head toward me, white fangs gleaming. You are much faster, Princess.

I huffed. That was probably true, given my streamlined frame. I bet I could beat him in a race.

You definitely would, he agreed.

I purred with his praise and then mentally slapped myself.

As Tyrrik held out a claw for Dyter to climb aboard, I crouched close to the ground and leaped into the air, beating my wings down to create the lift I needed to fly. As the air caught under my majestic wings, I could barely contain the need to throw my head back and roar. I climbed above the pine trees and glided down over the rocky mountain.

I was flying, and it felt so incredibly right. I was a Phaetyn, I possessed some of their powers, and I wanted to help and to heal. But in my heart, in my soul, I was Drae.

Relenting, in part, to the joy in my heart at knowing who I was, I let loose a small roar.

You must stay quiet, Tyrrik said, already in the air behind me.

I did as he said, but I could totally rip the emperor’s head off. Probably. With a little more training.

I circled to let Tyrrik lead the way. He altered our course, and we headed farther north. I glanced ahead and saw Dyter sitting on his butt in Tyrrik’s claw, pale-faced and wide-eyed. I chortled my amusement and beat my wings hard to surge upward.

Maybe I would remain in my Drae form for a while. I was sick of being human-Ryn, barefoot in a corset.

Where is the Gemond Kingdom? I asked.

Tyrrik answered, Straight ahead, nestled in the mountains at the northern end of the realm. They are much closer to the emperor’s lands there. Not as close as Azule but within his reach. You must be on guard.

Okay, what should I be looking for?

You watch the ground for Druman; I’ll watch the skies for the emperor.

That suited me just fine. I needed to be searching for signs of Phaetyn anyway. I’d briefly forgotten Kamini’s sister during my joy ride.

Even if she’s been very careful, finding her shouldn’t be too hard if she’s still alive and in these mountains.

I startled before remembering Tyrrik would’ve heard the last conversation I’d had with Prince Kamoi. If I couldn’t see any signs of Phaetyn-juiced growth between here and the Gemond Kingdom, I’d have to search the mountains farther east the first chance I got.

To the west, Tyrrik said.

I peered west and saw a dozen clusters of vibrant green standing out in stark contrast to the barren land below. I’m looking at the ground. I gnashed my fangs together.

I just happened to see it out of the corner of my eye.

Sure you did.

He didn’t answer, but I felt his amusement through the weaving bond between us. The bond reminded me of his push and pull hoo-ha, and I blocked out the memory, setting my attention to the ground.

We didn’t come across another patch of green for half an hour, and this time, there were several dozen patches in clusters over a dozen or so mountain ranges. I lowered as movement caught my eye. Tyrrik, what’s that?

His great head swung to look down, and his alarm blared through my mind. Druman, he spoke. We need to get in the cloud line.

I obeyed, beating my wings and following him higher until we floated through wisps of cloud with a foggier view of the ground.

I scanned the Druman below, spotting five of them milling around the patches of green. My thoughts stirred uneasily. Why are they around the green patches? I asked Tyrrik.

Maybe they’re digging for potatoes.

I rolled my eyes.

Or maybe they know a Phaetyn has to have caused that growth.

That was my concern. Tyrrik, they can’t find Kamini’s sister before us.

I know, but we don’t need to worry. It’s just one Druman scouting party. Even if they report the sighting to Drayden, it will take him a while to respond. Once we get to Gemond and heal, we’ll go out looking for her.

We passed over the range and left the Druman behind us. I redoubled my efforts, scanning the ground. Despite Tyrrik’s reassurances, I felt his focus on the skies had also increased.

The next grouping of luscious green emerged two hours later.

Do you think they’re just random patches? I asked. Maybe we were getting way too excited over patches of green.

He hadn’t spoken in a while, and by now I could feel him straining to keep going through the bond.

No. This Phaetyn is careful, just as your mother was when distributing your gift.

That was a nice way to say she’d sprinkled people’s gardens with my bath water.

Or your chamber pot, he added. But there is a Phaetyn down there.

I had to agree with him. From up here, the contrast of the otherwise barren land to the pockets of water was blatant. How long did you know there was a Phaetyn in Verald?

How old were you when you came to Verald?

Just a baby, I think.

Then eighteen years, he said.

You knew the entire time there was a Phaetyn and never told the king?

I didn’t have to. The presence of a Phaetyn posed no threat to his life or his rule. I wasn’t compelled to tell him through the Blood Oath.

My mother had eighteen years of peace because Tyrrik wasn’t the monster everyone, myself included, had assumed. Thank you.

No one is more grateful than I that I never had to divulge information regarding your presence.

Things would be a lot different if I’d been Irdelron’s prisoner as a baby. I never would’ve survived. My gaze slid to Tyrrik, and he shivered. I focused on him, eyes narrowed, and caught the words, had to wait eighteen years.

Wait eighteen years for what? I asked.

He jerked so hard, Dyter almost flew from his grip. In my old life, I’d never imagined seeing a sheepish Drae, but Tyrrik fit that description right now, confirming my suspicions his thoughts had turned back to dancing potential maypoles.

As the next two hours whittled by, the green patches sprung up in clusters more frequently. Not overly, but instead of every thirty to forty minutes of flight time, the lush vegetation appeared every twenty or so. Was that a sign the Phaetyn was in the area below? Or was Kamini’s elder sibling purposely misleading us?

Movement below put me on alert. More Druman, I said, already pushing up into the cloud line.

Tyrrik followed, much slower.

The scouting party was gathered around a cluster of the green growth again, and there were eight of them this time. That can’t be coincidence.

The Drae took his time answering. Two scouting parties around the green patches is suspicious, he admitted. But if they are hunting for her, they are spread out over a huge area. They have no more idea where she is than we do.

But what if they get to her first?

He sighed mentally, and I heard his weariness and frustration. If I was stronger, we could search for her right now. But I can’t risk an encounter with Druman. I wouldn’t be able to protect you.

Not being able to protect me bothered him way more than it should. But I could feel his strain. Moreover, he was right; two scouting parties over hundreds of miles wasn’t enough to get my skirt in a twist. Al’right. We have time. Let’s go to Gemond, and then we can go out from there and search, once you’re better.

He glanced back. Thank you, Princess. I’m sorry . . . I’m weakened.

I’d never heard a stupider apology in my life, and I told him so. His lack of response was real confirmation of his fatigue.

I’ll need to rest soon, Tyrrik said.

Only thirty minutes or so had passed since our previous conversation. He sounded exhausted in my head, and I blew out through my nostrils. This was taking much longer than I’d anticipated. Okay, for how long?

He bared his fangs and grudgingly answered, I don’t think I should take flight again today.

I scanned the ground for Druman, but I hadn’t seen any since the last group. I could take the opportunity of Tyrrik resting to scout the area for Kamini’s sister. You land, I thought, I want to continue searching for the Phaetyn.

No.

If I had eyebrows right now, they’d be raised. Excuse me?

You are not remaining in the sky without me. It’s not safe.

My tail twitched. Care to rephrase that? Really fast.

Tyrrik twisted to glance back at me. Princess, I’m tired, very tired, and I require rest. If you’re in the sky and I cannot see you, I will not be able to rest.

Sure you can. Just close your little ol’ eyes and have a kip.

He chuffed, a frustrated sound coming from his Drae lips. It’s exhausting to act against my protective instincts, and I’m far too tired to fight the mating . . . He faced the front. The thought of you in danger without me there to defend you will drive me mad. You have no idea how much effort it took to keep up the pretense while you were in the castle. When I said nothing he added, I was only able to do it because the alternative was so much worse. If you wish to continue, I’ll stay with you for as long as I can, but I cannot leave you alone and unprotected.

I took a final glance around.

Unless you wish to help me? he asked.

I growled, knowing he’d hear the sound despite the wind snatching the snarl away. And that won’t mean anything to you. To the bond between us?

Some of my Drae powers were instinctual like my sense of smell or talking with Tyrrik in my head. Shifting had been difficult at first, and I still struggled to control my body when my emotions were high. The energy between Tyrrik and me was something I didn’t understand.

My Phaetyn powers felt different. That energy was fluid, and it seemed like the well of power was deep and all mine. Yes, there was a learning curve, but it was still all me.

This mating-bond power felt like tenacious fibers, the threads were thin but incredibly strong. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be tied to anyone. At least not now, and maybe not ever. If I pushed power into those bonds . . .

Tyrrik didn’t reply.

Will giving you some of my Drae energy affect the bond between us? I asked again, so irritated I was about ready to bite his tail off. My frustration might’ve been why Tyrrik chose that moment to descend.

Yes, he finally answered.

I knew it! Freakin’ manipulative Drae! Yes? How?

He descended faster. Dyter was looking between us, and I struggled to remember that beating Tyrrik to death with my tail would hurt the human I loved.

Tyrrik’s voice came to me strained with trepidation as he replied, Doing so will tie us closer together. It will also break more of the barriers between our thoughts.

He’d offered the innocuous information with far too much anxiety. Tyrrik, tell me everything. I’m serious. If you don’t, I will never, ever mate with you How could I trust someone with my life, want to protect theirs, yet still have to make sure they weren’t keeping me in the dark?

You will begin to feel more as I do. Anxious to be parted, nearly overwhelmed by my smell, and your body will want mine.

My body already was pretty interested in his. That wasn’t my problem. You were just going to leave that part out? Am I going to go crazy? Am I going to lose my mind?

He hesitated, one hundred meters above the mountain tops. If you strengthen the bond, my hold over you will grow stronger.

Even in this Drae form, my heart grew cold. What do you mean?

Do you remember when I used to kiss you?

Why did I get the feeling I wasn’t going to like what he said next?

A male Drae is able to control his mate in life and death situations; it’s for survival of the species. The effect of my kiss used to wear off on you quickly, I assume because of your Phaetyn side, but as the mate bond grows, so will my protective power over you.

Control me? Like a blood oath?

Tyrrik didn’t have time to answer as we neared the ground. I pulled away to give him space to land safely with Dyter, but fury gnawed in my chest. I landed and immediately shifted back to Phaetyn. My power in Phaetyn form was limited, but I didn’t trust my Drae with the explosive emotions racking me while Dyter was close by.

I began to pace the rocky mountain, breathing hard as I waited for Tyrrik to change back. How could he hide that from me? Did he really think I was going to give him any more power to manipulate me?

Turns out I couldn’t wait for him to change back. I stomped over to the onyx Drae and screamed, “Were you even going to tell me before I pushed energy into you?”

As soon as I was within striking distance, I slapped his scaled hide as hard as I could and then shouted up at him. “Do you want to know why I can’t decide if I want to be your mate?” I asked, gulping air, chest heaving. “It’s because you treat me like a freakin’ sheep! I’m not here to be herded. I’m not here to baa and be ignored.” My hand was smarting, but I whacked his haunch again. “I don’t want to be controlled! I don’t want to be part of a game.”

Tyrrik growled and swiped me up in his claw. I fell on my behind and got to my feet in a furious blur. In his clutches, I gripped two of his talons and stared through them to where he’d brought his great Drae face down. His inky eyes regarded me.

“We’re not in the castle anymore, Tyrrik,” I said. I made to squeeze my eyes shut, to hide the hurt as I’d done with Tyrrik so often. But hiding my pain from him wasn’t helping me or him. He needed to know so he could understand. I kept my eyes open and stared into his black gaze. I let my barrier drop, allowing him to see and feel how much I hurt inside from what he’d just done. “We’re not in the castle anymore,” I repeated in a whisper. “Please stop acting like you’re still under the Blood Oath. Hiding things from me won’t keep you or me safe. You hated being controlled.” I blinked, and the tears spilled over the corners of my eyes. “I hate being controlled, too.”

His eyes widened, and in a blink, he set me on the ground. The air shimmered for only a moment before Tyrrik unfolded from a crouch.

“Ryn,” he began, reaching out a hand.

I couldn’t even look at him. I let the tears drip down my cheeks as I turned and walked away.