Chapter Thirteen
“Where are Arin and Xavier?” Vikter asked as Camille and Valerie walked up the hill to Dragon’s Launch with Ryker. The dual suns were just breaking the horizon and in that moment all of Nova looked pink.
“They left last night. They wanted to get a head start looking for Castor under the cover of nightfall.” She shrugged. “I told them to tell you or Ryker, but they didn’t want either of you to feel obligated to go with them.”
Vikter nodded. “I’m not sure how we’ll get word to them then. I’m sure they’ll want to know about you, but I don’t know how to contact them. The Dragos and the Gemini haven’t shared information in forever. They used to have a common telepathic pathway between the triads and the respective elders, but who know if that works anymore.”
Becca put her hand on her mate’s shoulder. “Well, there’s only one way to find out, and that’s to try and resurrect that pathway, right?” She shrugged. “No one destroyed it, so even if it’s weak that doesn’t mean it won’t do the job.”
He took her fingers and kissed them. “Ever my optimist. That is when you’re not going over my head to the king and giving me a headache!”
“Aw, you love it.” She shoved playfully at his cheek, blowing him a kiss.
Ryker looked at his alpha. “Well, that leaves us with one problem. Who is going to carry Valerie?”
Gazing out at the rising dawn, Vikter shrugged. “We can’t wait much longer. Like Alyx said, it’s a long way.” He turned back around and looked to Ryker. “You’ll carry Valerie. She’s tantamount to your sister-in-law, so why not?”
“I’ll tell you why not,” Valerie replied. “My straddling my best friend’s mate is not going to happen. It’s too…too weird.” She lifted one shoulder. “Too intimate, you know?”
Becca laughed. “It’s just a ride on a dragon’s back, honey. The only time a dragon gets any kind of satisfaction from it, is when it’s his mate.” She winked.
“Eew, you are so not helping.” Valerie grimaced.
She laughed out loud. “Then Vikter can carry you. He’s the alpha and the most experienced, so it makes sense, plus I’ll be right beside him, so no hanky panky.”
“Becca!” Vikter warned.
Camille and Ryker shared an amused look. “She’s just teasing, Vikter. Val’s never done this before, so it’s all good.”
Valerie stood back and watched as Vikter raked a hand through his hair. He exhaled and walked to the edge of the bluff. “If you all say so, then let’s get moving.” He crouched, and with a flash of electricity and a wrench of bone and sinew, Vikter transformed to his dragon.
Valerie backed away. “Holy fucking shitballs!”
Vikter’s dragon lips pulled back and smoke curled in a scaly chuckle. Ryker walked to the beast’s side and patted his flank. “Mount up, Val. Try to situate yourself right behind Vikter’s frill. They look spiky and stiff, but they’re actually smooth. Hook your legs behind a set of scales and hold on tight.”
“Let’s go, dude.” Camille took Valerie by the reluctant hand and walked her to the edge of the bluff.
She stepped into Ryker’s linked fingers. “Whatever happens, I love you, bookworm. Tell the twin giants I think I love them, too.”
“Think?” Camille raised an eyebrow.
Val looked at the immense beast she was about to mount and squeezed her eyes shut. “Okay, okay. I know I love them, but they don’t need to know that yet. Not when I haven’t wrapped my head around it myself. It’s not just hormonal, right?”
Camille shook her head, and Becca moved to her side as well. “No, honey,” Becca answered for them both. “It’s not just hormonal. It’s a shifter thing, and once they find us and make us theirs, it’s an all or nothing deal. Trust me, baby. You won’t regret it.”
“She’s right. Besides, where else would we get guys who look like them?” Camille jerked her thumb to her hunky mate and laughed. “I wanna raise our little dragonlings together, dude. So tell those twin tree trunks you love them and get on with it.”
Valerie’s eyes went wide. “Are you telling me you’re preggers?”
Camille spared a glance for Ryker and then nodded, holding her finger to her lips. “We haven’t told Gerri yet, so keep your trap shut, okay?” She slid her eyes to Becca as well. “And that goes double for you, Mrs. Alpha.”
The three girls laughed, and as if on cue Ryker hoisted Valerie onto Vikter’s back. “Remember what I said about holding tight. It can get bumpy up there.” He pointed to the brightening sky.
“Rodger,” she saluted and then watched as they each transformed along the cliff edge.
“Holy shit! Will I be able to do that, too?” she murmured, forgetting Vikter could still understand. He nodded his big head, smoke curling again in agreement.
“Wahoo! Landing gear up, you big lizard! Let’s go!”
***
The air was smooth as silk, and the ground below passed in a purple smudge as they headed west toward the plains of Dragosland. The Ice Mountains loomed large as they approached, and Valerie understood from the way the dragons’ formation shifted they were skirting Gemini territory. Their band of brothers knew they had struck peace, but everyone else had yet to hear the good news.
Immense wings flapped, then went straight as they curved around the mountain range, keeping to the cloud cover. Valerie shivered. Clouds were a cold wet mist, not the fluffy cotton candy puffs they look like from the ground.
Her hair hung in wet strands and her long-sleeved tee and leggings clung to her like she struggled into them straight from the washing machine. “Ugh, worse than trying to put on a wet bathing suit,” she muttered, letting go with one hand to tug at her wet tee.
Vikter turned in that moment and she lost balance, her hand clutching for the closest grip. The dragon’s frills were wet from the cloud as well, and her hand slipped. Sensing her distress, Vikter banked in the other direction, careful not to over-correct. She grabbed a frill at the base and leaned in, holding on tight.
“One rule,” she muttered. “Ryker gave you one rule. Hold on with both hands, but no…rules don’t apply to Valerie cocky-ass Ross.”
Vikter’s flanks rumbled in dragon laughter.
“Sure, yuck it up. I’ve got a vice grip hanging on here, so whatever part of you this transforms to when you shift back, you better have an ice pack handy,” she shot back. “Just saying.”
The wind picked up, blowing quick, hard gusts. Val’s hair whipped around her face, the wet strands slapping and stinging her cheeks. Her teeth chattered in the cold, but she held on.
Lightning crashed out of nowhere, illuminating the sky in white flashes. Thunder rumbled around the summit and Vikter and the others dove from cloud cover, trying to outmaneuver the unanticipated storm.
“I know what you’re thinking, big guy, but this is not Becca’s fault,” Valerie said, trying to keep her mind on anything but the crazy way the dragons flew. Vikter couldn’t hear her over the sound of the wind anyway, so she gave up and closed her eyes.
Lightning flashed again, but this time a bolt crashed too close for comfort. Vikter countered, banking hard. Valerie screamed as her hands slipped from their hold on his frilled mane. She tumbled from the dragon’s back, her body plummeting toward the base of the mountains.
Camille and Becca shrieked in panic, Ryker diving for Valerie only to be cut off by a Gemini guard. Fire flew from their mouths in a coordinated pattern, circling the mountain’s perimeter. He lost sight of her as she slipped through the ring of flame just as it closed.
Vikter’s roar shook the mountain, sending ice plunging from the summit. They had to get her back or more than just the tenuous Dragos/Gemini truce was at risk. They needed to find Arin and Xavier. Fast.