Page 12 of Shadow Wings

“You’re sure you wish toknow?”

I closed my eyes, waiting. I was pretty sure at this point nothing he could say would surpriseme.

“I would’ve waited until you had the privacy of a cave, but I suppose you’ll know soon enough anyway.” Warmth touched my body as the Drae stepped closer. “You are the Emperor’sdaughter.”

I snorted andwaited.

“I’m telling thetruth.”

I opened my eyes and stared at him. “Wash your mouthout.”

“What?” Tyrrik asked, concern in his eyes. Probably for my mental state because that sure was under pressure at themoment.

I choked out the words. “You’re notserious?”

“I never joke when it comes toyou.”

Or joke in general.“I don’t understand . . . How? You said the emperor didn’t have a mate, and that Drae can only . . . procreate with their mate.” I pulled up short as I recalled something else the Drae said not many days before about the ‘emperor’sexperiments.’

Tyrrik nodded, but his attention was fixed on the sky. “I will answer your questions. All of them. But you must listen to me. When you transform the first time, you are vulnerable. We need to get to the caves so we arehidden.”

Sure. Right. I’ll just put aside that startling bit of news and go about my merry way to the caves so I can turn into a Drae.Surprisingly, I did just that, turning toward my horse. “Do I have to get back on myhorse?”

I was not looking forward to riding that animal again. What I wanted to do was ask Tyrrik to change into his Drae form and fly us to wherever we weregoing.

“No,” he said, mounting his own horse. “But I won’t risk changing unless I have to. I’m sure Emperor Draedyn has sent more Druman, and he might be patrolling this area himself for all I know. For now, weride.”

“I thought you said I didn’t have to get on the horse.” I put my hands on my hips inprotest.

“No,Khosana. I said you don’t have to get onyourhorse.” He held out his hand. “We need to be quick, and you’retired.”

I shook my head. Being near him messed with me, and my head and my heart didn’t need any more strain. “I’ll ride my own horse. You just want to touchme.”

His features softened, but he shook his head. “We don’t have time to go at your pace. If we make it, it’ll be just in time. Your energy is all over the place, and I don’t want to risk a talon to the eye if I don’t have to. The sun has already started its descent, so you’ll be feeling night’s call soon, if you’re notalready.”

Tyrrik was right; I could feel something deep inside me sending tentative tendrils out. Something huge slowly unfurling from within, raising its head inanticipation.

I didn’t want to transform here. I accepted the Drae’s hand, and he pulled me up in front ofhim.

“And I always want to touch you,” he whispered in myear.

With a click of his tongue, we were off. If not for Tyrrik’s iron-hold around my waist, I would’ve toppled from thehorse.

“How far until the cave?” I asked, clinging to the front of thesaddle.

“Several hours,” heanswered.

I barraged him with questions for the first hour, and he patiently gave me my answers, most of which I wanted to forget as soon as I’d heard them. Because the emperor was my father, he would be able to sense me every time I shifted into my Drae form. He might even be able to read my mind like Tyrrik could when we touched. And after Tyrrik’s little fire in Verald, resulting in three less Druman, the emperor would likely send out more of hismules.

I wasn’t sure how long had gone by when the night’s call Tyrrik had described began to override everything else. My muscles spasmed, contracting and stretching with flashing bolts of agony. My body seized and shook, and I gritted my teeth to keep from crying out. My body alternated between searing pain and extreme fatigue, the cycle shortening as the night approached. I shuddered and gasped, “Am I going to givebirth?”

Tyrrik’s response was to tighten his arm around my waist, tuck my head in the hollow of his neck, and urge the horse faster. Before the pain began, I’d done my best to make sure our skin did not touch. I’d kept my sleeves pulled up over my hands. I’d sat straight in the saddle, determined not to lean on him, but I was far beyond that now. King Irdelron himself might’ve sat behind me, and I’d still be a whimpering sack ofpotatoes.

Another wave hit me. I bit down on my lip to stop from screaming but couldn’t help arching in the saddle, going taut with the throbbingpain.

We veered off the path toward the base of a mountainrange.

“Not long now,mojeláska.”

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