Page 113 of Wild Bond

Hurry up, Skye!I hastened her in the bond.We can’t let them win!

Aloud, I yelled back to the two males, “Is that all you’ve got?”

I saw the flash of Rake’s grin before I turned around, and Skye put on a burst of speed. We managed to stay ahead of them as we flew, though occasionally they passed beside or below us.

The day was already growing warm. I pulled at the neck of my new armor, trying to alleviate the feeling of it sticking to my skin from the heat. I wasn’t quite used to the feel of it yet.

Not that I was complaining.

It had been three weeks since the attack at Three Points. A funeral had been held for Mercedes, but the circumstances of her death had been kept quiet. The leaders from all three kingdoms had agreed they didn’t want it getting out that there was a potion that could potentially make one into a dragon rider. The princess’s dragon rider accomplice still hadn’t been found. Questioning Mordrick had turned up no new leads in that regard. Apparently, he had purposely been kept in the dark about who was helping them. Prince Pierce had made it his personal mission to find out who was behind it all, though, and I was becoming more and more convinced that he had nothing to do with his sister’s scheme.

The rogue riders who survived the attack still showed no signs of illness or dying. We learned from the alchemist that Mercedes and the riders had been given a new version of the potion, without its predecessor’s disastrous effects. And since all the remaining riders were from Baldor, they had been returned to Dessin, and now the queen and the Dragon Rider Council were debating what should be done with them. And I for one was glad that I didn’t have to deal with such matters.

One other matter that had been resolved was that of Daisha receiving her comeuppance for nearly killing me and Skye in the First Trial. Assignments had been handed out to all the new dragon riders, and Daisha had been assigned to Yorn, one of Baldor’s coldest and most remote northern cities. Far away from the capital, the court, and the glittering lifestyle she thrived on. We hadn’t spoken of it, but I knew Rake had everything to do with her less than desirable assignment, even despite her father being on the council and no doubt opposing the decision. But I didn’t feel even a hint of remorse for her after what she had done.

This morning had been the official ceremony at the castle where the queen formally welcomed all those who had passed the trials into the ranks of her dragon riders. Of course, it was just a formality at this point, since the real ceremony had taken place when we all received our markings after the trials. But it had still been an exciting and lavish affair.

I had only donned my dragonscale armor for the first time a few hours ago. Luckily, Skye was meticulous about picking up any of her shed scales, or rather ‘shinies’ as she called them, and jealously guarded them in her horde—her real one, not the one in my bedroom. We had made a special trip to her true horde to collect them soon after returning. Skye had been nigh to bursting with excitement to show me all her treasures, and I had been overwhelmed at the sight of so much wealth—and junk—in one place.

Neskel, the Tower blacksmith, had to rush to finish my armor on time, since I wasn’t supposed to have competed in the trials so soon. He’d only finished the armor the night before. I hadn’t been able to stop staring down at the beautiful and seamless design of the jade scales since. I particularly loved watching how the color shifted and changed in the light as we flew.

Even now, I could feel Skye’s pride in the bond at how much I loved it, along with a sense of satisfaction that it was her scales that would protect me from now on.

When we reached our familiar destination, Skye circled a few times before landing. The sight of the water glistening in the bright morning light was as stunning as always.

Skye set down gracefully on the small ridge near the base of the waterfall. Naasir landed beside Skye, and Rake and I dismounted, moving to stand before the cascading water.

“We’ll have to bring Declan and Izzy here one day, when they’re able to fly,” I commented. Declan was now completely healed from the dragon attack, and as lively as ever. He would love a spot like this. Lessa probably would too, but we had discovered she was terrified of heights when I attempted to take her flying on Skye a few days ago, so coming here might be out of the picture for her.

When I turned to look at Rake, he was shaking his head. “No.” A familiar heated gleam in his eye had my toes curling. “No, this place is ours. I don’t want to share it with anyone else. There are plenty of other places we can take Declan once he’s old enough.”

I shot him a cheeky grin. “Ours, huh?”

I squealed in delight as he grabbed me around the waist and pulled me in close. “Yes,ours,” he growled, the sound licking across my skin as he leaned in and placed a hot kiss against my neck. I tightened my grip on his arms and tilted my head back as he hummed his approval. “Why do you think I brought you out here? All I’ve wanted to do since seeing you in that armor this morning is strip it off you.” His wicked lips continued their path down my neck, and I groaned as liquid pleasure raced through my blood wherever he touched.

I was fully content with this plan, and so was relieved to find Skye fully occupied with investigating the surrounding area. She had shrunk to her minor form and was hunting down a peculiar scent that intrigued her. She barely acknowledged me as I checked in. She and Naasir had gotten used to giving Rake and me privacy when we needed it. I saw through the bond that Naasir was following in Skye’s wake. Rake had told me that his dragon felt a begrudging need to keep Skye safe, since she was bonded to his rider’s mate; particularly when her curiosity got the better of her. Like now.

Satisfied that the two were occupied, I pulled back in the bond and focused on the man before me, and how he was making my body come alive in that way only he could.

He nipped at my ear. “Tell me something,” he murmured, his voice rough.

“Hmm,” I hummed, closing my eyes.

“During the battle, there was something you wanted to tell me . . .,” he rumbled. “What was it?”

I had allowed myself to be lulled into a warm, almost drugged state as I inhaled the smell of him. I was luxuriating in the feel of his lips on my skin, so I nearly missed the significance of the question.

When it registered, my whole body went taut. I pulled back, and he did as well, the space he left behind feeling curiously empty. His eyes were intense as they stared down at me. Eyes that contrasted brilliantly with his sun-kissed skin.

I had been wondering when he would bring this up, both anticipating and anxious about it. But as I stared up into that face I loved, I knew I had no reason to be nervous.

Leaning up on my toes, I wrapped my arms around his neck and fed my fingers through his hair. Brushing my lips against his mouth, I whispered my declaration. “I love you, Kyan Rakim. I’ve loved you since that night you came to find me on the roof and every day since.”

His lip twitched, and even deeper emotion burned in his eyes. “I’ve loved you since you tried to get yourself killed by riding a griffin. You nearly scared ten years off my life.”

My heart tripped over at the words as I laughed, and I felt his grin against my mouth before he kissed me. The kiss was slow, deep, and fiercely possessive. When I finally came up for air, I was breathing hard. My blood thrummed with want in my veins, and I could tell my cheeks were flushed.

His hands drifted down to cup my backside and kneaded the flesh there as he pressed me into him.

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