Page 84 of Wild Bond

“Well, don’t you two look fashionable in your armor,” I observed by way of greeting. “Zade, you look prettier than all the women.”

He actually looked rather amazing in the bright green scaled armor, but where was the fun in telling him that?

Zade took my teasing in stride. “Why thank you, my lady,” he replied in mock seriousness, flipping his shoulder length golden hair behind him as he did, for once not in its customary queue. “I do try and make a statement.”

Dembe chuckled, a sound that was more like the rumbling of rocks in his big barrel chest. He looked formidable, his dragonscale armor a deep burnt orange that set off his darker skin.

Skye hopped down from my shoulder and sauntered over to greet Valla while the larger female lowered her neck to chuff a greeting.

“It’s good to see Valla fully healed,” I told Zade, watching the interaction with a smile.

“It is,” he responded, his voice sobering somewhat. “I never got to thank you for what you did that day,” he said, clearing his throat. “You and Skye.”

“You don’t need—”

“Yes, I do,” he interrupted. “If Skye hadn’t broken our fall and you hadn’t stopped that griffin . . . things could have gone much worse. So, thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” I replied, feeling something tighten in my chest at the sincere emotion in his eyes.

Then in a blink, the smirk was back. “Too bad you’re not coming with us. It won’t be half so interesting without you.” He grinned, that mischievous light back in his eyes. “Not to mention Rake will be back to his surly self without you keeping him company.”

I gave him a rude hand gesture, and he laughed good-naturedly.

“She’ll join us next time,” Dembe said, having watched our exchange with amusement. “When she’s fully trained.”

I nodded. “That’s the hope. And speaking of your surly leader, do either of you know where I might find him?”

Dembe’s smile turned knowing, and he gestured off to my right. “Last time I saw him he was over by the barracks.”

“Look for this intimidating creature called Naasir,” Zade directed helpfully, “big black thing, can’t miss it. Our illustrious leader is usually nearby.”

I shot him a glare, and he just winked.

Waving goodbye, I headed in that direction with Skye trailing after me. It was only a minute or two before I spotted one of Naasir’s arching black wings through the crowd and made my way over. When I finally got close enough and spotted Rake, the sight of him nearly stopped me in my tracks.

Looking at him now, I was reminded of that first time I laid eyes on him again in Petitioner’s Square, and how fierce and lethal he looked. He hadn’t even been in his full dragon rider armor then.

He was now.

The black scaled armor fit his upper body like a glove, accentuating the muscular physique that was already there. His shoulder plates flared out slightly, making his shoulders seem even broader, while the dark color brought out the raven tones in his hair and the dark stubble on his face.

Everything low in my body tensed, and every feminine instinct I had sat up and paid attention at the sight of the deliciously dominant male before me. All I could think of in that moment were the things I had done to him and the things he had done tome. My whole body flushed, and all I wanted to do was grab hold of him and kiss him, claiming him for all to see. I wanted everyone to know that this male—this perfect creature—was all mine.

He spotted me then, and my knees went weak at the look in his eyes as he dismissed the rider he had been speaking to and walked over to me.

For some reason, I felt slightly nervous, though I wasn’t sure why. “I like your armor,” I blurted, wanting to retrieve the words as soon as they left my mouth.

“Do you?” he grinned, staring down at me from his much greater height. “Duly noted.”

My cheeks grew hot and I cleared my throat. “And by that, I mean I’ve come to see you off.”

My breath caught as he took my hand and led me around the side of the nearest building. Skye stayed behind with Naasir.

The moment we were shielded from those in the courtyard, his mouth was on mine. His hands sank into my hair, and I wrapped my arms around his neck. The crazy events of the past few weeks fell away, and for a few moments there was only the two of us. I drank my fill of him, knowing I needed to savor this since we would soon be apart.

“I’ll miss you,” I breathed against his mouth when we finally surfaced.

“And I you,” he replied. His pale blue eyes stared down into mine. “When I return, I want to take you somewhere. Just you and me.” His hand gripped my hair more tightly and the hint of pain added to the heat in his eyes nearly left me breathless as he elaborated, “Somewhere nobody can interrupt us.”

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