Page 57 of The Wrath of Ashes
All that gathered around knew they’d couple, knew they’d be united in body and soul. But more importantly, this nagging feeling burrowed deep within himself would get to come free. The beast that had risen to the surface of his skin, demanding he mate with Rath, would be restrained by human flesh no more.
Their lips touched, words exchanged, and Asha’s mind realized all at once what he was.A dragon.
They shed their clothes, caring nothing for those around them—though their onlookers held only joy.
The shift happened spectacularly. The world around him shrank, and Rath morphed before him, a constant with him asthey rose and filled far more space together than they had any right to.
Their fire, it burned from Asha, seeking the sky.
“Look,” Rath growled as they rose to their full height, spreading their wings and lapping at one another with long tongues over smooth scales.
Asha listened. He turned his head in the direction that Rath nudged him, eyes fluttering open.
The colors of the world around them blossomed into a chromatic display, making gold seem euphoric in spectrum, their scales a rainbow of shine and patterns that made his very core tremble.
But the moon?
Asha forced himself to stare at the rising orb in the sky and froze.
It was beautiful. Rainbows formed concentric circles and rings around the moon itself, the orb a pulsing mass of raw energy and magic that made his mind snap toonething and one thing alone.Sex.
Things had to happen before sex, though.
Instinct had them circling one another, necks gliding with gentle gestures to stroke their scales.
Rath could speak in his dragon form, so huge, so beautiful and a scent that made Asha mad. “Do you love me, yet?”
Asha could only purr, growl, and rumble. But in his heart, he said yes.
“Speak, my love. Speak your words proudly,” Rath said, spitting flames into the sky.
Asha’s jaw couldn’t make the words, his throat too raw and new, but forcing air forward and straining allowed him to choke free a raspy, “Yes.”
Rath purred and stroked his cheek along Asha’s, rumbling into what must have been his ear—though Asha had yet to see his full form. “Our bargain is fulfilled.”
Rath’s words made Asha’s heart melt for a brief second before he flew off, pushing free of the stone promenade to dive below, great wings spreading to catch his fall. Asha had waited so long for that. So long to taste the sky. His dragon, all instinct and magic, ran and plummeted after his mate.
There were no lovers of flowers in the sky, there were only dragons, and dragons loved dragons, regardless of scale or horn. Asha, human born and fearful, felt as if he’d begun a new life, born into new blood. Born into fire. As he thought this, he blew flames as he swept around Rath in a flirtatious sweep.
Rath, bearing a certain slyness in his eyes, dove through clouds that from the ground seemed so substantial, but were mere striations of mist, leaving dew across his scales.
Every breeze and whip of wind, cold patch of air and warm current made his belly roll and heart flutter.
A flick of tail and tap of wing made Asha call out with delight, something between a roar and a crow of joy, vibrant and musical. He didn’t trust his skills at tagging Rath back quite yet. Probably wouldn’t for a while. He could still chase, though. The thrill of the cold air and the shine of the ever-present moon above made him bold and brash.
As they twirled in midair, Rath spread his wings to halt his flight, his body shifting in a collapsing display until nothing but his more human form remained. Without warning, he landed atop Asha, strong thighs clenching to his neck. “Follow my guide.”
Asha, very aware of Rath’s bareness seated atop him, faltered in midair, but pointed back toward the castle, where Rath tapped and pulled his neck toward, flying above their friends, family and court toward a parapet made for a dragon’slanding. Unsure of what to do, Asha circled it once and Rath ordered him to land, to be gentle as he swooped down, remembering how he rode Heckle.
It was easy, too easy as he did so, gliding down and settling with a few flaps of his great wings. The masonry held steady beneath him, and Rath dropped down, beckoning Asha to shift. “Please, come to me.”
Asha obeyed, soaking in the cold and sky, the dimming light welcoming him into warm, bare arms. For the first time, he gave no thought to Rath’s bareness, no fear of judgment or uncertainty. His body shuddered and he wanted nothing more. “Bed me.”
“I will. You understand, though? That moon above us and what you took? What you are?” Rath rested a hand on Asha’s chest, fingertips sliding down until his dark claw tips rested over his navel.
“If it is what the fates desire. If it is what I am meant to be. If it fulfills me like I’ve dreamt of since my first flustered thoughts.” Asha forced himself on Rath, capturing his king’s mouth for the fiercest of kisses. His body, more human than not, still bore his tail—something that would take time to hide away—and horns that he wanted to wear with pride. They were his crown, the jangle of metal atop them a reminder that he was far beyond reproach. Still, Rath pulled back with a studious glare.
“But is it whatyoudesire? I’d hate for our union to create an egg you do not want, a child you aren’t prepared to love.” Rath nuzzled Asha’s cheek and groaned with pleasure at his answer.
