Page 17 of Dragon Valley
“I don’t understand that,” I answered, frustration rising like a bitter pill in my throat. “Caden and Aron have shown me that not all outsiders are bad, but I could never help those who are.”
“You will one day.” Azaria patted my thigh. “I’ll break your plan to the Chief. He’ll take it better coming from me first. Why don’t you go check on the army and see how they’re faring?”
“Just what I was planning to do.” I rose to my feet and met her eyes. “Thank you, Azaria.”
“Of course, little lion head,” she teased, planting a motherly kiss on my forehead. “As bittersweet as it is, I love seeing you grow up too. You’re becoming more like your mother every day,” she added softly.
“If only I knew what that meant,” I muttered, making my way over to Dusa. “Hey girl. Ready to fly?”
She huffed and quickly shook herself off like a dog would before lowering her wing for me to step onto. Before we took off, she rubbed her snout against my leg and I felt a wave of sympathy from her. She knew how much I was missing Azel, no matter how much I tried to shove it down.
“Thanks, Dus,” I whispered, scratching her forehead. “I know he’ll be fine too. The Dragon God is watching over him.”
With a push of her legs and a powerful beat of her wings, we were in the air. She flew at a leisurely pace, knowing I was in no rush. Really, I was just biding time for Azaria to talk to the Chief and looking for a distraction from thinking about Azel.
After a few minutes, the southern border of the valley was in sight. Against the soft, early morning light on the landscape, the dark mass of people stood out jarringly. Like a black river pouring into the ocean, the army had already begun their move inside.
I had Dusa fly lower to get a closer look. The moment they noticed us, many people ducked and covered their heads. Others looked at us with harsh scowls, watching with narrowed, suspicious eyes.
“What’s their problem?” I muttered. “We’re letting them into our home for shelter and they look like they want to shoot us down from the sky.” I could understand the instinct to duck and hide when a large animal flew low over your head, but why the open hostility?
Dusa roared and I could feel her agreement with me. She was a proud but friendly beast and couldn’t fathom why anyone wouldn’t like her.
“Might have to get used to those looks, Dus,” I said. “When we fly out of here on our aid missions, the people out there are going to be even worse.”
She roared again, frustrated. I knew what she was thinking. If they already hate us, why bother to help?
I patted her neck reassuringly, but the same doubt crept into my own mind. Would the people outside our valley evenwantour help or would they treat us like an enemy too?
“Look, there’s Caden,” I pointed.
Dusa took a sharp descent toward the golden-haired man, whose blue eyes I could see from up here. He was helping injured soldiers move heavier trunks of equipment and belongings. With no armor on, he wore a loose, lightweight shirt with no sleeves. And thosearms.
Muscles rippled from his shoulders to his forearms, coiled and tensed like serpents as he lifted heavy objects and sprang loose as he set things down. Those arms were made from years of hard work and no doubt sculpted by endless battles. A long scar ran through his left bicep. I wondered if that was from the war or his life before.
The gust of wind from our descent tousled his hair and he smiled as he pushed it back out of his eyes.
“Good morning, Nadiyah!” he greeted. “And, um…”
“This is Dusa,” I said, rubbing her neck as I slid down. “Say hello, girl.”
She eyed him suspiciously for a moment, then leaned her big head toward Caden and sniffed him. The bumps on her snout nudged his shirt out of place, and I could see his chest was just as sculpted as his arms.
Finally, she let out a satisfied huff and bobbed her head down in a greeting.
“Good morning, Dusa,” Caden said, nodding at her before glancing up at me. “I feel like I just passed a test. Intelligent beasts, are they?”
“You did,” I told him proudly. “And yes. She understands every word we say, and can sniff out our emotions before we’re even aware of them.”
“Well, I’m happy I met your approval,” he told Dusa with a smile.
She rumbled out a purr in reply, nuzzling against me. She liked him.
“What are you two up to this morning?” he asked. “Just taking a flight?”
“Of sorts. I wanted to see how your camp was settling in. See if there was anything you needed.” My face grew uncomfortably warm. I was hyper-aware of his broad, masculine body so close to mine. A light sheen of sweat coated his skin from all the lifting he’d done. What Azel and I had done last night seemed to awaken a hunger that I never knew before.
Azel’s muscles were just as appetizing, though long and lean on his tall, slender frame. Caden was built for pure, brute strength and a part of me itched to sample the differences and similarities between the two men.
