Page 24 of Dragon Valley
Taking a break at our favorite cliff overlooking the valley, Dusa rolled on her back to soak up the sun while I carefully inked landmarks on my map. Just when I tried measuring if they were to-scale for the tenth time, another Rider flew past us on a dark burgundy beast.
I looked up and waved. He and I didn’t know each other well but all Riders were considered comrades. His lip curled with distaste at my wave and he abruptly rode off in the direction of our village.
“Sending people to spy on me, Azaria?” I wondered aloud, shooting a glare at his back. I didn’t do anything wrong and was still well within the valley barrier. Riders didn’t usually need to check up on each other but where Azaria was concerned, I apparently needed my every move watched and scrutinized.
All the more reason to leave this place and see what was out there.
We stayed out on the cliff until the sun began to dip below the horizon, and I shivered climbing onto Dusa’s back. For a moment, I imagined the heat of her underneath me as a man’s body. Caden’s body. The resulting throb of my clit sent a wave of shock, then shame through me.
What if Azaria was right? Was it wrong to entertain these fantasies, the harmless touches, the shy smiles and light flirtations, while Azel suffered alone for the clan?
He was in a rough place, and not just physically. I knew he loved me as the rebellious, rule-breaker I was, but he also had massive responsibilities and standards to uphold. Deep down I knew he would want me to be happy in his absence, because we never ruled out the possibility he would never return.
As my best friend, he would at least entertain my ideas, even when I joked about having multiple husbands. But would he still do that as chief? Would he let me be me or fight to keep me in line? I had no way of knowing until he came back. If he came back.
My mood had soured by the time we returned to the army encampment for dinner. After spending the last week trying to not let Azaria get to me, she succeeded anyway.
Caden seemed to notice immediately.
“What’s wrong?” he asked the moment I slid down Dusa’s neck.
“Nothing.” Not wanting to involve him in clan business, I held out my roll of parchment to him. “How does this look?”
He cocked an eyebrow as he took the paper from me but smartly kept his mouth shut.
“You drew this?” he asked after a moment of scanning my map, flicking his blue eyes up to me.
“Yes.” I chewed my lip. “I just wanted to make sure I understood everything you’ve been teaching me, so I made one of the valley. How bad is it?”
“Nadi,” he breathed. “This is the cleanest, most accurate map of Dragon Valley I’ve ever seen.” His face surged with pride as he carefully rolled it back up. “Do you mind if I borrow this? I’d like to make copies to put in libraries when…”
He trailed off but I knew what he meant. When they won the war.
“Of course.” I beamed up at him. “It’s really that good?”
“Gods, yes. We’ve been dealing with shitty, inaccurate maps drawn by people who’ve never been here,” he scoffed.
“Well, I’m happy to help,” I said, dropping my eyes, hyper aware of the blush in my cheeks. “Do you have more to do today?”
“No, let’s eat,” he grinned. “I’ve just been leading some training exercises today and talking tactics with Captain Aron. Morale is already higher than it has been in the last year. Amazing what some food and rest can do for your mind.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” I said, following him to his tent and campfire. “How much longer until you think everyone’s in fighting shape again?”
“Three weeks until we’re in good shape, although six would be ideal. Your Chief isn’t imposing a limit on us but we don’t want to overstay our welcome.”
“With how well they’re reacting to me and Dusa, I don’t think you’ll have anything to worry about.” We settled on the logs by the fire and helped ourselves to sizzling skewers of meat and vegetables. “Your people outside the valley, I’m not so sure.”
“You’re wise to be cautious,” he said, playfully poking me in the thigh with his skewer. “All the more reason to have someone come with you. If they see one of their own lieutenants working with the dragon clans, it’ll add to your credibility.”
“I’d rather build my own credibility,” I said through my chewing.
“Now you’re just being stubborn for no reason.”
“So what?”
He flicked some grease from his meat in my face and I reacted like I was going to stab him with my skewer. Our laughter rose to the stars like the smoke rose from the fire. When his arms went around me this time, he held me longer and I didn’t even struggle as much. He had a small indent in his chest where my head seemed to fit perfectly. My pulse fluttered as his lips seemed to graze across my forehead before he let me go.
A moment of stillness hung between us when we parted. Our gazes locked, the shadows from the fire illuminating his straight nose, angle of his jaw, and brightness of his eyes. If we were lovers, it would be the perfect moment to embrace and kiss. The thought crossed my mind for a fleeting moment.
