Page 60 of Dragon Valley
“All we can do is talk to Azel,” I answered, my eyes on the horizon. My stomach twisted into knots as the clan village grew closer with each passing second. I had no idea what kind of welcome to expect. Would Azaria still be pissed at me? If she saw Caden on Dusa’s back, I had a feeling she would be.
“Want Dusa to drop me off before anyone sees?” Caden asked, echoing my thoughts.
“No,” I replied. “It won’t matter. And I have a feeling Azel already knows.”
His grip on my waist tightened as the huts came into view, our central bonfire roaring majestically. I leaned into the reassuring touch, eager to soak up as much of his strength as I could.
The village looked more lively than the army camp as we made our descent, although that wasn’t saying much. Women and children milled about, doing their usual chores and duties but no Riders or their dragons were in sight.
A young woman emerged from the chief’s tent the moment Dusa landed. She didn’t bat an eye as Caden gingerly slid down after me.
“Welcome home, Dragon Rider Nadiyah. Lieutenant Caden,” she greeted. “The Chief would like to speak to you immediately. I’ve prepared food and drink to replenish you from your journey and will have it ready in a moment.”
My eyes narrowed as she spoke. I had seen her around but didn’t know her well. All I knew in that moment was she was young and pretty.
“Who are you?” I barked.
She flinched at my tone. “My name is Daela, miss Nadiyah. I’m the Chief’s head servant.”
“Servant?” I repeated. “Is that all?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Her eyes went to the ground. “I don’t go to bed with him, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Does anyone else?”
“I don’t know, ma’am.”
Caden squeezed my shoulder before I could say anything else.
“Thank you, Daela. We’ll see ourselves in.” The girl stepped aside and Caden gave me a gentle push forward. “I’ll remember not to have any other women around after you have a long day of flying,” he chuckled, rubbing the nape of my neck.
My retort caught in my throat as we entered the hut and a figure came into view. Through the smoke in the central fire, all I could see was the outline of his head, neck, and lean muscular shoulders.
“Azel?” I managed to whisper, my knees buckling underneath me.
The new chief of the dragon clans opened his eyes and then I really did sink to the floor on my knees. His eyes were red. Not like bloodshot, but his once brown irises were red and tinged with orange, yellow, and gold like a dragon’s flame.
“Welcome home, Nadi.”
His voice sounded different too. Not in depth or volume, but he spoke with an almost inhuman quality that vibrated throughout the hut. It raised goosebumps on my skin and brought a flood of wetness to my core.
Or maybe that was just seeinghimas my eyes adjusted to the dim light inside. Azel looked bigger, with muscles twice the size as when I last saw him. How was that even possible when he was starving in the wilderness for two weeks? Those red, fiery eyes gave him an otherworldly handsomeness that I couldn’t take my eyes off of.
“Azel, is it really you?” I whispered weakly on my knees.
He came around the fire, moving with fluid confidence and knelt in front of me. His smile, the same cocky one I always knew, lit up inches from my face as he cupped my chin in his hand. Those eyes like molten lava closed halfway before he pressed his mouth to mine.
I opened up to him as all my fears broke away, letting all my relief and my love, pour through. My hands wrapped around his neck as he pulled me into a tight embrace. My skin thirsted for his against mine with a desperation I didn’t know was possible. I didn’t realize I missed him so much until this very moment.
Azel pulled away from me gently after a final kiss, then stood and held his hand out to Caden.
“Thank you for taking care of her, brother.”
Caden huffed out a laugh and shook his head. “You know damn well she’s the one who took care of me.” To my utter shock, he pulled Azel’s arm in and wrapped the other around his back in a manly hug. Azel returned the gesture and only then did the weight of what just happened hit me.
“Caden, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“Don’t apologize, Nadi.” He untangled from Azel and clasped a hand to his chest. “I feel everything you’re feeling, remember?”
