Riley was grateful for the night, although the full moon seemed to turn night into a soft glowing day. She managed to place the last petals into Dax’s mouth and her own just as Gary and Jubal reached them.
“Good evening,” Dax said pleasantly.
Had Riley not seen his reaction she would never have known he was smoldering with desire for her and not at all happy with the interruption.
“Where did you get that flower?” Gary asked, excitement edging his voice Dax frowned, the flames in his eyes growing. Clearly he didn’t like the demand in Gary’s voice.
“Gary and Jubal came here looking for a particular flower,” Riley explained hastily.
“It’s important,” Gary added. “That flower is extinct in the Carpathian Mountains. We’ve speculated for a while now that it’s important for the women’s ability to conceive.”
Dax shook his head. “I’ve lost so much time. I thought, from your memories, that Xavier was the culprit behind the loss of our women and children, that it was his poisonous microbes in the soil.”
“He definitely attacked your people,” Gary admitted, “nearly destroying an entire species over time, but he had some help along the way.”
“The flower?”
Gary sighed. “I think the toxins in the soil, the microbes Xavier introduced, killed off the flower. Gabrielle …” He stopped, glanced at Jubal and then shrugged. “Jubal’s sister is conducting research with me. Some of the ancients have returned to their homeland and when she interviewed them, a fertility ritual with this flower came up again and again. We began to believe there was something to it, so we focused on finding out what happened to it.”
“We use satellites and computers,” Jubal added. “The good thing about being around a long time is the accumulation of wealth and knowledge so Carpathians can afford all the latest gadgets. We have a couple of kids in the community that are amazing on computers. They’ve programmed theirs to look for certain trigger words. The man who filmed the ruins on the mountain and sent the pictures to the professor also filmed the flower and posted it on his website, asking if anyone knew what it was. He thought he’d found a new species. Josef, that’s our resident genius, picked it up and we came looking for it.”
“They can’t be native here,” Gary speculated aloud.
“Arabejila planted them. She loved them and knew she’d end her life here. She wanted a little bit of home. They only bloom at night, and she planted them up near the village where she planned to live out her days,” Dax said.
“Are there a lot of them?” Gary asked. “Enough that we can harvest the roots and transplant them back where they belong? Did they survive the blast?”
Dax nodded slowly. “I can gather them tonight with the roots intact. The larger flower carries the seeds. The dragon covers ground fast. I could be at the top of the mountain and catch up to you fairly quickly.”
“You’ll need to pack the roots in soil,” Riley contributed. “I could go with you to help,” she offered, feeling suddenly shy. There was a part of her that was afraid of rejection, but the idea of flying across the night sky on the back of a dragon and spending more time with Dax was irresistible.
Dax rose, reaching down to take her hand and draw her up next to him. “I would enjoy your company very much, Riley.”
He pulled her back against his body, the movement so natural she felt as if she belonged. His body felt strong, firm, an anchor in the midst of a storm. Excitement fluttered in her stomach. He reached around her, circling her body with his arms, trapping her against his chest, his hands clasped at her waist.
“You will have to be careful,” Dax continued, as though he hadn’t just made his claim very public. He was extraordinarily gentle, and so easygoing and natural about it, Riley could tell the movement was a gesture of ownership, but more his need to be close to her.
“Mitro is well ahead of us,” he continued instructing the others. “And he’s making his way out of the jungle, but he needs information, just as I did. He’s been long away from this world and he’ll have to catch up. He’ll need languages and every bit of data he can accumulate to fit in easily.”
“He’ll know you’re hunting him,” Jubal said. “Won’t he just run? It seems the prudent thing to do.”
Dax shook his head. His thumb slid back and forth in a little caress across the bare skin of her stomach just beneath her shirt. Riley wasn’t altogether certain he was aware of that little strumming motion.
“He’ll need blood first, and the knowledge of this century is all important to his survival. He will avoid me, and especially Riley. I think he believes she’s Arabejila, and he knows she can track him. He’ll head for a populated area, but he’ll want to slow us down. He’ll set traps to kill us and false leads to delay us.”
“We’ll be careful, Dax. We’ll keep moving toward the river.” He glanced over his shoulder in the direction of the others. “Weston and Shelton are asking questions why we’re not making a straight line for the river. Miguel hasn’t said anything to them, but they have GPS.”
Dax frowned, clearly not understanding. He touched Jubal’s mind and “read” the information and then rolled his shoulders in a casual shrug. “Instruments can be misleading, especially with all this ash in the air.”
“Which is why our emergency contact hasn’t sent in their helicopter to bring us out,” Gary said.
“Avoid any tribesmen,” Dax advised. “You can’t trust anyone you meet. Riley’s given us Mitro’s general direction, but she can’t know if he’s killed anyone else, turned them into puppets, ghouls or programmed them to kill you. We’ll be back well before sunrise.”
Dax stepped back, taking Riley’s hand. “Be safe, all of you. If you call to me, I’ll hear you, but I may be too far away to give much aid,” he warned.
Jubal gave him a small salute. “Just get us those flowers. We’ll handle this.”
“Don’t be cocky, Jubal,” Dax said. “Mitro is unlike any vampire you’ve come across. I’m a skilled hunter. Even while tracking Mitro, I executed many vampires, none of whom held anything close to Mitro’s power.”
“Believe me, Dax,” Jubal assured. “When it comes to vampires, I’m always ready to pass on them. Any of them, let alone this one. I’ve seen what he does. I have no desire to meet him, especially without you to back me up.”
Dax nodded his head and turned abruptly, as was his way. He was still a little uncomfortable in the presence of so many people, but he liked both Jubal and Gary. They both were men of integrity and they’d fight with him if needed. He read their determination to protect Riley. They also understood the lifemate bond. Riley didn’t fully comprehend yet, but she was willing to try with him and he couldn’t ask for more.
He tugged on Riley’s hand, bringing her under his shoulder. “So are you ready to be a dragonrider?”
Riley’s impossibly long lashes lifted and her eyes met his. His breath caught in his lungs. Her eyes glowed at him with excitement. Her cheeks were flushed beneath her flawless skin. She looked more beautiful than ever.
“I can’t wait, although I’ll admit I’m a little afraid. You’ll talk to me the entire time?”
That was his lifemate, ready to meet each adventure head-on. He brought her knuckles to his mouth and nibbled gently. “I’ll be with you. The Old One regards you as his family. He won’t allow anything to happen to you, either. You’ll be safe.”
“I know.” Riley made it a statement.
Dax walked with her beneath the protection of his shoulder, her hand pressed against his heart while he took her away from the camp and the prying eyes of the others—especially Weston, who had no idea he was placing himself in danger every time he turned his leering, all too hungry gaze on Riley.
Her body moved like liquid grace against his. Flowing. Sensual. The taste of her was still in his mouth. His pulse leapt at the close proximity. He had always known the lifemate pull was strong, he’d witnessed that powerful force between couples, but he hadn’t expected the need to be so intense. Still, he was determined that Riley make her own choice. He wanted her to save him because, to her, he was worth saving.
Once they were out of sight of the others, he lifted her in his arms and took to the sky. He needed a large clearing where the dragon could take off and land. He could feel Riley’s excitement, the faint trembling of her body, the shimmer of anticipation running through her, and found himself smiling. He couldn’t remember experiencing shapeshifting for the first time, or flying, or just being happy. Now that he was with her, he was learning all over again to laugh, to feel. He really was just as genuinely excited for her as she was.
She turned her face up to the wind and laughed out loud. The sound resonated through his body. He could feel the Old One stirring as well. Her laughter was so contagious, that not only was he affected, but so was the dragon. Setting her gently in the tree line at the edge of a meadow, he strode into the center of the large field.
At once he felt the Old One stretch deep inside of him. Strangely, this time, instead of feeling apart from the dragon, he felt a part of him, feeling the intense emotions much more vividly than before. Dax wasn’t certain if it was because Riley had restored his own emotions to him, or if he was merging with the dragon to the point they were becoming one and the same. He knew once he made his claim on Riley and said the ritual bonding words, their two souls would be forged together. Could that be happening with the Old One?
None of that mattered. Riley was waiting, and he couldn’t wait to share the experience of flying a dragon with her. She could barely contain her excitement, jumping from one foot to the other like a small child. Her eyes shone and her face was flushed. Her lips were slightly parted, an invitation he forced himself to resist. Once they were alone on the mountain, among the field of night star flowers, he would take advantage, but not now, not while she was waiting and anticipating. He wanted to give her this gift.
It is a gift,
she said softly, her voice filling his mind with—
her
.
She had a way of pouring into him like warm honey. She gave him a feeling of joy, and he’d never known what that was before. She admired him, respected him, and thought him beautiful and extraordinary. Now that he’d found his lifemate she would know his heart’s desire and would always be aware of his every mood.
I feel the same way.
Her voice was shy.
It’s nice to know I’ll always have someone who’ll defend me.
You have both of us,
Dax assured.
The Old One and me. He’s a part of us, and you’re his family now. Like me, he’ll defend you with his life.
It was important to him that no matter what happened, how bad things got, she would never have to face any danger alone.
He summoned the Old One, sinking his spirit deep to allow the other freedom. The dragon would have been reluctant to emerge had it not been for the fun of allowing Riley her first dragon ride. His time was long past, and he’d spent centuries content with hibernation in the warmth of the volcano.
Riley held her breath as Dax shimmered into transparency so that she could actually see through him, and then he disappeared altogether. Red and gold flakes sparkled in the moonlight, floating toward the ground all around where he’d been standing. She thought of Dax like that, moonlight and flame, fire and ice, glittering gold and fiery red. He was beautiful. His heart was beautiful. His soul.
Someone else stirred in her mind and for a moment she tensed, looking around her, but the feeling was far too familiar. Too much like Dax.
Our soul.
The voice was matter-of-fact. Ancient. Modern. Timeless. A hint of humor crept into her mind.
I see you can still speak, Old One
, Dax said.
And you prefer to do so with Riley.
Now she felt the dragon’s laughter vibrating through her mind. He was very amused at Dax’s expense.
She loved that Dax found the entire thing as amusing as she did. Nothing ever seemed to ruffle him, and in truth, they were all three very connected.
He is the strong silent type until he gets in a fight and then all thought process goes out the window,
Dax informed her.
Riley laughed, the sound taking wing in the night sky. She loved to hear Dax sound so carefree. All he’d known was duty, and, although he was determined to find and destroy Mitro, he took time with her to enjoy the moments they shared together.
The dragon shimmered into solidity. Huge, his great bulk settled, giant wings outspread and fanning, creating wind. Riley clasped her hands together and pressed them hard against her fluttering stomach. The Old One craned his long neck toward her, and even though she was still partially in the trees lining the meadow, his wedge-shaped head nearly touched her. He stared down at her with his opalescent eyes—eyes as multifaceted as Dax’s, although where Dax had a volcano’s flame flickering behind the gemstones, the dragon’s eyes appeared golden in color.
His snout was long, with the upper jaw curving down over the lower jaw, revealing gleaming teeth. He had one horn in the center of his nose, a short, wicked-looking weapon, and two more, just as lethal, beneath his chin. Horns protruded all the way down the back of his head and down his neck, great sharp gold and red spikes protecting his head. She could see just how dangerous the dragon would be in a fight.
His scales were absolutely, incredibly beautiful. Every shade of red from a deep crimson to a pale red covered his body, the plates overlapping to protect him in a fight. Riley touched the lighter-colored ones closer to his belly, a little in awe.
Very politely, the dragon extended his leg to her. Riley’s pulse raced, her heart kicking into overdrive as adrenaline rushed through her veins, but she didn’t hesitate. She stepped onto the Old One’s leg and swung one leg up and over to settle into the small leather saddle positioned just at the neck junction. She didn’t have to be told that Dax had provided the saddle for her. There were no reins—it wasn’t at all like riding a horse. She found stirrups, more to brace herself with than for any other reason.
Riley grasped one of the long spikes and held on tightly. The Old One didn’t need to be told she was ready; their connection was growing stronger, just as her bond with Dax grew stronger with every passing moment. She felt the tremendous strength as the dragon gathered himself to make the leap into the air. Great wings pumped strong and they were aloft.