Do not look up, Azara. I kept my gaze trained on the warm outfit to keep from ogling his sculpted perfection. “I was just looking for a size.”
“They’ll fit. You’re about the same build as Ella.”
My eyes shot up before I could stop them. “Who’s Ella?”
“One of the females on the team, like I told you before.”
I bit down on my lip to keep from asking more about this girl. Instead, my eyes focused on Talon’s half naked body. Dammit. Even in the dim light, his silver dragon shimmered, dancing along the cut dips and valleys of his torso.
Fire surged through my veins, ignited by the sight of his glimmering beast. Had to be the bond.
He pulled the slate gray jumpsuit down over his hips, revealing tight black boxer briefs, and I swallowed hard. Sure, I’d seen him in his underwear before but never at this close distance. Heat blossomed across my cheeks, and I lowered my gaze to the clothes in my arms. Right, get dressed, Azara.
I shimmied out of my jumpsuit, letting the material hang from my waist. Luckily, I could keep my tank top underneath. I pulled the long-sleeve shirt and sweater over my head and the soft wool caressed my skin. After that horrible prison garb this was heaven.
A faint rumble diverted my attention back to Talon. His eyes were glued to the inch of skin peeking out between the sweater and sagging jumpsuit. His tongue snaked out, he swept it over his bottom lip and another soft groan filled the silence.
My insides clenched, heat swelling in my lower half. I spun around refusing to give into my lusty urges. “Do you mind turning around?” I muttered over my shoulder.
“Um, yeah, sure.”
The awkward tone of his voice split my lips into a smile. I didn’t think I’d ever heard the great leader of the Triad embarrassed before. I tugged the bottom half of my jumpsuit off and slipped into the skinny jeans. They were like second skin, fitting perfectly. How had Talon been so spot on?
Once I had everything on, I gave Talon the okay to turn around. His eyes raked over me appreciatively. In his defense, the saggy prison attire did nothing for my curves. Now they were in full view. “Good, I’m glad they fit.” The surprisingly gruff tone caught me off guard.
“Yup.” I slid my hands over the soft woolen sleeves, soaking the warmth in. Talon stood there still wearing only boxers, his hand palming the back of his neck. “Aren’t you getting dressed?”
“No point. I’ll just destroy my clothes when my dragon comes out.”
“Oh, right.” I’d forgotten about that. I hadn’t spent much time with shifters growing up. Even though my uncle was the Brotherhood of Dragon’s Alpha, we didn’t see them often since we lived in the human world.
He ticked his head toward the opening of the tunnel. “Ready?”
To ride your dragon? Again, I had to stifle an inappropriate giggle. Pressing my lips together, I nodded.
We reached the archway, and the towering crags of Draeko loomed over us. Pristine snow blanketed the monstrous summits, the rising sun bathing the sky in a brilliant rainbow. The crisp, clean air after weeks of the dank prison filled my lungs, reminding me of Talon’s mountain fresh scent.
The moment I left the shelter of the tunnel and stepped foot onto the snowy peak, the glacial breeze stole the breath from my lungs. My teeth chattered, and I hugged my arms around myself trying to disappear into the warm coat. “Freezing faeries!”
Meanwhile, Talon stood atop the icy promontory in nothing but boxers like it was a sunny day at Summer Court. “You’ll feel warmer once you’re on my dragon, you’ll see.”
“Well, let’s get on with that then.” I twirled my finger at him.
A wicked grin pulled at his lips, something like excitement flashing across his twinkling irises. “You might want to step back.”
I staggered backward and took shelter at the tunnel opening. A silver mist swirled around Talon’s legs, slowly crawling up his waist, chest, and neck, until it covered him completely. The air vibrated around him, and the smoky scent of magic swathed the chilly air. Through the mystical haze, I could just make out Talon’s form expanding and contorting. Silver scales crept over his shoulders and chest, then sped down his arms. His hands curled, his fingers disappearing as sharp talons jutted from webbed reptilian digits.
Enormous leathery wings sprang out from his back, about twice the size of the ones I’d seen when he’d partially transformed to battle the caracara demon that attacked me in the communal showers. His face elongated, a silver snout and razor-sharp teeth glistening beneath the rising sun’s first rays.
The magical vapor finally dissipated, revealing the massive dragon in all his glory. I sucked in a breath as my heart bashed against its skeletal confines. Holy dragon babies, he was more incredible than I ever could’ve imagined.
I stared unblinking at the magnificent creature before me, the creature I was tied to. Now in his animal form, I could feel it more acutely than ever before. I had to fist my hands at my sides to keep from touching him. From running my fingers over his glistening scales.
Are you going to sit there and stare or are you getting on? A familiar deep voice echoed in my mind, and I nearly jumped out of my skin.
“How are you in my head?” I shrieked.
The dragon’s luminescent eyes locked on mine, and his nostrils flared. Don’t you know anything about how dragons communicate?
“No, I must have missed that particular lesson in human high school.” I threw my hands up as I stared at the oversized iguana.
This is how we communicate within our pride when we’re in dragon form. Dragons can’t actually speak.
“Thanks for the newsflash.” With his voice invading my mind, I was having a hard time focusing. I actually did know my aunt could communicate with her dragon husband, but they were mates. “Wait a second. I’m not in your pride; I’m not even a dragon for gods’ sakes. How come I can hear you?”
Another perk of the blood bond.
I could’ve sworn the dragon smirked, but I couldn’t be sure. Could the monster reptile even smile?
We have to get going. We don’t want to be late for your first meeting with the director. Climb on.
He said it so casually, like he was a horse with a saddle and I just needed to hop on the mounting block. When I didn’t move, he flattened down, his tree-trunk sized legs sinking into the blanket of snow. He stretched out an arm, and his head ticked at his monstrous talons.
I eyed the huge beast as my insides wrestled with indecision. I might have been weirdly attracted to the creature, but that didn’t mean I was totally okay with jumping on his back and soaring over the towering crags of Draeko. What if he dropped me, and I plummeted to my death?
Come on, Azara. We don’t have all day.
“You have done this before, right?”
Flown someone on my back?
“Yes.”
Of course.
“No casualties?”
His frustrated growl reverberated across my mind. No casualties. Dragon-Talon’s gaze locked on mine, his nostrils flaring. Azara, if you don’t get on my back right now, we’re not going and you’ll spend the next ten years in Darkblood Prison.
A streak of panic tightened my chest and sent my feet in motion. “I’m coming, I’m coming.” Grabbing onto his scaled shoulder for support, I placed one boot on his foot then the other. Slowly, I climbed up, my fingers digging into his plated flesh.