Shadow Wings (The Darkest Drae Book 2)(97)

My admission broke his heart. I felt it and gained a better understanding of my mate. He didn’t want me to be scared. He’d eagerly take any pain to rid me of that fear. As I studied his sentiment, I grasped a better understanding of the balance of female and male Drae.

Tyrrik’s instinct was to protect what he loved. He would destroy, maim, kill, or do whatever he needed to get rid of bad things. He also wanted to provide, food, clothing, a bath . . . I closed my eyes as I thought of all he’d done to take care of me. Almost all of it, protecting and providing, through physical means. That was his strength.

But sometimes solutions required feelings, intuition, caring. Nurturing was necessary for growth, to cultivate relationships and alliances. Nurturing was fostering growth, developing bonds and strengthening them. And that power was just as important as physical might and prowess. And in the instances when violence was the only way, I literally strengthened him. I gave him the power to do what needed to be done. We weren’t the same, but we were equals. And that’s why we were stronger together.

I smiled at him, and he kissed my hands again.

You are exactly right, he said.

Maybe I should’ve sent you a top up sooner, I joked.

His gaze darkened, and his features grew troubled. “I hope you won’t have cause to do that frequently.”

I glanced back over my shoulder.

Druman remains littered the valley. Black ash and smoke floated high in the sky from the Druman unlucky enough to meet Tyrrik’s fire. Some of the rock across the valley had melted under the heat of his flame and was reforming in warped patches. A few scraggly trees still burned, but the fire was waning as it ran out of fuel.

Every single one of them was dead. And it so easily should’ve been us instead.

With a start, I remembered the Phaetyn.

Sitting on a rock to your left, Tyrrik supplied.

You knew she was there watching us?

I scowled at his mental shrug. Bloody Drae. I untangled myself from him enough to glance that way. The Phaetyn girl sat cross-legged on a flattened stone a small distance from where we’d been kissing. No, we’d been making out like it was going to be outlawed tomorrow. Nice first impression.

One glance was enough to tell me the trees hadn’t been lying. The Phaetyn girl looked a lot like Kamini, only older and fiercer. If the trees hadn’t told me this Phaetyn existed, I still would’ve known her to be the princess’s sister.

“I guess we need to go say hello,” I whispered to Tyrrik.

“If we want to win this war, then yes, we best go and greet her,” Tyrrik said, a smile in his voice.

I sighed, shouldering the responsibility I needed to take.

Tyrrik gently held my jaw and turned me back to face him. “You’re sure you want this, Ryn? To join this fight? We could go anywhere. Leave Draedyn’s Realm, go to another land.”

Another land but not one that contained people I cared about. Because even if it was just Tyrrik and Dyter, I’d stay and fight. But there were so many more. “I’m sure,” I said, glancing at the Phaetyn and then back at Tyrrik, who looked unaccountably sad. I brushed my hands through his liquid-black hair. “This is my fight, too, now. Which means we’ll see it through to the end.”

Together.





Black Crown

The Darkest Drae: Book Three





Coming May, 2018





Kelly’s Acknowledgements





The last few months while writing this book were an amazing blur of potatoes, soap, shiny gems, onyx scales, and pointy ears.

Thank you to the following people:

Our betas, Jennifer and Kate, for providing amazing feedback.

Our manuscript team for their hard work; Krystal Wade, Dawn Yacovetta and Michelle Lynn.

Our cover designer, Daqri at Covers by Combs, for another incredible cover.

Our ARC team – I love watching your excitement in the lead up to each release day.



Thank you to my readers—yet again—for coming along for the ride.

To my husband, who never fails to ask what I’m laughing at, and who never fails to accept my explanation of, ‘Just talking to Raye’ or ‘Just talking to the people in my head’, without batting an eyelid.

To my family and friends, spending time with you over Christmas and New Years in New Zealand was the highlight of my year. If we don’t do it again soon, I’ll get saltier than those fries we had in Whitianga.

Last but not least, thank you to Raye Wagner for her dedication to this series and for being so much fun to work with.

Here is a glimpse of our average conversation:

Raye: Want to talk about business stuff?

Kelly: Sure, just let me change out of my blanket pajamas.

Raye: rings fifteen minutes later So. I did a chapter of Black Crown… When are you coming over to visit again? Did you get the pretzels?

Kelly and Raye: *Proceed to talk for three hours about everything except the series they are writing*



I’m not sure how we manage to get work done, Drae-bae (magic mojo, probably), but I enjoy our really important business chats.

Lurv you, Pretzel Dealer,

Kelly





Raye’s Acknowledgements


Most of the time, real life is not as fun as fantasy. However, I’m not fighting for my life, slaying wicked kings, or responsible for learning how to do magic under duress, either. At least not usually. But if I was, it’s awesome to know I have an amazing team of support to help me slay the bad guys, give me the tools I need, and cheer me on . . . in both the real world as well as my imaginary ones.