Black Crown (Darkest Drae, #3)(104)

It’s a bit hard to turn pages with talons anyway, I joked halfheartedly.

I’d been so focused on removing the emperor from the throne I hadn’t really thought of what happened after the war was won. I mean, I’m sure the leaders of each realm did in the back of their minds. They might have even discussed it amongst themselves. But I’d never thought beyond Draedyn’s death. When I came through the darkness of death with my barely-alive mate on the ground and the stench of fresh blood saturating the air, my path forward had been clear.

What was most important? Draedyn hadn’t known. He’d never gotten past the ‘necessary’ part. He'd never gotten to see that living a necessary life, void of life’s pleasures, was not a life at all. Draedyn had never learned that merely surviving was just death dressed up.

I planned to live. I planned to do more than what was necessary.

And yet here I was in the southern desert.

Are you getting anywhere? I asked Tyrrik, watching the sweat bead on his back. Really, I almost couldn’t appreciate his body any more than I did. Because mine. But also . . . just hot. A lot of hot.

Soon, my mate will have an underground cavern fit for all her treasures. Even big sapphires or rubies.

I grumbled, but his thoughtfulness made my heart soar. Even though I didn’t enjoy how long it was taking to expand his current treasure trove in the Draeconia Desert. I was waiting until Tyrrik was finished before undertaking a stealth mission to dig up my pillbox and gems from the Gemond palace.

Just inside the passageway here, there is a staircase down, he continued. Shelves will line all the way down for display pieces. I can’t wait for you to see what I’ve done.

Neither could I. Tyrrik had kept vigilant about not showing me anything until the cavern was complete. Likely another Drae custom or maybe instinct meant to drive the female crazy. Like his other question game or even watching him sweat in the desert. Once he was done with our lair, I could move everything here to where I’d eventually have our children in a bajillion years or so. Then I would have all my treasures in one spot.

You look very animalistic digging like that, I told him. Like a wee doggie who can’t reach his bone.

Sand erupted as Tyrrik blurred up the dune to stand before me. I pursed my lips, trying to hold back the smile as I waited.

He leaned over me, his onyx gaze studying my face. I felt his inhale as he took in my scent just as I was soaking in his pine and smoke smell.

“You want to rethink that statement?” he asked, his voice low and menacing.

My heart skipped a beat at the sound, but I stood on my toes and reached up, using a finger on each hand to press down the tops of his ears so they stuck out. “Nope,” I replied, raising my eyebrows as I shook my head. “Just like a wee doggie.” I inched closer to him and said, “Arf.”

Tyrrik chuckled, his joy threading through our bond. Grinning, he leaned in to kiss me. Just like the first time, fire licked my skin with his touch, and with the bonds between us, our blue-and-onyx energy danced around us. His mouth moved over mine, and my tongue met his stroke for stroke. I gripped his arms to drag him closer, and he wrapped me in his embrace.

“Mine,” he growled, breathing hard as he rested his forehead to mine.

I inched back and brushed my thumb over his bottom lip. “Mine.”

He squeezed my waist and then tugged my hand. Sit with me.

We sat in the sand and watched the Drae below in content silence, our observations of their happy faces and strong bodies bouncing between us so quickly it was hard to tell which thought originated with who or who was finishing it.

Do you think they’ll be okay now? I asked.

“My love, they’ll be fine. The Druman are gone, Draedyn is gone, Azule isn’t a threat anymore.”

Azule. The country had received the dawn rooster wake up of their life. Queen Lahr’s position had been filled by one of our own. After the war, the Azulis were made to live a time in Gemond and Verald so that they could see how their fellow human beings had suffered. They heard the young men speak of the horrors experienced at the overseas war. They listened to tales of starvation, of oppression, of cruelty. And then the Azulis were given the option to return to their home if they desired.

Under Dyter’s rule, their frivolity reportedly dwindled to tolerable levels without even the hints of an uprising, nor did there seem to be a risk of it. Azule could hardly fight back against an alliance uniting the rest of the realm. And their alliance was fierce.

Are you ready to talk to me now? Tyrrik asked.

What do you mean?

You’re not happy, mate, Tyrrik stated, turning to study me.

I glanced at him. What? Of course I am. I’m with you.

He shook his head. I can feel it here. He pressed his hand to my chest, making my heart pound. You weren’t raised a Drae. You were raised human. Your friends are human and Phaetyn. I know how much you miss them.

Yeah, I’m not sure seeing them twice a year is cutting it. I sighed heavily then hesitated before continuing. Do you think we made a mistake, cutting ourselves off from the world? I miss my friends, but . . . More and more, I feel isolating ourselves isn’t right, even if it was all we wanted at the time. I paused, taking a deep breath to gather my thoughts, determined to make Tyrrik see my way.

He nodded. I agree.

We want our children to experience cultural divers— I blinked at him. You . . . agree?