Black Crown (Darkest Drae, #3)(15)

Where are you? How much farther do you have?

Tyrrik’s questions drew me away from my musings. I calculated how much time we’d flown and the number of hours Lani had said at the outset. Another hour. Maybe two. Why?

Just wondering. I love you, Ryn. The council is sending me to get you now that we know Draedyn is hunting you. I’ll leave tomorrow at first light, and when we get back from dealing with the pointy-ears, I want to show you what love feels like.

Whhaa—? My attention snapped to my mate, and I blushed, grateful for the cloak of Drae scales, but I still had to right myself in the air.

“Stop talking to him,” Lani yelled from my back.

Instead, I altered the course of our conversation slightly. I’d like that if we ever have time to just be together. Everything gets in the way.

You’re being pulled in a lot of directions, Khosana, but you need to remember to take the time for the things that matter most and do what it takes to protect them. I want you to know you’re the most important person to me. The most important thing in my life. I want to show you that too.

My stomach flipped harder than pancakes made of rocks, and I couldn’t help the slow smile tugging at my lips. I was giddy and immensely grateful to have found Tyrrik—or to have been found by him. A deep, glowing warmth for my mate unfurled in my chest. You’re pretty al’right yourself.

He chuckled again. I forgot to tell you, I found the most beautiful vein of lapis lazuli yesterday with Zakai’s men. I had them pull a piece out so I could polish it for you tomorrow.

I forced my emotional attention to my mate while keeping both eyes on the sky. You know . . . you never told me how big your hoard of treasure is. And where you keep it. Is it in your lair in Verald?

Our hoard, he corrected. And I promise no Drae has ever had one as big.

My heart sputtered, and I dipped in the air again. I couldn’t help the satisfaction that pulsed through me with that bit of information. Where is it?

I won’t tell you where. I want to show it to you. He laughed, and the emotion pulsed to me through the bond. It’s a package deal, Ryn, me and my treasure. But I’ll tell you this; you could hide in the mound of treasure, in your Drae form, and be completely covered.

My mouth dropped, and I plunged downward.

“Stop doing that,” Lani shouted, pounding me with her fists.





7





By the time the sun was a quarter of the way through the sky, I landed in the familiar clearing outside of the Zivost forest. I took a deep breath as I surveyed the rock spikes I knew were covered in Phaetyn blood. The early morning sun bathed the rocky valley in golden light, and it seemed like an omen of the golden barrier that would soon follow.

I jolted as the stone spikes surrounding Zivost shifted. The ground seemed to liquify as the jutting rocks sunk into the dirt, disappearing from view.

“Ryn,” Kamoi yelled, waving at me from the other side, just outside the tree line. His face was alight with excitement, and he grinned when our gazes locked.

Other Phaetyn were there with the prince, but I couldn’t spot Kamini. The group edged farther out of the trees, their eager expressions filled with hope as they looked to the young woman with me.

Yikes. I still hadn’t told the queen the name of her kingdom. “Uh, Lani? Remember how I called this place Phaetynville?”

She didn’t deign to look my way, her gaze riveted on her people. “I know it’s not called Phaetynville.”

I sagged with relief. “Who told you?”

“Dyter,” she whispered, her attention still on the dozens of Phaetyn before her.

Of course he did. I studied Lani’s face, empathy for the Phaetyn queen spreading through my chest. I would never truly understand how she felt seeing her people for the first time, knowing that she wasn’t alone anymore. I’d felt some awe the first time I’d been here, too, but at that point I’d known what I was for three months, not fifty years. I’d had my mum and Arnik and Dyter before that. What I’d felt must be a mere shadow of what Lani was going through right now.

I took Lani’s hand and squeezed it tight before tugging her toward the forest.

The crowd surged as we did so, and Kamoi raced out, his lavender eyes bright with joy. He didn’t slow as we met in the middle but crashed into me and crushed my body to his. Drak, he was excited. I froze as he stroked my hair, and then he lowered his face.

“Whoa—” I said, pulling back before he could kiss me. Hot indignation pulsed through me, and I raised my hand to slap his face.

Only I didn’t. I couldn’t. I needed the Phaetyn to accept Lani, and if I pissed them off now, I might ruin that.

What just happened? Tyrrik asked, confusion lacing his voice. Are you okay?

La la la. I forced myself to clear my mind before I showed or told Tyrrik anything. I thought of Mum’s lavender syrup on sweet potato pancakes, Dyter throwing wet dish rags at me late at night while cleaning up The Crane’s Nest, Arnik giving me a birthday present of an entire cluster of grapes—

That’s not helping me feel better, Tyrrik growled after the last image. Something happened; I can feel it, Ryn. I thought we’d discussed this.

Right, we had. I deflated. I’m safe. Kamoi’s an ass.

Tyrrik snorted. Tell me something I don’t know.

I cringed, but I needed to be present right now, not conversing with Tyrrik. Later. I’ll tell you later.