Page 22 of 3013: Hellion
His keeper of the heart to cherish.
She was now his entire universe, and he would spend the rest of eternity showing her exactly how much she meant to him.
Chapter Eight
Xian knew hewas dreaming the moment he opened his eyes.
A few minutes ago, he had been resting on a comfortable bed his mate had created for them in the sky garden by the stone fountain. After they’d made love again, Jaya had told him it was time for him to go through the conversion, and the easiest way to do that was for him to sleep through it.
He’d camped outdoors before, but it was the first time he’d fallen asleep under a sky full of stars with his mate wrapped around him. The silver blanket she had covered them with felt like velvet against his bare skin, and the mattress was soft as a cloud.
He thought he would have difficulties resting in the same place the alien insect queen had made her nest, but he’d confirmed with his own eyes that there were absolutely no traces of the queen or the eggs left before they had settled down. Besides, he’d trusted Jaya to protect him while he went through the conversion.
Since she had told him to rest, that was exactly what he did.
Finding himself on the D’Aire home world the moment he closed his eyes didn’t surprise him. He often dreamed of his home world, although this time the dream was far more vivid than any other he had experienced.
The D’Aire home world was a magical place made up of floating isles that hovered in the sky above miles of brilliant blue water. The planet was much larger than Earth, yet it had similar coloring when it came to land and sea.
The land masses consisted of rich brown dirt and gray stone that spiked out of the top and bottom. They were mostly covered with bright green moss, and an abundance of flowers, trees, andother vegetation grew on the top and sides of each of the floating islands.
There were many miles between some of the isles, yet there were some clusters that were connected by golden bridges. The world was filled with precious gems and gold that were found in the heart of each of the isles, yet the D’Aire didn’t value those materials as much as other races since they were so common on the planet.
Some of the land masses were large enough to be home to a full city, while others could only house a few dwellings. While most of the homes were built on the surfaces of the isles, there were others that were carved directly into the rock.
Since they were a race that used their wings as the primary mode of transportation, most dwellings had open, airy balconies with elaborately carved railings that allowed for easy landings.
The large isle he stood on was uninhabited so there were no familiar markers in view. Still, he had lived on the D’Aire home world for many years so it was impossible for him not to recognize his surroundings. He was dressed in a silky pair of blue pants and a matching tunic which was pretty standard attire for D’Aire males. It wasn’t his preferred style, but it was comfortable so he couldn’t complain.
As he walked toward the edge, the moss felt soft and spongy under his bare feet. He smiled when he felt Jaya’s arms wrap around his waist. When she pressed her cheek against his back, he rested his hand over hers and squeezed.
“Is this my dream or yours?”
“How about ours?”
He chuckled as he turned so he could see her. He really was addicted to her beautiful face, like a flower seeking the sun. His mate was wearing a pale silver dress made of the same silky material as his own clothes. The dress had a flowing skirt that fluttered in the breeze and a halter-style top that left her backbare. The glowing tattoos on her arms were pulsing with light, and her long silver hair gleamed in the sunlight, making her look even more like the goddess he’d initially named her.
Cupping her beautiful face in his large hands he leaned in to kiss her. “I like ours much better.”
“So do I. Are you feeling any pain?”
His brows furrowed in confusion. “No, why would I? Do you mean from the conversion? Is that happening right now?”
“Aye, that is why we are here. I gave you a magical push to send you into a deep sleep so you would not feel any pain. You must let me know if you do.”
“I don’t feel anything,” he assured her. Taking her hand in his, he started walking with her along the edge of the isle. “Have you been to the D’Aire home world before?”
“Aye, a long time ago. This is from a memory of my last visit. I would guess this island has been claimed by someone by now.”
“Probably. It’s a decent-sized location for at least a few dwellings. Is there a specific reason we are here right now?”
She gave his arm a little swing before saying, “We are here for a flying lesson. I wish to observe you releasing your wings so I know what to do when I create my own.”
“Can we do that here in the dream? I mean, are we fully in control of this dream?”
“Aye, we are. All you have to do is imagine what you want to do in your head, then make it happen.”
“That makes things easier.” He paused, then huffed out a chuckle. “That’s what you said about using magic. You’re teaching me again, aren’t you?”