Page 105 of Shadow Wings

A blaze of blue-and-black fire danced around us. The flame touched our bodies, dancing and twisting, tying us together. I lifted my gaze and saw the brilliant light shone across the bloodied valley. I stared in awe at the capering fire. I’d never been able to see the tendrils between us like this. As a Phaetyn, I could see my power working inside him during healing, but I’d never seen our Drae energy outside us with my eyesopen.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” hewhispered.

Overwhelming emotion choked me, stealing my voice. My head and my heart felt light. Words were not enough to describe the sight or the feeling of the deep hues of blue-and-black flames encasing us in their midst.Are the flamesreal?

“No one can see them but us,” he said.They’re oursalone.

I knew what this was.It’s our matebond.

He pulled his head back, his onyx eyes as wild as I’d ever seen them. They glowed so much that I lost myself in the depths of those inky pools. This Drae was my mate. More than a friend or a lover. More than a companion or partner. He was made to compliment me. He wascreatedforme.

In a voice rough with emotion, he said, “You acceptme?”

I lifted both hands to cup his face and stared at him in awe. “How could you be in doubt?” I kissed him, just brushing my lips to his. “After what just happened, how could you not know?” I kissed him again as I spoke through our bond.I accept you as my mate,Tyrrik.

He pulled back and studied me, his gaze penetrating me to my core. He brought his hands up to mimic my position.I didn’t doubt; I just did not wish tohope.

I felt his love pulse through the bond, warm honey and the soft caress of night. He brushed his thumbs over my cheeks and repeated, “You are mymate.”

I am your mate,Iagreed.

He touched his lips to my forehead.One hundred and nine years, and I have found you. You aremine.

Our mouths met with a clash of teeth. His hands dropped to my shoulders while I placed one on the nape of his neck and threaded the other through his black hair. I moaned loudly into his mouth as his lips coaxed mine apart. His tongue stroked mine, and I pressed tighter to him, not wanting to ever stop the thrill of histouch.

A growl rumbled in his chest, a menacing threat to all but me, as he declared me his. One of his hands trailed down my back, settling around mywaist.

And then, Tyrrik reached up and untangled my arms from around his head and neck. He brought both hands in front of his mouth and kissed the back of each, his gaze not moving frommine.

“Ryn, I love you more than lifeitself.”

I shouldn’t have been embarrassed. I’d just accepted him as my mate, but my cheeks warmed at the strength of his declaration of love because I’d just witnessed the truth of his words. I ducked and mumbled, “I was so scared,Tyrrik.”

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 takeanypain to rid me of that fear. As I studied his sentiment, I grasped a better understanding of the balance of female and maleDrae.

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.Thatwas hisstrength.

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 violencewasthe 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 strongertogether.

I smiled at him, and he kissed my handsagain.

You are exactly right, hesaid.

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

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

I glanced back over myshoulder.

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 offuel.

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

With a start, I remembered thePhaetyn.

Sitting on a rock to your left,Tyrriksupplied.

You knew she was there watchingus?