To Love a Dragon - Tiffany Roberts Page 0,58

some of her weariness, not that it made much of a difference—she would keep pushing forward regardless. A long journey remained ahead of her and her little family, and she would see it through to the end.

Arysteon kept Serek entertained—and kept watch—as Leyloni searched the dead Bone Wraiths for anything of use. She took their fire starter stones, a couple knives, and their cloth blankets, which she tucked away in an extra bag. Her lip curled in disgust when she came across some dried meat, and she tossed it aside for the scavengers.

The Bone Wraiths themselves could be food for the scavengers for all she cared. It was better than they deserved.

She would have taken the bow one of them had been carrying, but there was only one frayed bowstring and three shoddy arrows to go with it—hardly worth the trouble of carrying. As she was checking the heft and heads of the Wraiths’ spears, seeking the one that felt the best in her hands, Arysteon leaned his head closer to her.

“These humans were the ones who attacked your tribe?” he asked, his voice gentle despite its low rumbling.

Leyloni paused, that now familiar heartache returning at the reminder of her people, but it was followed swiftly by anger. The Bone Wraiths had tracked Leyloni and Serek all this way, and her carelessness could have cost her not only her life, but a lifetime of forced submission for Arysteon and Serek. What if Arysteon had not been able to change? He was immensely strong in his human form, and still commanded his lightning, but would that have been enough to fight back eight warriors?

She glared at one of the bodies. “Yes.”

Arysteon scanned their surroundings. “Do you think more will come? You said males are quite valuable to humans.”

“I do not know. I…did not even imagine they could track us this far, especially after the storm. They must have rediscovered our trail after we left your lair.” She worried her lip, her fury swirling with her sense of loss and concern to create a tense maelstrom within her. “This was a hunting party sent to find us. To find Serek. There would only have been two or three were they merely scouts, and even then…had we been alone, Serek and I would have been easy prey for them.

“But I do not think there will be more. This is already a large group to send after the two of us, especially considering the spoils they must have claimed after the attack.”

Arysteon dipped his head toward her, brushing the tip of his snout along the back of her shoulder, his warm breath fanning over her damp hair. She closed her eyes and wished he were a man again so she could feel his arms around her, feel his heat surrounding her, so she could feel his lips, bold, firm, and hot against hers as he claimed her mouth in a kiss that would chase away the cold fear that lingered in her chest.

“I will be more vigilant regardless.” He nuzzled her neck, prompting her to tilt her head to the side to allow him more access. “I am here for you, my heartsong. No matter my shape, I am your mate, and I am here for you.”

Leyloni’s heart quickened. She turned her face back toward him and pressed her lips to the warm, hard scales of his snout as she ran her hand along his jaw in a slow caress.

He shuddered and released a contented hum. Leyloni might have been happy to remain like that until the sun went down, until the night gave way to morning, until eternity had been spent, but she knew it could not be so.

Still, she remained there, memorizing the feel of his scales and relishing his warmth, until he finally drew back. The air that flowed over her skin in his absence was bitterly cold. She barely suppressed a reflexive shiver, telling herself the chill was only because she was still damp after her second bath.

Arysteon twisted his head to look back as he swept his tail forward.

With a big grin on his face, Serek crawled across the grass in pursuit of Arysteon’s tail, his eyes wide and gleaming with joy. Leyloni’s chest swelled, filling with pride and determination. She would do all she could to ensure Serek never experienced the immense pain of loss she had endured—and was still enduring. She would ensure he learned of their people through all the joy they had shared, all the