Dani’s words haunted Tyrez. Ash had never embraced his Dragon in anything other than dreams. Tyrez couldn’t imagine what that would be like. To never feel the surge of energy as the Dragon emerged, or to feel the wind rising beneath your wings.
It would be like living half a life.
He tried to push the thought away as he closed his eyes. Not an easy task, but the breeze off the nodding grasses drifted over his scales and smoothed away his troubles. He slipped into sleep.
And he dreamed:
The moon filtered down through the clouds, sparkling against the water far below.
It was the ocean realm. Tyrez didn’t want to be here. The memories of the deaths of his fellow Legion warriors were too fresh.
But the ocean was calm tonight. The breeze coming off the island lifted him without effort, carrying him far above the waves.
Why was he here? Was he destined to forever relive the nightmare of this place?
Movement above him, drifting through the clouds. A golden form appeared, trailing wisps of vapor like smoke from the tips of his wings and tail.
Ash.
Panic seized Tyrez’s heart. Was this another living dream? Would the golden Dragon once again attempt to smash himself against the cliffs? If someone died in a dream, could it translate to a death in reality?
Tyrez couldn’t take that chance. He beat his wings hard, rising fast, getting into position in case he needed to stop Ash.
The smaller Dragon glanced back over his shoulder. He had to have seen Tyrez, he was only fifty feet off his flank. But he didn’t seem inclined to do anything rash. Instead, he dipped and banked through the clouds.
Tyrez paced him. There was something between them, an energy link much stronger than before. Had the collar been blocking it? The emotions he sensed from the other Dragon were conflicted, but not about whether to live, or die.
Ash glanced back to him again, and Tyrez was shocked to realize that he was the source of the conflict. What did it mean? He was certain he sensed Ash’s attraction to him. Was he trying to ignore it?
Seized by inspiration, Tyrez started to dance.
He’d always been a natural athlete in the air. Despite his size, he was able to twist and turn on a dime, and do it with grace. He used the drifting clouds like an obstacle course, ducking and diving through the openings, twisting the vapor with his wings and tail to create rings and spirals that caught the moonlight.
And Tyrez opened his heart. Freed the energy he’d kept locked inside. His longing, and the bond he desperately craved.
More than he’d intended. He’d only wanted to reassure, but somehow, once he started to release, the rest pushed free. Was it too much?
For a moment, it seemed so. Ash vanished into a dense cloud, and Tyrez didn’t follow. Instead, he moved away, to give him space.
Then in a blur of shining golden wings, Ash reappeared. Rather than flee, he banked and drew closer. He began to play with a vapor spiral, ducking through it, dancing through the rings.
But when Tyrez dared arc closer, Ash folded his wings and dove.
Tyrez’s heart threatened to leap straight out of his chest. Had he pushed too hard with his energy? Was this another death plunge? Just as he folded his wings to pursue, the golden Dragon spread his own, carrying him in a graceful upward arc before banking again. The narrow head tilted to take a look at his pursuer, and the long tail twitched.
Tyrez had been involved in enough mating flights to interpret the body language. The tail twitch was an invitation.
Ash wanted to play. To be pursued. And the scent that drifted to Tyrez flushed him with heat. The power of it robbed him of breath.
It was as though Ash were capable of secreting the pheromones of a Dragona on cycle. Tyrez’s thoughts raced—he couldn’t explain his reaction. Only there was no doubt of its intent. Every fibre of his being had come alive with need. How could this be? Mating flights were about reproduction.
This was different, and yet, not—something outside the realm of Tyrez’s experience. Regardless, the lust threatened to blind him, and he had to struggle to keep his brain in control. His body insisted that he knew this game.
If this was a living dream, what he did mattered. Ash may not realize what he was doing. The last thing Tyrez wanted to do was push for something when the other Dragon wasn’t ready.
Ash dipped again, and slowed until his tail tip was only feet away from Tyrez’s nose. Did he understand how he was teasing? Or was his inner beast writing checks Ash wasn’t ready to cash?
Ash might think this was merely a dream. Something without consequence. Tyrez should walk away.
