delicate wingtip and then arrowed toward the green slopes of the mountain’s lower shoulder.
“ Because the flight must accept our bond — and the Rex will not be happy, for more reasons than you know.”
*~*~*
True to his word, Caedyrn sought out the Rex as soon as they returned from their hunt.
Sorcha discovered a strange lassitude creeping into her limbs as she settled again on the glacial ice. She desired nothing more than to rest on the aerie’s cool floor. Her human mind fought to decipher the alien clues her body supplied. Yes, her belly was full, but she didn’t remember feeling this soul-deep laziness after her other kills. Besides, she felt swollen, engorged beyond the limits of her meal.
“ Caedyrn!” the Rex’s roar pulled Sorcha’s thoughts from her uncomfortable body to the present situation. “What have you done?”
“ We have mated, Sire,” Caedyrn replied, his mind-voice triumphant. “We come to be bonded in the presence of the flight, as is our custom.”
Anger boiled beneath the surface of the Rex’s reply. “She doesn’t understand,” he said, dark emotion leaking through his tight control. “More than that, her essence remains human. We don’t know what will come of this. You had no right.”
Possessive outrage flared in Caedyrn’s link and he stepped closer to Sorcha as she lolled on the comforting ice. “She is mine. You cannot undo our choice; we are bonded whether you acknowledge our union or not. The clutch will be strong. She gave a magnificent mating flight.”
“ Be that as it may,” growled the Rex, “you have betrayed my trust. You had no right to mate, Caedyrn.”
“ I had every right,” Caedyrn answered, his words dangerously quiet. “I am not rex. I am free to take a mate if I choose.”
“ No, you are not rex, and now you never will be.” The Rex turned his troubled gaze on Sorcha. “Do you accept Caedyrn as your bond-mate?” he asked.
Sorcha returned his stare, inclining her head slightly. “I have known him to be my destiny since I first awoke in dragon form.” She turned to look at Caedyrn and their eyes locked. A thrill of excitement tingled all the way from nose to tail — and she understood part of the Rex’s concern. “I accept Caedyrn,” she said, her gaze never leaving her mate’s, “and I accept the clutch that will soon arrive.”
With great effort, Sorcha raised herself from the ice and faced the Rex, summoning all the dignity her years at court could provide. “I am no longer human. I am dragon; a member of your flight, bond-mate to Caedyrn and mother to the clutch I will soon lay. Will you accept me, Sire?”
The Rex sighed. “I accept you, Sorcha, Caedyrn’s mate.” His eyes locked with Caedyrn’s. “Though I mourn the rex he would have been.”
He turned his thoughts to the flight and widened their link. “Caedyrn and Sorcha have chosen each other, and Sorcha has chosen the flight. Will you accept them? Will you accept their clutch and all future clutches?”
A tidal wave of excitement washed over Sorcha’s mind, and she relaxed into the well wishes and congratulations of her flight. Only later, in the privacy of the lair she now shared with Caedyrn, did she realize that the Rex had chosen not to resolve her status as ambassador for the flight, despite her new status as accepted member.
Chapter Six
The Clutch
“ Breathe deeply, Sorcha. Relax and let the eggs drop”
Drysta’s encouragement filled the corner of Sorcha’s mind not absorbed in ending the uncomfortable distention of her mid-section.
“ My human nature keeps messing with me,” Sorcha said with a rueful laugh. “Human females are anything but relaxed during childbirth.” Her thoughts turned to Elspeth. Had her mother suffered giving her life? She wished her mother could be here, not just for Elspeth’s calm, imperturbable presence, but because it would mean she knew of and shared in Sorcha’s new life.
Instead, Keeva’s mother, Drysta,
“ Because the flight must accept our bond — and the Rex will not be happy, for more reasons than you know.”
*~*~*
True to his word, Caedyrn sought out the Rex as soon as they returned from their hunt.
Sorcha discovered a strange lassitude creeping into her limbs as she settled again on the glacial ice. She desired nothing more than to rest on the aerie’s cool floor. Her human mind fought to decipher the alien clues her body supplied. Yes, her belly was full, but she didn’t remember feeling this soul-deep laziness after her other kills. Besides, she felt swollen, engorged beyond the limits of her meal.
“ Caedyrn!” the Rex’s roar pulled Sorcha’s thoughts from her uncomfortable body to the present situation. “What have you done?”
“ We have mated, Sire,” Caedyrn replied, his mind-voice triumphant. “We come to be bonded in the presence of the flight, as is our custom.”
Anger boiled beneath the surface of the Rex’s reply. “She doesn’t understand,” he said, dark emotion leaking through his tight control. “More than that, her essence remains human. We don’t know what will come of this. You had no right.”
Possessive outrage flared in Caedyrn’s link and he stepped closer to Sorcha as she lolled on the comforting ice. “She is mine. You cannot undo our choice; we are bonded whether you acknowledge our union or not. The clutch will be strong. She gave a magnificent mating flight.”
“ Be that as it may,” growled the Rex, “you have betrayed my trust. You had no right to mate, Caedyrn.”
“ I had every right,” Caedyrn answered, his words dangerously quiet. “I am not rex. I am free to take a mate if I choose.”
“ No, you are not rex, and now you never will be.” The Rex turned his troubled gaze on Sorcha. “Do you accept Caedyrn as your bond-mate?” he asked.
Sorcha returned his stare, inclining her head slightly. “I have known him to be my destiny since I first awoke in dragon form.” She turned to look at Caedyrn and their eyes locked. A thrill of excitement tingled all the way from nose to tail — and she understood part of the Rex’s concern. “I accept Caedyrn,” she said, her gaze never leaving her mate’s, “and I accept the clutch that will soon arrive.”
With great effort, Sorcha raised herself from the ice and faced the Rex, summoning all the dignity her years at court could provide. “I am no longer human. I am dragon; a member of your flight, bond-mate to Caedyrn and mother to the clutch I will soon lay. Will you accept me, Sire?”
The Rex sighed. “I accept you, Sorcha, Caedyrn’s mate.” His eyes locked with Caedyrn’s. “Though I mourn the rex he would have been.”
He turned his thoughts to the flight and widened their link. “Caedyrn and Sorcha have chosen each other, and Sorcha has chosen the flight. Will you accept them? Will you accept their clutch and all future clutches?”
A tidal wave of excitement washed over Sorcha’s mind, and she relaxed into the well wishes and congratulations of her flight. Only later, in the privacy of the lair she now shared with Caedyrn, did she realize that the Rex had chosen not to resolve her status as ambassador for the flight, despite her new status as accepted member.
Chapter Six
The Clutch
“ Breathe deeply, Sorcha. Relax and let the eggs drop”
Drysta’s encouragement filled the corner of Sorcha’s mind not absorbed in ending the uncomfortable distention of her mid-section.
“ My human nature keeps messing with me,” Sorcha said with a rueful laugh. “Human females are anything but relaxed during childbirth.” Her thoughts turned to Elspeth. Had her mother suffered giving her life? She wished her mother could be here, not just for Elspeth’s calm, imperturbable presence, but because it would mean she knew of and shared in Sorcha’s new life.
Instead, Keeva’s mother, Drysta,
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