He must have gotten separated from the others somehow. I feel a little ashamed that me and Jorgen haven't tried to find him.
"My lord, I panicked last night, but managed to get away. I killed a few wild shifters. It was a difficult night," Thayer explains after Jorgen embraces him in a hug.
"It's good to have you back Thayer, but I have to ask. How did you know that we were gathered here?" Jorgen asks.
"There are still many shifters in the city who are loyal to you, and I only had to ask the right questions. I had to find you my lord, because I have good news. Duncan and Vaclav sent a message to us just before we left the mill last night."
Alexandra, Tom and a few other shifters are listening in; they suddenly get up at Thayer’s words. My own heart rate picks up.
"What's the message, are they coming?" Me and Jorgen ask at the same time.
"They’ve been stuck near the Farrigu Mountains on the border of the Eastern World. The storm caused a lot of devastation. They’re waiting to hear from you, my lord. I think you should leave tomorrow morning to meet with them. The Dukes brought their armies—we must attack Ruscal while he's weak and vulnerable," Thayer states, and that lifts everyone's morale. Moments later, Emilia hands him a glass of water. He must be exhausted. Jorgen takes my hand and I look into his eyes.
"I want you to come with me, Astri. We have to face them together," he says, and suddenly I'm aware that everyone’s starting at us, aware of his tone of voice, and aware of the exchange that’s going on between us. Jorgen’s looking at me with raw heat in his eyes. Desire swims over my skin, and my breathing becomes laboured. Everyone can see now that I'm more than just his companion or assistant, and definitely more than his friend. He's letting everyone know that he’s chosen me as his mate. It looks like the past is all forgotten and now we must look forward to the future.
Chapter Twenty
The final journey.
"I told you, Astri. I knew that Jorgen would come around eventually," Emilia whispers in my ear after dinner.
The atmosphere in the house is filled with excitement and hope. Thayer’s resting, and we’re relieved that he’s alive. Others haven't been so lucky, but everyone was aware of the risks. Overall the whole mission has proven to be more difficult than anyone expected.
This evening we all want to enjoy a good meal and a few drinks without fighting or arguing about what might happen tomorrow. Ruscal might have defeated the uprising in the city, but he hasn’t broken our spirits. Thanks to my aunt and uncle we’re able to have a fabulous meal around their oak dining table. I never thought that one day I would be sitting in their home drinking one of their best and most expensive wines with a bunch of other shifters and mages.
Back in a day, they used to host dinner parties for their snobby friends. My aunt was always so stressed during these evenings, and often threatened to kick me out if I didn’t sit quietly in the basement.
I keep watching Jorgen as he brings more bottles from my uncle's cabinet and soon we toast to the future. This isn't exactly appropriate, because after all he lost his father and I lost my uncle, but tomorrow things are going to change. This might be our last chance to enjoy being with each other.
"Yes, you were right," I reply, going slightly red. Now everyone knows that Jorgen chose me as his mate. We don't have to hide anymore, and he doesn't stop showering me with affection.
I'm having a bit of a hard time getting used to it, especially knowing that the others are staring at us.
A bit later on, Aria shows up looking a little better. She must have gotten at least a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. Lenin manages to haggle with her to eat something.
My aunt and uncle’s house has at least seven bedrooms. I take the one on the second floor when I can hardly keep my eyes open at the table. Jorgen stays behind going over his strategy for tomorrow. In the past hour, I’ve been trying to deal with the fact that he kept his hand on my thigh the entire time. I’ve ignored the signs, ignored the fact that since our return from the Asian World, we haven’t really had any time alone.
At some point, I sneak to the kitchen and then go back upstairs, attempting to deal with my hormones. We’re leaving at dawn to meet with Duncan and Vaclav and I need to get some rest beforehand.
It’ll take us several hours to get to the border of Rivenna, then reach the Farrigu Mountains. We won't be able take over the city with the number of shifters we have left on our side. At some point, Ruscal might learn that a small army is gathering near the borders of Rivenna, but hopefully it’ll be too late for him to do anything when the time comes.
The bedroom smells of mould, it probably hasn’t been used in quite some time. My aunt hated when any of her guests had to stay for a night. She was always afraid that they would find out that I was still living with them, and that I was her niece.
I take most of my clothes off, looking forward to sleeping in a proper bed again. Once my head touches the pillow I drift away instantly. Everything weighs on tomorrow, because this might be the most difficult fight that I’ve ever had to face.
Some time, maybe hours later, someone wakes me by kissing the line of my jaw. The bed is heavy under his weight, and his skin is warm. I don't want to open my eyes just yet, afraid that he may disappear when I do. Heat flows through my body, rolling through me like steaming magic. I can no longer be resistant to his touch.
"Astri, I'm sorry. You believed in me when I lost everything—lost myself. I can't pretend that I don't want you," he whispers into my ear and then I finally open my eyes.
Jorgen’s leaning over me, and for a moment I'm a little disoriented. We haven't even had a chance to talk about sleeping arrangements. I snuck upstairs earlier on, hoping to get some sleep. I was so exhausted.
My heart starts thumping in my ears, reminding me that we might never have this kind of opportunity again.
I want to push him away, but the other part of me demands the closeness. We don't have to worry about anyone else tonight, we’re allowed to be together. After all, we’re mated and our relationship is real. For some reason, even my Pixies didn’t follow me over to this room like they normally do. Maybe it's a sign that we can finally be intimate. In the past several weeks we went through hell. Jorgen made a commitment, took a vow and I can't just ignore him now.
"Just kiss me," I whisper, pulling his mouth to mine, and gasping when his fingers find my bare skin under the covers. It's too much and yet not enough. Our bodies are burning up when he urgently takes his t-shirt off.
Then he’s underneath me, pulling down my lace knickers and caressing my inner thigh with his leg.
"Beautiful, I’ve been so foolish and lost. I promise that from now on I'll never let you down again," he says, kissing my neck. Heat flares between my breasts, unexpected and just as terrifying as when he touched me for the first time. I moan loudly, arching my head backwards, allowing him full access to the most sensitive parts of my body. Warmth travels down my spine, and the soaring heat between my legs becomes unbearable. My palms explore his naked chest, touching the edges of his hard muscles.
He continues to kiss me, slowly devouring my lips, and taking his time. It's the most wonderful feeling that I’ve ever experienced. He loves me and he wants me.
"I don't remember our first night together, but it isn't going to happen this time," I tell him, gasping for breath when he pulls my T-shirt off. He laughs lowering his head down, and moulding my breast with his hand. My nipples are erect and Jorgen caresses the left one with his forefinger.
I tell myself that I don't need to worry about being anxious, that I’ve been waiting for this long enough. He doesn't care about the scar, or about the fact that I'm inexperienced.
Scorching flames run through me, and soaring heat reaches my bloodstream when Jorgen takes my right nipple into his mouth.
"I love you, Astri Harlam, and I’ll do anything to protect you," he says, touching the parts of me that were never exposed to anyone else. In a matter of seconds—it's hard
to tell how much time passes—we’re both naked. We toss our clothes somewhere on the floor.
My muscles relax and loosen. I glance at him and his eyes are tawny, consuming in their intensity. Jorgen’s breaking me apart, reaching deeper than anyone else ever has.
"I love you, Jorgen," I say, aware that in a few hours we’ll have to worry about getting through the city undetected.
I want him to touch me, kiss me harder. My heart is fluttering wildly in my chest, until my senses go into overload. Fire explodes in the pit of my stomach. Ruscal can’t win, but I would regret not going through with this if anything happens after tonight. My entire body trembles, waiting with anticipation for him to take full control.
"You're so beautiful and trust me, you will never forget this," he rasps, using his fingers to reach deep into my soul. I pant for breath when he starts massaging the drenched spot between my legs. I dig my fingers into his back as the pressure in my core becomes unbearable. My whole body is aching for him, and the fire is burning every cell and nerve inside me.
Blood rushes to my ears, and I moan loudly when he presses his lips down to mine. His mouth caresses mine gently at first, before breaking into a hard, demanding kiss.
Then he situates himself between my legs—I'm so wet for him. When he slides himself inside me, I moan and pant loudly. Jorgen’s taking care of me without thinking of his own needs first. He keeps kissing me, and whispering all these amazing words. I'm drenched with sweat, ready to climax at any moment.
We’re finally together, after so many lost days and sleepless nights. I never imagined that I would be making love to my mate in my aunt and uncle’s house.
"Open your eyes, my Wyvern. I want to see you come undone for me," his voice reaches me at some point.
He's inside me, pounding me hard and fast, then he slows down and I want to scream. Heat ravages my body. The powder inside me connects with Jorgen's beast. The burst of our energies merging is raising the tiny hairs all over my body.
Warmth is travelling through me at an alarming speed.
I scream covering mouth with the pillow as we climax together. I force myself to take shallow even breaths to remember that we’re in a house full of other shifters.
My whole body’s still tingling. Sometime later, I drop down on the bed. It takes me several long, blissful moments to realise that I'm laying top of Jorgen. He's staring at me with a mischievous grin and we’re both breathing hard. I really wasn’t expecting this tonight, and the intensity of his stare is making me wet once again.
"I hope this met your expectations, my dear?" he asks raising his left eyebrow and I laugh.
"It was wonderful, better than I thought it would be. And you made me feel really special," I giggle, then go instantly shy. It's the middle of the night and everyone’s most likely still asleep. I hope no one heard me screaming. That would be embarrassing.
"The prophecy … whatever it says, it doesn't matter. Ruscal will never touch you, not while I'm still walking on this earth," he says and his eyes burn with fury. "The warlock witch’s words crushed me, and it broke me up inside the second I heard that you were meant to be for my evil twin brother."
"I don't know how Emilia wanted to use this to our advantage. Ruscal’s poisoned so many people. It doesn't matter that his destiny could have been altered. It didn't happen. He still ended up being a murderer," I say, staring at the clock on the wall. This house is too quiet. I keep getting this feeling that my aunt is going to walk into this room at any moment, shaming me and calling me ugly. I still can get used to the fact that she isn't around.
I should remind myself that she doesn't have any more power over me, that the past doesn't matter. I'm in control of my life now.
"It doesn't matter right now. We get to Duncan and Vaclav, then we will defeat him. I promise that he'll die before he lays a hand on you," Jorgen says, through gritted teeth.
We leave two hours later, around five a.m. when everyone else in the house is fast asleep. My heart’s still racing away. Deep down, I hope that everything will go smoothly, that I’ll see my friends again.
Jorgen wants to use the back entrance to the house and when I head downstairs, Jetli appears, flying around my head.
"Jetli, what are you doing in here? You should be asleep, it's very early," I whisper to her. She shakes her head, then starts pointing between me and her.
"No hon, you can't go with us. Lenin’s going to be worried and it's better if you stay here with Aria. She really needs you right now," I say, feeling a little guilty that I'm trying to talk her out of it.
I don't want to risk taking her with me. She has to be with Lenin and Aria. She flies away, making a face and I glance at Jorgen with confusion. He doesn't know what to say, shrugging his shoulders.
When she comes back, she brings me a piece of paper. It's a note addressed to Lenin informing him that she's going to keep me company. She orders him not to worry about her at all. When I glance back at her, she has that desperate look on her face. Jetli’s been with me ever since I can remember, and maybe it’ll be better if she joins us.
"It's your call, Astri; as long as you're happy," he tells me and I smile at my Pixie. She starts clapping enthusiastically.
We leave my aunt and uncle’s home, and for the first time I feel good about this mission. Jorgen’s counting on the other leaders. He's convinced that with more troops he can take his city back.
"I'm looking forward to shifting, Astri. I’ve really missed my beast," he says, taking me away from my racing thoughts. I shouldn't be worried, Jorgen knows what he’s doing and I trust him.
He wants his brother dead as much as I do, but he doesn't realise that I have fire magic—the deadly weapon that brings death. Ruscal doesn't deserve to die quickly, but I have no idea what might happen once we stand face to face with each other. No one’s going to save him and I have no mercy left in me.
I can already see that Jorgen’s anxious and itching to shift. We find an empty field after an hour of constant walking and his energy slides through me.
"Jetli, you have to hide somewhere on my back when I shift into a dragon. And you must be careful," I say to my pixie and she nods. I can't let her follow me in the air. She's too small and I'm afraid that she may lose me. Then Jorgen pulls me close and places another scorching kiss on my lips. Jetli pretends that she can't see us, rolling her eyes in the distance.
"In a few hours, we should be with Duncan and Vaclav. See you on the other side," he says leaving me with my own thoughts.
This is it, the final journey to meet our allies. Two other Dukes who can help us defeat Ruscal.
Chapter Twenty-One
The others.
Jorgen shifts into a dragon and I watch his transformation standing in the distance. His scales are dark and shiny; his power radiates over his beast. Then it begins to slowly slip into my pores. His beast is strong, standing proudly on his front feet. Then he spreads his wings, roaring loudly like he’s taking long deep breath for the first time in his life. It's a joy to watch, and I feel good about meeting his allies on the border of the Eastern World.
I concentrate on my own power, waiting until my bones and joins stretch. I'm growing, turning into a majestic dragon that brews fire magic. I slowly begin to release the enormous power evaporating through my pores. Jetli’s flying somewhere in the distance, waiting for me to turn into a real beast.
Jorgen's dragon rises in the sky and we see the sun appearing in the horizon. Yellow and orange colours inflame the sky and the view is breathtaking. I sense Jetli crawling somewhere around my horns and after making sure she’s securely seated, I rise above the ground.
I join Jorgen's beast and we both glide under the trees for a bit. His dragon has almost grey eyes that shimmer in the sunlight—not blue anymore. It's been a while since he experienced the real freedom of flying in his true form. Jorgen senses direct him towards the south and for now we don't have to worry. Ruscal arrived from the north, and so far, he hasn't dared ex
plore other territories apart from Rivenna.
We fly, moving past the city borders, empty fields and lakes. The landscape shifts several times and we circle around the Buro forest just to make sure that we aren't being followed. Miles later, we fly over the desert in the southern part of the Eastern World. Rivenna is situated in the Far East, but the whole Eastern World spreads over hundreds and hundreds of miles. Other cities are scattered around it. We pass humans pointing toward the sky when they spot us, then largely populated towns and villages.
I keep batting my wings, releasing fire now and again as it tickles the back of my throat. The sun is high in the sky and temperatures are rising rapidly. Jorgen's beast indicates that we might be reaching our destination soon.
Half an hour later, his enormous dragon touches down in a field situated behind a human village. I sense a mass of shifters and mages in the distance. We must be very close to the border of the Western World.
My scaled skin shrinks and by the time I'm back in my human form, my joints and legs are hurting. Jetli’s already flying around me, pointing around when I try to calm my heavy breathing.
Jorgen chose another field and I can't see him now. Energy fills the centre of my chest, slowly beginning to descend. I already feel a little weak, and my head throbs with pain. I’ve experienced the aftermath of flying in my true form for hours, so this was to be expected. Nothing changed this time around. My entire body aches, and my energy drains the last of my strength. It's the only thing that makes any dragon shifter vulnerable.
"Astri, are you all right? I lost my head for a moment and flew a bit too far. Here, drink this. Emilia gifted me a few flasks of energy potion," Jorgen says, appearing by my side. I feel secure again, knowing that he kept an eye on me throughout this journey.