Chapter 0009

—Ten Years Earlier—

Visenya startled and swiftly spun around. “Lucian… you scared me! Cas was just about to shift. He’s going to take me up to Tarragon Mountain to watch the sunset.”

“Oh… my… Gods! Were they about to fuck right here in the dirt like a bunch of dogs in heat?” Cheyenne laughed derisively.

“No!” Lucian and Visenya both exclaimed.

“I was just collecting Cas’ dress shirt. He was going to go and shift behind that tree there,” Visenya explained.

Cheyenne looked at Caspian’s masculine chest repulsively.

“You like what you see, Cheyenne?” Caspian teased as he flexed his pec muscles.

“Eww… don’t make me vomit,” Cheyenne gagged.

“Come on, Vee. We don’t owe them any explanations,” Caspian remarked.

Even the fact that Caspian had a nickname for Visenya made Lucian’s blood boil. It was apparent that they had a close relationship, and it drove Lucian to the brink of insanity just wondering how deep it went.

Visenya gave Lucian a subtle smile. “Well, see you later.”

“Wouldn’t you much rather ride a dragon?” Lucian abruptly proposed.

Visenya looked back at Lucian as if she hadn’t heard him correctly. “What?”

“I can fly you to the mountain much quicker, and I’ll even take you higher, where the view is a hundred times better.”

Visenya’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Seriously?”

“Uh, yeah, seriously, Lucian?” Cheyenne chimed in, skepticism evident in her tone.

“Vee, I really don’t think that’s a good idea. Your father would never agree to it,” Caspian reasoned, concern lacing his words.

“Her father isn’t going to know about it unless you open your big mouth and snitch her out,” Lucian retorted, the two of them engaging in a deathly stare-down.

“Oh, come on, Cas. I’ll be back before you know it. How often do I get the opportunity to ride a dragon?” Visenya pleaded.

Before Caspian could protest any further, Lucian transformed into an enormous, red dragon. Visenya gasped in fascination, staring at Lucian as if he were the most incredible thing she had ever seen. She had never been that close to one before, and it astonished her beyond words.

“I really hate this idea, Vee. I mean, come on… how does that not creep you the hell out?” Caspian grumbled, pointing up to Lucian.

Visenya gazed up at Lucian, utterly mesmerized. “I think he’s absolutely magnificent.”

Lucian lowered his head and blinked his large, golden orbs, which reflected only her image. He leaned in with one of his wings for her to climb onto, and she made her way up onto his back. When he knew she was securely holding onto his spiked scales, he soared high into the sky. Visenya’s breath hitched at the back of her throat as Lucian took off, a mixture of fear and exhilaration gripping her.

She squeezed her eyes shut, her grip tightening on Lucian’s scales as a surge of dread washed over her, momentarily clouding her confidence. Just as she was on the verge of asking Lucian to turn back, she heard a series of snarling clicks emanating from him. Tentatively, she met his gaze, sensing a silent exchange passing between them.

Though it seemed irrational, she felt an uncanny understanding of his message. She did as Lucian advised and took in the breathtaking scenery unfolding before her—the sky ablaze with the radiant hues of the golden hour.

A whirlwind of emotions swept through her, but foremost was exhilaration, coursing through her veins as the wind tousled her long, curly tresses. With arms outstretched like wings, she surrendered to the moment, letting the rush of the moment envelop her.

Lucian’s audible gestures prompted her to tighten her grip on his spiky scales once more. With a sudden descent, a rush of excitement fluttered in her stomach, eliciting a delighted laugh. Unable to resist her curiosity any longer, Visenya traced her hand along the smooth surface of Lucian’s dragon skin.

She longed to know what it felt like and was not disappointed at all. She was intrigued by its glossy, micro-patterned texture that felt soft like silk. She couldn’t help but trace her delicate hands along the smooth skin of his back, causing Lucian to purr like a cat from the pleasurable sensation of her caress. Visenya chuckled at his obvious enjoyment of her petting him, and he let out an angry huff.

They finally made it over one of the highest cliffs of Tarragon Mountain. Lucian didn’t even land before he materialized into his natural form, which left Visenya falling mid-air. Her terrorized scream was cut short when Lucian caught her in his arms, bridal style. They stared deeply into each other’s eyes, their faces only inches apart.

“You’re fully clothed…” Visenya acknowledged.

“Would you rather me not be?” Lucian teased.

Visenya’s eyes widened and her cheeks instantly blushed with shyness. “Oh, I just mean that they didn’t get ruined when you shifted. When Lycans shift with clothes on, they get shredded to pieces. It’s like you dragons are magical or something.”

“We’re just better,” Lucian stated in all seriousness.

Visenya breathed a small laugh and rolled her eyes, then she looked out at the view in awe. “Wow.”

Lucian placed her on her feet, and she walked over towards the edge of the cliff, staring at the breathtaking sunset before her. She sat on the edge as Lucian stood there appearing bored, as if he had seen this view a million times.

“Won’t you sit down?” She asked, patting the space beside her.

Lucian sat down next to her and was suddenly hypnotized by the marvelous view—but it wasn’t the sunset. The way Visenya looked in the soft colors of the twilight was enough to make his heart skip a beat or two. In that moment, he knew he’d never go a day in his life without wanting her, but he still felt so conflicted about what others would think of them. He silently cursed her alluring beauty and looked at her with great displeasure.