Carpathian 23 - Dark Storm

happening with
     the Old One?
    None of that mattered. Riley was waiting, and he couldn’t wait to share the experience
     of flying a dragon with her. She could barely contain her excitement, jumping from
     one foot to the other like a small child. Her eyes shone and her face was flushed.
     Her lips were slightly parted, an invitation he forced himself to resist. Once they
     were alone on the mountain, among the field of night star flowers, he would take advantage,
     but not now, not while she was waiting and anticipating. He wanted to give her this
     gift.
    It is a gift, she said softly, her voice filling his mind with— her .
    She had a way of pouring into him like warm honey. She gave him a feeling of joy,
     and he’d never known what that was before. She admired him, respected him, and thought
     him beautiful and extraordinary. Now that he’d found his lifemate she would know his
     heart’s desire and would always be aware of his every mood.
    I feel the same way. Her voice was shy. It’s nice to know I’ll always have someone who’ll defend me.
    You have both of us, Dax assured. The Old One and me. He’s a part of us, and you’re his family now. Like me, he’ll defend
     you with his life. It was important to him that no matter what happened, how bad things got, she would
     never have to face any danger alone.
    He summoned the Old One, sinking his spirit deep to allow the other freedom. The dragon
     would have been reluctant to emerge had it not been for the fun of allowing Riley
     her first dragon ride. His time was long past, and he’d spent centuries content with
     hibernation in the warmth of the volcano.
    Riley held her breath as Dax shimmered into transparency so that she could actually
     see through him, and then he disappeared altogether. Red and gold flakes sparkled
     in the moonlight, floating toward the ground all around where he’d been standing.
     She thought of Dax like that, moonlight and flame, fire and ice, glittering gold and
     fiery red. He was beautiful. His heart was beautiful. His soul.
    Someone else stirred in her mind and for a moment she tensed, looking around her,
     but the feeling was far too familiar. Too much like Dax.
    Our soul. The voice was matter-of-fact. Ancient. Modern. Timeless. A hint of humor crept into
     her mind.
    I see you can still speak, Old One , Dax said. And you prefer to do so with Riley.
    Now she felt the dragon’s laughter vibrating through her mind. He was very amused
     at Dax’s expense.
    She loved that Dax found the entire thing as amusing as she did. Nothing ever seemed
     to ruffle him, and in truth, they were all three very connected.
    He is the strong silent type until he gets in a fight and then all thought process
     goes out the window, Dax informed her.
    Riley laughed, the sound taking wing in the night sky. She loved to hear Dax sound
     so carefree. All he’d known was duty, and, although he was determined to find and
     destroy Mitro, he took time with her to enjoy the moments they shared together.
    The dragon shimmered into solidity. Huge, his great bulk settled, giant wings outspread
     and fanning, creating wind. Riley clasped her hands together and pressed them hard
     against her fluttering stomach. The Old One craned his long neck toward her, and even
     though she was still partially in the trees lining the meadow, his wedge-shaped head
     nearly touched her. He stared down at her with his opalescent eyes—eyes as multifaceted
     as Dax’s, although where Dax had a volcano’s flame flickering behind the gemstones,
     the dragon’s eyes appeared golden in color.
    His snout was long, with the upper jaw curving down over the lower jaw, revealing
     gleaming teeth. He had one horn in the center of his nose, a short, wicked-looking
     weapon, and two more, just as lethal, beneath his chin. Horns protruded all the way
     down the back of his head and down his neck, great sharp gold and red spikes protecting
     his head. She could see just how dangerous the dragon would be in a fight.
    His scales were absolutely, incredibly beautiful. Every shade of red from a deep crimson
     to a pale red covered his body, the plates overlapping to protect him in a fight.
     Riley touched the lighter-colored ones closer to his belly, a little in awe.
    Very politely, the dragon extended his leg to her. Riley’s pulse raced, her heart
     kicking into overdrive as adrenaline rushed through her veins, but she didn’t hesitate.
     She stepped onto the Old One’s leg