A knot twisted in Octavia’s stomach. Dragon shifters didn’t keep slaves, but others did. She had heard horrific rumors about the way they were treated, especially by the Emerald Empress.
“Remind me how much you need to buy her freedom?” Flynn named the number, and Octavia nodded, making a few calculations in her head. The proceeds from the Emerald Rose would cover most of that, and the rest wouldn’t be difficult to come by. “Alright, that’s doable. We can be there by tomorrow evening.”
Flynn stared at her. “Octavia, it takes three weeks to reach Sandhaven on horseback. Unless you know a vampire who can shadow us there, there’s no way we can be there tomorrow.”
“I think you’ll see that’s not true.” Eager to share her surprise, Octavia handed Flynn the bag of money.
His brows knit together. “Is there a plan you want to…”
The rest of his words never came. Octavia unceremoniously dropped her cloak and bag on the ground. She pulled her tunic over her head, leaving her in just a white band wrapped around her breasts. The witch’s gaze dropped to her chest, and he swallowed.
Octavia couldn’t help it. She smirked at the surprised expression on his face. He was about to get even more shocked.
“Yes, there’s a plan, and no, I’m not like most people.” Octavia’s hands went around her back, and she quickly undid the knot that kept the band in place. “I can get us to Sandhaven by tomorrow, we just need to make a stop first.”
“I… uh…” Flynn’s eyes bulged as Octavia let the band fall to the ground.
Apparently, the witch’s linguistic capabilities were greatly hampered by nudity. Octavia would have to keep that in mind.She wouldn’t deny that it was rather enjoyable, seeing the handsome witch struggle to find words in the face of a bit of flesh. Shifters had no problems being nude.
If Flynn couldn’t speak now, he would really have a problem in a moment. Octavia’s hands went to her leggings, and she pulled them off without hesitation.
Flynn did his best impression of a bug. His eyes bulged, and he rubbed his hand over his face. “You… naked,” he rasped. “Why? I mean… beautiful, but…”
Octavia laughed as she gathered her clothes and wrapped them in her cloak. “Very astute of you to notice. Now, be a dear and hold these for me?”
The witch’s movements were stiff as he took the clothes. His eyes never left hers. If he were anyone else, Octavia would be angry with him by the way he was looking, but Flynn…
The fire in his gaze had nothing to do with anger and everything to do withher. The way he looked at her made her feel beautiful and strong, and she loved that.
Maybe this mate business had benefits Octavia had yet to consider.
She took a step back. “You know how to ride, right?”
“I… yes. I’ve ridden a horse.”
“Good. This is kind of like that.” In the loosest possible way. At least, that’s what she’d been told.
Flynn’s brows creased, but before he could speak, Octavia closed her eyes and reached for her magic.
Is it time?The dragon was eager.
It is, Octavia confirmed.
Drawing on the shift was as easy as breathing. Octavia released the hold she kept around the dragon, letting her magic flood through her. A flash of light erupted from within her, coating the clearing in white.
It didn’t matter that she hadn’t shifted for years. This was what she was born to do. She and the dragon were one. Their souls were merged at their core. All shifters were born with the innate ability to access their inner creatures, and dragons were no different.
Handing the reigns over to the dragon felt like taking a deep breath for the first time in years. Octavia’s bones cracked and reformed, her neck elongated, her wings burst from her back, and her fingers stretched into long talons.
In her two-legged form, Octavia’s ankle always bothered her, even on the best days. But when she shifted, she didn’t feel the pain at all. The injury was still there, but it didn’t impede her dragon’s movements.
Finally, she was completely, fully herself.
Octavia spread her wings, letting the feeling of this form ground her once again as the light faded.
“A fucking dragon,” Flynn whispered.
The words would’ve been too quiet for Octavia to hear in her regular form, but now it was as if he’d shouted them in her ear. When she was shifted, everything was brighter. More vibrant and vivid. Scents were sharper. Sounds were louder. Needs were stronger.