ILLYRIAN PRIDE

CHAPTER 11

Sorcha stood on the back porch of Devlon's stone house. She shivered thinking back to a few nights ago, when that barrier between them had officially dropped.

Mountains, she thought now, save us.

There wasn't much time for pondering however. She felt the tension swirling around him as he joined her on the porch. He stood close to her, and she edged equally close until she brushed the side of his right wing.

Devlon gasped lightly.

"How was the meeting?" Sorcha asked. Nyx and Rhysand had arrived this morning. The High Lord and his heir meeting with several camp Lords only meant one thing this time of year.

Devlon remained quiet.

"When, Devlon?"

"Tomorrow." he breathed.

Sorcha turned sharply to him, "What?"

"Rhysand grows tired of the endless training," Devlon explained, "he needs the Blood Rite to occur as quickly as possible. It would seem he has promised the Valkyrie Captain several spots in the Rite as well, and her warriors are restless."

The Valkyrie Captain. Her mother.

Sorcha shivered against the wind. Devlon gripped her hand in his, almost painfully. "You are ready."

Sorcha breathed in the cold air, it burned its way into her lungs. "I am."

She felt him tug at her hand. Sorcha followed him, stepping off the porch.

"Where are we going?" She asked him.

As the sun began to set, Devlon and Sorcha stood in the warm golden glow it casted over the harsh snowed wilderness.

"Flying." Devlon answered.

The wind whipped around them, tugging at their clothes and heavy cloaks. It tousled Sorcha's braid.

"Really?" Sorcha asked, her eyes burning with excitement.

She'd always loved flying. But of course, she never could do so alone. Not with her lack of wings.

Devlon nodded at her, and if he felt her heart pounding in her chest as he scooped her up and brought her closer, he did not say anything.

It was a peculiar thing, allowing yourself to fly with another person. To trust them not to drop you from the sky. But Sorcha did trust him, she realized. More than she thought she could.

They shared a rare grin before Devlon shot into the sky.

His wings unfurled behind him, catching the updraft and propelling them higher and higher into the air. Sorcha gasped in awe at the breathtaking view below them. The world looked so small from up there, the camps and forests nestled like miniature versions of themselves.

As they soared through the sky, Sorcha felt a rush of exhilaration unlike anything she had ever experienced. The wind rushed past her, making her feel weightless and free.

"Isn't this amazing?" She called, her voice filled with wonder.

Devlon flew steadily, his eyes never leaving her face. "Yes."

The beauty of the moment, and the mating bond between them overwhelmed her. The freedom of flying and the warmth of his side of the bond made her heart soar. She glanced over at him, the setting sun casting a warm glow over his face. He looked more handsome than ever, even as wild as she knew him to be.

Her grip on him tightened. She felt his arms grip her roughly in return. It was a silent promise passing between them.

In that moment, as they flew through the sky together, Sorcha knew that she'd found her perfect match. That this mating bond, it was a blessing.

As Devlon began to descend back to the ground, she knew that her feelings for him would only continue to soar higher and higher.