Awakening the Beast by Crymsyn Hart

something to assist with her walking, but it was not a good idea to bring a crutch with them if they were carrying supplies. While she struggled, Illiana knew her mates were worried about their visitor and how she related to him. Her men were worried she would want him for a third mate. However, she was not interested in him. All she cared about was getting home, driving the interlopers out, and making sure that Christopher was still alive. First, they had to get there. Daruk waited for them outside, but could he actually carry all four of them across the country? How fast could he fly? She was not about to ask him to fly a top speed so they could get there faster.
    “Ready to go?” Lelana asked.
    She glanced at her mother. The callous mask had reappeared and Illiana wondered if it would remain. “I’m ready.”
    Illiana looked around the house once more and recalled all the memories she had accumulated in the past year. Belik had built a reputation in the village. Ohanzee was no longer looked at with shame because he could only shift into one animal. She had helped some of the other villagers do the same thing so they no longer had the stigma attached to them. Ohanzee had been so hell-bent on pursuing her and in the end, it had worked out. She had prepared herself to never return to the forest because of all the negativity surrounding her mating with Christopher. One of the age-old rules among the Corvi and the wolf pack was that they were not allowed to marry outside of their own species. In the short time she had been in the village, it had become her home and she was sad to leave it.
    “I’m ready.”
    Lelana helped Illiana outside. Her mates were waiting for her. A little away from them, Daruk lay waiting. He was thirty feet long from nose to tail. Now that she could see him in the light, his scales were so black they had a rainbow sheen to them. Small horns sprouted along the bridge of his nose and the ridges of his eyes. At the top of his head two horns twisted together and flared outward near the tips. His eyes were purple and sharp claws longer than her arm scraped along the ground, running deep furrows in the soil. Wisps of white smoke curled around his nostrils. He stared at her. She smiled, but focused on the men she adored. They took her from her mother’s arms and held her up while she hobbled along until they came to Daruk. Were all of them going to be able to fit and stay on him while he was flying?
    “Are you ready for this?” Belik asked.
    “I think so. Are you?”
    He ran a hand through his hair. “I guess. We won’t know until we find out. Should be interesting. Come on.” Belik helped lift her and gave her a boost onto the dragon’s back. Illiana scrambled into place and felt Daruk’s muscles quiver underneath her. Belik handed her a pack that she slid onto her shoulders. Several people had gathered around them. Her father was there waiting. She glanced toward the volcano and saw the dark smoke pouring out of it. That did not help her feel settled. Her father caught her gaze and he flashed her a small smile. Daruk had told her what to expect from the eruption. Hot rock would spew down the slopes of the mountain. Rock and ash would be hurtled from the depths of the earth for miles around. Any small fragments would be a deadly weapon if it hit anyone. Ranolo had made plans to evacuate the village soon. She prayed it would work.
    Belik settled in behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Illiana nestled into him enjoying the closeness they shared. She glanced behind her. Lelana was behind Belik and Ohanzee was last.
    Daruk swung his neck to look at them. “Are you ready to go?”
    “Are you sure you can carry all of us?” Illiana asked.
    He chuckled. “Some challenges I can’t turn down. Here we go.”
    She held on to one of his neck spikes. After a moment he flapped his wings and lifted into the air. The breeze protested, but she reached out and soothed the wind, letting it know