Jared took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the flowers and the clean mountain air as he watched the clouds move gently towards the lower part of the small valley.
“This is one of the few places in the world where my griffin feels at home,” he said softly. “It’s the one thing I’ve never shared with anyone—not even with the storm dragon, even though we’re as good as brothers. But he’s got a home of his own. He’s got a family. And I know they love me like their own son—but this place was always just mine.”
Chiara slid her arm around his back, quietly standing by his side as they watched the ocean of clouds together.
“This place makes me understand what it must be like to be a griffin,” she murmured at last.
When he turned towards her, there was a thoughtful look on her face.
“It’s not just the feeling of freedom, of wind under your wings, is it? A griffin can’t be in the air all the time. He needs a home too.”
Jared found himself nodding slowly, his griffin calm inside his heart. His griffin was at home here.
This small valley and Mountain View were the only places that had ever made him feel at peace. And Mountain View wasn’t even really his.
It was his home, and he loved it, and he’d had a wonderful childhood. But as an adult, it was hard to forget that he didn’t know where he came from. That Mountain View was a place
he’d always have to share with Gregory.
This place, he’d never share with anyone, or so he’d thought.
Until he’d met Chiara.
Slowly, Chiara took a few steps forward, then reached out for a cluster of tiny, star-shaped flowers. She picked one of the white blossoms and raised it to her face to inhale its scent.
Then she tucked it into her hair and turned back to him, and the smile on her face made Jared’s heart clench helplessly.
That was what a home really was, he realized.
Not something he owned or built or inherited.
Something they’d experience together. Somewhere they could both feel at peace.
She lightly ran her fingers up his arm when she returned to his side, still smiling.
“Before I met you, I would have said this place was magical. I would have believed anyone who told me that it was fairies, or ley lines—”
“Or aliens,” Jared said dryly, and Chiara laughed in response.
“Or aliens. And there is magic in this world. You are magic. But that’s not what makes this place special.”
Jared inhaled deeply, then shook his head. “No. It isn’t,” he admitted quietly.
Chiara was silent for a long moment.
Side by side, they watched the slow motion of the clouds, breathing in the scent of flowers. Everything was quiet. There wasn’t even the sound of a single bird. It felt a little like standing on a small island in an ocean, or in a place untouched by time.
Then Chiara leaned her head against his shoulder, and he turned and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“I didn’t have a lot of time to explain earlier,” he said, “and of course, at first I thought you’d hate me forever if you found out I’m a shifter. But there’s more to us. More to loving us.”
“Is this about the mate thing?” Chiara looked up, curious. “I’ve heard you use that word several times now. I assume it means more than just the person you love?”
Jared nodded. “It’s a beautiful, precious thing. I’ve told you about dragons who are so strong they go insane without a mate. I don’t have that problem. But I still have a mate. It’s you, Chiara. I knew from the first day.”
Chiara nodded slowly. “I knew, too,” she said softly. “I didn’t understand it, but there was something strange and special about you. When you look at me, I feel like I know you. Like there’s a part of me, deep inside, that knew you in another life. Like I know what you’re feeling.”
“The mate bond,” Jared said.