Prince Aspen hopped up onto one of these stone ledges and put his hands around his mouth. A sharp, musical whistle sounded out across the frigid sky and was taken further away by the blistering wind. The Alpha hopped down and backed up to stand beside Phoenix. “Draaken are mythical beasts only allowed by the royal blood of Winter to tame. Well, less tame, more form a bond. My mother wanted you to be able to bond with one anyway so, I’m not breaking any rules.” 

He didn’t explain further as massive wing beats pressed on Phoenix’s ears and he had to cup his hands over his ears as a dark beast fell from the darkness of snow and cloud cover. 

Landing softly and quietly in front of Prince Aspen despite its size, was a strange beast. Leathery wings spread outwards, slightly curved from it’s recent flight and massive furry paws barely hid the menacing and dangerous claws. But, where Phoenix had expected to see a dragon staring at him, he was instead met with a creature that more resembled a cat. A massive cat, with two long fangs and bony spiky protrusions along its spine. It’s fur was thick, probably to protect it against the frigid and painful temperature of Winter Court and gave it the look of having a mane. It’s eyes were golden orbs, a dark slit running from side to side. It’s tail was long and lizard-like with a dangerous spike at the end. It was certainly a noble beast and still had the wildness burning in it’s eyes but it allowed Aspen to reach out and gently stroke it’s fur. 

“This is Dorkain.” He introduced to Phoenix. “One of the noble Draaken.” He turned to Dorkain then, resting his forehead against the ruff of fur around it’s neck. He spoke softly to it in Winter’s language. Phoenix wasn’t far enough along in the language to understand what he said but the beast did. It bent it’s legs and laid down, much like a common cat and lashed that deadly spiked tail. It’s eyes, however, remained on him; unblinking and eerie. 

Prince Aspen turned to Phoenix. “Come on. He will allow you a ride.”

Phoenix felt his heart stop as the Prince held out his hand to him and for a moment, he forgot how to breath. He reached out and took his hand, surprisingly warm in his own as he was helped onto the beast’s back between two spikes. Prince Aspen climbed up after him, seating himself behind him. 

“Use your legs to balance and hold onto the spike in front of you. You’ll find yourself thrown off if you pull on their fur.” 

For a moment, Phoenix thought he heard amusement in Prince Aspen’s voice but, before he could think much about it, the Draaken was rising to it’s feet and Phoenix had to remember how to hold on. He’d never flown before and the sheer drop from the tower’s ramparts had his heart beating fast. He wasn’t given time, however, to change his mind as the Draaken’s wings spread out and gave a mighty beat before leaping into the air. 

Phoenix’s scream was ripped away by the whipping wind as they were lifted into the air. He scrambled to remember to use his legs to hang on while clutching the spike before him as the Draaken navigated the near pitchblack sky with ease. He wasn’t given much time to be afraid and eventually, when the Draaken’s flying straightened and steadied, Phoenix realized his heart wasn’t pounding from fear any longer but exhilaration. 

He felt a brush along his ear and Prince Aspen’s warm breath caressed his ear as he spoke. “You can let go now.” 

Slowly and nervously, he let go of the spike before him and loosened his legs. It was almost as though the Draaken was swimming through an endless ocean of blackness and dark gray fluffy clouds. They were high enough that the snow was falling beneath them. His body immediately heated when he felt Aspen’s hands slide up his sides and under his arms. Up here, there were no scents to disrupt his true feelings but even so, as Aspen’s hands slide along the underside of his arms until he had his arms outstretched, the burning only increased and he felt himself forgetting how to breath. Aspen’s breath was still beside his ear. 

“Let it all go and just feel.” he told him, letting go of Phoenix’s arms. 

Phoenix did as Aspen instructed and let his eyes flutter closed, let his mind wander away from reality and just feel. With his arms outstretched, with the Draaken’s flawless gliding, it did feel like he was flying and a smile crossed his face. 

“This is true freedom, Phoenix.” Aspen’s voice seemed to move along each of his nerves, awakening them one by one. He’d never been more aware of the Alpha behind him as he was then. “I want to give you this much. This freedom to make your own choices, to go where ever you want and never look back. Will you trust me?”

Those words were spoken so carefree, so honest that Phoenix’s eyes opened and he turned his head to meet those ice blue eyes over his shoulder. There wasn’t a bone in his body that wanted to disagree with him. 

“Yes.” He spoke honestly, but it came out on a whispered breath and for a moment, nothing else existed in the world except the two of them. He wanted to reach out to touch him, to see some sort of emotion on his otherwise porcelain face. He wanted to know what he tasted like, how passionate he could be; he wanted to know every line and detail of him. They were close enough that they shared breath and there was a sort of sharpness to Aspen’s eyes that made Phoenix hunger for him. 

But at that moment, the Draaken tilted and Phoenix scrambled to hang on, breaking whatever spell he had been under. The Draaken made a lazy downward spiral from the cloud cover to a craggy mountain top. Dark shapes could be seen along various outcroppings and boulders and, as the Draaken sank lower, Phoenix realized they were all Draaken and they were watching them fly in as if they were a wounded bird. 

“P-Prince Aspen?!” he asked, fear rising.

But he didn’t answer as the Draaken landed down, spreading it’s wings and hissing at the surrounding beasts. There was a flurry of hissing, wings flapping and others moving out of the way. Phoenix’s wrist was snatched and he was pulled off of Dorkain’s back just as the Draaken was tackled by another. 

Prince Aspen moved Phoenix out of the way of the brawling beasts, covering him in his scent as they moved. But Phoenix’s attention was on the beasts that were currently watching them and not the apparent fight. 

“P-Prince Aspen?!” he asked again, his voice a much higher octave than before as fear turned to terror. They were small enough to be stepped out without being noticed. His back was pressed to the Prince’s chest, wrapped up in the Alpha’s scent.

“Quiet.” Aspen’s whispered voice demanded obedience at that moment and Phoenix snapped his mouth closed, letting himself trust the Alpha. 

One by one, the stares in his direction began to decrease as Aspen’s scent permeated the area, a warning to even the Draaken. The fight when Dorkain and another seemed to end, but Phoenix wasn’t aware of what was won from it as Dorkain simply laid down and began to groom himself without a care. The stress of the flock was beginning to decrease and with it, Phoenix could feel himself begin to breathe easier. 

Once more, Prince Aspen spoke into his ear, his voice low as to not startle the Draaken. “Draaken are noble beasts that cannot be tamed. Imprinting and bonding can only be done if they chose to do so.” he informed him as his arms loosened around him and left Phoenix to be standing on his own. “They also cherish bravery. In order to catch the interest of a Draaken, you must walk among them without fear.”

Without… fear?? Phoenix looked around at the craggy peaks and the beasts perched among them. Some continued to watch him, like a cat would a mouse while others simply went about their business. He felt incredibly small and he was sure his own scent was pounding with fear. 

“H-How am I supposed to do that?” He asked Aspen quietly. “They look like they want to eat me.” 

A chuckle that sounded like a musical bell echoed through Phoenix’s very being and for a moment, he forgot all about the Draaken and the harrowing test he was to do. Prince Aspen had actually laughed and it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever heard. 

“Good news is, they don’t play with their food before they eat it.” 

Phoenix felt a little shove between his shoulder blades and he stumbled forward. This got the attention of several of the Draaken around him and they turned their unblinking gazes on him. He made a point to look over his shoulder and hopefully glare at Prince Aspen but he was sure it looked more strained than anything else. He looked so cool and confident standing beside a massive boulder with that smirk on his face that it made him want to both hit him and idolize him. 

He turned back around and took a deep breath. If Prince Aspen could do it, so could he. If he wasn’t the Autumn heir, that meant he was still a Spring heir right? Royal blood was royal blood and, with Prince Aspen’s scent covering him, it should be enough to convince the Draaken. At least, he hoped.