Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 85203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
I cling to the Drake’s spine, laughing out loud as we bank to one side. The wind slides around my body, pressing me against the Drake’s back. Every inch of him is hot beneath me, radiating strength and life and something more—a sense of rightness, of belonging.
This is what freedom feels like, I think. Only I know he’s not free—he’s held to the Kingdom and the Citadel by magic. It seems wrong to me, to chain a creature that’s meant to fly free.
The Drake circles lazily above the palace and I spot movement below—tiny figures pointing and running. A few of the braver ones wave but most of them scatter like ants.
I get a feeling from the Drake—something suspiciously like glee. A moment later, he folds his wings and dives.
We drop like a stone.
I shriek—half in terror, half in exhilaration—as the wind howls around me. My stomach flips and my heart slams against my ribs. The ground rushes up to meet us, and I see the faces of the Nobles below—wide-eyed and terrified as they dive to the grass, screaming.
Then—whoosh—we’re climbing again, soaring high into the sky, and I laugh with delight.
“That was wicked!” I shout, though I know he can’t hear my words. Still, he seems to feel my joy because the emotions rolling off him are matching my own—warmth, amusement, and something that feels like… pride. They might hold him here against his will, but he can still scare them.
We level out, gliding now, the world spread like a quilt beneath us. I see patches of farmland…lakes glittering like mirrors…hillsides flecked with autumn gold.
I wish I could do this forever. I wish I could fly on my own.
The thought hits me like a stone in the chest. It’s not just a passing fancy—I feel it as a longing—sharp and soul-deep. There’s something inside me, something stirring. A part of me that wants this, that needs this.
Wings.
I feel them. Not on my back, not physically—but inside. Inside me is something ancient…something caged…something waiting.
What’s happening to me?
I’m so wrapped in the strange, confusing feelings, and the rush of wind and sky, that I don’t even notice the cold until I shiver.
The wind bites at my arms and cheeks now, and my robe is no match for the altitude. I press one hand against the Drake’s side, his body as warm as a hearth, and murmur into the wind,
“Maybe we should land now.”
The feeling that returns is gentle agreement. He curves his wings slightly and begins a slow, spiraling descent.
When we land back on the ledge, it’s with a powerful downbeat of his wings that sends dust flying in all directions. The impact is solid but controlled. He’s careful not to jar me.
I exhale a long breath and realize I’m trembling—not from fear, but from awe and exhilaration. I’ve never had an experience anything like flying on the Drake’s back—I strongly suspect that nothing in the world could ever top it.
I slide from the hollow of his back, awkward but safe. The moment my feet touch the stone, he lowers his head again, resting it near me like before.
His breath puffs gently over my legs and his golden eyes are half-lidded. His ears flick as if waiting for something.
I step forward and wrap my arms around his massive snout—what little of it I can reach. My fingers slide over the smooth warmth of his scales as I press my cheek to his huge head.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “That was amazing.”
He lets out a soft snort, and I feel the ripple of emotion through our connection.
Love.
It’s simple and overwhelming. I blink back sudden tears and press a gentle kiss to the smooth ridge of his nose.
“Thank you. I love you too.”
And then he begins to Shift.
I step back instinctively, giving him room. The air shimmers again, the way heat rises from sun-baked stone, and his form begins to shrink—to fold inward on itself. Wings furl and then contract, being reabsorbed into his back. Scales darken and fall away like leaves. His muzzle shortens, his claws retract, and within moments, Xaren is kneeling before me, entirely human once more—naked, golden-eyed, and slightly breathless.
But it’s not the nudity that draws my gaze—it’s the expression on his face. It’s something raw and open…something vulnerable and full of wonder.
“I felt everything you felt,” he says softly, his voice low and rough with emotion. “Every heartbeat. Every breath. And I felt your love along with my Drake.”
My own heart twists and I bite my lower lip.
What is happening between us?
I don’t know what it is yet…only that it’s real…and growing stronger every time we touch.
29
ELAINA
As soon as Xaren is fully human again, I go to him.
There’s no hesitation this time—no uncertainty. I just walk straight into his arms and wrap mine around his waist, pressing my cheek to the warm, bare skin of his chest. He’s still flushed from the Shift, his body hot and radiating strength. His heartbeat thuds steadily against my ear.