Chapter 19
Drake
My claws dig into the earth as I land, wings folding against my sides. I sink down on my haunches so that Amelia can slide from the saddle.
She jumps, landing on her feet. Then moves away a safe distance, instructing me through our mind-bond to shift back into my human form.
I do as she asks. Bones crack and reshape, scales melting away. Within seconds, I’m standing naked in the tall grass, my heart still hammering from what just happened.
Amelia is pale; her eyes are wide with shock.
“What happened out there?” she pushes out.
I don’t answer. I can’t because I don’t really know what to say.
I busy myself by grabbing my clothes from the pile we left here earlier, pulling on my pants with sharp, angry movements.
My hands are still shaking from the sheer fury that consumed my dragon when I saw that beast advancing on Harlow.
“Why didn’t you listen to me? You always listen.
You always try to obey me. I got nothing today.
” Amelia’s voice is sharper now, demanding my attention.
“I was screaming at you to fly away, to leave her alone, but it was like…like I wasn’t even there.
Like our bond meant nothing. I didn’t feel like your rider, Drake.
I felt like more of a passenger. You ignored me flat. ”
She’s right. When my dragon saw Harlow in danger, everything else faded to background noise. Even Amelia’s desperate attempts to control me through our bond had been nothing more than a distant buzzing. My beast had one focus: protect Harlow. Everything else could go to hell.
It was instinctual. If Amelia had been in trouble, I would have reacted in the same way.
I yank my shirt over my head, still not meeting her eyes. The guilt is eating at me from the inside out. Not just for ignoring her – though that’s bad enough – but for the complete loss of control. For letting my dragon’s instincts override three years of trust and partnership.
I know why that is. I only hope that Amelia never finds out. That I don’t have to tell her. If I play my cards right, I won’t. I can still salvage this. I can.
“If you had just listened to me,” Amelia continues, her voice rising with frustration and hurt, “none of this would have happened. We could have stayed on the periphery like we were supposed to. Even after you saved her, if you had let me fly you out of there, they might not have realized. But now…” She throws her hands up.
“Now everyone knows. Everyone saw what happened. They know, Drake! I look like a fool.”
“You don’t.” I shake my head. “This isn’t on you.”
“It is, though. I’m your rider.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell her.
“Being sorry doesn’t cut it.”
She’s right, but there’s nothing I can do.
I finish doing up the laces of my boots and start walking toward the vehicles. There’s nothing I can say that will make this better. Nothing that will undo what just happened.
“Drake! What about the saddle?” Amelia calls after me.
I glance back at the discarded tack lying abandoned in the grass where it fell when I shifted.
“Leave it,” I tell her. “I’ll come back for it later. We have to go.”
“Talk to me, Drake!” she shouts after me.
“Later,” I call over my shoulder. “We have to get back.”
She has to run to catch up with me as I stride toward the SUV, her shorter legs struggling to match my pace. I yank open the driver’s door and climb in, starting the engine before she’s even in the passenger seat.
As soon as the door closes, I gun it, making the tires spin in the dirt. I drive the winding road back to flight school at a speed that has Amelia gripping the handle above the door as well as the dashboard.
“Slow down,” she yells.
I do as she asks, still going faster than I should.
“I can’t believe her,” Amelia says, her voice cutting through the engine noise. “What the hell was Harlow thinking? Running like that, causing a scene. She’s an idiot. A complete and utter idiot. I’m not sure what your dragon even sees in her.”
My jaw tightens, but I keep my eyes on the road.
“I knew she was going to mess this up,” Amelia continues. “I could feel it the moment I met her. She’s weak, she’s clumsy, she’s got no business being here. And now look what she’s done. She’s ruined everything.”
I take a hard turn, shutting Amelia up for a beat, but as soon as we continue, so does she.
“That Tribute is utterly pathetic,” Amelia spits. “Couldn’t even complete Sky’s Edge properly, and you had to save her ass. And today? Running around like a headless chicken, putting everyone in danger. She’s nothing but trouble. Stupidity like that deserves to die. She—”
Something snaps inside me.
“Enough,” I growl, my voice low and dangerous.
Amelia stops mid-sentence, blinking at me in surprise.
“What Harlow did took guts,” I tell her, taking another turn, taking it a little easier this time. “She risked her life to save her friend. That’s commendable.”
“Commendable?” Amelia’s voice shoots up an octave. “Are you serious right now? She’s an idiot who can’t follow simple instructions. How is that commendable?”
I take another sharp turn, the SUV’s tires protesting against the dirt road.
“It took courage to do what she did. Most people would have stood there and watched their friend die rather than risk their own necks.”
“But now everyone knows about your bond!” Amelia shouts, her face flushed with anger. “She’ll have to stay. We’ll have to work with her. And I don’t want to work with her, Drake. She’s stupid and reckless and—”
“Stop saying that. She’s not stupid,” I cut her off, my voice flat.
Amelia stares at me like I’ve grown a second head.
“How can you defend her? After what she just did?”
I don’t answer because the truth is complicated. Yes, this is a mess. Yes, our plan is completely shot to hell. But what Harlow did out there…it was brave as hell. That’s the long and the short of it.
My dragon respects what she did. Hell, if I’m being honest, so do I.
The flight school comes into view, and a few moments later, I pull up next to the other vehicles, cutting the engine and pulling up the hand brake with more force than necessary.
I start to get out, but Amelia’s voice stops me.
“Where are you going? What’s going to happen now?” Her voice is softer than before. “I don’t like this, Drake.” She sounds upset, and when I turn to her, her eyes are hazy with emotion.
“I have an errand to run,” I tell her. “I’m not sure what will happen next. We’ll figure it out, Mels.”
“I want her on that flight out of here,” she says, her voice hard. “It would be for the best. For all of us.”
I pause, my hand on the door handle. “I don’t know how it’s going to play out. I’ll keep you in the loop.”
“Do you want her to stay? Because you’re acting like you do.” Her voice hitches.
“No,” I keep my voice softer. “Nothing has changed. I would prefer it if Harlow left. I might not have much of a say in the matter, that’s all. We’ll have to see.” I get out of the vehicle.
“What is it about her?” Amelia demands, climbing out of the SUV to face me across the hood. “What is it about that particular Tribute that has you swooping in to save her at every turn?”
The question hits too close to home, and I find myself moving around the vehicle until I’m standing close to her. I don’t want anyone else to overhear.
“We mind-bonded,” I tell her, keeping my voice low. “My dragon felt the need to save her. It was instinctual. Nothing more, and nothing less. You’re reading too much into this.”
Amelia’s eyes narrow. “But you weren’t mind-bonded when you saved her the first time. On Sky’s Edge.”
Shit. She’s right, and we both know it.
“I’m sick of all the death,” I tell her, which isn’t entirely a lie. “Tributes don’t deserve to die for us…for our cause. You know how I feel about this.”
She studies my face for a long moment, and I can see the wheels turning in her head. I can’t tell her about what Reed told me about the Mainland’s lies and the fact that none of these deaths are necessary. I hope she’ll drop it.
“Are you sure you don’t have feelings for her?” Amelia asks, her eyes on mine. She seems to hold her breath. “I’m getting a weird vibe about all of this.”
“No,” I tell her. “It’s not that at all.”
It’s not feelings. It’s…attraction. Raw, physical attraction that I have no business feeling for a human. I will never act on it, so it isn’t relevant.
“I’ll get you information as soon as I know what’s happening,” I promise her. “If it’s up to me, she’ll be on that plane.” I mean every word.
Amelia seems to relax, giving me a nod. “Good. I hope you’re right.”
“Get some rest. We’ll talk later.” I turn and stride away before she can ask any more questions I can’t answer. There’s something I need to do before anything else.
The trainer bungalows are arranged in a neat row behind the main building. I find the one I’m looking for and knock on the door before pushing it open.
Smoke is lying on the narrow bed, his face pale and drawn. There’s a thick bandage wrapped around his torso, already spotted with blood. He looks like hell.
Guilt rises up in me.
I did this.
Crap.
“Smoke,” I say, stepping into the small room. “I’m so sorry. Shit!”
He turns his head toward me, managing a weak smile. “Don’t worry about it. It’s one of those things, you know? Not like we have control when we’re in our dragon forms. No harm done.”
I look at the bloody bandage and the way his face is tight with pain. No harm done, my ass.
“It’s just a minor flesh wound,” he continues, though his voice is strained. “I’ll be up and about in no time.”
He might heal quickly – we all do – but right now he’s suffering, and it’s my fault.
“I’m happy I finally mind-bonded with a human,” Smoke says, grinning. “I’ve been waiting years for it to happen. I only wish it could have been with someone who actually wants to be here. I’ll have to try to convince Georgia.”
We both look up at the ceiling at the sound of a chopper descending.
I’m pretty sure it has something to do with me. I’m pretty sure I know exactly who is inside that chopper.
“Congratulations,” I tell him, meaning it despite the circumstances. “I’m sorry it happened the way it did.”
“Don’t beat yourself up about it,” Smoke says, waving off my apology. “Like I said, these things happen. I’ll be up and about by breakfast tomorrow. I’m eager to start training with my new rider.” He grins again.
The noise of the chopper blades grows deafening, and we have to speak up.
“Thanks for understanding.”
“Sure thing.” He looks up. “You’d probably better go.”
“I should.” I stand. “Take care of yourself.”
“I will. Don’t worry about me. You have enough on your plate.”
He’s right.
I step outside the bungalow just as Reed climbs out of the helicopter. She clutches at her blouse, her hair blowing wildly in the wind. Her face turns thunderous as she spots me.
Shit. I thought I’d have more time before I was taken to task.
I sigh as she walks over to meet me.
The look she gives me is enough to freeze my blood in my veins.
“Is it as bad as I think it is?” she asks as soon as she reaches me. By now, the chopper has powered down.
Worse, I think to myself. So much worse!
“No,” I lie, praying she’ll buy whatever story I’m about to spin. “Not at all.”
She folds her arms and cocks her head.
“Based on some feedback I received, your rider had zero control over your dragon today. I’m also hearing feedback about a bond with a Tribute…with Harlow Santos. Did your dragon form another bond with the human?” She’s frowning heavily.
“Perhaps we should go and talk in my office.”
“I have a feeling I’m not going to like what I’m about to hear.” Reed looks around us. “We are alone. You can speak freely. I want to know what happened.” She folds her arms. “I want you to tell me right now.”
“There isn’t much to tell. We moved in while the Tributes were walking before the dragons. It—”
“I’m told that you only moved in when Harlow Santos was in danger. I received an account saying that Amelia couldn’t stop you. She worked hard to do just that, but failed. You moved in anyway and viciously attacked Smoke. You could have killed the male.”
“We moved in close enough for a bond to form between my dragon and Harlow. It was at that point that my dragon noted that she was in danger and acted against the threat.”
“So, it’s true. Even though you already have a rider, you bonded with the human?”
I nod once. “Yes, it’s true.”
“That was some reaction for a new bond…a secondary bond, at that,” she remarks.
“My dragon was in a mood. He grossly overreacted.” I shrug. “He didn’t need much provocation. He wanted to fight. I’m sure it had more to do with that than a weak secondary bond.”
“Our dragons always want to fight…to hunt…to fly and to be unruly. That’s why we have riders.
They are there to keep us in line.” She pauses.
“You had your rider right there and yet you didn’t respond to her at all.
You only responded to the threat to Harlow Santos?
” Reed smiles at me. It holds no humor. “Your secondary rider. A new bond. That’s very unusual, Drake. Why do you think it happened that way?”
“Why do our dragons do what they do? This whole situation is unusual. All I know is that I don’t want a second rider.
Amelia and I have been together for years, and we’re doing just fine.
I don’t want you to make more out of this than is necessary.
I’m filling in as Academy leader. I’m ultimately a Councilor.
I don’t need more than one rider, Reed. That’s the long and the short of it.
Harlow Santos needs to board that aircraft this evening. ”
Reed shakes her head. “Try again, Drake. We have rules in place for a reason. Although we are privy to information about the Mainland that no one else has, we still have to follow and obey those rules. You, too. Even as Council members, we are held accountable to our peers and fellow Council members.”
“I know all of that.”
“Well then, you didn’t answer my question. Why couldn’t Amelia control you? What happened today? I think you might be right; we should go to your office. I want a blow-by-blow account of what happened, and your version had better match up to the reports that have started to come in.”
A knot forms in my stomach. I need to tread carefully.
“It would be better for all involved if Harlow Santos were on that aircraft,” I try again. “A recount of the events isn’t necessary.”
“I think it is. I want to hear your side, and then I’ll explain a few things to you. Things you may not understand.”
“What things?” I ask.
“We’ll talk inside.”
I don’t like where this is going. I don’t like it one bit. My feet feel heavy as I follow Reed to my office.