15. Time to Fly #3
To my chagrin, it appeared her skill with horses was a benefit here, because I felt her hips loosen with his strides, and as his trot became a gallop and he gave a powerful down-flap, she sat the first rise without slipping.
Usually, this was the moment when a brand-new rider lost their grip, but I felt Grace’s thighs tighten against his sides, just as mine did.
When he launched, she slipped a little because our bodyweight doubled as he powered into the air.
And he was forced to bank to avoid trees as he flapped.
But after I steadied her, she held tight to the straps and corrected herself.
And when Kham stretched out and flapped quickly to gain height, she whooped again.
I shook my head in disbelief as she laughed, and before he’d even leveled out, she lifted a fist to the sky and gave a wild cry of joy.
And to my utter shock, the dragons answered her.
I was stunned. ‘Kham, what the hell?’
‘Rejoice with those who rejoice, brother,’ he answered happily. ‘Firebird is meant for us. She finds her purpose, and her heart is light. It is to be celebrated!’
‘Firebird?’ I blinked, frowning, as I looked between her and Koa, and felt my dragon’s heart rise with amused delight.
Koa lifted her head and called and Grace laughed. “She’s happy! She’s so happy!” she exclaimed, small tears welling in the corner of her eyes that she quickly wiped away—with another happy chuckle and reaching down to pat Kham’s neck.
Then she froze and looked at me over her shoulder. “Is it allowed? To touch him, I mean?” she asked hurriedly. Nervously.
“Yes, yes,” I muttered. “You’re his mate’s rider. And he likes affection. But you’re right to check. Always check.”
“Oh. Good.”
Then Kham leveled off and Grace’s eyes sparkled as she scanned the sky around us.
We flew in bright sunlight. And even with the chill of the air this high, it wasn’t the cold that raised goosebumps on my arms.
I watched her, stunned, as she tried to hide that she wept happy tears.
But she wasn’t the first rider to be moved by her first flight.
That wasn’t shocking. The thing that had my jaw slack was that she looked around—from high above mountain summits—utterly fearless.
She wasn’t even nervous. She was ecstatic.
I’d seen strong, capable men frozen in fear on their first flight. Unable even to speak.
Yet, she kept turning to Koa, and her smile would soften each time. She was bold, and thrilled, and beautiful.
I swallowed.
‘Perhaps the Creator knows she needs testicular heft, given who she was made for?’ Kham intruded on my thoughts.
‘I’m not accepting the bond, Kham,’ I sighed, leaning slightly back and away from her so that her back didn’t brush my chest so frequently.
My dragon screamed and Grace’s breath caught, but then she let go of the straps entirely and clapped for him.
I shook my head.
“Oh, well done, Kham!” she called. “Very good!”
Koa called to add her delight, and Grace laughed again.
I watched, stunned, as the dragons called and whistled, just to please her—and she applauded and thanked them, singing their praises, until we banked north and the hills and forest opened below us, revealing a distant view of the city ahead.
That sobered her.
My chest pinched as I felt her shrink—suddenly not fearless at all.
“What just happened?” I asked her sharply. “What are you afraid of?”
Grace’s shoulders hunched, but then she looked back over her shoulder and met my demand with wary eyes.
“I’m afraid you’ll trick me,” she said finally.
“I fear you’ll take me back and leave me there.
” Her throat bobbed. “I can’t do it, Vane.
Not after this. If you don’t want to help me, just leave me. But don’t force me back. Please.”
I’d opened my mouth to tell her I was a man of my word, and to rebuke her for believing I’d lie. But even I couldn’t deny the irony of chastising her for calling me a liar, while I continued to allow her to call me the wrong name.
But what if she ran off while I was gone at the castle?
Or I caught her trying to trap me? She was noble, and well-connected, while I was in a kingdom that wasn’t mine, and in which they believed I was a servant.
She could create a lot of problems for me.
Though she did seem far more interested in staying away from those in her life, than in causing trouble among them. Still, I couldn’t know.
She had already turned to look at the city ahead and below again, extending one hand thoughtlessly to pat Kham’s neck.
I swallowed the biting words back, but the simmer in my chest had me on edge.
“I wouldn’t lie to you about returning you,” I said starkly. “You were obviously made to fly,” I admitted reluctantly.
Grace went very still, only her hair fluttering in the wind, until she turned her head to look at me again, wide-eyed. “Do you mean that?”
“Of course. You were Chosen. The dragons know. No matter what, you’ll fly.”
Her eyes welled again and she reached up to wipe them on her sleeve. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me.”
No, it wasn’t.
…Her hips bucked into my touch and she gasped, her head sinking back as she sought her pleasure. She was stunning.
“You’re so fucking beautiful. Oh God, Grace—”
“Please.”
She offered the word on a breathless laugh and pulled me closer. And I held her tight. So tight—
I sucked in a breath and yanked my thoughts back to the present, trembling, forcing my body back under control and turning to look away. Down. Anywhere but at her.
I wouldn’t remind her of those moments when I’d lost control and breathed her name and wanted her.
I couldn’t.
It wouldn’t help either of us.