10. Chapter 10
Chapter ten
The Dragon Lair
The orange rays of sunlight pierced the horizon just as Ana arrived at an open field north of the town. Celestia sprawled over the foliage, still enjoying a moment of rest.
Ana breached the gap between the two, and when she was five paces away, Celestia snapped her eyes open. The dragon snarled, but upon recognizing Ana, her features settled into uplifted curls at the edges of her mouth. Celestia rolled onto her back, exposing her tender belly side.
“You are a silly girl.” Ana hugged the barrel chest of her pet, pressing her ear to the beast’s breastbone. The calming thump of Celestia’s heart settled Ana’s nerves into a steady rhythm she hadn’t quite felt since leaving home. If only she could stay there forever.
“Celestia, we have to ride ahead to scout out our next meeting spot.”
The dragon lifted her head lazily.
“I promised to take good care of you, and I can’t do that if you get lost.”
A deep male voice sounded from somewhere in the tall grass. “I’m surprised you even care to keep that promise anymore.”
Ana gulped. She would recognize Federico’s distinct tenor anywhere. Had he followed her?
Said fellow stepped out in the open with the smirk he used to give her when he had one-upped her as a child.
Her comfort in his presence was overtaken by the expression that spilled annoyance into her countenance. “Did you follow me?”
“You were being awfully suspicious last night. I couldn’t help thinking you had some ulterior motive for a nighttime walk.” Federico crossed his arms, so smug in his assertions.
Celestia flipped over, claws pressing into the ground and tail wagging. She leaped over to Federico’s side as if she were still a lap-dragon rather than a twenty-foot beast. Her skinny tongue licked his gruff cheek, causing a heartfelt rumble of laughter to escape Federico’s mouth.
A batch of butterflies swarmed inside Ana’s stomach at the sight.
She reprimanded herself in her head: stop feeling this way.
He’s not for you, treacherous heart. But how could she not be affected at the sight of Federico, so tender, like he had been as a stable boy though his physique had become that of a man.
“Calm down, Celestia.” He petted behind Celestia’s ear. “So, you’re planning on hiding her in Lourdes City?”
The question held a thick layer of accusation. She wasn’t about to tell Federico how she planned to race Celestia, though he would be the ideal person to ask for help.
Instead, she said, “She’ll be safe in my care.”
“And miserable.” Federico nuzzled up to the dragon and leaped onto her back. “Did you bring a bit and bridle?”
Ana hesitantly removed the metal and leather straps from her satchel.
“Well, we don’t have all day.” Federico sat straddled on Celestia’s back in the lead position at the base of her neck.
“We?” Ana snapped all in place and handed Federico the strap to keep it from dangling.
“Am I not invited on your trip to scout out a good place to meet her?” Federico lifted an eyebrow with a hint of amusement, which tore at Ana’s insides.
“Fine.” Ana settled behind Federico, straddling her dragon but leaving a handspan behind Federico’s bottom and herself.
“You are ridiculous.” He twisted around, eyeing the gap between himself and Ana. When she shrugged, he grabbed her wrist and placed it on his torso. “Don’t do something dangerous just to spite me.”
Ana’s fingers curled, grabbing the fabric of Federico’s coat.
She should tell him to leave and shoo him away forever, but she couldn’t, even though Padre would never approve.
She scooted closer to him and gripped Federico on the other side, getting a nostril full of citrus wafting off his coat jacket.
A low chuckle vibrated in his chest beneath her hold. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell your family you slummed with the dragon keeper’s son.”
“How dare—” before Ana could finish whatever retort was on her lips, Federico clicked his tongue and pressed his feet into Celestia’s scales.
Celestia leaped into the air. The warm humidity swept through Ana’s wayward braid and loosened the pins she’d put in place.
Quenepas grew small below them and disappeared far behind.
Soon the next town, Guanajuncos, appeared below, with small wooden buildings and a tower in the center.
“There,” Ana cried.
But Federico yanked on the bridle to fly away from the coast and further into the jungles at the center of the island.
“What are you doing?” Ana screamed.
“You’re going to force her to meet you at every stop along the way?”
Guilt swept through Ana’s conscience like a ferocious wave she hadn’t seen coming. She’d been thinking about herself more than Celestia when creating this plan.
Time passed while Federico guided Celestia toward the Burgos Mountains at the far end of Lourdes City.
Rather than staying in the closest range, he led Celestia to the center of the range near a waterfall flowing with brilliant cerulean water.
Sunlight glistened in the distance as Celestia settled on the side of a cave overlooking the gush of water.
Another fiery red dragon swooped from above them through the waterfall and disappeared.
Federico patted one of Ana’s hands with a gentle touch. “You can let go now.”
“Where are we?” Ana continued to clutch around Federico’s waist, having now seen five more dragons flying in the distance.
One of the beasts dove into the jungle. Another parted ways to cross behind the waterfall mountain, and yet the others neared and settled not too far from them.
A ledge with several caves covered the giant mountain.
With so much foliage interspersed, there might even be more homes.
He unclasped Ana’s fingers with gentle dexterity. “The people of Lourdes buy spaces for their dragons in this valley.” He unmounted and reached up for Ana as if to ask if she needed assistance. “This is the space for my dragons.”
Ana spun to view deeper into the darkness of the cave mouth and found two giant iridescent orbs flickering in the shadows.
She inhaled sharply, never having seen more than a few beasts in one place before, but she’d heard stories of the isle of Santolaria where the reptiles bred and the races transpired.
Though Celestia had never harmed a human or dragon before, others were known for their vicious tactics to gain dominance.
“Will they accept Celestia?” Ana twisted her attention back toward Federico.
He didn’t bother hiding a sober smile that was anything but reassuring. “We’ll find out.”
Ana swept her leg around to dismount, but Federico clasped her waist to carry her down before she could object.
His touch sent flames up her spine, and she couldn’t discern if they were caused by her ire at his audacity, or delight.
Federico extended his hand out to hers, and she took it more out of fear than anything romantic.
If this was his lair, his dragons would need to know they were friends.
The next several minutes passed in excruciating silence.
A burnt-yellow dragon crept out of the cave with giant fangs protruding from its bottom jaw.
Its razor-sharp glare and bolstering stance suggested that this was the dragon to impress.
It dragged its dark orbs for eyes over Ana and stopped at the hands clasped between Federico and Ana.
Then, the beast leaped at Celestia, sniffing around her body. Ana clutched Federico tighter as she imagined the yellow beast swinging its horned tail at her dragon.
Federico called to his dragon. “Chispas, be gentle.” He spun to meet Ana’s eye and leaned forward as if to share a secret. “Chispas is more fang than bite, and if Celestia is accepted by him, she’ll be accepted by all.”
“How many dragons do you own?”
“Twelve.”
“Then why did you want to buy Celestia?”
“Would you believe me if I said she holds a special spot in my heart?” Federico’s dark lashes fluttered once with a heartwarming sincerity that twisted Ana’s insides into uncomfortable knots.
She shifted her riding dress, dispelling the heat rushing up her neck.
Her old friend had first ignored her, then given special attentions to another, but now had singled Ana out.
How was she to keep up with this strange new Federico?
Instead of asking the question chiseled on her tongue, she shifted her attention to Chispas pinning Celestia down with his paws.
Celestia licked his cheek with her playful grin.
The terrifying Chispas let her go and shook his head with a sigh.
“What does that mean?” Ana tugged on Federico’s sleeve.
“She’s accepted.” Federico patted Chispas’s side as the yellow dragon marched back into his cave.
“You know that Celestia is still mine until I get my own cave.” Ana tipped her head to the side to force Federico to look at her and gather the full meaning of her statement.
His expression sobered. “I’m not the untrustworthy one here.”
Though Ana would never admit it, he had struck a blow to her heart she couldn’t quite shake off. She’d been the one to promise a betrothal and then been persuaded to retract those same words.
The entire flight back to Quenepas, Federico and Ana remained silent. All of Federico’s kindness seemed to have disappeared, though he still acted as any gentleman should. Why couldn’t she simply tell him what had happened and how much she missed her friend?
When Celestia landed in the field north of Quenepas, Ana took a steadying breath, certain she could speak her mind or even ask Federico for advice about racing Celestia. He had offered his help with Celestia in spite of his harsh sentiments toward her.
Federico assisted Ana from her mount in silence. The afternoon sun beat over their heads with ferocity, exacerbating Ana’s nervous energy. He walked off without offering his arm to Ana this time, which spiked her heart rate. This was the time to ask, yet her mouth dried into sand.
“Federico?” Ana stood there, feeling the insult, and hurt burning a hole in her chest. She had to say something. “I miss our time together.”
He stopped fleeing and pivoted to meet her eye. A question lifted on his eyebrow, giving him a boyish appearance. When her tongue would not move, he shifted his jaw and filled the gap between them.
“Why didn’t you continue writing as before?” Federico’s voice pleaded with an earnestness that tore at her insides. “I knew your family had a lot of influence over your decisions.”
“Are you saying that I haven’t a mind of my own?”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Isn’t that what you proclaimed to my entire family when you said you wanted a lady who knew her own mind?” Ana clenched her teeth to keep her chin from quivering.
He lifted his palms and stepped back. “There is but one thing I ask of you.”
“What is it?” She whispered the words, hoping he’d repeat his sentiments from the previous night.
“Promise me you won’t join the races.”
A mess of thoughts escaped her mouth, and she heard them at the same time as Federico. “What does it matter to you?” Tears burned behind her eyes as she stepped farther away from him. “You’re just like my father, but at least he has the decency of sticking around.”