21. Chapter 21
Chapter twenty-one
First Love but Better
Several Days Later
“You don’t have to go through with this.” Federico adjusted Ana’s riding cape and mask before she mounted Celestia for the Santolaria Race. Her smooth skin brushed against his knuckles, and her bright eyes turned his heart to butter no matter how hard he tried to be unaffected by them.
“And miss the chance to once and for all see who is faster?” Ana squinted as the sun cut through the arena and adjusted her braid behind her back. “Never.”
“I suppose some people must learn the hard way.” Federico kissed her forehead before strapping his mask in place.
Every impulse in him wanted to plead for her not to participate in such a dangerous race, but he wouldn’t.
This was her dream. Instead, he climbed atop his yellow dragon, Chispas, watching the way Ana mounted Celestia with ease.
Why had it taken him so long to see her mutual affection?
She turned away from him and waved out at the crowd where Lucia wore a wide-brimmed hat and a new dress she’d bought when he’d taken her shopping in Peris.
Lucia lifted an elaborate China cup depicting a yellow dragon, commemorating his victory at last year’s Santolaria.
It was amazing how Lucia’s nerves seemed to settle after taking her shopping.
Many more dragons lined up to the left and right of Federico and Ana, forming an entire two rows behind them. Blood pumped through his veins with every snort and growl. Though he’d done this before, Federico’s nerves still jumbled in his stomach and dared him to back down. He wouldn’t.
Today, he had a new mission. Protect Ana at all cost.
The starting gun blasted, launching Celestia into the air. A blur of competitors on their beasts surrounded Ana, but she wouldn’t be distracted. She pressed her boots into Celestia’s scales and leaned forward as her dragon cut around a corner to make the first turn.
Those around her seemed to fall behind, no longer smudges in her peripheral. Celestia excelled at turns like this with her lithe body and powerful wingspan. Then, Chispas swerved in front of them.
“Oh no you don’t!” Ana snapped her reins to hurry Celestia along. She couldn’t let Federico win, especially since he would somehow drop this into every dispute.
Celestia got the message and sped forward, grunting in strain. Federico dove in front of them, taking the lower path, and Celestia followed, but overhead a red dragon gained in speed.
Federico spun his head around to meet Ana’s eye. She nodded, settling a plan she wasn’t sure she quite understood. Either way, she’d act on instinct. If she didn’t win, Federico must be the victor.
Ana led Celestia upward, bumping the underside of the red dragon. Federico and Chispas sped ahead of them below.
But then claws grazed against her arm, cutting down into Celestia. Her dragon screeched in pain.
Ana’s blood thundered in her ears with a need to do something. “Attack!”
Celestia didn’t hesitate. The dragon rolled to a sideways flying position where Ana had to keep her mount or risk falling the hundred feet to the ground below. Fear knifed through her, but she wouldn’t let go.
Hard muscles coiled beneath her seat, and Celestia swung her enormous tail like a whip. The competitor was forced to dodge away or risk being swatted from the sky. Celestia readjusted into a racing position as Ana latched to Celestia’s neck.
Just when Ana believed the red dragon remained behind, it appeared again, nostrils flared.
That was when Celestia took an unexpected dive, launching Ana’s bottom in the air.
Flames like a sudden storm cloud erupted overhead, but she couldn’t process what had transpired.
Whoever had attacked the red dragon had appeared out of nowhere, rescuing her and Celestia from the red dragon’s retribution.
The final stretch remained. Celestia pushed herself even harder, unrelenting in her pursuit of the end line. Celestia had won.
Ana finally spun around to witness who would come next. A purple dragon sped through the end line and then a green one. Where was Federico?
After another two more beasts, Federico passed the finish line in sixth place with singed edges on his uniform and claw marks on Chispas’s flesh.
In that instant, she let the information settle into the only conclusion she could draw. Federico had forfeited the win to get the red dragon off her tail.
He circled Chispas around, breathing hard, and ripped off his mask. As he neared, he saluted her in the fashion the Airmen tended to salute: with three fingers to his forehead.
Ana had never seen a more handsome sight in all her life, and he drew near to her. The moment Chispas landed, Federico dismounted in a single fluid motion. He grasped her hips, lifting her from her seat and spinning her around.
Her vision blurred and giggles tumbled from her masked mouth.
“You won, Ana!” He set her down and wrapped his arms around her.
She pulled away from him slightly to get a better view of his smile, which made her stomach flip. So many times, she’d bitten her tongue and held back her sentiments, but how could she today when she’d won the race she’d dreamed of all her life? “I choose you.”
His grin sobered but didn’t falter. “But your family?”
“We’ll make it work.”
He pressed his lips to her forehead, leaving behind his warmth and reassurance.
Then, he dug through his pocket and pulled out the ring he’d given Ana years ago.
The diamond shimmered in the sunlight, reflecting golden spots onto their faces.
She stretched out her fingers and he placed it on her hand.
There was only one more hurdle to climb before their betrothal could be official.
Upon returning to Ana’s home in Lourdes, Ana strode arm in arm with Lucia.
Her sister strutted with pearls circling her neck, a shiny new fan fluttering in her hand, and a dress in the latest Peris fashion.
Federico tarried a second longer, having to pay the coachman and carry an excessive amount of luggage from all of Lucia’s splurging.
Padre rushed through the study doorway, and Maria strode in behind him. Where Padre exhaled a relieved breath, Maria’s gaze narrowed at Lucia. The air grew stifling in the decadent entrance where one wouldn’t recognize that Padre needed to save capital.
“Daughters, how was your trip?” Padre scratched at his tidy beard, a nervous tic. He glanced at Federico in curiosity and then an emotion washed over his features that left his eyebrows furrowed. “Ana, let’s speak in the study.”
Ana tipped her head in Federico’s direction. Federico dropped the suitcases, causing the hard material to echo off the paneled walls.
Lucia fanned herself and rang a bell sitting upon a decorative table to call a servant. “I must write to the children. Federico has outdone himself with the Peris trip.” She strode up the stairs, leaving Maria behind with her fists clenched at her sides.
Federico closed the doors to the study behind him and ended up beside Ana in three quick strides.
Padre stood behind his desk, formidable in size and ranking with all the gilded edges of his suit coat. “Pray tell me you have not ruined your chances with Julian for the stable boy?”
Though a headache pounded at Ana’s temple, she was determined not to cower. “You are correct, Padre. I have not rejected Julian for a stable boy, but for a decorated Airman, the previous winner of the Santolaria Race, and the new owner of the Montenegro Estate.”
Federico swallowed hard but stood that much more erect at hearing all his new titles.
“I see.” The corner of Padre’s mouth twitched ever so slightly upward with what could only be taken for a hint of approval in Ana’s estimation.
She turned her gaze to Federico who met her stare with approval to proceed with their plan.
Federico slipped a note from his stately green jacket just as Ana had suggested and proceeded. “Here is my annual income.” He placed it on Padre’s desk with the numbers hidden on the bottom side. “If you will have me, I would like to request a betrothal with Ana.”
Padre lifted the paper and peered down at it. His eyes bulged at the sight. “It appears I have no choice but to …”
Sweat trickled along Federico’s neck at the pause in Padre’s words. A shadow zipped across the window, blocking the sunlight for a split second, but Ana wouldn’t look away from Padre who had yet to finish his statement.
“… but to settle details with Ana’s betrothed if she will have you.”
“I will have Federico Vega Perez,” Ana said in a chirpy voice that hid none of her sentiment.
Federico slipped his hand in hers and kissed her knuckles. Heat rushed up Ana’s neck at such an open gesture of affection in front of Padre, but she didn’t pull away. Federico winked up at her, and she giggled in pure delight.