37. Chapter 37
Izzy’s stomach burned as if it were nothing but acid. Daxton’s piercing gaze was glued to her ever since they had left for England. Even as he sat on the plane across from her, caught in a conversation with Keiran over the phone, his eyes didn’t waver.
“The Rogues have instructed me on the best places to remain undetected,” Daxton said to Keiran.
She hadn’t expected the trip to be dangerous for him, but because of territorial disagreements between the USA and European dragons, if the Europeans found him, they could imprison him.
“I understand. Thanks.” Daxton hung up and ran his hand over his hair.
Guilt ate at her as she felt his rising panic.
“Please stop blaming yourself,” Daxton said as if reading her thoughts.
She nodded, doing her best to push the thoughts aside.
“I need to check in with the pilot about the drop.” He stood.
“Are we not landing?”
“You’ll see.” He walked away but paused and turned with a look of consideration. “Are you sure I can’t persuade you to let me go with you? My clanmates are out of Pentros.”
She squared her shoulders. Even though she felt like Fotios was ten steps ahead of her—picking the location where she’d originally planned to trap him—she believed they still had the upper hand.
“Let’s just do what he demanded. We don’t know if Fotios has people watching, and I can’t let him burn down your home. ”
He sighed and walked to the front, dark denim jeans hugging his legs. When he strode out of her view, his voice traveled to her as he asked about their location, altitude, and pressure in the plane. Her anxiety rose until it choked her.
She had everything to lose.
As the thought entered her mind, Daxton returned.
He stood like an impenetrable wall, his muscles the epitome of strength—her knight in scale armor.
He’d once told her he would be her diamond blade, and that day had come.
Her beating heart slowed to a heavy pump.
If she had assurance of one thing, it was him.
His eyes swirled, an alloy of copper and tin she’d tried not to fall in love with. A dragon who’d trusted her enough to bring her to Pentros. A man who’d sacrificed his time and made her his priority. His eyebrow lifted as if sensing her emotions along the link. She smiled reassuringly.
“Ready to stretch your wings?” He held out a hand. Urgency was etched in his tense stance.
He tugged her to the plane’s rear as if he intended for them to jump. Fear came alive—a breathing entity against her ear, whispering thoughts of doubt. She couldn’t jump out of a plane. When she saw a roll-up door, she planted her feet. He stopped and turned toward her with curious eyes.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Swallowing, she struggled to wet her dry mouth. “I-I…don’t feel safe exiting the aircraft in such a manner.”
He cocked his head, grinning teasingly. “You’re afraid to jump? The same woman who rode a dragon with no inhibitions?”
She wrung her pale hands. “That was before the link tied me to this body and to you. I feel…”
“Vulnerable?”
She gave a curt nod.
Grasping her chin with a gentle grip, he steered her gaze to his. “Your fear is understandable. I wasn’t brave my first time either. But you are meant to fly, Izzy. Feathers or not, those wings are in there. We have to teach you how to shift into your Fallen form like I shift into my dragon.”
“Shift?”
“I’ve seen you do it.”
“What?”
“When you raced off to save Simon, you had wings sprouting from your back. I didn’t know what to think about it until you told me what was happening to your spirit. Then when Fotios called, you looked like you were on the verge again.”
Really? She hadn’t felt anything but her emotions overwhelming her. Even if she truly shifted, she wasn’t sure she wanted to practice in a life-or-death situation.
He pressed his forehead against hers. “Do you really think I’d let you fall? That excludes falling for me. That’s encouraged.”
Despite her fear, she chuckled.
“I’ll jump first, but I’ll be right there for you,” he said. “We are still off the coast of Britain, so I’ll fly us closer.”
She nodded. He released her, squatted to undo the latch, and slid open the door. The wind deafened everything around her as the dark sky filled her view.
Izzy grabbed the seat next to her and sat hard, staring at Daxton, afraid to look outside. He stood at the exit, grip braced on the bar above his head.
Twisting, he placed his back to the night. He winked at her and fell into the open air.
With her heart in her throat, she leaned out to watch him disappear into the darkness. Along the link, fire licked down his spine, consuming his body. Instinct took hold. He shifted. His mind tugged as back muscles protested when he stretched out his wings to slow his fall.
She stretched out her hand, wanting to feel the same instant of wings becoming aloft. But doubt ate at her. Even if she had shifted before, she hadn’t been aware of it. Becoming her spirit had been to escape emotions, but Daxton’s shift had felt more like embracing them.
“Try. Accept emotions. Instincts.” He sent his thoughts to her.
She frowned and sat back on her heels. I’m going to die.
“You think too much.” The impression of thought came from an impatient dragon.
She bit her lip and stood. Embrace emotion. Yeah. I got this. The clouds drifted by under the plane and a dark figure swooped into them. Daxton.
Don’t think. Don’t think. Don’t—
Closing her eyes, she jumped.
Adrenaline flooded her as she plummeted through the inky sky. Beads of moisture showered her skin as she passed through low-hanging clouds. The wind buffeted her face and howled in her ears. Something whizzed by her face, and she jerked. Then she was twisting uncontrollably.
“Daxton,” she shouted in her mind as the dragon flew up underneath her.
Gliding in at a slant, her back hit his neck, and she scrambled, hands over slick scales, to grab him.
Fingers found purchase between his wing and collarbone.
Groaning, she squeezed her arms around his neck and buried her face against his scales.
“I’m not trying that again,” she breathed into his mind.
“Good first try. Less mind next time,” he said the best he could. The dragon wasn’t used to conversation. Rising into the cover of low clouds, he continued to fly while scanning the area for signs of other dragons or planes. “My heading? Liverpool ahead.”
They escaped the vaporized water, and the lights of the city around the harbor appeared like a circuit board. The gray scenery warned of the sun’s preparation to crest the horizon.
“Head northeast to Manchester. We will follow Snake Road toward Sheffield,” she said.
“Images easier.”
He flew as low as he dared in case of other dragons to allow Izzy to spot familiar landmarks. She directed him using small pointers in his mind, like a directional GPS waypoint.
“There, the cottage on the mound,” she said.
Her quaint single-story abode lay off the major road, tucked in a dense lining of trees. He veered away from it but stayed near the main road. The sun was still low on the horizon, warming her back, but also making it dark enough to hide his dragon. He headed toward a small clearing in the trees.
He dove fast with tucked wings. Her stomach dropped.
At the last moment, he expanded his wings.
Her body jolted as he landed and ran along the ground before stopping.
He leaned forward, and Izzy slipped off his back.
She wobbled away from him, legs stiff from the ride.
Using the trees as cover, he shifted into his human body with a brilliant flash of light.
She stretched her legs to wake them up, and he joined her.
“Did you sense anything?” she asked.
“Traces.”
She nodded and wrapped her arms around herself. “I’ll walk the rest of the way.”
Along the link, his dragon tore at his limbs, fire racing along his body. He battled his need to go with her. His pain weighed on her heart. Even as her body shook with fear, her resolve stood firm.
“It’s the safest option,” she said.
“For my people. Not for you.” His thoughts came unfiltered into her mind.
“I know, but you’re my ace—I have to wait and play you when it counts.”
“And that can’t be right now?” He bent his head, hands clenched against his dragon’s demands. Izzy crossed the tall grass and grabbed his face to lift it.
“Trust me.”
He groaned and locked his fist in her hair, hauling her toward him. Their lips crashed together in blinding desperation. The link thrummed between them with trembling fear, shaky anxiety, and brightening hope. Her heart throbbed, and a dazzling fire clawed up inside her.
“Daxton…I—”
“Tell me after.”
Because there will be an after. She swallowed and nodded. When he released her, she walked away, leaving her heart with him.
She stared up at the sky. “Please let this work.”