10. Az
Az
“You’re insane,” Lois mutters behind me as I fit my girls’ saddle and bridles.
Lady snorts as if she can actually understand the female’s words – and agrees with her.
Pressing the final button that automatically tightens their girth strap, I yank on the various pieces of riding gear just to be sure they’re all secure before using my usual pathway back down Puff and Lady’s huge frame.
My feet know where each protruding horn, spine, spike, and armored nodule lie, just as surely as I know every hallway in the palace.
Puff leans her shoulder down a little to aid my descent until I land on my feet.
“They’re going to be cooped up in the transport to the Capital tomorrow. It would be cruel not to let them stretch their wings.”
“Cool,” Lois says, folding her arms over her soft, ample chest. Though I’m not sure what the temperature has to do with things. I squint up into the summer night sky, thinking to myself that it is not cool at all. “I don’t see why you need me to go with you, though.”
Ah. There it is.
I grin back at her. “I can promise you a very pleasant ride.”
Lois’ cheeks bloom the most enticing shade of pink; it makes me want to lick them… or nip them… just a little – graze that heated flesh of hers with the barest hint of fang. I wonder how far down I could make that pink go?
While I’m standing here like a giant geliklik, Puff stretches once more to try and sniff at Lois. I think she likes her almost as much as I do.
Lois unfolds her arms but goes completely stiff – rooted to the spot. Puff’s facial markings start undulating in a pretty rainbow of happy colors like she’s trying to entertain my female.
“Whoa, whoa, easy, Puff,” I murmur, jogging over to hopefully ease the introduction. “Big displays of affection aren’t going to work on Lois,” I say, struggling to push the drak’s huge snout away. “Believe me, I’ve tried.”
“That was her being affectionate?” Lois asks from behind me. “How can you tell? How do you know she wasn’t trying to eat me?”
I scratch at the base of one of Puff’s biggest horns, the beast leaning into my touch with a rumbling purr. “Because I’ve known my girls since they hatched. I hand-reared them. If anyone was gonna eat someone, it would be Lady.”
Lois’ attention whips toward the drak’s other head, her gasp sharp.
I chuckle, gently pushing Puff away and beckoning Lady to dip her head closer. She does as she is asked, her eyes never leaving Lois. “I’m joking, Lois,” I tell her.
She doesn’t seem comforted by that.
Continuing to scratch at Lady’s head and ruffling her frill, I start talking to the drak in calming words instead. “Come on now, Lady. The sooner you make friends with Lois, the sooner we can show her how fun it is to fly.”
“I-I’m not going up there. You fly, and I’ll wait here.”
Lady’s facial markings pulse with a pinkish hue as I continue to pet her.
She nudges her colossal head against me, almost knocking me off my feet.
I decide not to say anything further about taking Lois for a ride.
The activity isn’t for everyone, and I won’t push it.
But for me? There’s no better feeling. Not just the flight itself, but putting my trust in my drak, knowing that we are a team.
I love Lady and Puff just as I love my brothers.
“You are good with them,” Lois comments after a time. She has been watching how I pet Lady, murmuring low words of affection and encouragement long enough for the drak to close her eyes, pleased with the attention she’s getting.
“I have a way with standoffish creatures,” I tell her, not able to help the grin spreading across my lips.
She gets that look in her eye – the one she wears whenever I tease her. As though she’s trying to ignore the fact that she likes my teasing. Those arms cross over her chest again. “Uh-huh, and what way is that?”
“Just being my relentlessly charming self,” I tell her, adjusting the browband of Lady’s bridle. “It’s got me this far in life.”
“Oh really?” Lois says, taking a tentative step closer, her eyes only leaving Lady once to quickly glance at Puff. “I imagine as a prince and an athlete, you’re surrounded by people falling over themselves to please you whether you’re charming or not.”
The words sting only a little, but I think it’s because there’s truth to them. However, I can’t concentrate on that right now, because my female is being brave and facing her fears as she comes closer.
“I imagine,” she continues, her voice quiet as she nears, “that meeting a standoffish creature, as you put it, is very rare in your world, Prince Az, celebrated First Drak Rider of the Northern Principality.”
“You’re right,” I say, my whole body absolutely buzzing with electricity. Slowly, I take her hand and lay it on Lady’s snout, leaning down to murmur in her ear, “And that’s why standoffish creatures are my favorite.”
Lois sucks in a breath as she watches Lady’s eyes warily, stroking her scales ever so carefully.
After a moment or two, she seems to accept that my drak isn’t going to devour her whole, and visibly relaxes.
Her petting becomes looser – more like stroking a companion hound, and less like petting a thermonuclear grenade.
“So…” I start, choosing to break the silence, because I can’t possibly keep this colossal revelation to myself any longer. “You know my drakball playing position?”
She snorts. “Don’t let it go to your head-”
“Too late.”
For the first time since nearing Lady, Lois actually turns to me now – just so I can witness her eyeroll.
I can’t help the smile on my face – a smile so wide, my cheeks hurt.
She turns back to Lady, giving her some special scritches by her facial frill. “Vel showed us a game one time. That’s all. I didn’t understand any of it.”
Deciding that she doesn’t like Lady getting all of Lois’ attention, Puff’s big head approaches her from behind, butting gently into her rear, demanding to be pet, too. Lois startles at first, and I reach out to steady her, but she’s soon giggling and giving both drak heads a fuss.
“All my girls together,” I sigh, happier than a zulix-hog in shit.
Lois shakes her head. “You’re relentless.”
I lean in close. “Is it working?”
Lois narrows her eyes at me. “Depends what you’re trying to achieve here, Prince Az.”
I step closer, dropping my voice. “Giving you the ride of your life, of course,” I tell her, not allowing Lois time to react before I scoop her up and over my shoulder.
She squeals and squirms, and my heart is thudding excitedly in my chest as I stride to the mounting side of Lady.
I have never handled a female like this before. Not a real one, anyway.
“Easy, easy,” I murmur, patting Lady’s shifting flank, letting her know we’re about to mount. Very briefly, I wonder if the same command and a pat to the rear would work similarly on my female?
“Az, put me down!”
I do as she asks, which is probably for the best. I enjoy when my Lois turns into a hissing sand-cat and gets a little mean with me, but I’m not as stupid as I look.
I’m not going to force her into the saddle.
But I can’t help trap her against the scaly side of my drak, my hands braced above her as she looks up at me with those gorgeously furious eyes.
“Come ride with me,” I say, my voice low and scratchy in my throat. “I promise you will enjoy yourself.”
She assesses me for a moment or two before there’s the barest of nods – and somehow even that tiny gesture still feels like a chastisement.
But I wouldn’t expect anything less from such a devastatingly stunning little standoffish creature.
So I do the only thing I can – stand there, grinning like the stupid geliklik I am when I’m around her.