𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𓆩⟡𓆪 𝕏𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕟 ℝ𝕚𝕠𝕣𝕤𝕠𝕟

「 ✦ 0.28 ✦ 」

The black dragon's eyes narrow to glare at Tynan and he opens his mouth wide a second before fire shoots across the field, blasting heat against the side of my face and incinerating everything in its path...including Tynan.

Flames cackle at the edges of the blackened path, and I turn slowly to face the dragon. I know he won't hurt me, deep down.

His giant golden eyes study me, but I hold my ground, staring right back. He tilts his head slightly and I know he feels pride in my confidence.

"Are you going to kill the enemy at your feet, or shall I?"

My eyebrows jerk upward. His mouth didn't move. He spoke to me, but...his mouth didn't move. Oh shit. Because he's in my head. I think back, trying to communicate with him through my mind as well and smile triumphantly, when I succeed. "I can't kill an unconscious man." I shake my head.

"He would kill you if given the same chance."

I glance down at Oren, still unconscious in the grass beside my feet. It's not like I can argue that astute assessment. "Well, if he tries again then he will have a rude awakening."

The dragon only blinks in response, and I'm hoping that's a good thing.

There's a flash of blue out of the corner of my eye, then a whoosh of air as Xaden and Sgaeyl take off, leaving me here with the two dragons.

The dragon's giant nostrils flare. "You're bleeding. Stop it."

My stomach and neck.

"I'm so sorry to inconvenience you." I shoot back at him, sarcasm clear in my response.

The dragon only chuff, almost as if it was a laugh.

I rip the sleeves off my shirt and wrap one around my neck the best I can and the other around my stomach. Once I know they're tightened enough to get me to the healers, I raise my arms and do a little spin for the dragon.

"Happy now?"

"It will do" He tilts his head at me. "You were trying to fight three enemies. Do you get into dangerous situations, often?"

"I try not to."

He scoffs. "Let's go, Ainsley Whitlock." He lifts his head, and the golden dragon peeks out from under his wing.

"How do you know my name already?" I look at him with wide eyes.

"And to think, I'd almost forgotten just how loquacious humans are." He sighs, the gust of his breath rattling the trees. "Get on my back."

Oh, fuck. He's choosing me. Me.

I open my mouth to protest at how giant he is, but shrug stepping up to his leg.

The golden one moves out from under the shelter of the big one's wing. It's tiny compared to the monstrosity before me, and apparently completely defenseless with the exception of those teeth, like a playful puppy. "I can't just leave it," I say. "What if Oren wakes up or Jack comes back?"

The black dragon chuffs.

The golden one bends down, flexing its legs, and then launches into the sky, its golden wings catching the sun as it flies off, skimming the tops of the trees.

I roll my eyes. Of course it can fly, now.

"Get. On," the black dragon growls, shaking the ground and trees at the edge of the field

"Are you sure you want to choose me?" I ask, not sure he wants someone like me.

"I'm not going to tell you again."

Alright, point made.

I start to scale up his leg and realize it's easier than I thought it would be. His scales are warm to the touch against my cold fingers and I smile as I finally reach the top and smile widely.

I'm actually on the back of a dragon.

"Sit."

I see the seat--the smooth, scaly divot, just in front of his wings--and sit, bending my knees like Professor Kaori taught us. Then I grab a hold of the thick ridges of scales we call the pommel, where his neck meets his shoulders. Everything about him is bigger than the model we practiced on. I just hope I can stay seated and not fall off.

"My name is Tairneanach, son of Murtcuideam and Fiaclanfuil, descended from the cunning Dubhmadinn line." He stands to his full height, bringing me eye level with the canopy of trees around the clearing, and I squeeze a little tighter with my thighs.

"But I'm not going to assume that you'll be able to remember that once we reach the field, so Tairn will do until I inevitably have to remind you."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Obviously."

I inhale swiftly, making sure to run through his name--his history--before he bends slightly and launches us into the sky.

It feels like I imagine a stone does after being flung from a catapult, except it takes every ounce of strength I have to stay on this particular stone.

"Woah!" The ground falls away as we soar, Tairn's enormous wings beating the air into submission and pitching upward.

I tighten my grip in my seat, to make sure I don't lift off his back and fall to my death. I am thankful that I spent my whole childhood strengthening my muscles and training to be a dragon rider, otherwise I would have fallen off by now.

"I'm surprised you haven't fallen off yet."

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me."

"Noted."

He banks left and I watch as the world blurs, as we race through the air.

This is magical.