Please don’t let me fall. Please don’t let me fall.
She dared, for a split second, to look down, and her stomach rolled as the earth seemed to weave dizzyingly in and out of focus miles below her.
Please don’t let me fall. Please don’t—
You okay?
She opened her eyes in surprise at the voice. In her initial panic of waking up on the back of a dragon, she’d all but forgotten she’d come to this nightmare of her own free will. With Caleb holding her hand. He pulled up alongside her, astride his own dragon, flashing a cocky grin. He was wearing black leather pants that molded to his thighs and a black T-shirt that couldn’t disguise his strong, flat abs. He looked confident and happy and, well, pretty damn hot, she had to admit, despite herself. Something about a guy on a dragon… And the dragon herself, Fred, was as beautiful and majestic as he’d promised, despite her silly name. Her massive wings steadily beat the air currents into submission—leather cracking, membranes stretching—as an elegant tail flapped lazily behind her, serving as rudder.
Caleb lifted a hand, offering a casual salute, a teasing smile playing at his lips. Trin gritted her teeth, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her frightened. Instead, she forced herself to straighten and her shoulders to drop, as if she were on some casual bike ride—no big deal.
We couldn’t have started this out on the ground? she sent, realizing it was the only way to communicate over the thunderous flapping of dragons’ wings.
He shrugged playfully. Why waste time walking when we can fly?
Gee, I don’t know. So I could learn to steer?
She couldn’t hear his laugh but she could see the amusement dance across his face and it made her hackles rise. So this was a big joke to him? He thought it was funny? What if she fell? What if she careened to her death? If you died here, in this Nether place, did you die in real life? She remembered her real-life burn from the last time she’d visited and shuddered.
Just tell Emmy where you want to go. She’ll get you there.
Emmy? Trinity’s gaze shot down to the dragon beneath her, eyes widening in realization. This was Emmy? But she was so big! And besides her green scales, she looked so different than the dragon she’d met dying in her cage. This dragon wasn’t sad and defeated and wounded—she was gorgeous, alive—with emerald scales that snared the very sun and reflected the rays back tenfold.
In the Nether I can be anything I want to be, look any way I want to look, Emmy broke in, her voice unmistakable. The beast turned her giant head, acknowledging Trin with a quick nod. It was then that she recognized the dragon’s eyes. Such pretty eyes—all blues and golds swimming together in the depths of the deepest sea. And so can you.
Can I be someone who isn’t afraid of heights? Trin winced as she accidentally looked down again. Maybe if she just stared straight ahead, the nausea would go away.
Emmy’s laugh was rich and affectionate.
You can trust me, Fire Kissed. I’d never let you fall.
Trust. It had never been one of Trinity’s strong points. Not when so many people in her life had let her down. Her own mother even—with all her promises that they’d be a family again. Promises as empty as the shotgun barrel she’d left behind. And then there was Connor, who’d promised to keep her safe while secretly planning to kill her. No, it was better in the long run not to trust anyone in this world.
But I’m not just anyone. I’m your dragon.
Emmy’s words sent a shiver down her spine, as if she could feel them as well as hear them. And strangely, suddenly, she found herself wanting to trust those feelings, to let herself go. To feel what it would be like to soar through the skies. To understand what it really meant to be Fire Kissed. To become one with a dragon.
She shook her head. Okay, where had that thought come from?
Let yourself go, Trinity. Trust me.
On impulse, she reached down to stroke the dragon, surprised to find the creature’s scales soft and satiny to the touch. As her fingers tripped down the beast’s neck, Emmy wiggled appreciatively and made throaty noises that reminded Trin of her cat purring. She drew in a shaky breath.
“Okay, fine,” she declared, squaring her shoulders. “What the hell. Let’s do this.”
You won’t be sorry!
And with that, Emmy took off, soaring through the heavens at top speed. Trinity squealed and grabbed on tight, her pulse skyrocketing and her heart lodging in her throat. It was as if she was on some living, breathing rollercoaster, rolling and dipping across the sky, and it was hard to believe a creature so big and gangly looking could be so graceful. Soon as they whirled and swirled in their dragon dance along the horizon, she found herself laughing out loud—an unguarded, joyous laugh. This was actually fun!
Faster! she cried to Emmy. Go faster!
Emmy tossed her head excitedly, then turned her snout to the sky. Higher and higher she pushed, chasing the currents of wind, gaining more altitude every second, until Trinity half wondered if they’d collide with the sun. Finally, the dragon stopped, hovering in midair, turning to face her, a challenging look on her face.
Are you ready? she asked teasingly.
Trin gulped but somehow managed to nod. No sooner had she finished than Emmy turned her nose down, dive-bombing the ground, fast and furious. Trinity screamed in a mixture of delight and fear, white-knuckling the dragon’s neck as the earth rushed to meet them at frightening speed.
Trust her. Trust Emmy. You can trust her.
Emmy stopped on a dime, practically throwing Trin from her back with the sudden halt of momentum. She gasped as she realized they were hovering only a few yards off the ground. Had they really been so close to colliding? Emmy snorted excitedly, then shot back up into the air again, the wind pounding at Trin’s face, drawing tears from her eyes. She laughed and shook her head.
Show off, she admonished her dragon.
Oh, you liked it, Emmy shot back. And Trinity had to agree.
And so they kept going, dipping and diving, soaring and seeking, skimming trees and ponds, then shooting high into the atmosphere, teasing the sun. Emmy even attempted a few clumsy barrel rolls that made Trinity’s stomach lurch. But through it all, she couldn’t help the big grin spreading across her face. For the first time in her life, she felt free. Absolutely, one hundred percent free.
What do you think? Caleb asked, leading his own dragon up beside her. Is Emmy taking good care of you?
Oh my God! she cried. This is, like, the best thing ever!
I told you, he teased. Now come on. Race me to that ledge!
Before she could respond, he urged his dragon forward, diving down toward the craggy cliffside before them at top speed. Trinity stared after him with amused outrage.
“Cheater!” she cried out after him. Go, Emmy! Don’t let them get away!
The dragon shifted position, diving after Caleb and his mount. Trinity cheered her on as the wind thundered in her ears. It wasn’t long before the two beasts were neck and neck again, beads of dew sparkling on Emmy’s shining scales as her muscles rippled beneath her thighs. The boy and his dragon may have stolen a head start, but it was obvious to Trin who really ruled the skies.