Page 105 of Wild Bond

Before I could even react to the strange encounter, an odd sensation came over me. My head hurt, and I felt slightly nauseous. It felt like I was in two places at once. Standing in the maze . . . but also sitting down . . .

My eyes snapped open, and I found myself sitting on the ground inside the obsidian chamber. Skye’s warmth was at my back, and I could sense her wakefulness as well.

The headache quickly fled, but I still felt disoriented in the darkness as we both rose to our feet.

A deep grating rumble sounded through the quiet as the blackness around us was broken by a sliver of light. I blinked rapidly as the light increased. It was coming from the massive stone door on the opposite side of the chamber.

It slowly swung open.

In a daze, Skye and I walked carefully over to the doorway and stepped out.

The sound of cheering hit me first, followed by the sight that greeted us as my eyes adjusted to the light.

We stood at the base of a massive stone chamber. Seating had been carved into the rock at varying levels in a semi-circle facing the exit to the obsidian chamber. All around us were dragon riders, what looked like every single person attending the trials. Con and Nesenya were standing off to the side of the chamber door, along with several other trainees who had gone into the chamber before me. They all looked exhausted and like they had been through an ordeal, but most joined in the applause. Nesenya actually smiled at me. I saw several members of the rider council, some looking more pleased than others, as well as the leaders from the other kingdoms. My eyes traveled over everyone, falling first on Dembe with his wide smile, and Zade as he brought his fingers to his lips and whistled loudly, the sound echoing around the stone chamber.

A laugh burst from me at the sight, and I couldn’t help but grin. For some reason, that was what finally brought it all home for me. We had done it, Skye and I. We had passed the trials.

I was now a dragon rider.

The moment wasn’t quite complete, however, until my eyes found the one person I needed to see the most.

Rake stood beside Zade, and the warmth and pride in his eyes made it all worth it.

It was only then I realized my fingers were tightly clutched around something in my hand. In confusion, I peered down as I uncurled my fingers and was startled to find my silver ring lying there in the center of my palm, the metal gleaming softly in the light.

“Knewyoucoulddoit, Button!” Zade crowed as he slung an arm around my shoulders. I jostled a little, but he was careful not to touch the still tender spot on my upper arm that now bore the dragon rider tattoo; a more delicate, feminine version than the one on his own arm.

It was several hours after the last trainee had passed the Second Trial, and we were all standing in the banquet hall. The scene was much the same as the night before, if slightly more jovial and less tense. Except now, everyone was clad in rider leathers rather than the brown trainee leathers; black for Baldor, gray for Halmar, and a deep sandstone for Zehvi. The more experienced riders wore their dragonscale armor. I noticed, however, that several riders from Zehvi wore a small dragon insignia on their left breast over their armor, and when I asked Rake about it, he explained that they were members of the Fangdar—Prince Malik’s elite group of dragon riders that answered only to him.

Many of the dragons and their riders had left now that the trials and official ceremonies were over. Storm clouds were gathering outside, and many had wished to be on their way before the storm hit. Even so, this final celebration showed no signs of stopping anytime soon, even though it was now well after midnight.

“You’re one of us now,” Zade grinned, pulling me out of my thoughts, “and with so little training, too. Rake and Dembe are going to be insufferable now.” He gestured to the two men currently standing across from us. “Look at those smug faces.”

I glanced over at my two trainers with a smile, and neither of the men even tried to hide their proud, self-satisfied grins.

“We can’t take all the credit,” Dembe qualified, holding up the drink in his hand. “She had other trainers, and Rin was the one who pulled this off. It appears some of that training actually sank in.”

I laughed. “Gee, thanks. I’ll try not to let such a glowing endorsement go to my head.”

Everyone chuckled, and Zade and Dembe began debating the merits of certain training techniques.

While they were semi-distracted, Rake crossed over to me. “I’m proud of you,” he murmured quietly, and I flushed.

“Thank you.”

His eyes devoured me as he drew close. “You passing the trials was worth it just to see you in that uniform,” he joked in my ear. “I like seeing you in black. You look positively edible.”

“Careful, Commander,” I warned in a teasing tone that I knew would drive him crazy, “or people will start to wonder.”

Rake gave me a censuring look, though I could see the warmth in his eyes. “I told you before, I don’t care what people think. And you’re a dragon rider now, so I’m no longer your instructor.” He leaned down, nipping my ear lightly and making me bite back a gasp. “Besides,” his hot breath tickled across my skin and left goosebumps behind as he spoke, “I want everyone here to know you’re mine.”

“Are you sure it’s not just one rider in particular?” I taunted, glancing pointedly over to where Prince Malik was talking with another dragon rider not too far away. Rake’s gaze followed mine.

“Either way, the point is moot.” He stared down at me. “You’re mine. I’m tempted to kiss you here and now just to show them all who you belong to, decorum be damned.”

I wanted to melt at the sheer possessiveness in the words. I hadn’t bothered to tell him that the prince had already guessed at the nature of our relationship. And despite their mutual dislike, I didn’t think Malik had any intention of coming between us. Instead, I leaned up and whispered against Rake’s lips, “I’d much rather you take me somewhere more private and show me instead. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about last night . . . or this morning.”

His eyes flared, then turned molten. “Well then, I’ll just have to—"

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