Page 81 of Wild Bond

I felt Skye’s begrudging excitement to see Declan and his dragon, and her worry. She was growing just as fond of the pair as I was.

“Hello Declan,” I returned his greeting as I came to stop at the foot of the cot. “How are you and Izzy feeling?”

“Much better now,” he replied. “The nice healer lady gave me a potion to drink so it doesn’t hurt anymore and wrapped me up real good. Look!” He pointed to the bandage on his head and my heart ached as he looked too adorable for words, but also at the thought of how close we had come to losing him. “I told mom I’m a dragon rider now, and I heal fast, so I didn’t need them, but she said I have to wear them until they’re all better.”

“She’s right,” I agreed, unable to keep the smile from my face at how quickly he spoke.

“Mama, this is my friend I told you about,” Declan explained. “She’s the one who saved me.”

Declan’s mother smiled briefly at me and then at her son. “I know honey, you told us.” It was obvious the reminder of what happened was painful for her but the woman was trying to be brave for her son.

“Why don’t we go get something to eat in the dining hall?” Declan’s father suggested to his wife, seeing she needed a moment. “I’m sure Declan wants to visit with his friend.”

Declan’s mother looked reluctant, but then I promised, “I’ll stay with him.”

She nodded and kissed Declan on his head before rising. As she passed me, she placed her hand on my arm.

Startled, I met her gaze again and saw she was fighting back tears. Her eyes went to Skye then back to me. “Thank you,” she said, her voice shaky, “for what you did for him. He’s our whole world.”

Her words made my own eyes burn. I covered her hand with mine for a moment before she released me, and she and her husband left.

I sat down in one of the chairs they had vacated by Declan’s bedside and cleared my throat, trying to get a handle on my emotions. Skye hopped down to sit at the end of the bed. Declan’s dragon came over to sniff at her, and to my amazement, Skye let him. She usually had little patience for the younger dragon but seemed willing to make an exception today. She allowed the other dragon to reassure himself she wasn’t a threat to his rider before Izzy returned to Declan’s lap.

“Thanks for saving me,” Declan said, absently stroking the little dragon’s back. He glanced down. “I prob’ly would be hurt worse if you hadn’t.”

“I’m glad I was there to help you in time.”

“Is the dragon okay?” Declan asked, his rounded face pinched with concern.

“I hope so,” I said honestly, not wanting to lie to the little boy. Of course, if what happened to Borden and the others was any indication—and the dragon did have the same illness—then the creature didn’t have long. Then again, dragons were much more resilient than humans. Maybe he would recover.

“They have him sedated until the healers can figure out what’s wrong with him,” I explained.

Declan nodded. “Okay. Izzy was worried.” He gestured to the creature who had now crawled up and was currently wrapped over his shoulders like a shawl, eyes drooping. I guess he felt comfortable enough with us to sleep in our presence.

I smiled, my heart twisting. I patted Declan’s leg. “Well, now you can reassure him when he wakes up.”

“Yeah.”

“Has anyone else come to visit you?”

His eyes lit up. “Yes! Everyone in our class. They were so jealous that I got to ride on Skye. No one else has gotten to ride a dragon yet. Theirs aren’t big enough. And Stella said . . .”

I listened to him chatter on for several minutes, genuinely enjoying being in his company, until he eventually grew quiet. He gestured to his bandages. “Do you think it’ll scar?” His normally boisterous voice suddenly small and anxious.

My heart squeezed. “Oh no,” I assured him, taking his small hand in mine. “No, Declan. Since it happened after you bonded, your injuries will heal completely.”

He looked instantly relieved. “Well, that’s good,” he murmured, his small shoulders relaxing.

I squeezed his hand and found myself saying, “Scars aren’t so bad. I have a scar. Look.”

I released his hand and lifted up my forearm to show him the burn there.

His eyes widened. “What happened?” he asked curiously.

“It’s from a burn. And I got it from being somewhere I shouldn’t have been.”

Declan opened his mouth to no doubt ask another question, when his eyes moved to something behind me, and they got comically round.

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