Page 48 of Enchanted Crown
“Nonsense,” I argued. “Your eyes stay the same brilliant color of green.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “Okay, fine, the eye color does not change. Other than that, I will not look like me.”
“She is still very pretty in her dragon form though,” Jorah explained from where she stood holding Warrick’s hand.
Esta laughed. “I think I am going to head home with an inflated ego if I stay long.”
“Better than going home with a deflated one?” Krew offered with a laugh.
Esta looked to Warrick. “And should you see me in my dragon form and are too scared to go for a ride, I want you to know that it is still brave of you to say no.”
“Not a chance, lady,” Warrick replied. “Err—Your Highness.”
I laughed. “Es, just shift already.”
So she did exactly that. There was that rippling motion and there she was. A dragon. A dragon in Wylan. I never even knew I could dare to dream it, that was how impossible it had been only a few months ago.
“Whoaaa,” Warrick whispered, taking her in.
“She will speak to you through your mind,” I explained to him. “Like your parents can talk. That’s how she speaks in this form.”
Are you sure you still want to go for a ride, little prince?Esta asked him.
He nodded but did look a little scared.
I couldn’t say I blamed him. “I’ll be with you the entire time. Promise.”
We got settled and Esta took off, giant wings powering her in the sky. The laughter coming from Warrick as we circled around the castle would have solved a lot of the realm’s problems, I was convinced.
She dipped low and swooped over the meadow, Warrick putting out both arms to copy her motion.
Then she climbed higher and higher, until we went above a cloud and could take a look at the moon.
She flew slowly there, letting Warrick take it in.
“This is the best day of my life!” Warrick exclaimed.
Would you like to roll?she asked him.
“Yes,” he whispered. “But will I fall?”
I will not allow you to,she promised.
We rolled twice before she swept back down over the meadow.
The wolves had arrived. On the way over I had explained to Esta about the wolves and forest and the strange things that happened there.
Then much to my delight, as she flew low, the wolves began running alongside her. Rather than running from this predator, they must have somehow sensed her intentions and ranwithher.
It was all entirely too much. A stark contrast from a blackened and dead forest just a year ago.
“Es?” I asked.
Yes?
“Can I light you up?”
You did at least feed me first,she joked.
