Page 85 of Consort's Dragon
The shrine grew large as the dragons made quick work of the distance she’d laboriously travelled.They aimed for the rooftop and Avera felt tears pricking her eyes as they neared and she saw Simhi and Monty waiting.
Those idiots had come to rescue her.It tightened her chest to know they cared.A lifetime of being shunned hadn’t prepared her for how it would feel to matter to someone.To several someones.
Starlight gently deposited Avera on the roof before perching nearby and watching as Simhi pretty much tackled and strangled Avera in a hug.
“I’m so glad to see you,” Simhi exclaimed.
“Me too,” a choked Avera replied.“I can’t believe you’re here.”
“As if we wouldn’t come to your rescue.Cap was right determined once he knew that twat of an emperor kidnapped you.”
“Griff’s alive?”The confirmation had her glancing around, looking for him.“Where is he?”
“Killing the little fuck which I don’t imagine will take?—”
“Avera!”
The bellow had Avera whirling and smiling so bright she almost burst.Tears tracked down her cheeks as brawny arms wrapped around and squeezed her tight enough she might have a few cracked ribs.
Totally worth it.
Especially since she also received an enthusiastic kiss.
She clutched at Griff’s head, her emotions roiling with happiness and relief at finding him alive.
“Damn this place stinks,” Kreed interrupted with a cough.“Don’t supposed we can finish this reunion somewhere with fresh air.”
“How did you get here?”Avera asked.“I didn’t think anyone could cross the lava plains.”
“We flew!”Monty announced.“Greatest thing ever.”
More like noisiest thing ever,Argent grumbled.
Seeing as how we now have five to transport, we’ll have to make two trips.I am not yet of a size where I can carry two humans at once,Starlight stated.
Argent sighed.I can carry four if one of them rides on my back.The large dragon eyed Griffon.But don’t think you can make a habit of it.
“Thanks for the offer, but that doesn’t seem too safe and it’s a long, skull-crushing drop if I fall,” Griff replied, still holding tight to Avera.
If you find some rope, we can lash you to my back.Or I could carry you in my mouth.Argent grinned with too many teeth and a huff of smoke.
“Yeah, no,” Griffon said with a shake of his head.“Let’s see if I can find something we can use to tie me on.”
They headed into the shrine, hunting for rope, and while they didn’t find any coils they could use, Avera did discover what happened to Titus.His head—and only his head—sat on the altar.Upon seeing it, Griff murmured, “By the way, you’re a widow.”
She smiled.“That is the best news ever.And just so you know, we never consummated.”
“Good.Because I’d hate to think I’d have to kill him again.”
She glanced at him.“Why would you care?”
“You know why.”
Her heart thumped faster.“Are you saying you like me, Captain Griffon?”
“More than like, or do you think I’d enter enemy territory, let a dragon fly me, and head for an active volcano for just anyone?”
“You’d do it for your crew.”
