Page 52 of Smoke and Mirrors
He pushed off the ground so fast, I lurched backwards and almost lost control. I couldn’t stop the scream that tore from my throat as we ascended high and fast above the treetops. I squeezed around him with my knees and held onto his neck for dear life. And somewhere under my gripping fear of falling off and dying, my brain tried to wrap around the fact that I wasriding a fucking dragon.
I couldn’t catch my breath until he leveled out, beating his massive wings at a leisurely pace. I was still scared for my life, but the beauty of our surroundings put me at ease.
The moon hung so full and bright, I felt like I could reach out and touch it. Trees passed under us like they were children’s toys. Around me I could see the shapes of the hills and winding roads you could never see from on the ground. I had never been on a plane before, but I could only imagine it didn’t feel nearly as free as this.
“Raz, this is amazing,” I whispered, unsure if he could hear me through the wind whipping past us. “You’reamazing.” I ran my hands across his black scales like obsidian. They gave off a pleasant warmth—higher than body heat but not quite burning.
I closed my eyes just to feel the sensation of him carrying me. The air felt cool and fresh up here, his body solid underneath me. He wouldn’t let me fall. On a whim, I took my focus inward. I shut out the wind whipping past my ears and listened for the dragon, the one on his back that seemed to move through me when I touched his back in bed.
I felt the heat of its flames licking the air, its powerful body wrapping around me, but this felt different. Rather than more scales and fire, this presence felt like a man wrapping around me. Strong, human arms I could practically feel encircling my waist, along with human lips and a tongue kissing my neck. A tongue split down the middle.
Razvan?
Steluta?
Hearing his voice, hishumanvoice, startled me so badly I nearly lost my balance and the connection we held.
You can hear me?I thought.
Yes. You can hear me?
Yes! How is this happening? Where are you? I mean, I know I’m riding the dragon-you but where are you-you?
I’m in the dragon,he replied.He is in control and I’m in the backseat, to put it simply. My consciousness is still here but my human form is dormant, basically. Until I choose to change back.
So I’m talking to you telepathically? This is so weird!
I guess,his mental voice laughed.This must be another one of your shaman abilities.
Right. I’d been so consumed by Connor’s fall, I forgot to see Thembi again. The carnival had broken down for the season and she was surely gone by now. Like everything else, I’d have to figure this out on my own.
Have you talked like this to others before?
Never,Raz answered.You’re the first.
This is… wild.I thought.I must be able to talk to Hunter this way too.
Probably. Although I wouldn’t attempt it right away.
You’re right,I agreed.Not until he comes and talks to me using his damn mouth.
That’s my girl.I didn’t miss the pride in his voice.We’re coming up on the hospital now. I’m landing a bit farther away so we don’t get seen.
He overshot the hospital, which looked like a big white Lego block passing underneath us, and landed in a wooded area just beyond the parking lot.
“Do I have to give these back to you?” I whined when Raz shifted back to human and held his hand out for the backpack of clothes.
“Not unless you want me locked up in the mental ward,” he grinned, playfully snatching it from me.
His demeanor immediately changed as he started getting dressed. He grew quiet and the smile went away. He didn’t look at me once as he shrugged on his clothes.
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
“No, why?” he muttered, propping his foot up on a bench to lace up his motorcycle boots. Still, he didn’t look at me.
“Not you, too,” I pleaded. “Hunter and Connor are one thing but I can’t handle all three of you being weird around me.”
“I’m not— I’m sorry.” He put his foot down and took a deep breath, looking at the sky. “I’m just wrapping my head around the mind-speaking thing. I didn’t even know that was possible.”
