Page 16 of Dragon His Heels
Chapter 6
Talia had never pressed to find out why Gave flew alone. Being a reeve, he was surrounded by dragons all the damn time, so flying was probably the only time he could truly be free of the constraints of his responsibilities, even if it wasn’t anything more than a brief respite.
So yeah, she was blown away when he suggested they fly together. Especially after what happened last time. And they hadn’t technically flowntogetherthen. What would it be like, both of them in the air, drifting on the wind, darting in and out of the clouds? She shivered from the anticipation as he led her out onto the back porch; her momentary emotional breakdown shifted into the background, making way for more positive experiences.
“Do you think Ruby will be okay?” he asked, pausing after leaping off the porch into the grass. He was already barefoot.
“Was she asleep when you left her?”
He nodded.
“She’ll be fine. We won’t be gone long, right?”
He glanced at the sky. It was clear, save a sliver of moon, shining like a beacon, practically begging them to join it up there. “We’ll be back before she wakes,” he said, and then he took off at a run. Magic flared, shimmering the atmosphere as it raced down his back, changing him from man to dragon in a matter of seconds. And then he was in the air, soaring toward the moon.
Talia kicked off her shoes and followed, breaking into a run herself before shifting. Her dragon roared, thrilled to be set free. The wings that sprouted from her shoulders beat furiously, taking her higher and higher, chasing Gabe’s trail as he rose and fell and flew in circles, clearly enjoying his momentary freedom.
I love it up here.
That was Gabe’s voice, in her head. It drifted across her senses like she was wearing headphones. She glanced up sharply to find him hovering a few feet away, looking at her as expectantly as a dragon could.
Yes, I can hear you,she admitted in her thoughts.
It freaked me out at first, but you know what, this is kind of cool.
Sure.
You don’t sound convinced.
It takes some getting used to, that’s all.
And in truth, she wanted to know why. Unlike him, she flew with other dragons all the damn time. Never once had any of them ever been inside her head.
He flew in circles and then dipped low, soaring underneath her and coming up behind her. Before she could turn around, he nipped at her hind leg.
Hey!She belched a ball of fire, a warning.
He laughed. Well, he laughed in her head. Dragons couldn’t actually laugh out loud.
I like you like this, she thought.
He hovered in front of her and blew a circle of smoke that enlarged as it drifted closer, until it floated past her body, seemingly engulfing her for a moment before dissipating. She shivered like he’d caressed her.
Oh yeah? What’s different?
Besides the obvious? Scaly skin, slits for eyes, wings?
So you find dragons attractive?
I didn’t say I was attracted to you.
Hopefully there wasn’t too much indignation in her thoughts.
Uh-huh. So, what’s different then?
She lazily dropped low and then beat her wings to move back up to eye level with him again.You’re more you up here.
He snorted, fire bursting from his nostrils and nearly singing hers. She let out a yelp and flew backwards a couple feet.
