Page 58 of The Black Dragon
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Ridingon Justin’s back this time gave Ariel no joy as they soared through the air. How much pleasure she’d experienced with the wind in her hair, the coolness rushing against her cheeks, the sheer delight as Justin dipped a wing and dove and then gainedaltitude.
It wasn’tonly Justin and the way he’d left her. Too many questions swirled in her mind. Would she be able to fly as well when she shifted into adragon?
If she could shift? The books hadn’t said much about half-breeds and she didn’t dare ask her father. Even Justin, when she asked, had noclue.
When they arrived at a ledge below the summit, Justin stopped. Ariel’s fingers tightened aroundhis neck. “No, I’m not getting off. I told you, I need to get into thatcave.”
And I told you, it’s toodangerous.
The voice sounded inside her head. Ariel rubbed her temple. Was she imaginingthings?
I’m talking to you, littlebird.
Maybe having dragon blood enabled her to speak telepathically to Justin. What the hell.And I need to get into that cave, monster or nomonster. So either we stay here all day or you take methere.
He lifted off again with a roar and a flap ofwings.
When they landed, he shifted and clothed himself through magick. Justin glared at her. “You’re stubborn, littlebird.”
“And you spoke inside my mind. How did we do that? Is it a dragonthing?”
Justin’s expression turned guarded. “I don’t know. I’ve neverheard of it happening,except…”
“Except?”
“Never mind. Stay here while I deal with this thing. Drust told me it sleeps after noon, but anything couldhappen.”
“You doubt the words of awizard?”
“Yes,” hemuttered.
The sun was still high in the sky as they proceeded. Staying behind Justin, she inched along the two-foot wide ledge until they reached the flat areabefore the cave. Justin didn’t gesture for her to stay back. Instead, he put a finger to hislips.
Ariel blinked. The Drogmire was fast asleep, its sides heaving. Pity touched her. As frightening as the beast was, she suspected it wasn’t evil. Hideous, yes. It looked tired and old. Weary. The air around them smelled of old bones, blood andage.
The creature’s skin looked green andmottled, as if it aged since they last sawit.
Is this thing the guardian of the cave? She asked Justin, using their mentalpathway.
I believe so. Where’s thekey?
She fished it out of her pocket and handed it to him. They tip-toed past the sleepingcreature.
The key fit perfectly into a slot on the rock wall marked with two runes. He handed back the key and then pushedat the wall and it groaned open. Ariel glanced over her shoulder, but the Drogmire slepton.
Once they were inside, Justin pushed the wall back, sealing theminside.
The air inside the cave smelled clean and fresh as clear water gushing down a mountainside. Shafts of sunlight, beaming through a slit in the rock wall above them, shone down on the rock floor. Dozens, no, hundreds ofglittering purple amethyst crystals lined the floor. The geodes sparkled and gave off an ethereal glow of their own, illuminating the cave with lavender light. Shadows danced over Justin’sface.
“It’s beautiful,” shewhispered.
Justin reached out to touch a crystal. It sparked, and then the same lavender glow engulfed his hand. Helaughed.
“What does it feel like?” sheasked.
“It tickles. In a goodway.”
