Page 46 of The Mating Quest
“Where we are headed is dragon territory,” Drust said, giving Lacey a fond but exasperated look. “You may only access it through adragon.”
His eyes felt a little strange. Ethan blinked and recoiled. “Damn. Feels like second set of eyelids. I can see through them, but it’s like wearing contacts, Iguess.”
“Not eyelids, but an opaque covering that allows you to see through it,’ Drust told them. “It is to protect your eyes while you fly withus.”
“Better than goggles and not as restrictive,” Laceyadded.
Michael kept staring at Ilana, who finally snapped, “What? Got a problem,buddy?”
“You are Mage,” Michael toldher.
“Yeah.And?”
“Ariel, my mate, is half Mage and half-dragon. She is amazing. She can read Others’ auras and determine their energy.” Michael gave her an interested look. “Can you do thesame?”
Ilana shrugged. “Perhaps.”
Taking charge, Drust told them their assigned dragons. To his amusement, Ilana was to ride on Drust. She did not lookhappy.
Breaking away from their mother, Keegan and Kara ran up to Drust. “Dragon ride,” Keeganshouted.
Drust laughed and swept Keegan into his arms. “Perhaps a short one before I leave, eh? If your motheragrees.”
Nikita flapped a hand. “A short one. Keegan, Drust has duties, so it will bequick.”
“Yippee!” Kara shouted. “Dragonride!”
The others busied with preparing their packs. Many of the Mitchell pack children had gathered around Keegan and Kara and talking with excitement about the dragons. Ethan glanced at Tate, eyeing the immortal children with sadness. “Drust, can you do me afavor?”
The wizard frowned, but as Ethan explained, a smile played on his mouth. “Well done. Of course. I shall do it myself,personally.”
Drust turned to Lacey. “My love, Nikita and Tristan’s twins would like a dragon ride. Wouldyou?”
Lacey grinned. “Absolutely.”
She stepped back, far away and transformed into a silver-blue dragon. Whooping, the twins raced up to her and Nikita placed them on Lacey’s back. “Remember to hold tight!” Nikita told herchildren.
Drust went over to Tate, dropped down and looked at him intensely. The little boy lit up as if someone offered him theworld.
Perhaps someonehad.
“Ethan, he will need someone to lift him upon my back,” Drust calledout.
Zoe and Snake watched anxiously. Judging from the smell of their fear, they had no desire to get near the Coldfire Wizard. But he knew someone who wasfearless.
“Ilana, will you do it?” Ethanasked.
A smile lit up her face. “Ofcourse.”
“You will ride with him. Keegan and Kara are immortals and accustomed to flying upon me in Tir Na-nog, but Tate will need an adult,” Drustsaid.
The wizard joined Lacey and shifted into a dragon, lying on the ground. Ilana looked resigned and then squatted down and signed to Tate, whonodded.
Soon Ilana and Tate were settled on Drust’s back. “Hang on, Tate,” Zoe calledout.
Flapping their enormous wings, the dragons rose into the air like giant, scaled helicopters. Ethan grinned at Tate’s excitement as the little boy whooped, along with Keegan andKara.
The dragons circled overhead and flew over the lodge, startling the nearby horses. Children ran, following them on the ground, pointing upwards. After a few minutes of flying over the ranch, Drust and Laceylanded.
