Page 171 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
The drakonis sprang into action, her paws smacking the ground as she sprinted. Dirt spiraled into the air, filling Kallie’s nose with the scent of freshly turned soil. Ellie squealed and promptly choked on dirt, coughing.
"Keep your mouth closed!" Graeson hollered. "It helps keep the bugs out."
Ellie tossed Graeson a vulgar gesture over her shoulder.
Nyrri jumped, her leg muscles rippling with power. With a scream, Ellie lurched forward, grabbing the pommel with both hands and pressing her stomach against Nyrri’s back.
In a matter of seconds, they were off, soaring into the sky. Ellie’s scream faded the further they climbed. Her white hair was like a beacon of light against Nyrri’s black scales and wings.
"Not the most subtle, is she?" Kallie crossed her arms, her elbow bumping into Graeson.
"Nothing Ellie ever does is subtle," Graeson answered.
When his smile faded, Kallie reached for his hand, entwining her fingers with his. He squeezed it in gratitude. The four of them watched Ellie and Nyrri fly over the trees.
"She probably should have taken the beast on a test run first, no?" Moris mused, approaching the edge of the stable. He had rarely been outside since they had arrived, the fear of someone seeing him keeping him cooped up. However, now that they were all leaving soon, there was no point in hiding.
Graeson shrugged. "Ellie’s more the type to dive head-first than to ask questions."
"Not sure if that was the smartest move here," Menz said, watching the pair.
Graeson snorted. "Perhaps not, but if she had any more time to consider her options, she wouldn’t have taken off on Nyrri."
Kallie nodded in agreement. She knew Ellie didn’t want to waste any more time than they already had.
A cool breeze swept through the stable, and goosebumps skated down her neck. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Kallie hugged herself tighter. Graeson’s arm brushed hers, and she inhaled a slow breath.
When the pair was only a speck in the sky, too far to even distinguish from the birds, Graeson at last turned to Kallie.
"Ready, little mouse?"
"Areyou?" Kallie asked, failing to hide her concern.
"I’m ready if either of you care," Moris interjected, leaning forward and waving a hand between them.
Kallie laughed. Although the joviality was short-lived before the nerves returned. She wasn’t sure what she was more nervous about: riding a dragon or seeing Graeson transform again. She had witnessed how gruesome the transition was when he had shifted the first time, and she didn’t care to see Graeson go through that sort of pain again.
However, he didn’t really have a choice. This was who he was, who he had always been. Was it not worse if he denied this part of himself?
Kallie recalled how it had felt not to use her gift the past few months. It had been a painful itch that wouldn’t stop.
Maybe this time it would be easier for him. At least, she hoped.
Chapter 67
MYRA
The front door swung open,and Phaia and Bax stormed inside, slamming the door shut behind them. Their fear instantly wrapped around Myra, tying her to the chair.
Bax pressed his back against the wall, his breathing labored. "You need to get out of here."
"Why? What’s happening?" Laurince asked, rushing over.
Rian swatted at the captain’s wings when Laurince barreled past him toward the window. Even after several days, Laurince was still getting used to the new appendages. When Laurince tried to peek through the curtain, Bax slapped his hand away.
"Don’t," he ordered.
"Then tell us what’s going on," Laurince demanded, his wings going rigid at his back.
