They’re the most capable of fighting,Hyperion says.And I need to stay here to make sure if the humans attack while we’re distracted and weak, we’re protected.
“I notice you haven’t bonded a human yet,” Liz says.“You need to do it immediately.”
I’m waiting.
On what?I ask.
Hyperion’s smile is tight.If you don’t bond Liz, I plan to do it.She’s a handful, but I find that I like her more and more.
Something inside me snaps—and fire floods my entire body.You will not.
Hyperion’s smug smile infuriates me further.You couldn’t stop me.You’re too weak.
I lunge at him, already blasting flame and fire.
He leaps into the sky, and we both rocket upward, my wings beating faster than they have in quite a while.It feels good, releasing some of my fury.Hyperion blows his anger right back, and for the next few moments, we take turns melting the side of several different mountains.
Do you feel better now?Hyperion’s smiling.
Were you picking a fight?It makes the fire rise back up inside of me.You didn’t really want to bond her?
I do like her,Hyperion says.I would bond her, but mostly I wanted to see whether you’d let me.I find it fascinating that you haven’t bonded her yet, but you won’t allow anyone else to even contemplate it.
I hate it.And I hate that he knows it.We’ll go to Florida and find you a human now.The brightest one we see, that’s your new bonded.
Hyperion doesn’t argue, but he’s still smiling when we get back to Liz and the others.When I finally open the portal into Miami, I’m braced for hostilities.Instead, when we explode into the sky over Pride Park, the open area beside the convention center, there are hundreds of humans holding signs.
WeDragons!
Take me, Liz!
I’m ready to bond a dragon!
Water > electricity.
Bond me, baby, one more time!!
Liz stares at them, gape-mouthed, beside me.When they finally process that we’re there, the humans begin to cheer.
Loudly.
Othersracetoward us from the edge of the convention center parking lot.
“They came!”
“They’re here!”
“Take me!!”
The humans below us are frantic.Liz flies closer to them, beginning her explanation of why we’re here, but she barely gets through the first twenty seconds of it when there’s a loud crack.
The humans all look around frantically.
And Liz plummets toward the ground, a large hole in her right shoulder, and an even larger hole blown in her right wing.The feathers near the wound are painted scarlet.
Without even meaning to, I explode into my flame blessed form and snap my wings out to their fullest point.
Then Iscream.
