Damn it.I hate seeing him hurt.
Other legacies race back toward the safety of Everbound Castle. But in one graceful loop, the dragon flips around, opens its mouth, and spews molten royal blue fire, leaving a wall of blinding flames that cut off anyone trying to escape.
Then the dragon swoops down, wraps one massive clawed hand around Chase, and launches into the sky, climbing higher and higher. Finally, in a surprisingly smooth movement, the dragon flings the screaming legacy into the air, cranes its long neck, and roasts Chase with a column of brilliant sapphire flames.
And then the dragon looks down, directly at me.
Everett swears as the massive beast tucks its wings and dives, catching the flaming corpse in its mouth. It looks like it's about to crash into the ground, but at the last moment, those majestic wings fan out so that a tremendous gust of wind blows the hair back from my face.
The ground shakes as Dragon Baelfire lands. I watch its long tail snake back and forth on the charred ground restlessly as it stalks toward me. Even in this form, Baelfire is incredibly muscular. As it stalks closer, I can't help admiring the wickedly sharp horns that curl around the top of his draconic head like a deadly crown.
Gods. What a beautiful beast.
Everett is putting himself between me and Dragon Baelfire—but I abruptly realize that if Baelfire hates the professor, there's a good chance his dragon is about to kill him without blinking.
I jump to my feet and move to stand in front of Everett.
"Oakley," he hisses, grabbing my hand to try pulling me back.
But when he touches me, the dragon lets loose another roar unlike any other creature I've ever heard. This close, the deafening volume makes my ears ring. When I hear Everett swear violently behind me, I glance over my shoulder and find that he's clutching one of his ears, which is bleeding.
Silently, I wave at Everett to step back. He glowers at me for a long second before moving back so minutely it would be comedic in any other situation. But that seems enough to appease Baelfire's dragon because it lowers its large head, opens its mouth, and drops the still-smoldering corpse on the ground before me.
Like a...burnt offering.
Awe.
I peer up at the beautiful creature. "Thanks."
It huffs before nuzzling its snout against my stomach. The dragon is a little overly warm to the touch, but in pure fascination, I run a hand over the smooth, glistening golden scales along its cheek. When I do, the beast makes a sound deep in the back of its throat. At first, I think it's a growl, but as I listen more, I realize it's…purring.
All other legacies watching this scene look terrified. Silas is trying to subtly edge closer to me without pissing off the dragon. I can practically feel how tense Everett is behind me.
But I'm smiling.
"So you're the Grade A alphahole he warned me about?" I laugh quietly so only he can hear. "He obviously just doesn't know how to handle you. But I bet you'll be a very good boy for me. Won't you?"
The dragon nuzzles me more aggressively, the purr in his throat growing louder. The play of light on his golden scales is captivating, his sheer size staggering. But when Everett gets antsy and steps closer again, the beast's eyes flash open, its pupil narrowing into a slit as it bares its teeth and hisses.
"Fucking oversized lizard," the elemental mutters. "Back away slowly, Oakley. It might be acting like a puppy right now, but everyone read about it in the news five years ago when Baelfire lost control. His dragon slaughtered twenty-four legacies assigned to fight at the Divide under his mother's command."
"Those legacies were plotting a coup to kill his mother. Brigid Decimus had enough evidence to prove that to the Legacy Council in court," Silas intercedes.
Everett shoots him a fierce glare. "Whose side are you on here? My point is that she shouldn't be petting the damn thing. It's deranged."
The dragon puffs a breath of warm air at me playfully, tipping its head as if insisting on my petting the other half of its face. I've never had a pet, but I officially wouldn't mind a dragon.
"Magnificentandderanged. Just my type," I grin.
But then I frown, remembering what Baelfire said about his dragon trying to replace him. I've seen Baelfire shift before, and he remained in control. Right now, he's very clearly not. This isjust his inner animal, and I wonder if Baelfire can even hear me right now.
"Hey," I say, getting the dragon's attention again. I rub my other hand against its snout. Nothing about this touch bothers me—perhaps because of the pleasantly warm scales and the obsessive golden eyes watching my every move as if I'm the highest form of treasure. "Are you going to give me back Baelfire?"
Its head tips as it continues watching me. Its tail curls, slipping between Everett and me to drag me a little closer. In the distance, I hear shouting and know more people are headed toward us.
But I don't look away from this exquisite creature.
"Let him go," I insist firmly.
