“I thought I was the most fearsome creature,” I smirk up at him, fingers twining behind his neck.
“You are frightening in many ways.” His arms tighten around my waist. “But you don’t scare me.”
“Does this mean I can stop training, and you’ll start being nicer to me?”
He huffs a laugh, interlacing our fingers and brushing his lips against my knuckle.
“I told you. I’m never nice,” he reminds me, but a look of sadness crosses his eyes, his brows furrowing.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“I have wanted you for so long,” he admits, distracting himself with my hair, my leathers, my hands. “The only way I knew how to push you away was with cruelty. If I could make you hate me, then there would be no chance for us. I said somany things I didn’t mean—did so many things I regret. I tried to hurt you purposefully. Ididhurt you. I am more sorry than you could ever know.” He is still unable to look me in the eye. I take his face in my hands and force him to look at me.
“I have wanted you since the moment I saw you. Since you threw me in a cell and stabbed me in the leg.” I laugh, shaking his arms. “And I want you now.”
“Even after everything?”
“Had you done even a single thing differently, I wouldn’t be standing here right now. I would not have been able to do this—” I point to where Prophyria rests. “You showed me how to be strong, even when it hurts. I needed someone to push me. I needed someone to push against.” I give his chest a playful shove, earning a small tweak from his lips.
I brush my mouth against his in a gentle kiss. He stills, his eyes closing. I kiss him again, and some of that tension in his face dissolves. Another kiss and it is gone completely. He groans against my mouth, pulling me in deeper. I let him take the lead, and he devours me. My knees actually weaken as he wraps his arms around my waist and lifts me off the ground. I squeal.
Prophyria heaves an annoyed sigh at the PDA, not even bothering to be stealthy about it. Jace puts me down, and we stare at her, still holding each other.
“Now what?” I ask.
“We fly home.”
* Cue:Riskby Gracie Abrams
32
“Where is she going to stay?” I ask as we climb the large chain onto Prophyria's back.
Jace slides into the saddle behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. A thrill shoots through me. “If we leave her out in a field, word is going to travel awfully fast to the other kingdoms.”
“There are lodgings suited for a dragon near the castle. They’re ancient, of course, but they’ll do just fine for keeping her hidden and comfortable,” he says against my ear before giving it a playful nip.
“Unless you want us both to go plummeting to our deaths, I suggest you not distract me like that,” I warn fondly.
He gives a dark chuckle as I take up the reins and descend into the bond.
Fly, Prophyria.
She stirs to life at the touch of my hand on her scaled neck. Her head rears, and she opens her wings magnificently.
With a running start, we leap into the skies, and I realize this is a feeling I will never get used to or take for granted. Thefeeling of gratitude that I get to ride through the skies on this beautiful, terrifying creature. That she is mine and I am hers.
Jace grips me tighter around the waist, and I ride home to Aegar with my head in the clouds.
Literally.
Once we are flyingover Aegar, Jace directs me toward the mountain range north of the castle. As we make our descent toward the largest one, I spot a slight opening in the massive formation. Jace urges us onward.
“You’re sure this is it?” I shout over the high winds. He nods.
“That’s the one.”
My panic starts to rise as we near the mountain at a startling speed. I try slowing Prophyria by tugging on the chains, but she presses onward.
