Down the bond, I feel a soft wave of calmness, telling me she has everything under control. That doesn’t stop me from screaming my head off as we careen directly down into the mountain.
The opening is not nearly wide enough for her. We’re not going to fit. We’re going to collide head-on with the unforgiving mountain and end up splattered across its face.
The wind pulls my cheeks and skin back from my face as we plummet straight down into what will be certain death. Jace’s arms brace me, his face pressed against my cheek. I suck in a sharp breath as we shoot like a spear through the tiny opening. We are instantly swallowed by darkness. My shrill screams echo off of the tunnel walls as Prophyria’s spikes and talons scrape against them, giving off sparks.
Trust.
The word is spoken into my mind by a gentle voice. I countthe seconds as they pass, and while it feels like centuries, only four go by before we burst through the tunnel into an expansive diamond cave. The uncut gems refract brilliantly, creating light where there is no outside source.
With enough space to expand her wings to full length, my dragon gently parachutes us onto the ground with a soft landing.
I burst into hysterical laughter. Jace eyes me, but I can’t stop. Tears stream down my face as my body is wracked by the giggling fit.
“Are you…alright?” he asks.
I nod my head, high on the adrenaline rush.
“I’m fine,” I croak, hoarse from screaming. “That was beyond anything I’ve ever felt in my entire life.”
Jace slides down the dragon’s smooth side and holds his arms up for me.
“This place has been here for thousands of years. The first Blackblood High Queen, Arden, housed and bred dragons here.”
“It’s gargantuan,” I breathe as I slide down into his waiting hands. He grips my waist and eases me onto the crystal-encrusted floor. I take in the massive size, picturing this place overrun by dragons and their young.
“The caves here are amazing.” He points toward one of the dim openings. “They lead far beneath the earth. The dragons had plenty of space to play here, to fly.”
Prophyria settles into a seated position, her scaled chin resting atop her front talons. It’s impossible to marry the docile creature before me with the one who almost burned us alive hours ago. Placing my hand beneath her bright green eye, I gently run my fingers over her cheek. Her scales look rough to the touch but are surprisingly smooth and slick—like the skin of a seal. Beneath the uncut diamonds, she is breathtaking—sparkling like an amethyst giant among the sea of gleaming crystals. She lets out an exhausted sigh, and I smile in response as her big cat-like eyes drift closed.
Content, she speaks into my soul.
She feels content.
“Welcome home, Furi,” I whisper. “Get some rest.”
Smoothing her scales one last time, I turn to Jace, who stands watching me with pride in his eyes.
“She’ll be safe here?”
He nods and motions for me to follow him. “Very safe,” he assures me as I match my stride to his.
“I feel awful leaving her so soon.”
“Dragons are very independent creatures. She hasn’t flown in centuries. I’m betting she’ll need a good night’s rest and a big meal tomorrow.”
“This might be an obvious question, but what does she eat?” I ask.
Jace looks down at me as he takes my hands and pulls me toward the entrance of a dark tunnel. He reaches up and cracks off a diamond icicle hanging above us, holding it out before him. It illuminates the space enough to see a few feet ahead.
“I’m sure she would prefer people, but a steady animal diet will keep her strong.”
“Animals?”
“Deer, wolves, goats,” he muses. “Good thing I taught you how to fire a bow and arrow.” He winks at me.
“This is crazy.” I shake my head. “I’m not even a dog person, and somehow, I end up with a dragon.”
“The last of her kind.” He gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “Just like you.”
