5
Dante
The flightback felt both excitingly short and achingly long. I wanted to be back in my room already, throwing Gabriel on my bed and engaging in all sorts of fun…activities.
After a few hours of travel, Gabriel was getting increasingly nervous about hanging in midair. Despite being my fated mate and having flown in my arms before, I could understand that an earthbound creature like a wolf shifter wouldn’t be used to the whipping winds and altitude of flight. That bummed me out a bit, but when we got to Cinderhollow, we’d have all the time in the world for him to get usedtoit.
“Are we close?” Gabriel asked, clutching my scaly arms for dear life. I wanted to lean in and nuzzle him reassuringly, but the last time I tried that he flipped out and told me in no uncertain, high-pitched words that I shouldwatch the sky, as if I was driving a car on a highway full oftraffic.
“Soon,” Ipromised.
“You said that the last time,” hegrumbled.
“This time,” Ruby said, “it really issoon.Look.”
As afternoon turned into evening, the setting sun cast brilliant blood-red and orange light across the mountaintops in front of us. The mountain peaks seemed aflame, like embers dancing on theirsurface.
“Oh,” Gabriel murmured, unable to tear his eyes away from the fiery sight. “It’s even more beautiful than the waterfall,somehow.”
“What did I tell you?” I said. “I can’t wait for you to see the restofit.”
Gabriel went quiet, then pointed a finger at something and said, “Whatisthat?”
I followed his gaze and found the tiny sliver of refraction. It was like a broken piece of glass suspended in the air, reflecting the sunset’slight.
“Wow. I’m surprised you can see it,” I said genuinely. “That’s thebarrier.”
His face turned dark and he asked cautiously, “Abarrier?”
“Don’t worry,” Ruby added gently, flying closer to him. “It’s not a physical wall like in your old pack. This is a force field created with dragon magic. It’s to protect us from outsiders, but it doesn’t prevent anyone from leaving. You’re free to come and go as youplease.”
I grinned. “Although once you see the inside, you won’twantto.”
Gabriel seemed unsure, but he didn’t say anything else. I held him closer to my chest. I understood his concern, but this was nothing to be worried about. It wasn’t a looming physical giant like the concrete wall of Stoneheart pack. Most importantly, we weren’t hiding outoffear.
“The fact that you can see the barrier means you’re magic aligned,” I reassured him. “That’s wonderful! Not every non-dragonshifteris.”
“I am?” Gabriel asked, looking lessafraidnow.
I smiled. I was glad to see his fear dissipate. I never wanted him to be afraid around me, for whatever reason. “Yes. Maybe with some training, you can recognize other types ofmagic,too.”
“Magic, huh?” hemurmured.
We approached the barrier and slowed. Even though Ruby and I would have no trouble clearing it, the magic system might recognize Gabriel as an outsider - as ridiculous as that was. We stopped just before it and waited for one of the barrier’s sorcerers to approach us. To my surprise, I recognized the big lug on the other side of thefield.
“Lorenzo!” Icalled.
Before us stood a huge bullet-silver dragon with the same purple eyes as me. His wings were folded primly on his back and his claws were placed in front of himself with the air of someone who took his job veryseriously.
In a deep voice tinted with the fierceness of his dragon form, Lorenzo said, “Hello.”
In my arms, Gabrielsqueaked.
“Oh, sorry, I guess I should introduce you,” I said quickly. “Gabriel, this is my older brother,Lorenzo.”
“Nice to meet you,” Gabriel said, his eyes still wide. He held a hand in front of him, like he wasn’t sure if he was supposed to shake a dragon’s hand in greetingornot.
“Likewise,” Lorenzo said, dipping his head deeply in a show of respect. “And your name isGabriel?”
