"Ready to go, my eternal?" Diaval offers her his hand, and she readily accepts it.
"Don't look so sad. Without you in the SUV, no one has a reason to attack it. They'll be safe. Besides, they'll have Sparky with them. He can torch anything that moves."
I arch a brow at Diaval after he calls Easton "Sparky."
"See you soon." Feray kisses me, then Easton and Khal, before allowing Diaval to walk her out of the den.
We're leaving in broad daylight to escape a possible threat we're not even sure exists.
There's never a dull moment.
Chapter 27
Feray
Diaval guidesme swiftly out of the den, the urgency of our mission palpable in the air. We traverse the cobblestone street, keeping to the shadows like characters in a spy movie, trying to elude the watchful eyes of an unseen adversary.
The town feels like a maze. Every step is a calculated move, a dance on the edge of discovery.
As we navigate through narrow alleys and hidden corners, there are several close calls that set my heart pounding. Each fleeting moment when we come perilously close to being spotted intensifies the suspense. The adrenaline courses through my veins, and I marvel at the synchronicity between us—a seamless collaboration during this impromptu escape.
Finally, we break free from the confines of the town limits. The cool mountain air washes over us, rejuvenating. Diaval draws in a deep breath and pauses, his gaze scanning the horizon. It's a brief respite, a stolen moment before we plunge into the next phase.
With determined resolve, he leads me down a hill. As we descend, a vast meadow comes into view. The grass sways gently in the cool breeze—a serene contrast to the tension that accompanied us through town.
"I can shift down there," Diaval says, his voice low. The pressure of keeping us safe must be weighing heavily on him.
As we reach the center of the meadow, he turns to me, his eyes reflecting concern and determination. "We'll head north to Silver Falls and wait for the others there."
The meadow, bathed in golden rays, becomes a staging ground for the next leg of our journey. In its stillness, the bond between us strengthens. Our breath mingles with the cool air.
Diaval steps away and shifts to his wyrm skull dragon. His onyx scales are so black they almost don't seem real.
As I approach, his head whips up. I watch his muscles tense, staring back toward the town.
I freeze in the middle of the field and get low to the ground, hoping the tall grass hides me.
His dragon's head turns back toward me. The look he's giving me screams urgency.
I stand as fast as I can and run to him, climbing onto his wingtip like before. He lifts me up and places me on his neck. Shifting my hands, I use my claws to climb his neck as he raises his head higher.
My heart thunders in my chest as I reach the space behind his head between his horns.
"Go!" I scream at the top of my lungs as I brace for him to launch into the sky.
The sheer force of takeoff almost knocks me loose. The wind roars in my ears as Diaval's powerful wings beat rhythmically against the air. The force threatens to rip me away, but I cling desperately to his scales, my claws digging into the rough surface.
Below us, the world shrinks into miniature, the ground becoming a distant blur.
My heart pounds—a mix of exhilaration and fear coursing through my veins. I steal a glance down, and the landscape looks like a patchwork quilt of greens and browns. My gaze quickly returns to Diaval's massive form as he continues to ascend, the wind tousling my hair wildly.
I wonder what triggered this sudden flight, but the urgency of our ascent banishes such thoughts. The realization hits me that the others might face whatever danger spurred Diaval into action.
My stomach churns with worry.
"Diaval!" I shout, my voice swallowed by the wind. I tighten my grip, leaning forward to reach his horned head. "Can we check on the others?"
The rushing air snatches away my words, but I hope my plea reaches him.
