"Finn – "
A dragon screech tears across the sky and the screams of citizens in the streets follow. I rush to my window and look outside and smile. Five dragons zip through the clouds, their course aimed for Draakstan.
"Shaye's back," I whip towards Finn, but he's gone. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. As much as I want to help him, there's nothing more I can do.
A child on the street stares up at the sky and points in wonder. "Look, Mother! Dragons!"
With lightning speed, I grab the clothes that remain on my bed and toss them into drawers. I don't care if I have to sprint all the way through the forest to the dragon fortress. I'm going to be the first one to welcome Shaye home.
Fourteen
Shaye
Experiencing Tronovia from the clouds is akin to floating through a dream. The spires of Starnborough glisten in the afternoon sunlight and tempt me to dip down to graze my fingers against the tops. Draakstan is within sight. Our journey nearly over and I can almost feel the sudsy bubble bath I'm going to soak in tonight before bed.
Nyx waves at me and points downward at a familiar black rowhouse near the park. The euphoria of being back in Tronovia fills my lungs and draws a smile from me. I'm home.
We descend lower and it's then screams from the citizens below reach me. I grimace. I didn't even consider how terrified the Tronovians would be with Frost Dragons appearing out of thin air when most of them believe dragons no longer exist. I cast a glance at my mother then down the line to Thrane who looks positively unbothered by the fear and chaos erupting beneath him. His hair wipes behind him and he remains focused on guiding us to the dragon area.
Artax banks right and the group follows.
Draakstan appears smaller when upon a dragon's back and flying overhead, but as we near the open center, its grand size is made known. One by one, we land our five dragons in the arena where a small crowd has already gathered in the wooden bleachers.
Curiosity. Trepidation. Wonder.
There's a myriad of emotions flitting around the grounds. I hold my breath as I glance at the benches. No one moves toward us – for very good reason. But I pay attention to the dragons and how they're acclimating having gone from the Frost Elves best kept secret to out in the open for any and all to gawk at. Drexel and Corvex don't seem interested or rattled in the slightest by the growing audience. They're the ones who fought in the Great War and are used to having eyes on them.
Seraxes, Artax, and Syrnix on the other hand are tense, their snouts flickering in a half growl motion. I pat Seraxes' back and reassure her she's safe in Tronovia, even if she has to put up with unapologetic stares.
My mother is the first to dismount her dragon and does so with a grace I can only envy. I'll be lucky if I land on my feet and not my ass. I've been practicing my dismount, but I'm still sitting at a fifty-fifty chance of embarrassing myself.
Thrane, Kamari, and even Nyx slide off their dragons with ease. I'm the only rider left, and I feel like a thousand eyes are on me. This is it. The moment of truth. I take a deep breath and slide down Seraxes' side.
Don't fall, don't fall, don't fall, don't fall.
My feet plant firmly to the ground and to my delight, I'm upright. Of course, I have to act like I've landed that dismount hundreds of times now that there's an audience. So, I stretch my arms over my head until my back cracks, feigning nonchalance, although I'm really proud of myself.
Seraxes twists her head to look at me. Is that a hint of pride in her eyes? Or maybe she's just glad I didn't embarrass her by falling flat on my face. Either way, it's a win in my book.
"I'd call that a memorable entrance," Nyx teases, pulling his gloves off. "You think we'll haunt children's nightmares tonight?"
"I certainly hope not," I stifle a chuckle, stroking Seraxes' snout and offering her a treat.
"I know one thing for certain," he brushes loose strands of hair from his face. "I'll be getting free drinks atPrue's."
I elbow him in his ribs. "Don't forget, you owe me a drink."
"As do I," Thrane circumvents Seraxes, popping into view.
I wave him off. "You don't need to buy me a drink for saving your life. You caught me countless times. Let's call us even."
"The drink isn't for you saving my life. Although, I am grateful." Thrane clasps his hands behind his back, straightening like a rod. "It's for making the trip with Nicodemus tolerable."
Nyx wags a teasing finger, a smirk snaking across his face. "Admit it. You enjoyed my company."
Thrane's lips remain neutral, but his eyes crinkle at the corners. "As I said. Tolerable."
"Well, if you're willing to leave your finery for a simple pub, then come with us." Nyx tosses his arm across Thrane's shoulders. My cousin side eyes the contact spurring Nyx to retrieve his arm. "Or not. It's up to you."
