Page 82 of Resurgent

“Ma’am, isn't battle flight supposed to come after bonding?”

Lorenson grins. “Technically, yes. Which is why we're doing it before you're technically supposed to. Remember, dragons don’t follow our rules.”

“Gods I love how much of a rule breaker she is,” Matt whispers.

“I heard that,” Lorenson laughs, pointing at him. “And you're definitely correct.”

A few recruits laugh.

“Dragons,” she calls, “are not horses. They are not machines. And they are absolutely not interested in dying because you have terrible judgment.”

Tyr snorts.

“Today you'll start to work on evasive maneuvers, aerial formations, rapid descent, and coordinated attack patterns. Lock in your runes, and be prepared for anything.”

My pulse kicks as I carefully climb up Tyr’s leg. It’s not smooth, and it’s not pretty, but the second my hands close around his scales, everything inside of me settles.

Tyr launches almost instantly, his pride pushing through the bond so strong, I’m practically high from the endorphins.

Wind tears across my face, and I laugh so hard I can barely breathe. I can't help it.

We climb hard, breaking through the first layer of clouds before Tyr banks sharply left as we spot our first illusion.

“Enemy.”

My heart pounds as I lean with Tyr, and then a second dragon comes screaming toward us.

“Hold on tight and secure your anchor rune.” Tyr says seconds before rolling and dropping us beneath them.

The other dragon passes overhead so close I can feel the heat coming off his underside.

“Again!” Lorenson's voice carries through the communication rune.

Tyr dives, and the ground comes rushing toward us. I don't stop him.

Thirty feet. Twenty. Ten—

Tyr snaps his wings open, shooting us up toward the clouds as I scream from pure exhilaration.

“Again!” I cheer, and Tyr doesn't need to be told twice.

Climbing, I’m distracted by Matt and Zest off to our right, already moving through their next maneuver.

They're perfect! Matt barely has to move, and Zest anticipates him. They bank together, dropping into a steep spiral before leveling out beneath another dragon.

Matt gives the tiniest signal, and Zest twists. They are mesmerizing to watch—working in tandem this well before they’ve even bonded.

Matt looks over and catches me watching.

His shit-eating grin should have been enough of a warning...but then Zest is surging forward with a playful flick of his tail at us as they pass.

“Oh, absolutely not!”

Tyr practically vibrates with amusement. “If they want a race, we’ll show them.”

“You are not—”

Tyr launches, the wind catching me fully in the face as we chase them across the sky.