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Something wild and joyful swells up inside me. It's been so long since I felt anything like it. It feels like being young.

She's seeing me. All of me. And she isn't running.

I spread my wings as wide as they'll go. Showing off, maybe. I don't care. Then the three of us launch into the night sky.

The cold air rushes past. The snow falls away beneath us. The cabin shrinks to a little glowing square of golden light, and somewhere inside that light, my mate is watching.

Far below, I can see them. A line of tiny, panicked dots, racing down the mountain trail. I'm not going to hurt them. Not really. None of us will. Not after she chose to show that bastard mercy. But that doesn't mean we can't give them a ride home they'll never forget.

I fold my wings and dive.

10

Elara

I'm flying.

Actually, truly flying. On the back of a dragon.

Zarek's great black wings rise and fall on either side of me, slow and powerful, and with every beat, we climb higher. The wind tears at my hair. The cold stings my cheeks. Far, far below, the whole world is spread out like a quilt someone tossed across a bed. Forests. Hills. Little white fields stitched together with dark lines of trees.

It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

When we first took off this morning, I was not so brave about it. I was clinging to the ridge of scales along Zarek's neck so hard my fingers went numb. I had my eyes squeezed shut. I might have screamed a little. Possibly a lot. And when he banked into the first turn, I was absolutely certain I was going to slide right off his back and fall to my death in a snowbank.

Then I heard his voice. Not out loud. Inside my head. Deep and calm and so clear it was like he was whispering against my ear.

I will never let you fall.

Sheer shock nearly made me let go.

That's the bond, they told me afterward. The mating bond. And now, when they're in their dragon forms, I can hear them. Feel them. Like a warm thread running from my heart to each of theirs.

Never, Zarek said again. I promise you. And I believed him.

I still do.

So now, with the sun on my face and the sky all around me, I loosen my grip on his scales. And slowly, carefully, I let go. I spread my arms out wide on either side of me, like wings. The wind rushes over my palms and between my fingers. It's like the sky is holding me up. Like I'm flying, too.

I laugh. I can't help it. It bursts out of me, loud and wild, and the wind steals it and carries it away.

A flash of gold swoops past.

Rhydian. His huge golden body twists in the air, a spiral of copper wings and shining scales, and he dives under us and loops up and around on my other side like he's showing off. Which he is. He's always showing off.

Isn't it wonderful? His voice in my head is bright with laughter. Admit it. Best thing you've ever done.

"It's amazing!" I shout out loud, because I haven't figured out how to talk back in my head yet.

Second best thing, Rhydian corrects himself. After us.

I laugh so hard I nearly lose my balance. Zarek's wings adjust under me, smoothing out instantly, keeping me level.

And on my other side, there's Kaelen.

He's enormous. Bigger than either of the others, deep crimson from snout to tail, with black horns sweeping back from his head and wings so huge they cast a shadow over half the sky. He doesn't swoop or spiral like Rhydian. He just flies. Strong and sure and right beside me, always close enough that if anything happened, he could catch me.

Every time I look at him, I can't believe it.