Page 58 of My Summer Girl

“Where are we?” I say with a yawn, staring at the sky and noting its color change. It’s different, almost purple.

When I turn and see Raevar, his head is against the dragon’s—Dormir—and they’re silently communicating. From the simple touch I shared with the dragon, I can say they feel deeply. I felt what he was feeling, even if my brain that lacked oxygen couldn’t truly grasp it then.

“Raevar,” I yell out softly so he hears me. His eyes snap open and his expression meets my own.

“Sunshine,” he muses, “good to see those peachy eyes again.”

I stare at the dragon, unable to truly look away. His expression seems tempered and while groggy and exhausted, I rise in hopes to make a connection again.

There’s something in my chest telling me he’s a part of my journey to this land. How much or how deep that involvement is, I know there’s a tie keeping us together.

Raev rushes to me as I make way to them both. “You dressed me,” I muse, touching the shirt that I no longer feel weird about. That’s the thing about being mostly naked in front of someone, there’s not much more you can be shy about outside of sharing thoughts and those deep things.

“Didn’t want anyone seeing you,” he grumbles, biting his bottom lip.

“What about you?”

“I’ll have you know, I was very gentlemanly,” he promises, holding my jaw. “As much as an Orukna who hasn’t seen a woman wearing scraps in a very long time could be, that is.”

I snicker, still feeling the dryness in my throat. It’s not nearly as bad as it was when I drowned. “Nice save.”

“Not a very good liar.” His eyes shine with amusement and I can’t help but want to kiss him. Instead of giving in to my impulses, I wrap my arms around his middle, my hands unable to touch due to his size.

It only takes a moment before he engulfs me in his own hug, lifting me up. I tuck my head into the crook of his neck, it’s like it was made specifically for me.

I soak up the feeling of his comfort and happily make a purring type of noise that makes zero sense to me. Not wanting to notice if he did, I bite my lip, hoping it shuts me up.

“Don’t stop on my account. You sound like a happy kitten,” he muses, rubbing his stubbly jaw along my delicate one. The sound of his breathing catches me off guard.

“Did you just sniff me?” I try not to take offense, but there’s no way in the world I don’t smell bad. It’s been at least two days since I’ve properly showered.

“What of it?” he challenges, nipping at my throat. I can’t help the moan that slips from my mouth at the action. It reminds me of Vex and the last time we were intimate.

“Fuck, sorry.”

His warm chuckle fills my ears as he nips at my skin again. “You’ve got to stop apologizing for your natural reactions.”

Instead of commenting further, I cuddle into him and he carries me over to Dormir. “He has a strong connection to this land, but from what he’s shared with me, he also has a connection with you.”

“How is that? I’ve never been to Solera,” I say, awe still strong in my tone. As soon as we are near Dormir’s face, he nudges me and I’m brought into this connection.

He shows... me.

Me with my siblings, my twin especially. The way we hug, argue, and love. He offers warmth as he connects to me in such a tangible way.

He shows me Vex, my moments with them. The way we’re linked as well.

“You see us?”

It shows me falling from the sky, the birth of me coming into the world, and the way that I grew. In a way, I think he’s saying he sees everything.

“How did I get here?”

Raevar stiffens next to me and I note that for later. Is he worried I’m going to leave already? It’s not like he can magically make me leave.

Dormir doesn’t offer me any type of answer, but he does show people getting on him, and a part of me wonders if he’s asking for me to ride and fly with him.

Without warning Raevar, I mount Dormir, and as soon as my butt lands on his spine, he’s moving to get up.

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