Page 24 of Monsters of Air

“You are the last person she needs to be riding,” Philit said. “There is no way I am riding Zilon. No one but a rider should ever be on a dragon.”

Landers sighed. “Fuck the rules, Philit. Say it with me. Fuck the rules. You know it’d be easier.”

“I already told you,” Philit was snarling, his wings twitching as though they were trying to heal themselves. “She doesn’t have a dragon, and we don’t have a rider. If she rides one of us, it can affect our relationship with our riders later.”

They were getting angrier with each word, I could have sworn I saw smoke come from their nostrils. I just stood there, watching them like I did the boys back home. No way was I getting stuck in the middle of this.

“Fine. So we trek through the mountains. Here I was thinking I could leave that behind when I got my wings.” Zilon sighed, running his hand through the thick lengths of curly hair that ran down his back.

“She’s a rider. She’s weak, needs training, but she’s a rider,” Philit said it like it was final, even though he didn’t like it. “We should protect her. Since I can’t fly, we’re on our feet anyway.”

“Nothing will happen to you, Rayna,” Zilon said, with enough resolve that I had to believe him, even if he seemed upset with how things had panned out.

“How about this,” Landers said, eyes twinkling as he came over to me with a wide grin. “Just to make it worth our while… We help you across, and you have to choose one of us as your mate.”

“What?” My mouth popped open. Zilon echoed my response as he jerked back away from Landers.

“What kind of deal is that?” Philit asked. “We don’t even know how bondings work. She can’t promise that.”

“Oh, she can,” Landers grinned. “I mean, there’s no guarantee that we’ll get a mate when we get to the capital, right? From what I’ve heard there are never enough riders to match the dragons that show up. I’ve been to Fyre, I’ve met King Laskis, I’ve seen the riderless dragons that serve in his army. Hell, even the King is a riderless dragon! Think about it, there’s already three of us, and we’d only seen her. She’s the first rider I’ve ever seen. So how about a better guarantee. We bring her there; she chooses one of us. I’ve met the King, I’m sure he will honor it.”

It wasn’t a bad deal. My heart had already claimed Landers, and I think he knew it, which was exactly why he was making the deal.

“I’m okay with that,” I whispered, my face heating as Landers grinned at me.

Philit sighed, mumbling something before he said, “Very well. Let’s just focus on surviving this journey first. Once we get to the training academy, we can figure out who her dragon is.” Philit glanced at me again before grabbing his bag.

They were all ready to leave, but I couldn’t. Not yet.

“Wait.” I finally pushed at Zilon enough for him to let me go. Losing his warmth sucked, but I needed the space to think clearly. “My things.”

My Da.

“Where are they?” Landers asked.

I glanced back to the direction of the field. Going back that way caused bile to rise. What would I do if I saw Da’s body?

“I’ll go.” Landers didn’t wait for a response before disappearing, his tail whipping behind him as he took off.

I took one step. I hadn’t wanted him to go. I wanted to. I wanted to find him. I wanted to hold him, I wanted to say goodbye. I didn’t care about my things. Not really; everything was replaceable.

He wasn’t.

But Landers was already gone, and I was left in the trees, staring after him as the other two mumbled behind me.

“Got it. I think,” Landers said, racing back between the tall trees with two bags in his hand. I recognized mine. I also recognized my father. My heart both exploded and swelled in the same moment.

I grabbed them, feeling the weight of them in my hands. I didn’t say anything as I placed my bag on my back, clutching my father’s to my chest, his blood was still damp and sticky on one side.

Oh goddess, keep it together, Rayna.

“I can carry one,” Zilon said.

“No thank you,” I whispered. “I’ll be fine.”

All three dragons frowned at me, looking like they wanted to say something, but after a moment of me just staring at them, Philit turned, leading the way.

Landers was right behind him. Zilon didn’t move until I began walking, protecting my back.

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