Page 32 of Monsters of Air

“Slept? What planet are you on? That was–”

“This is your journey as a rider,” Landers cut me off before I could finish. “You need to prove that you’re strong. If you can’t handle this, then you’re not a worthy rider. I don’t want some weak bitch on my back, or on my cock.”

His words would have hurt less if he had opted to shove his hand into my chest and pull out my heart.

“You ass–” I was racing toward him, hands out. I was sure I could take him on, just like the first rider. That was if Zilon would give me the chance. His hands wrapped around my arms, pulling me back against his chest.

“Her journey isn’t supposed to involve the Fae on her ass.” At least Zilon remembered why they were all here with me.

Landers didn’t seem too bothered with how his eyebrow rose. “Once they realize how weak she is, they won’t want her either.”

“That’s too far!” Philit stalked toward Landers with a furious expression. “What the hell is your problem right now, Landers? I know you’re a cocky asshole who thinks the world should kiss your feet, but the world you’re entering is different. Rayna is a precious existence. She is the other half of a dragon, no matter who that dragon ends up being. Dragons are nothing without their riders.”

“Says the dragon who wanted to leave her!”

Philit punched Landers in the jaw before he could even finish.

Philit was snarling, his eyes glowing in a deep blue that matched the color of his scales. The color was like gems against his dark skin. Zilon’s hands fell from my arms, but I didn’t move. I just stared at Landers as he heaved, wings extending as he stood to face Philit.

“I feel nothing for her,” Landers snarled, not even looking at me as he continued to dice against my soul with his words. “Nothing at all. So why should I worry? I'll get to the academy and find my rider there, but at this point, it obviously isn’t her. So that isn’t my concern.”

Zilon had picked the wrong time to let go of me. Something inside of me snapped, barbs digging into my heart. Something broke between us, some line or tether. One second it was there, the next not. A coldness washed over, my insides feeling numb, even as my thoughts screamed over and over.

I stalked toward him, matching the cruel smile he had given me, making sure he knew exactly how furious he had made me. Then, I slapped him.

He didn’t even flinch, but I didn’t care, I just plowed on.

“That isn’t what you said when you had pressed me up against the wall back at the inn. That wasn’t what you said as you took in my scent. Touched my hair. Practically salivated over me. You’re just pissed that you aren’t the one with the hard on. Admit it. You’re pissed that I’m not yours, that you don’t get to do whatever the hell you want with me. You’re the one who can’t control yourself, so you lash out at everyone else around you like a three-year-old. Grow the fuck up, Landers, because Philit is right. You’re entering a different world now and not everything will be thrown down at your feet.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Landers seethed out, leaning over me.

“You’re a rich boy, a milk licker,” I chuckled. He was just as spoiled as Kile. “I think that’s all I need to know. You’re used to wealth, used to getting what you want, but that isn’t the case anymore. You’re as useless as I am, Landers.”

“Fuck you, Rayna. Stop trying to pretend you're worth anything.” Landers made a growling sound before snatching his bag and stomping off into the woods.

I stared at him as that numbness receded, leaving me tired and confused.

“Well, color me impressed. You’ve got claws,” Philit said, giving me one brief glance of a smile before he turned. “Let’s pack everything up. We’ll need to catch up to him before he gets too far off.”

“Did you mean it?” I asked, racing after him.

“Mean what?”

“Do you feel the pull to me too?” I kept my voice low as I leaned over him, as he froze, hand half way to stuffing a line of cooked meat in his pack.

Philit didn’t answer, he froze, and then went back to packing.

“I do,” he whispered, not looking at me. “I don’t know what it all means, though. Don’t worry, I won’t act on it, but I am man enough to admit that I feel it. We won’t get any real answers about that pull until we get to the school, then maybe I will act on it.” He turned, those eyes jewel bright as he stared at me. “Maybe I won’t.”

I wasn’t sure if he meant that last one. I sure hoped he didn’t, because I wanted him to act on it. I wanted them all too, which I was one hundred percent sure not how a rider should be behaving. I may not know everything, but I knew that.

This was all getting far too complicated.

“How is your wing?” I asked, once again frantically changing the subject.

“It’s almost healed as Landers said. Don’t worry, we won’t leave you here until we know you are safe from the Fae.” Philit glanced off to the side as though the Fae were about to explode through the brush. I hoped they did, Philit knew as well as I did that I would die on this mountain without them. “Grab your stuff, we need to catch up to him before he gets lost. He may have said a lot of shit about you, but he’s in the same boat too. He doesn’t know these mountains.”

“You do?”

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