Page 86 of Monsters of Air

‘You didn’t even try, Landers said, diving into the Fae like Zilon had, again there was no response.

They just sent more arrows as Philit and I.

‘If you want to get out of this, you need to do this.’ Philit was firm, he was also right, which pissed me off.

‘I hate you all.’

‘No, you don’t,’ Zilon said. ‘Now come to me.’

Zilon’s command slammed into me and my body tingled at it. I stared down at the long colorful spines of his back, all of them unmoving as they stuck me to him. I wasn’t sure how to even disconnect. I only ever did when they were about to shift back to their human forms.

I thought about wanting to be released about how I needed to move, nearly screaming the thoughts into them all. Slowly, the spines on Philit’s back retreated, the long tendrils uncoiling from my body as he pulled out of me, leaving me aching and empty. In the end, only my feet were wrapped by the things, just enough for me to stand up.

‘Okay, I can do this. Come as close as you can.’ My heart was thundering. I may trust my dragons not to let me fall, but that did not make any of this any less terrifying.

We were very high up, circling around. Some of the Fae’s attacks were coming up here, but we saw it coming with enough warning to give us time to dodge. Zilon came up next to a very steady Philit. Then he dipped down.

‘Jump when you’re ready.’

I closed my eyes, everything in me saying not to do this.

‘One.’

Don’t die, Rayna.

‘Two.’

My feet were freed. I was definitely going to die.

‘Three.’

I didn’t move, but Philit knew that too. He tipped his whole body and I fell off with a scream before Zilon caught me and I was locked into him, our connection flaring even stronger than it had been before. I could practically feel the fire rumbling in his chest.

‘Now!’ Philit commanded.

We all dove down. My eyes blurred at the speed we were going.

‘To the left,’ Landers sent out and we adjusted. Then all three dragons were roaring, like they were about to blow fire. As we expected, they focused their attacks on Philit. He had to pull back early, but by then, Zilon was blowing fire, hitting a massive amount of Fae. We ascended, getting away just as another wave of attacks came our way.

‘Shit!’ Philit let out a screech and briefly fell before he was able to steady himself and move back to us.

‘Are you okay?’

‘Their air attacks are too hard to see,’ he said, even his inner voice sounded like he was in pain. I bit my lip, worried for him. ‘Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. We just need to hold them off, give them a reason to leave.’

‘My turn.’ Landers sounded way too excited about this.

‘Ready?’ Zilon asked.

I shook my head, trying to dispel my fears. ‘Not even close.’

I did the same, letting them know my intentions. It was enough to get free, except for my feet.

I stood, preparing to count down to my jump. They didn’t even give me a chance to start before I was tipped over and landed a bit roughly on Landers back, grunting.

‘Jesus, Landers. Learn how to fucking catch her before you hurt her.’ Philit interjected, Landers just grunted. ‘Focus. Another attack is coming.’

I moved up Landers body, to that spot that seemed to have been created just for me. His spines wrapped around my legs before he entered me. Once again that warmth flooded through me and our bonds strengthened.

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