Page 243 of On Wings of Blood

“I don’t understand,” I whispered back. “The ritual. It was meant to end the binding. To set a soul free.”

“And it did,” the dragon pointed out.

“But I didn’t mean...to bring something back.”

“Perhaps the pages of your book were stuck together,” the dragon growled, voice tinged with amusement at my predicament. “You performed a ritual meant to end a soul binding, yes, and to return a soul to life. And now, I am awake.”

The dragon’s wings beat slowly, sending gusts of wind through the courtyard that rattled the pebbles and debris and blew my hair back.

My mind raced, frantically trying to remember everything I’d read in Professor Rodriguez’s books about dragons.

Dragons weren’t mindless beasts. They were intelligent, ancient beings with vast wisdom and power. They lived longer than blightborn. Most could live longer than highbloods. Bonding with one was an almost sacred act and a dangerous one. It required initiation. Bonding was the only way to tether a dragon’s loyalty.

I couldn’t believe I was actually thinking of attempting it. Not after what Blake had just put me through.

But if I didn’t at least try, what would happen to me?

My thoughts scrambled as I sifted through what I could recall about the rituals, the methods. I could feel the dragon’s eyes on me, watching my every move with a sort of detached curiosity.

Time was slipping away.

“Nyxaris, Duskdrake of House Avari,” I began. My voice was trembling. Would this ancient creature really respect anything I had to say?”

“Ah, so you know my name,” the dragon rumbled. “And are you of House Avari, young one?”

“No, but I... I need to initiate the bond,” I stammered. “I can’t let you leave. I’m the only dragon rider in Sangratha.” The words sounded absolutely ridiculous as they came out of my mouth.

The dragon must have thought so, too. He snorted, hot puffs of breath washing over me. I flinched.

“Nyxaris of House Avari, you... you are magnificent. Your scales shine like the night itself, glistening with the wisdom of the ages.” I wracked my brain, trying to remember the words I had read. Why, oh, why hadn’t I devoted more time to those books? “Your beauty... It’s like the stars. Each star must quiver as they see your majesty. Bound to you in reverence.”

The dragon’s eyes narrowed slightly and I could feel his amusement growing, but I pressed on, my voice gaining strength.

“You are the most powerful being this world has ever known. You’ve endured centuries. Seen empires rise and fall.” I had no idea if any of this was true, but it sure seemed possible. “No one else, not even another dragon, could possibly match the depth of your knowledge or the breadth of your courage or the strength of your powerful wings.”

Nyxaris let out a low rumble. “Flattery, little one?” The dragon’s voice was ripe with amusement. “You think you may charm me into submission?”

My heart raced. “Not just flattery, O Black Nyxaris. Sincerity. I see your greatness. I sense your wisdom. You deserve to be honored, revered... and to have a rider worthy of you. Someone who can carry your legacy forward and stand loyally by your side.”

I took another step closer, my eyes locking with the dragon’s gaze. “Let me be that rider. I’ll be your companion, never your master.” Somehow that seemed important to say. “I will never bind you or hold you back.” As if I could if I tried. “Together, we can...”

Nyxaris made a low resonant noise. The sound vibrated through the air, shaking the ground I stood on, and I wobbled, throwing my arms out to keep my balance.

It was a laugh, I realized. The dragon was laughing at me.

“Let me stop you there, child. Enough. Do you think I am so easily swayed by flowery words?”

Panic flooded through me. I closed my eyes, searching for the words I had read, the phrases used by riders who came long before me.

I raised my hands, palms up, and sank to my knees, trying one last time. “By blood and breath, by night and sky, I pledge myself to you, Nyxaris of House Avari. Your beauty, your power are unmatched. Let my soul be bound to yours, my life to your flight. Together, we will...”

“Stop.” Nyxaris’s massive head tilted slightly, his eyes growing brighter and more cold. “Do you not think I have heard these words before, spoken by riders now long dead? Do not waste your breath. I will not fall for it again.”

My heart sank. “What do you mean?”

The dragon moved backwards, his wings beating a little faster.

He was getting ready to fly. He’d leave me here behind and never return.

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