Page 19 of Lyric

I sat up, gazing at him.

Lyrican was known as the fastest dragon in the world. He had too many first-place medals to count. His scales glistened. His closed eyelids looked silver-frosted, the lashes as long as my hair and jet black.

What were the chances I’d meet someone like him out here in the middle of nowhere?

I couldn’t stop looking at him.

His eyelids twitched. He must’ve sensed me staring. One eyelid opened and a big golden eye looked directly at me.

The purring started. I smiled to let him know I heard him and that I wasn’t afraid.

“Thank you, Lyrican,” I whispered. “For everything.”

A sparkling fog filled the air and then the human sat in front of me, legs crossed, elbows on his knees. Now that I'd slept, my mind had cleared.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Much better now. Any sign of him during the night?”

He shook his head no.

“Maybe we should leave. I think I might be able to fly now.”

“How's that ankle?”

I moved my foot under the blankets and winced. “It hurts, but I don't need my foot to fly.”

“It's a long way. At least two hours flying. We can stop and rest if we need to, but I'd prefer not.”

I sighed heavily. “I'm not used to flying for periods that long.”

“You could ride Lyrican and that way he could go faster. But are you in any shape to hang on for that long?”

“I'm a little shaky, but I think I could.” Could I? In truth, every muscle in my body burned. When I tried to move my legs and arms, the pain screamed at me. “Do you have any ibuprofen on you?”

Lyric held up one finger and raised both eyebrows. “In fact, I think I might. Lyrican suffers from stiff joints and muscles. He flies hard to win and there's a price sometimes. When we shift to human I feel it, too.”

He turned his back on me and shuffled around in one of the bins. All I could do was stare at his beautiful backside. He was fit all over, his skin taut and firm even on his ass. I had to laugh at myself. With all that had happened, I still noticed how attractive he was. How he attracted me.

He returned with two pills and a bottle of water. I downed them immediately. Maybe I would get home by today. Maybe even alive.

But then what?

Even if Colt was arrested, knowing him he’d demand a trial, get out on bail, and I’d still be looking over my shoulder.

I couldn’t think about those things right now. It was all too much.

Cooking smells wafted over me and my stomach growled.

Lyric brought me a bowl of hot cereal covered in brown sugar.

“It was the best I could do,” he said.

“This smells wonderful. Thank you.” I dug in.

Again, Lyric and I discussed getting me home while it was still early.

“We’ll wrap you in blankets. I’ve got some rope. You can tie your wrist to one of his spikes in case you slip.”

---