Page 46 of Three Scorched Kingdoms

She lifts her brows. “In which way?”

With a laugh, I gesture for her to step back into the hallway that runs down the middle of the stalls, and I finish stripping down.

Paige lets out a low whistle. “That sight never gets old.”

I growl, impatience driving me to shift quickly now.

Bones pop and creak as the change takes me over. Scales coat my skin. Followed by claw and tooth and a fire burning like a furnace in my very soul. Within moments, I am a winged beast ready for the skies.

“Um, you never told me how to climb up,” Paige squeaks up at me.

I extend my wing down, and she gapes at me.

“You want me to step on your wing? Won’t that hurt you?” she asks.

I snort, air gusting from my large nostrils. Silly woman. Her tiny form won’t hurt me.

She scrambles up and then sits high up on my neck. “Where do I… Oh.”

Paige’s hands grab for my scales, and I beat my wings against the stall air until I begin to rise into the sky above.

We leave behind the dragon-changing building, and Paige lets out a shriek as we head toward the castle. I’m careful not to dip right or left as I gain altitude, wanting her to enjoy this experience as much as I do. With the wind singing along my scales, I feel Paige relax. Her fear becomes pleasure through the bond, and it makes me braver.

Just ahead is the castle, and Paige urges me toward it.

I soar around turrets, and a banner brushes against my belly as we speed by. Her grip with her thighs and hands is tightat first, but once I slowly turn away from the castle toward our destination, she eventually loosens her hold—trusting me to keep her upright. To keep her safe.

I do a few dips and rises to give her a thrill, but finally, I level out and fly onward for the orc camp. The clouds provide cover that I gratefully use the closer we get to their camp. Just like before, with Leo, I’m careful to keep a safe distance from their scouts. And still, I’m tense as the camp comes into view far below.

The clouds offer a wispy film between us and the camp, but it’s still visible enough far below us now. Tents and campfires litter the valley. And there, along the outskirts of the camp, their guns sit quietly. Beside them is a convoy of carts full of various ammunition.

Paige’s grip on me tightens, and I know she’s seen them too.

I do one full wide arc around the camp and then head away from it as fast as my wings will carry us. The moment we’re in safer skies, I let out a relieved exhale. On my back, Paige remains tense, and I can sense her thoughts darkening as we fly. No doubt, she’s thinking about those weapons we’re up against–and what she might do to them with her magic.

I’m determined to take her mind off such worries even if only for a while.

When we reach the forest that signals the royal grounds, I turn away from the castle and head for a different destination farther north. The cliffs rise high on the far side of the trees—their sheer face a myriad of reds and oranges lit by the sun at our backs.

The sight of it sends a pang of familiarity through me after being gone so long. With a final swoop, I take us down, landing at the mouth of the cave I secretly call my own.

Paige slides down my offered wing and looks around as I return to my human form.

“Holy shit, that was amazing,” she says. “The wind was incredible! And the view. Speaking of which, I must look like a mess. My hair…” She tries to pat it down, but I don’t care about that. Doesn’t she realize that she’s perfect as she is? She doesn’t have to change a thing. She has my entire heart.

“My love,” I murmur. “You look perfect.”

Her smile is slow but stretches wide and full. “My mate,” she says, her hand coming up to rest on the side of my face. “Thank you for letting me fly with you.”

In answer, I crush her lips with mine, my arm snaking around her waist as I yank her so close against me that there’s hardly any space between us.

Just her infernal clothes.

“You look beautiful in this dress,” I murmur.

“You like me in the clothes of your people?” she asks breathlessly.

“I like you in everything, but I prefer when you aren’t wearing anything at all.”

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