Page 7 of Monster's Baby

I shook my head vehemently at his suggestion.“I wouldmuchrather ride with you, please.”

Aiden nodded and knocked politely on the gate enclosing the stall.A huff from the other side acknowledged him, and he drew the heavy bolt to the side.

I nervously hid behind him as he magically opened the gate.“Did your family name all your dragons after natural disasters?”

“No.”Aiden stepped into the stall, removing my protection, so I followed him in.An immense dragon nose butted him in the chest.“I named this one after my first ride on him.He’s got a powerful wingbeat, and I thought it felt like riding a tsunami.Hello, boy.I’d like you to meet my mate.”He scratched the huge beast under the chin with one hand, reaching behind himself for mine with the other.He placed my hand next to his under the snout.“She’s very special to me.”

Tsunami blinked his eyes slowly and huffed a small amount of smoke into Aiden’s shirt, making him chuckle.

“You’ll like her.She’s a little nervous.She’s never ridden on a dragon before.You’re going to make sure her first time is wonderful, right?”

Tsunami shook his head like a horse, and the similarity eased my tension a little.

“You’re a beautiful dragon,” I whispered.

Tsunami lifted his head, turning to grace me with the full effect of one eye.

I held very still, until finally the dragon blinked again.

“He likes you,” Aiden said.“That’s good.He won’t let just anyone ride him.Come on, boy.Out.Follow me.”

He took hold of the collar around the dragon’s neck and gently led him out into the main part of the stable.“Open the skylight, please,” he asked the stable hand, before stepping on the dragon’s foreleg.A little hop and his long leg swung over Tsunami’s back, settling him neatly in the saddle.He held out his hand to me, beckoning me to join him.

“You made that look entirely too easy,” I grumbled.

A snort from the stable hand made me whip around to look at him, but he was focusing on the mechanism to open the skylight.I must have been mistaken.

“Come on, I’ll help you,” Aiden encouraged me.

I put my right foot on the dragon’s leg and stretched up, reaching for Aiden’s hand.It was a long way up.The second he gripped me, Tsunami lifted his leg and I wobbled, a scream caught in my throat.

Aiden tugged, and I scrambled up, suddenly finding myself in the wide double saddle, tucked up against his back.I wrapped my arms tight around his waist and buried my face in his shoulders, sucking in deep breaths of his scent to calm my jumping nerves.

“You good?”he asked, patting my hands.

“I’m up.”

He chuckled.“It’s okay.I won’t let you fall.”

“I didn’t think I needed to worry about that.”

“You’re good to go,” the stable hand said.“Safe travels.”

“Thanks, man.”Aiden shifted a little in his seat, grabbing the reins.“Up, Tsunami.Up.”He clicked a little, like he was talking to a horse.

But horses didn’t crouch down and launch themselves straight up in the air, wings tight against their bodies and brushing against my shoulders.

I screwed my eyes tightly shut so I wouldn’t have to see the world rushing past me, my fists clenched hard in Aiden’s riding leathers.I could hear him whooping excitedly at the launch, but all I could think about was if my stomach had been left behind or if my breakfast was going to make a reappearance.

Tsunami’s wings snapped out to the sides, our upward momentum halting abruptly, which was almost worse.

After a few moments, though, the flight evened out into a smooth glide.

My lungs burned and I realized I’d been holding my breath.

“Open your eyes!”Aiden shouted.

“How did you know I had them shut?”

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