Page 32 of Draekora

With a mutedthump, Xiraxus landed on the outcropping of the cavern tunnel, his tail aloft and helping him keep his balance on the precarious ledge.

“Alex!” he greeted, sounding overjoyed to see her. “I came as soon as I felt you were awake.”

Knowing the only explanation for his stalkerish statement was the bond that was supposedly now between them, Alex asked, “Any chance you want to explain this bond that keeps getting mentioned? Kyia—one of the Meyarins—also said something about me ‘shining with the binding of a draekon’, or something like that. What are you all talking about?”

“All will be answered soon,” Zaronia said, outstretching her wings and prompting Alex to duck lest she wanted to lose an eye. Then the great purple draekon launched herself off the edge of the cavern and into the sky.

“Come on,” Xiraxus told Alex, circling carefully on the cavern edge until his side faced her. “Everything will be explained at the Kyvalon. Everyone’s waiting for us there.”

Alex raised her eyebrows, wondering who ‘everyone’ was and what ‘Kyvalon’ meant. Her inner translator appeared to be letting her down on the word’s interpretation.

“Hurry, Alex, or Mother will return,” Xiraxus said, lowering his torso to the ground, stretching his wing out, and gesturing with his head for her to climb aboard.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she said, unthinkingly.

Xiraxus said, “You’ve flown with me before—why is this any different?”

“Uh, maybe because I didn’t have any choice the last two times?” Alex pointed out.

“The Kyvalon isn’t on this island,” Xiraxus told her. “We can only get there by flying.”

“I’m usually okay with heights, but this is asking a lot,” Alex said, sliding closer to Xiraxus and peering out over the edge of the island to see nothing but clouds beneath them. She still couldn’t believe she wasthis closeto what she’d call a dragon, not to mention being about to fly with him through the sky—again.

“Good thing you’re not the one keeping us in the air, then,” Xiraxus said. “Now jump on, Alex. We don’t want to keep them waiting.”

Certain she was out of her right mind, Alex reached out and grabbed hold of the rough black sinew of Xiraxus’s wing to help her balance. Even while lowered to the ground, his shoulder was still significantly higher than her head, so she had to manoeuvre herself up by first placing her foot on his forearm and stepping up to push off his elbow, jumping to grip the spiky scales at the base of his neck and pulling herself onto his back.

Panting from the surprising amount of effort it took, she said, “Is there an easier way to do that?”

“When I’m a little older, my wings will be strong enough for you to run straight up them,” Xiraxus answered as she settled herself into a somewhat secure position just in front of his wing joints. “Until then, we’ll just have to practise. But don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. The only way to get around Draekora is by air.”

“How oldareyou, Xira?”

“I’m still a hatchling,” he answered, rising to his feet and causing Alex to clamp her thighs around him and grab a tighter hold of the scales at his neck. “Only eighteen of your mortal years.”

“Eighteen is considered a hatchling?” Alex said, surprised. That was the age most humans were considered adults.

“Hold on, Alex,” Xiraxus said, bunching his hind legs underneath them. “It’s time to fly.”

And with that, he pushed off from his haunches and propelled them up into the air.

The moment they left the solid, stable ground—which was ironic, since it was technically a floating hunk of rock in the middle of the sky—Alex closed her eyes, figuring it was best to remain oblivious for the duration of their journey. But Xiraxus wouldn’t have any of that.

Open your eyes, Alex, he called mentally.You won’t want to miss this. Trust me.

Peeking first with one eye and then the other, Alex let out a sound of amazement at the sight before her. Xiraxus had flown them high up above the islands, affording her a view over the entirety of Draekora spread out underneath them. She looked back to see their original island was a wasteland full of craggy rocks and hidden caves, and she again marvelled at the differences in the isles.

With the sun on her face, the wind in her hair and the postcard-perfect view all around her, it was impossible for Alex not to get caught up in the wonder of the moment.

Xira, this is amazing, she called out in her mind, testing if their mental link worked both ways.

You haven’t seen anything yet, he responded, his tone laced with humour. Then his voice turned pensive.I suppose we can be a few minutes late.Hopefully no one will notice.Because youhaveto see this.

With no other warning, he pulled his wings in close to his body and with nothing left to keep them aloft, they plummeted through the air. Down, down, down they dropped, a scream tearing from Alex’s vocal chords, partly in terror, partly in exhilaration. Together they fell between two large islands and continued downwards until Xiraxus flung his wings out to catch an air current, thrusting them back up again.

Alex released a laugh of pure joy and threw her hands up above her head. “That wasincredible!” she cried, her voice nearly lost in the wind.

The ride’s not over yet. Xiraxus sounded just as thrilled.

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