Page 72 of Draekora

When theValispathsoared to an end atop the cliffs at the place where Aven had taken Alex sightseeing, she tried to steady her breathing so as to not give away just how apprehensive she was. Like her first visit, the view offered the perfect panorama of the city. But looking at it in removed appreciation was much,muchdifferent to looking at it and wondering if ‘cliff jumping’ meant exactly what Alex presumed it meant.

“I thought you’d never get here, brother,” Aven said approaching them from behind.

When Alex turned, she saw he wasn’t alone; Niyx was with him as well. Both of them, like Roka, were the most casual Alex had seen them, wearing lightweight pants and shirts, their feet bare. They wore no armour, held no weapons. They appeared almost exactly how Alex would imagine Jordan and Bear to be like in the future. Minus the jeans, of course, but she couldn’t imagineanyMeyarin wearing something as common as denim. It would be as odd as seeing a draekon sporting a polka dot onesie.

Kyia and Alex, on the other hand, were both clothed in summery dresses that Alex had become used to wearing over the week. Dainty, pretty material most definitely not suited to jumping off cliffs.

“Lovely Aeylia,” Niyx greeted in a singsong voice, boldly slinging his arm across her shoulders. “I was hoping you wouldn’t wiggle out of coming this afternoon. My day just turned even brighter.”

She tried to slide out from underneath his heavy limb, but he just tightened his grip and drew her closer, so she resorted to frowning pointedly. He sent her a cheeky grin—an expression Alex was used to seeing given the relentless cat-and-mouse game he so loved to play.

“Do you have a quota you have to reach?” Alex asked him, placing her hands on his hard torso and giving a hefty push, for all the good it did. He barely even jolted.

“A quota?” he repeated in question, looking down at her with sparkling amethyst eyes.

“You know, like a specific number of girls you have to hit on each day before you call it quits.”

His eyes brightened all the more. “Don’t worry, kitten. Quota or not, I’ll always have time for you. I know seeing me is the highlight of your day and I’d never deprive you of that.”

“Eugh, gag,” Alex said, making a face. She ignored the laughter of those around them and shoved against him again, only succeeding because Aven stepped in to help.

“Points for punching above your station, Ny,” the younger prince said, effortlessly prying Alex away from his friend. “But I’m guessing from the unnecessarily detailed reports you’ve given me of her spurning your advances this past week that perhaps you might be better off looking for your next fling elsewhere.”

Niyx sent a wicked grin in Alex’s direction. “She’ll cave to my charm. It’s only a matter of time.”

“Seriously,” Alex said, “I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.”

If anything, everyone just laughed louder—Niyx included.

“Come on,” Aven said, leading her by the hand closer towards the edge of the cliff.

She dug in her heels and tugged against him. “Actually, can someone please explain to me why we’re up here? Roka said cliff jumping, but surely we’re not…” She trailed off at seeing the excited expressions the four of them wore. Casting her gaze outwards, she took in just how impossibly high they were above the city. “Hands down, you’re all crazy if you’re thinking of jumping off this cliff.”

Niyx snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous, Aeylia, that would be suicide.” She felt her muscles relax, at least until he finished with, “We’re jumping from over there.”

Following the line of where he was pointing, Alex felt her heart leap into her throat at the sight of the massive waterfall.

A tremor of fear ran through her body. “Uh-uh. No way.”

But before she could put up any further argument, everyone stepped close and theValispathactivated, transporting them to a boulder smack bang in the middle of the raging cascade. The force of the wind was so strong that it sprayed water straight back up the cliffs, soaking Alex within seconds. The sound thundered in her ears and the rocky platform beneath her feet rumbled with the violence of nature at its most terrifying.

“You’re all insane!” Alex screamed over the sound of the torrent, yanking fiercely at Aven’s hand. He wouldn’t let her go though, and she was pinned into place when Niyx, on her other side, reached for her free hand, his grip gentle but firm enough to keep her locked between them.

“We won’t jump until you’re ready,” Aven told her, leaning in close to her ear so she could hear him above the roar of the water.

“You don’t get it!” Alex yelled. “I’ve done this before! Waterfalls and medon’tmix well!”

Granted, Alex had never jumped from a cliff so high, but shehadfallen off a huge waterfall inside one of the Library’s oil paintings during her first year at Akarnae. That had been one of the scariest moments of her life. This, however, went way beyond that.

“I can’t do this!” Alex cried, trying to pull away from both Aven and Niyx.

Aven, standing on her right, turned her away from Niyx until they were face to face, curling his free arm around her waist so he could lean in even closer. It was a mark of how scared she was that she didn’t even have the presence of mind to consider him her future enemy and put space between them.

“You have my word, Aeylia, nothing bad will happen,” he said into her ear, his hand at her waist giving a gentle squeeze. “You’re one of us now. Let go of your mortal fears and embrace this moment as a Meyarin. You’ll never feel more free.”

Seeing that she was still unconvinced, he said in a voice only for her, “Live in the moment, Aeylia. I promise you won’t regret it.”

Alex wasn’t sure if it was his gentle tone, his sincere eyes, or his absolute confidence, but something in her gave into his words, the same words the Library had said to her just last night.Live in the moment. It was a frightening thought, but maybe, just for one afternoon, that was exactly what she needed to do.

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