Page 150 of Smoke and Lure

Avalore shored up her spine before taking a tentative step forward.She took another when it remained still, a stance familiar to Liekki's stoic manner.

The alluring, blue dragon grumbled low, its back arched and its wings laid wide and flat against the ground.

She didn’t allow the sound to distract her.Instead, she stretched out her hand and continued forward.

Then the dragon shifted, drew in its wings, and brought its snout around to her.

The two gaps for its nostrils opened and pinched closed as if it scented her.Its sharp teeth peeked through the split of its maw, so near it could snap her in two if it wished.

Thump...Thump.Thump.

Her heart leaped, its rhythm thrown off momentarily, but she choked down any rising nerves.This dragon formed a bond with her, believed her to be its mate, and she needed to lean in on that.Believe it, too.

When she witnessed it moving closer, leaning lower practically with its belly to the ground waiting.Avalore pressed her hand to the snout.The scales were rough and rugged and felt impenetrable and warm.So much warmth.That same heat somehow passed from its body to hers, filled her body with calm, and bathed her skin as if she’d been submerged in a bath.

“Fascinating,” she murmured.

Not realizing she’d spoken the words aloud until the dragon made a crackling deep in its throat and huffed out a breath, smoke bursting from its nose.

She smiled at the same smell that surrounded Liekki but was more sulfuric than cinnamon, like a volcano's lava rolled and burned in its belly—acrid but not offensive to her.Avalore felt a comfort in it, protection as if this immense beast would burn down the world for her.

She stroked along the hard scales as she stood there, tracing a pattern around some of them.

It lowered its eyes, rumbling deep, the sound of boulders dragging through the earth.

“Do you understand me?”She didn’t speak Drahk and wasn’t sure how much the dragon understood her language.Avalore walked to the side, dragging her hand beneath its lower muzzle, feeling the short, rounded spikes she could reach without stretching up on her toes.

The dragon didn’t turn its head but tracked her movement with its opened eye.The trunk of its big body flared out wide and contracted as it breathed large gulps.

She repeated the question, “Do you understand—?”

The beast grumbled and swished its spiked tail.The dragon’s long, thick tail dragged over the ground, disturbing the dirt and causing a dust cloud to stir.

Hope filled her chest as she turned and stared up into the eye, the flames now a canary color.

“If you understand me...move your head.”

Avalore didn’t have to wait a beat before the massive head toggled right, then left.

Relief showered over her.

“Will you let me ride you?”She lowered her hand and held her breath, waiting.

The large eye blinked once, then again.

Releasing her pent-up breath, she took in the form before her.She wasn’t sure how she would be able to do it—not only get up there, at a height of about two stories, but also keep herself seated.

This would be easier with Liekki.However, the stubborn man couldn't be in two places at once.It was impossible, particularly in these circumstances.

Then she remembered what Liekki said right before he shifted, something about her backside and horns.She glanced at its head where the long horns sat up sharp and proud, pointing to the sky.She figured Liekki wasn’t speaking of those because they were too wide, and she could barely wrap her legs around either of them, let alone her arms.

Avalore followed the line of horns to the ones that ran from the back of its neck and halfway down the spine.Those horns were not as thick, and they sat at a distance she’d be able to get between them—Lord willing she stayed seated.

“I do not know how to mount your back.”Frustrated, she ran her hands through her hair.

She paced back and forth, feeling defeated.There weren’t steps high enough, nothing to aid in her climb.Turning, she looked behind her and thought maybe if she could climb up a tree, she could get the dragon to come to her and perhaps...

As her mind attempted to puzzle out her situation, a shift behind her caused the ground below her feet to tremble greatly.She spread her legs and tightened her core to keep her balance and not topple over.

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