Page 87 of A Witch and Her Dragon
I believe Raelan must know this place, for he flies surely, no hesitation in his movements.
Our speed decreases gradually, and then Raelan banks to one side, though not enough to send me tumbling toward the ground below. I tighten my legs and hold firm to his scales, then catch my breath as he tilts his wings to slow our speed. The air created by his powerful thrusts sends my hair and cloak whipping wildly about me, obscuring my vision and forcing me to lean forward and press myself against his neck. Then there’s a rumble, a rustling of trees, and the wind goes still.
Tentatively, I sit up and open my eyes.
We’ve landed.
And we’re in a small clearing surrounded by trees. Though it’s difficult to see with clarity through the dark, I notice there’s a ramshackle cottage standing in the center of the clearing, as if it’s been here waiting for us all along. Plants crawl up the weathered exterior, slowly reclaiming the structure as their own. It appears to have been forgotten long ago, like many things in the wildlands.
Another roll of thunder sends me looking up at the clouds we were just flying through. Far off, a bolt of lightning cuts through the sky, making me blink against its sudden brightness.
Raelan holds out his wing, and I ease myself onto it, my legs shaking so fiercely I have to kneel and use my hands for balance. He lowers his wing slowly to the ground, and I’m able to get my feet under me and stumble into the cold autumn grass.
Then I turn to face the beautiful beast towering over me.
And I try to save this moment, this image, in my mind for safekeeping.
For Raelan is truly magnificent. He gleams even in the inky dark, his scales glistening like midnight oil. His eyes have a gentle otherworldly luminescence, the flakes of gold putting off a subtle glow.
I wonder if all the dragons were this beautiful.
My heart squeezes.
Learning about the Dragon Wars, I felt compassion and empathy for the creatures, the shifters who were hunted ortaken captive, both prized and feared for their power. But now, looking up at arealdragon, atmydragon, I’m overcome with grief.
How can humans be so cruel? Why do we allow our fears to drive us to such terrible lengths?
The skies should be filled with dragons. Instead, those few rare shifters who still live, their ancestors having escaped the violence, have to hide themselves, have to fear being found or taken or killed.
Because of me, Tristan discovered Raelan’s secret, and the Veiled Hand came for him, tried to take him from me. All because of me.
Grief crashes over my shoulders, so wild and overwhelming that, when paired with my still-trembling legs, it knocks me to my knees.
There’s a rustling of wings, a rumble of earth as Raelan takes a step. And then he’s lowering his head to my height, his nostrils sending hot air billowing over my cold body.
Tears streak down my cheeks, but this time, there’s no sharp wind to whisk them away.
“I’m sorry, Raelan,” I whisper as I gaze up at him. “I’m so, so sorry.”
Another burst of warm air dances across me, making my skin prickle. Then Raelan steps back, and I turn my eyes away as he begins the transformation—I’m still not quite accustomed to the way his body moves, the stretching of skin and rearranging of bones.
A moment later, bare arms are wrapping around me, pulling me into a naked chest.
Raelan’s chest.
“Alina,” he whispers, and his voice just makes me cry harder. He pulls back and tips my head up so I’m forced to meet his glittering black-gold eyes. “Are you hurt?”
I shake my head, trying to stop my bottom lip from trembling.
“Then what’s the matter?”
“It’s... It’s...” Another sob shakes my chest. “I’m just so sorry about everything. About what my people did to yours. About what I did. Because of me, they almost... almost...” My throat closes up, my tears threatening to choke me.
I don’t know what I would’ve done had they succeeded in taking Raelan from me. The very thought makes me cry even harder, nausea twisting my stomach into sickening knots.
Raelan’s eyes soften, his lips pulling into a frown.
Overhead, lightning cuts through the clouds again, accompanied by another roll of thunder, closer now than it was before. Raelan looks up, searches the starless sky above us. His jaw goes hard.
