Page 95 of A Witch and Her Dragon
I lower one of my glittering black wings, and though a twirl of nervousness goes through our bond, Alina doesn’t hesitate to step onto my outstretched limb and allow me to lift her onto my back.
She settles into the space between my wing joints and the base of my spine. Her weight is nothing atop me, as light as a summer breeze or a downy feather, and yet it is comforting all the same.
“Okay,” she says, her fingers wrapping around my scales. “I’m ready.”
Excitement churns through me, and if her small breath is any indication, she feels it too.
I stretch my wings out wide, very nearly filling the clearing, and with one mighty downstroke, I lift into the air, then above the trees, then into the sky.
Then we’re soaring through the clouds, heading back toward Ravenscroft Castle, and I feel absolute, unwavering freedom.
And I know Alina is the one who gifted it to me.
Chapter 42
Alina
WHEN RAELAN LANDS IN THE castle’s sprawling courtyard, shaking the earth and sending the gardens thrashing, everyone goes running, screams piercing the autumn air. They don’t seem to even notice me upon his back.
Knights stream into the courtyard moments later, weapons drawn. But as soon as Sir Larsen appears atop the stairs leading into the castle, he yells out, “Weapons down! That’s the princess, you fools!”
The knights lower their swords and crossbows as I glide gracefully to the ground on Raelan’s wing. My knees are trembling, like they did last night when I climbed down from his back, but this time, I don’t fall. Raelan’s pride curls through me, and I look back at him—at his glossy black scales and slitted black-gold eyes—and smile.
“Calm yourselves!” Sir Larsen yells to the people stillrushing to escape. “It’s fine.” His eyes flick back to Raelan. “He’s one of ours.”
I meet Sir Larsen’s eyes from across the courtyard, and he gives me a small nod.
“All right.” I turn back to Raelan, then reach into the bag I packed and pull out his clothes. “You’d better hurry up, before they all come back.”
Raelan lets out a heavy sigh, and smoke curls from his fluttering nostrils. The knights who flooded into the courtyard take a few steps back. I just stand there, holding up Raelan’s tunic and trousers, as he lets out a growl and begins the transformation into his human body. A few moments later, he pushes to his feet, naked in the autumn sunlight.
My eyes scan his toned chest, strong abs, narrow hips...
I bite my lip as my gaze sweeps lower, and my cheeks go warm as I remember what we did on the couch last night. I wonder if Raelan feels it through our bond, for a sideways smile pulls on his mouth as he steps forward to accept the clothes I’m holding out for him.
“Don’t taunt me,” he whispers, voice low and edged in humor.
“I’d never.”
Just as Raelan is pulling the tunic on over his head, boots and graves sound behind us, and I turn to find Sir Larsen, Grandfather, and—
“Alina!”
My mother pushes past Grandfather and Sir Larsen, and her arms are around me a breath later. She strokes a hand down my hair and pins me against her chest as if she’ll never let me out of her sight again.
“I’m okay,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around her and holding her tight. “I promise.”
When she finally pulls back from me, her eyes go immediately to the fresh scar along the side of my throat. Her blue eyes widen, brow creasing. She glances at Raelan, then back at me. “Is that...?”
Heat creeps into my cheeks, and I give her a small nod.
Grandfather joins us, and his arms loop around me, crushing me into a hug. He smells of woodsmoke and chamomile tea, like his study and old books. He smells like home. “I told Rowena you were fine,” he says, a jovial tone to his voice as I give him a loving squeeze, “but you know how mothers are.”
“Oh, hush.” Mother shakes her head, hands planted on her hips. “You were no better.” Her eyes flash to mine. “He very nearly wore a hole through the floor what with all his pacing. And your father is on his way home now. He’ll be so relieved to see you.”
“Father’s coming?” My chest warms. It’s been months since I last saw him; between me leaving for Coven Crest and him being away on political business, we seem always to miss each other.
“Of course he is. We sent word to him as soon as we learned you... you’d been...” Mother’s eyes mist over with tears, and her bottom lip trembles. “I’m just so glad you’re safe.”
